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Thursday, August 23, 2018 - 2:00pm

Governor appoints Major Jess Anderson as commissioner of public safety

Thanks Commissioner Keith Squires for more than 31 years of service in law enforcement

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 23, 2018) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Major Jess Anderson as Utah’s commissioner of public safety, following Commissioner Keith D. Squires’ retirement from public service.

“I am grateful to both of these men for their dedication to our state, and to the safety of its people,” Gov. Herbert said. “Commissioner Squires has not only been a trusted and well-respected member of our cabinet and leader in our law enforcement community, but he is also viewed as a national expert in public safety and is often called on for his expertise. We will miss his contributions in state government.”

Gov. Herbert went on to praise both men, calling them exceptional and honorable in their public as well as in their private lives.

“I am sad to see this chapter end, but I look forward to working with Major Anderson, and I believe he will make wise decisions when it comes to our public safety,” the governor said.

During his more than 18 years at the Department of Public Safety, Utah Highway Patrol, Major Anderson has served in various capacities including on patrol, bicycle squad, motor squad, Special Emergency Response Team, DUI squad, and as a member of executive protection. He currently serves as an assistant superintendent, charged with overseeing 475 state troopers throughout Utah. He also served as the president of the National Governor’s Security Association from 2009-2016.

“This is a great honor, and I look forward to working alongside the men and women of our Department of Public Safety to protect the residents of our state,” Major Anderson said. “I have so much trust in these brave officers, and together we will continue to improve safety in our communities.”

The governor expressed his gratitude to both Commissioner Squires and Major Anderson for their efforts throughout Operation Rio Grande. Both men have been involved in helping reduce crime amongst the homeless population in the Rio Grande community.

Commissioner Squires has served as the commissioner of public safety since June of 2013. Additionally, he has served as a sworn law-enforcement officer in the state of Utah for more than 31 years. During that time, he has also served as deputy commissioner of public safety, director of emergency management, and as the governor’s homeland security advisor. Squires is retiring to accept a position in the private sector.

Commissioner Squires will conclude his service to the State on Aug. 31, 2018.

The appointment of Major Anderson is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

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Speaker Hughes statement about Commissioner Squires retirement

SALT LAKE CITY – Speaker Greg Hughes issued this statement following Commissioner Keith D. Squires’ retirement from public service.

“While Commissioner Keith Squires retirement is well deserved, his departure from public service will be felt across the state. I have never had a better relationship with our Department of Public Safety, and it is all due to his dedication and collaboration. His leadership has made our state safer, and without him, Operation Rio Grande would not have been possible.

Just recently my district felt the impact of his leadership when he did not hesitate to provide resources and support in search of a missing Draper Boy Scout and the honoring of Draper Fire Battalion Chief Matt Burchett. Utah has greatly benefited from Squires’ dedication to making positive impacts throughout the state, and I consider him a close friend.”

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Educators, students file lawsuit against Education Department, DeVos
Lawsuit aims to stop Education Secretary from illegally delaying rules meant to protect millions of students who are studying in online programs

WASHINGTON — Educators and students, backed by the National Education Association and the California Teachers Association, today sued the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos after they moved to illegally delay rules meant to protect students enrolled in online education programs.

The individual plaintiffs, NEA and CTA are represented by the National Student Legal Defense Network, a nonprofit organization that advocates for student rights through litigation. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, challenges the Education Department’s delay of requirements for online universities of their legal obligation to notify students that the programs in which they’re enrolled or plan to enroll in may fail to meet state licensing standards or may face adverse actions from the state or accreditor.

As enrollment in online courses and degree programs has grown exponentially over the last decade, the Department of Education, under DeVos’ mandate, took the shocking step of rescinding protections for students pursuing online degrees — protections students need now more than ever.

“It’s shocking but not at all surprising that the Department of Education would roll back student protections because this latest brazen attack on student rights is consistent with everything we have seen from the Trump administration and Secretary Betsy DeVos,” said NEA President Lily Eskelsen García. “Without these rules, current and prospective students will remain in the dark. Students will be denied critical information about which programs are right for them and which would be a waste of their time and money.”

One of the lawsuit’s plaintiffs is aspiring educator Stephanie Portilla, whose dream is to be an elementary teacher one day. Earlier this year, Portilla enrolled full-time to pursue her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Western Governors University, an online-only university that claims it has students living in all 50 states, U.S. territories and U.S. military bases abroad.

Portilla researched and confirmed through the state of California teacher certification website that her program would meet state standards for teacher certification. However, because of the Department of Education has illegally delayed rules, there is no guarantee or legal obligation for the online university to notify her if the program ceases to meet the standards. Portilla could end up with a degree that gets her no closer to her dream of being a teacher in California.

“Betsy DeVos’ latest move that removes students’ protections from predatory online universities is a direct attack on our students and their future. The common-sense disclosures help prospective and enrolled students evaluate the legitimacy of online programs and the institution that offers them. Without them, students like Stephanie Portilla could end up saddled with debt and stuck with a worthless degree they can’t use,” said CTA President Eric Heins.

In December 2016, the Department of Education issued the state authorization rule to protect students who were studying in online, distance or correspondence programs. The rules were scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2018. The rules provided important protections including common sense disclosures to help prospective and enrolled students evaluate the legitimacy of both the online program and the institution that offers it, preventing students from wasting time and money on programs that will not help them further their careers. The disclosures included information about whether the program met the licensing requirements in the student’s state and whether the school was under investigation by the state or accreditor for its online programs.

“Desperately needed as it may be, no law can force Secretary DeVos to care about protecting students. But the law does require a specific process to delay a rule, and Secretary DeVos tried to take an illegal shortcut instead,” said NSLDN President Aaron Ament.

Instead of letting these protections go into place, DeVos delayed for months and then illegally rescinded them. The Education Department is required to conduct what’s called “negotiated rulemaking” before it proposes a rule. The Department of Education had plenty of time to do negotiated rulemaking since it signaled its interest in examining the state authorization rule in January 2017. Industry also raised issues for clarification about the rule to the Department of Education throughout 2017 while the Department was conducting intensive outreach on deregulatory actions.

The Department of Education waited until the very last minute and then issued a proposal with only 15 days for the public to comment — then it missed its own deadline and failed to delay the rule by July 1, 2018. The Education Department’s delay did not publish in the Federal Register until July 3, 2018.

“The Department of Education’s reasons for delay are flimsy and do not satisfy the high bar it must meet to waive its legal obligation to conduct negotiated rulemaking,” added Ament.

The complaint is available at http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/1-main.pdf.

About the National Education Association
The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. Learn more at www.nea.org and follow on twitter at @NEAmedia.

About the California Teachers Association
The 325,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association. Find out more at www.cta.org and follow on twitter at @WeAreCTA.

About the National Student Legal Defense Network
The National Student Legal Defense Network is a non-profit organization that works, through litigation and advocacy, to advance students’ rights to educational opportunity and to ensure that higher education provides a launching point for economic mobility. Learn more at www.nsldn.org and follow on twitter at @StudentLegalNet.

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FIT FOR A KING

Premieres New Song

"Oblivion"

With Heavy Consequence

New Album Dark Skies Due Out

September 14th via Solid State Records

Pre-Orders Available Now

Set To Tour with The Devil Wears Prada This Fall

Tickets On Sale Now

August 23, 2018 - Dallas, TX - With just a few weeks until their latest LP drops, Fit For A King are premiering a brand new single today with Heavy Consequence, calling it a "scorching track.""To put it simply, Oblivion is a story about a man's search for forgiveness...It's one of the more emotional songs on the album." shares vocalist Ryan Kirby. Check out the heavy-hitting single, here.

On the inspiration and message behind this latest single, Kirby shared with Heavy Consequence that"The lyrics in this track were inspired by a fan (who wishes to remain anonymous), who had done some hurtful things to people he loved. He felt he was beyond forgiving, though he desired it deeply and wanted to make things right. The chorus, 'Tell me I won't be forgotten' is his cry to God to not abandon him, to give him peace." The track starts off with a hypnotizing version of these lyrics before diving into the urgent percussion and riffs that propel this story forward and showcase the versatility of the band.

"Oblivion" joins previously released singles "When Everything Means Nothing," "Tower of Pain," "The Price Of Agony" and "Backbreaker" which have all seen incredible streaming success including adds to Spotify's New Core and Kickass Metal playlists. These tracks help make up the upcoming LP Dark Skies, which was recorded, produced and mixed by the legendary Drew Fulk (I Prevail, Motionless In White, Memphis May Fire) and is set to be released on September 14th with Solid State Records.

Fit For A King will be hitting the road again this Fall when they join genre legends The Devil Wears Prada on their 10 Year Anniversary Tour of With Roots Above And Branches Below. A full list of tour dates are below, with more information and tickets available at http://www.fitforakingband.com/.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

August 10 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero

August 11 - Orlando, FL - Sound Bar

August 12 - Margate, FL - O'Malley's Sports Bar

August 14 - Jacksonville, FL - 1904 Music Hall

September 27 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon+

September 28 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre+

September 30 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall+

October 1 - Calgary, AB - The Gateway+

October 3 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick Centre+

October 4 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater+

October 5 - Iowa City, IA - Blue Moose Taphouse+

October 6 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave II+

October 7 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall+

October 9 - Indianapolis, IN - Old National Centre+

October 10 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's+

October 11 - Nashville, TN - Exit Inn+

October 12 - Springfield, MO - The Riff+

+ - Tour with The Devil Wears Prada

Dark Skies is the band's evocative declaration of a hard won victory. "This album is far from happy. It's about personal struggles," explains singer Ryan Kirby. "It touches on many subjects relevant to all of our daily lives." Fans can pre-order Dark Skies digitally on iTunes and physically on MerchNow.

Dark Skies Tracklisting:

1. Engraved

2. Price of Agony

3. Backbreaker

4. Anthem of the Defeated

5. When Everything Means Nothing

6. Youth | Division

7. Shattered Glass

8. Tower of Pain

9. Debts of the Soul

10. Oblivion

No matter the political divisions, the staggering alienation arising from our paradoxical and increasingly "connected" world, or the mistakes we all make, Fit For A King offer a foundation of open-mindedness and compassion. "We're a very transparent band. We aren't pretending to be something we're not," says Kirby. "We want people to know exactly who we are."

Fit For A King cherishes unwavering honesty. Even under Dark Skies.

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Fit For A King was built with bootstrap ethics and do-it-yourself vigor. On the strength of self-released material, the group joined Solid State for a string of successful albums that connected with the downtrodden and dispossessed. Creation/Destruction (2013) debuted at Number 6 on the Hard Rock chart. Slave to Nothing (2014) cracked the Top 50 of Billboard's Top Current Albums. Deathgrip (2016) climbed to Number 5 among Hard Rock Albums. Now, with the band's forthcoming release, Dark Skies, on the way, Fit For A King is looking to, once again, dominate the hard rock/metalcore scene through a collection of diverse anthems powered by the undeniable weight of truth-telling emotional vulnerability.