Ogden, UT., November 6, 2018—This month, two sites in the Ogden Area will be among 5,000 U.S. drop-off locations collecting shoebox gifts for children overseas during Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week, Nov. 12-19.
Ogden Area families, churches and groups are busy transforming empty shoeboxes into fun gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. The Samaritan’s Purse project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine. For many of these children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.
This year, Ogden Area residents hope to collect more than 3,500 gifts to contribute to the 2018 global goal of reaching 11 million children.
“We are honored to be linking arms with our community to help children around the world experience the true meaning of Christmas,” said Farwest volunteer Nicole Farley who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for 11 years. “These simple gifts show God’s love to children facing difficult circumstances.”
OGDEN AREA COLLECTION SITES:
Community United Methodist Church
163 W 4800 S
Ogden, UT 84405
Monday, Nov. 12, thru Friday, Nov. 16,
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 17, and Sunday, Nov. 18,
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Living Faith Church
985 N 1200 W
Farwest, UT, 84404
Monday, Nov. 12, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 13, thru Friday, Nov. 16,
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 17, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 19, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child, call 801-264-9999, or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. Participants can donate $9 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.
============================
Utah Medical Marijuana Initiative Projected to Pass
Utah will be the 32nd state to adopt an effective medical marijuana law; Missouri became the 31st earlier in the evening
Updated statements below from the Marijuana Policy Project, which helped organize and fund the Utah initiative effort and supported Amendment 2 in Missouri
The initiative to legalize medical marijuana in Utah is reportedly headed toward victory. Fox 13 News Utah projected Proposition 2 will pass, and the measure was leading 54-46 with 68 percent of precincts reporting.
Even if the lead does not hold, Utah is expected to soon become the 32nd state in the nation to enact an effective medical marijuana law. Last month, backers of Proposition 2 reached an agreement with opponent organizations, legislative leaders, and the governor to support an alternative medical cannabis law that will be enacted in an upcoming special session, regardless of the outcome of the election.
Earlier in the evening, voters in Missouri approved one medical marijuana measure, Amendment 2, and rejected two others, Amendment 3 and Proposition C.
Effective medical marijuana laws have been adopted in 32 states, including Utah and Missouri, as well as in D.C. and the U.S. territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Eighteen other states have adopted medical marijuana laws that are ineffective because they are either unworkable or exceptionally restrictive. Idaho is the only state without any form of medical marijuana law.
Statement from Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Policy Project, which helped organize and fund the Utah initiative effort:
"The passage of Proposition 2 illustrates just how broad support has grown for medical marijuana in the U.S. Even in socially conservative states like Utah, most voters recognize marijuana has significant medical value, and they believe it should be available to patients who could benefit from it.
"We supported the compromise legislation that was agreed to by the governor, legislative leaders, and some of our opponents because we wanted to ensure an effective medical cannabis law is enacted this year and doesn't get delayed or torpedoed during the implementation process. Now that the election is over, it’s time for Utah’s political leaders to uphold their promise and implement a workable medical cannabis law as soon as possible."
Statement from MPP Executive Director Steve Hawkins:
"At this point, medical marijuana may enjoy more public support — and more bipartisan support — than virtually any other policy issue still up for debate. All Americans should have safe, legal, and reliable access to medical cannabis if their doctors recommend it. Patients in Utah and Missouri will be able to exercise that right, but there are still many other states where they will continue to suffer. We can also expect more states to pass similar laws through ballot measures and in their legislatures in coming years.
"We hope Congress will do its part to ensure these state laws continue to be respected by our federal government. Or, better yet, they could enact legislation at the federal level to ensure medical cannabis is a legal treatment option for all Americans."
Earlier statement from Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Policy Project, following the passage of Amendment 2 in Missouri:
"Thanks to the unflagging efforts of patients and advocates, Missourians who could benefit from medical marijuana will soon be able to use it without fear of being treated like criminals. We hope lawmakers will implement the measure efficiently and effectively to ensure qualified patients can gain access to their medicine as soon as possible.
"There is near-universal support in the U.S. for providing seriously ill patients with legal access to medical cannabis. Most voters, regardless of their age, geographic location, or political persuasion, recognize the medical benefits of marijuana and believe it should be available to those who can benefit from it. Now that more than 30 states have enacted comprehensive medical marijuana laws, it is time for Congress to step up and address the issue at the federal level."
# # #
The Marijuana Policy Project is the nation’s largest marijuana policy organization. It has been a leading advocate for federal marijuana policy reform since its founding in 1995, and it has played a leading role in most major state-level reforms that have occurred over the past two decades. For more information, visit https://www.MPP.org.
===========================
Patrick Vo, CEO of BioTrackTHC:
“Congratulations to the voters of Utah. Even though Prop 2 passed, the preemptive action by Gov. Gary Herbert and lawmakers to create medical cannabis legislation shows Utah’s top officials have recognized the real need to create a commonsense regulatory system for medical cannabis. Tight regulations that include tracking products from seed to sale are paramount to patient safety, to ensuring products aren’t diverted to illicit markets, and that only patients who are part of the state program receive the medicine they need.”
Joline Rivera, Kitchen Toke Founder:
“That patients in Utah will soon be able to access medical cannabis is a significant win for modern medicine and compassionate access,” said Joline Rivera, a legalization advocate and publisher of Stack Awards-shortlisted Kitchen Toke magazine. “We continue to expand our knowledge on the health benefits of cannabis. While legalization is no longer unique to this country, it’s still encouraging to see more and more states joining the mix by modernizing their outdated drug policy.”
================================
GOED Board Approves New Convention Center Hotel Incentive
SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 6, 2018) - The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) today approved the New Convention Facility Development Incentive to build a new convention center hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. The post-performance incentive will add $281 million in capital investment over 20 years. The hotel is slated to open in spring of 2022.
“The hotel convention center has been discussed for several years and is a need in our community,” said Val Hale, executive director of GOED. “With the approval of this incentive, the state can attract larger conferences, and Utah can enter into a new market for meetings and conventions.”
The new convention center hotel is a joint venture between hotel owners DDRM, Salt Lake City CH, LL and Portman Holdings as well as other design, construction and operating partners. The 680,000 square foot hotel will be located on the southeast corner of the Salt Palace Convention Center block. The hotel will have approximately 700 rooms. It will include 62,000 square feet of meeting space consisting of a 25,000 square foot grand ballroom, a 14,000 square foot junior ballroom, and an outdoor rooftop amenity space.
The need for a convention center hotel has been studied multiple times (in 2004 and 2008). In 2013 the structure of a public-private partnership to develop a convention center hotel was developed and in 2015 legislation outlined the structure and the corresponding incentives were approved. In 2016 after an initial agreement could not be reached, the second request for proposal was issued for a developer and DDRM was selected.
Salt Lake City CH, LLC. may earn up to 100 percent of the new incremental states sales tax over the life of the agreement in the form of a post-performance Economic Development Tax Increment Finance (EDTIF) tax credit rebate. The GOED Board has approved a post-performance tax credit rebate not to exceed $75,000,000 over 20 years. Salt Lake City CH, LLC may earn 100 percent of city and county sales tax and property tax over 25 years. This includes the conveyance of land on the Salt Palace site from Salt Lake County to Salt Lake City CH, LLC. Each year that Salt Lake City CH, LLC meets the criteria in its contract with the state, it will earn a portion of the total tax credit rebate.
# # #
About the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED)
Under the direction of Gov. Gary R. Herbert, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) provides resources and support for business creation, growth and recruitment, and drives increased tourism and film production in Utah. Utilizing state resources and private sector contracts, GOED administers programs in economic areas that demonstrate the highest potential for development. Learn more at business.utah.gov or by calling (801) 538-8680.
============================
