Author: Mariah Wheeler

OGDEN, Utah — Utah’s Democratic Party announced a special election to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Ogden Rep. LaWanna ‘Lou’ Shurtliff. ‘Ensuring representation for voters and residents of House District 10 before the legislative session begins on Jan. 19th is of critical importance to the people of the 10th District and to the Utah Democratic Party,’ party officials said in a statement Tuesday.

UTAH – In its first convening of the new session, the Utah House Health and Human Services voted on a variety of proposed health legislation on topics ranging from health care for the homeless to vaccine reporting. House Bill 34, sponsored by Rep. Jim Dunnigan, would establish a medical care respite program for homeless individuals in need of physical or mental health care. It would require the Department of Health to apply for a Medicaid waiver or state plan amendment from the Center for Medicaid Services before Jan. 1, 2022, to fund the program. According to Dunnigan, it would prevent…