Story Archive for 02/02/2010
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Stars Trip Up Wild
Published on February 02, 2010 at 11:22PM
DALLAS (AP)—James Neal, Brad Richards, Mike Modano and Jamie Benn each scored and the Dallas Stars doubled up the Minnesota Wild, 4-2 Tuesday at American Airlines Center in NHL action. Marty Turco added a season-high 40 saves for Dallas, who improved to 25-20-11 with the win. Guillaume Latendresse and Andrew Brunette each scored in the loss for Minnesota, which dropped them to 27-25-4. In other NHL action Tuesday, Detroit stymied San Jose, 4-2, Washington gashed Boston, 4-1, Toronto blanked New Jersey, 3-0, Tampa Bay stonewalled Atlanta, 2-1, Montreal ousted Vancouver, 3-2, Phoenix tripped up Nashville, 1-0 in a shootout, Colorado hammered Columbus, 5-1 and Los Angeles bested the New York Rangers, 2-1.
Lady Hoyas Get Past St. John's
Published on February 02, 2010 at 11:18PM
WASHINGTON (AP)—Sugar Rodgers had 15 of her 17 points in the first half and the #16 Georgetown Lady Hoyas got past the #25 St. John’s Lady Red Storm, 67-47 Tuesday in Top 25 womens’ college basketball action. Eugenia McPherson had 14 points to pace the Lady Red Storm in the loss. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #1 Connecticut hammered #8 West Virginia, 80-47.
Cougars Smack Frogs
Published on February 02, 2010 at 11:05PM
PROVO, Utah (AP)—Jimmer Fredette had 26 points and the #12 Brigham Young Cougars parlayed a swift start into a 76-56 win over the Texas Christian Horned Frogs Tuesday at the Marriott Center in Top 25 mens’ college basketball action. The Cougars led 35-21 at halftime and cruised to victory from there against the overmatched Frogs. The win improved Brigham Young to 22-2 on the season, while TCU fell to 10-13. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #2 Villanova waxed Seton Hall, 81-71, #3 Kentucky dismantled Mississippi, 85-75, #4 Syracuse pounded Providence, 85-68, #16 Wisconsin overpowered #5 Michigan State, 67-49 and #11 Kansas State crushed Nebraska, 76-57.
Thunder Storm Past the Hawks
Published on February 02, 2010 at 10:59PM
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—Kevin Durant posted 33 points and 11 rebounds and the Oklahoma City clipped the Atlanta Hawks, 106-99 Tuesday at Ford Center in NBA action. While Durant is prolific every night, this game served as a benchmark for him as he became the first player to score at least 25 points in 22 consecutive games since Allen Iverson did it nine seasons ago with the Philadelphia 76ers. Joe Johnson had 37 points for the Hawks, who eradicated a 13-point deficit in the 4th Quarter to make things interesting before the Thunder used a late surge to put the game away. In other NBA action Tuesday, Cleveland dismantled Memphis, 105-89, Indiana outgunned Toronto, 130-115, Orlando crushed Milwaukee, 99-82, Detroit got past New Jersey, 97-93, the Los Angeles Clippers got past Chicago, 90-82 and Houston smacked Golden State, 119-97.
Prep Sports Roundup: 2/2
Published on February 02, 2010 at 10:34PM
NEPHI, Utah (AP)—Abbie Kay had 19 points for the Emery Lady Spartans in a 66-39 win over the Juab Lady Wasps Tuesday. Tessa Bradford had 11 points in defeat for Juab.
RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)—Brooke Bliss had 17 points for the Richfield Lady Wildcats in a 63-29 rout of the Manti Lady Templars in Region 12 girls basketball action Tuesday. Tauni McFarland had 12 points in the loss for Manti.
DELTA, Utah (AP)—Jamie Burton had 11 points for the Delta Lady Rabbits as they stymied the North Sanpete Lady Hawks, 43-34 Tuesday in Region 12 girls basketball action. Kylee Blackham had 14 points in defeat for North Sanpete.
ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)—Tressa Lyman had 19 points in the loss for the Enterprise Lady Wolves in a 31-28 win over Kanab Tuesday in Region 13 girls basketball action. Whitney Houston had 11 points for the Cowgirls in defeat.
BEAVER, Utah (AP)—Tiffany Gillins keyed a balanced scoring attack with 16 points as the Beaver Lady Beavers hammered the Millard Lady Eagles, 57-37 in Region 13 girls basketball action Tuesday. Keri Brunson had 24 points in the loss for Millard.
McKiff applauds passage of HB19
Published on February 02, 2010 at 04:02PM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – A bill sponsored by Rep. Kay McKiff of Richfield passed the Utah House today that would limit post-conviction legal appeals. McKiff says House Bill 19 would prevent cases from moving back and forth between the state and federal court system. He said the bill is designed to get rid of a number of ways death row inmates currently have of bringing multiple appeals. McKiff said such cases can drag on for years. The bill would change the Post-Conviction Remedies Act by letting state judges dismiss cases on procedural grounds only, such as missing a filing deadline. An exemption for defendants who file an appeal on grounds that their lawyers gave ineffective counsel would remain.
Richfield gets approval on homeowner's claims
Published on February 02, 2010 at 03:52PM
(RICHFIELD)- Richfield City’s insurance company has agreed to pay all costs to homeowners whose property was damaged when a main water line burst in December. Finance Director Mike Langston said that Travelers Insurance had initially refused to pay for damages because they were not liable due to construction of water lines. The city’s engineers said construction of lines was the standard in the 1980’s and the insurance company approved. After an investigation, Travelers Insurance determined that Richfield City’s failure to install thrust blocks at the water line intersections was the result in the water line break and they’re handling all claims by homeowners. The main water line burst at 300 North 600 West due to sub-freezing temperatures in the early morning hours of Dec. 27, flooding several homes near the break.
Family Uses Milk Cartons In Hopes of Finding Utah Man
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:45PM
(HENDERSON, Nev.)—A family member says he’s baffled by the disappearance of a 30-year-old Utah man who authorities say was last seen walking away from his vehicle in a Las Vegas-area neighborhood almost two months ago. Jeff Bradshaw said his cousin, Steven Koecher, simply stopped on December 13, telling no one at his home in St. George, about a trip to Las Vegas or having any connections in the area. A surveillance video from Sun City Anthem shows him parking and leaving his car in an upscale neighborhood. Henderson police said they have no evidence of any potential foul play. Currently, Anderson Dairy of Las Vegas, is featuring Kocher’s photo on milk cartons in hopes that someone recognizes him.
Former Utah State Senator Charged With DUI
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:39PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A former Utah state senator who resigned after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence has been charged with two misdemeanors. Salt Lake County prosecutors on Tuesday charged Sheldon L. Killpack with one Class B count of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and one class C count of failing to signal. According to the charging documents, Killpack had a blood alcohol level of .11 grams, the legal limit is .08 grams. The charges were filed in the county’s justice court and carry potential penalties of up to six months in jail and up to three months in jail, respectively. A telephone message left for Killpack’s attorney, Ed Brass, was not immediately returned Tuesday. A Utah Highway Patrol trooper pulled Killpack over January 15. Killpack resigned as the Republican Senate majority leader the next day. A date for the court hearing has not been set.
Utah House Votes Down Inmate Insurance Bill
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:35PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The Utah House has defeated a bill that would ban insurance companies from excluding coverage from certain prisoners. Lawmakers voted 44-30 against House Bill 22 Tuesday. The measure would have already applied to inmates already eligible for coverage in correctional facilities, county jails and offenders in Department of Justice custody. The legislation included exceptions that wouldn’t be covered, such as self-inflicted harm and violent injuries sustained inside. Representatives from some Utah insurance companies opposed the bill at a committee hearing, citing safety issues and inexperience in coordinating with prisons. The bill was sponsored by Representative Paul Ray of Clearfield.
Man Arrested in Throat-Slashing Murder Case
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:31PM
(OGDEN)—Police have arrested a man in connection with a grisly murder in December 2009. Weber County Attorney Dee Smith says 49-year-old Robert Lee McCullar was taken into custody Monday after investigators gathered sufficient evidence to make an arrest. This stemmed from an incident wherein Gilbert Jesus-Robles, who also went by the name, “Jesus Sanchez,” was found dead in his Ogden apartment. Officers reported his throat was slashed and his body also had multiple puncture wounds. Smith says McCullar and Jesus-Robles knew each other, although he isn’t specifying how. Smith said the connection between the men may have potentially been criminal.
Utah Seeks To Exempt Its Guns From Federal Rules
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:27PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Guns made and kept in Utah would be exempt from federal regulations under a measure the Utah Senate has initially approved. Senate Bill 11 mirrors one signed into law in Montana last year that’s intended to trigger a federal court battle. Tuesday, the Senate approved the bill 19-10 although it needs one more federal vote before advancing to the House. The goal is to circumvent federal authority over interstate commerce, which is the legal basis for most gun relation in the United States. Efforts to bypass that authority have been heard before by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2005, the court upheld federal regulation of marijuana in California, even if its use is limited to noncommercial purposes and is grown and used within a state’s borders.
School Poster Causes Concern For Parents
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:20PM
(ST. GEORGE)—Some parents of the St. George-based Desert Hills High School athletes are displeased with what they’re seeing on a high school team poster. The photo, which was taken last August, depicts members of the Desert Hills football team standing and sitting around military Humvees, some of which were carrying military weapons. Parent Carrie Lieshman not only believes the poster sends the wrong message, but also says it’s insensitive as another student, Tucker Thayer, was shot and killed at the school last November after a prop gun accidentally fired. Desert Hills Principal Ray Brooks says if he knew there would be a concern about these photos, the school would have been sensitive. The Washington County School District says they’re currently investigating the matter.
Abstinence Study Adds To Sex Ed Debate in Utah
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:14PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A new national study about abstinence may figure into the sex education debate on Utah’s Capitol Hill. The federally-funded study shows only one-third of sixth and seventh grade students who took abstinence-based classes were sexually active within two years. Comparatively, half of students who had courses including information about contraception were sexually active. On Capitol Hill, Senator Stephen Urquhart of St. George told the Deseret News his proposal doesn’t remove abstinence from Utah’s curriculum. Instead he says the rule, titled SB54, encourages a focus on abstinence, gives parents more tools regarding what their kids are learning and provides more medically accurate information to students. Currently, the state requires parental consent to teach contraception methods. Critics say teachers are afraid of being accused of advocating drugs and sex and end up cutting out crucial information. This national study is published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine. Some say the study may not be accurate as it is based on students’ self reporting. Additionally, the study examined a specific population, African-American middle school children.
Lehi Company Announces Tiny Flash Memory Chip
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:08PM
(LEHI)—A Lehi company is working on a revolutionary flash memory drive. IM Flash Technologies Inc. says it is set to produce the world’s smallest flash memory chips with the largest capacity. The company plans to begin producing the 25-nanometer 8 gigabyte chips at its plant in Lehi next quarter. These new chips are smaller than the center hole in a CD, yet they hold 10 times the data of a standard CD. The Daily Herald reports the company hasn’t said whether this will lead to any new Utah jobs as of yet. IM Flash Technologies is a joint venture of Micron Technology Inc. and Intel Corp. and occupies the former Micron plant in Lehi. The new chip can be used in such things as digital cameras, smartphones and media players.
CEU President Talks Budget With Lawmakers
Published on February 02, 2010 at 02:03PM
(LOGAN)—College of Eastern Utah President Mike King says the Price-based school would have to consider declaring a fiscal emergency if the Utah Legislature enacts a 5 percent budget cut for the next fiscal year. King says officials are nervous about what might happen but that shutting down CEU in the case of declaring “financial exigency” would be a bad idea. Last week, King told lawmakers that any such declaration would happen before CEU joined with Logan’s Utah State University. The merger of the schools will take place this summer, pending legislative approval. USU Executive Vice President and Provost Raymond Coward says a condition of joining the schools was that Utah State would not take on financial liability from CEU. After the merger, CEU will have to maintain a self-sustaining budget.
Mexican National granted parole in sheepherder death
Published on February 02, 2010 at 11:29AM
(BLUFFDALE, UT) – A Utah State Prison inmate involved in the 1997 killing of a sheepherder near Ephraim has been granted a parole date. According to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, 38-year old, Santiago Mendez is slated to be paroled on Dec. 30, 2014, after which he’ll immediately be turned over to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for deportation to Mexico. Mendez pleaded guilty in February 1999 to the shooting death of Alfonso Duran. Mendez admitted to officials that he had gone to Duran’s trailer with Santiago Garcia on Dec. 26, 1997, to rob him and things turned violent. He also said he was drunk at the time of the murder. Mendez and Garcia were also believed to be involved in the slaying of George Emmett near Manti the same day. Garcia is serving 15 years in the state prison for the killing of Emmett.
Institute Sweetheart Couple
Published on February 02, 2010 at 11:11AM
(Ephraim) The Ephraim Institute of Religion has chosen its sweetheart couple for this year. Lowell and Jeanne Anderson of Fairview will speak at the Institute on Friday February 5th at 12:30 PM. The Institute has chosen a couple each year for the last 33 years who exemplify LDS standards of Marriage and Family. Lowell was raised in Sanpete County and graduated from North Sanpete High School. He also earned a Bachelor Degree from BYU and a Masters Degree from Utah State University. Both Lowell and Jeanne served Missions for the LDS Church. They have also worked in the Manti Temple for the past 22 years. The Andersons have four children, seventeen grandchildren, and three great-grand-children.
Livestock producers report growth, problems
Published on February 02, 2010 at 10:45AM
(RICHFIELD) – Livestock production reports are out in the six-county area showing areas of growth and areas of problems. Sevier County reports that most cow-calf producers haven’t started calving yet, while Millard County reports that cows that started calving at the end of January have suffered little or no losses due to the weather. Wayne County reports that more than a foot of snow is causing problems for livestock producers and they’re waiting to see what the weather brings before bringing cows off the ranges. Beaver County reports that some producers have started to calve and lamb and most animals look good due to sufficient hay supplies. Garfield and Kane Counties report receiving much needed moisture during the last month causing some problems on the ranges.
EPA cow tax proposal defy farmers
Published on February 02, 2010 at 08:18AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – A group of farmers in Utah are voicing concern over new regulations on greenhouse gases that could end up as a cow tax that may put them out of business. Utah Farm Bureau CEO Randy Parker says the EPA has proposed fees for business operations that emit more than 100 tons of carbon dioxide annually and cows and pigs produce a lot of CO2 through natural processes. Parker said that 100 tons of CO2 is not as big a number as it appears since 92% of the beef cattle operations are over 50 head. He said that Farm Bureau has crunched the numbers and figured that if the feds impose the fee, it would come out to about $175 per cow and would cost a dairy farmer roughly $15 million a year, cutting profits by more than half. Parker said the tax would end up being a hefty price increase at the grocery store. Congress questions whether the EPA has the authority to regulate the livestock industry.
Cedar City man arrested on domestic charges
Published on February 02, 2010 at 07:34AM
(CEDAR CITY) – A Cedar City man was arrested on a laundry list of charges after police say he broke into his ex-wife’s apartment, fought with officers, spit blood on them and smashed his head into concrete. According to a police report, 25-year old, Stevan Staley was arrested after police responded to a second 9-1-1 call at 4:45am Monday. The report said that Staley was intoxicated and allegedly began fighting with four Cedar City officers and an Iron County Sheriff’s Deputy. Paramedics also arrived on the scene to administer medical treatment but Staley refused and was handcuffed. His legs also had to be restrained. After arriving at the Iron County Jail, Staley began fighting again with two corrections officers and was booked on suspicion of five counts of assault by a prisoner and two counts of assault on a corrections officer, all third-degree felonies and several other charges.
Bennett blasts Obama on budget
Published on February 02, 2010 at 06:58AM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Bob Bennett is opposed to Pres. Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget saying that the country is on the path toward a fiscal disaster. He said the President’s budget misses the mark completely and will do little to solve the problems. Bennett said if the President is serious about cutting the federal deficit, he’ll cut federal spending. He said Americans have sent a clear message demanding the government be more fiscally disciplined.