Story Archive for 01/12/2010
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Sharks Stymie Coyotes
Published on January 12, 2010 at 11:08PM
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Patrick Marleau posted two goals and Dany Heatley also scored as the San Jose Sharks humbled the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-1 Tuesday at Jobing.com Arena in NHL action. Marleau’s goals enabled him to remain the NHL’s top scorer as he has 31 goals on the season while later adding an assist. Radim Vrbata scored the sole goal for Phoenix in defeat. The win improved the Sharks to 30-10-7 on the season while the Coyotes fell to 26-16-5. In other NHL action Tuesday, the New York Islanders crushed Detroit, 6-0, New Jersey blanked the New York Rangers, 1-0 in a shootout, Philadelphia doubled up Dallas, 6-3, Carolina gashed Toronto, 4-2, Atlanta pummeled Ottawa, 6-1, Tampa Bay overpowered Washington, 7-4, St. Louis waxed Columbus, 4-1 and Nashville stonewalled Edmonton, 5-3.
Lady Huskers Stymie Texas
Published on January 12, 2010 at 11:04PM
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)—Kelsey Griffin amassed 26 points and 10 rebounds and the #9 Nebraska Lady Cornhuskers bested the #21 Texas Lady Longhorns, 91-79 Tuesday in Top 25 women’s college basketball action. Yvonne Turner added 21 points for the Lady Huskers while matching a career-best with five 3-pointers. Brittainey Raven had 22 points for Texas in the loss, which dropped them to 11-5, while Nebraska ensued in their perfect season, by improving to 15-0. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #3 Notre Dame overpowered South Florida, 81-64, #13 West Virginia snuck past Villanova, 45-41, #18 Georgetown stonewalled Providence, 74-62 and #19 Oklahoma State edged Kansas, 70-68.
Buffs Down Nationally-Ranked Bears
Published on January 12, 2010 at 11:00PM
BOULDER, Colo. (AP)—Cory Higgins had 16 of his 18 points in the second half and Marcus Relphorde added 17 points as the Colorado Buffaloes upset the #24 Baylor Bears, 78-71 Tuesday at Coors Event Center in men’s Top 25 college basketball action. The win improved the Buffaloes to 10-6 on the season, including 9-0 at home. LaceDarius Dunn had 23 points for the Bears in the loss, which snapped their nine-game winning streak and dropped them to 13-2. Both teams are currently at 1-1 in Big 12 conference play. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #2 Kentucky surged past Florida, 89-77, Ohio State got past #6 Purdue, 70-66, #12 Kansas State decimated Texas A&M, 88-65 and North Carolina State stunned #25 Florida State, 88-81.
4th Quarter Surge Leads Magic Past Kings
Published on January 12, 2010 at 10:54PM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)—Dwight Howard amassed 30 points and 16 rebounds and the Orlando Magic finished the game with a 31-10 4th Quarter surge in a 109-88 win over the Sacramento Kings Tuesday at Arco Arena in NBA action. The Kings, playing their seventh straight game against a division leader, held their own against the powerful Magic through three quarters and nursed a 78-76 lead heading into the last stanza. Nevertheless, Sacramento went cold and a quick 18-4 run by the Magic buried the Kings en route to Orlando’s 26th win of the season. Tyreke Evans had 18 points in the loss for Sacramento, which dropped them to 15-22. In other NBA action Tuesday, Detroit downed Washington, 99-90, Charlotte humbled Houston, 102-94, Memphis edged the Los Angeles Clippers, 104-102 and San Antonio hammered the Los Angeles Lakers, 105-85.
Prep Sports Roundup: 1/12
Published on January 12, 2010 at 09:35PM
FILLMORE, Utah (AP)—Nate Robison had 18 points and Mike Louder added 13 more as the Millard Eagles got past Cross Creek, 54-48 Tuesday in Region 13 boys basketball action.
MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)—Kaity Diaz had 23 points and Tana Henrie added 13 more as the Delta Lady Rabbits stymied the North Sanpete Lady Hawks, 55-40 in Region 12 girls basketball action Tuesday.
CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)—Jessica Murray and Taylor Mann had 16 points apiece and the Emery Lady Spartans bludgeoned the Juab Lady Wasps, 63-37 Tuesday in Region 12 girls basketball action. Kiz Farrer had 17 points in the loss for Juab.
MANTI, Utah (AP)—Brooke Bliss posted 17 points and Andrea Christensen added 10 more as the Richfield Lady Wildcats doubled up the Manti Lady Templars, 58-29 in Region 12 girls basketball action Tuesday. Shauri Lyon led Manti with 13 points in defeat.
FILLMORE, Utah (AP)—Krystyn Stevens had 16 points for the Millard Lady Eagles in a 53-19 rout of the Cross Creek Lady Bobcats Tuesday in Region 13 girls basketball action.
KANAB, Utah (AP)—Hannah Snyder keyed a balanced scoring attack with 11 points and the Beaver Lady Beavers hammered the Kanab Cowgirls, 52-25 in Region 13 girls basketball action Tuesday. Kaytee Glover had 10 points in the loss for Kanab.
MONROE, Utah (AP)—Janessa Farrer had 14 points and Kayla King added 12 more as the South Sevier Lady Rams crushed the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 54-19 Tuesday in Region 15 girls basketball action. Felicia Jensen had five points in the loss for Gunnison.
Huntsman To Deliver UofU Commencement Speech in May
Published on January 12, 2010 at 03:03PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Former Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. will return to Utah in May to deliver the commencement address at the University of Utah. Huntsman resigned as governor in August to accept an appointment from President Barack Obama as ambassador to China. The U of U commencement ceremony will take place at the Huntsman Center May 7, 2010.
Police Say 2 Killed, 3 Hurt in Georgia Business Shooting
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:57PM
(KENNESAW, Ga.)—A police spokesman is now saying two people have been killed and three others injured after a disgruntled former employee opened fire at a suburban Atlanta business. Cobb County police spokesman Joe Hernandez says the lone gunman is in custody. Hernandez said the suspect fled the Penske truck rental facility Tuesday in a pickup truck and was arrested about a mile away. Hernandez said the gunman was wearing camouflage. Penske spokesman Randy Ryerson says four of the victims were employees and the other was a customer. The shooting happened in Kennesaw, about 25 miles northwest of Atlanta.
Alpine School District Examining Social Networking Policy
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:53PM
(UTAH COUNTY)—The Alpine School District is looking to limit teachers’ and employees’ interactions with students on social networking Web sites. The district’s board is discussing proposed policy changes at its Tuesday evening meeting that would prohibit teachers from sending personal texts to individual students, or adding students as friends on personal Facebook pages. If the policy changes are approved, teachers would be allowed to create professional classroom pages on Facebook or other social networking sites. They could also send out mass texts. The district board is expected to vote on the changes next month.
Lawmaker Resurrects Tobacco Tax Increase
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:47PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Insisting it’s about health rather than money, a Utah Senator hopes this is the year a tax increase on cigarette sales can get past the legislature. Senator Allen Christensen of North Ogden unveiled his plans to increase the state tax on cigarettes by $1.30 per pack. The current tax is roughly 70 cents. Christensen claimed increasing the tax would prevent more than 14,000 young people from smoking in the future. He also claimed smoking costs every Utah household roughly $500 every year in public health costs associated with tobacco related illnesses. A similar bill last year failed, but Christensen thinks this bill has a reasonable chance. Several lawmakers and the governor have already pledged they wouldn’t increase taxes this year. Christensen said he had it on “good authority” that the governor would sign the bill if it were to make it through the Legislature.
Stay of Execution Remains For Convicted Murderer
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:42PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Convicted murder Ronnie Lee Gardner will not be put to death anytime soon. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell refused to lift a stay of execution that was in place in 1996. Judge Campbell said the stay must remain in effect until decisions are made on petitions still pending with the U.S. Supreme Court. The Utah Attorney General’s Office claimed the stay was no longer valid. Gardner was sentenced to death in 1985 after he shot and killed attorney Michael Burdell during an escape attempt in court. Gardner tried to escape during a hearing on charges in the 1984 robbery and fatal shooting of Melvyn John Otterstrom at a Salt Lake City bar. Gardner wounded a bailiff and shot Burdell twice before being captured on the courthouse lawn. Gardner was sentenced to death for killing Burdell and five years to life for killing Otterstrom.
Local Swimming Pools Closed After Falling Short of Safety Standards
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:35PM
(UTAH COUNTY)—Six Utah County swimming pools or spas have been shut down over the past week because inspectors say they haven’t made required improvements to meet federal safety standards. Just over two years ago, the Virginia Graeme Baker pool and spa safety act was signed into law to ascertain pool drains didn’t suck, trap or entangle and kill someone underwater. The bill was promoted by former Secretary of State James Baker who lost a granddaughter after she became trapped underwater by the suction of a hot tub drain. The state gave pool owners until December 19 of last year to make upgrades before county health departments would have the authority to enforce the act. Utah County then gave pool owners an additional week to be compliant before they began shutting pools down. Some pool owners have decided the upgrades to the drainage system are too costly so they opted to close their pools down instead of cutting open concrete at the bottoms of pools and replacing piping. The pools that were closed were Mt. Timpanogos Village Pool and Spa in American Fork, Elevate Fitness Training Pool, Main Springs Day Spa and Winter Haven Spa in Orem and Liberty Square Apartment Spa and Super 8 Spa in Provo.
Corroon Kicks Off Gubernatorial Campaign
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:28PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon kicked off his gubernatorial bid with a speech Tuesday morning, formally announcing his candidacy for Utah governor. The moderate Democrat is hoping to unseat current Utah governor, Republican Gary Herbert who took office in August after then-governor Jon Huntsman resigned to become the U.S. Ambassador to China. Corroon focused on the environment and economy during his announcement. He also talked about finding stable, high-paying jobs and paying attention to local business owners. Corroon also announced he would protect Utah’s water supply and stop out-of-state radioactive waste. Corroon and his campaign staff have secured more than $300,000 in campaign funds. According to financial disclosure reports submitted Monday, Herbert has more than $800,000 on hand. Corroon also talked about air quality and about building a strong energy economy, saying he wants to focus on Utah becoming energy independent and creating jobs in renewable energy.
UHP Adjures Motorists: Slow Down, Pay Attention
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:25PM
(SALT LAKE COUNTY)—In the past two months, 15 Utah Highway Patrol troopers have been hit while assisting stranded motorists along Utah highways. The alarming numbers have compelled troopers to ask drivers to slow down and pay attention. Troopers say there are four thing for motorists to remember when driving in scenes where emergency personnel are stationed after an accident: slow down immediately, move over as much as you can, look for warning signs and hazards ahead of you and focusing on your driving and nothing else.
Poll Says LDS Most Conservative in the U.S.
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:20PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A newly released Gallup poll says members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are the most conservative in the U.S. The poll asked people to identify their religion and political views. The results, based on telephone interviews with more than 353,000 adults, show that 59 percent of adult LDS members say they’re conservative, compared to only 8 percent who say they’re liberal. Roughly 31 percent identify themselves as moderate. The numbers do not only reflect Latter-Day Saints in Utah, but are reflective of LDS throughout the country. According to Gallup, the percentage of conservative Church members living in Utah is little different from the conservative percentage among those living elsewhere in the United States. Nevertheless, the 59 percent of Church members identifying themselves as conservative is the largest percentage of any major religious group in the poll.
Capital Murder Trial Delayed
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:16PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The death penalty trial of a man accused of killing two men over bad directions has been delayed. The Deseret News reports the trial was postponed so attorneys for 27-year-old Christian Sweeten will have more time to prepare his self-defense case. Sweeten is accused of fatally shooting Anthony Gaines and Michael Ehlert in September 2008. He said he feared they would harm him after he confronted them about the bad directions. However, investigators say neither men was carrying a weapon and both were shot in the back. Sweeten’s capital murder trial was set to begin April 5. He is now scheduled to return to court April 12 for a status hearing.
Scenic Byway Committee Set to Meet
Published on January 12, 2010 at 02:13PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utah’s newly expanded committee dedicated to notable routes and road holds its first meeting this week. The Utah State Scenic Byway Committee meets in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. Legislation approved last year expanded the committee’s membership from 10 members to 15. Utah has eight national scenic byways and 18 state scenic byways. The committee includes officials from state tourism and transportation departments as well as local, state and federal officials.
Iron County rejects wind ordinance
Published on January 12, 2010 at 11:39AM
(PAROWAN) – Iron County Commissioners rejected a proposed wind ordinance amendment at a hearing Monday due to public opposition to it. Citizens said further studies need to be conducted relating to fire hazards, erosion impact and power transmission corridors associated with wind farms. The Planning Commission had recommended the wind ordinance in advance of Wasatch Wind expressing an interest in building a 1400-acre wind farm in Iron County’s Harmony Mountains on BLM land about five miles north of New Harmony, west of I-15. The original wind ordinance was passed in February of 2008 but it has undergone changes during the past 10 months to create protected zones within the county for wind energy projects without having them obtain conditional use permits. Commissioners said they will now review all concerns on the project, including the original ordinance.
Snow College Appropriation
Published on January 12, 2010 at 09:30AM
(Ephraim) State budget cuts have put the squeeze on higher education institutions over the last year. Snow College is no different, but there is one program at the college that has seen a major monetary boost recently. According to Greg Dart, the Director of Admissions and Communications at the school, the nursing program has received a six-hundred thousand dollar line item appropriation from the Federal Government. The money will be used to enhance the L.P.N. and R.N. programs at the school and its satellite locations. Dart commented that the programs have seen amazing growth recently, and one of the biggest improvements will be having a full time biology teacher at the Richfield location to teach the nursing prep courses. Until now, the college has had to rely on electronic courses and teachers traveling between schools to offer those classes, but the school will now be able to hire a full time teacher to remain on site and administer those courses. The money is the result of a lobbyist the school hired in Washington DC. School President Scott Wyatt made the move, hoping that the school would benefit from having a representative in Washington. So far, he has been pleased with the results.
Utah BBB warns on Census information
Published on January 12, 2010 at 08:42AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah Better Business Bureau is warning residents to be cautious about giving unnecessary information to Census workers. With the U.S. Census process beginning, the BBB advises people to be cooperative but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The BBB says the first phase of the U.S. Census has begun to verify addresses of households across the country. States will gather information about every person living at each address, including names, ages, gender, race and other relevant data. Relevant data could include salary ranges but legitimate Census workers have no authority to ask questions about your financial situation, social security, or bank account numbers. The BBB says if a Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice.
Farmers combine to fight animal groups
Published on January 12, 2010 at 08:14AM
(SEATTLE, WA.) – Farmers nationwide are fighting back against animal rights groups in their effort to protect the future of the livestock industry. At the annual convention for the American Farm Bureau Federation on Sunday, President Bob Stallman addressed the 5,000 members gathered in Seattle, WA., saying that the time has come for the Bureau to face their opponents with a new attitude. He said the days of elitist power grabs by animal rights groups are over. Stillman said the U.S. Humane Society has shepherded laws in six states to ban cramped cages for farm animals and persuaded large fast-food restaurants and retailers to make a gradual switch to cage-free eggs. He said that Ohio farmers struck back on the Humane Society’s efforts by creating a livestock care standards board with 64% approval of voters in the Ohio Farm Bureau. Stillman commented that the Farm Bureau will continue to step up efforts to counter animal rights regulations.