Story Archive for 08/13/2010
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Ag Office conducts farm survey
Published on August 13, 2010 at 04:20PM
(SALT LAKE CITY) – The latest farm survey shows that residents along the Wasatch Front overwhelmingly support farming and ranching as important to the future of the state. Ag Spokesman Larry Lewis says the survey was conducted in an effort to help Utahns understand where their food comes from. Lewis said the survey also showed that 77% of respondents believe that the loss of farmland will lead to a greater dependence on foreign food and 75% believe a small portion of the existing tax on food should be spent to protect farmland. The survey said that 84% believe farmers and ranchers are responsible stewards of the land and 43% don’t believe that wolves should be allowed to roam free in Utah. 38% believe they should. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food wanted to conduct the survey to compare responses between urban dwellers and rural residents.
Herbert Meets With Families of Tour Bus Crash Victims
Published on August 13, 2010 at 01:42PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Governor Gary Herbert has met with the families of victims from a fatal tour bus crash that left three Japanese tourists dead and 11 others injured. Herbert aide, Mike Mower, says the governor met with Japan’s Consul General from Denver at a Cedar City mortuary, where he then expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Mower says Utah’s Asian Affairs office has also offered to assist the families of the injured passengers who are still hospitalized. The group of 14 tourists had come to Utah from Las Vegas for a four-day tour of Utah national parks and Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park.
Sandstrom Unveils Immigration Law
Published on August 13, 2010 at 12:45PM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-An intensely-anticipated illegal immigration bill for the state of Utah has finally been unveiled as Orem-based Representative, Stephen Sandstrom, made the announcement at the Capitol building Friday. The core intent of the bill is comparable to Arizona’s SB1070 and the differences primarily consist of fine legal details, intended to adhere to a federal judge’s concerns about the Arizona law. Sandstrom literally stood alone among protesters who derided him as he outlined the bill’s details. The bill, entitled the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, allows law enforcement authorities to detain a person stopped for another illegal act. The officer must have “reasonable suspicion” that the person is an illegal alien according to the bill. Sandstrom said the bill is legal and compassionate to those adhering to the law.
Juveniles suspected in vandalism at Fair
Published on August 13, 2010 at 11:33AM
Updated on August 13, 2010 at 06:45PM
(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County deputies are on the lookout for juvenile suspects who vandalized the small animal area at the Livestock Barn at the county fairgrounds early this morning. USU Extension Agent Kim Chapman was on scene and said that at about 1am, the juveniles opened up dozens of cages and allowed chickens and rabbits to escape. Chapman said that he, along with fairground staff and sheriff’s deputies, were able to round up all the small animals and put them back into their cages but were not sure if the right animals got into the correct cages. All livestock has been judged and authorities are asking the owners to come to the barn to identify their animals. Chapman said the animals will be released to their owners today instead of Saturday, due to the vandalism. Sheriff’s deputies have a description of the juvenile suspects but no arrests have been made. They also believe that no other damage to the animals or property occurred during the night.
I-70 Near Grand Junction Recieves Upgrade
Published on August 13, 2010 at 11:21AM
(GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.)-KREX-TV, Channel 5 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports that Colorado Department of Transportation officials say Interstate 70 near Clifton, Colo. is receiving an upgrade from federal funds. The $1.94 million project came from Funding Advancements For Surface Transportation and Recovery, also known as FASTER, which was developed to address safety projects throughout Colorado during a budget crunch. The project is scheduled to finish in October and until then, there will be periodic single-lane closures in both directions. Clifton is about nine miles northeast of Grand Junction.
Judge Doubts Gay Marriage Backers Can Back Appeal
Published on August 13, 2010 at 11:11AM
(SAN FRANCISCO)-KJCT-TV, Channel 8 in Grand Junction, Colo. has reported that the federal judge who overturned California’s same-sex marriage ban has more bad news for the measure’s backers. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker said Thursday that he doubts gays have the right to challenge his ruling. One of the reasons, Walker said, is that he’s not sure the proponents have authority to appeal since they would not be affected by or responsible for implementing his ruling. Walker delayed the ruling until August 18 in hopes of giving anti-gay marriage proponents a chance to appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on the matter. Depending on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, same-sex couples could have their marriages next week or may have to wait considerably. The ban’s backers addressed the potential for such a potential roadblock in their emergency stay request, saying California’s strong citizen initiative law permits ballot measure proponents to defend their interests when state officials refuse to.
Spike Lee To Visit The U
Published on August 13, 2010 at 10:48AM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-Controversial filmmaker, Spike Lee, will deliver the annual Tanner Lecture on Human Values at the University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall next month. Lee, the writer and director for such movies as “Malcolm X,” and “He Got Game,” has been a provocative voice in mainstream U.S. culture, particularly with his affinity for touching upon racial issues. Admission is free for the September 14 event, but tickets are required and will be available Monday at the Kingsbury Hall box office. Lee, who is also a staple at New York Knicks games and known for playful feuds with NBA stars, such as ex-Indiana Pacers guard and current TNT analyst, Reggie Miller, has produced 35 feature and documentary films with his New York City-based production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks.
Herbert, Corroon Tackle Rural Issues
Published on August 13, 2010 at 10:39AM
(CEDAR CITY)-Incumbent Utah Governor, Republican Gary Herbert, and his Democratic challenger, Peter Corroon, shared their philosophies concerning rural development in rural areas throughout Utah at a conference at Southern Utah University Thursday. The politicians took turns answering questions at the Utah Rural Summit, an annual event at SUU. Corroon explored the idea of creating satellite governor offices to work with rural leaders on problems facing many counties should he be elected. Corroon praised the now-defunct Smart Site program, which supported technology jobs in rural committees and said it may be possible to resurrect it. Meanwhile, Herbert said that if Utah is to break out of the lackluster economy, all 29 counties in the state need to be healthy. He also stated his belief that 70 percent of the land being owned by the Bureau of Land Management is a hindrance to the state. The two-day debate will conclude today.
Nevada woman escapes in RV fire
Published on August 13, 2010 at 10:29AM
(SEVIER) – A Nevada woman escaped safely from a fire when her motor home burned to the ground at the Marysvale exit on I-70 Tuesday afternoon. According to a UHP report, 67-year old Lucille Drown of Mesquite, NV. told authorities that at about 4:30pm, her 1989 Aljo Alle motor home stalled and wouldn’t start. Drown said she noticed the RV was on fire and got out before it was consumed. She sustained no injuries in the incident.
UofU's Middle East Center Loses Prestigious Grant
Published on August 13, 2010 at 10:18AM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-The University of Utah and state officials are scrambling to reverse a U.S. Department of Education decision to strip the university’s Middle East Center of its designation as a National Resource Center. The center, one of only a handful of its kind in the country and a prominent fixture on the U campus since its 1960 founding, was informed via letter Wednesday that its grant renewal, worth $2.4 million over the next four years has been rejected. University officials have downplayed the setback, but an impressive letter-writing campaign is underway while all five members of Utah’s congressional delegation, Governor Gary Herbert, state Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and several community groups have appealed to the DOE to reconsider. In 2008, the MEC weathered controversy when director, Ibrahim Karawan, said she was resigning to protest humanities Dean Robert Newman’s removal of two faculty members from the center’s governing committee. One of the two, Hebrew professor Harris Lenowitz, later sued Newman for defamation in response to a letter in which the dean said the professors created a hostile environment that had driven female faculty away. In the lawsuit, which has since been dismissed, Lenowitz said the departed female professors left for better jobs because the U. had not been paying competitive salaries to MEC faculty. Both Newman and David Pershing, the senior vice president of academic affairs said they don’t believe the turmoil affected the MEC’s chances of renewing its grant. Newman said DOE officials told him personnel decisions would not be a factor. Since application scores are confidential, it’s unclear why the MEC did not make the cut. According to a DOE spokesman, 19 of 28 Middle East centers that applied will be funded. Already this summer, the MEC has brought Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations to campus as well as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, the MEC is also working to raise the profile of public health and environmental issues in the Middle East.
Utah 2012 Ethics Petition Question Likely Headed To Court
Published on August 13, 2010 at 10:04AM
(SALT LAKE CITY)-Both Utahns for Ethical Government and Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell’s office believe a judge is likely to decide the fate of signatures gathered for a legislative ethics reform petition. The problem is a section of Utah law that UEG and Bell’s office interpret differently. Thursday, UEG officials announced they believe they have secured enough signatures, more than 110,000 in 26 Utah Senate districts, to get their ethics reform initiative on the ballot in 2012. Bell’s office says UEG has not collected enough signatures by the April 15 deadline to get the initiative on the 2010 ballot and, according to state law, the group should have started over with a new petition and new signatures to get the required number for 2012. UEG says the law gives the group a year to collect signatures, including the more than 73,000 collected by April 15. UEG chairman, Kim Burningham, said Bell should acknowledge those who have spoken and their question should be heard and addressed. Mark Thomas, Bell’s office administrator, said this is the first time the election law has been tested this way. Wednesday, Bell’s office instructed county clerks to process and count any signatures turned in Thursday which served as UEG’s interpretation of the one-year petition period.
2 Missing Miners Feared Dead in Nevada
Published on August 13, 2010 at 09:51AM
(RENO, Nev.)-Two missing miners were feared to be dead in an accident at an underground gold mine near Reno, Nev. Thursday. Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp. has not confirmed any deaths at the Meikle mine, but a company official referred to the search as a “recovery effort” directed by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. Greg Lang, the president of Barrick’s North America region said the initial investigation was focused on a hoist in the ventilation shaft of the mine, located about 55 miles northwest of Elko, Nev. and 275 miles northeast of Reno. An official for MSHA in Washington told the Associated Press two workers were being lowered into the shaft when the hoist operator noticed a “large surge of pressure” on the hoist drum after which the mine was evacuated. The accident occurred around 1:15 a.m. and Barrick swiftly notified the miners’ families, and shut down the mine’s operations as quickly as possible, Lang said. The Meikle mine, which is operated by its subsidiary, Barrick Goldstrike Mines, has had three deaths in three separate accidents since 1999, according to MSHA records. The most recent occurred in August 2004 when a truck driver was pinned between his truck and a cement pillar. Another driver was killed in February 2000 when backing his truck into an open water slope, was ejected and fell 75 feet below. In April 1999, a miner cleaned debris from a rock blasting area, lost his footing and fell about 150 feet into an opening. Barrick, the largest gold company in the world, owns several mines in Nevada.
Zion National Park Suspends Tunnel Fees
Published on August 13, 2010 at 09:35AM
(ZION NATIONAL PARK)-Zion National Park superintendent, Jock Whitworth, is temporarily suspending usage fees for oversized vehicles using the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Whitworth says the free suspension begins Tuesday and will continue for up to five weeks. For safety reasons, the $15 fee is normally charged to all vehicles 7×10 or 11’4” or taller. Whitworth confirmed the suspension is related to road construction along S.R. 9, (the Zion-Mt. Carmel highway) and he said the project will restrict highway travel to one lane and the fee isn’t justified. The project will start near the tunnel’s west portal and crews will be constructing two historic rock retaining walls. Furthermore, the highway will be closed to all vehicles during the project between Sunday and Thursday evenings.
Largest Marijuana Grow of The Year Found in Garfield County
Published on August 13, 2010 at 09:24AM
Updated on August 13, 2010 at 03:29PM
(BOULDER)-The largest marijuana farm found in Utah this year has been confiscated by Garfield County Sheriff’s Office personnel near Boulder. Garfield County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, Becki Bronson, says well over 17,000 marijuana plants were found in two locations roughly 5 miles east of the town of Boulder. The plants have a street value of at least $1,000 apiece, meaning the entire farm was worth over $17 million. Several law enforcement agencies participated in Thursday’s raid while the plants were hauled out by the Utah Highway Patrol helicopter and later burned at a dump site. No arrests were made as the growers were not at the site.
Beaver fire increases in size
Published on August 13, 2010 at 08:07AM
(BEAVER) – A lightening-caused wildfire burning northeast of Beaver has now consumed about 3,000 acres. Fire personnel say the Twitchell Canyon Fire, burning about 13 miles northeast of Beaver, has grown from about 1100 acres to nearly 3,000 acres due to heavy winds and hot, dry weather. The active fire started July 20 and has continued to burn through ponderosa pine, spruce and other brush fuel. National Forest Service officials are managing the fire for resource benefits and expect the fire to burn throughout the rest of the summer. No injuries or damage to structures have been reported but Indian Creek Road is closed above the Pole Canyon Road Junction.
No Lion; Detroit Could Be Vastly Improved
Published on August 13, 2010 at 12:24AM
Today, we discuss the Detroit Lions: a team with a solid past that has lost its way here in the modern NFL era. Numerous NFL analysts have said the way to build a franchise is by bolstering your quarterback situation. On paper, I believe the Lions have done this with 2009’s first round draft pick, Matthew Stafford. The Georgia product showed some positive signs last year when he wasn’t injured and with solid weapons at his disposal such as Calvin Johnson (67 rec, 984 yards, 5 TD’s last season) and Kevin Smith (1,162 combined rushing and receiving yards last season), the Lions could have a solid offensive nucleus for years to come. On the defensive side of the ball, (where the Lions ranked dead last statistically in 2009), draft picks such as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive back Amari Spivey could play major roles in helping to put the “D” back into Detroit. As Randy Cross mentioned during the Patriots-Saints preseason game Thursday, one of the more interesting components of the NFL is the continual accumulation of talent and to me, this is one of the hallmarks of the Lions. Young stalwarts such as Zack Follett, Louis Delmas, and Ko Simpson are judiciously interspersed with veterans such as Julian Peterson, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Landon Johnson in a compilation that could possibly put some bite back into the perennial porous Lions defense. Above all, though, the major impetus for Detroit’s turnaround is head coach Jim Schwartz. It always seems as if he’s in complete command of his situation and in a short period, I do believe the Lions can be legitimate contenders. This year, if all goes well, I can see Detroit winning eight games, but we’ll see what happens. It’s obvious that the NFC North will be much tougher than last season and much of that has to do with the resurgence of the Lions.