Donald Trump’s presidency has been a four-year stress test of America’s constitutional system. Trump’s belligerent governance has weakened the bipartisan fabric — rooted in prudence, decency and comity — that ties our multi-branch system of government together.

The small table offering masks and hand sanitizer just inside our front door was the unlikely greeting to our Thanksgiving Day guests this year. It was symbolic of this year of COVID. The younger cousins wore their masks more naturally than the rest of us — most likely because they wear them…

There is an old saying, the baseball rule: “Never change a winning game, always change a losing one.” Is the COVID fight a losing game? Some states, and some nations, have done lockdowns and others have not. Some mandate mask wearing, others do not. The rate of infection is rising rapidly re…

The silver lining for Kaysville’s fiber infrastructure project defeat is the fact that 8,570 voters or 49.2% voted yes, and this means the project would have been financially successful. In a historically high turnout election, only 143 more yes votes of the 17,425 votes cast would have turn…

About one year ago, the Utah Legislature was presented with “A Plan to Elevate Utah’s Economic Success” by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). This plan was the outcome of a comprehensive effort to tap Utah’s best minds with respect to economic development in order to help …

This year, 2020, has truly been a rather terrifying roller-coaster ride so far, not just for me but for my family, friends, neighbors, community and, indeed, the entire world. My young grandchildren are now growing up with memories of masked faces and eyes filled with fear and frustration.

Back when I attended journalism school in the early 1990s, we were frequently exhorted to “find the drama” in whatever we were covering. Drama sold papers, and if you wanted your precious byline on the exalted front page, you needed to write stories that elevated conflict and emotion. Even i…

I’m about three quarters of the way through teaching my first completely virtual semester and, with the trajectory of COVID19 cases, it looks as if I’m going to be settling in for another.

A small, boxy turkey roosts on my kitchen table. It’s a long-ago homemade item (that alone makes it priceless since I rarely hand make anything) and is, therefore, minimally adequate. It’s definitely not Pinterest-quality level, but then, that never was my goal. (The turkey is, in fact, olde…

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created many difficulties for small business owners in Weber County, the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index survey in June revealed that 76% of Hispanic business owners view the future as brighter than one might think even despite these difficulties. Sixt…

With the tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the nation in the spring of 2020 and continuing to this day, we know this year has been tough for Weber County residents and especially Weber County businesses and nonprofit organizations. Uncertainty and instability are not easy feelings to…

My colleagues and I recently published a study of about 23 Utah cities and counties, including Ogden City, pursuing 100% net-renewable electricity by 2030 via the Community Renewable Energy Act (CREA). If you read the Standard-Examiner’s coverage of our study (“While Ogden mulls clean energy…

As the Constitutional Convention was wrapping up in 1787, a woman accosted Pennsylvania delegate Benjamin Franklin outside the doors of Independence Hall. She asked him, “Well, doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.”

2020 has been a roller coaster for all Utahns! Though there is deep division surrounding politics and COVID precautions, one thing that unites Utahns is the love of family and care for our children and youth.

I will never forget receiving a phone call from my grandparents on my 18th birthday. As social justice warriors, my grandparents were always on the move, engaged in civil rights work and social justice causes. In my mind’s eye, I saw them doing work for the greater good. Knowing they loved m…

I once watched a volleyball tournament of young women battling for a state championship. The contest was brutal; each set seemed to last forever. The scores stayed close, right to the end. When the last ball was lobbed, the player dove and missed, and the ball flew out of bounds, the winning…

American politics have become criminalized. A steady drum beat of words and deeds — from “lock her up” chants, to prosecutions of President Trump’s associates, to Trump pushing for Joe Biden’s indictment — has eroded the bright line between politics and the criminal law.

Wednesday, Sen. Mike Lee exclaimed at a Trump rally, “To my Mormon friends, my Latter-day Saint friends, think of him as Captain Moroni.”

With commitment and determination, we can together tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges and do great things, making our homes and our community better for all.

Weber County always has interesting political races and this year’s presidential election is more energized than usual in Northern Utah. Whether Donald Trump will knock out Joe Biden is questionable. Statewide, the race is Trump at 51%. Biden is at 40%. I hear a few Latter-day Saints referen…

A recent joint public service announcement and subsequent interviews with Chris Peterson and Spencer Cox, both running for governor of Utah, argued for civility during this upcoming election. In doing so, both essentially are appealing to the center of the electorate. However, party-affiliat…

As the White House Proclamation stated earlier this month, “On National Manufacturing Day, we celebrate our dedicated American workers who carry on this legacy, recognizing that manufacturing is a cornerstone of our economic prosperity and national security.” Manufacturing businesses are ess…

Anyone who’s been shopping for a house lately knows the real estate market is hot. Home prices are rising rapidly and there are not enough houses to go around.

If you’re a fan of election year promises that won’t be kept, then Constitutional Amendment G is for you.

Normally in the workforce, employees who are not meeting expectations should not be promoted, especially when there is an exceptional candidate available for the position. Spencer Cox has not met expectations. But, the good news is that there is an outstanding candidate available to fill the…

The Utah Legislature proposed major tax reforms during the last several legislative sessions. Tax reform proposals collapsed and were abandoned or rescinded due in large measure to widespread public resistance. One element of the tax reform effort remains, namely amending the Utah Constituti…

I feel a bit guilty. Voting in Utah is so easy compared to so many other states in the U.S. I received my ballot in the mail, did a little research and walked my dog to the secure Weber County drop box that I have been using for years. Done.

I’ve always been extremely proud of the scientific legacy of the United States of America.

While cleaning out a file cabinet of papers from my college days (that’s what we do during a pandemic, isn’t it?), I came across a folder of papers from my news reporting and writing class, taken at Weber State University.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

During the 2020 legislative session, we were part of a broad group of legislative leaders and education stakeholders who joined Gov. Herbert to announce a bold plan that provides protection for education funding, allows the use of income tax for the health needs of at-risk, school-aged child…

Weber State University’s Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service is embarking on the next phase of its mission to promote knowledge of how America’s democratic system works while also empowering individuals with the information they need to be fully engaged citizens.

“We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of few, but we can’t have both.”

I will never forget where I was when President Trump said, “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.” I was sitting on the couch in my living room, watching the first presidential televised debates of 2020. It felt surreal to see the president utter that phrase in response to the request he deno…

Everyone who’s tired of the COVID-19 pandemic, raise your hand.

About 10 years ago, Brené Brown gave one of the most popular TED Talks ever given on that platform. She spoke on the power of vulnerability. Ironically, immediately after her talk, she was overwhelmed by her own excruciating vulnerability — she was embarrassed to have given the talk and wish…

There is widespread concern that President Trump won’t leave office if he loses the election. This angst is understandable. Trump has, after all, refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

On Oct. 28, four years ago, former director of the FBI James Comey resumed the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails — something only possible through computer technology. Could technology again help create an October surprise in deciding the next president? Some argue it could be the …

With all the disruptions of 2020, you may have missed the good news: Ogden City has finalized a plan to reduce energy costs, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create stronger, more resilient municipal operations, businesses and residential areas.

There are SEVEN constitutional amendments on the 2020 ballot! In the last four years, the Legislature has asked voters to consider a total of 13 amendments to the Utah Constitution.

Since my dissertation nearly 20 years ago, I have kept up with the research on work-life and telecommuting. I have read research on the pros and cons of what we all now refer to simply as “working from home” or working remotely, which has shown to be linked to (at least in past years) greate…

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was perhaps the most consequential attorney in American history. As an advocate, she transformed the landscape for women’s rights. And, as a Justice on the Supreme Court, she authored numerous groundbreaking opinions.

In mourning the passage of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I need to take a minute and recognize her role in advancing science.

The winds that blew through the Wasatch Front a couple of weeks ago were destructive. And unnerving. And loud. Where I live, they hit at about 4 o’clock in the morning. I was already awake, anticipating them, wondering if we’d lose another tree like we did in the last round of high-powered gusts.

Change is inevitable. Without it, progress may be stifled or limited. A regular review of what’s going on, even if it seems to be going well, is a proper way to lead an institution, a community or an individual life.

This month, I learned the president of the United States of America thinks the work I do is anti-American. He indicated that racial sensitivity training is divisive and promotes anti-American propaganda. I couldn’t disagree more. I think it helps us to see the world from multiple vantage poi…