Governor Gary R. Herbert's Schedule
January 20, 2020 - January 24, 2020
**The Governor’s schedule is subject to frequent change**
Monday, January 20
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
No Public Events
Tuesday, January 21
3:00 p.m. Meet with Utah League of Cities and Towns
Location: Governor’s Office
Wednesday, January 22
9:30 a.m. Meet with Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall
Location: Governor’s Office
1:00 p.m. Meet with General Counsel
Location: Governor’s Office
2:30 p.m. Meet with the Honorable Andreas Launer, Consul General of Austria
Location: State Capitol
Thursday, January 23
10:00 a.m. Governor’s Monthly News Conference
Location: KUED Studios, Salt Lake City
12:00 p.m. “Let Me Speak to the Governor” Radio Show
Location: KSL Studios, Salt Lake City
6:00 p.m. Speak at Honorary Colonels Dinner
Location: Salt Lake City
Friday, January 24
10:00 a.m. Meet with Staff
Location: Governor’s Office
Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox's Schedule
January 20, 2020 -January 24, 2020
**The Lt. Governor’s schedule is subject to frequent change**
Monday, January 20
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Office Closed
Tuesday, January 21
10:00 a.m. Intermountain Healthcare’s Primary Promise Media Event
Location: Salt Lake City
Media Availability
11:00 a.m. Meet with Senator David Buxton
Location: Office of the Lt. Governor
2:00 p.m. State Building Ownership Authority Meeting
Location: Office of the Governor
2:30 p.m. Meet with Staff
Location: Office of the Lt. Governor
Wednesday, January 22
2:00 p.m. Constitutional Defense Council Meeting
Location: State Capitol Complex, Senate Building
Thursday, January 23
10:15 a.m. Meet with Chief of Staff
Location: Office of the Lt. Governor
10:45 a.m. Elections Review with Staff
Location: Office of the Lt. Governor
3:30 p.m. Meet with Daggett County Commission
Location: Office of the Governor
6:00 p.m. Speak at Honorary Colonels Dinner
Location: Salt Lake City
Friday, January 24
Telework - All Day
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USDA Invests $7.1 Million in Broadband for Rural Arkansas Communities
YELLVILLE, Ark., Jan. 21, 2020 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Arkansas State Director David Branscum announced USDA has invested $7.1 million in two, high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 1,250 rural households in north central Arkansas. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments.
“Through USDA’s ReConnect Program, more than 1,250 Arkansans living in rural communities will get access to the latest broadband technology that will connect them to opportunities in education, health care and economic development,” Branscum said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has made deploying this critical infrastructure across rural America a top priority because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
The Yelcot Telephone Company will use a $1.7 million ReConnect Program grant and a $1.7 million loan to upgrade facilities from copper cable and drops to a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network that is expected to connect 548 households in Baxter and Marion counties.
The Mountain View Telephone Company will use a $3.7 million ReConnect Program grant to upgrade facilities from copper cable and drops to an FTTH network that is expected to connect 702 households, 15 pre-subscribed farms and a pre-subscribed business in Stone County.
Background:
In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. On Dec. 13, 2018, Secretary Perdue announced the rules of the program, called “ReConnect,” including how the loans and grants will be awarded to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. USDA received 146 applications between May 31, 2019, and July 12, 2019, requesting $1.4 billion in funding across all three ReConnect Program funding products: 100 percent loan, 100 percent grant, and loan-grant combinations. USDA is reviewing applications and announcing approved projects on a rolling basis. Additional investments in all three categories will be made in the coming weeks.
These grants, loans and combination funds enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient service is defined as connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 1 Mbps upload.
In December 2019, Agriculture Secretary Perdue announced USDA will be making available an additional $550 million in ReConnect funding in 2020. USDA will make available up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. The application window for this round of funding will open Jan. 31, 2020. Applications for all funding products will be accepted in the same application window, which will close no later than March 16, 2020.
A full description of 2020 ReConnect Pilot Program funding is available on page 67913 of the Dec. 12, 2019, Federal Register (PDF, 336 KB). To learn more about eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force. To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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With U.S. traffic congestion costing U.S. drivers $87 billion in 2018 and the U.S. ranked 17th in the world in road quality, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2020's Best & Worst States to Drive in as well as accompanying videos.
To determine the most driver-friendly states in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states across 31 key metrics. The data set ranges from average gas prices to share of rush-hour traffic congestion to road quality.
Best States for Driving
Worst States for Driving
1. Iowa
41. Montana
2. Tennessee
42. Alaska
3. North Carolina
43. New Jersey
4. Texas
44. West Virginia
5. Nebraska
45. Maryland
6. Georgia
46. Colorado
7. Virginia
47. California
8. Indiana
48. Washington
9. Arkansas
49. Rhode Island
10. Alabama
50. Hawaii
Best vs. Worst
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-to-drive-in/43012/
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Ellen Cheryl shares her life-changing experience that made her believe in God again
‘Through the Darkness, into the Light,’ a tool to strengthen a believer’s testimony in God
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Christian author Ellen Cheryl details her path to spiritual and personal growth in her new memoir “Through the Darkness, into the Light” (published by WestBow Press).
Growing up in a conservative family, Cheryl was taught that women are required to become submissive mothers and housewives. She faced a system where men are meant to be providers while women are destined to be caregivers. Such so-called natural order resulted to her struggle as she faces difficulties with her identity. With the help of counseling, she was able to rebuild her self-worth.
In this memoir, Cheryl shares her life story as she recalls those thoughts and anecdotes from her early life until present. She outlines the path she followed from a loving Christian family in childhood through disillusionment with and disbelief in God up to the renewal of her faith.
“After disbelieving in God for years, I experienced a terrifying life-changing event. I realized I was wrong: God is real. I have been blessed with multiple, spiritual experiences and wanted to tell my story that God really does exist,” Cheryl states.
Cheryl hopes that by writing this book, she will be able to be an instrument in strengthening her reader’s faith in God as she believes that he exists. “I have been blessed with multiple spiritual experiences that helped me when I was lost, protected me from harm, saved my life many times, and answered my prayers beyond my expectations,” she adds.
“Through the Darkness, into the Light”
By Ellen Cheryl
Hardcover | 5.5x8.5 in | 114 pages | ISBN 9781973679837
Softcover | 5.5x8.5 in | 114 pages | ISBN 9781973679820
E-Book | 114 pages | ISBN 9781973679813
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author
Ellen Cheryl was born in western Michigan. She achieved success in both business and creative endeavors, reaching the position of account executive in sales and earning an editor’s choice award in a national poetry contest.
WestBow Press is a strategic supported self-publishing alliance between HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Author Solutions, LLC — the world leader in supported self-publishing. Titles published through WestBow Press are evaluated for sales potential and considered for publication through Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. For more information, visit www.westbowpress.com or call (866)-928-1240.
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Press Release
USDA Invests $18.7 Million in Broadband for Rural West Virginia Communities
MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Jan. 20, 2020 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) West Virginia State Director Kris Warner announced USDA has invested $18.7 million in a high-speed broadband infrastructure project that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for more than 6,300 rural households and an estimated 383 farms in Harrison, Doddridge, Lewis, Barbour and Upshur counties in West Virginia. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments.
“This project is providing a critical communications investment in some truly rural areas of West Virginia,” Warner said. “Through USDA’s ReConnect program, these counties will get access to the latest broadband technology. This will have a positive economic impact for the farms, small businesses and families that live in these communities. Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to this strong partnership with rural communities in deploying this critical infrastructure, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
The Harrison Rural Electrification Association Inc. will use an $18.7 million ReConnect Program grant to construct a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network that is expected to connect 6,320 households, five educational facilities, a critical community facility and approximately 383 farms spread across the five-county region.
Background:
In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. On Dec. 13, 2018, Secretary Perdue announced the rules of the program, called “ReConnect,” including how the loans and grants will be awarded to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. USDA received 146 applications between May 31, 2019, and July 12, 2019, requesting $1.4 billion in funding across all three ReConnect Program funding products: 100 percent loan, 100 percent grant, and loan-grant combinations. USDA is reviewing applications and announcing approved projects on a rolling basis. Additional investments in all three categories will be made in the coming weeks.
These grants, loans and combination funds enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient service is defined as connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 1 Mbps upload.
In December 2019, Agriculture Secretary Perdue announced USDA will be making available an additional $550 million in ReConnect funding in 2020. USDA will make available up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. The application window for this round of funding will open Jan. 31, 2020. Applications for all funding products will be accepted in the same application window, which will close no later than March 16, 2020.
A full description of 2020 ReConnect Pilot Program funding is available on page 67913 of the Dec. 12, 2019, Federal Register (PDF, 336 KB). To learn more about eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force. To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, January 20, 2020 at 10 AM
The Black Jacket Symphony Presents
Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon at
The Depot on Saturday, March 7, 2020
Salt Lake City, UT. January 20, 2020 – The Black Jacket Symphony presents Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at The Depot located at 13 N 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT. 84101. This show is ages 21+ and begins at 8:00 PM with doors opening at 7:00 PM.
Don’t let the name fool you… known for their incredible live recreations of some of classic rock's greatest albums, The Black Jacket Symphony is bringing Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon to life. It's a full rock-and-roll experience! Black jackets for them, blue jeans for you.
Tickets are $35.00 and $30.00, and go on sale Friday, January 24th at 10 AM. Tickets will be available at Ticketmaster.com, or in person at The Depot Box Office.
Remember putting on an album and listening from start to finish? Relive that moment with a live concert experience unlike any other as The Black Jacket Symphony recreates Pink Floyd’s iconic album The Dark Side of the Moon live in its entirety—note for note, sound for sound—plus a full set of Pink Floyd’s greatest hits. Over the past ten years, the Black Jacket Symphony has performed over 40 classic rock albums, bringing an incredible night of entertainment to over a million music lovers across the US. The group of hand-picked musicians changes based upon the album being performed—and no sonic detail is overlooked, with the musicians doing whatever it takes to reproduce the album. It’s a full night of rock and roll magic—plus a visual experience unlike any other. Fans across the country flock to their shows—and once you see one, you won’t miss another!
