(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County Commissioners are considering raising the transient room tax to bolster funds for tourism in the county. At the Commission meeting today, Commissioners discussed raising the tax from three percent to 4.25%. According to state law, the county can’t raise the transient room tax above the 4.25% level. Travel Council Director Kevin Arrington approached the Commission with the tax hike, saying that if it’s approved by September, the increase will go into effect in January, 2011. He said that 30% of the increased funds would go towards brick-and-mortar tourism projects and 70% would go towards sponsored events. Arrington said that transient room tax increases should always go towards specific tourism projects. Commissioners said that local motels and restaurants don’t need to be notified of the tax hike but as a courtesy to those businesses, county officials would approach them.

(ANNABELLA) – Two local teenagers were taken to the hospital Sunday afternoon after a truck in which they were passengers rolled on a road in Annabella. According to a sheriff’s report, 19-year old Rachel Jolley of Richfield was traveling southbound in a 1993 Chevy Blazer at about 5:30pm, when she hit soft dirt on the shoulder of the road at 700 East 200 North in Annabella and rolled once. The report said Jolley was traveling with her boyfriend and her brother, plus two other girls. Deputies said that 19-year old Becky Hurd of Richfield sustained an injury to her arm and was taken to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield for treatment. A 16-year old Richfield girl was also taken to the hospital for treatment. Jolley and her brother were not injured in the accident but her boyfriend had a cut on his upper arm and received stitches. She was cited for speeding as the cause of the crash. The Blazer landed on its top and was a total loss.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-According to KTVX-Channel 4 in Salt Lake City, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints released a statement about the Church’s stance on immigration Monday. The statement comes prior to Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s planned immigration summit Tuesday. Community, civic, law enforcement and religious leaders will attend the summit in Salt Lake City. The statement, released by Church spokesman, Scott Trotter, said that Scott Parker, who heads the Church’s Salt Lake City Public Affairs Council, will represent the Church at the summit. The Church says complex issues surrounding immigration are a matter of concern for citizens of the United States and that elected individuals have the responsibility to find solutions in the best interests of those whose lives are affected by the ruling. In closing, the Church said they admonish citizens to act civilly as they address the issue and that success will come if authorities do what is best for God’s children.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah officials are investigating whether eight more state workers may have accessed confidential documents to create a list of 1,300 purported illegal immigrants that was mailed to law enforcement officials and the news media. Utah Department of Workforce Services spokesman, Dave Lewis, says the employees were being interviewed Monday. Two other state workers were placed on administrative leave with pay last week. The department administers food stamp programs and other benefits. State officials have said most of those identified on the list have children who are receiving benefits. The mailed list contains Social Security numbers, birth dates, workplaces, addresses and phone numbers. Additionally, names of children are included, along with due dates of pregnant women. In Utah, intentionally releasing private records is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and an $1,000 fine. Utah Governor, Gary Herbert, has said he will sign an immigration bill into law next year should he remain in office. However, it is unclear how much it would mirror the Arizona law, which will go into effect July 29.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-Navajo lawmakers are set to take up an issue which has long been a source of controversy around the country about whether or not judges should be elected. Legislation on the Tribal council’s summer session, which starts Monday @ Window Rock, Ariz., seeks to put this question before voters in November. If approved, three tribal Supreme Court justices and 17 district court judges would be elected, starting in 2012. Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor, has been pushing for state legislators to end the practice of electing judges, contending partisan elections and fundraising that comes with it impairs the ability of judges to be impartial in court. Supporters, including the sponsors of the tribal measure, say electing judges ensures they’re accountable to the people. More than 30 states elect judges in some form. The Navajo system of seating judges is similar to that used in the state of Arizona in which a panel recommends candidates to the governor and one is appointed. However, the Navajo Nation differs from this with the implementation of the Tribal Council’s Judiciary Committee and the entire council’s confirmation of the president’s appointment.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Rocky Mountain Power says scam artists are tricking customers to reveal their credit card accounts. The utility says Utah customers are receiving fraudulent telephone calls, claiming they’re in default and at risk of losing power. In other instances, scam artists have told customers they forgot to sign a check. In all cases, it appears callers are asking for credit card numbers to satisfy bills. Rocky Mountain Power remains insistent that it does not operate this way and warns customers not to surrender any of their personal information. The utility says it is working with police to stop the fraud and stated it never demands immediate payment for service or damaged or broken electrical equipment.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah’s newest Supreme Court justice starts his new job Monday. Around noon, Tom Lee will be sworn into office by his former boss, U.S. Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas. Last month, the Utah Senate unanimously confirmed the law professor at Brigham Young University to fill the seat held by retired Justice, Michael Wilkins. Lee has previously served as a deputy assistant U.S. attorney and once clerked for Justice Thomas. Lee’s brother, Mike Lee, is the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Governor Gary Herbert has called for a roundtable discussion Tuesday on one of the country’s more significant issues, illegal immigration. Herbert has invited 30 community leaders to the discussion and participants will range from lawmakers to church and minority group leaders. The discussion, which is expected to last two hours, will bring in two politicians on opposite sides of the argument: Republican representative, Stephen Sandstrom of Orem, who has reiterated he plans to move forward with an immigration bill similar to the one Arizona will pass July 29, and Utah Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff, who has suggested implementing a state-sanctioned guest worker program which may potentially lead to citizenship.

(PIUTE COUNTY)-A pilot is dead after a glider went down in Piute County. According the the Piute County Sheriff’s Office, a call came in at 10:00 PM Saturday about a possible missing glider. After checking all major roads and airports with no results, the search was called off due to darkness. The search resumed at 6:30 AM Sunday morning and the glider was found about 9:00 AM west of Marysvale in the Tushar Mountains. Piute and Sevier County Search and Rescue along with EMS, and Classic Lifeguard assisted in the retrieval of the body from the scene. The name of the victim has not been released. The NTSB and the FAA are investigating the crash.

(CENTRAL VALLEY) – A Central Valley man escaped injury Friday morning after a Monroe woman crashed into him on SR-118. According to a UHP report, 34-year old Sara Stevens of Monroe was traveling southbound when she attempted to pass 39-year old Thomas Bird of Central Valley, and broadsided Bird as he made a left hand turn. The report said Stevens was driving a 2004 Saturn Ion and Bird was in a 1991 Dodge Dakota at the time of the accident at about 8:45am. Neither driver was injured in the crash but Stevens was cited for following too close and no seatbelt use.