CHICAGO (AP)—Kris Versteeg scored the winning goal in a shootout and Patrick Kane added two more scores as the Chicago Blackhawks outlasted the Dallas Stars, 4-3 Tuesday at United Center in NHL action. Antti Niemi added 24 saves for the Hawks, who improved to 39-15-5 with the win. Mike Ribeiro, James Neal and Loui Eriksson each scored in the loss for Dallas, which dropped them to 26-21-12. In other NHL action Tuesday, Boston edged Buffalo, 3-2 in a shootout, Carolina pummeled Florida, 4-1, the New York Islanders stymied Nashville, 4-3 in a shootout, Ottawa bested Calgary, 3-2, Tampa Bay stormed past Vancouver, 3-1 and St. Louis humbled Detroit, 4-3 in a shootout.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)—Chris Wright had 21 points and Greg Monroe had 12 assists, greatly helping Georgetown’s transition offense as the #8 Georgetown Hoyas got past the Providence Friars, 79-70 Tuesday at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in mens’ Top 25 college basketball action. Julian Vaughn added 19 more points for the Hoyas who managed to overcome a 7-point second half deficit to win going away. The victory improved John Thompson III’s Hoyas to 18-5 on the season, while Providence slumped to 12-12. Jamine Peterson posted 23 points in the loss for the Friars. In other Top 25 action Tuesday, #2 Kentucky got past Alabama, 66-55, #6 Purdue got past #10 Michigan State, 76-64, #24 Vanderbilt embarrassed #12 Tennessee, 90-71 and Illinois upset #13 Wisconsin, 63-56.

ORDERVILLE, Utah (AP)—Clay Williams had 22 points as the Valley Buffaloes edged the Milford Tigers, 68-65 Tuesday in Region 20 boys basketball action.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)—Tyson Westwood keyed a balanced scoring attack with 16 points and the Piute Thunderbirds hammered the Panguitch Bobcats, 71-49 in Region 20 boys basketball action Tuesday.

TROPIC, Utah (AP)—Kace Roundy posted 24 points and Kaden Chynoweth added 19 more as the Bryce Valley Mustangs outlasted the Wayne Badgers, 55-51 Tuesday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Zach Taylor had 14 points in the loss for Wayne.

ESCALANTE, Utah (AP)—Josh Curtis had 16 points and Zach Wood added 15 more as the Parowan Rams decimated the Escalante Moquis, 74-49 in Region 20 boys basketball action Tuesday. Daniel Munson had 17 points in the loss for Escalante.

MANTI, Utah (AP)—Abbie Kay and Tayler Jewkes had 14 points apiece and the Emery Lady Spartans bludgeoned the Manti Lady Templars, 73-37 in Region 12 girls basketball action Tuesday. Shauri Lyon had 10 points in the loss for Manti.

DELTA, Utah (AP)—Kaity Diaz and Maklee Bliss each had 12 points and the Delta Lady Rabbits stonewalled the Juab Lady Wasps, 50-32 Tuesday in Region 12 girls basketball action at the Palladium. Kiz Farrer had 12 points in defeat for Juab.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)—Brooke Bliss led the way with 17 points for the Richfield Lady Wildcats in a 70-38 rout of the North Sanpete Lady Hawks in Region 12 girls basketball action Tuesday. Kara Anderson had 12 points in the loss for North Sanpete.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)—Bonnie Yardley had 11 points for the Beaver Lady Beavers as they tripped up the Enterprise Lady Wolves, 42-29 Tuesday in Region 13 girls basketball action.

LAVERKIN, Utah (AP)—LaRisa Alldredge and Samantha Houston each had 11 points as the Kanab Cowgirls stormed past the Cross Creek Lady Bobcats, 56-18 Tuesday in Region 13 girls basketball action.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)—Autumn Murphy posted 12 points and Tina Dalton added 11 more for the Parowan Lady Rams in a 36-30 win over the Millard Lady Eagles in Region 13 girls basketball action Tuesday. Brooke Rhodes had eight points in defeat for Millard.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—The former president of the only facility that can dispose of low-level radioactive waste for 36 states said Tuesday he wants to open a new disposal facility in Utah. Charles Judd stated EnergySolutions Inc.’s facility in Utah’s west desert is running out of space and can’t handle future waste from the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. He plans to build a new site on state land about three miles off of Interstate 80 in Tooele County. By building on state trust land, Judd says the state’s schools could reap a financial windfall. Judd is making his initial pitch at a time that the state is facing a $700 million budget shortfall, although he said it would be years before he could get his operation running. Judd said his company, Cedar Mountain Environmental, would not seek to import foreign low-level radioactive waste or depleted uranium. Meanwhile, EnergySolutions insists capacity is not a problem at its facility.

(BLUFFDALE)—Leaders of Bluffdale are scheduled to discuss and take a vote Tuesday night on whether or not to continue getting police protection from the newly-formed Unified Police Department. Bluffdale City Manager Mark Reid said the city is weighing three options, stick with the current UPD contract, using nearby Saratoga Springs’ police force or creating its own police force.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—The father of a 5-year-old girl who was murdered in 2006 has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug possession and child endangerment charges. Rickey Lee Norton entered the pleas Monday in 3rd District Court. The 33-year-old was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to take substance abuse therapy and continue mental health therapy. Five other charges were dismissed. Norton was arrested last September in West Jordan while charges allege police found marijuana and a loaded handgun in his home while three children under the age of 6 were inside. His daughter, Destiny Norton, was missing for eight days in 2006 before police found her body stuffed in a plastic storage box in her neighbor’s cellar. The neighbor, Craig Gregerson, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing the girl. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah State Legislature is in the middle of its 45-day session with several bills passed and others being considered. State Senator Ralph Okerlund of Monroe says he’s working on SB-60, a bill he is sponsoring concerning voluntary contributions to search and rescue teams in Utah counties. Okerlund said the purpose of the bill is to add funds to search and rescue teams statewide to use for training and equipment. He said the teams rely on out-of-state recreationists who use search and rescue when the need arises. Okerlund said people can purchase a card to contribute money to the organizations.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—The idea of linking classroom performance to teacher pay is gaining momentum on Utah’s Capitol Hill. The House Education Committee unanimously approved a resolution that establishes guidelines for a performance pay system for teachers. It now moves to the House for debate. The proposal, HJR3, is sponsored by Representative Marie Poulson of Cottonwood Heights, a former English teacher. The joint resolution recommends the system be based on numerous factors, such as promoting student achievement, supporting quality instruction, providing collaboration and being responsive to local needs. Poulson told the Deseret News she wants to ensure quality teachers are in every classroom. Critics tell the paper those things are difficult to standardize and pay based on test scores is a poor evaluation method. They also question the practicality of implementing merit pay. Currently, teachers are paid based on academic degrees, certification and years in the profession. A pilot program at Midway Elementary School in the Wasatch School District looks at tying teacher pay to student achievement, which could include test scores, teacher development, such as receiving additional training and attending seminars, and parent surveys.

(SALT LAKE CITY)—A House committee will consider a resolution that would urge the federal government to support a new nursing home for Utah’s veterans. House Resolution 9 would encourage the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help Utah with efforts to build an additional home. Tuesday, the resolution to be considered says constructing the nursing home would express gratitude to veterans for their service. The Utah Department of Veterans Affairs currently runs a full-time facility in Salt Lake City and a partially operational one in Ogden. The resolution is being sponsored by Clearfield-based Republican Curtis Oda.

(SOUTH SALT LAKE)-Indoor sprinklers helped keep damage to a minimum during a fire at a South Salt Lake business Monday night. Fire officials say the sprinklers at Vortex Overhead Doors doused most of the flames before firefighters arrived on the scene around 10:00 p.m. They said a fire was burning near a truck parked inside the facility. The truck was destroyed and most of the business suffered only water and smoke damage. Damage is estimated at $80,000$90,000.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Beehive State is home to one of the most romantic cities in America. According to Amazon.com, Salt Lake City is one of the top 20 romantic cities, ranking eight on the list. The website reported that Alexandria, VA. took the number one spot. Miami, FL. is second. The rankings were based on sales data of things like romance novels, sex and relationship books, romantic comedy movies and Barry White CD’s.

(Ephraim) The annual legislative session is well under way at this point, and state leaders are grappling with how and where to trim from the budget. The state’s higher education institutions are bracing for additional cuts, on top of last year’s seventeen percent reduction in funding. Some of that was made of for in stimulus money, but that isn’t an option this year. Governor Herbert has proposed keeping the budget at the same level as last year following the stimulus boost. Even that would be difficult as all schools have seen double digit increases in enrollment. According to Greg Dart, Snow College’s Director of Media Relations and Student Services, there are other budget proposals that could impose cuts of up to twenty-four percent. The Higher Education Appropriations Committee is reviewing the proposals and will have a large influence in the final decision. According to Dart, the members of the committee, which come from both the House and Senate, are strong proponents of Higher Education and are not looking favorably on the proposals that would cut deeply into already slim budgets. Some schools have said that additional cuts could create fiscal emergencies, but Snow College President Scott Wyatt testified before the Legislature recently that whatever the final budget may wind up being, the school will continue to operate.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Kelley Cain had 19 points and the #5 Tennessee Lady Volunteers got past the #22 Vanderbilt Lady Commodores, 69-60 Monday in Top 25 womens college basketball action. The win improved the Lady Vols to 21-2 on the season, while Vandy fell to 17-7. Merideth Marsh had 19 points in the loss for the Lady Commodores. In other Top 25 action Monday, #6 Duke hammered #15 North Carolina, 79-51 and #24 Virginia waxed Maryland, 82-68.