EPHRAIM, Utah (AP)-The Snow Badgers ran for 167 yards, which proved vital amid rainy conditions and scored 31 unanswered points en route to a 47-11 rout of the Pima Aztecs Saturday at Stoddard Field @ Badger Stadium in WSFL football action.

The Badgers also limited Pima to 201 yards of offense in the rout.

Next Saturday, the Badgers, who are still in WSFL title contention, travel to the Valley of the Sun to battle the Phoenix C.C. Bears.

Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. MST (2:30 in Utah) so please visit www.midutahradio.com for all the latest information on the Badgers.

OREM, Utah (AP)-The record-setting Kalani Norris posted 36 kills and the Panguitch Lady Bobcats won the 1A state volleyball title with a 3-1 victory over Region 20 rival Piute. The win was the 69th in a row for the Lady Bobcats. Kandice Gleave had 17 kills in the loss for the Lady Thunderbirds.

(FILLMORE) – Fourth District Judge Donald Eyre sentenced a man to prison at a Fillmore courtroom today for his involvement in the killing of a Millard County deputy last January. The Judge sentenced 37-year old Ruben Chavez-Reyes to one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison for obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. He also sentenced Chavez-Reyes to zero-to-five year terms for evidence tampering and burglary of a non-dwelling, both third-degree felonies. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently. Jurors found Chavez-Reyes guilty last month of those charges, while acquitting him of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and burglary of a dwelling. Millard County Deputy Josie Fox was gunned down on Jan. 5 while making a traffic stop of a suspected burglar on U.S. 50 east of Delta. 38-year old Roberto Roman has been charged with the murder of Fox. He reportedly told police that he shot Fox with an AK-47 rifle because he thought she pulled him over simply for being Mexican. Chavez-Reyes was accused of helping Roman escape authorities. The two men were later apprehended in Beaver.

(GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.)-KKCO-TV, Channel 11 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports that the man responsible for the now infamous President Barack Obama billboard in the community has revealed himself.

Arvid Mosnes, a conservative Grand Junction resident paid artist Paul Snover to create the billboard, depicting Obama as a Mexican bandito, a homosexual, a gangster and a terrorist.

It was put up along the Interstate 70 business loop, one of Grand Junction’s more highly trafficked areas, but taken down less than a week later after Snover and the owner of the billboard space received violent threats.

Until Friday, Mosnes had remained anonymous.

Mosnes and Snover have gotten mileage out of the sign as they were joined by another local Tea partier for Tea Party Express rallies in Chicago and Springfield, Ill.

Mosnes says that upon his return to Grand Junction, he will auction off the billboard on eBay, with proceeds being donated to the American Mighty Warriors charity which benefits wounded soldiers.

(PHOENIX)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports that while bullet train technology is decades away in the Western United States, the wheels are starting to turn for a federal study to be done with such transportation between Phoenix and Las Vegas.

The federal government will spend $500,000 to begin studying the practicality of linking Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, by high-speed trail.

A new government-issued map shows Arizona connecting to the emerging national rail network by dotted lines to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, signifying routes to be studied.

The U.S. government defines high-speed rail as an intercity system that carries trains which travel faster than 125 m.p.h.

Many bullet train systems are capable of reaching 225 m.p.h.

(CEDAR CITY)-Dwayne Lewis Rouse and Kristine Gabrielle Verdugo of Cedar City have been booked into the Iron County jail charged with a string of burglaries beginning in September 2010.

The pair, both of which are 21 years old, have been linked to 11 burglary incidents beginning in early September.

Rouse was booked on 38 counts of theft and burglary while Verdugo was booked on 27 counts of theft and burglary.

Charges range from Class B misdemeanors to second-degree felonies.

If found guilty, punishment for a second-degree felony may include incarceration in the Utah State Prison for up to 15 years.

Cedar City Police received a crucial tip from a victim of one of the burglaries on October 27 when the victim recognized what he deemed to be a stolen ATV from his business a few nights earlier.

The victim then gave a description of the rider as well as the off-highway vehicle to police officers and several residents in the neighborhood.

Around 8:00 a.m. on October 28, officers received a tip concerning OHVs in the 1200 North block of Cedar Boulevard.

Upon their arrival at the scene, officers identified Rouse and Verdugo as the thieves.

The OHVs were found at Rouse and Verdugo’s residence and were confirmed as stolen.

The 11 burglaries the duo reportedly committed resulted in more than $23,000 in missing property including OHVs, computers, office equipment tools and other electronics.

Although many missing items were recovered, efforts remain underway to recover all of the stolen property.

The Cedar City Police Department suggests burglaries can be reduced, if not eradicated, if residents install quality alarm systems, ensure exterior doors and windows are sturdily constructed, lock exterior doors and windows when leaving and install bright exterior lighting outside of their places of residence.

(PROVO)-Although vast strides have been made in alleviating slavery throughout the world, in the United States it is alive and well in various shapes and forms, Kevin Bales said in a human trafficking conference at Brigham Young University Thursday.

Bales, the president of the nonprofit Free the Slaves, said in modern times, slavery occurs more in recruiters showing up in villages around the world offering jobs.

Since many people are living in dire straits, despite the shady visage recruiters have, many people take a chance in order to give their families a better life.

Currently, what may be the largest U.S. human trafficking escapade in recorded history, involves Thais who were recruited by Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Global Horizons Inc. and eventually ended up working on hog and chicken farms in Utah.

As the Salt Lake Tribune reported, they mortgaged farms in Thailand to pay huge upfront fees to Global Horizon upon the guise from the company promising three years of high wages in the United States.

The Thais found that if they quit, they would lose their homes and farms and ultimately, were not paid at all after experiencing worsening conditions.

Roughly 60 Thais in Utah were able to attract help from Utah Legal Services and contacted officials concerning their plight.

Bales said some countries, including the U.S., don’t follow up well on workers brought into their boundaries, at least not poorer ones from developing countries.

Donna Hughes, a professor at the University of Rhode Island and international researcher of human trafficking, said many countries prosecute prostitutes but should drop charges against those who are human trafficking victims, while offering them compassion and help.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A presidential bid by former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. may be more likely than ever with the formation of a new political action committee by powerful supporters who want him in the race.

Huntsman, who stepped down as Utah governor in August 2009 to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China, has recently purchased a multimillion dollar home in Washington although he is slated to be in Beijing for another year.

No money has been raised yet by R-PAC created in Utah last August to ostensibly help Republican candidates that share Huntsman’s moderate politics throughout the country.

Similar PACs have been planned for other states as well as at the federal level.

Those behind the fundraising effort include John Weaver, a top strategist for 2008 Republican presidential candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain are ready to back a strong push for Huntsman to make a strong run at the presidency.

PAC attorney, Kirk Jowers, head of the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics, said it amounts to an effort to draft Huntsman to run, most likely in 2016.

As a diplomat, Huntsman has been careful not to talk politics while a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in China said Huntsman wasn’t available to discuss his political future and declined comment.

When President Barack Obama selected Huntsman for this assignment, he was already preparing for the 2012 GOP presidential race after playing a significant role in McCain’s campaign.

Leadership PACs, such as Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC allow potential presidential candidates to raise money supporting other party members in hopes the favor will be returned once candidacy is declared.

Draft committees are different as the potential candidate is not involved although the purpose is the same, building a campaign network demonstrating support for a candidate while generating publicity for a political campaign.

Weaver remains adamant that he hasn’t instigated any presidential candidate for Huntsman although he believes Huntsman has a bright political future.

Others involved in this PAC include Zions Bank President Scott Anderson and former Texas congressman Tom Loeffler, an influential lobbyist and major fundraiser for McCain.

(PROVO)-Thursday, Ancestry.com Inc. announced the acquisition of iArchives Inc. and its branded Web site, www.footnote.com, a leading American history Web site.

The acquisition provides ancestry.com with a complementary consumer brand, expanded content offerings and enhanced digitization and image-viewing technologies, according to a news release.

Provo-based ancestry.com anticipates it will issue approximately 1,022,000 shares of its common stock in connection with this merger with the final number being subject to post closing adjustments or other claims under the acquisition agreement.

Ancestry.com is among the world’s largest online family history resources with approximately 1.3-million paying subscribers.

Lindon-based iArchives is a digitization service provider which also operates footnote.com which enables people to search original documents detailing historic events, places and people in world and American history via subscription.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – The closures of United States Post Offices throughout the country is still being discussed in Congress. 3rd District Congressman Jason Chaffetz says closures will most likely be in metropolitan areas rather than in rural areas. Chaffetz introduced legislation recently to create an independent panel to close post offices because of profit losses due to hard financial times and most using the Internet to communicate and pay bills. Senate bill S-3831, would allow post offices to be closed and eliminate the requirement that the Postal Service consider how closing the office would impact the community it serves. Some reports say that USPS also wants to close all Level 15-18 post offices, affecting local rural offices and move them to retail stores. Chaffetz says that likely will not happen.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Health care, government spending and birthright citizenship dominated the final U.S. Senate debate between Utah Republican Mike Lee and Democratic challenger Sam Granato.

Lee and Granato are vying to fill the seat held by GOP U.S. Senator Bob Bennett who failed to advance in the Republican primary.

Lee won the Republican nomination by promising to be more conservative than Bennett.

In Thursday’s debate, Lee pledged to reject earmarks, repeal President Barack Obama’s health care program and to prevent children of illegal immigrants from becoming U.S. citizens.

Granato countered by saying Lee’s positions are too extreme and that he’s positioning himself to be a lifelong politician.

A Democrat hasn’t won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 1970.

(NEPHI)-Friday, a sentencing is scheduled for the man convicted on felony charges related to the fatal shooting of a central Utah sheriff’s deputy.

In September, a Fourth District Court jury convicted Ruben Chavez-Reyes on five of seven felony charges of obstruction of justice, burglary and evidence tampering.

The charges carry a combined maximum penalty of up to 25 years in prison.

The 37-year-old Chavez-Reyes is expected to appear before Judge David Eyre for sentencing Friday afternoon.

Chavez-Reyes was accused of aiding the escape of Roberto Roman after Roman allegedly shot and killed Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a January 5 traffic stop in Delta.

Roman faces a capital murder charge for the shooting.

(RICHFIELD) – A public hearing has been scheduled in Richfield for residents to comment on the issuance of bonds for the airport construction project. At the city council meeting this week, councilmembers discussed bonds not to exceed $800,000 for 35 years, to be sold at a price not less than 100% of the total principal amount for various airport construction projects. A public hearing on the matter will be held at the regular council meeting on Dec. 14 at 7pm. Other council action included an approval of the updated short, medium and long-term Capital Project List for 2011, including a storm drainage system study in sections of the city. The council also adopted a resolution foregoing any enforcement of the display of political signs for six months and accepted a check in the amount of $10,000 from Friends of the Library to go towards the new roof construction.

(BRYCE CANYON) – An Environmental Impact Statement says the sewage system is failing at Bryce Canyon National Park. Acting Superintendent Kathleen Gonder announced that the assessment project has been completed for the sewage system and crews will begin working on replacing the system soon. Gonder said the sewer system has not been replaced since 1958 and sections of the system have deteriorated significantly with age. Those sections and associated manholes are breaking into pieces that regularly clog the system and cause raw sewage to back up, leak out of the system and spill onto the ground from backed-up manholes. Gonder said the EIS is available for public review at the Park.

(BOULDER CITY, Nev.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports the Arizona Department of Transportation has extended paving work on the final 15-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 93 south of Hoover Dam because of weather delays in the area.

An ADOT spokesperson said paving between milepost 10 and milepost 17 will be completed by Friday and motorists should expect traffic delays of up to 15 minutes to allow equipment to enter and exit during construction.

The new southbound lanes between the mileposts are scheduled to open November 3 after roadway striping is completed, according to ADOT.

Paving will continue between milepost 2 and milepost 10 until the end of November.

Upon completion, U.S. 93, the major thoroughfare between Phoenix and Las Vegas, will be a four-lane divided highway between Interstate 40 in Kingman, Ariz. and the new Hoover Dam bypass, ADOT said.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-The Arizona Daily Sun of Flagstaff, Ariz. reports five members of the Hopi tribe pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally taking eaglets earlier than was allowed.

According to information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 58-year-old Eugene Mansfield, 40-year-old Eldrice Mansfield, 60-year-old Emmett Namoki and 34-year-old Lukas Namoki, all of Mishongnovi Village, Ariz. were sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Mark E. Aspey to one year of probation and $250 in restitution paid to the Hopi tribe.

The fifth defendant, 37-year-old Brendan Mansfield, was sentenced to 15 days in jail and restitution.

All five were involved in taking two eaglets from their nest at Elephant Butte May 8.

One of the five, who was to receive a permit to gather the eagles May 10, told the others it was permissible to collect the eagles May 8.

According to the tribe’s Cultural Preservation Office, no permission was granted to collect the eaglets early.

Furthermore, the eaglets were also too young to be collected under the permit’s parameters.

When questioned by authorities, one of the defendants stated that eaglets are hotly contested among Hopi collectors.

In the same release Hopi Cultural Preservation director Leigh Kuwanwisiwma said that for the past 20 years, the tribe has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that Hopi religious practitioners continue the use of eagle feathers.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, eagles are legally collected by tribal members through a permit process and are used in some Hopi religious ceremonies.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Eight of 15 seats on the Utah Board of Education are up for election this year and the winners will play key roles in determining the state’s educational picture during the next five years.

Those in contention are bring varied views to the table.

Tom Jett, a Cedar City parent and entrepreneur in property management and a candidate for the District 15 seat (which covers southwestern Utah), wants to eliminate most of the State Office of Education.

However, his opponent, current state board Chairwoman Debra Roberts said that would hurt Utah education.

Roberts hopes to retain her place on the board so she can ensue in labors she and other members have started on literacy, numeracy, instruction and assessment.

Whoever wins will likely face these issues as well as numerous other projects.

Among the projects waiting for committee members is the Common Core State Standards which will change what students are required to learn in each grade in both math and language arts.

Additionally, they will probably decide whether Utah schools should be allowed to shorten the school year to address budget woes.

Associate professor of social sciences at the University of Utah, Matthew Burbank, says Utahns shouldn’t dismiss the races, even though they get lost in the shuffle often, especially in election years.

Although the state board doesn’t create the state education budget and can’t raise taxes, finances are a concern for many candidates as District 5 incumbent Kim Burningham said he believes the state could better fund education by carefully reviewing sales-tax exemptions.

(ANETH)-Delegates contending for seats on the Navajo Nation’s tribal council have several important issues to address after elections November 2, including a significant oil issue in San Juan County.

Currently, the Navajo Nation is undergoing an emotional tussle concerning a trust fund holding royalties from oil and gas leases near Aneth, about 48 miles east of Mexican Hat.

This fund’s assets doubled to more than $52 million this year when the state agreed to settle a lawsuit over alleged abuses during the decades that the state oversaw it.

Utah gave up its oversight role two years ago and no project to benefit the Utah Navajos, many of whom have no electricity or running water, can be initiated until Congress selects a new trustee.

The Navajo Nation, which receives 62.5 percent of the royalties, wants control of the entire fund.

San Juan County Commissioner and council candidate Kenneth Maryboy is adamantly against this, saying the money should remain in Utah.

Utah Navajos have long complained about their isolation, saying the state government ignores them while the Navajo Nation’s “byzantine” political system fails to pay attention as well.

Maryboy also claims Utah Navajos were cut out of funding for any projects from the federal stimulus.

Francis Redhouse of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz., is running a write-in campaign in the council district and says the Navajo Nation should oversee all royalties.

Redhouse says he has visited all seven Utah chapters except Mexican Water, Maryboy’s hometown, and says Utah Navajos have a double standard saying they want to be independent from the Navajo Nation but still want to partake of the benefits of association.

For now, a holding fun overseen by the state, is completing already-approved projects including housing renovations, road repair and college scholarships.

(CEDAR CITY)-The Cedar City council turned down a pair of ordinances that would have made it illegal to discriminate in housing and employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The council voted 4-1 to hold off on the ordinances while considering to address them as resolutions.

A resolution is essentially a statement that does not have the same legal authority as an ordinance.

City councilman Dale Brinkerhoff expects federal or state lawmakers to address the issue and pass a comprehensive law, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The resolution could be passed as early as next week.

The Tribune says the ordinances would require the city to investigate discrimination complaints and issue fines as high as $1,000.

(ST. GEORGE)-A 20-year-old St. George man has been sentenced to up to five years in prison for violating probation during a gravestone vandalization spree at the city’s cemetery.

The St. George Spectrum reported that 5th District Court Judge John Walton sentenced Rykky Chayne Perez Wednesday after Perez pleaded guilty to criminal mischief last month.

The judge ruled Perez violated a three-year probation sentence in a November 2008 drug case.

A 19-year-old co-defendant, Jordan Lynn Orr, was sentenced to 360 hours of community service at the cemetery after spending 30 days in jail for his criminal mischief conviction.

The two were accused of causing up to $16,000 in damage to gravestones at the St. George City Cemetery while intoxicated in September.

Police said some damaged headstones dated from the 1800s.

(SALINA) – An Aurora woman was injured in a vehicle crash Wednesday morning on SR-24 at the Salina Livestock Auction. According to a UHP report, 53-year old Kristine Mickelsen was traveling northbound in a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria, when she hit a vehicle turning left into the livestock auction at about 8am. UHP said Mickelsen was not wearing her seatbelt and was transported to the Gunnison Valley Hospital with injuries. The driver of a 1993 Chevy pickup, 88-year old Hartley Sorenson of Axtell, was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured. He was cited for failure to yield.

(AURORA) – Sevier County deputies are searching for suspects in thefts Tuesday night at Country Auto Salvage in Aurora. The business owner reported that a radiator valued at $300 and a grill guard valued at $200 were stolen sometime during the night Tuesday. Deputies say they have no leads on suspects in the case but continue to investigate.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The founders of international charity Operation Smile came to Salt Lake City Wednesday to receive a large donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The Church has given $927,400 for medical missions in four countries while last year Operation Smile volunteers helped 16,000 children.

Their goal is to double that number within the next five years.

Numerous Latter-Day Saints have donated medical expertise and LDS teens have volunteered their time over the years.

The Church’s donation will go toward medical missions in countries with existing humanitarian projects such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and Jordan.

According to Operation Smile, it is estimated that these four countries feature more than 11,600 children born with a cleft condition each year.

For more information on how to help, please visit www.operationsmile.org.

(RICHFIELD) – The Richfield City Council adopted a street light standard at their regular council meeting Tuesday night. After several months of discussion over costs, maintenance and repair of street and parking lot lights, including subdivision lights, councilmembers decided to adopt a standard for residential and commercial street lighting, where the city would control the costs, maintenance and repair and leave other lighting in the hands of Rocky Mountain Power and subdivision developers. The council still needs to adopt a policy for a funding source for maintenance and repair of city-owned street lights. Richfield City thanked Cecelia Bytheway of Bytheway Engineering for her efforts on analyzing the street light issue throughout the city.

(RICHFIELD) – Six heating and air conditioning companies submitted bids at the Sevier County Commission meeting today for the HVAC project at the Sevier County Justice Complex in Richfield. After opening bids, County Commissioners said the apparent low bidder on the project was Blake Electric of Richfield at about $210,000. The highest bidder was Peterson Plumbing of Richfield at $275,000. Commissioners said the bid will officially be awarded on Nov. 1. In other Commission action, Commissioners approved funds for the Travel Council, including $1,000 for a 62-mile relay race starting at the Fishlake Lodge, $500 for a new website for the ATV Jamboree and $500 to pay for the rights of travel brochure photos. An amount of $475 was also approved for a half-page ad in a popular outdoor magazine.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)KGUN-TV, Channel 9 in Tucson, Ariz. reports that the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled federal law trumps Arizona law when it comes to voter registration.

Wednesday, the 9th Circuit Court threw out an Arizona law requiring would-be voters to prove their citizenship.

The judges ruled the Arizona law conflicts with federal law, which does not require such proof.

Under the federal law, a voter applicant has to swear he or she is a citizen, but does not have to prove it.

The Arizona Advocacy Network, whose mission is to encourage civic participation by educating voters, was a plaintiff in the 5-year-old lawsuit.

Brown said that because of the Arizona law, officials have rejected 40,000 voter applications.

The now-rejected statute made Arizona the most stringent state in the union when it came to processing voters and Arizonan voters approved the measure in 2004.

The measure consisted of requiring documentary proof of citizenship, such as a valid driver’s license, passport, state birth certificate or tribal ID.

The federal law still allows election workers to require voters to show ID however.

Pima County (Ariz.) recorder F. Ann Rodriguez told KGUN that despite the ruling, for now, protocol will stay the same when it comes to registering voters.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Secretary of State Ken Bennett issued a joint statement saying this decision should not impact the election Tuesday but registration requirements could be impacted as well as the integrity of subsequent elections.

(PHOENIX)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports all 15 Arizona counties are now using a federal system to screen jail inmates for their immigration status.

Gila, Graham, Greenlee and La Paz counties began using a system U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement began promoting nationwide Tuesday.

This system, The Secure Communities program, allows local officials to screen people being booked into jail for their immigration status while doing an FBI criminal background check at the same time.

If a fingerprint check shows a suspect is a legal or illegal immigrant, ICE can place holds on them while beginning enforcement action.

(Utah) Utah students will notice some changes in curriculum over the next few years. The state has joined a consortium of thirty other states who will implement a common core curriculum standard in math and language arts. According to North Sanpete Assistant Superintendent Randy Shelley, there will be more noticeable changes in math than language arts as high schools move away from individual math concept classes and transition to an international standard. According to Shelley, students will learn algebra, geometry, and other specialized concepts in a single class. Schools will begin implementing the new standards in the coming school year starting with the 6th and 9th grades. Other grades will follow each year until it is completely implemented. Utah is one of the leading states in the consortium, but the state can withdraw at any time if it chooses.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is now involved in drafting new major liquor legislation for the state of Utah.

This legislation could soon make more liquor licenses available for Utah restaurants and bars.

Over the last few weeks, select members of the LDS hierarchy have quietly been meeting with key players in the liquor debate including individuals with the most interest in its outcome and those who will decide if any legislation should be passed.

Recently, a legislative auditor said a lack of liquor licenses may be keeping several national chains from opening restaurants in the state, thus depriving the economy of needed revenue.

Potentially, KTVX-TV Channel 4 in Salt Lake City reported, this may include restaurants at the Church’s new City Creek Center.

All parties have met with Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups who could determine the fate of the bill.

Church lobbyists have also met with Senator John Valentine, the liquor bill’s likely sponsor.

(HUNTINGTON)-The operator of a collapsed Utah mine is fighting a state demand to put up more money to clean polluted groundwater spilling out of the mine.

The Utah Board of Oil, Gas & Mining was expected to set a series of hearings over the dispute at Crandall Canyon Wednesday where a collapse in August 2007 entombed six miners.

Three men were killed during rescue efforts.

Regulators say East Carbon-based Genwall Resources Inc. is successfully treating the iron-rich groundwater spilling out of the mine complex.

However, they would like a guarantee that the treatment perpetually lasts should the company walk.

The company shut down Crandall Canyon but argues it has not been abandoned for good and there is no need to post a reclamation bond yet.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Financial disclosure reports filed Tuesday show Utah Governor Gary Herbert had nearly $500,000 left to spend in the final weeks of his campaign, compared with less than $300,000 for Democratic challenger Peter Corroon.

Reports in question cover contributions and expenditures through October 21, showing Corroon has spent about $2.1 million this calendar year compared to Herbert’s $2.5 million spent.

The Tuesday report is the last one candidates are required to file before Election Day.

Corroon’s campaign had pledged to post donations within a week of receiving them while Herbert said he would do so within 48 hours.

Herbert repeatedly said the rapid disclosure of campaign contributions is better than capping them.

Utah is one of a handful of states that places limits on who can donate to a campaign or how large those contributions may be.

(NINE MILE CANYON) – An oil company has agreed to spend up to $5 million to preserve archaeological resources in Nine Mile Canyon. The Bill Barrett Corporation and the executive director of the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance have agreed to scale back its operations by 66% in surface areas and 26% in the number of wells it tapped, in exchange for CPAA to halt litigation. Bill Barrett also agreed to train employees in cultural sensitivity to minimize damage to artifacts and working with a state grant to treat the road with pine sap to keep dust down. Both parties realized that protracted litigation could have held all players in limbo for years, without resolving problems in the area.

(RICHFIELD) – State Senator Ralph Okerlund visited the Richfield City Council meeting Tuesday night to update members on the upcoming state legislative session for 2011. Okerlund said the biggest challenge for leaders is balancing the state budget with current funds. He said last year, the state was able to balance the budget with one-time money and a dip into the rainy-day fund but this year, that money is not available. Okerlund noted that another big challenge for state leaders, is employing states rights on several issues. In addition to balancing budgets and state rights, Okerlund said state officials will continue to attack public land access and water issues.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Orrin Hatch is in a battle with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the reinstatement of protections for wolves under the Endangered Species Act in Western States. To enforce a District of Montana court order, Fish and Wildlife officials have published a rule in the Federal Register that reinstates the designation for gray wolves in north-central Utah, Montana, Idaho and eastern Oregon and Washington. Hatch is opposed to the order, saying the federal judge’s misguided ruling in August demonstrates the need for his bill to put states in charge of managing wolves within their own boundaries. Hatch introduced the Returning Wolf Management to the States Act in September, to allow Fish and Wildlife professionals, manage the wolf population. He said wolves have proven to be a menace to livestock and wildlife and since state officials have managed deer, elk and other wildlife, they’re better equipped to manage wolves.

(ST. GEORGE)-Dixie State College of Utah will host its second meeting of the President’s Colleagues for the DSC 2010-11 academic year Monday November 1 featuring a presentation by emeritus faculty member Dr. Andrew Barnum.

The meeting will take place at 12:00 p.m. in Room 156 of the Russell C. Taylor Health Science Center, located on the Dixie Regional Medical Center’s River Road campus at 1526 Medical Center Drive.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Barnum, the director of the DSC Science Museum, will discuss the flora and fauna in the Washington County region as well as a collection of animal and insect skeletons.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The University of Utah has named a guest conductor to lead its choral studies program after Brady Allred’s unexpected resignation last week.

The university has begun using graduate students to fill in for Allred after he took a month’s personal leave and then resigned for “unexpected personal and family circumstances.”

November 1, conductor, pianist and teacher Barlow Bradford will step in as a visiting professor of choral studies at the university’s school of music.

Like Allred, Bradford will be responsible for leading the University of Utah singers and the A Cappella Chorus while supervising the graduate choral conducting program as well as other teaching duties.

Bradford co-founded the the Utah Chamber Artists in 1991 and its current artistic director.

He was also music director of the Orchestra at Temple Square in Salt Lake City and associate director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir until 2003.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-John Clark, the co-author of “Opening Zion: A Scrapbook of the National Park’s First Official Tourists,” will speak in Salt Lake City Wednesday afternoon.

Clark will be at the Utah State Archives courtyard meeting room.

When his wife, Melissa Clark, purchased a box of old scrapbooks online, she only knew she had bought something related to the University of Utah and Zion National Park.

What arrived in the mail proved to be more than she expected as two albums rife with photographs and newspaper clippings dating to 1920 that documented a trip by a group of six women from the UofU to the newly opened national park showed up.

John Clark, an avid Utah automobile historian, will speak on finding the collection, its value and its publication.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-KTVX-TV Channel 4 in Salt Lake City reports documents from the Utah State Health Department reveal abuse is up 400 percent in the last decade.

A major problem in the matter is emergency rooms are feeding the growing addiction.

According to The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, the number of addicts visiting ER’s doubled in the United States from 144,600 in 2004 to 305,900 in 2008.

Many recovering addicts have said that all they have to do to satiate their craving is walk into an ER, lie about a symptom and get some of the most powerful prescription drugs available.

The fraud gives addicts a quick fix but costs their families dearly as one Provo family was held hostage by a son fighting an addiction who had access to prescription drugs.

Utah Department of Human Services spokeswoman Elizabeth Solis said medical providers have a responsibility to treat patients ethically based on the information/symptoms they present.

Solis also said patients have a legal responsibility to honestly present symptoms.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A Utah molecular diagnostics firm is asking a federal appeals court to resolve a legal argument about whether the federal government can issue patents for developments connected with naturally occurring genes.

In court documents filed last week in Washington, Salt Lake City-based Myriad Genetics Inc. focused on company patents it obtained on two human genes linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Myriad called the suit by 20 researchers, organizations and cancer victims, “normally directed to Myriad,” but said it “imperils the entire biotechnology industry,” including molecular diagnostics, therapeutic drugs, agricultural applications and animal husbandry.

The publicly traded company wants the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to overturn a March ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet in New York challenging whether anyone can hold patents on human genes.

Sweet said the company deserves praise for what he deems to be a valuable scientific achievement, but not a patent because isolated DNA is not different from native DNA as it exists in nature.

He also cited U.S. Supreme Court rulings that purifying a product of nature does not mean it can be patented.

Kenneth Chahine, a law professor at the University of Utah, told the Salt Lake Tribune he believes the case will ultimately end up before the nation’s highest court.

The lawsuit was filed in March 2009 by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation against Myriad Genetics, the University of Utah Research Foundation and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The ACLU and Patent foundation says Myriad’s refusal to license the patents broadly has meant that women who fear they may be at risk for breast or ovarian cancers are prevented from having anyone but Myriad look at the genes in question.

Based partly on pioneering research at the University of Utah and other institutions, in 1994 and 1995 Myriad obtained patents of a breast cancer gene.

It then proceeded to develop diagnostic tests that identify mutations making more women susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer.

Myriad told the court that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued more than 50,000 patents during the past 29 years related to genes in humans, animals, plants, bacteria and others.

Myriad is challenging whether plaintiffs in the case had standing to sue by showing they were adversely affected by Myriad’s actions and whether the genetic material Myriad contends it isolated was eligible for patent.

The company also asserts its methods can be patented because the result is something substantially different from natural occurring genes.

The weather has hit in full force this morning in Central Utah. There’s wind, rain, and snow. Manti City had a large dead limb laying across main street early this morning due to the wind. Local residents moved it off the road and Manti city got it cleared up.

Ephraim city had more extensive damage. The Ephraim police department got a call around 4 am this morning. A large tree located around 150 south main in Ephraim, across from the old Elementary School, fell, due to the wind, and totalled a small pickup truck that was parked in the driveway. Luckily, No one was hurt.

Residents woke to snow in Milburn, Salina, Mt. Pleasant and in the Mountains this morning.

And there was a power outage in Fairview that lasted almost 2 hours due to a blown fuse in the power line.

(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County Commissioners will meet in session Wednesday to discuss several agenda items, including the power plant application and travel council recommendations. The Commissioners will begin the meeting at 9am at the Commission Chambers in the Sevier County Administration Building in Richfield and will offer an open time for public comment for citizens to express opinions or raise issues. Other agenda items for discussion includes, opening bids for the new Justice Complex HVAC project and the final CIB list for the Six-County Association of Governments. The public is invited to attend.

(MAYFIELD) – Sanpete County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an incident Friday afternoon where a Hispanic man sustained injuries after being bucked off a horse up 12-mile canyon on the way to Beaver Creek. Sheriff Deputy Greg Peterson said hunters discovered the man while camping in the area and notified authorities at about 2pm. Peterson said the man was conscious and sustained a neck injury. He was lifeflighted to the Utah Valley Medical Center in Provo. Peterson said deputies were unable to obtain the man’s name, age and residence because he could only speak in broken English.

(GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.)-The Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park will dedicate a new rim-based amphitheater and landmark feature at Mather Point on Grand Canyon’s South Rim Monday at 3:30 p.m. MST.

The new amphitheater allows park visitors to view the Canyon’s famous vistas from a scenic location while seated on native limestone.

The amphitheater’s setting, adjacent to the rim, seats approximately 50 to 80 people, providing space for ranger lectures or viewing the Canyon’s sunrise and sunset in a tranquil spot.

The landmark feature, which honors the numerous Native American tribes affiliated with the park, also features a plaza with a meeting area for visitors walking to and from Mather Point while stone slabs in the construction include etchings inspired by stories with input gathered from these tribes.

(JACKSON, Wyo.)-An earthquake that hit northwest Wyoming was felt as far away as Blackfoot, Idaho.

The 4.4 quake struck just before noon Sunday, apparently triggering a landslide on a hiking trail in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

No one is believed to have been in the slide.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide reported that a sheriff’s deputy accounted for the people from two vehicles found at the trailhead.

No damage was reported in Jackson or in Grand Teton National Park, west of where the slide was reported.

(ROME)-Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints president Thomas S. Monson was on hand in Italy’s capital city to break ground for a temple last Saturday.

President Monson says when the temple is dedicated, it will serve 25,000 Italian Latter-Day Saints who currently must travel to Bern, Switzerland to go to the temple.

Upon its dedication, the Rome Italy Temple will be the Church’s 12th temple in Europe while earlier this month, President Monson also announced a temple for Lisbon, Portugal at the Church’s semiannual general conference.

Numerous Italian Latter-Day Saints were on hand to greet President Monson, as were several prominent dignitaries.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Congress may consider a 1% tax hike on all transactions at any financial institution across the country. House Resolution 4646, sponsored by Democrats Rep. Peter deFazio of Oregon and U.S. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, will require a tax on any deposit a person makes or money transfer at a bank, credit union at any financial institution in the country. In a recent interview, Sen. Orrin Hatch says that bill is dead in the water. Some observers say if the bill ever comes up in Congressional committees, your direct deposit pay check, social security deposits, cash-carry deposits or any financial transaction, will get hit with a 1% tax. They say Pres. Obama promised no new tax increases on those making less than $250,000 a year but this counters anything he’s promised.

Cental Utah residents had hard wind, rain and snow to deal with in certain areas this morning. The Ephraim City police got a call around 4am due to a large tree that had fallen at 150 south and main, just across the street from the old Elementary School. The tree totalled a small pick-up truck that was parked in the driveway. No one was hurt. Residents had to move a large dead limb off of main street in Manti this morning. The limb had drivers going around it, until it was moved and cleaned up by the city. Fairview city experienced a power outage that lasted almost two hours this morning due to a blown fuse in the line, and residents in Milburn, Mt. Pleasant, Salina and other surrounding areas woke to up to 2 inches of snow on the ground this morning. The weather doesn’t seem to be letting up with a 70% chance of precip today and colder temperatures this week

(WELLINGTON) – A Salt Lake couple were killed in a two-vehicle accident over the weekend on U.S. 6. According to UHP reports, 55-year old David George and 46-year old Johhna George crossed the center line and collided with a semitrailer just before 5pm on Saturday near Wellington. UHP said the pair were traveling westbound in a Ford Escort on wet roads through heavy rain and were not wearing their seatbelts. The driver of the semi was not injured.

YUMA, Ariz. (AP)-The Arizona Western Matadors posted 510 yards of offense en route to a 34-13 rout of the Snow Badgers Saturday in WSFL action.

The Badgers never got in a rhythm while the opportunistic Matadors took advantage of numerous opportunities presented to them.

Next Saturday, the Badgers return home to face the Pima (Ariz.) Aztecs.

Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. at Stoddard Field @ Badger Stadium.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Division of Wildlife Resources is reminding hunters that the Buck Deer Hunt will close on Monday on the Monroe Unit. DWR officials say most of the rest of the state will remain open through Oct. 27. For youth hunters, the deer hunt remains open through Oct. 31, except for the Monroe and four other units in the state, which are closed to all hunters on Oct. 25. For more information and boundary descriptions, connect to the DWR on their website at www.wildlife.utah.gov.

(WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.)-KRQE-TV, Channel 13 in Albuquerque, N.M. reports that the Navajo Nation’s high court has ordered the top attorney for the tribe’s legislative branch to explain why he shouldn’t be disciplined for defying court opinions.

The court said Frank Seanez has a duty not to obstruct, interfere or influence court functions.

He was scheduled to appear before the Tribe’s Supreme Court justices Friday morning.

Already, the court has commanded Seanez to refrain from legally advising lawmakers or issuing opinions and memos if that advisement disclaims, refutes or defies any Navajo Nation court judgment or order.

The Navajo Nation Bar Association usually reviews complaints about its members.

The high court says it can discipline a bar member when he or she interferes with the operation or proceedings of a tribal court.

Chief Justice Herb Yazzie and Associate Justice Eleanor Shirley pointed to two instances in which they said Seanez’ legal advice has countered Navajo Nation law.

The first incident occurred in May when Seanez advised lawmakers that it is “unquestionable” that they have the authority to change a tribal law outlining the structure of government.

The court previously ruled that only the Navajo people may amend the law.

In August, Seanez told the Tribal Council speaker that the high court exceeded its jurisdiction by restoring a government reform commission.

The council eradicated the quasi-independent commission in 2007 and reestablished a similar body under the legislative branch.

The court ordered the commission to be restored and funded at its original level or be given enough money to fulfill its duties.

Seanez said the high court does not have the authority to appropriate or reallocate funds for a nonexistent commission.

(KINGMAN, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports that after surveying storm damage in Kingman, Ariz. the National Weather Service has determined a weak tornado briefly touched down in the city Monday afternoon.

The tornado apparently made a pair of brief touchdowns between 4:45 and 5:00 p.m. MST Monday in the Rancho Santa Fe subdivision where two single family homes suffered minor roof damage.

The National Weather Service says the damage estimates were consistent with winds around 75 m.p.h.

(CEDAR CITY)-Thursday evening, Iron County residents learned that the Cedar Valley Aquifer west of Cedar City has been shrinking over the past 70 years as discharge rates have exceeded recharge and the losses likely will continue unless measures are taken to plug the problem.

The results were announced during a report delivered at the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District in Cedar City.

The report, compiled by senior geologist William Lund and his staff with the Utah Geological Survey was commissioned by the conservancy district in 2009 after a ground fissure nearly 4 miles long was discovered in a subdivision in Enoch.

Resultant ground subsidence caused sewers to flow backward and for development to stop after only one house was built in the 400-lot project.

Lund said such fissures normally aren’t investigated when they appear in undisturbed areas or farmland but fissures can cause problems as soon as development begins.

Since 1939, water in the aquifer has dropped an average of 60 feet and in some places, 114 feet, Lund said.

The aquifer lies under an 116-square mile surface area.

Fissures are also occurring in the Quichapa Lake area west of Cedar City, an area of expanded development.

The report said that near Quichapa Lake, the subsidence occurs at the rate of more than an inch per year.

Lund said the problem is similar to subsidence issues facing areas of Arizona and Nevada where sinking ground has caused more than $100 million in damages to infrastructure.

The report recommends that cities avoid developing in areas with severe fissures and has urged developers to disclose fissures when they exist.

As a last resort, a prohibition on taking water from the aquifer was recommended.

Scott Wilson, manager of the conservancy district that commissioned the study said the information will be helpful in directing any agency decisions in dealing with the valuable water in increasingly populous Iron County.

Enoch City councilwoman Celesta Lyman said developers are now responsible for geologic studies necessary for approval of a project.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah’s salaried job count for September expanded by 0.8 percent compared to September 2009 while the state’s other primary indicator of current labor market conditions (the seasonally adjusted employment rate) registered 7.5 percent, which was also an 0.8 percent increase from last September.

According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, the total number of people working in wage and salary positions measured 1,196,300 statewide.

Approximately, 101,000 Utahns are considered unemployed, a news release said.

Nationally, the United States unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.6 percent.

During the recession in Utah, a significant number of jobs were shed while in early 2010, senior DWS economist Mark Knold said the economy is slowly working its way upward but there’s still much that needs to be regained.

However, Knold also said only the construction, manufacturing, trade/transportation and government sectors continued with employment losses over the past 12 months.

Knold said much of the growth occurred in employment services or temporary help.

(PROVO)-A Brigham Young University study shows when the economy slows and jobs are harder to come by, thrift stores and yard sales become an important component in purchasing products for middle-class families.

Sociology professor Ralph Brown said his study divided Utah County families into three economic and social groups with the lower income families making $30,000 or less per year, middle income families making up to $80,000 per year and high-income families making more than $80,000.

This five-year study began in 2003 when Geneva Steel suddenly shut its doors.

The study asserts that middle-income families changed their shopping behavior after hard times happened while before economic hardships struck, they tried to emulate the higher-income class.

Brown said that if middle-income families continue to shop at thrift stores, the stores may have to raise their prices to keep enough employees to fill the demand which may potentially change the function of such companies as Deseret Industries.

Brown wants to ensue in his study, particularly to discover whether or not the long prevalent social stigma of shopping at thrift stores has been reversed.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah’s largest health care employer will soon begin providing insurance benefits for employees’ domestic partners.

Intermountain Healthcare says that as of January 1, 2011, employees with domestic partners will have access to the same benefits as married employees.

IHC says numerous companies already offer similar benefits, including the University of Utah and MountainStar Healthcare.

(RICHFIELD) – A Richfield woman and her passengers were taken to the hospital with injuries after getting “T-boned” on a Richfield street Wednesday afternoon. According to a UHP report, 26-year old Ashley Tolman was traveling southbound in a 1993 Saturn SL-2 on 100 East in Richfield, when she stopped and while pulling out, was hit by another vehicle at about 12:15pm. UHP said Tolman was not wearing her seatbelt and was taken to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield with unknown injuries. Her passengers, 44-year old Diane Patton of Salina was also not wearing her seatbelt and was taken to the hospital and 34-year old Lesley Anderson of Richfield was seatbelted but taken to the hospital, as well. The driver who “T-boned” Tolman, 36-year old, McKelle Nielson of Annabella, was not wearing her seatbelt but was not injured, along with her 8-month son, Jaeger Neilson, who was in a car seat. All occupants in the vehicle hit had to be extricated. Tolman was cited for no valid driver’s license.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Hadley Myers ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns while Colin Christensen passed for a touchdown and ran for another as the Delta Rabbits pummeled the Juab Wasps, 28-0 Thursday in Region 12 football action.

CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)-Nathan Mecham, Colten Fasselin and Taylor Cox each ran for a pair of touchdowns as the Emery Spartans got past the the North Sanpete Hawks, 43-28 in Region 12 football action Thursday. Rhett Bird tossed for a pair of touchdowns and returned a fumble 65 yards for another score in the loss for the Hawks.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-Katie Glover had 13 kills and the Kanab Cowgirls downed the Millard Lady Eagles, 3-1 Thursday in Region 13 volleyball action.

(MONTROSE, Colo.)-KJCT-TV Channel 8 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports that a southwestern Colorado mill may receive federal help as it seeks to remain open and preserve 100 jobs.

Wednesday, people from different industries met to come up with ideas to help Intermountain Mill of Montrose, Colo. flourish.

By helping Intermountain Mill,this collaboration will also help Colorado’s forests, many of which have been devastated by bark beetles and other insects.

(EPHRAIM) – The Snow College Traditional Building Skills Institute has a new director. Woody Challis says his new position will give him and students an opportunity to restore a well-lived in pioneer home. Challis said some of the challenges facing the workers includes restoring cracked cement layers, limestone that suffer from dampness and attempting an entire overhaul of the structure. The new director has three children attending Snow College in Ephraim and has served for three years on the institute’s board. Former TBSI Director Russ Mendenhall has announced he would be stepping down after completing several major restoration projects in Sanpete County.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Utah Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on a controversial injunction implemented by the Weber County Sheriff’s Office that will classify those associated with an Ogden street gang as a public nuisance.

The American Civil Liberties Union asked for an immediate review of the injunction shortly after it was entered by 2nd District Judge Ernie Jones September 27.

Tuesday, the five-person panel of judges announced it will hear arguments in the case October 25, according to Utah State Courts spokeswoman Nancy Volmer.

Jones declared the 485-member Ogden Trece gang a public nuisance and granted the injunction, which prohibits members of the gang from associating with other alleged members of Trece.

It also prohibits those believed to be involved with a gang from doing anything police would deem “annoying, harassing or challenging” while imposing a citywide curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for anyone believed to be in the gang.

Known gang members, as well as those who are believed to be associated with a gang, are prohibited from possessing or being in the presence of any firearms, drugs, alcohol or anything that could be used as graffiti.

The ACLU contends the injunction violates the civil rights of some who have been wrongly labeled as gang members and who have never been convicted of any crimes.

Attorneys for the group believe the injunction includes a number of inherent First Amendment Rights violations and relies too heavily on the subjective discretion of police officers.

In court documents, they contend the injunction is too expansive and shows no caution as to who is included within restrictions. Documents assert that it fails to take family members, friends and girlfriends into consideration, who may inadvertently be involved with the gang.

Weber County Attorney Dee Smith responded by stating the injunction merely prohibits gang members from associating with other known gang members in public.

An additional petition in support of the ACLU was filed by the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Monday.

(LAIE, HAWAII)-An open house is currently underway for the Laie Hawaii Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Wednesday, the open house began and dignitaries and local officials were invited. Public tours will begin Friday October 22 and run through Saturday November 13, excluding Sundays.

The temple is scheduled for re-dedication Sunday November 21 while it will be preceded by a cultural celebration Saturday November 20 with a cultural celebration at the Brigham Young University-Hawaii campus.

Upon its re-dedication, the Laie Hawaii Temple will join 134 other temples the Church currently operates throughout the world.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff now says there is an 80 percent chance a lawsuit will be filed against the controversial Bowl Championship Series.

The BCS, which is an arbitrary way select institutions of higher learning have chosen to anoint Division I-A college football’s supposed national champion, deprives millions of universities throughout the country of equal revenues.

Among those schools who have been harmed by the BCS’ illicit exclusion are the University of Utah and Boise State University who have rightfully earned such revenues due to exemplary performance on the field of play in recent seasons.

Shurtleff has already told KTVX-Channel 4 in Salt Lake City that a draft of the lawsuit has been created.

While many Utahns do not understand why Shurtleff deems this as a priority, numerous economists and statisticians have proven that the BCS significantly harms not only collegiate athletic departments but entire universities as well, according to Web site PlayoffPAC.com

Shurtleff says that after continual study, he finally has enough evidence to expose the BCS for the hoax it is.

For more information on the dangers of the BCS, please visit www.playoffpac.com.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Layton-based Utah State Senator Stuart Adams has drafted a bill for the 2011 Legislature that would boost sales taxes to pay for education and require school districts to cut property taxes.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports the legislation is intended to spread education funds more evenly among Utah’s 41 school districts and 80 public charter schools.

The Legislature’s Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee, which Adams co-chairs, discussed the proposal Wednesday.

Adams, who is still tweaking the measure, has asked the committee not to take action yet.

Adams, a Republican, proposed boosting the sales tax by 1 percent to generate $533 million, reinstating the full sales tax on food to raise $150 million, or a combination of both.

School districts would then get a share based on enrollment and growth rates.

(PROVO)-The first part of what will eventually consist of 21 miles of pipeline was installed during a groundbreaking event in Provo Canyon Wednesday.

The $150 million pipeline, which will run along the Murdock Canal, will completely enclose what is currently an open canal.

Each section of pipe is 10 feet in diameter and the Provo Reservoir Canal Enclosure Project says there are numerous benefits to closing the canal.

For instance, upon its completion, it is expected to be a non-motorized trail for joggers, cyclists and equestrian use.

The pipeline will give tap water to the periphery of Salt Lake City and other towns along the way.

The project should be finished by the spring of 2012 and it is being underwritten by canal shareholders, the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, the U.S. Department of the Interior and a $60 million state loan.

(Manti) Sanpete County Commissioners are working on the budget for next year, and with the economy still struggling they are looking to cut back wherever possible. According to Commissioner Spencer Cox, the greatest portion of the budget goes to the people employed by the county. Cox says the goal is to cut back without cutting jobs. Elected officials and supervisors are combing through expenses in an effort to reduce the individual budgets for each department. There are some signs that things are improving in the county with increases in building permits, which is a benchmark for budget numbers. While there have been some large building projects completed in the past year, most of them have been non-taxable since they were either schools, churches, or government buildings. Residential building has seen enough increase though to indicate some recovery. Commissioners will continue to work on the budget over the next couple of months.

(RICHFIELD) – Hundreds of registered voters showed up at a “Meet Your Candidates” night at the Snow College Richfield Campus last night. Snow President Scott Wyatt was selected as the moderator for the event and said he enjoyed the night. The evening began with questions posed to school board candidates concerning bullying, budget cuts, student improvement and field trips. The second portion of the event featured all the candidates running for Sevier County commissioner. All candidates were asked questions from budget cuts and public land issues to property rights and power plant revenue. The audience also had opportunities to ask questions.

(BEAVER) – A new ski resort located east of Beaver is set to open mid-December. Eagle Point Ski Resort is at the former site of Elk Meadows and is located in the Tushar mountains, at one of Utah’s tallest ranges. Eagle Point CEO Shane Gadbaw says the ski resort is an attraction to anyone who visits the area. He said his company wanted to create a place that would offer more than great skiing, with the goal of offering a family friendly atmosphere, with outstanding dining, amenities and service. Gadbaw said Eagle Point is a place to get away from the crowds. The ski resort will conduct a live broadcast on KCYQ-97.7 FM this Saturday from noon to 3pm with free ticket giveaways and prizes to kick off its Grand Opening on Dec. 15.

(GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.)-KKCO-TV, Channel 11 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports that a search for a sexually violent predator has ended in Wyoming.

Mesa County (Colo.) Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Heather Benjamin said 42-year-old Edward James McCabe is back in custody.

McCabe was wanted in Wyoming but Benjamin said officials believe he was recently in Mesa County.

A witness told deputies they spotted McCabe in the Redlands area near Grand Junction riding a bike with a small white dog this week.

Benjamin said McCabe was arrested Tuesday in Cody, Wyo. for failing to register as a sex offender.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Utah Division of Securities released a list this week of common investment traps that all investors, especially senior citizens, should avoid as they look to protect nest egg investments.

Division Director Keith Woodwell said investor traps include exchange traded funds, foreign exchange trading schemes, gold and precious metals, green schemes, life settlement investments and oil and gas schemes.

Investment trap practices include affinity fraud, undisclosed conflicts of interest, private or special deals and “off the books” deals.

Woodwell said investors should do business with licensed securities brokers and advisers and report any suspicion of investment fraud to the Utah Division of Securities at 1-801-530-6600 or by visiting securities.utah.gov.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)-Tuesday, tribal leaders of numerous Indian tribes scattered throughout the Western United States said a new federal law designed to give them more authority to combat crime on their reservations will give the country a more accurate picture of how murder, rape and other violent crimes are pervading American Indian communities.

About 150 judges, law enforcement officials and tribal officials gathered in Albuquerque, N.M. for a national symposium on the Tribal Law and Order Act, signed by President Obama in July.

The new law aims to make federal law enforcement agencies more accountable by having them collect data on crimes committed in Indian Country and by requiring the U.S. Department of Justice to maintain criminal data on cases U.S. attorneys decline to prosecute.

Some say federal officials decline to prosecute more than 50 percent of violent crimes on reservations.

Kevin Washburn, the dean of the University of New Mexico’s Law School, said having access to information on what goes on in Indian Country is essential in fighting crime on reservations.

Washburn, who worked on the legislation, described the act as the first significant congressional effort aimed at helping tribal governments improve their public safety and criminal justice systems.

The act was spurred on by what supporters have called a crisis on reservations where violent crime continues to devastate communities at rates higher than the national average.

Aside from improving the collection and reporting of crime data, the measure provides for the appointment of special U.S. attorneys to ensure violent crimes in tribal communities are prosecuted.

It also revamps training for reservation police, expanding tribal courts’ sentencing authority from one to three years and addresses certain jurisdictional issues.

Furthermore, the new law requires tribal and federal officers serving Indian Country be trained in interviewing sexual assault victims and compiling evidence at crime scenes.

Lack of evidence is among the reasons federal officials have cited in declining prosecution in many cases.

Christopher Chaney, the deputy director of the Justice Department’s Office of Tribal Justice said the idea is to ensure U.S. attorneys work with tribal prosecutors and ascertain that everything proceeds as it should in court.

Federal officials couldn’t answer questions about how the act will be implemented, including whether agencies will need to adopt more regulations and if funding will be available for more probation officers and prevention programs in Indian communities.

Officials said some of the provisions depend on tribes updating their criminal codes and coming up with their own standards.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Tuesday evening, the final debate between incumbent Utah Governor Gary Herbert and Democratic rival Peter Corroon covered all major issues of the campaign.

As has been customary in previous debates, the candidates bickered briefly over questions Corroon raised about the influence of campaign contributions to the governor on the award of state contracts.

The debate, which occurred at the University of Utah’s Libby Gardner Hall, featured pre-selected questions from community leaders and moderator Bruce Lindsay of KSL-TV and ranged from education to illegal immigration.

Several supporters of homosexual rights interrupted the proceedings in hopes of having their voices heard.

Herbert said the interruption was unfortunate for the debate and said both he and Corroon want to see respective cities set up their own ordinances as to how gay and lesbian rights will be handled.

Most of the questions during the proceedings focused on education while Herbert said he is including funding for the program in his budget proposal to the 2011 Legislature.

Primarily, ethics was the hot button issue of the debate as both candidates say they supported ethics reform but Corroon says new laws passed last session backed by the governor did not go far enough.

Herbert believes Corroon’s campaign isn’t ethical and asked there shouldn’t be some “modicum of civility” in a campaign for which Corroon in turn lambasted Herbert on several points he said denounce his decorum.

Ultimately, both candidates said they are happy that the debates are over and the election is all that remains.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah film industry leaders are hoping to lure more blockbuster film productions to the state by offering a larger tax incentive.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development says it plans to present a proposal to state lawmakers Wednesday calling for an increase in the state’s rebate for motion picture expenditures from 20 percent to as much as 30 percent.

The larger incentive is intended to make the state more competitive with nearby New Mexico, a longtime rival because it offers similar geography and a 25 percent rebate, among other incentives.

This past year, New Mexico beat out Utah to land production of the films, “Cowboys & Aliens,” starring Harrison Ford and the remake of “True Grit,” featuring Jeff Bridges.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Mike Lee has amended a federal campaign report to show a donation from coal mine magnate Bob Murray.

Wednesday, the Salt Lake Tribune said Lee’s campaign filed a new finance report with the Federal Election Commission to note an in-kind contribution from Murray for an $100 hotel stay and $1,500 in travel costs.

Deputy campaign manager Ryan McCoy said the team has been diligent about reporting in-kind donations but missed the aid from Murray.

The filing came after the newspaper questioned why Lee hadn’t paid for or disclosed an in-kind contribution for his share of a private flight in September from Salt Lake City to Emery County where he toured a visit with miners.

In his federal filing, Lee didn’t note that he hitched a ride to the mine and back on Murray’s private jet.

(ALPINE)-The National Federation of Independent Businesses has endorsed Republican Mike Lee for U.S. Senate in an announcement made Tuesday.

Lee is racing against Democrat Sam Granato for the right to replace outgoing GOP Senator Bob Bennett.

Bennett had been seeking a fourth term but failed to advance to the Republican primary because many GOP delegates didn’t find him conservative enough.

Granato is seeking to pull off an electoral upset by labeling Lee as “too extreme” for Utah.

The Beehive State has not elected a Democratic U.S. Senator since 1970.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Maren Cook had 19 kills and the Delta Lady Rabbits downed the Juab Lady Wasps, 3-0 Tuesday in Region 12 volleyball action.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Bailee Kendall had 12 kills for the North Sanpete Lady Hawks in a 3-0 sweep of the Manti Lady Templars in Region 12 volleyball action Tuesday.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Brittney Blacker amassed 17 kills and the Beaver Lady Beavers gashed the Millard Lady Eagles, 3-0 Tuesday in Region 13 volleyball action.

ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)-Tressa Lyman amassed 13 kills, 12 digs and four blocks and the Enterprise Lady Wolves humbled the Kanab Cowgirls, 3-0 in Region 13 volleyball action Tuesday.

(EPHRAIM) – Snow College is reporting that they’re the fastest-growing college in the state for the third straight year. Admissions and Communications Director Greg Dart enrollment numbers continue to climb at the Ephraim campus and the administration is seeing a different type of student attending at the Richfield campus. Dart said that Snow’s full-time equivalent student population increased by 214 students this year to 3,161. The total number of students attending Snow increased to 4,386. Dart said that increase shows that Snow is growing faster than the state average.

(MOAB)-The monsoons which struck the Moab area last August and decimated a popular tourist attraction may have damaged the area’s economy but several merchants say if the timing had been less propitious, they would have been significantly hurt.

The monsoons hit August 19 and if the rains had come earlier, damage in the area may have caused locals to be out of work as many switchbacks near the community were hit while many guides and shuttles could have possibly been short on manpower among other issues.

However, the question still remains as to whether or not the popular Mineral Bottom Road will be salvaged in time for tourists to enjoy it in the future.

Grand County and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management are currently claiming the community can’t afford to repair the road.

Thus, they are scrambling to find emergency federal funds to rebuild the road and the economy while remaining mindful that a wet snowy winter like last year’s would prohibit reconstruction by April, usually the time that tourists return to Moab.

Local authorities have applied to the Federal Highway Administration for emergency aid, ranging from $1.8 million to $2.5 million.

Utah Democratic Representative Jim Matheson has also sent the agency a letter, backing the bid.

Highway officials say the road, maintained by the county but crossing federal land, qualifies for an emergency funding program to aid federal highways. The application has not yet been approved.

The BLM estimates the road supports about 87 jobs and roughly $1.9 million in annual recreation sales.

Mineral Bottom Road is such a boon to the area because it is a component of the popular multi-day White Rim mountain biking loop where guides provide vehicle support for bike campers.

Without this link in the interim, cycling companies and volunteers have pioneered a trail across a steep talus slope to allow cyclists to carry their bikes past the washed-out switchbacks.

(RICHFIELD) – An elementary school in the Sevier School District is showing that students learn at a higher level when teachers focus on the whole child. Pahvant Elementary Principal Serena Terry says her 482 students performed better at academics when they participated in music, arts and physical fitness. Terry said research has shown that in order for a student to do well, he needs to be engaged, challenged, supported, healthy and safe. She said her students are 80% proficient in school-wide goals of reading, language and math. Terry made the presentation at last month’s school board meeting.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Acclaimed University of Utah professor of music and director of choral studies Brady Allred has announced his resignation.

In a letter sent to the university’s School of Music faculty and staff Friday, Allred said although his decision has been difficult, unexpected family and personal circumstances have caused the change.

Allred, who has conducted the university’s famed University Singers and other music groups at the U., also works as artistic director and conductor of the Salt Lake Choral Artists, a community choir of approximately 200 singers that has been critically acclaimed for their innovative concerts and Summer Choral Institute program.

Consequently, the university’s fall concert has been canceled although there will be some individual performances, all of which are free to the public.

The School of Music is already seeking a department director and intends to begin a national search for Allred’s position in the spring.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A popular Western states’ initiative launched almost 10 years ago to recoup billions of dollars from the federal government for public education funding is being resurrected with a nod from 12 states that want Utah to keep leading the charge.

Called the APPLE initiative, or Action Plan for Public Lands and Education, the movement was reintroduced last month in a presentation delivered by Republican Representative Roger Barrus of Centerville to the Council of State Governments West where he sits on the executive committee.

Four policy groups heard a brief overview on the initiative, which received a unanimous endorsement in 2002 by top leaders of the Western states’ group.

The feeling was no different this time, Barrus said.

Barrus, the chairman of the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee, is also scheduled to give a refresher course to his legislative colleagues Wednesday.

Championed in 2002 by then-House speaker Republican Marty Stephens of Farr West, the APPLE initiative asserts the massive federal ownership of lands in Western states strips them of precious revenues that could go toward public education.

While the federal government owns an average of 52 percent of the land within the boundaries of Western states. In other states, federal parcels only constitute 4 percent of the land.

A conservative estimate says Western states, plus Alaska and Hawaii, lose out on $14 billion on just the value of the land itself that is owned by the federal government, estimating each acre could sell for $525.

Barrus said this amount does not entail lost revenue from property taxes while the federal government did give Western states $300 million in 2010 Payment in Lieu of Taxes money.

He also said the estimate is that states could have collected well over that in property tax revenue at $4.2 billion.

The proposal does not seek the “actual sale” of federal land, but reimbursement of lost revenues or action by the federal government to trade out non-wilderness lands for state gain.

Although bills were introduced to push the APPLE initiative, proponents were never able to get a Congressional hearing on the issue.

(BOULDER CITY, Nev.)-When the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman bridge was dedicated last Saturday morning near Hoover Dam, the Utah-based company which contributed to the cause was on hand.

Lindon-based OlsenBeal, a company known for building bridges and wind-turbine generators contributed to the 5-year, $240 million project and chief engineer Chris Lau says this helps put the company on the map.

Thousands of people were on hand for the dedication of the bridge, which will greatly speed up traffic on U.S. Highway 93 for motorists traveling from Las Vegas to Phoenix.

The bridge is named in honor of O’Callaghan, a war hero and ex-Nevada governor and Tillman, a former football player for Arizona State University and the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals who died while serving in Afghanistan in 2004.

This is now the second-highest bridge in America, standing about 900 feet above the Colorado River.

Construction started in January 2005 and OlsenBeal was responsible for placing the concrete columns holding the bridge in place as well as the metal girders where the road goes across.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A study commissioned, but not endorsed, by Utah state agencies reports air pollution kills 202 Utahns per year.

A group of Utah doctors is citing the report to urge Utah Governor Gary Herbert to factor in environmental costs of coal-fired power in a state energy policy.

Utah Physicians For a Healthy Environment wants Herbert to embrace the findings of a study commissioned by state agencies.

Utah commissioned the study with a $150,000 matching grant from the federal government.

Cambridge, Mass.-based Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. itemized the health and environmental costs of Utah’s reliance on coal-fired power plants.

The report says Utah should replace its most polluting coal plants with wind and solar power and find ways to conserve energy.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Congressman Jim Matheson appears to be in good shape heading into next month’s election according to a new KSL/Deseret News poll.

Although this is a down year for Democrats across the country, Matheson is still ousting opponent Morgan Philpot by a margin of 57 percent to 31 percent.

This is significant because Tea Partiers have strongly campaigned in Philpot’s behalf, even conducting a news conference at the Utah State Capitol Monday.

Matheson credits his record for the current results while Philpot believes it’s because of negative advertisements against him.

(CEDAR CITY) – A Japanese couple injured in a van rollover in August near Cedar City have sued the touring company. According to court documents, Kei and Mai Maeda, were among 14 tourists, when the driver rolled the van on I-15 during a trip from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon National Park on Aug. 9. Mai Maeda said that Kei has suffered “incomplete quadriplegia” as a result of the accident that killed three tourists. The suit claims that the driver, 26-year old Yasushi Mikuni, had THC in his system, including marijuana, when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed. The lawsuit also says that Mikuni had been drinking energy drinks and chewing caffeine gum to stay awake due to having driven more than 11 hours the day before and only getting seven hours sleep. The Maeda’s say Mikuni repeatedly dozed off prior to rolling the van and also was not wearing corrective lenses as required by his driver’s license. He was also driving without a license to operate a tour outside of Utah.

(SPRINGDALE) – The Utah Geological Survey has published an investigation to help keep visitors at Zion National Park safe from geologic hazards. UGS Senior Scientist Bill Lund said the Park requested the study to protect the annual 2.5 million visitors. Lund said Zion’s is subject to a variety of geologic hazards that may affect Park development and visitor safety. The study encompassed a 154-square mile area that included Zion Canyon, Kolob Canyon, Kolob Terrace, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway corridor and all developed and high-use areas of the Park. The investigation covered flooding threats, debris flow, rock fall, landslides, surface faulting, liquefaction, collapsible and expansive rocks and soils and or, soil piping and erosion.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-With Lynda Lovejoy receiving twice as many votes as 10 male competitors in a recent poll, the Navajo Nation may be ready to elect its first woman leader in the tribe’s history.

Lovejoy, a native of Crownpoint, N.M. and a current New Mexico state senator, has been called an outsider and been accused of lacking experience in tribal government.

Nevertheless, others hope she’ll bring attention to social justice issues and increase job opportunities for younger people on the reservation if elected.

Former Navajo President Peterson Zah said that even if she wins, Lovejoy’s success will hinge upon whether or not she has the support of other women in the Tribal Council who are outnumbered as the council is deemed to be stronger than the presidency.

Lovejoy, who is Catholic and married to a non-Navajo, has had her traditionalist values challenged but remains undaunted.

If Lovejoy wins, she will oversee the 27,000-square mile reservation throughout Arizona, New Mexico and Utah and be in charge of the Navajo Nation’s economy, future use of natural resources and continual struggle to maintain tribal sovereignty.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A 63-year-old Millard County justice court judge has been suspended without pay after being charged with disorderly conduct for either engaging in sexual conduct or exposing himself at a city park.

Salt Lake City Police Detective Dennis McGowan said the incident involved Ronald R. Hare and an undercover vice officer in a men’s restroom at Salt Lake City’s Glendale Park in July.

Hare could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday.

Assistant Utah court administrator Rick Schwermer said Utah Supreme Court Justice Christine Durham placed Hare on paid leave September 17, the first day court officials learned of the citation.

Hare is on the November ballot for retention as a justice court judge.

(HENNING, Tenn.)-Two women working at a Tennessee post office were shot and killed Monday during a possible robbery attempt, authorities said.

The Lauderdale County (Tenn.) Sheriff’s Department told the Associated Press the shooting happened Monday morning at the post office in Henning, Tenn., located about 47 miles northeast of Memphis, Tenn.

Officers are searching for a maroon Chevrolet Malibu with two men inside.

Tony Burns, a state employee at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., said his sister-in-law also told him the shooting happened during a robbery attempt.

The sister-in-law, a postal service employee, was assigned to the Henning office Monday but escaped unharmed.

Henning, a town of about 1,200 people, is perhaps best known as the hometown for Roots author Alex Haley.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The leader of a polygamous sect is asking a judge to throw out Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s warrant to extradite him to Texas.

In new court filings, attorneys for Warren Jeffs say they want all of his pending prosecution in Utah to be completed before he faces charges anywhere else.

The documents also show Jeffs’ attorneys believe the request for extradition from Texas was improper and they say if the extradition’s allowed to proceed, Jeffs’ constitutional rights will be violated.

A hearing on the legal filing is set for November 15.

Texas authorities have charged the 54-year-old Jeffs with bigamy, aggravated sexual assault and assault based on alleged incidents with underage girls at his sect’s ranch near Eldorado, Texas.

In Utah, Jeffs was charged as an accomplice to the rape of a 14-year-old follower to her 19-year-old cousin.

While Jeffs was convicted by a jury, the Utah Supreme Court overturned the convictions.

The court said faulty jury instructions denied Jeffs a fair trial and the justices sent the case back for retrial.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Republican candidate Mike Lee continues to outdistance Democratic challenger Sam Granato in the race for U.S. Senate, the latest KSL-TV/Deseret News poll stated.

The survey, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, shows that 53 percent of Utahns are leaning toward voting for Lee.

Boyd Matheson, the communication director for Lee’s campaign said Lee was pleased with the continual outpouring of support of residents throughout the state.

Meanwhile, 31 percent are in favor of Granato.

Currently, 12 percent of Utahns are undecided as to who they should vote for in the Senate.

(MUKILTEO, Wash.)-A joint federal and local investigation has confirmed arson caused a two-alarm fire that burned a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints meetinghouse to the ground.

A $10,000 reward is now being offered to catch the culprit who officials believe started the fire early Saturday morning on the exterior of the building toward the center of the structure in Mukilteo, Wash., located about 38 miles north of Seattle.

The first firefighting unit showed up at 3:05 a.m. PST Saturday morning and a second alarm brought 44 firefighters to combat the blaze.

The Mukileto Fire Department was joined by units from the Lynnwood (Wash.) and Everett (Wash.) fire departments as well as the Snohomish County (Wash.) Fire District 1.

It took 17 hours to fully extinguish the blaze which serves as a meetinghouse for two wards in the community of 20,938 residents.

Investigators, which included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, returned to the scene Sunday to compile additional evidence.

Sunday services were moved to an adjacent meetinghouse.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A new poll reveals incumbent Utah Governor Gary Herbert is expanding his lead over Democratic rival Peter Corroon in Utah’s gubernatorial race.

The Dan Jones & Associates poll for KSL and the Deseret News shows support for Herbert has increased by four points since mid-September while revealing Herbert currently holds a 25 point lead over Corroon at 58 percent to 33 percent.

Last month, the same poll showed Herbert led by 21 points at 52 percent to 31 percent.

Reportedly, Corroon is taking flack for “negative campaigning,” wherein he has continually lambasted a Utah Department of Transportation contract tied to a Herbert campaign contributor.

The election takes place in a little more than two weeks.

(AURORA) – Sevier County deputies responded to an accidental gun shot west of Aurora on Friday. A sheriff’s report said a man was visiting family members in Aurora, when his daughter apparently shot him in the leg with a .22-calibre rifle or pistol. Deputies continue to investigate the shooting. Sevier County deputies were also dispatched to a “Man with a gun” call at about 10am Friday. Deputies reported that two men got into a dispute with each other and one felt threatened by the other and had a gun with him when his Whole Health Nurse came to visit. Officials said the dispute was resolved quickly without incident.

(LOA) – A Bicknell woman was taken to the hospital after hitting a cow on SR-24 Sunday night. According to a UHP report, at about 8pm, 24-year old Kristy Van Dyke was traveling eastbound in a 1999 Chevy Tahoe, when she hit the cow in the road about a mile east of Loa. The report said that Van Dyke was wearing her seatbelt and was transported to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield with unknown injuries.

SANDY, Utah (AP)-Emma Sindelar posted two goals and the Waterford Lady Ravens blanked the Beaver Lady Beavers, 4-0 Saturday in 2A state girls soccer action.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Keri Brunson amassed a hat trick and Krystyn Stevens added two more goals as the Millard Lady Eagles hammered the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 7-1 in 2A state girls soccer action Saturday. Briana Lemon and Shelby Sheriff also scored for the Lady Eagles, while Sarah Nilson had the sole goal for Gunnison.

OGDEN, Utah (AP)-Ivee Barton and Tauna Deehan both posted hat tricks and the St. Joseph Lady Jayhawks shellacked the South Summit Lady Wildcats, 12-0 Saturday in 2A state girls soccer action.

PAROWAN, Utah (AP)-The Parowan Lady Rams won a shootout 3-0 after double overtime to outlast the Rowland Hall/St. Mark’s Lady Winged Lions Saturday in 2A state girls soccer action. Mikael Thatcher, Tessa Katwyk and Neisha Roy all scored in the shootout to bolster Parowan.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Kaitlyn Wilcox had two goals for the Bear River Lady Bears and Hannah Cornaby earned the shutout in a 3-0 blanking of the Delta Lady Rabbits in 3A state girls soccer action Saturday.

PARK CITY, Utah (AP)-Jessica Dancy posted two goals and Bethany Kanten had a shutout as the Park City Lady Miners downed the Cedar Lady Reds, 3-0 Saturday in 3A state girls soccer action.

DRAPER, Utah (AP)-Vicki Shimkus had four goals and the Juan Diego Lady Soaring Eagle bludgeoned the Union Lady Cougars, 9-0 in 3A state girls soccer action Saturday.

HURRICANE, Utah (AP)-Shantai Bowen had two goals for the Hurricane Lady Tigers as they doubled up the Wasatch Lady Wasps, 2-1 Saturday in 3A state girls soccer action.

(RICHFIELD) – The American Red Cross has scheduled several blood drives in our local areas for the rest of this month. ARC says they’ll conduct a blood drive at WalMart in Ephraim on Monday Oct. 18 from 9am to 2pm. The bloodmobile unit will also be at the Sanpete Valley Hospital in Mt. Pleasant on Oct. 26 from 10am to 3pm and at Lin’s Marketplace in Richfield on Oct. 27 from noon to 5pm. ARC has also planned a blood drive on Oct. 29 at the Delta High School from 9am to 2pm. Representatives ask people to donate blood if you’re healthy and help save a life.

(PINAL COUNTY, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports Mexican drug cartels have plotted to send assassins into Arizona to murder bandits who are stealing drugs from the cartels, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security the television station obtained.

A law enforcement source from KPHO said the memo was sent to several law enforcement agencies in May.

This cartel, known as the Guzman cartel, is one of the most powerful and dangerous in Mexico.

The Vekol Valley is a known drug smuggling corridor in Pinal County, which connects the Tucson metro area to the Phoenix metro area, and has also been the conduit through which illicit drugs enter into Utah and other outposts throughout the West traditionally.

Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Louie Puroll claimed he was ambushed in the valley by armed smugglers April 30, said Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.

Later, it was said cartels sent groups of “simulated backpackers” carrying empty boxes covered with burlap into the Vekol Valley in hopes of drawing off the bandits.

Babeu told KPHO that his agency was one of several law enforcement agencies in the state that received the memo in May.

Babeu did not give details but said he has received similar memos from federal law enforcement agencies about Mexican cartel activity taking place within Arizona’s borders.

(AMERICAN FORK)-The Utah Department of Transportation has announced southbound lanes on Interstate 15 and 500 East in American Fork will be closed from 11:00 p.m. Friday evening until 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Other closures will occur at Bangerter Highway and 5400 South in Taylorsville and select ramps on Interstate 80 near the Salt Lake City International Airport between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

In all locations, traffic is expected to be diverted to local roads.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration warned eight companies to stop marketing miracle cures that claim to treat varied diseases by flushing toxic metals from the body.

Regulators said these products, sold over the Internet, can cause dehydration, kidney failure and death.

Known as chelation therapies, the products have been used for decades although medical societies and government experts say there is no evidence that these drugs can cure diseases.

The only FDA-approved chelation therapies are used to treat lead and mercury poisoning.

The FDA said it has seen an uptick in the number of chelation products sold over the Internet.

The companies cited by the agency include Draper-based World Health Products, Cardio Renew of Apple Valley, Minn. and Hormonal Health of San Bernardino, Calif.

The warning letters call on each company to immediately stop marketing and selling their products, lest they should face legal action.

Their products come in a variety of forms, including sprays, capsules and drops.

FDA officials said that at least one death has been reported with a chelated product.

The injectable treatment linked to the death was not among the products targeted by Thursday’s action while the agency noted the side effects of such unproven remedies often are not reported.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Since Utah educators are not paid to attend the annual UEA convention, many teachers opt not to go.

UEA president Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh says this is because teachers are obviously having issues with morale and losing hope in the profession being universally respected.

However, some teachers, such as Mariam Carver, deem the conference to be a therapeutic event where they can renew their energy while not being hassled in the classroom.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-With the gubernatorial election drawing close in Utah, both candidates, incumbent Gary Herbert and challenger Peter Corroon, made pitches in front of educators at the state’s annual education association convention.

Herbert called himself a “friend of education who should be judged by words and actions,” while Corroon advocated for more “local control of education,” saying the legislature has set up for itself a “super school district.”

Teachers in attendance said they seemed to lean toward Corroon as educators believe he has more long term funding solutions.

The convention resumes Friday.

(ST. GEORGE)-While St. George and Washington County have been hit harder than any other portion of Utah during the recession, a triumvirate of outdoor recreation activities has helped turn the tide.

Last spring, St. George hosted its first Iron Man competition, while city manager Gary Esplin said that participants began to deepen St. George’s pockets by staying in the area for three or four months while they trained for the event.

Additionally, the St. George Marathon (which occurred two weeks ago) and the ongoing Huntsman Senior World Games have helped to bolster the city’s languishing economy.

Golf has served as the biggest draw thus far, bringing in 125,000 out-of-town rounds, netting $35 million.

(CENTERFIELD) – A minor earthquake rattled windows Thursday night near Centerfield. The Utah Seismograph Station at the University of Utah says a micro earthquake of only 1.5 magnitude was reported at about 10:30pm a mile south of Centerfield and about a mile deep. One resident said she felt some shaking and rattling at her home around 300 South 200 East in Gunnison. No structures were reported damaged and no one was injured.

(MOAB) – Moab City officials are booting out about a dozen people who live in buses along the banks of the Colorado River on Kane Creek Road. One bus dweller, Travis Kelly, has lived in a bus on a plot of agricultural land in Moab for the past seven years and said Grand County was informed of the bus dwellers when 2010 Census workers reported their inhabited places to the county. Residences were given a deadline of Aug. 18 to evacuate because they were living on agricultural land, not in residential zones. County reports said that by Sept. 23, most of the buses had been moved to private sites but people can no longer live in them. Most of the bus dwellers say they enjoy living close to nature and some are forced to live in buses for financial reasons.

PAROWAN, Utah (AP)-Caden Pickett, Ryan Robinson and Zack Wood each scored touchdowns and the Parowan Rams edged the Beaver Beavers, 21-18 Thursday in 2A West football action. Zach Harris had a pair of scoring runs while Jeremy Brown hauled in a 38-yard scoring pass in the loss for Beaver.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-The prolific Kyson McBride had scoring receptions of 46 and 11 yards and the Kanab Cowboys outgunned the South Sevier Rams, 40-28 in 2A West football action Thursday.

(DENVER)-KKCO-TV, Channel 11 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports a Colorado coal-industry group says two public utilities commissioners should rescue themselves from considering a plan by Xcel Energy to switch some power plants to run on natural gas instead of coal.

A new Colorado state law aimed at meeting federal clear air standards required Xcel to file a plan cutting emissions.

The three-member Colorado Public Utilities Commission must accept, deny or modify the plan by December 15.

In a filing with the commission, the Colorado Mining Association said that PUC chairman Ronald Binz and commissioner Matt Baker were involved with negotiations with Xcel on the new law and can’t be considered impartial as they review Xcel’s plan.

Wednesday, a commission spokesman said the commissioners wouldn’t comment before reviewing the association’s request.

(PHOENIX)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is fighting back against foreign countries, including Mexico, that are supporting the U.S. Justice Department’s lawsuit challenging SB1070.

Wednesday, Mexico filed a brief, joining 10 other foreign countries in supporting the federal lawsuit challenging Arizona’s new immigration enforcement law.

Brewer called Mexico’s brief a mere political statement expressing its desire for lax enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.

The governor said she’s confident the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will disregard Mexico’s brief in its entirety.

(BOULDER CITY, Nev.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports that with the opening of the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge slated for official opening in November, the bypass bridge is expected to start a new era in the Southwest.

After more than five years of construction and two decades of planning, the finishing touches are being completed on what is now one of the tallest bridges in North America.

Bypass project manager, Dave Zanetell, led a team of 400 engineers in building the longest concrete arch in the western hemisphere.

He estimates 20,000 vehicles will be able to move across the bridge, forgoing the slow dam traffic, or for semitrailers, the detour through Laughlin, Nev.

The bridge stands 890 feet above the Colorado River and will have a pedestrian walkway that will be open during daytime hours.

The bridge is named after a pair of war veterans who served their country valiantly in times of crisis.

The Arizona Department of Transportation also admonishes motorists traveling on U.S. 93 from Las Vegas to Phoenix or vice-versa Thursday, Friday or Saturday (when the bridge will be dedicated), to take an alternate route.

Nearby roads are expected to be crowded with dignitaries and media representatives from all over the West.

(CEDAR CITY)-As part of Southern Utah University’s Homecoming festivities, a larger-than-life depiction of Thor Thunderbird, the university’s mascot, has been painted on campus.

Southern Utah University Student Association Public Relations and Marketing Director Chad Thomas originally presented the idea to SUUSA, spearheading the project through its completion.

Thomas said approval had to be obtained by Campus Planning and Facilities Management as well as the Utah Department of Transportation and campus administrators.

Thomas said the mural, which is at the intersection of 300 West and University Boulevard on the SUU campus, is intended to be a permanent fixture that will be maintained by the university.

Thomas says he’s pleased with the results and is excited that it has been completed in time for most of the Homecoming festivities.

The football team hosts traditional I-AA (FCS) power, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Saturday afternoon in the annual Homecoming game.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Scientists have discovered evidence of four big earthquakes that rocked the Salt Lake Valley long before pioneers arrived in the late 1840s.

Geologists are getting their first good look at the West Valley Fault Zone west of the Salt Lake City International Airport, an area where they’ve wanted to dig trenches in the area for years.

Over the past decade, the shrinking Great Salt Lake has receded several miles from the fault zone and the water table has dropped considerably.

Now that the Utah Geological Survey has been able to dig these trenches, the water table is visible 10 feet below the surface.

Recently, geologists had their first good look underground and their suspicions have been confirmed.

Horizontal layers of sediment clearly show signs of being broken by fault movements, signifying evidence of four big earthquakes occurring in the past 15,000 years.

The West Valley Fault Zone is actually comprised of 12 different fractures lying roughly between 5600 West and Redwood Road and from 1700 North-4800 South.

Evidence in the trenches suggests that each of the four earthquakes on the West Valley fault system was strong enough to break the ground while they displaced the earth vertically by an average of 18 inches.

This is significantly less displacement than the five or six quakes known to have shaken the Wasatch Fault during the same 15,000-year period.

It is now incumbent upon scientists to determine if these quakes are the same ones which shook the Wasatch Fault.

If the two fault systems move during the same earthquake while it suggests they’re both triggered by the same source deep underground, it would imply bigger quakes than scientists had previously supposed.

If the quakes are unrelated, then it suggests there were four on the west side along with five or six more on the east side.

If scientists can figure out whether the two fault zones are structurally related, it could sharpen scientists’ understanding of what to expect in the future.

It is expected to take months of lab work before answers are gleaned.

(LOGAN)-Officials in five Utah counties want Governor Gary Herbert to back an effort to protect livestock grazing on public lands where a developer is building a natural gas pipeline.

Herbert’s spokeswoman Angie Welling told the Logan Herald-Journal the governor is sensitive to the counties’ concerns and the state public lands policy chief is monitoring the issue.

A letter from Cache, Box Elder, Rich, Uintah and Tooele counties seeks Herbert’s support to ensure grazing rights won’t be affected in the Utah portion of the 680-mile Ruby pipeline.

The Houston-based El Paso Corp. has begun work on the 42-inch natural gas conduit which will go from Wyoming to Oregon and cross Utah and Nevada.

Company spokesman Richard Wheatley says company officials in Colorado Springs, Colo. want to review the counties’ letter before commenting.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-For the first time, Forbes Magazine has named Utah the top state in the country for business and growth.

Virginia has been in this lucrative spot for the past four years, but Utah took over because of Virginia’s rising labor and energy costs.

The Forbes “Best State For Business and Careers report” measures six categories for businesses: costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, current economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life.

According to the article, released Wednesday night, Utah’s economy has expanded 3.5 percent annually over the past five years.

This is faster than any state in the union except North Dakota.

As U.S. employment has considerably declined the past five years, employment in Utah has increased by 1.5 percent, the fourth-greatest clip in the country.

Furthermore, it states that household incomes in Utah have surged 5 percent annually which leads the country and is twice as much as the national average.

The state has also kept energy costs 35 percent below the national average, produced an educated labor force (90 percent of residents hold a high school diploma) and boasted an AAA debt rating from Moody’s, S&P and Fitch.

The report also credits Utah for a low corporate tax rate.

Earlier this year, Forbes crowned Utah as having the country’s most fiscally fit state government.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert is quoted in the article saying Utah “is a fiscally conservative government,” where the goal is to keep government off of residents’ backs and out of their wallets.

Thursday, Herbert will conduct a press conference to discuss the ranking.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah’s college enrollment grew again this fall with a 5 percent bump over last year, according to reports released Wednesday.

Utah Valley University saw the largest increase as enrollment grew to 3,905 more students, a 14 percent increase.

UVU now boasts 32,000 students and accounts for nearly half of the statewide increase of 8,156 collegians, bringing the current statewide total to 173,016.

The number of Utah students taking the full-time equivalent of 15 undergraduate semester hours rose by 6 percent to 109,520.

Utah Commissioner of Higher Education William Sederburg said he’s pleased with increases in Hispanic (16 percent of students), African-Americans (6 percent) and women (5 percent) who are attending college in the state.

UVU President Matthew Holland said increased numbers at his institution signify a “watershed moment” for the university.

UVU and other colleges offering two-year degrees have “soft caps” in place, meaning they don’t turn anyone away but cannot serve all students who want to take certain classes.

In order to meet demands, the school is adding evening, weekend and online courses in hopes of meeting demand.

To ensure UVU is on a sound financial path, developing a local tax base is a “key point of consideration,” Holland said.

In the interim, UVU officials have had internal discussions about pushing for local sales and property or income taxes to support the school although they’ve not yet brought the idea to state lawmakers.

Sederburg said he’s raised the issue with Utah County legislators but found little support for new taxes.

The former College of Eastern Utah, now a part of Utah State University as of July 1, had the biggest proportional growth with a 21 percent increase, adding 461 students.

Southern Utah University was the only school to shrink, as it declined by 42 students to 8,024.

USU has seen a 3 percent increase and a 26 percent increase in minority enrollment to 1,663 students.

The University of Utah’s 4 percent growth was slightly higher than expected due to higher second-year retention rates, Sederburg said.

The largest full-time equivalent increase in the state occurred at Dixie State College which saw a 13 percent increase.

DSC President Stephen D. Nadauld thanked faculty and staff who have “bent over backwards to accommodate extra students.”

(CEDAR CITY) – An infant Cedar City police say was critically injured by his father has died. According to police reports, 25-year old Andy Gorecki of Cedar City, was arrested in December last year after police say his story about what happened to the 11-month old child didn’t match injuries. The boy was flown to Primary Children’s Medical Center in critical condition but died two weeks ago after several months on life support. Gorecki plead not guilty on Feb. 2 and trial was set for Dec. 9 last year and as of Oct. 13, new charges had not been filed. Court records show that Gorecki plead guilty in 2006 to third-degree felony forcible sex abuse and has remained in the Iron County Jail since his arrest in December. Police say the child’s death came just one day after another Cedar City child died from an incidence of child abuse.

(RICHFIELD) – Dozens of Sevier residents showed up at the Sevier Planning Commission meeting Wednesday night to voice concerns over the construction of a rock crushing plant near their town. Owners of Millinium Construction Materials, Inc. faced Planners on building a plant that would excavate material from an open pit mine to be used for multiple purposes. The material would be transported on a conveyor belt, through a culvert and under I-70 to the other side of the freeway in an area that’s in proximity to several homes in the area. The material would then be trucked out of the area at a rate of about two an hour. That issue has some residents concerned with dust, noise and safety issues. Millinium Construction said the excavation would be an 18-year operation, removing about 100,000 tons of material per year and providing income for between 50 and 70 employees. Average salaries would range from $15.00 per hour to $150,000 a year. The company has five similar operations in Colorado. The Sevier County Planning Commission determined a possible trip to Colorado to view the operation and an information meeting is needed before an approval on the application can be made.

(RICHFIELD) – A Sevier County road was up for discussion at the Commissioner’s meeting today in considering whether to vacate the road due to non-conforming use status. The road is located north of SR-119 near Glenwood and is considered by county officials to be of no use to the county. Property owners attended a public hearing today to ask Commissioners to leave the road as it is because it’s been used by the public for 50 years as an access road to their property. Economic Development Director Malcolm Nash said the county made a mistake by granting permits to landowners to construct buildings on the road and the property owners violated the ordinance by building the structures. Property owners said they had the right to erect the buildings. Commissioners took no action to issue an order on vacating the road and said they need more time to discuss the matter and get more information.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-ABC 15 in Phoenix reports that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol announced they’d arrested 13 undocumented immigrants in several incidents over the past few days Tuesday.

Five people were processed at the Casa Grande, Ariz. station by the Department of Public Safety Monday in connection with drug trafficking.

Almost 200 pounds of marijuana was seized in the incident, according to a CBP report.

Two unrelated arrests also occurred at the Casa Grande station Monday.

One person with an active felony warrant for aggravated battery was delivered to the Pinal County (Ariz.) Sheriff’s Office for extradition.

Agents arrested another undocumented immigrant with prior convictions for attempted rape and assault to commit rape.

The criminal records were discovered by agents using an Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System.

Also on Monday, five undocumented immigrants in distress were brought into custody and after being treated for dehydration and blisters were taken to the Tucson station.

(WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.)-A Navajo Nation Council committee has voted against permanently seating a tribal Supreme Court justice.

The Judiciary Committee narrowly decided that probationary Justice Eleanor Shirley’s work has been unsatisfactory Tuesday.

Chairman Kee Allen Begay says Shirley depended on Chief Justice Herb Yazzie too much and faulted her for not issuing dissenting opinions.

Yazzie says the justices strive to reach a consensus on cases.

Committee member Leonard Tsosie says testimony did not support the vote.

The committee must now pass a resolution to remove Shirley from the bench.

If Tuesday’s vote stands, the tribe’s three-member high court would be left with one justice as Louise Grant retired last week.

(FORT DUCHESNE)-A member of the Northern Ute Indian tribe’s executive and legislative body has been recalled from office.

In a 3-2 vote Tuesday, the tribal Business Committee accepted the findings of election officials that a sufficient number of Uintah band members had voted in last month’s recall election against Curtis Cesspooch to make the vote valid.

At least one third of eligible voters in a Business Committee member’s band must vote in a recall election for it be valid, according to the Ute Constitution while it appeared that the latest effort to recall Cesspooch had failed because only 116 Uintah band members cast their ballots, instead of the 122 needed to meet the one-third requirement.

Tuesday, Cesspooch said Election Committee members conducted their own investigation into the number of eligible Uintah Board members after the vote, using information from the tribe’s Accounting Department instead of its Vital Statistics Department. The number proved to be valid.

Cesspooch and his supporters boycotted the September 20 election in an effort to keep the turnout below 30 percent while the vote went heavily against him.

Cesspooch claims Tuesday’s acceptance of the September 20 election results is part of an ongoing effort by his political rivals on the Business Committee, Chairman Richard Jenks Jr., Irene Cuch and Stewart Pike, to remove him from office.

Pike dismissed Cesspooch’s claims of a political witch hunt while the Business Committee has directed tribal election officials to begin the process of filing Cesspooch’s vacant seat through a special election.

Cesspooch maintains he has not recalled from office and vows to appeal the Election Committee’s findings to Ute Tribal Court.

However, he does not have much faith that his appeal will be successful because the tribal judge serves at the pleasure of the Business Committee.

(PRICE)-In Utah’s coal country, Carbon and Emery Counties, miners have closely monitored the eventual rescue of Chilean miners this week and have prayed for their safety.

Naturally, their thoughts turned to Utah’s own mining disaster, at the Crandall Canyon mine near Huntington in August 2007.

Mike Dalpiaz of the United Mine Workers of America said many family members still hold out hope that the mine will not be their final resting place while he has complained that progress in mine safety has been slow since the Crandall Canyon fiasco.

Dalipaz said Utah mines need emergency safety zones, equipment to track the underground movement of miners and stashes of food, water and emergency supplies through the state’s mines if there is to be any hope of an escape similar to the one in Chile.

(SAN JOSE MINE, Chile)-Miners who have been trapped for 69 days inside a Chilean mine made a smooth entrance to the surface Wednesday while more of their co-workers are being liberated.

The most dynamic of the escapees was Mario Sepulveda (who received recognition on North American sports talk show host Jim Rome’s radio show Wednesday morning) and smiled broadly after tasting fresh air for the first time in months.

By midday, 16 men had been freed in just under 13 hours.

The effort was methodical and bereft of any significant problems as the goal was to free as many miners as possible before sunrise Thursday.

The survival of the miners is significant as in recorded history, no one has lived as long as they have while being trapped under the earth’s surface.

After August 5, when a rock slide collapsed on the miners, no one knew they were alive for the first 17 days of their imprisonment.

The imprisonment received international recognition and numerous car horns honked in delight in the Chilean capital of Santiago after Sepulveda and his cohorts were freed.

The process is ongoing.

(LAS VEGAS)-Two St. George-area teens struck by lightning outside of Snow Canyon High School last week have markedly improved and could soon be discharged from a Las Vegas hospital, their doctor said Tuesday.

The boys were recovering from burns and on life support, said Las Vegas-based University Medical Center’s Meena Vohra.

The 16-year-old Christopher “Dane” Zdunich appeared to be improving more rapidly and could be sent home in the next few days while 17-year-old Alexander Lambson will require skin grafts on the front of his body.

Lambson had burns on his face, neck and chest, covering about 15 percent of his body surface.

Zdunich did not suffer as many burns as it seemed the lightning traveled through him from the right side of his head to his feet where he has five exit wounds.

School administrators swiftly resuscitated the boys while a history teacher performed CPR.

Both teens were then brought to Las Vegas while they have no memory of the lightning strike or how they received their burns or are in the hospital.

The families have set up a blog to provide updates about the teens and to receive messages of support.

(RICHFIELD) – Two candidates running for the Sevier County Commission approached the Richfield City Council Tuesday night to introduce themselves and offer their platforms. Democrat Monte Turner is running against “Tooter” Ogden for the Commissioner “B” seat in the November elections and Elaine Bonavita is running against incumbent Gary Mason for the Commission “A” seat. Turner said attracting businesses to the county is not an easy task. He said the economic industry has a moniker known as, S-W-O-T, or “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, or Threats” and those things need to be considered to attract business to the county. Turner said he would like to see more jobs offered for youth, more access and use of public lands, mineral development, railroad construction and better cooperation between cities and the county. Bonavita also approached the council, saying the county hasn’t done enough to attract business to the county. She is opposed to the construction of a coal or gas-fired power plant proposed near Sigurd and wants to see more “green-energy” businesses come to the county.

(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County farmers and ranchers say the frost that hit the area a few weeks ago basically ended the growing season. Farmers who report crop production to the Utah Crop Progress and Conditions Survey said crops were not able to reach full maturity and are clearing fields. Duchesne County reported large hail that caused some damage to corn and remaining hay crops and have found livestock to be in very good shape with an abundance of dried feed on ranges. Carbon, Beaver and Emery County report that livestock are coming off the ranges in mostly good condition. State Hydrologist Randy Julander says Utah is still experiencing a dry water year in spite of a wetter than normal spring and summer.

(Manti) Two South Sanpete District Schools have been given special recognition by the state for excellence as title one schools. According to South Sanpete Superintendent Don Hill, the schools must meet several criteria in order to receive the award, and both the Manti and Ephraim Elementary schools have done so. According to Hill, the schools must make adequate yearly progress in Language Arts and Math as defined by No Child Left Behind for two consecutive years. They must also achieve or exceed the state average in Language Arts and Math. District officials offered their congratulations to the teachers and staff at the schools for qualifying for the award.

(GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.)-KJCT-TV Channel 8 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports that a new billboard on Interstate 70 between Grand Junction and nearby Clifton, Colo. has created considerable controversy in the community.

The billboard features U.S. President Barack Obama as a terrorist, mobster, illegal immigrant and a gay man while he gambles with items that many Americans consider dear.

Artist Paul Snover says his billboard depicts the Statue of Liberty and the Constitution being gambled with as well as other aspects of patriotism Americans highly regard.

Snover says the billboard, which is being paid for by an anonymous community member, is designed to be satirical political humor although many residents of Mesa County (Colo.) aren’t laughing.

Nevertheless, numerous others are lauding Snover for having the courage to depict what they’re feeling.

The billboard is expected to be intact for at least a month while there are no plans for future billboards at this stage.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah 2nd Congressional District candidate Morgan Philpot received the endorsement of Sarah Palin Monday.

On her Facebook page, Palin said Philpot has long been a reliable conservative leader in the ultra-conservative state.

Philpot said he is honored and pleased that Palin has endorsed him.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Although Utah’s bars are now more accessible to the public, the state has not seen an increase in drunken driving arrests.

According to a report in the Salt Lake Tribune, officers made nearly 400 fewer drunken driving arrests in the year after the state eliminated private clubs compared with the previous year.

The report will be presented to lawmakers next week.

The total number of arrests in the fiscal year ended June 30 was 15,285 with about half of those being made by municipal law enforcement agencies, according to a summary on the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice report reviewed by the Associated Press Monday.

The decline in DUIs was reportedly reflective of the most sweeping changes to Utah’s liquor laws in 40 years, including tougher penalties for repeat offenders.

It also emerged as the economic downturn has led more people to drink at home.

Some conservative lawmakers and moral groups previously contended that private clubs were necessary to keep minors out of bars and reduce drunken driving.

The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice report legislators are expected to receive also shows a decline in the percentage of minors arrested for driving under the influence.

The Legislature changed the law in July 2009 to boost the state’s tourism industry while the results have been successful stated Scott Beck, the president of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

As part of the agreement leading to the law’s passage, Utah is now the only state requiring bars to electronically scan the identification card of anyone who appears younger than 35 before they’re allowed to enter.

Bars are required to electronically store the information obtained from the ID, including name and address, for inspection by law enforcement for seven days.

(OREM)-An exhibit at Utah Valley University showcasing archived art from China’s Cultural Revolution will be on display at the Woodbury Art Museum through December 17.

The artwork is special because it survived massive government crackdowns in Communist Mainland China in the 1960s and boasts watercolors and wood carving prints which have been secluded for decades.

The works range from 1958 to 1985 and some art depicts the rise to power of controversial leader Mao Zedong.

Since artists were leery of doing anything that might have offended Mao, many of them only used government-approved photographs, pasting them onto their works.

War correspondent and award-winning photojournalist Dodge Billingsley said the Cultural Revolution has become a storied part of China’s past, although it was difficult for the artists to express themselves in such repressive circumstances.

(PROVO)-As the Central Utah Project along the Provo River continues, controversy remains intact from environmentalists and the federal government.

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch has put his two cents in as he said it would be “idiocy,” not to finish the project.

Hatch penned a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, saying the funding had been “zeroed out,” by the Office of Management and Budget.

The last time the Central Utah Project was in real jeopardy during the Carter administration when it was among nearly three dozen Western water projects yanked for funding considerations.

Hatch recalled that resulting backlash from Carter’s original ruling caused the Democrat to swiftly backtrack.

After speaking with a top official in Salazar’s office, Hatch said much of the concern has diminished in the interim.

Chris Montague, the director of conservation programs for the Nature Conservancy said the group has partnered with the commission on multiple projects to address the damage that comes with such ambitious water delivery projects.

The financial future of the $2 billion project is also being monitored closely by Utah Governor Gary Herbert who met with his environmental adviser, Ted Wilson.

(ALTA)-Utah’s 14 ski resorts will employ more than 20,000 people this winter, representing an economic engine that’s being counted on to boost the state’s languishing economy.

For instance, at the Alta ski resort, personnel are simply looking for skiing enthusiasts who have numerous skills at working in the winter, such as shoveling snow and hosting visitors from other countries.

For more information on working at any of the state’s ski resorts, please visit skiutahjobs.com.

(HERRIMAN) – Helicopters are flying over Herriman today in an effort to re-seed hundreds of acres that were scorched by a September wildfire. Herriman City Spokesperson Nicole Martin said 1850 acres will be aerial seeded and 275 acres will be done by hand. The Machine Gun Fire burned about 4300 acres in September after machine gun fire from a training exercise ignited an uncontrollable blaze that burned four homes in Herriman and caused the evacuation of 1600 homes. Martin said that aerial re-seeding will begin today and hand-seeding will begin Thursday. She said that volunteers will work all day Thursday and Friday in areas that are easily reachable. Officials said 500 volunteers and 16 Eagle Scout projects are involved in the effort. Martin commented that it could take up to five years before the hillside is fully vegetated as it was before.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – Nearly a dozen Utah police officers, including a Richfield officer, have been terminated or disciplined by regulators at a September meeting in Salt Lake City. The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council released a list Monday of eight officers and three cadets who have received discipline for violations of their oath of office. The report said that Richfield Police officer Michael Thomas received a nine-month suspension for assaulting a boy who was with his daughter. Edward Guerrero, formerly of the Moab Police Department and Tod Trinnaman of Duchesne County, each received the stiffest sentences of three-year suspensions. The council recently passed a rule creating a 30-day waiting period before releasing the list of those disciplined.

(RICHFIELD) – Two candidates running for Sevier County Commissioner seats will make presentations before the Richfield City Council tonight at their bi-monthly meeting. Democrat Monte Turner and Constitution Party candidate Elaine Bonavita will present their platforms before the council at 7pm. Turner is running against Republican “Tooter” Ogden and Bonavita is running against incumbent Gary Mason for the Commissioner “A” and “B” seats. Other council action will include a report by Cecilia Bytheway on new street lights throughout the city and in new subdivisions.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – Sen. Orrin Hatch is blasting the Obama Administration for cutting funding from next year’s budget for the Central Utah Water Project. Washington D.C. has pumped more than $2 billion into building the project, which will channel water from the eastern mountains to the growing population along the Wasatch Front. Hatch said word came from project supporters last week that budget makers are refusing to allow $450 million to go towards the final segment of the project. In a recent statement, Hatch said if Obama shuts off the funding, “it’ll be an open declaration of war on the West and rural America.” He said, “voters won’t stand for it, Congress won’t stand for it and neither will he.” Rep. Jim Matheson, the sole Democrat in Utah’s Congressional Delegation, agreed that the problem is serious. Interior Spokesperson Kendra Barkoff said the budget process is ongoing and “no final decisions have been made.” The project would capture Utah’s share of water from the Colorado River Basin in the Strawberry Reservoir and route it through a massive tunnel, then move it to a recently completed pipeline that ends at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon.

(CLEVELAND, Utah)-The Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in Emery County will be open later this week to visitors free of charge.

Wednesday, the quarry will be celebrating National Fossil Day by providing free admission while Utah is one of several states across the country hosting events as part of Earth Science Week which will draw on the efforts of The National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and numerous other federal and state agencies.

At the Cleveland quarry, the first 200 visitors will receive a commemorative pin celebrating fossils on America’s public lands.

The quarry has been open to the public for more than 40 years and upon its establishment in 1968, it was the Bureau of Land Management’s first visitors center.

(KANAB)-A lovescape memorial constructed in the name of slain Kane County Deputy Brian Harris was dedicated this past weekend in Kanab while donations are being sought to help in its completion.

Half of the memorial has been constructed while various community members are seeking for outside help in completing the project.

To fund labors, locks with Harris’ name engraved on them will be available in Kane County while eventually the locks will be attached to the memorial, serving as permanent evidences of the community’s appreciation and support for Harris.

For every lock sold, $10 will be given to the Kane County Sheriff’s Department while the goal is to raise $40,000 which will be presented to the Harris family.

(BLANDING)-Two people suffered minor injuries when their small plane crashed near Blanding Sunday evening.

Jared Hillhouse of the Blanding Police Department says the plane was taking off from the Blanding City Airport around 5:00 p.m. Sunday when it suddenly lost power.

The pilot tried landing the aircraft on a nearby road but witnesses say the plane dropped several times before narrowly missing some power lines and crashing into the fence of the Canyonlands Youth Correctional Facility.

The plane came to a stop in the facility’s garden while both people inside the plane walked away with minor cuts and bruises.

Hillhouse said the pair was flying the plane back to Salt Lake City from the East Coast.

(REDMOND) – A Redmond residence was burglarized over the weekend where jewelry, money and guns were taken. Sevier County deputies are investigating the break-in at the home of Dennis Miller at 270 North 100 East in Redmond. A sheriff’s report said that the Miller’s were out of town over the weekend and when they returned, found several items missing. Deputies have arrested no suspects in the case but are following up on evidence found at the scene. Sevier County deputies are also investigating a vandalism report on Saturday at the property of Kamelle Gleave in Monroe. The report said that someone had driven through a fence on her property in the Monroe Meadows area on Monroe Mountain. No suspects have yet been apprehended in that case.

(ST. GEORGE)-Southern Utah is being promoted as a destination for companies looking to relocate or expand their operations even as the region is suffering from economic hardship.

The Boyd Company of Princeton, N.J. is a selection firm that lists Washington and Iron Counties as one of the Southwest’s top business draws.

Boyd Company consultant John Boyd says the troubled real estate conditions in Washington County offers bargains on commercial and residential listings which should bring more jobs in the future.

St. Louis-based Insituform Technologies, a pipe company, is among a litany of companies coming to Utah as they are expected to relocate to Cedar City.

(SIGURD) – A Spanish Fork man was transported to the hospital Friday afternoon after a rollover on SR-24. According to a UHP report, 25-year old Shaun Nielsen was traveling northbound in a 2005 Chevy Cobalt, when he became distracted and drifted into the southbound lane and swerved to miss another vehicle at about 4:30pm. UHP said Nielsen overcorrected and went off the road and rolled onto the shoulder. The report said that 23-year old Brian Logan of Loa, driving a 2002 Ford pickup, also swerved to miss Nielsen and hit a delineator post. Nielsen was not wearing his seatbelt and was taken to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield with injuries. Logan was also not wearing his seatbelt but was not injured. Nielsen was cited for improper lane travel.

(TORREY) – A Panguitch man was taken to the hospital over the weekend after being hit on SR-12 while passing another vehicle. According to a UHP report, 20-year old Kazan Pollock was traveling westbound Saturday afternoon when he attempted to pass a slow-moving vehicle and noticed another car, traveling eastbound, coming towards him at about 2pm. The report said Pollock swerved to the left in his 1998 Ford F-250 and was hit broadside by 21-year old, Keleb McInelly of Bryce, causing Pollock’s vehicle to roll. Pollock was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. He sustained broken bones and was transported to the Garfield Memorial Hospital. McInelly was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured. UHP said that charges are pending for Pollock.

OREM, Utah (AP)-Randy Ellett had three RBI and earned the win on the mound as the Wayne Badgers ousted the Panguitch Bobcats, 3-1 to win the 1A state baseball championship. Tyce Barney doubled in the loss for Panguitch.

(RICHFIELD) – The Constitution Party candidate running for U.S. Senate from Utah visited Richfield today. Scott Bradely made a campaign stop at the Richfield City Park this afternoon to address a small crowd of supporters. He said his platform is the U.S. Constitution. Bradley commented that the country has gotten away from the original principles this country was founded on. He said the federal government needs to be required to act only within the framework defined within the Constitution, in protection of our individual God-given unalienable rights. Bradley’s 13-point battle for the “Soul of the Nation” is the message he’s taking to Utahns.

(ST. GEORGE)-The Color County District and St. George Field Office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management will host a public open house for newly appointed Utah BLM state director Juan Palma next Wednesday, October 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the BLM Interagency Visitors Center, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George.

Palma attended Brigham Young University and later graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore., while earning a Master’s degree in environmental sciences from the University of Nevada at Reno.

Palma first worked for a government typing pool in the U.S. Forest Service where he eventually rose to become a deputy forest supervisor.

Previously, in the BLM he served as the Las Vegas field office manager and was once director of the agency’s Eastern States office.

(PROVO)-As the world becomes increasingly secular, the entities of law and religion often clash inevitably, Brigham Young University students learned at the International Law and Religion Symposium earlier this week.

Ted Stahnke, the director of policy and programs for Human Rights First at the recent International Law and Religion Symposium at the institution’s J. Reuben Clark Law School, gave the address, citing the September 11 plot of a Gainesville, Fla.-based Christian pastor to burn the Holy Qu’ran, the sacred book of Islam.

Stahnke lauded the efforts of American leaders who eventually persuaded the pastor to forgo the burning.

Additionally, organizations continually bring anti-defamation resolutions aimed at stopping religiously-driven hated speech, much of which is directed at Muslims.

Stahnke said the United States is opposed to such initiatives because leaders know that in other countries, similar laws exist and people are frequently punished for exercising their right to free speech or freedom of religion.

Thus, Stahnke suggested governments should speak out against hate crimes and hate speech, actions that contributed to the Florida pastor’s eventual reluctance to burn the Qu’ran.

Since the U.S. remains a secular state, Stahnke said in closing, it remains important for Americans to stand up and do the right thing in such matters.

(CEDAR CITY)-As another autumn season draws to a close in Utah’s higher elevations, Cedar Breaks National Monument is making preparations for winter.

Park superintendent Paul Roelandt said that Columbus Day weekend is the last time visitors can take advantage of ranger-conducted programs and exhibits inside the visitors center.

As of Monday, park personnel will begin making preparations for winter and because of an earlier than expected snowstorm this past week, visitors should expect even cooler temperatures than usual.

Through Monday, the entrance fee for the monument remains $4 per person (visitors 17 years old and up) while admission for children 16 and under is free.

After the park officially closes for the season, the main park road will remain open for visitors to drive through the park free of charge until the first major snowstorm of the season strikes, which traditionally has been late November or early December.

As the road closes to vehicular traffic and snow deepens, the park will remain open throughout the winter for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling on designated trails.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Securities and Exchange Commission obtained an emergency court order to freeze the assets of Imperia Invest for reportedly scamming people around the world out of $7 million.

In Utah, this included 500 members of the deaf community, stated Ken Israel, the SEC’s regional director in the state.

Israel said many of the victims learned about Imperia Invest via e-mails and YouTube videos.

Israel stated deaf people don’t appear to be the intended target of such schemes but investors were vigilant in spreading the word to all potential consumers.

Israel said Imperia Invest appears to be exclusively Web-based and that victims were asked to invest $50 up front while being promised big returns later.

To access the alleged earnings, victims were told they had to purchase a VISA debit card for $400.

Incidentally, VISA has no real affiliation with the scheme.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A polygamous sect in southern Utah and northern Arizona has asked a federal judge to block a state-court appointed accountant from selling assets in the faith’s communal land trust.

Attorneys for the FLDS Church sought an injunction from U.S. District Court Judge Dee Benson Wednesday.

The sect is seeking to prevent the sale of assets in the United Effort Plan Trust.

Valued at more than $110 million, the trust holds most of the land and homes in the twin communities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz.

The trust also holds land in Bountiful, British Columbia.

Utah courts seized control of the UEP in 2005 and a judge approved reforms to its religious structure the next year.

In court papers, sect attorney Rod Parker claimed those reforms violate the sect’s constitutional rights to practice their religion.

Those rights include giving church leaders authority over trust access and restricting trust beneficiaries to those who faithfully keep church tenets and precepts.

Parker wrote that Utah’s intervention was unconstitutional because the Constitution is supposed to prevent government from taking over religious organizations.

Last month, justices said the sect had waited too long in objecting to state oversight of the trust.

(RICHFIELD) – Utah scientists are organizing to save the largest living organism on earth found in the Fishlake National Forest. Scientists say the organism, known as “Pando”, which is a Latin word for, “I spread”, consists of a grove of quaking aspen spanning 106 acres near Fishlake, whose roots connect to comprise thousands of trees. Utah State University geneticist, Karen Mock, says Pando is a huge clone of trees. She said that in all, Pando weighs about 13 million pounds, which makes it, by far, the largest living organism on earth that’s been described by scientists. Paul Rogers of USU said when he visited Pando two years ago, the clone seemed reasonably healthy but when he went back three weeks ago, he found that the trees showed signs of dying from drought and beetles. Rogers said small trees and sprouts have vanished from the area spanned by Pando and no new trees have taken their place. He said he doesn’t know if federal funding will be available to save the cloned trees.

(SALINA) – A Salina man was taken to the hospital after rearending another vehicle Wednesday afternoon on I-70 east of Salina. According to a UHP report, at about 1pm, 70-year old Bartley Christensen was traveling eastbound in a 2004 Ford F-250, when he hydroplaned on wet roads and hit the rear bumper of a 2007 Buick Lacrosse, driven by 19-year old Mason Smith of South Jordan. UHP said Christensen spun off the road and stopped, while Smith lost control and rolled twice into the median. Christensen was not wearing his seatbelt and was transported to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield with unknown injuries. Smith was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)-Lexi Moss had two goals and Rachel Roberts added another score as the Beaver Lady Beavers ousted the Grand Lady Red Devils, 3-2 Thursday in Region 13 girls soccer action.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Keri Brunson amassed a hat trick while Krystyn Stevens added two more scores as the Millard Lady Eagles smacked the North Sevier Lady Wolves, 8-0 in Region 13 girls soccer action Thursday. Denise Crabb, Makinzie Hunter and Shelby Sheriff also scored while Jaisha Wilcox earned the shutout for the Lady Eagles.

GUNNISON, Utah (AP)-Tavia Rice posted two goals, including the game-winner as the Parowan Lady Rams outlasted the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 3-2 in Region 13 girls soccer action Thursday. Sara Nilson had both goals in the loss for Gunnison.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)-Tressa Lyman amassed 26 kills, 21 digs and 15 blocks while Riley Hutchings stepped up with 13 digs for the Enterprise Lady Wolves in a 3-1 win over the Beaver Lady Beavers Thursday in Region 13 volleyball action.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)-Kalani Norris and Breanne Bateman combined for 32 kills and nine aces as the Panguitch Lady Bobcats humbled the Escalante Lady Moquis, 3-0 in Region 20 volleyball action Thursday.

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.)-KRQE-TV, Channel 13 in Albuquerque, N.M. reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing pollution controls that would mean an 80 percent reduction in smog-causing nitrogen oxides from the coal-fired Four Corners Power Plant on the Navajo Nation.

EPA officials say the proposal will require Arizona Public Service Company which operates the 45-year-old plant in Fruitland, N.M., about 18 miles west of Farmington, N.M., to install selective catalytic reduction on all five of its units.

The agency said it’s the most stringent pollution control technology available for that type of facility.

Jared Blumenfeld, a regional administrator for EPA’s Region 9 said the Four Corners Plant is the largest single source of nitrogen oxides in the United States.

The proposed controls would reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from about 45,000 tons per year to 9,000 tons per year and improve both public health and visibility at 16 national park sites in the area, the EPA said.

Visitors to national parks in the area will be able to see a perceptible change in visibility at such parks as Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado and Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona, said Region 9 air division associate director Colleen McKaughan.

The Navajo Nation expects to have consultations with the EPA as the proposal moves forward, said Stephen Etsitty, the Navajo Nation EPA’s executive director.

Blumenfeld signed the proposed rule Wednesday, beginning 60 days of public comment.

McKaughan said hearings will be scheduled in Shiprock, N.M. as well as Farmington.

Last year’s notice covered both the Four Corners plant and the Navajo Generating Station at Page, Ariz. while Blumenfeld said the EPA is delaying a proposed rule for the Navajo Generating Station until it finishes with the Four Corners Power Plant.

(GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.)-KKCO-TV, Channel 11 in Grand Junction, Colo. reports U.S. Congressman John Salazar was on the Colorado National Monument Wednesday night to talk about designating the land as a national park.

Salazar says the Colorado National Monument has all the fundamentals covered to be deemed as a national park although he must now convince the House and Senate.

Monument staff and certain members of the Grand Junction community are ecstatic about these changes while personnel say the monument misses out on lots of visitors and the city is deprived of the revenue that a national park designation would bring.

Salazar says the idea to designate the monument as a national park came after Grand Junction residents visited him in Washington and talked about it.

Salazar said the best way to make the monument a national park is to write letters of support to Congress or the Colorado National Monument.

If all goes well, Salazar believes the monument can be a national park by this time next year.

(MOAB)-Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Moab to replace Judge Aubrey Holderness, who is retiring February 7.

Candidates must be at least 25 years old, be a citizen of the United States, have been a Utah resident for at least three years and have earned a high school diploma or equivalency degree.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s Web site at www.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities.

An application for judicial office is available on the site.

The part-time position offers an annual salary between $36,300 and $65,500.

The deadline for applications is October 19 at 5:00 p.m. and should be sent to Shari Veverka, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-0241 or faxed to 1-801-578-3843.

For more information, applicants may also e-mail shariv@email.utcourts.gov

(ST. GEORGE) – Families and doctors of the two teenagers struck by lightning at a St. George high school on Tuesday are applauding the efforts of school personnel with saving the lives of the students. Snow Canyon High School personnel said that things looked bleak for the pair until History teacher Ron Hansen arrived at the scene and performed CPR on Alex Lambson and Dane Zdunich, both age 17. Other teachers and administrators arrived and carried the boys to the band room where emergency medical personnel took over. The boys were struck by lightning Tuesday when they ducked under a tree to escape a downpour in the area. The pair are recovering at a Las Vegas hospital.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-After initially breaking into the high-tech stratosphere last decade, Utah may be ready for another significant technological breakthrough according to a Silicon Valley venture capitalist.

Sequoia Capital managing partner, Michael Goguen, was the keynote speaker at a venture capital roundtable Wednesday hosted by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development at the Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City.

Sequoia served as an original investor in numerous successful digital start-ups such as YouTube, Google, Cisco, Oracle and Apple.

Goguen provided an outsider’s perspective on Utah for potential investment opportunities.

Goguen suggested that Utah create more “interconnectivity” among local venture capitalists and those along the West Coast and California’s Silicon Valley.

Goguen said developing a more integrated state-to-state regional network may help Utah grow its business and technology base in a more timely fashion.

The private event, attended by venture capitalists from around Utah and the country was a platform to discuss the state’s current entrepreneurial and capital fund strengths, capital availability in Utah and the state’s image in venture capital investment circles, Utah Governor Gary Herbert said.

Herbert said the state is trying to raise its profile within the business world to coax companies to consider Utah as an expansion site or for other economic development.

Jack Brittain, the vice president of the University of Utah’s Technology Venture Development, and a San Jose, Calif. native, said the state would be better off creating its own niche rather than emulating what happened in the Bay Area over the past several decades.

Brittain said that while Utah does have certain economic challenges, many institutions are coming to the state to develop relatively strong business and economic foundations.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-As mid-term elections approach next month, political analysts say an “enthusiasm gap,” could let Republicans take over the House and the majority of gubernatorial seats across the country.

In some instances, political scientists believe voters seem to have lost all patience with elected officials.

The director at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics, Kirk Jowers, is predicting how many governors’ seats the GOP might pick up in November’s election, stating they could win up to as many as eight seats.

Jowers says the Republicans are ready for their resurgence because numerous Americans are frustrated with how things are going and the country has a history of being impatient when it comes to solving the most pressing issues.

Jowers said the first mid-term election is traditionally rough for a president although anger has percolated more than it usually does at such an interval.

Jowers also believes it may be a good thing for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012 if the GOP does win the House of Representatives this year as if more than one party is in power, the blame can be more easily spread around.

If Obama loses the house, it would likely limit his ability to get legislation he supports passed in the meantime, Jowers said.

(Manti) Enrollment numbers continue to increase in the South Sanpete School District. The number of students has risen steadily each year since at least 2004. The district has added over three hundred students since 2004 with 3041 students currently enrolled this year, sixteen more than last year. As far as individual schools in the district go, Manti High School is actually down twenty-six students from last years count, while Ephraim Elementary saw the greatest increase, adding twenty-nine students this year. Ephraim Middle School also added nineteen students to the rolls. Manti Elementary and Gunnison High School each lost a hand-full of students, while Gunnison Middle school added a few. Gunnison Elementary was the exception to all the rules with numbers remaining unchanged from last year.

(OGDEN)-Research conducted by Weber State University concluded a life-sustaining planet might be circling a star 120 million miles from Earth has been boosted by the National Science Foundation which says it found a planet orbiting a red dwarf “star” that may be the first exoplanet that can sustain inhabitants.

The science foundation said 11 years of research shows that one of several planets in the Gliese 581 system is ideally situated in the star’s “habitable zone.”

The news returned to Weber State assistant physics professor John Armstrong and his one-time graduate student Rhett Zollinger who published an April 2009 paper identifying the Gliese 581 as being the best candidate for “potentially habitable planets.”

In the Gliese 581 system, situated in the Libra constellation, this planet, known as “planet G,” is right in the middle of the habitable zone around the star.

Additionally, its mass is three times the size of that of the Earth and orbits its sun in just under 37 days.

Zollinger and Armstrong’s paper identified three planets around Gliese 581 while the NSF findings a little more than a year later brings the number of planets in this system to six, the most yet discovered in a planetary system outside our own.

The Weber State research was conducted independently of that announced September 29 by the NSF.

(PANGUITCH) – Southern Utah residents expressed mixed emotions at a public hearing in Panguitch Wednesday night concerning construction of a coal mine in Garfield County. Representatives from the Utah Department of Air Quality, along with county commissioners and city leaders gathered for the public hearing on an application from Alton Coal Co. to mine a 244-acre site on private land. Those who oppose the project say their health will be at risk due to dust and smoke from the proposed mine and tourists may stay away from visiting the area. Garfield County Commissioner Maloy Dodds said the mine would create less dust than a farmer plowing his field and Panguitch City leader, Tom Hatch, agreed. Dodds commented that the mine would be done in 30 pit phases, with each exposed pit covered and re-seeded as a new one is opened. If approved, the DAQ would limit Alton Coal to producing 2 million tons of coal in any 12-month period and crushing 1,000 tons in any hour. The state would do random air checks and the company would be expected to monitor and record its own emissions regularly. Public comments will be taken until Oct. 14. DAQ officials said it appeared the permit will meet federal standards.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Hailee Holt and Kay Simmons each scored and the Delta Lady Rabbits doubled up the North Sanpete Lady Hawks, 2-1 Wednesday in Region 12 girls soccer action. Ashley Flores scored in the loss for North Sanpete.

(GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.)-The National Park Service plans to put an 100-vehicle parking lot on the Kaibab National Forest near Tusayan which would allow visitors to walk, ride horses or bicycle the last few miles to the Grand Canyon.

This is yet another effort to reduce summer parking problems for the South Rim, which sees roughly 10,000 cars per day in some instances.

The parking area, which is expected to be less than 3 acres, would be near the current IMAX Theater on the west side of Arizona S.R. 64 and would feature restrooms, signs, bike racks and dirt and paved trails headed to the South Rim.

The estimated $2 million cost of the project would be paid for by the Park Service, which is seeking grants.

Trails are expected to be constructed by the end of 2011 while the construction date for the parking lot is unknown said spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge.

Those biking into the canyon will pay an additional $12 fee.

Those taking a shuttle will pay the standard entry fee of $25 per group or family without a national parks pass.

Tusayan District Ranger Angela Parker signed off on the plan near the end of September.

The Park Service has also been running a shuttle from Tusayan to the South Rim in recent years in hopes of alleviating traffic after a plan to deliver most tourists to the Grand Canyon by mass transit failed due to lack of funding.

(RICHFIELD) – A candidate running for the U.S. Senate will bring his Freedom Forum program to Richfield this Friday. Constitution Party candidate Scott Bradley will speak at the Richfield City Park from noon to 2pm Friday and will have a question and answer session following. Local Richfield resident L.S. Brown said his speech will be worth hearing. If inclement weather prevails, the program will be moved to the Sevier County Administration Building. Brown said this may be the only visit Bradley will make to Sevier County before the November election.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Blanding resident Brandon Laws, indicted on two felony counts related to stealing ancient American Indian beads and jewelry pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor complaint filed Tuesday.

The 40-year-old Brandon Laws appeared before U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart to admit removing a jewelry bead, a federally-protected archaeological resource, from a ruin on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land near Grand Gulch in San Juan County.

Laws was scheduled for sentencing December 20 and had been jailed since April 15 for violating probation after being arrested in Colorado for alleged drug possession.

Tuesday’s court action implies he likely will be free until his sentencing as federal prosecutors won’t recommend more prison time.

Laws was among two dozen Utah, Colorado and Arizona residents indicted on more than 115 felony counts and a handful of misdemeanors in June 2009 as part of a 2.5-year investigation into illegal artifacts trafficking in the Four Corners region.

The 2009 indictment accusing Laws and five others say that in 2008, he offered to sell bone beads, a shell necklace, pendants and drills to the undercover source.

(MESQUITE, Nev.)-Nevada authorities say Swiss rock band member Steve Lee was killed when a tractor-trailer skidded into his motorcycle on Interstate 15 about 10 miles south of Mesquite, Nev.

Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Joseph Fackrell said the crash happened around 5:15 PDT Tuesday after 47-year-old Stefan Alois Lee and a group of at least eight other motorcyclists pulled to the shoulder along I-15 to put on rain clothing.

Fackrell told the Associated Press the semitrailer swerved before hitting a parked Harley-Davidson motorcycle that fatally injured Lee.

Fackrell says drugs, alcohol and speed did not appear to be factors in the crash.

Lee, frontman for the band Gotthard, was pronounced dead at the scene.

(FRUITA, COLO.) – Investigators say alcohol may have been a factor in a rollover on I-70 Tuesday that killed a Texas woman and injured her passenger. The Department of Public Safety has confirmed that two women traveling I-70 toward Fruita, Colo. at about 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, rolled about 11 miles from the Utah-Colorado border. Colorado Highway Patrol reported their van skidded off the road and rolled. The driver, 67-year old Vivian Cooper died at the scene, while her passenger, 52-year old Tamra Kindred, was flown to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction in critical condition.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The state of Utah is considering if and how to fund optional extended-day kindergarten throughout Utah.

Tuesday, the Legislature’s Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee heard from the State Office of Education about a pilot program in its fourth year currently serving more than 8,000 students.

Teaching students for a full day, instead of in half day intervals has proven to dramatically increase childrens’ literacy, particularly for at-risk children, said State Office of Education superintendent Brenda Hales.

Hales referenced her own teaching experience, recounting to lawmakers how some children didn’t even know how to turn pages in books due to unfamiliarity with the experience.

Committee chairman Howard Stephenson of Draper said the committee needs to consider whether to fund a statewide program for at-risk children and it should include everyone or not be included at all.

Higher education representatives as well as the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce have recommended that the governor and Legislature implement universal extended-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs statewide.

Stephenson said the committee needs to consider if those types of programs should be funding priorities and what future programs should look like.

(MILFORD)-Utah’s largest commercial wind farm will be getting bigger as Boston-based FirstWind says it has started work on a second wind farm after putting 97 turbines in use in Utah’s west desert.

The first wind farm, located about two miles north of Milford, can power about 44,000 houses.

FirstWind is selling the electricity to Southern California Public Power Authority for use in Los Angeles, Burbank, Calif. and Pasadena, Calif.

FirstWind says the second wind farm will generate half the power of the first and will feature 68 turbines, which will be smaller.

The company also stated it expects to win a contract with an unidentified buyer shortly.

The second wind farm will be located just to the north of the first wind farm straddling Millard and Beaver counties.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Former U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney came to Salt Lake City Tuesday with an endorsement for Utah Governor Gary Herbert but also discussed his own political aspirations.

Romney fielded questions from the media before heading into a fundraising dinner for his political action committee which helps elect Republicans throughout the nation.

The former Massachusetts governor and head of Salt Lake City’s 2002 Winter Olympics discussed a possible second run for president in 2012.

Romney was also asked about campaign contribution limits, a hot button issue in Utah this year.

He said he deems limits ineffective and suggested visibility and public disclosure are more important.

(BEAVER) – The public is invited to witness the demonstration of biomass equipment featured at the 18th Annual Southern Utah Woody Biomass Field Day in Beaver this month. Michelle Lindbloom, co-owner of Bloomin Ranch Service, says the demonstrations will show how you can convert junipers, pinyon pines and other woody material into a marketable product. Lindbloom said that landowners, contractors, agency personnel and biomass purchasers will be able to view the material as it’s changed from whole trees into a transportable product. She said the chips produced can be used in state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems with minimal residue and smoke. The demonstration event will be held Oct. 18 starting at 8am in Beaver and is sponsored by the BLM, the Utah Biomass Resources Group and the U.S. Chapter Society of American Foresters. For more information and to RSVP for lunch, call 849-0970 or go online to www.utahbiomass.com.

(SALINA) – Coordinators in charge of the 39th Annual Sterling Scholars of Central Utah Awards program met last month to make plans for next year’s event. Co-chairpersons Neal and Marcia Bosshardt of Redmond met at the North Sevier High School in Salina with Committee Coordinator Connie Good of Manti High School to set April 5, 2011 as the date for next year’s program. The event will be held at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield. Good is in charge of the awards program this year under the direction of the Booshardt’s. Nominees must be seniors in good standing and will be graduating with the senior class in 2011. Those high schools participating in the awards program this year include Richfield, North and South Sevier, Gunnison Valley, Manti, North Sanpete, Wayne, Piute, Millard, Delta, Juab and Tintic.

SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP)-Kelton Price went the distance on the mound, amassing eight strikeouts while also adding a key RBI as the Piute Thunderbirds doubled up the Green River Pirates, 2-1 Tuesday in 1A state baseball action.

SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP)-Troy Stephenson hit a key pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth inning while Zack Taylor added a go-ahead double for the Wayne Badgers in an 8-5 win over West Ridge Academy in 1A state baseball action Tuesday.

SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP)-Jory Owens and Zach Brophy went a combined 6 for 6 at the plate while Riley Miller and Cam Fawson combined on a one-hitter as the Panguitch Bobcats smacked the Dugway Mustangs, 16-1 in 1A state baseball action Tuesday.

SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP)-Taryn Taylor went the distance on the mound, posting 10 strikeouts and the Tintic Miners shellacked the Tabiona Tigers, 9-1 Tuesday in 1A state baseball action.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)-Lexi Moss and Baylie Pender each scored while Hannahlynn Snyder earned the shutout as the Beaver Lady Beavers blanked the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 2-0 Tuesday in Region 13 girls soccer action.

MOAB, Utah (AP)-Denise Crabb had two goals while Keri Brunson and Shelby Sheriff also scored as the Millard Lady Eagles stymied the Grand Lady Red Devils, 4-2 in Region 13 girls soccer action Tuesday.

MONROE, Utah (AP)-Kayla King posted 27 kills and four blocks as the South Sevier Lady Rams downed the Wayne Lady Badgers, 3-1 Tuesday in non-region volleyball action.

(MOAB) – A small crowd of OHV users, land managers and county officials gathered Monday night in an area 30 miles deep into the La Sal mountains to view the accomplishments of a pilot trails project. At an elevation of 11,000 feet, the group faced thunder, lightening and hail to celebrate the event that involved nearly 28,000 acres on two tracts of SITLA lands. The project began in the mid-90’s with 120 miles of trails in that area and OHV users pushed the number to 170 miles of trails, an increase of 41%. The project was largely funded by a statewide $1.50 surcharge assessed to OHV users and included funding for the installation of kiosks for trails and additional signage. Mike Swenson, president of the Utah Shared Access Alliance, says the project is the “wave of the future” at a time when the interests of trail users are often at odds with management of public lands in Utah. The project earned high praise from OHV users.

(MONROE) – Sevier County Search and Rescue assisted Piute County this morning in locating a missing Ogden hunter near Manning Reservoir on Monroe Mountain. According to a sheriff’s report, 53-year old Kasey Leavitt was hunting elk, when he failed to return to camp Monday night. Piute County Search and Rescue looked for the man all night and notified Sevier County to help in the search. Public Information Officer Nate Curtis said that Leavitt was located just before 11:00 this morning in good condition. Search and Rescue members said they used ATV’s, horses and trucks in the search.

(CRESCENT JUNCTION, Utah)-Tuesday morning, a man was killed and a female passenger was seriously injured in a crash that occurred on Interstate 70 near the Colorado border.

The fatal one-vehicle rollover crash happened around 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning at mile marker 217 near Fruita, Colo.

The Utah Highway Patrol, Mesa County (Colo.) Sheriff’s Office and Lower Valley Fire Protection District are responding to the scene.

The woman was flown by Care Flight to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo.

Names of the victims are not being released at the time but Mid-Utah Radio would like to thank KKCO-TV, Channel 11 and KREX-TV Channel 5 in Grand Junction for their assistance in providing information.

(GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.)-Last Friday, a pair of incidents struck at Grand Canyon National Park involving visitors at the park’s South Rim.

First, a 42-year-old Burbank, Calif. man died around 1:00 p.m. when attempting to jump from one rock outcropping to another.

Due to winds and lightning, park rangers were unable to recover the body of Andrew N. Stires until Saturday.

The next incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. when two Korean women, each 45 years old from Seoul were standing on the canyon’s rim and indirectly struck by lightning east of the South Rim’s visitors center.

One woman was taken to Flagstaff Medical Center by Guardian Air where she was treated and released while the other was taken to the national park’s Northland Community Health Center where she was also treated and released.

In light of this incident, the Park Service warns canyon visitors that lightning can strike 10 miles across the canyon and visitors should stay away from exposed points during storms and lightning activity.

Park spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge said this is the 13th death of the year at Grand Canyon National Park and the third death resulting from a fall.

The park has annually averaged 13-14 deaths over the past five years, due to heat, falls, drowning, suicide and natural causes.

Less common causes of death in the past five years include a murder-suicide between spouses living at the park and a park employee who died after contacting the plague, possibly from wildlife he researched.

(ELSINORE) – Heavy rain has nearly stopped the spread of the Twitchell Canyon Fire burning northeast of Beaver. Forest personnel say the fire is now 76% contained having burned an estimated 45,200 acres since the lightening-caused fire ignited July 20. The fire has covered about 70-square miles, or in perspective, a mile-wide area from Sigurd to Nephi. Officials on the Fishlake National Forest say 333 firefighters continue to contain the blaze, with most pulling out of areas where wet, slippery conditions make firefighting unsafe. Firefighters are now concentrating their efforts on repairing damage caused by firefighting operations, including the northwest corner of the fire, to provide more protection for homes west of the fire and outside the forest area. Some forest roads are now open but others still remain closed until the fire is completely extinguished.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Tuesday, former Massachusetts governor and aspiring presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be in Utah to raise money for his political action committee at a private event.

Incumbent Utah Governor Gary Herbert will be among the hosts in attendance while Romney said he will offer his “full support” for Herbert in this year’s gubernatorial election in Utah.

Nevertheless, Herbert will not see any of the cash collected at the reception at downtown Salt Lake City’s Grand American Hotel which will charge goers as much as $2,500.

The purpose of Romney’s event, entitled Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC, is to help GOP candidates get elected nationwide.

Romney is not expected to participate in taping television ads or preparing other campaign materials for Herbert during his brief stint in Utah.

Additionally, Tuesday, Romney, who is expected to vie for the presidential seat in 2012, will be in Arizona and Idaho as part of his effort to advocate for Republicans across the country.

Kirk Jowers, head of the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics says Herbert has been under intense scrutiny lately and Romney’s endorsement may be just what he needs to turn the tide in his favor.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah are asking the state’s Supreme Court to halt an injunction against one of Ogden’s largest street gangs.

Monday, the ACLU filed a brief saying the court should place the injunction on hold pending appeals.

The injunction bans the 485-plus members of Ogden Trece from associating with one another, possessing guns and being in the vicinity of illegal drugs while also setting an 11:00 p.m. curfew.

Weber County Attorney Dee Smith says the injunction gives law enforcement the ability to keep gang members from congregating and intimidating residents.

Conversely, the ACLU claims the injunction violates the constitutional rights of free assembly and could be used to arrest law-abiding citizens who may not be affiliated with the gang.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Thousands of Utah high school students have begun taking online courses in the past few years while educators, despite many of them being staunch traditionalists, are realizing the Internet represents the wave of the future.

The Utah Virtual Academy in Murray has become the impetus for many students in helping them learn online.

TUVA boasts an enrollment of 2,0000 and is one of five online charter schools in the state.

These schools serve 2,900 students overall which is a significant upgrade from the 500 students served only three years ago.

In the interim, nearly 20,000 students have earned online credit to either make up classes they may have missed or fill their extracurricular activities void.

(FILLMORE) – Millard County Commissioners have approved a Natural Gas Pipeline Right-Of-Way to transport natural gas to a proposed storage facility north of Delta. At a Commission meeting, Commissioners approved the application, submitted by Magnum Solutions, LLC., for the right to carry natural gas in a north-easterly direction 15 miles north of Delta at the Millard-Juab County line. According to county minutes, Commissioners still must decide on the approval or denial of an application for a Natural or Manufactured Gas Storage and Distribution Facility on property located east of the IPP Power Plant about 10 miles north of Delta. Commissioners said they need to work on specific language in the application before a decision can be made. The decision may come at the scheduled Oct. 19 meeting or in November. The storage facility is located in salt caverns north of Delta.

(DELTA) – Two Delta toddlers who had been reported missing Friday morning have been found. Millard County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of two girls, ages two and three, who were missing from playing in their front yard. According to a sheriff’s report, one of the girl’s mother had been watching the two playing and had gone into her home for a few moments and when she returned, found the girls gone. The West Millard Sheriff’s Posse was called out and a Code Red-Reverse 911 notification was started. The girls were found about an hour later in good condition at the Delta Early Childhood Center.

(PHOENIX)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports officials don’t have any suspects in the case of ancient rock art damaged in the Kaibab National Forest this summer.

Kaibab officials say a hiker reported that vandals had defaced one of the rock art panels at Keyhole Sink in the forest.

The word “ACE” was written in silver paint over the petroglyphs where the rock art was located.

The petroglyphs are protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.

Since the vandalism was reported, the Forest Service has assessed and documented the damage while and educational campaign has been initiated to help visitors protect the forest’s treasures, officials said.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon’s gubernatorial campaign has passed the $2 million threshold.

Saturday night, officials announced the Corroon for Governor Campaign had more than 100 people attending the third town hall meeting at Westminster College to ask questions about the economy, education and his goals alongside Representative Sheryl Allen.

Corroon’s campaign spokeswoman, Stella Thurkill, said momentum and support are growing for Corroon.

(LAS VEGAS)-The Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada’s largest newspaper, has endorsed Republican Sharron Angle’s bid for U.S. Senate against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The endorsement, which was made Sunday, was not unexpected as the paper has long lambasted Reid.

In its endorsement, the newspaper deemed the election a “clear choice” between Angle, who supports limited government, and what it described as Washington’s big spending and partisan bickering.

A recent Review-Journal poll shows Reid and Angle have both received 43 percent support from Nevadans.

The race has played out comparably to the gubernatorial race in Utah as both Angle and Reid have had unkind words for each other.

The conservative-leaning Review-Journal endorsed Reid in 2004 when he faced underdog Republican opponent Richard Ziser.

(BEAVER) – Several forest roads have now been opened due to a 65% containment of the Twitchell Canyon Fire burning northeast of Beaver. Forest personnel say the Shingle and Mill Creek Roads are currently open but eight other forest roads remain closed. Light rainfall over the weekend dampened the spread of the fire, according to fire officials, helping firefighters to construct firelines to control the blaze. The lightening-caused wildfire has now consumed more than 45,000 acres with 579 firefighters battling the blaze. Full containment of the fire has not yet been determined.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The University of Utah has opened a 10,000-square foot building to help start-up companies quickly develop prototypes for medical and life science devices.

The schools says it’s not an ordinary business incubator helping people write business or marketing plans.

Officials say they’re trying to help inventors, faculty and researchers speed actual products to the market.

The new building at Research Park is called the Accelerator and has offices and labs as well as specialized tools such as a laser welder.

The Accelerator already has one tenant, Catheter Connections, a company moving to produce a device that kills infection-causing bacteria.

(CENTERFIELD) – A semi truck driver from Gunnison was arrested for DUI after hitting a power pole on SR-89 south of Centerfield last Tuesday. Utah Highway Patrol investigated the accident, involving 39-year old Guy Westlund, where he drove his 2000 Peterbilt semi off the right shoulder of the highway at about 11:30am. UHP said Westlund was traveling northbound when he continued over the sidewalk and hit a power pole, then went through a fence and ended up in a vacant field. Westlund was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured. UHP said the downed power line closed SR-89 for about an hour while crews repaired the pole and line. The semi is owned by M&M Trucking.

(RICHFIELD) – A California man was arrested for using marijuana on a Greyhound bus with a scheduled stop in Richfield Saturday morning. UHP said the bus driver discovered that 41-year old Christopher Harmon of Hollywood, was using pot in a restroom on the bus at about 8am and reported the incident to dispatch. Harmon was found to be in possession of nine ounces of marijuana and three rolled marijuana cigarettes. UHP said that K-9 units were also called in and indicated on two large suitcases containing 43 pounds of raw marijuana. The luggage had no identification and no one on the bus claimed the suitcases. Harmon was booked on possession with intent to distribute.

(SCOFIELD) – A four-year old Wellington boy was killed and two others injured in an automobile crash on SR-264 towards Electric Lake Saturday night. According to a UHP report, 26-year old Zack Bird was traveling eastbound in a 1993 Ford Ranger, when he went down an embankment and rolled over into a shallow portion of Electric Lake at about 8:30pm. The report said four-year old, Braxton Bird was ejected and died at the scene. UHP said he was not restrained in a car seat. Zack and a passenger, 26-year old Meagan Obrien, were not wearing their seatbelts and were also ejected from the vehicle. Zack sustained head and leg injuries and Obrien suffered head and arm injuries. Both were transported to the Sanpete Valley Hospital, after which Zack was flown to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo and Obrien was taken to Utah Valley by ambulance. Two other passengers, 37-year old Kerry Hollenbeck and 2-year old Taya Bird, were wearing their seatbelts and not injured. All occupants were from the Wellington area. UHP said that alcohol was a factor in the crash and have turned over evidence to the Emery County Attorney’s Office for possible charges.

KAMAS, Utah (AP)-Hayden Packard ran for three touchdowns while Trevor Rydalch added two more scoring runs as the South Summit Wildcats crushed the Gunnison Bulldogs, 52-13 Friday in 2A East football action. Jantz Jensen hauled in a 55-yard scoring pass and Braden Harris ran for another score in the loss for Gunnison.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)-Slade Moyle threw for 302 yards and three scores while Joe Holt recovered a fumble in the end zone for another touchdown as the Enterprise Wolves stymied the Beaver Beavers, 42-20 in 2A West football action Friday. Slade Edwards had two rushing touchdowns for Beaver while Anthony Gibson added a 17-yard scoring run for the Beavers in defeat.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-Jesse Rhodes and Francisco Alcala combined for 231 yards on the ground and three touchdowns as the Millard Eagles overpowered the Kanab Cowboys, 34-21 Friday in 2A West football action. Kyson McBride hauled in a pair of scoring passes in the loss for Kanab.

PAROWAN, Utah (AP)-Brayden Palmer threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, but it wasn’t enough as the Parowan Rams downed the South Sevier Rams, 23-20 in 2A West football action Friday.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Billy Keddington ran for four touchdowns and the Grand Red Devils bludgeoned the North Sevier Wolves, 47-13 Friday in 2A East football action. Michael Hales caught a pair of scoring passes in defeat for the Wolves.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Colin Christensen and Hadley Myers each ran for two touchdowns and the Delta Rabbits remained perfect in Region 12 play with a 42-7 rout of the North Sanpete Hawks Friday. Rhett Bird had a 1-yard touchdown run in the loss for the Hawks.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)-Spencer McPherson hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from reserve signal-caller Curtis Orme and the Juab Wasps bested the Richfield Wildcats, 20-14 in overtime Friday in Region 12 action. McPhearson also posted an 11-yard scoring reception while Taran Wright recovered a fumble for another Juab touchdown. Tyler Giddings and Colton Torgerson each had touchdown runs in defeat for the Wildcats.

CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)-Kashe Potter returned an interception 98 yards for a crucial score and Jade Fielder ran for two more touchdowns as the Emery Spartans smacked the Manti Templars, 31-16 in Region 12 action Friday. Brady Aste had a touchdown run for Manti, while Carlo Garcia stepped up with a 35-yard field goal in the loss for the Templars.

BICKNELL, Utah (AP)-Kalani Norris amassed 15 kills and Taelyr Tebbs added 10 more as the Panguitch Lady Bobcats ousted the Wayne Lady Badgers, 3-0 Friday in Region 20 volleyball action.

(MOAB) – Moab residents, teachers and public officials gathered together Thursday to address the crisis of education funding. The Grand County School District has a funding emergency and business leaders, along with the community gave educators a reprieve from the budget crisis by taking part in a community fundraiser. School District Superintendent Margaret Hopkin said she was pleased to see everyone supporting the cause. The Grand District faced accounting errors and left them in more than a $1 million hole and the likelihood of classes with 40 kids or more. Several businesses that have ties to the local area, also participated in the financial relief. EnergySolutions CEO, Val Christensen, says the community needs help. Public officials were also on hand to organize a community picnic at the fundraiser. Moab Mayor Dave Sakrison and teacher, RayLyne Robertson said a lot of people outside of the community helped with the event. Educators noted the one-time money gave them enough breathing room to hire teachers and provide full-day kindergarten.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-KRQE-TV, Channel 13 in Albuquerque, N.M. reports Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. says a referendum to elect judges is being improperly placed on the ballot and he’s asking a judge to intervene.

The Navajo Nation’s attorney general’s office has said the legislation calling for the referendum is invalid because it was not sent to Shirley for consideration.

The legislative council disagrees.

Shirley cites the attorney general’s opinion in a complaint filed this week in tribal court while he also says the ballot language does not fully explain the potential impact to voters.

Election supervisors approved the language that will ask Navajos whether district court judges and Supreme Court justices should be elected instead of appointed as of 2012.

(SCOFIELD) – A Riverton motorcyclist severely injured in a crash on SR-264 towards Scofield Thursday morning has died at a Provo hospital. Utah Highway Patrol reported that 56-year old Leonard Neilson was traveling eastbound, when he went off the highway and down an embankment at about 11am. Both he and his wife, 56-year old Jeanine Neilson, were thrown from their 2009 Harley Davidson. The report said that Leonard was not wearing a helmet and sustained severe head injuries. Jeanine was wearing her helmet and had a minor leg fracture. UHP said Leonard was flown to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo where he was pronounced dead. Jeanine was taken to the Sanpete Valley Hospital in Mt. Pleasant, where she was treated for her injury. She told troopers at the scene that they were only traveling 30 miles per hour when their steering mechanism locked up, causing the crash. UHP continue an investigation of the crash.

(KANAB) – The first confirmed case of West Nile Virus in Utah has been reported in Kane County. The Southwest Utah Public Health Department said that a Kane County resident has tested positive for WNV and is expected to recover. SWUPHD said that people who get WNV are usually infected through mosquito bites. Authorities say that temperatures are warmer than normal for southern Utah as we head into October and people can prevent mosquito bites by using repellent with at least 30% DEET, wearing long pants and sleeves, avoiding mosquito infested areas and avoiding being outside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are active. Officials say that 2010 has been a mile year for WNV activity in Utah.

(HELENA, Mont.)-A federal judge in Missoula, Mont. is dismissing a lawsuit launched by gun rights advocates and states seeking freedom from federal gun laws.

The decision from Federal Judge Donald Molloy was expected since his magistrate recommended tossing out the lawsuit a month ago.

The decision sides with the U.S. Department of Justice which says Congress can set standards on items such as guns through its power to regulate interstate commerce.

Gun control advocates who also joined in the case welcomed the decision.

The Brady Center To Prevent Gun Court Violence says the court rejected a “dangerous, misguided and unconstitutional” law.

Montana, Utah, Alabama, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wyoming and West Virginia were seeking the freedom from the gun control.

(PROMONTORY)-The Utah company that makes rocket boosters for the soon-to-be retired space shuttle laid off 426 employees Thursday because of uncertainty over the future of the U.S. space program.

Officials say the majority of the layoffs occurred at the Promontory facility while the company dismissed 414 engineers, factory workers and others at three northern Utah locations.

Another dozen ATK workers have been laid off at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Officially, the last day for those losing their jobs will be Tuesday October 5, though many chose to leave Thursday.

Although Utah currently has an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent, economists say the long-term prognosis is propitious.

Thursday’s layoffs brought the total number of ATK employees to 2,100 who have lost their jobs over the past two years.

In the interim, the company has been hiring in its aircraft division.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Incumbent Utah Governor Gary Herbert and Democratic rival, Salt Lake Mayor Peter Corroon sparred over government ethics and questions about which candidate really raised taxes during their first live broadcast debate Thursday.

As the election looms, Herbert and Corroon’s disdain for each other becomes more apparent as in the interim, both candidates have been extremely critical of one another, especially with issues Herbert has had to deal with concerning supposedly illicit campaign funding.

The two primarily feuded over taxes as Herbert denied raising the tobacco tax because he didn’t sign it into law although he built it into his budget.

By failing to veto the tobacco tax and not signing it, it has the effect of becoming law.

Herbert said the state income tax and sales tax on food were lowered on his watch, although he didn’t mention both events occurred when he was serving as Jon Huntsman’s lieutenant governor.

As far as illegal immigration is concerned, Corroon is in favor of punishing business who hire illegal immigrants while Herbert said it’s impractical to round up and deport all illegals in the state.

(BEAVER) – Beaver law enforcement and residents are saying the Twitchell Canyon Fire is causing too many problems and needs to be put out completely. Beaver County Sheriff Cameron Noel says his office has received too many complaints on the fire. The wildfire has now burned more than 44,000 acres since it ignited by lightening July 20 but has doubled in size just within the last ten day. Forest specialist John Zapell said the forest service initially allowed the fire to burn for resource benefits but, now, the fire is being managed for firefighter safety. Firefighters have constructed firelines at the northwest portion of the fire and are working to contain the southern flank but Sheriff Noel says the fire should have been contained long ago. Forest personnel say the fire is nearly 30% contained and forest roads in proximity of the wildfire are temporarily closed to the public and ten other forest roads remain closed.

(EUREKA) – Little Sahara Recreation Area officials have announced winter hours at the popular site. Visitors at the recreation area are also advised that the water supply will be turned off on Oct. 8. The water supply will be turned back on by the Easter weekend in 2011, weather permitting. LSRA says if visitors want to get water after Oct. 8, the water will be available at the Willard R. Fulmer Visitor’s Center year around. Winter hours are posted at the Visitor’s Center or you can connect online at www.blm.gov.