Story Archive for 02/08/2010
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Mavs Overpower Warriors @ Oaktown
Published on February 08, 2010 at 11:53PM
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Jason Terry had a season-high 36 points and Drew Gooden added 25 points and 10 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks surged past the Golden State Warriors, 127-117 Monday at ORACLE Arena in NBA action. The Warriors raced out to a solid start by amassing 70 first half points but they failed to sustain their momentum as they eventually succumbed to Dallas’ superior depth. The Mavericks, who failed to lead before the 4th Quarter, outscored Golden State, 37-19 in the last stanza en route to their 32nd win of the season. Anthony Morrow had a season-high 33 points and 11 assists in the loss for the Warriors, who fell to 13-37. In other NBA action Monday, Orlando bested New Orleans, 123-117 and the Los Angeles Lakers overpowered San Antonio, 101-89.
Utah House OKs New Standard For Fireworks Shows
Published on February 08, 2010 at 03:16PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—The Utah House unanimously passed a bill Monday that would require people who put on fireworks shows to seek a license from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. House Bill 202 targets higher-end fireworks shows like those at festivals or mass celebrations. It now advances to the Senate. Under the proposal, the Utah Fire Prevention Board would also have to establish competence standards for fireworks acts involving special effects. Such acts generally use pyrotechnics to shoot large amounts of fireworks into the sky. The bill would not require a license to practice without an audience. The bill is being sponsored by Garland Republican, Ronda Menlove.
Petition Says Shurtleff Violated State Election Laws
Published on February 08, 2010 at 03:11PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—An ethics initiative sponsor says Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has violated the state’s election laws and is requesting that the lieutenant governor’s office investigate his fundraising activities. Steve Maxfield says he filed a petition with Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell’s office Monday. Maxfield is one of the primary sponsors of The Peoples Right, which is seeking to ban corporate campaign contributions. Maxfield says Shurtleff has wrongfully used his political action committee in place of his office holder account. Shurtleff denied any wrongdoing, saying the petition is politically motivated. He said he and his campaign staff would fully cooperate with any investigation. A message was left with one of Bell’s office seeking comment.
Committee Approves Booster Seat Bill
Published on February 08, 2010 at 03:06PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A requirement to keep kids in booster seats could be history if a state lawmaker gets his way. House Bill 113 passed a committee Monday. Representative Chris Herrod’s bill states motorists four miles from home and traveling 45 mph or less would not need booster seats for their children. Doctors testified against the proposal Monday, but it passed out of committee on a close vote anyway. Safety advocates believe this is a step backward, saying this increases the chances of children getting seriously injured. Herrod says the matter is an issue of convenience and parents should be able to choose.
Teenage Girl Hit By Car On Way To School
Published on February 08, 2010 at 03:02PM
(MAGNA)—Police are attempting to figure out why a driver hit a 14-year-old girl on her way to school Monday. The incident occurred around 7:00 a.m. near 8500 West and 2700 South in Magna while Unified Police Department Lieutenant Don Hutson said investigators are not sure why the car hit the girl. Hutson says the 20-year-old driver immediately stopped and stayed at the scene as she was obviously distressed. Hutson says the car hit the girl, who is currently in extremely critical condition, so hard that it knocked her shoes off, one of which landed 30 feet down the road. Investigators have taken routine blood samples from the driver and were at the scene for hours to ensure that their investigation was thorough. After the investigation is completed, the county attorney will decide if charges will be filed.
Groups Collecting Online Signatures For Initiatives
Published on February 08, 2010 at 02:58PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—Utahns For Ethical Government says it’s collecting online signatures to get its initiative on the ballot this fall. Two other groups seeking to get their initiatives in front of voters, one is on ethics and the other is on voting district boundaries, are also collecting signatures online although the lieutenant governor’s office hasn’t said whether it will accept them or not. Electronic signatures are legal in Utah, but the state’s election code makes no reference to them. State lawmakers intentionally made it difficult for the public to pass laws through the initiative process. To get an initiative on the 2010 ballot, supporters must collect about 95,000 signatures from registered voters in 26 of the state’s 29 districts.
Senate Proposal Would Let Lawmakers Not Vote
Published on February 08, 2010 at 02:54PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—State lawmakers are considering a measure that would let them abstain from voting on bills if they have a conflict of interest. Currently, lawmakers are required to vote on every bill if they’re in the room when a vote takes place, even if it directly benefits them. Under rules a Senate committee considered Monday, legislators would be allowed to abstain from voting on a bill if they believe it’s inappropriate to do so.
Bill Proposes Stricter Standards For Officers
Published on February 08, 2010 at 02:52PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)—A House committee will consider a bill that would implement stricter standards for Utah’s peace officers. House Bill 187 would prevent peace officers who voluntarily give up certification from reapplying. The measure would provide grounds on which the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council could suspend or revoke certification, including a physical or mental disability affecting an officer’s performance and drug or alcohol addictions. The bill is being sponsored by Herriman Republican Carl Wimmer.
ATK Sets Final Shuttle Rocket Test
Published on February 08, 2010 at 02:46PM
(PROMONTORY)—ATK Space Systems says the February 25 ground test at Promontory signals the end of the space shuttle program. NASA was supposed to replace the space shuttle with a new spaceship and launcher for travel to the moon and beyond. President Barack Obama, however, has proposed scrapping the new program for something different, leaving NASA’s longtime contractor in Utah with an uncertain future. Clearfield-based ATK Space Systems has laid off 970 workers in Utah since October, citing the phase-out of the space shuttle and the Minuteman III ballistic missile programs.
SSD schools boost math scores
Published on February 08, 2010 at 11:25AM
(RICHFIELD) – Principals at Monroe and Salina Elementary Schools in the Sevier School District show students are scoring high in math. Monroe Elementary Principal Ted Chappell and Salina Elementary School Principal Jade Shepherd reported students are at or above the 90 percentile in annual growth norms in mathematics and both schools met or exceeded their proficiency goals in math, reading and language arts. Both principals said they took a challenge given by Assistant Superintendent Myron Mickelsen this winter to visit their classroom more often. Visits helped identify areas of strengths and weaknesses. Sevier School Superindent Brent Thorne and Board President Don Naser complemented them on their leadership.
Plain City woman injured in I-15 accident
Published on February 08, 2010 at 08:09AM
(CEDAR CITY) – A 38-year old Plain City woman was taken to the hospital and three passengers were injured after a semi crashed into the woman’s vehicle on I-15 between Cedar City and St. George Saturday afternoon. According to a UHP report, the woman was traveling northbound in a Chevrolet Malibu, when a semi, rounding a curve in the southbound lanes, went through a median and drove into oncoming traffic at about 2:30pm, hitting the Malibu. The woman was taken to the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George in serious condition and later lifeflighted to the Intermountain Medical Center for arm and shoulder surgery. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening. The other occupants in the vehicle sustained minor injuries and were treated and released. The semi driver was not injured but was cited for failure to maintain the vehicle within its lane.
Las Vegas snowmobilers found safe
Published on February 08, 2010 at 07:41AM
(BRIAN HEAD) – Two Las Vegas snowmobilers reported missing over the weekend near Brian Head in Iron County have been found safe. The man and woman, both 24 years of age, left a yoga retreat outside the resort about 2:30pm Saturday and planned to return about two hours later. Police reports say when the couple had not returned by 7pm, officers from Brian Head and Iron County Search and Rescue set out to look for them. Officers said they located the couple five miles from the hotel at about 10:30pm. Police reports said the snowmobilers had gone off the groomed trail and gotten stuck. The two were unprepared for weather conditions but were not injured.