Tonight:

To keep things fun, we’re launching a “who’s music device?” challenge (can’t say iPod, we’ll get spammed) for listeners.  Andy will explain the rules.

When can tax hikes save you money?  Salt Lake County illustrates.  We take your calls.

Industrial espionage is still a crime, and it’s happened right here in Cache Valley.

A local organization has filed a GRAMA request for documents showing total expenses for the state defend Congressional candidate and state Rep. Stephen Sandstrom’s “enforcement only” immigration bills.

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Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.

Tonight:
The Mero Moment addresses the possibility of Utah joining the National Popular Vote Plan. Is the Electoral College antiquated and ineffectual? Weigh in at 4.

Tonight:

Technology is changing the way we fight wars and the way we think of them.  But where is it all headed?

On the same theme, author Charles Kurzman argues in his book Missing Martyrs that terrorist groups have never posed a real threat to America, or any nation.  We’ll break down his argument and ask listeners to weigh in.  Has America basically over-reacted for a decade?

Do Mormons and Progressives share than Utah’s red-state status realizes?  And what does this mean for Romney if he gets the nomination?

Like many other American churches, they organized programs designed to take on the social problems of their age: a Young Men’s and Young Women’s Improvement Association; a primary school for young children; a Sunday school—among others. Though participation was voluntary, these associations reached far in the 1910s, and today it is assumed that members of the church will participate in all such organizations for which she or he is eligible. By the time of the Great Depression, the Mormons had erected the Church Welfare Program, a charity system that encouraged recipients to offer labor in return for donations and cultivate habits of thrift and industry.

Even though he hasn’t announced yet, State Senator Dan Liljenquist is drawing a few shots from Sen. Orrin Hatch over health care.

And speaking of Hatch, he’s co-sponsoring this.  We’re angry.

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Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.

Tonight:

USU officials have released an apology to BYU on behalf of USU fans.  The apology comes two weeks after the rivalry game took place, and is in response to signs and chants displayed by USU fans at the game.  Is the apology warranted?  We’ll take your calls at 4pm.

Ted Seeholzer will update us on Beaver Mtn’s new lift and snow levels for the eventual season open.

Nat’l Parks going bankrupt under budget cuts?

Last night’s GOP foreign policy debate in 100 seconds.

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Tonight:

Sutherland Institute president Paul Mero speaks up on proposed changes to the Utah GOP’s caucus system and how candidates are elected.  Some argue it’s the few electing the few, and exposes the rest of the state to the whims of organized extremists.  Other’s argue it’s just representative democracy at play, and stress that anyone can be a delegate.  Paul will start us off taking your calls on the issue.

Carl burglaries on the rise in Logan. (bumped from yesterday)

As expected, the Feds are suing over Utah’s immigration law.  Where does it go from here?

Sen. Steve Urquhart visited USU recently to get public input on higher education reform.  We’ll talk about the proposals and ask for input from listeners.

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Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.

Tonight:

It’s Newt’s week at the top of the GOP primary polls.  Could Newt do it?  We’ll discuss how.

Things are getting interesting in Utah’s statewide races.  We’ll run down the candidates, their endorsers, and how each races is taking shape.

Car burglaries in Logan nearly double in 2011.

Bill Gates is testifying in Utah this week.

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Tonight:

An independent audit shows a $20 million increase in revenue for Logan City in 2011.  What does this say about city planning, and options for tackling infrastructure and investment concerns going forward?  Was the golf clubhouse a good idea after all?  Weigh in at 4pm.

Sen. Mike Lee is… missing the point?

It’s International Education Week at USU.  We’ll talk about the events planned, and the importance of this 57 year tradition.

Man accrues $35,000 in school loans getting a masters in Puppetry.  Now he’s angry.  Yeah.

Occupy Wall Street celebrates it’s 2 month anniversary today, but SLTrib reports it’s pretty quiet in SLC.

Utah state Rep. Mike Noel thinks it’s time Utah sign on to a National Popular Vote instead of the Electoral College.  Noel argues Utah would be more relevant this way.  He’s wrong, and we’ll discuss why.

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Tonight:

Utah Taxpayer Association reps were on Twitter again today arguing “grading/firing teachers” as the panacea to all our education problems (and that no teacher teaches for love of the job… because they get paid.  Like cops.  And firefighters.  Those looters!).  Others were arguing all we need to do is throw money at it.  When will the issue get a discussion that takes into account it may take all of these ideas and more to perfect the education system?  Well, right now on FTP.  Join in.

This is not a joke.

Unfortunately, this isn’t either.  And Sen. Orrin Hatch is a co-sponsor. (Boooo!)

Robert Saenz has twenty years experience investigating crime with federal agencies.  He’s in SLC today speaking to doctors about preventing Utah’s growing problem (we’re #4 nationally) with prescription drug abuse.  He’ll join us by phone to talk about where the problem comes from, and how we can fight it.  [Interesting caller comment: With prescription drug abuse second only to marijuana use nationally, when will we see those Pfizer ads on prime time TV banned like the cigarette commercials?]

FTP Quickfire at 5.  Andy promises more shark stories.

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Tonight:

Sutherland Institute president Paul Mero discusses one organization’s push to “legalize dirty words” on TV and radio in this week’s Mero Moment (which is usually pretty dirty word free).  Discussion begins at 4:10.  Be there.

Weber State fans can’t spell.

A listener has challenges us to spend an entire hour of the show not talking about politics.  We’ve accepted the challenge.  And we will fail.  Tune in to hear it happen live.

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Tonight:

We’ll kick of the show with a special guest all the way from DC: Sunlight Foundation co-founder Ellen Miller.  Sunlight has launched a campaign to “open up” the Super Committee’s relationship with lobbyists ahead of there (maybe?) Nov 23rd recommendations on debt reduction.  They also have something to say about SuperPACs, especially one Senator’s (ours, Lucky Us!) request to have his own.

Sandstrom joins the UT-4 race, challenging Carl Wimmer from the… right?… middle?… low ground?  Who knows.

Senator Ben McAdams joins the Salt Lake County Mayor’s race, challenging fellow Senate Democrat Ross Romero.

A lengthy article at DNews on reducing college costs is an opportunity to have a broader discussion on economic impacts of college degrees, increasing challenges to college enrollment, and what Utah — or anyone — can /can’t do about it.  Is higher education accreditation system an elitist guild?

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Tonight:

Welcome to the Cain-Wreck.  But is this guy teflon coated?

Aggressive HB116 opponent and state Rep. Chris Herrod is rumored to be throwing his hat into the ring of challengers to Sen. Orrin Hatch.  And he chose the anniversary of Reagan-Amnesty to float the idea?  Poking fun at Utah’s resident hyperbole slinger aside, what was Reagan-amnesty and how did he get it by his own party?

Utah Policy reports fewer self-identified Dems, but more hate for the GOP.  What could it mean for 2012?

Another debate over making Utah’s municipal elections partisan has erupted, this time in Syracuse.  We’ll discuss the pro’s and con’s.

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Tonight:

Teachers are abandoning classrooms and joining the “Occupy” protests to send a message.  What message is being sent?  Is the era of dissing public employees who teach our kids over, or is these teachers feeding the flames?  We want to hear from you.

Tuesday we discussed Sen. Steve Urquhart’s public forums on higher education reform possibilities for the 2012 legislative session.  How do Utah’s universities currently stack up?  One organization aims to help sort that out.  Meet WhatWillTheyLearn.com.

Cache County Sheriff Lynn Nelson wants a bigger staff and higher wages for Cache officers.

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Tonight:

Omar Arrieta, founder of Young Adults for Ron Paul joins us in studio to explain why young people are drawn to the Congressman’s presidential campaign, and youth activism in Cache Valley.

FTP Quickfire at 5.  90 seconds per headline, and a buzzer.  Listeners are welcome join in.

The Vatican wants an end to capitalism, a centralized bank they control…  So, crazy demands aside, we’ll discuss some legitimate criticisms of capitalism, but also some false equivalence most politicians are guilty of.  Is “pro-business” the same as “pro-free market”?  And is “greed” even a tenant of capitalism?

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Tonight:

Online tools are changing politics in Utah.  Candidate petitions, citizen petitions, online voter registration, and (one day) online voting.  What are the challenges and benefits, and how will turnout in Utah increase?

This week’s Mero Moment from Sutherland Institute president Paul Mero deals with how we communicate in Utah’s political circles… and anti-immigration hate mail!  Tune in at 4:30.

People Magazine has recognized a Logan resident’s in their “Super Heroes of the Year” awards.

Rick Perry got liquored up and gave a speech.  Who’s crashing and burning more this week, Perry or Herman Cain?

Sen. Steve Urquhart hosted an online forum today on the problems and possible solutions in Utah’s higher education system.  I sat in, and we’ll discuss some of the problems defined, and ideas shared.  (The next online forum is Nov 10… www.steveu.com for more info)

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MEDIA ADVISORY
November 1, 2011

CONTACTS:
Steve Urquhart
Utah State Senator
Mobile: 435-668-7759

Dawn Frandsen
Senate Majority Assistant
Office: 801-538-1035
Mobile: 801-362-3947

SENATE HIGHER ED CHAIR TO HOST ONLINE DISCUSSION
Results will form core higher education reform proposals for the 2012 Session 

WHO: 

Senator Steve Urquhart, Senate Chair of the Higher Education Appropriations Committee

WHAT: 

Senator Urquhart will hold an online forum to discuss higher education reforms in the following areas: 1) college preparation, 2) career readiness, 3) education costs, 4) innovative flexibility, 5) student progress incentives, and 6) higher ed governance.  Results of this discussion will help form the committee chair’s education agenda for the 2012 legislative session.

WHEN:

TODAY (Tuesday, November 1st) at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Online. 

Register for the discussion at http://worldfunction.com/event-registration/?regevent_action=register&event_id=2

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