Story Archive for 02/04/2010
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Sens Down Canucks
Published on February 04, 2010 at 11:43PM
OTTAWA (AP)—While the Olympics will provide plenty of highlights for Vancouver, currently the lowlights are numerous for the city’s NHL franchise. Milan Michalek, Jason Spezza and Chris Kelly each scored as the Ottawa Senators handed the Vancouver Canucks their second straight loss with a 3-1 win Thursday at Scotiabank Place in NHL action. Brian Elliott added 29 saves for the surging Sens, who have won 11 straight games and improved to 33-21-4. Kyle Wellwood scored the sole goal for the Canucks, who fell to 34-20-2 and had their four-game winning streak against Ottawa snapped. In other NHL action Thursday, Montreal outlasted Boston, 3-2 in a shootout, Los Angeles outgunned Anaheim, 6-4, Washington got past the New York Rangers, 6-5, Columbus doubled up Dallas, 2-1, Tampa Bay gashed the New York Islanders, 5-2, San Jose waxed St. Louis, 4-2, Nashville tripped up Colorado, 5-3 and Minnesota bested Edmonton, 4-2.
Lady Eagles Clip Duke
Published on February 04, 2010 at 11:36PM
BOSTON (AP)—Carolyn Swords had 14 points and nine rebounds and the Boston College Lady Eagles shocked the #6 Duke Lady Blue Devils, 61-57 Thursday in Top 25 womens’ college basketball action. The win improved the Lady Eagles to 13-10 on the season and to 4-4 in ACC play while Duke suffered their first conference loss of the season and fell to 18-4. Jasmine Thomas had 19 points in the loss for the Lady Devils. In other Top 25 action Thursday, #5 Tennessee smacked Arkansas, 74-57, #2 Stanford hammered UCLA, 74-53, #9 Ohio State got past Iowa, 86-82, #14 Georgia edged #21 LSU, 49-46 in overtime, Miami (Fla.) blew past #15 North Carolina, 80-69, #18 Kentucky smacked Mississippi, 80-66, Detroit blasted #20 Green Bay, 71-55, #22 Vanderbilt downed Florida, 66-58 and #24 Virginia hammered Clemson, 82-60.
Zags Bludgeon Pilots
Published on February 04, 2010 at 11:30PM
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)—Matt Bouldin posted 20 points and the #13 Gonzaga Bulldogs shellacked the Portland Pilots, 76-49 Thursday at the McCarthey Athletic Center in mens’ Top 25 college basketball action. Demetri Goodson added 12 more points for the Zags, who bounced back effectively from a shocking loss to San Francisco last Thursday en route to their 18th win in 22 games this season. Robin Smeulders had 12 points in the loss for the Pilots, who have dropped 14 straight games to Gonzaga since 2003. In other Top 25 action Thursday, #7 Purdue edged Indiana, 78-75, #9 Duke smacked #19 Georgia Tech, 86-67, #14 Tennessee got past LSU, 59-54 and #15 Butler bested Detroit, 63-58.
Scrappy Blazers Outlast Spurs
Published on February 04, 2010 at 11:24PM
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and 13 rebounds and Martell Webster added 21 more points as the Portland Trail Blazers got past the San Antonio Spurs, 96-93 Thursday at the Rose Garden in NBA action. Despite having struggles to contain the Spurs’ efficient offense throughout the first three quarters, in the last stanza, both Portland’s offense and defense rose to the occasion as they outscored San Antonio, 30-19, down the stretch. Manu Ginobili had 21 points in the loss for the Spurs. In other NBA action Thursday, Cleveland dismantled Miami, 102-86.
Prep Sports Roundup: 2/4
Published on February 04, 2010 at 10:01PM
MILFORD (AP)—Dylan Jones had 16 points for the Milford Tigers as they edged the Bryce Valley Mustangs, 47-45 Thursday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Kace Roundy had 18 points for the Mustangs in the loss.
BICKNELL, Utah (AP)—Cason Chappell posted 23 points for the Wayne Badgers as they hammered the Escalante Moquis, 62-47 in Region 20 boys basketball action Thursday. Cody Barney had 21 points for the Moquis in the loss.
PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)—Brooks Leach and Eric Frandsen had 20 points apiece and the Panguitch Bobcats got past the Valley Buffaloes, 71-62 Thursday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Clay Williams had 22 points in the loss for Valley.
MANTI, Utah (AP)—Kaity Diaz and Makee Bliss posted 17 points apiece and the Delta Lady Rabbits shellacked the Manti Lady Templars, 60-29 in Region 12 girls basketball action Thursday. McKenzie Blauer had six points in the loss for Manti.
NEPHI, Utah (AP)—Tessa Bradford had 12 points and Kiz Farrer added 11 more as the Juab Lady Wasps edged the North Sanpete Lady Hawks, 37-35 Thursday in Region 12 girls basketball action. Erica Draper had 10 points in the loss for North Sanpete.
CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)—Abbie Kay and Taylor Mann each had 15 points and the Emery Lady Spartans got past the Richfield Lady Wildcats, 50-40 in Region 12 girls basketball action Thursday. Chelsee illardson had 10 points in the loss for Richfield.
ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)—Tressa Lyman had 15 points for the Enterprise Lady Wolves as they pummeled the Millard Lady Eagles, 58-33 Thursday in Region 13 girls basketball action. Krystyn Stevens had 18 points in the loss for Millard.
KANAB, Utah (AP)—Kelly Livingston had 13 points and Whitney Houston added 10 more as the Kanab Cowgirls waxed the Parowan Lady Rams, 49-37 in Region 13 girls basketball action Thursday.
MONROE, Utah (AP)—McKinzie Robins and Sydney Asper had 11 points apiece for the North Sevier Lady Wolves as they downed the South Sevier Lady Rams, 42-37 Thursday in Region 15 girls basketball action.
Hatch's prayer interupted by cell phone
Published on February 04, 2010 at 04:27PM
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Orrin Hatch was about to deliver a prayer at this morning’s national prayer breakfast in Washington D.C. when he was interupted by his own cell phone. Hatch’s phone went off right at the moment when he started to pray. The yearly breakfast has been held in Washington for more than 50 years and was attended by Pres. Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow.
Troopers Seize 350 Pounds of Marijuana in Summit County
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:54PM
(COALVILLE)—Utah Highway Patrol troopers arrested two people who were transporting more than 350 pounds of marijuana on Interstate 80 Thursday morning. Troopers stated an officer made a traffic stop on a white Lincoln Towncar near milepost 167 on eastbound I-80 near Echo Reservoir for a lane travel violation. Troopers say the two people, a man and a woman acted nervous and that their stories were not consistent with each other. The trooper became suspicious and requested a K-9 unit which sniffed out 351 pounds of marijuana hidden in the trunk of the car. Arrests were made on 63-year-old Neil E. Lindsay and 49-year-old Kathleen G. Lindsay who were booked into the Summit County Jail on felony drug charges. Troopers say the driver claimed they were headed to Peoria, Ill. from Las Vegas.
Utah House Passes Stricter Ethics Rules
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:46PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Lobbyists would be prohibited from giving gifts to lawmakers worth more than $10 under a bill the Utah House has approved. The measure is part of a series of ethics bills that sailed through the House on Wednesday. Lawmakers are trying to restore faith in the public that legislators can police themselves and that there’s no need for voters to support a citizens ethics initiative that would create a conduct for state lawmakers. To help address that issue, the package includes a constitutional amendment to create an independent ethics commission. The bills also call for executive office holders and candidates to file financial disclosure and conflict of interest forms at least once a year for posting online.
Plea Deal Likely For Former Teacher Accused in Sex Scandal
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:29PM
(DAVIS COUNTY)—A former Bountiful Junior High School math teacher accused of having sex with a former 14-year-old student will likely not go to trial. The attorney for Valynne Bowers told a judge Thursday a plea deal for the 40-year-old teacher had been reached. Prosecutors said the only step that remained was for the victim’s family to approve it. Bowers’ attorney, Rich Gallegos, said the plea deal would likely reduce the five first-degree felony counts of rape and three first-degree felony counts of forcible sodomy to a lesser crime. The exact details of the deal were not released in court because the victim’s family still needs to sign off on it. However, state prosecutor, Rick Westmoreland, said the deal is fair to the victim and will hold Bowers accountable for her actions. Bowers would not comment on the resolution but her attorney says she’s ready to take the deal and move forward. It is still unclear whether Bowers will serve jail time for her deeds as the judge has not made a ruling as of yet.
Former Moab Police Officer Accused of Stealing From Department
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:26PM
(MOAB)—A former Moab police officer has been accused of stealing money from his own department. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Edward Arvel Guerrero was charged with burglary and theft last month. Prosecutors claim he stole close to $900 from the office of a lieutenant, believed to have been seized in a drug bust or other crime. Guerrero pleaded not guilty to both charges. Emery County is prosecuting the case to avoid any conflicts of interest.
Panel OKs Bill Easing Rules on Low-Speed Vehicles
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:22PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Thursday, a Utah House committee unanimously passed a bill to repeal certain equipment requirements for low-speed vehicles. The legislation now advances to the full House for consideration. House Bill 238 would enable low-speed vehicles to go without a speedometer, odometer and breaking for each wheel. Low-speed vehicles are any smaller, electric-powered carts that can travel between 20 and 25 mph. Utah law already prohibits them from traveling on highways with speed limits higher than 35 mph. Republican Representative Johnny Anderson of Taylorsville is sponsoring the bill. Anderson says Utah and Louisiana are the only states that require speedometers, odometers and brakes on all four wheels.
Utah Groups Oppose Colorado Uranium Mill
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:17PM
(MOAB)—Two Utah conservation groups are fighting a proposed uranium mill in western Colorado. Moab-based groups Red Rock Forests and Living Rivers are challenging the company’s application to pump groundwater from the Dolores River basin. The Dolores is a 250-mile tributary of the Colorado River that drains into Utah. Energy Fuel Resources LLC needs the water to process uranium ore and wants to build the mill 12 miles west of Naturita, Colo. The project is under evaluation by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. It could take the agency 18 months to make a decision. Red Rock Forests and Living Rivers filed their challenges Tuesday. Living Rivers conservation director John Weishelt says the Dolores River is one of the West’s most scenic and popular locations for whitewater rafting.
Bomb Threat Made Against Hill Air Force Base
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:14PM
(HILL AIR FORCE BASE)—Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah says it has received an anonymous bomb threat. The base says the Thursday morning threat targeted facilities on the base. A statement issued by the base says increased security measures are underway and base personnel are responding. Some areas were being evacuated Thursday, though it wasn’t clear which ones were in question. No additional details were immediately available and a base official told the Associated Press more information would be released as it became available.
President Young Says UofU Infrastructure in Crisis
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:09PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The University of Utah’s campus infrastructure is in crisis, stated school president Michael Young. Young told the Utah Legislature’s Capital Facilities and Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Monday that water pipes bursting and power outages have caused problems with research, the ability to procure federal grants and keep high-quality professors. Young pointed out that in June 65 buildings on campus lost heat and hot water for a number of days due to breaking pipes. The situation repeated itself a few weeks ago in January when 44 buildings lost their heat and hot water. Additionally, the school has suffered 22 power outages the past two years. Young says the school needs $100 million in improvements, but is now asking for $15 million to fix immediate needs. Those needs are $5 million to replace 18 miles of deteriorating metal water pipes, along with $10 million to replace a power substation built in the 1950s.
Zion National Park Sets Record For Number of Visits
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:06PM
(ZION NATIONAL PARK)—A record number of visits occurred at Zion National Park last year. The park’s 2.7 million visits were 1.7 percent more than 2008. Park officials say some of the uptick could be attributed to Zion’s centennial celebration last summer. Zion’s backcountry is also seeing more visitors as last year, harder-to-reach areas saw a 17 percent increase in visitation from 2008. The park has set four visitation records since 2002.
Former Snow Star Shines in NAIA
Published on February 04, 2010 at 02:00PM
LAGRANDE, Ore. (AP)—Former Snow College womens’ basketball star and current Eastern Oregon University student athlete Shaylee Nielson of Delta has been nominated by the institution’s athletic department for consideration as one of the Cascade Collegiate College’s representatives for the national Emil S. Liston Award for NAIA athletes. The Liston Award recognizes the outstanding female junior student athlete of any NAIA intercollegiate basketball team with at least an overall GPA of 3.5. Nielson is majoring in Physical Education and Health in addition to being a guard for the Lady Mountaineers.
Billboard company bashes SLC zoning laws
Published on February 04, 2010 at 11:20AM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – An outdoor advertising sign in Salt Lake City featuring the looming image of Rush Limbaugh is at the heart of a political rumble. The conservative radio talk show host currently is featured on a Reagan Outdoor billboard located near 300 West 600 South in Salt Lake City but the company and the city say Limbaugh is not the issue. Matters came to a head when Reagan Outdoor petitioned the city to raise its billboard along 600 South to a height of 85 feet because their next-door neighbor, Springhill Suites, intended to put up a sign that would block Reagan’s sign. City government officials say the back-and-forth battle between billboard displays and local zoning control is the problem. Reagan Outdoor attorneys say that billboard companies have a right to display signs along rights-of-ways and city attorneys say lawmakers favor billboard companies too often because of concessions offered during campaign seasons. SLC’s Board of Adjustments rejected Reagan’s contentions but the company invoked state law that allows for damages as a result of governmental action.
Fishlake plans route markings on Trail
Published on February 04, 2010 at 10:46AM
(RICHFIELD) – The Fishlake National Forest and Richfield Field Office are working together to mark the general route of a portion of the Old Spanish Trail known as the Fish Lake Cut-Off that crosses public lands administered by the two agencies. Forest Supervisor John Zapell says interpretive signs will be displayed along the route to tell the story of the trail. Signs will be displayed at Red Creek near the Ivie Creek Rest Stop on I-70, off of SR-25 in the Johnson Valley area, at the Doctor Creek Trailhead, the SR-24 Rest Stop by the Koosharem short cut and the Paiute ATV Trailhead in Kingston Canyon. The interpretive signs will tell that between 1829 and 1848, traders from New Mexico stitched together a series of trails left by Native Americans and Spanish priests that stretched 1200 miles through what are now the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California.
Mystery woman sought in murder case
Published on February 04, 2010 at 07:32AM
(PAYSON) – Utah County officials investigating the murder of a retired BYU Professor say they want to talk to a woman who may have information concerning his death. Utah County Sheriff’s Lt. Yvette Rice says the woman is not a suspect or person of interest in the killing of Kay Mortensen but they want to find her and talk to her. The Sheriff’s Office released a picture of the woman, taken by a surveillance camera at the Fast Gas Convenience Store in Salem, near the home of Mortensen, who was killed during a home invasion robbery on Nov. 16. On Jan. 26, detectives named Mortensen’s son, Roger and daughter-in-law, Pamela, as persons-of-interest in the case. They were in the Payson home at the time of Mortensen’s murder and have given inconsistent statements throughout the investigation. Officials say that there are other persons-of-interest in the case but detectives have not released their names and continue to interview people.