DALLAS (AP)—Mike Modano had two goals and Jamie Benn added another score as the Dallas Stars got past the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2 Friday at American Airlines Center in NHL action. Alex Auld added 24 saves for Dallas, who improved to 24-19-11 with the win. Matt Duchene and T.J. Galiardi each scored for the Avs, who dropped to 30-17-6 with the loss. In other NHL action Friday, New Jersey outlasted Toronto, 5-4 in overtime, Washington smoked Florida, 4-1, Buffalo doubled up Boston, 4-2, Detroit humbled Nashville, 4-2 and Anaheim waxed Tampa Bay, 2-1 in a shootout.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Matt Howard had 14 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to lead the #18 Butler Bulldogs to a 75-57 win over the Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix Friday in Top 25 men’s college basketball action at Resch Center. The Bulldogs improved to 17-4 overall and 10-0 in Horizon League play with the win. Rahmon Fletcher had a game-high 24 points to pace the Phoenix in defeat.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)—Eric Peterson had 19 points and Jordan Kemp added 14 more as the Richfield Wildcats stymied the Delta Rabbits, 68-58 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action.

NEPHI, Utah (AP)—Taran Wright keyed a balanced scoring attack with 14 points and the Juab Wasps decimated the Manti Templars, 71-34 in Region 12 boys basketball action Friday. Russ Hugentobler had 16 points in the loss for Manti.

CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)—Nevin Jensen led the way with 19 points as the Emery Spartans hammered the North Sanpete Hawks, 71-34 Friday in Region1 12 boys basketball action. Dallen Bird posted 27 points in the loss for the Hawks.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)—Rhees Jackson had 22 points for the Kanab Cowboys in a 66-46 rout of the Beaver Beavers in Region 13 boys basketball action Friday. Robbie Gurr had 15 points in the loss for Beaver.

BLANDING, Utah (AP)—Cameron Shumway posted 20 points for the San Juan Broncos in a 55-44 win over the North Sevier Wolves Friday in Region 15 boys basketball action. Colton Piep and Daniel Hales each had 13 points in the loss for the Wolves.

MOAB, Utah (AP)—Dillon Bishoff had 25 points and the South Sevier Rams pummeled the Grand Red Devils, 67-31 in Region 15 boys basketball action Friday.

MONROE, Utah (AP)—Kayla King amassed 21 points for the South Sevier Lady Rams in a 46-28 win over the Grand Lady Red Devils Friday in Region 15 girls basketball action.

SALINA, Utah (AP)—Sydney Asper had 19 points and McKinzie Robins added 14 more as the North Sevier Lady Wolves got past the San Juan Lady Broncos, 53-41 in Region 15 girls basketball action Friday.

ORDERVILLE, Utah (AP)—Kayla Maxwell had 18 points for the Valley Lady Buffaloes stymied the Milford Lady Tigers, 45-30 Friday in Region 20 girls basketball action.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)—Loni Allan had 17 points and Amanda Bagley added 15 more as the Piute Lady Thunderbirds stonewalled the Panguitch Lady Bobcats, 55-42 in Region 20 girls basketball action Friday. Kalani Norris had 22 points in defeat for Panguitch.

TROPIC, Utah (AP)—Jade Harris had seven points for the Bryce Valley Lady Mustangs in a 32-29 win over the Wayne Lady Badgers Friday in Region 20 girls basketball action. Cassey Manzanares had eight points in the loss for Wayne.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—Abortions not performed by a doctor through a medical procedure would be illegal under a measure the Utah House approved Friday over objections it could lead to authorities harassing women who have natural miscarriages. The bill, sponsored by Representative Carl Wimmer of Herriman, was prompted by a case in Uintah County in which prosecutors said a 17-year-old girl paid a man $150 to beat her after her boyfriend threatened a breakup if she didn’t get rid of the child. Court records state the man attacked her, leaving bruises on her stomach and a bite mark on her neck. The baby survived and has since been adopted. In June, the girl pleaded no contest to a second-degree felony count of criminal solicitation to commit murder. Nevertheless, that charge was dismissed by Juvenile Court Judge Larry Steele, who ruled that she was seeking an abortion and was not criminally liable. Wimmer’s bill clarifies that abortions are legal and protected from prosecution. Terminating a pregnancy in a way that’s not covered could lead to a charge of criminal homicide, a second-degree felony. A criminal exemption for women who seek illegal abortions would also be removed from state law. Several lawmakers said they’re worried the bill could lead to unnecessary emotional heartache for women who had miscarriages in the event authorities were called to investigate a suspicious miscarriage. House Bill 12 was approved 59-12 and now advances to the Senate.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—Cottonwood Heights police officer Beau Babka is aiming for his former boss’ job. Babka officially announced his run for Salt Lake County Sheriff at the county jail Friday morning. In order to be elected, Babka must first gain the Republican nomination in April. If he wins that bid, he would be running against current Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder. Before taking the job in Cottonwood Heights, Babka served as undersheriff to Winder.

(MOAB)—The Grand School District has received a $700,000 gift from an anonymous donor. The money will save the jobs of seven teachers and keep the district from having to implement a four-day school week. It also means class sizes won’t have to be increased as much as planned. The district had about $2 million in debt due to accounting errors discovered in September and had been planning to lay off 50 employees, or 21 percent of its 210 staff members. The district will still have to lay of 43 employees. The money is a one-time donation, meaning that the district may still have to go on a four-day work week next year and that additional positions may be cut.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—Officials say the value of Utah’s school trust fund topped $1 billion December 31. This is up from $85.6 million in 1994, the year a special state agency was created to aggressively lease and develop 3.4 million acres of trust lands scattered across Utah. The fund most recently generated $24 million for Utah’s public schools, for the fiscal year that started in July. This money comes from interest and dividends on investments from the larger funds, which gets much of its revenue from oil and gas leasing. The School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration works for a dozen beneficiaries that include teacher’s colleges, irrigation reservoirs, a school for the deaf and blind and the state mental hospital.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Bob Bennett responded to Pres. Barack Obama’s State of the Union address before Congress Wednesday night, saying it was like a surreal experience with Alice in Wonderland. Bennett said that those who support Obama’s policies don’t understand the difference with fantasy and reality and if his agenda is allowed to continue, the country will head down a dead-end road. He’s also opposed to a recent bill that would raise the national debt by nearly $2 trillion, from $12.4 trillion to $14.3 trillion. Bennett said it’s another perfect example of how the president’s goals outlined in his State of the Union address contradict his policies. He said Obama calls on Congress to “use common sense” and “invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt” and then puts Americans back into debt with his tax and spend agenda.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – A top state lawmaker has wrapped up an investigation into the events which led up the DUI arrest and subsequent resignation of former Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack. Senate President Michael Waddoups says he’s leaving the rest of the investigation up to the police. Police said on the evening of Killpack’s arrest, he had attended a fundraiser for another lawmaker and then reportedly went to a club with a group that included several lobbyists. Waddoups said those with Killpack apparently didn’t know he was impaired. He said a powerful message has been sent to lawmakers to not drink and drive. The Senate President also said the case has been a distraction from a busy and challenging legislative agenda.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – A controversial water deal between Utah and Nevada in the Snake Valley area may be put on hold indefinitely due to a reversal from the Nevada Supreme Court on a lower court ruling on the matter. The Nevada top court declared some water application rulings made by its state engineer occurred outside of a one-year statutory limit and remanded the case back to a state district court for further action. The decision also reopens the public protest period for the agreement. Gov. Gary Herbert has directed that negotiations regarding water in the Snake Valley area be put on hold. The water deals would have given the Southern Nevada Water Authority the go-ahead on drawing up to 50,000 acre-feet of water from the Snake Valley aquifer. The water would have helped feed a $3.5-billion pipeline to Las Vegas and neighboring cities. Utah legislative leaders are applauding the decision.