Welcome to Grand Theft Autumn: October is Utah’s top month for home break-ins
Allstate offers tips to keep your home and valuables safe
OGDEN, Utah — Oct. 14, 2019 — More homes are broken into in Utah during the month of October than any other time of year, according to new data from Allstate Insurance Company.
The insurer looked at home claims data over the last ten years (January 2008-December 2018) and identified October as the month with the most home break-ins and thefts. August comes in as a close second based on the ten-year analysis.
“Whether you’re out running everyday errands or taking a road trip this fall, it’s important to protect your home and belongings from unwanted attention while you’re gone,” says Alicia Gonzales, an Allstate spokesperson. “Leaving valuables in plain sight or leaving your entry points vulnerable can make your home a potential target.”
Top items on thieves’ shopping lists include cash, prescription drugs, jewelry, electronics, firearms, tools, liquor, decorative items and documents with sensitive information to steal your identity, according to Safewise. Follow these tips to turn off thieves:
Understand your insurance coverage
In the unfortunate event items from your home are stolen, it’s important to understand your insurance coverage. Allstate Homeowners insurance is made up of coverages that may help pay to repair or replace your home and belongings if they are damaged by certain perils, such as fire or theft. However, Homeowners insurance policies are not one-size-fits-all. While a typical policy comes with certain coverages, it's usually customized to meet each individual homeowner's unique needs. Apartment dwellers can find themselves unprotected if they don’t have renters insurance.
Allstate encourages Utahns who have questions about prevention tips or their home insurance coverage to reach out to their local insurance agent.
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Complete Count Committee Opens Census Grants
SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 14, 2019) – The State of Utah’s Complete Count Committee has announced it will make up to $500,000 in grants available to entities seeking to help achieve an accurate count in hard-to-reach areas and populations.
The funding for these grants is supported by appropriations made by the Utah Legislature. The grants will be made available through a competitive and panel-reviewed process.
Examples of possible projects could include, but are not limited to:
Local nonprofit and community-based group census trainings
Targeted awareness campaigns
Education materials
Outreach activities in diverse communities
Direct support with questionnaire assistance
Communications support such as internet access, language translation, and other accessibility accommodations
Workshops and informal gatherings to address census-related concerns and questions
Training with nonprofits on effective outreach tactics and methods for identifying and engaging historically undercounted communities
Outreach efforts and messaging during non-response follow-up phase
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, schools, arts and cultural organizations, museums, libraries, local governments, and other organizations with an IRS W9 number, and/or tribes, community groups fiscally sponsored by IRS W9 numbered organizations, organizations and coalitions working in the identified historically undercounted communities and geographies.
All applications must be created and submitted online through the grants portal at uamgrants.utah.gov. If you do not have an account, it may take up to two days to create one. More information can also be found at the official Utah Complete Count Committee Website at https://gomb.utah.gov/census-2020-state-complete-count-committee/
Grant applications are due November 8, 2019. Grantees will have between November 24, 2019 - June 30, 2020 to complete their project.
Background:
Every 10 years, the United States Constitution requires that every person living in the United States be counted through a nationwide census. The goal of the decennial census is to count each person in the United States based on their residence as of April 1, 2020. Accurate census data is essential for federal and state funding allocations. Many state and federal resources are allocated to local jurisdiction according to population, demographic characteristics, needs, and assets as reported by census data.
For Utah to ensure fair and accurate political representation and funding allocations, the Census Bureau must undergo the difficult task of accurately counting the state’s dynamic, diverse population. Historically, some populations have been undercounted. These populations can include young children, highly mobile persons, racial and ethnic minorities, non-English speakers, low income persons, persons experiencing homelessness, immigrants, persons distrustful of government, and people living in rural parts of the country. Funding for census-related projects is now available through the Governor's Office of Management and Budget.
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For Immediate Release
October 14, 2019
Contact
Aundrea Peterson
Director of Communications | Utah Senate
801-791-3365 | aundreapeterson@le.utah.gov
Celebrating Utah’s Significant Role in the Women’s Suffrage Movement
SALT LAKE CITY – October marks the 100th anniversary of Utah ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. To commemorate this anniversary, an original copy of Senate Joint Resolution No. 1 (SJR 1) will be on display at the Utah State Capitol during the interim week on Tuesday, October 15 and Wednesday, October 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“Utah was the first suffrage state to ratify the 19th Amendment,” said Senator Deidre Henderson, co-chair of the Martha Hughes Cannon Statue Oversight Committee. “It is important to remember the people who fought to include women’s voting rights in the U.S. Constitution. We all benefit from their efforts and sacrifice. My hope is that we express our appreciation to them by prizing the gift of political freedom they have given us.”
Four Utah women legislators led the 19th Amendment ratification efforts during a special session of the state Legislature – Sen. Elizabeth Hayward, sponsor of SJR 1, and Reps. Delora Blakely, Dr. Grace Stratton Airey and Anna T. Piercey, who presided over the House during the ratification vote.
“We are reminded that Utah women have been leading out on issues like suffrage and equal rights since the earliest days of our state,” said Rep. Karen Kwan, co-chair of the Martha Hughes Cannon Statue Oversight Committee. “These women leaders showed tremendous courage and foresight in challenging the social norms of their time. They inspire us to continue reaching for yet more opportunities and accomplishments for Utah women in our own time.”
Senate President J.W. Funk and Speaker of the House John E. Heppler signed the resolution. Then, Governor Simon Bamberger signed SJR 1 on October 3, 1919, officially making Utah the 17th state to ratify the 19th Amendment.
In part, the joint resolution states, “The State of Utah has always favored equal suffrage, and many of its citizens, both men and women, through personal efforts, and untiring energy, have labored for the adoption of the suffrage amendment to the Constitution of the United States.”
Next year, our nation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which made voting possible for all women. Utah will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Utah women’s first votes and recognize the national anniversaries by sending a statue of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon, first woman elected to a state Senate in the country, to our United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. to represent our state.
Sen. Henderson and Rep. Kwan encourage Utahns to join us in celebrating this monumental anniversary by visiting the State Senate this week.
On Wednesday, October 16 at 4:00 p.m., Sen. Henderson and Rep. Kwan will recognize members of the Hayward and Bamberger family on the Senate floor during Advice and Consent.
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Hi Jim,
Please feel free to use the below article as is. If you would like an interview or comments from Alex Joyce on this and related topics please reach out and I will be happy to coordinate.
Ashley
Worried About Saving For College?
Here Are The Key Points To Consider
As students head back to college, millions of parents are hoping their younger children someday can do the same.
With the high costs of college continuing to rise and many students and families saddled with heavy debt, saving for college has become as important as ever. Many people started savings plans early, while others either could not afford to or procrastinated.
The bottom line, says financial professional Alexander Joyce, is learning all the options that fit with a family’s financial situation.
“It’s never too late, but most people wish they had started sooner, and many don’t know what investment option is best for their college funding needs,” says Joyce, president/CEO of ReJoyce Financial LLC (www.ReJoyceFinancial.com) and author of ReJoyce In Your Retirement: Everything You Need To Know To Get Everything You Want.
“Be honest and realistic about the college part of your family financials, and from there you can decide on ways to get there in discussions with a planner.”
Joyce says the following points should be explored and evaluated before going forward with a college savings plan:
Your risk tolerance level. Before committing to a college savings plan, it’s important to determine how much you can afford to risk. “Just like anything in life, the higher the risk, the higher the potential reward,” Joyce says. “If you start very early you likely can go higher risk somewhere down the road. At the same time, risk tolerance — and protecting your principal — is very important because college savings is a usually more conservative investment; it’s a targeted investment, meaning you need an amount of money by a specific date.”
The pros and cons of 529 plans. The 529 plan is an immensely popular college savings tool. Among the benefits are tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals when savings are used for qualified education expenses. And as of 2019, individuals can contribute up to $15,000 per 529 plan, per child annually without triggering a gift tax. However, there are some disadvantages, such as limited investment options and a 10 percent tax penalty applied when money in the account is used for non-qualified education expenses. “The 529 has traditionally been the way for many families, because you hear about it the most,” Joyce says. “But if you’re getting a late start on college savings, this may not be the plan for you. You may have to play catch-up by contributing larger amounts, and you also have a shorter window for seeing your investments recover from market volatility.”
Non-traditional college savings plans. “One of the best things some people can do is look outside the box of traditional planning vehicles,” Joyce says. “There’s a big argument for adding an additional level of equities — some say you would be better off buying a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) to fund college. For example, with some funds averaging 10-15% in the market the last 10 years, those who did exceptionally well took more market risk, exposing the principal to loss or gain. On the other hand, perhaps try a Roth IRA — it could double as a college savings account as well as a retirement account. There’s no 10 percent penalty when Roth IRA withdrawals are used for qualified higher education expenses, but ordinary income tax may apply to any earnings withdrawn before the age of 59½.”
“When drawing a conclusion on a plan of action, stick to it the best you can,” Joyce says. “Consistency wins the race.”
About Alexander Joyce
Alexander Joyce is CEO and president of ReJoyce Financial LLC (www.ReJoyceFinancial.com), a full-service retirement income planning firm in Indianapolis, Ind. He’s the author of ReJoyce In Your Retirement: Everything You Need To Know To Get Everything You Want. Joyce holds the NSSA (National Social Security Advisor) and CRPC (Charted Retirement Planning Counselor) designations. He hosts informational and educational seminars as well as the radio show Retirement Halftime Show. He can be seen monthly on Money Monday as well as Your Money on the IndyStyle program, broadcast by WISH-TV, myINDY-TV and WTHR in Indianapolis.
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With the Census Bureau reporting that the South and West held 14 of the 15 cities with the largest population gains in 2018, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2019’s Fastest-Growing Cities in America as well as accompanying videos.
To determine where the most rapid local economic growth occurred over a period of seven years, WalletHub compared 515 U.S. cities across 17 key metrics. The data set ranges from population growth to college-educated population growth to unemployment rate decrease. In addition, we produced a separate ranking by city size.
Fastest-Growing Cities in America
Slowest-Growing Cities in America
1. Lehigh Acres, FL
506. Portsmouth, VA
2. Mount Pleasant, SC
507. Waterloo, IA
3. Bend, OR
508. Anchorage, AK
4. Enterprise, NV
509. Albany, GA
5. Frisco, TX
510. Springfield, IL
6. Fort Myers, FL
511. Decatur, IL
7. Meridian, ID
512. Davenport, IA
8. St. George, UT
513. Erie, PA
9. Cape Coral, FL
514. Canton, OH
10. Round Rock, TX
515. Shreveport, LA
Key Stats
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/fastest-growing-cities/7010/
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Sutherland Institute recommends that the Department of Commerce not finalize any rule changes to R156-61, but rather that it act only to make policy recommendations regarding the regulation of therapies for children with questions about their sexual attractions or gender. Such action would place this important decision back in the hands of Utah’s state Legislature and the governor – offices elected by, and accountable to, the citizens of the state.
Sutherland maintains that in the absence of legislative action on complex policy issues, any outcomes will lack full perspective and accountability. Administrative rulemaking that precedes legislative deliberation and action is not a step toward sustaining the health of Utah’s politics and policymaking processes. While mental health professionals and regulators represent an important perspective on this issue – one that should be heard – the right and responsibility for developing a policy resolution to this issue lie with elected legislators and the governor.
Enacting a new statute entails a legislative process that engages deliberation in order to achieve balance and compromise, and requires consensus among the broader range of perspectives to win the support of a majority of duly elected representatives.
While this reality may make resolving a challenging policy issue such as this more politically and substantially difficult, experience has taught our state that this rigor tends to produce the best public policies. When the well-being of children and families is involved, the path toward the best public policy is the only satisfactory option.
Sutherland applauds the Division of Professional Licensing, the Department of Commerce and the Utah Psychologist Licensing board for their thoughtful efforts on this issue. We also applaud Governor Herbert for leaving open the door to legislative action. For the sake of the well-being of all children involved, the next step should not be administrative rule, but a sound legislative process.
