January 6 2021 Update

I have been watching history unfold today as protests at the US Capitol unfolded during the electoral college certification of the presidential election   I can’t recall a time when violence shut down a constitutional process at the Capitol.   We have to find better ways to resolve our political issues and address serious election security concerns across the country.   I know Provo can be part of this improved public discourse, and I hope we all work had to be more civil and to, as Arthur Brooks puts it, learn to disagree better, but not less.

CORONAVIRUS STATS

Nationally, the CDC reports 20,960,096 cases with 356,005 fatalities.

Utah:  292,720 cases (up 3,769 from yesterday); 11,463 hospitalizations; 1,330 deaths (up 18 from yesterday); 60,462 vaccines administered

Utah County:  71,050 cases (up 716 from yesterday); 1,927 hospitalizations; 222 deaths (up 2 from yesterday)

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Today is the joint session of Congress to certify the presidential election, with the presidential Inauguration Day coming up on January 20th.
• For those who enjoy watching the Grammy's, the awards will no longer take place this month in Los Angeles, but will instead move to a March broadcast.
• Protestors marched on the U.S. Capitol today and halted proceedings in Congress. Shots were fired and damage has occurred. The situation continues to develop with live updates.
• Provo City and Google Fiber are negotiating a new contract with adjustments that will hopefully benefit all parties involved.

PROVO SOCIAL MEDIA

THE MAYOR'S DAY

Today, Mayor Kaufusi was out of the office. Here is a look at my schedule for today:

• Met with representatives from Finance and CNS
• Held a meeting with the Mayor's office staff
• Participated in a communications strategy meeting
• Received stuffed animal donation to the city and the victims advocates
• Attended a state task force meeting on criminal justice reform
• Met with the executive team
• Participated in a meeting with UDOT
• Held a meeting on businesses in Provo

FUN STUFF

Boston Dynamics is a robotics company, and this little video seemed kind of fun - but it is a little disturbing as well.  Robots with much better dance moves than mine.  Oh, wait.  On second thought, that isn't that hard to do.

Thanks for all you do!

Wayne