Good morning from the DABC commission meeting! We're still virtual, but mix yourself up a little something and follow along as I live-tweet this sucker. @fox13#utpol#utliquor
Utah's per capita alcohol consumption rate remains the lowest in the nation, per Doug Murakami (who leads the DABC's Parents Empowered anti-youth drinking program).
Because of the ongoing problem of bar license quotas (that the #utleg did NOT address this year), the DABC has started to "triage" who is ready to open when they award coveted licenses. @fox13#utpol#utliquor
Here's how many liquor licenses are available in Utah right now. @fox13#utpol#utliquor
The owner of Rye is pleading for a liquor license, saying that a full bar license (they currently have a full restaurant license) can help save their business in this climate. They're switching up their business model and current license is "not sustainable." @fox13#utpol
Why Kiki in #SLC tried to buy a liquor license, that didn't happen. They've done a lot of kitchen work and plan to open next week.
O-Town Beach Club wants just a summer seasonal license (a temporary one).
Bewilder has had construction delays (like everyone else). Downtown being a ghost town during COVID hasn't helped, either.
That's the ones ready to go for a bar license. We have 3 applicants and 2 licenses. @fox13#utpol#utliquor
DABC commission has to decide who gets the next bar license.
After this, Commissioner Jacobson says the next bar license won't be available until June (based on population quota, unless another bar shuts down). @fox13#utpol#utliquor
Commissioner Jacobson wants to preserve a license for a rural-area bar that's soon to open (and there's a few there).
Chair Nielsen says they could offer a summer seasonal license. Commissioner Tennert says she doesn't want to hold a license. @fox13#utpol#utliquor
DABC commissioners sound frustrated by the whole situation.
The DABC needs YOU! They have 4 openings on the advisory board (which takes public input). Need reps for restaurant, wholesale alcohol, alcohol prevention groups represented. 4-year terms.
DABC is reporting a 15% DECREASE in bottle sales (about 5.3 million bottles) and a $1.9 million INCREASE in retail sales (about .58%). @fox13#utpol#utliquor
Financial analyst says this is the impact of beer going to grocery/convenience stores.
Costs of stuff in DABC stores have also gone up (which is passed on to consumer). @fox13#utpol#utliquor
DABC expenses have also gone up (they're upgrading systems).
A reminder: liquor sales go to public safety, school lunches for needy kids and the general fund. @fox13#utpol#utliquor
JUST IN: @UtahDepOfHealth reporting 371 new cases of #COVID19 in Utah today. 4 new deaths. 5,113 new people tested. 29 new hospitalizations. 16,111 new 1st-dose vaccinations. 8,500 new people fully vaccinated. @fox13#utpol#Utah
Here's the math on #COVID19 in Utah, per @UtahDepOfHealth...
Cases: 385,127 (371 new)
Tested: 2,380,237 (5,113 new)
Hospitalizations: 15,503 (29 new)
Deaths: 2,118 (4 new)
Vaccinated-1st dose: 878,867 (16,111 new)
Vaccinated-Fully: 487,418 (8,500 new) @fox13#utpol#Utah
.@UtahDepOfHealth is reporting the rolling 7-day average for positive #COVID19 tests is 424 per day. The rolling 7-day average person/person positivity rate is 6.7%. @fox13#utpol#Utah
BREAKING NEWS: "Real Housewives of SLC" star Jen Shah and assistant indicted by a federal grand jury on fraud charges.
She has been arrested, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah confirms. @fox13#utpol#Utah
Federal prosecutors out of NYC sought the indictment, accusing Shah and assistant Stewart Smith of telemarketing/wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
She is to appear before a federal judge in SLC today. @fox13#utpol#Utah
.@TheJusticeDept claims Shah and Smith generated and sold "lead lists" for business opportunities that did not exist, per the indictment.
Shah faces up to 30 years in prison, if convicted of the charges. @fox13#utpol#Utah
.@FrugalDougall's audit found that @UtahAG "should have verified these claims before issuing a significant contract and recommending public safety entities to cooperate and open their systems to Banjo."
JUST IN: @UtahDepOfHealth reporting 194 new cases of #COVID19 in Utah today. No new deaths. 2,403 new people tested. 12 new hospitalizations. 2,072 new 1st-dose vaccinations. 1,218 new people fully vaccinated. @fox13#utpol#Utah
Here's the math on #COVID19 in Utah, per @UtahDepOfHealth...
Cases: 384,756 (194 new)
Tested: 2,375,124 (2,403 new)
Hospitalizations: 15,474 (12 new)
Deaths: 2,114 (0 new)
Vaccinated-1st dose: 862,756 (2,072 new)
Vaccinated-Fully: 478,918 (1,218 new) @fox13#utpol#Utah
.@UtahDepOfHealth is reporting the rolling 7-day average for positive #COVID19 tests is 426 per day. The rolling 7-day average person/person positivity rate is 6.9%. @fox13#utpol#Utah
JUST IN: @UtahDepOfHealth reporting 389 new cases of #COVID19 in Utah today. 13 new deaths. 4,704 new people tested. 21 new hospitalizations. 8,426 new 1st-dose vaccinations. 6,795 new people fully vaccinated. @fox13#utpol#Utah
Here's the math on #COVID19 in Utah, per @UtahDepOfHealth...
Cases: 384,562 (389 new)
Tested: 2,372,721 (4,704 new)
Hospitalizations: 15,462 (21 new)
Deaths: 2,114 (13 new)
Vaccinated-1st dose: 860,684 (8,426 new)
Vaccinated-Fully: 477,700 (6,795 new) @fox13#utpol#Utah
.@UtahDepOfHealth is reporting the rolling 7-day average for positive #COVID19 tests is 422 per day. The rolling 7-day average person/person positivity rate is 7.0%. @fox13#utpol#Utah