Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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OverviewNet Immigration to this country from Mexico has declined to zero and may even be negative. The reversal is significant — but will it change attitudes or policies? We'll have a panel discussion. Plus a proposal to construct a gondola to connect Canyons Resort with Solitude is gaining momentum. How does the project's potential economic benefit compare with its environmental impact? We'll discuss the issue with key players on both sides. And First Lady Jeanette Herbert will tell us about the upcoming parenting conference & expo all in this Sunday Edition.
Segment 1
Last week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over whether Arizona can enforce its controversial immigration law. The Obama administration argued that Arizona bulled its way into an area of federal responsibility. But a majority of the court seemed to find no problem in police checking the status of people they arrest and releasing them if federal authorities don't want them held.
"What does state sovereignty mean," asked Antonin Scalia a Supreme Court justice, "if it does not include the ability to defend your borders?"
And after the Justice Department lawyer said the Arizona law would lead to harassment of Latinos, at odds with federal priorities, Sonia Sotomayor, the court's first Hispanic said, "You can see that argument is not selling very well."
Five other states, including Utah, have passed laws similar to Arizona's model and more states may follow if the Supreme Court upholds the Arizona law. Amid the backdrop of that contentious debate comes a study this week from the Pew Hispanic Center, which finds that for the first time in decades, the flow of Mexican migrants to and from the United States has stalled. Joining us to discuss that study and where the immigration debate is headed is immigration attorney Mark Alvarez and sociology professor Theresa Martinez.
Segment 2
A group of 20 business and civic leaders are now advocating for SkiLink. The gondola project between Canyons Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort would be the first of its kind in the United States and could give Utah a competitive advantage in the ski industry. But critics argue that the plan would harm pristine forest land. They also object to the tactics used by the coalition to get the project developed saying the public hasn't had the chance to voice opinion. The project will cost about 10 million dollars paid for by private investors. We discussed the project and impact with Mike Goar, managing director of Canyons Resort and Carl Fisher, executive director of Save Our Canyons.
Segment 3
You can't have a strong state without strong families. Parents are the number one reason kids stay away from drugs and alcohol and anti-social behaviors. Last year First Lady Jeanette Herbert began the project Uplift Utah Families to assist parents in gaining access to programs and information that will help them raise loving, responsible children. As part of those efforts, this weekend she is hosting a Parenting Conference and Expo and she joined us with a preview.
