(MAYFIELD) – The Mayfield Lions Club is creating their master plan proposal to improve the Mayfield City Park. City council members were given a general overview of proposed improvements to the park, which include adding a four-foot wide walking path, complete with work-out/exercise stations periodically along the trail. The exercise stations would include signs, instructing users to go through a series of simple exercises, such as stretches, squats, dips, or push and pull-ups. The path will be nearly a quarter-mile long and will most likely be asphalt. The Lion’s Club also hopes to add an Old West-style village near a new wooden train, a half-size soccer field and more climbing-related playground equipment. The organization plans to apply for grants from the Eccles Foundation, as well as the Great Western Playground. Mayfield entrepreneur and landscape architect, Mike Barlow, has been brainstorming with the Lion’s Club to design the master plan.

(MANTI) – A former Fayette resident has been sentenced to prison for sexual abuse of the same 13-year old girl in both Sanpete County and Evanston, Wyoming. In 6th District Court, Donald Kitchell was sentenced to zero to five years in Sanpete County and a 2-6-year sentence in Wyoming, both to run concurrent. The victim’s father, who resides in Richfield, was not happy with the sentencing because the girl has an emotional tie with Kitchell and the abuse could continue after he’s released from prison. The girl’s father and mother are divorced, with her mother residing in Wyoming at which time she had a relationship with Kitchell. Sanpete County Attorney Ross Blackham said the abuse occurred in between 2009-2010 in Fayette and continued when the girl’s mother moved to Evanston. Blackham said plea agreements had already been made and couldn’t be changed. Kitchell is a retired officer from the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison and was arrested and charged in 2010 with rape of a minor.

(CAIRO)-KVOA-TV, Channel 4 in Tucson, Ariz. reports Cairo International Airport was a site of chaos Monday as thousands of foreigners sought to flee the unrest in Egypt and countries around the world scrambled to send in planes to fly their citizens out.

Eventually, the airport’s departures board stopped announcing flight times in an attempt to reduce tensions although the plane backfired, fueling passengers’ anger.

To compound matters, EgyptAir employees were unable to get to work due to a litany of traffic breakdowns across the Egyptian capital city which boasts nearly 8 million inhabitants.

A U.S. military plane landed at Larnaca International Airport in Larnaca, Cyprus while ferrying 42 U.S. Embassy officials and their dependents from Egypt.

The U.S. Embassy in Nicosia said at least one more plane was expected Monday with about 180 people.

About 800 Iraqis had left Cairo by Monday afternoon according to Captain Mohammed al-Moussawi, a crew member of the prime minister’s office.

He said flights would continue until all those who had desired to return had done so.

Generally, tourists and vacationers in Cairo are still in good shape, although Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Marcin Bosacki said food shortages were starting to be felt at Egyptian resorts and some restaurants were refusing to serve foreigners.

Bosacki says Polish airline LOT plans to fly to Cairo Tuesday to bring back Poles hoping to return, but added there was no immediate need for an evacuation.

(WASHINGTON)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports both of Utah’s senators are seeking to amend the U.S. Constitution to require Congress to balance the federal budget every year, although freshman Senator Mike Lee’s proposal cuts deeper than his colleague Orrin Hatch’s.

Despite their disagreement on technicalities, they say they both eye the same goal, to rein in spending and force the federal government to live within its means.

Hatch’s bill would force Washington to comply to a spending plan that would not top 20 percent of the gross national product, while Lee’s proposal would set such spending at 18 percent.

Meanwhile, Hatch’s amendment would permit Congress to override the balanced budget requirement if a majority of the House and Senate declare war or say an imminent national security alert exists.

Lee calls this a loophole and says his bill offers nothing comparable to that.

Thus far, Lee’s amendment proposal has attracted seven fellow GOP Senators as cosponsors while Hatch’s bill now carries 23 supporters.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-North Ogden Republican Senator Allen Christensen has proposed exempting mental health drugs and use some of the money saved, nearly $1 million worth according to some reports, to prop up budgets for county mental health clinics and restore emergency dental services for Medicaid patients during the Utah Legislature Friday.

His bill, SB137, would remove the exemption for anti-rejections drugs used by transplant patients.

While launched in 2008, the drug list has saved taxpayers millions by steering patients to lower cost but therapeutically-equivalent medicines.

In deciding which drugs to endorse, the Utah Drug Utilization Board weighs a medicine’s effectiveness, safety and cost.

County mental health centers throughout the state, which lose some $165,000 in expired federal stimulus money this year, support Christensen’s legislation of adding mental health drugs to the list although he is expecting some pushback from mental health advocates and the pharmaceutical industry.

Christensen, who is a pediatric dentist by trade, says patients can appeal to have their choice of drugs covered while the board, comprising doctors, pharmacists and the public, takes a patient’s unique physiology into consideration and often finds it in favor of the patient.

Monday, the Social Service Appropriations Subcommittee will take its first stab at the $1.8 billion program, voting on what to trim first.

(FAIRVIEW)-In the past few months, the Fairview Dance Hall has hosted numerous community events, ranging from theater rehearsals to a Christmas party.

The official dedication is slated for this Friday at 6:00 PM. Fairview City Planner Dave Taylor says city officials were seeking to create a “first-class” entertainment center which would attract performers and entertainers from throughout the country.

Eddie Cox, the chairman of the dance hall’s restoration committee said the building boasts a distinctive pioneer spirit.

Taylor said the labors that went into the building should ensure it will last for another 150 years.

For more information on the dance hall’s dedication, please visit our community bulletin board by clicking www.midutahradio.com/bulletin_board.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-During the Utah Legislature last week, state senators preliminarily approved a bill that would require out-of-state gun owners to obtain a concealed carry permit in their home state before applying for one in Utah.

Orem Senator John Valentine said some states have recently stopped recognizing Utah permits as they want to license their own residents.

Valentine’s bill, SB36, is designed to appease those states.

Utah is a hotbed for obtaining concealed weapons permits as its license is valid in 33 other states.

Senate President Michael Waddoups of Taylorsville said the state wants to be recognized as a leader in this field across the nation.

Nonresidents whose states do not issue gun permits could apply directly to Utah, knowing the license would not be good in their home state.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Washington Post reports former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman is expected to step down as U.S. Ambassador to China.

The Post has cited White House officials who say Huntsman will resign “in possible preparation” to run for president in 2012.

Prominent political publication Bloomberg has cited White House officials who say President Barack Obama has said Huntsman will resign in May.

The Post asserts Huntsman is considered a strong general election candidate but his service in Obama’s administration could make it more difficult to win in a primary.

(KINGMAN, Ariz.)-Some Arizona police officials showed their displeasure with changes at the Kingman (Ariz.) prison some six months after three inmates escaped which resuscitated a debate concerning private lockups in the state.

Arizona House Minority Leader Chad Campbell said more work was needed at the prison after Department of Corrections director Charles Ryan appeared at a legislative committee hearing last week concerning the July escapes of John McCluskey, Tracy Province and Daniel Renwick.

Mohave County (Ariz.) Supervisor Buster Johnson, a former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy who worked in jails said the escape in question was handled poorly as was the way the prison was operated.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who has long supported private prisons, said in a letter in late August, her support “has limits,” and said she was concerned with how the Kingman prison operates.

Last week, Arizona officials issued a revised proposal for 5,000 more private prison beds with bids due in late February.

After the Kingman escape, state officials pulled their original request while the new proposal entails numerous security requirements for perimeter fencing and sensor systems not included in the original request.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah legislators who are aggravated with federal control of lands across the state are proposing laws to challenge Washington’s policies.

A plan springing from Herriman Representative Carl Wimmer would void any federal land designation made without the Legislature’s approval while the bill is being reviewed by legislative attorneys.

Access to the disputed lands would be maintained by local sheriffs in whatever manner was necessary, Wimmer said.

Wimmer asserted the bill was prompted in large part by a December decision by U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to review millions of acres of undeveloped land in Utah for possible wilderness delegation.

House Minority Leader David Litvack of Salt Lake City said Wimmer’s proposal concerns him because of the implications this may present for police officers.

Parowan Senator Dennis Stowell said he will support Wimmer’s legislation as in some counties, the federal government owns as much as 90 percent of the land, he said.

Last year, legislators passed a law allowing the state to claim federal lands through eminent domain while it was backed with a $3 million defense fund.

Senate Minority Leader, Democrat Russ Romero of Salt Lake City, said the state’s leaders should focus on dialog with federal officials.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The original owner of the first Hires Big-H restaurants in Salt Lake City back in 1959 has died. Don Hale died of natural causes at the age of 93 at his home Saturday surrounded by his family. Hale was in the food business his entire life. Family sources said that he started working in the family grocery store when he was about 11 years old and loved the restaurant business. He worked at his unique restaurant chain into his late ‘80’s. Hires is still run by the Hale family and has several locations. The original store still has “car hop” service.

ORDERVILLE, Utah (AP)-Lance Maxwell had 26 points and Hayden Harris added 18 more as the Valley Buffaloes outlasted the Bryce Valley Mustangs, 71-66 Saturday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Jake Pearson had 22 points in the loss for Bryce Valley.

BOISE, Idaho (AP)-Brigham Young’s Mindy Robins placed first in the womens’ shot put and long jump to lead the way for numerous athletes scattered throughout the Intermountian West in Day 1 of the Jackson Invitational at Boise State University Friday.

Additionally, Eastern Washington’s Taymussa Miller placed first in the womens’ high jump while in the overall womens’ standings thus far, Eastern Washington and BYU are tied for first with 10 points apiece.

As for the men, Boise State’s Kurt Felix swept the long jump and shot put titles while Thomas Kappa of Eastern Washington placed first in the 60-meter dash. The meet will resume Saturday.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP)-Chantel Malone of Texas placed first in the womens’ long jump in headlining strong showings for athletes throughout the Southwest at the Razorback Invitational Friday at the University of Arkansas.

Other wins came from Arizona’ Julie Labonte who won the womens’ shot put and her teammate Brigetta Barrett earned the title in the high jump.

For the men, Luke Pinkelman of Nebraska placed first in the mens’ shot put while Texas’ Marquise Goodwin won the long jump.

Overall, Arkansas’ Terry Prentice is in first place in the mens’ heptathlon with 3,090 points while his teammate Kevin Lazas is in second with 3,077 points. Rounding out the top five are Texas’ Isaac Murphy, Matt Kirbos of Arkansas and Kenny Greaves of Texas. The meet will resume Saturday.

CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)-Taren Wright had 19 points and the Juab Wasps got past the Emery Spartans, 51-45 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action. Kash Jewkes had 14 points in the loss for Emery.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Kody Bailey stepped up with 12 points and the Manti Templars outlasted the Delta Rabbits, 51-47 in Region 12 boys basketball action Friday at the Palladium. Colin Christensen had 15 points in the loss for the Rabbits.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)-Eric Peterson amassed 19 points and the Richfield Wildcats stymied the North Sanpete Hawks, 57-45 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action. Rhett Bird had 17 points in the loss for North Sanpete.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Wade Barber had 14 points and the Millard Eagles shellacked the Cross Creek Bobcats, 59-25 in Region 13 boys basketball action Friday.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)-Tyler Roberts had 13 points and the Beaver Beavers outlasted the Enterprise Wolves, 51-45 Friday in Region 13 boys basketball action.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-Zach Wood paced a balanced scoring attack with 19 points as the Parowan Rams smoked the Kanab Cowboys, 91-65 in Region 13 boys basketball action Friday. Conor Corry had 19 points in defeat for Kanab.

GUNNISON, Utah (AP)-Jantz Jensen had 14 points to lead the Gunnison Bulldogs to a 56-44 win over the San Juan Broncos Friday in Region 15 boys basketball action.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Jarryn Skeete led the way with 28 points as the Wasatch Academy Tigers surged past the Liahona Warriors, 76-59 in Region 18 boys basketball action Friday.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Keri Brunson and Krystyn Stevens had 12 points apiece as the Millard Lady Eagles crushed the Cross Creek Lady Bobcats, 66-23 Friday in Region 13 girls basketball action.

BLANDING, Utah (AP)-Kelsi Meyer had 27 points as the San Juan Lady Broncos downed the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 57-40 in Region 15 girls basketball action Friday. Sara Brown’s 11 points paced Gunnison in the loss.

TROPIC, Utah (AP)-Whitni Syrett had 12 points for the Bryce Valley Lady Mustangs as they gashed the Milford Lady Tigers, 48-28 in Region 20 girls basketball action Friday.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)-Kalani Norris stepped up with 27 points as the Panguitch Lady Bobcats hammered the Valley Lady Buffaloes, 49-19 Friday in Region 20 girls basketball action. Nikki Milligan had 10 points in defeat for Valley.

ESCALANTE, Utah (AP)-Cassey Manzanares had 14 points for the Wayne Lady Badgers as they stonewalled Escalante, 50-32 in Region 20 girls basketball action Friday. Tori Lindsay had 17 points and nine boards in the loss for the Lady Moquis.

(PROVO) – A 4th District Court judge has denied a request by delegates in Utah House District 57 to vote in a special election set for Saturday night. Seven Cedar Hills residents, who are also Utah County GOP delegates, filed a lawsuit late Thursday, asking the Provo court to either let them vote in the special election or stop the election until a dispute over boundaries in the district can be settled. Judge Christine Johnson said she did not have judicial authority to rule in the case. The controversy centers on a faulty Utah County map that led voters and elected officials to believe they were living in and represented an area in Cedar Hills for the past decade but when then, four-term Rep. Craig Frank entered his address into a new House website, based on a state map, he saw another lawmaker’s name come up as his representative. Frank notified officials to keep his seat but gave up the fight when Lt. Gov. Greg Bell refused to seat him because he couldn’t represent a district in which he did not live. The Utah County Republican Party now plans to fill the vacancy by having 130 delegates select a new representative. Five people have filed to fill the seat.

(IRVINE, Calif.)-Friday, Taco Bell launched an advertising campaign fighting back against a lawsuit asserting the restaurant chain doesn’t use beef in its tacos.

The Irvine, Calif.-based fast food chain placed full-page print ads in Friday’s editions of the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times and other papers, as well as online ads to “set the record straight,” according to a statement by company president Greg Creed.

The print ads sarcastically thank those who have sued the company while stating the “truth” about the company’s seasoned beef.

A class-action lawsuit was filed last week in California federal court claiming Taco Bell falsely advertises its meat product as “beef.”

The suit asserts the national chain actually uses a meat mixture in its tacos and burritos that contains binders and extenders and doesn’t meet requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be actual beef.

The lawsuit, filed by Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles of Montgomery, Ala., doesn’t specify what percentage of the mixture is meat although the firm’s attorney, Dee Miles, said the firm had the product tested and found it contained less than 35 percent beef.

This is contrary to Taco Bell’s claim that 88 percent of the mixture is USDA-inspected beef while the rest consists of water, spices and a compilation of oats, starch and other ingredients that contribute to the “quality of its product.” The company claims it uses no extenders.

(KINGMAN, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports that one of three inmates who escaped from the Arizona State Prison in Kingman, Ariz. is scheduled for sentencing Friday.

Earlier this month, Tracy Province pleaded guilty to Arizona felony charges of escaped, kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated robbery and misconduct with weapons.

Later, Province will be sent to New Mexico after he’s sentenced on the Arizona charges while he faces capital murder and carjacking charges in the deaths of an Oklahoma couple near Albuquerque, N.M.

Last August, Province was captured in northwestern Wyoming after he dropped by for Sunday services at a church and was captured after chatting with a woman who recognized him.

Province had previously been serving a life sentence for murder and robbery when he escaped.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports Utah Governor Gary Herbert believes the state is late to the discussion concerning whether they should turn to nuclear power and should not shrink from the debate.

During his monthly news conference on KUED-TV Channel 7, Herbert said if Utahns are serious about having affordable energy and cleaner air and energy production, nuclear power must be discussed.

Herbert also called the debate on nuclear power a prominent platform for an issue the governor has said he is open to since taking office during his State of the State Address Wednesday evening.

A draft of Herbert’s 10-year energy blueprint, which will soon be due for finalization, says nuclear power is worth consideration but isn’t a realistic option within the next decade.

The report said nuclear power’s feasibility will depend on such components as water, waste disposal, transmission and the economics of new power plants.

Kanab Representative Mike Noel, the chairman of the House Public Utilities and Technology Committee, said he was ecstatic that the governor is putting nuclear power into play.

Noel said he thinks the Legislature has already cleared a path for nuclear power in the state as in 2009, lawmakers designed nuclear power as a renewable energy, qualifying it for state tax breaks.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Wednesday, three Mexican nationals in the U.S. illegally were arrested for allegedly making fake IDs.

All three were arrested by the Utah Attorney General’s Office after being caught in the act of making fake ID transactions in northern Utah.

Enrique Barajas-Solis was followed by investigators for at least six hours after making several stops through the Salt Lake Valley as he was selling fake IDs, according to a Salt Lake County jail report.

Detectives say Barajas-Solis has been deported and returned to the border “multiple times.”

The others, Hector Sanchez-Abundio (who was making several fake ID transactions and carrying several fake IDs when being stopped by investigators) and Maria Guadalupe-Lopez (the “driver” for the man running the IDs), who was a “lookout” while the transactions and sales were made.

All three were arrested for investigation of racketeering and multiple counts of forgery.

Sanchez also had a bench warrant out for investigation of pornography distribution.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Delegates in a disputed House district are asking a judge to stop a scheduled election unless they are allowed to participate.

Delegate Karen Herd says the lawsuit, filed Thursday in 4th District Court, would also allow candidates living in the disputed House District 57 area to be considered.

Herd says eight delegates and former Cedar Hills Representative Crag Frank have been in District 57 for up to 10 years until an error in county election maps discovered earlier this month made them residents of a neighboring district.

Herd hopes that sometime Friday, a judge will issue a ruling.

A special election to replace Frank is slated for Saturday.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Thursday at the Utah Legislature, an Orem senator proposed changes to the state’s liquor laws so hotel guests can order single drinks in their rooms.

Republican Senator John Valentine said in a post on the Senate Majority’s Web site his bill would increase the number of liquor licenses for restaurants.

The changes would not increase liquor licenses in the state while the proposal may allow some licenses to be sold privately instead of the state handling all distribution.

Valentine said taverns will need to use electronic scanners to verify patrons’ ages while other bars and restaurants already use these scanners.

A separate House bill increasing restaurant licenses could be debated on the House floor as early as today.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Thursday, a pair of gun-related bills moved on to the House in the Utah Legislature.

H.B. 223, sponsored by Orem Representative Stephen Sandstrom, would make it illegal to deny lodging to someone carrying a legally permitted firearm, met some opposition in the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice committee while the main point of debate was property owners’ rights versus the right to bear arms.

This bill would not infringe upon hotel owners’ rights because rights are transferred to the renter, Sandstrom said.

After hearing criticism from other lawmakers, Sandstrom said he’d be willing to amend the bill for more specificity.

The other bill, H.B. 214, sponsored by Curt Oda of Clearfield, would decrease the price of a concealed weapons permit by $5.25 while also increasing the renewal fee by $5.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-According to a report in the Washington Post Thursday, evidence exists former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. may throw his hat into the ring for the next U.S. presidential race.

The newspaper reported a team of political operatives and fundraisers have begun informal talks and outreach to ensure Huntsman has a base should he decide to run.

The field for a presumptive GOP candidate still remains wide open.

Huntsman has generally kept the possibility of a national bid under wraps but the Post writes the breadth of the team that has formed to prepare for the possibility of a run implies he is quite serious.

The list includes well-known GOP fundraisers, several former advisers to John McCain and several locals, such as Zions Bank CEO Scott Anderson.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Under legislation from a Richfield-based representative which was discussed Thursday at the Utah Legislature, death row inmates would have fewer chances to delay executions.

Representative Kay McIff is seeking to limit the number of court petitions murderers, such as Ronnie Lee Gardner, who died via firing squad last June, could file after conviction.

McIff’s H.B. 202 would allow room for newly discovered evidence or other potentially meritorious claims to be made which could not be reasonably dealt with before the execution date.

McIff said the idea is to bring closure to cases more quickly in order to prevent families of victims from suffering.

Utah assistant attorney general Tom Brunker, who handles capital cases for the state, could not estimate the cost for numerous appeals but said he put three months’ worth of work into the two months prior to Gardner’s execution.

Currently, Utah has nine men on death row.

(CEDAR CITY) – A Cedar City man has invented a device that tunes in wanted radio waves and tunes out unwanted signals. Daniel Weber said current receivers only tune out unwanted signals but his device goes a step further. Weber calls his device the “Selective Sampling Receiver” and in trying to explain its potential better, he said it’s like trying to see with cataracts. He said his device can help see much more of what’s out there than what we can get today. Weber said airplane pilots could navigate better in bad weather and weather forecasters could use radar-mapping much more effectively in predicting weather patterns. He said his device has attracted the attention of the FBI. Weber has had a long-time interest in radio waves and has already received a patent for this invention, with a second still pending. He would like corporate partners to help bring his device to public use.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)-Kelton Price led the way with 28 points and the Piute Thunderbirds bested the Bryce Valley Mustangs, 62-56 Thursday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Kace Roundy had 26 points in the loss for the Mustangs.

ORDERVILLE, Utah (AP)-Lance Maxwell had 28 points and the Valley Buffaloes decimated the Escalante Moquis, 89-40 in Region 20 boys basketball action Thursday. Tyler Hughes had 18 points in defeat for the Moquis.

MILFORD, Utah (AP)-Dylan Jones posted 24 points as the Milford Tigers got past the Wayne Badgers, 53-45 Thursday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Ty Rees had 10 points in the loss for Wayne.

MANTI, Utah (AP)-Kaity Diaz had 20 points as the Delta Lady Rabbits waxed the Manti Lady Templars, 56-42 in Region 12 girls basketball action Thursday. Mandee Christensen had 18 points in the loss for Manti.

NEPHI, Utah (AP)-Tessa Bradford keyed a balanced scoring attack with 14 points as the Juab Lady Wasps edged the Emery Lady Spartans, 39-35 Thursday in Region 12 girls basketball action.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Megan Bean posted 15 points and the Richfield Lady Wildcats ousted the North Sanpete Lady Hawks, 56-51 in Region 12 girls basketball action Thursday. Taylor Gordon amassed 22 points and nine boards in the loss for the Lady Hawks.

ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)-Tressa Lyman stepped up with 25 points and 10 rebounds and the Enterprise Lady Wolves gashed the Beaver Lady Beavers, 48-38 Thursday in Region 13 girls basketball action. Hannahlynn Snyder and Lexi Moss had 12 points apiece in defeat for Beaver.

PAROWAN, Utah (AP)-Rickie Warr had 14 points and the Parowan Lady Rams edged the Kanab Cowgirls, 44-41 in Region 13 girls basketball action Thursday. The aptly-named Whitney Houston had nine points in defeat for Kanab.

(NACO, Ariz.)-ABC 15 in Phoenix reports drug smugglers seeking to get marijuana across the Arizona-Mexico border are apparently trying a new approach to stymie U.S. Border Service officials, a catapult.

National Guard troops operating a remote video surveillance system at the Naco, Ariz. Border Patrol station say they observed several people preparing a catapult and launching packages over the International Border fence last Friday evening.

Additional reporting from KVOA-TV, Channel 4 in Tucson, Ariz. confirms Border Patrol agents working with the National Guard contacted Mexican authorities, who went to the location and disrupted the catapult operation.

The smugglers fled the premises before they could be captured, but Mexican officials seized about 45 pounds of marijuana, an SUV and the catapult.

Naco is located about 80 miles southeast of Tucson.

(MESQUITE, Nev.)-Wednesday, Mesquite, Nev. city officials said councilwoman Donna Fairchild shot her husband about an hour before calling 911 to report she planned to kill herself.

Officials said the situation spiraled downward in the early morning hours Tuesday when Fairchild dropped a box off at her friend’s house.

Around 4:20 a.m. PST, she sent an e-mail to a friend, implying a box was left at the house for Fairchild’s mother.

Dispatchers received a 911 call at 4:33 a.m. PST from Fairchild, who gave them her address, noted the door would be unlocked and said she would be “post-suicide,” officials said.

By 10:00 p.m. PST Monday evening, Hunt and Fairchild had agreed to meet the next afternoon with the mayor and city council to tender her resignation.

Fairchild and her husband, Bill, had been married for 21 years and they moved to Mesquite after they retired from the Denver Police Department in 1999.

A toxicology report from the Clark County (Nev.) Coroner’s Office could take four to six weeks to be completed, authorities said. Fairchild

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports the state Senate passed two bills Wednesday seeking to solve problems caused by Utah’s allocation of rights to more water than normally exists.

The problem rests in the fact that this has caused permanent groundwater tables to lower in certain areas.

The sponsor of the bills, Representative Dennis Stowell of Parowan, said these water rights ought to be bought back by the state.

One of Stowell’s bills, SB10, allows the formation of local districts to impose taxes that would raise sufficient revenue to buy the rights.

His other bill, SB20, would permit the use of floodwater to help recharge groundwater in some districts.

Both bill will now proceed to the House.

(Manti) Manti’s high school drill team took first place overall for 3-A in the Region Drill Team Competition on Wednesday at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield. Richfield came in second, and Juab took third place overall. In 2-A it was South Sevier taking first place overall, with Gunnison in second, and Grand taking third place. Teams competed in three categories including Military, Dance, and Kick.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-During Wednesday’s Utah Legislature session, Orem Representative Stephen Sandstrom, known primarily for his strong stance against illegal immigration, took on limiting phosphorous in detergents sold in the state.

Sandstrom says treatment plants can now remove phosphorous, reducing the environmental benefits of a limit and that removing the nutrient can cause spotty dishes with a white film.

Utah Division of Water Quality director Walt Baker says phosphorus can cause significant algae growth which potentially may reduce habitats for fishes, give drinking water a foul taste and make rivers, streams and lakes murky.

Baker also says phosphorus softens the water, while hard water causes spots and film.

Utah is currently one of 17 states that limits phosphorus content.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-After hearing propitious words concerning education during Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s State of the State address Wednesday evening, state educators are hopeful in educational growth occurring.

Herbert’s remarks drew applause from legislators and teachers alike, who worried about looming cuts coming to the state’s education funds and the notion that perhaps educators would have to do more with less.

The Utah PTA also realizes this is only the beginning of the legislative session, while there is still plenty of time for budget cuts to be made to education.

Incidentally, Herbert also said the state is well on its way to economic recovery, much to the delight of everyone in attendance.

More information will be forthcoming as the Legislature resumes.

(PROVO)-Three southern Utah County newspapers, each of which are owned by the Provo Daily Herald, have been shut down Wednesday in what the Herald calls ” a strategic move” to enhance its core news brand.

Workers at the Springville Herald, Spanish Fork Press and Nebo Reporter were notified of the paradigm shift around 1:00 p.m., after what will now be the final editions of these papers went to press.

Overall, eight employees were laid off due to the changes.

Daily Herald president and publisher Rona Rhalf said closing the weekly papers is a ploy to give more content to readers scattered throughout Utah County’s southern portions.

The Daily Herald says they plan to continue publishing the Pyramid and the Pyramid Shopper in Sanpete County, according to the paper’s Web site.

Wednesday, former Daily Herald publisher Kirk Parkinson said the closures were unfortunate, but unsurprising.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A bill which would permit advertising on the sides of public school buses was approved by a House Committee Wednesday at the Utah Legislature.

The bill, H.B. 199, is sponsored by Representative Jim Bird of West Jordan, who believes ads on buses could potentially raise up to $3 million in revenue, funds that would be given to school districts to be used at their discretion.

Bird asserts revenue the ads can rake in may help resuscitate programs schools have been forced to cut due to budget restrictions, such as bus routes along hazardous walking areas, without raising taxes.

The bill will not permit any ads that feature traffic-control devices, while they must also be “age-appropriate.” In other words, no ads promoting alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling or sexual material or content would be allowed.

Lawmakers sought to pass a comparable bill last year, but the House killed it after concerns arose about kids’ vulnerability and other safety issues.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-As the Utah Legislature resumed Wednesday, an 89-year-old error on the state’s flag was discussed while resolution to correct the mistake is underway.

The official state flag, which was adopted in 1911, has the year “1847”on the shield, which is the year Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints president Brigham Young brought the Saints to what is now called Utah.

A hand-stitched flag commissioned in 1922 inadvertently placed the year before the shield and since that time, flag companies have promulgated the error.

Legislation to correct the flag has been spearheaded by Representative Julie Fisher of Fruit Heights, while her HCR2 was approved by the House Government Operations Committee Wednesday.

The bill will call for flag companies to make new flags following the template of the original, Fisher said.

Originally, amateur historian Ron Fox brought the mistake to the state’s attention after finding a 1903 flag in a mislabeled box at the state’s Historical Society.

The Utah Legislature declared this version as the official flag in 1911.

Fisher’s resolution now goes to the House floor for consideration.

(ELSINORE) – A Richfield woman was taken to the hospital with injuries Wednesday afternoon after rolling on I-70 near the Elsinore exit. According to a UHP report, 45-year old Theresa McTee was traveling eastbound in a 1995 Saturn SL-2, when she drifted off the left shoulder of the highway, overcorrected and crossed both lanes of travel and rolled into the median at about 3:30pm. McTee was wearing her seatbelt and was transported to the Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-John Terrel had 20 points and Brandon Jenson added 19 more as the Kanab Cowboys stymied the Beaver Beavers, 71-64 Wednesday in Region 13 boys basketball action. Braxton Williams had 14 points in the loss for Beaver.

PAROWAN, Utah (AP)-Zach Wood amassed 30 points and 16 boards and the Parowan Rams bested the Millard Eagles, 65-54 in Region 13 boys basketball action Wednesday. Jesse Rhodes and Joel Swallow combined for 45 points in defeat for Millard.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Race Parsons had 33 points as the South Sevier Rams got past the North Sevier Wolves, 65-58 Wednesday in Region 13 boys basketball action. Jaden Gurney’s 21 points bolstered North Sevier in defeat.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Jarryn Skeete keyed a balanced scoring attack with 16 points and the Wasatch Academy Tigers pummeled the Tintic Miners, 77-27 in Region 18 boys basketball action Wednesday.

ESCALANTE, Utah (AP)-Kennedy Netto had 16 points as the Milford Lady Tigers stymied the Esclante Lady Moquis, 46-31 Wednesday in Region 20 girls basketball action. Lindsey Phillips had nine points in the loss for Escalante.

TROPIC, Utah (AP)-Whitni Syrett had 20 points and the Bryce Valley Lady Mustangs edged the Panguitch Lady Bobcats, 52-51 in Region 20 girls basketball action Wednesday. Kalani Norris had 23 points in the loss for Panguitch.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)-Kandice and Kierra Gleave had 10 points apiece as the Piute Lady Thunderbirds mowed over the Valley Lady Buffaloes, 51-34 Wednesday in Region 20 girls basketball action. Kyra Milligan had nine points in the loss for Valley.

(RICHFIELD) – A Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant was approved today at the Sevier County Commission meeting. County Emergency Preparedness Director John Hunt said the $3200 grant will be used to improve training for county personnel. Hunt said the county’s responsibility includes a 20% participation in the grant program.

(KINGMAN, Ariz.)-KVOA-TV, Channel 4 in Tucson, Ariz. reports the trial for one of three men who escaped from a Kingman, Ariz. state prison and their alleged accomplice has been delayed.

A Mohave County (Ariz.) judge granted a defense request for a 60-day continuance.

John McCluskey’s attorney had said he didn’t believe his client’s case would be ready by the February 15 trial date.

The new trial date for McCluskey and Casslyn Welch is April 19.

Authorities say Welch helped McCluskey, Tracy Province and Daniel Renwick escape from the state prison at Kingman lat July by throwing cutting tools over a fence.

Province has pleaded guilty to charges of escape, kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated assault, according to Arizona law.

He is scheduled for sentencing Friday.

The triumvirate also face capital murder charges, stemming from the deaths of an Oklahoma couple near Albuquerque, N.M.

(MESQUITE, Nev.)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports a Mesquite, Nev. city councilwoman who was a former police officer in Denver, was found dead.

A city statement says police found the bodies of Donna and Bill Fairchild before dawn Tuesday at their home.

Both had received a single gunshot wound but Mesquite City spokesman Bryan Dangerfield says it’s presumptuous to call the deaths a “murder-suicide” until a Clark County (Nev.) coroner’s investigation.

Dangerfield said a Tuesday council meeting went on as scheduled, with a moment of silence to honor Donna Fairchild.

The meeting agenda shows she faced removal as the city’s delegate to the regional Nevada Development Authority business organization.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports an Arizona law enforcement official says there were no obvious signs of foul play found with the body of a man found outdoors after Utah family members reported he had been missing for several days.

Tuesday, the St. George Spectrum stated the body of 34-year-old Jeremy Wade Utter was found near Fredonia, Ariz. Sunday.

Fredonia Police Department Marshal Dan Watson told the Spectrum an autopsy will be conducted in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Cedar City resident Brandi Slack says her brother disappeared Wednesday night after telling family members he planned to go to Flagstaff.

Family members say he suffered from bipolar disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in addition to being a drug addict.

Presently, they believe Utter may have fallen prey to cold temperatures.

(DENVER)-Being perpetually frustrated with the federal government’s failure and reticence to enact immigration reform, a recent report asserts states passed a record number of immigration-related bills in 2010.

The study, conducted by the Denver-based National Conference of State Legislatures, reported immigration was on the agenda for every state that met in regular session in 2010.

The District of Columbia and 46 state legislatures passed 346 immigration-related laws and resolutions while considering 1,400.

In 2009, 44 states enacted 333 laws and resolutions.

Ann Morse, the director of NCSL’s Immigration Policy Project, expects 2011 will be another record breaker during an interview she had with the Seattle Times.

(PROVO)-Before Brigham Young’s big matchup against undefeated and Top 5 conference opponent San Diego State, the national media afforded Cougars star Jimmer Fredette a great opportunity to appear on a popular evening program on ESPN.

Late Tuesday, Fredette was a guest on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption program, which features veteran journalists Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon.

Fredette, who is receiving serious consideration for the James Naismith player of the year award, an honor given to the top mens’ and womens’ Division I college basketball players in the country, said he compares himself to the Utah Jazz’ Deron Williams in body type and has sought to implement some of Williams’ skills into his own repertoire.

Fredette will have other opportunities to excel in the public eye as some 24 NBA scouts are expected to be in attendance Wednesday for the bout featuring two Top 10 teams, while the Cougars are seeking to snap the San Diego State Aztecs’ 20-game winning streak, the longest in the country.

In closing, Fredette told Kornheiser and Wilbon he is both excited and nerve-racked for the game, calling it one of the biggest games in the short history of the Mountain West Conference.

(LOGAN)-Utah State University officials are seeking to build a 28,000-square foot athletic center they say will serve as a practice and gaming facility.

The Utah Board of Regents signed off on the proposed facility, but the Legislature must approve the planning, design and construction.

Wednesday, the Logan Herald-Journal reported regents say the facility would also consist of office space and training rooms while also being used for practices and possibly women’s basketball or volleyball games.

USU athletics director Scott Barnes says the facility is expected to cost $7.5 million in private donations.

The proposal was sent to lawmakers as a Non-State Funded Capital Development Request.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Tuesday, the University of Utah recognized five of its most illustrious inventors, including Richard Brown, who was responsible for the University’s 5000th invention, a “smart food tray,” in 1965.

Other inventors honored included Glenn Prestwich, a medicinal chemistry who serves as a special presidential assistant for faculty entrepreneurism.

The latest of Prestwich’s 52 events was a new use for a therapeutic gel he helped develop which can now be used to treat skin diseases via cell therapy.

University of Utah President Michael K. Young said he has tried to work with Utah’s business community during his tenure, encouraging faculty to move their ideas from the lab to the marketplace.

In that time, the university has spun off 185 companies, creating 7,000 jobs with a total payroll of $300 million, Young said.

Other inventors recognized Tuesday included pharmacy professor Joseph Andrade, mechanical engineering professor Stephen Jacobson, who helped design Jurassic Park’s robotic dinosaurs and biology professor Baldomera Olivera.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Governor Gary Herbert has declared January as Radon Action Month in the state.

Radon is a radioactive, colorless and odorless gas that seeps into people’s homes and carries dangerous consequences.

Christine Keyser, the radon program coordinator for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality said radon may seep into homes and get trapped inside.

The U.S. Surgeon General has also issued a warning, stating radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking.

The EPA estimates radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year.

According to the Division of Radiation Control, approximately 30 percent of homes in Utah have an elevated radon level.

Sadly, not many Utahns have tested their homes for radon, studies show.

This is particularly dangerous due to the fact that many Utah children sleep in basements, where radon levels can be at their highest.

The state has made it easy and inexpensive for homeowners to test their homes for radon levels as Utahns can do a do-it-yourself radon test kit for a discount price of $6, which includes laboratory analysis, by going to www.radon.utah.gov.

The state says this is the best time of year to test for radon as the substance has higher levels in winter than other times.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Out-of-state gun owners seeking a concealed weapons permit in Utah would first have to obtain a license in their home states, according to a bill approved in a Senate Committee at the Utah Legislature Tuesday.

Orem Senator John Valentine said Nevada and New Mexico recently decided to no longer recognize Utah’s concealed carry permit due to the lack of a gun proficiency test in the application process.

To keep more states from jumping ship, Valentine is sponsoring SB36, which would require nonresidents of any given state to first have their firearms registered in their home state.

The judiciary committee gave the bill a favorable recommendation and it now moves to the Senate floor.

Lawmakers are also considering a bill which would lower the concealed weapons permit fee by $5.25, making it $29.75, while HB214, sponsored by Representative Curt Oda of Clearfield, would also raise the renewal fee by $5, making it $15.

Oda said he is proposing the change because new applications aren’t as expensive to process as the current change while renewals are more expensive than is currently charged.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-According to a new study conducted by Zion’s Bank, one conclusion implies Utahns have an above average attitude concerning the present economic downturn.

The study, which is attempting to quantify attitudes about the economy and provide a basis for comparison with the nation and earlier times.

Few people would immediately understand what it means when the Consumer Attitude Index is said to be 76.2 although the number captures what many Utahns believe about the economy.

The survey was done by the Cicero Group/Dan Jones & Associates, while 500 Utahns were surveyed.

The findings reveal only 22 percent believe current business conditions are “good” while 94 percent believe jobs are “hard to get” or “not so plentiful.”

However, only 8 percent of the economy will get worse, while 38 percent believe it will get better.

The survey found similar, mildly positive expectations for jobs and income levels.

The Consumer Confidence Index has been routinely calculated for the nation in surveys by The Conference Board.

Currently, Zions Bank is introducing a local version, the Utah Consumer Attitude Index, which is expected to become a routine way of measuring the state’s confidence in the economy.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah students are ahead of their peers nationally when it comes to science, according to data released Tuesday.

The study, done by the National Center for Education Statistics, shows fourth graders scored an average of five points higher than the national average on the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress science tests while eighth graders scored an average of nine points higher than their national counterparts.

There were only 11 states performing “substantially better” than Utah when comparing 4th grade students while five stood above Utah in the 8th grade category.

Utah students are also on par nationally concerning the performance of both Caucasian and Hispanic students, 32 points in 4th grade and 35 points in 8th grade.

However, the gap between students who receive free and reduced-price lunch and those who don’t, remains smaller than the national average with 23 points in 4th grade and 21 points in 8th grade.

This NAEP test was given to a statistical sampling of Utah 4th and 8th-grade students.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Tuesday at the Utah Legislature, the House passed a bill allowing the sale of a new type of firework as well as changing the time frame in which Utahns can use fireworks.

The proposed “cake” fireworks would create colorful displays and possibly exceed 15 feet in height.

They have also been tested with the state fire marshal and would not present any unreasonable risks, according to Representative James Dunnigan of Taylorsville.

This bill, HB22, would delay the fireworks purchase date to June 26 from June 19 and residents would be able to use them from June 26, rather than the current starting day of July 1, until July 26.

Dunnigan also said legalizing additional fireworks would cause the state to net more revenue.

The bill now moves to the Senate for approval.

(RICHFIELD) – Chickens will officially have a new home within the Richfield City limits. The City Council approved the raising of chickens within the city limits at their council meeting Tuesday night. The vote was 3-1 on approving amending the ordinance to include the raising of chickens in the city, with Councilmember Bryan Burrows, voting against, Burrows commented that anybody can go around the city and see all kinds of farm animals being raised. He said by amending the ordinance, it sets a precedent to increase more farm animals within the city limits. The ordinance change allows residents to house up to 25 chickens and excludes roosters, along with other farm animals already prohibited in the ordinance.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Robert Torgerson had 16 points and the Richfield Wildcats bested the Delta Rabbits, 55-45 Tuesday at the Palladium in Region 12 boys basketball action. Colin Christensen and Kyle Church had 13 points apiece in defeat for Delta.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Krystyn Stevens had 18 points for the Millard Lady Eagles as they got past the Parowan Lady Rams, 56-49 in Region 13 girls basketball action Tuesday.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)-Brittney Blackner and Lexi Moss had 11 points apiece and the Beaver Lady Beavers ousted the Kanab Cowgirls, 42-36 Tuesday in Region 13 girls basketball action.

MONROE, Utah (AP)-Shaylie Mason had 12 points and the North Sevier Lady Wolves edged the South Sevier Lady Rams, 49-48 in Region 13 girls basketball action Tuesday. Kayla King had 26 points to lead all scorers for the Lady Rams.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – The U.S. House Republican Conference has ratified Rep. Jason Chaffetz to the House Committee on the Budget today. Chaffetz said he was thrilled with the appointment and is looking forward to working with Chairman Ryan and his other colleagues on the committee. Committee members promise to reign in government spending, balance the federal budget and pay down the national debt. Chaffetz also serves on the House Oversight, Government Reform and Judiciary Committees.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports border patrol agents have seized more than one ton of marijuana that was abandoned by smugglers near the Arizona-Mexico border.

Authorities say the seized marijuana is valued at about $1.7 million.

Agents assigned to the Tucson Sector’s Ajo, Ariz. station detected a group of suspected illegal immigrants last Friday night on the Santa Rosa Mountains east of the Lukeville, Ariz. port of entry.

They searched the area and found 1,073 pounds of marijuana left on the ground.

In a second incident early Sunday, agents located a stolen truck abandoned near Arizona S.R. 85 containing 1,041 pounds of marijuana.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports Pima County (Ariz.) elections officials say a Salt Lake City man who wants to lead a recall of Sheriff Clarence Dupnik can do so legally.

County Elections Director Brad Nelson said his office informed Americans Against Amnesty leader Don Baltes he is able to lead the recall move.

The situation was unclear last week when the recall effort was announced if someone who resides outside of Pima County could start up a recall against a county official.

Baltes said he started the recall after hearing reports of frustration and anger from people concerning Dupnik’s statements after the Tucson, Ariz. shootings January 8.

Nelson told the Arizona Daily Star Baltes has filed the appropriate paperwork and he can now gather signatures on recall petitions.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Houston-based Chevron Inc. is planning to restart its Colorado-to Salt Lake City pipeline as soon as next week, only two months after the second of two large leaks within a span of six months, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Regulators have yet to sign off, but Chevron spokesman Mickey Driver intends to submit papers as soon as Tuesday.

However, in an e-mail last week, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration had little to say about restoring the pipeline to service.

Driver noted oil still reaches the company’s refinery on Beck Street near Interstate 15 notwithstanding the fact the company’s Red Butte creek pipeline in Salt Lake City’s eastern sector has been shut down, saying it flows to eastern Utah’s Hanna, where it is later hauled to the plant by tanker trucks.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Monday during the state Legislature, a House committee voted 9-2 to endorse a bill declaring inventor John Moses Browning’s M1911 handgun as the official Utah firearm.

However, Steven Gunn, a board member of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah, says the measure sends the wrong message to Utah and the world, especially in light of the January 8 shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz.

Only Democratic representatives Jennifer Seelig of Salt Lake City and Marie Poulson of Cottonwood Heights opposed the bill in the House Political Subdivisions Committee.

The impetus of the bill, Herriman’s Carl Wimmer said he does not view the gun as a symbol of death but as one of honor for Browning, an inventor who was instrumental in Utah’s early history and devised 128 gun patents.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert also honored Browning, saying he is one of the great entrepreneurs in the state’s history.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-During the Utah Legislature Monday, Governor Gary Herbert announced the appointment of Sherene Terry Dillon as a judge in the 2nd District Juvenile Court in a news release.

Dillon, an attorney with 25 years of experience in juvenile law, currently works for the state Office of the Guardian Ad litem, which represents the interests of children in court.

Previously, she has handled abuse, neglect cases, and parental rights termination cases among other issues.

Dillon graduated from Brigham Young University with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees and has also earned a law degree from BYU’s J.Reuben Clark School of Law.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Monday, Utah Representative Becky Lockhart was officially sworn in as the first female speaker of the House in state history at the Legislature.

Shortly thereafter, Lockhart paid tribute to Martha Hughes Cannon, a Utahn and the country’s first female state senator in 1896.

Lockhart said she expects lively debate and may receive it as she presides over a divided Republican caucus, primarily concerning the issue of illegal immigration.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt said the tragic shooting in Tucson, Ariz. earlier this month reminds us there still needs to be a lot done to avoid such incidents in our country.

Leavitt, who was the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services at the time in 2007, undertook a crash course to understand mass killings with several colleagues after an incident at Blacksburg, Va.-based Virginia Tech where a student killed 32 others.

One recommendation Leavitt suggested involved plugging a considerable gap in mental health care, following two decades in which the mentally ill were moved out of institutions.

Leavitt also said educators, health care workers and law enforcement officials fear being held liable under the strict health privacy law that currently exists.

In closing, he said some progress has been made, but there is sufficient evidence confirming efforts should be redoubled.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Distribution Services division will close approximately a dozen stores in 2011 with additional stores slated to shut down in the next few years.

The materials, including sacred clothing, will now be sold at nearby Deseret Book company stores.

A statement from LDS Distribution Services, released Monday, states shopping convenience and more efficient use of resources were major reasons for this new agreement between the Church and Deseret Book Company.

Consolidations will begin with Distribution Service stores in Logan, Midvale, Orem, Spanish Fork and Pocatello, Idaho.

In 2009, six Deseret Book stores were redesigned to include the sale of Church-produced materials and products.

Employees of Distribution Service stores being closed will be offered a voluntary severance package or assigned other work.

Church members will continue to be able to purchase products through the new online Distribution Services store, which offers free shipping.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Monday morning, emotions at Utah’s state Capitol ran high when focus at the state Legislature shifted to redistricting issues in Cedar Hills.

Cedar Hills resident and District 57 representative Craig Frank found out he lived outside his district last week while he, and his neighbors, strenuously advocated for district boundaries to be redrawn.

Should lawmakers redraw the lines, Frank could run for his old seat but the deadline for this is Thursday.

When the Legislature reconvened, the House read Frank’s name as part of the roster, although they later noted he had resigned and his seat was vacant.

Senate President Michael Waddoups of Taylorsville is not in favor of this legislation originating in the Senate and would prefer discussing the issue with the House before they move forward.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – The Secretary of the Interior has announced several public meetings to gather comments on a comprehensive environmental analysis to identify “solar energy zones” on public lands. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, along with Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, said they hope the meetings will help identify public lands most suitable for environmentally sound, utility-scale solar energy production. A detailed study, known as the Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, was compiled over the past two years as part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to create a framework for developing renewable energy in the right way and in the right places. In Utah, the meetings will be held March 9 at 7pm at the Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites in Cedar City and in Salt Lake City, March 10 at 7pm at the Hampton Inn & Suites.

(CEDAR CITY) – The founder of the Utah Shakespeare Festival is celebrating his 80th birthday this Sunday. Family sources said that Fred C. Adams is inviting the public to his birthday party this Saturday from 3-6pm at the Southern Utah University (SUU) in the J. Reuben Clark Jr. Alumni House in Cedar City. The party, hosted by the Adams family as well as Adams’ “Festival Family”, will feature refreshments. The family says that attendees don’t need to bring gifts. Adams’ four children and their families will attend the party. Festival Communications Director Bruce Lee said that Adams was a visionary for over 50 years in overseeing the Festival.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The opening day of the 2011 Utah Legislature began Monday with political maneuvering as the state’s 104 part-time legislators got down to business. The 45-day session began with setting a budget and hashing out a passel of illegal immigration bills. Rep. Kay McIff of Richfield said he hopes some consensus can be achieved in the debate. The day opened with prayers, choirs and speeches at the state Capitol but the congenial tones of the morning pomp and circumstances soon gave way to discussion over upcoming bills. Legislators are voting down any tax increases and are looking for ways to cut spending and increase revenues. Senate President Michael Waddoups of Taylorsville told colleagues to leave a mark on history during the session.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – Authorities are saying that parents need to be more diligent in tracking what’s popping up on their kid’s new tech toys. Experts say in this age of new technology, children could find porn on mobile devices, including Smartphones and iPads. A 15-year old high school student and a female classmate say that parents don’t need to worry because it’s difficult to get porn on cell phones. Some high school students counter that people can Google on iPhones and get the Internet. Ken Knapton, author of “Cyber Safety: Maintaining Morality in a Digital World”, says porn purveyors are more aggressive than they’ve ever been. Knapton says that kids will tell their parents that they’re not viewing porn on their mobile devices but in most cases, they actually are.

(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County deputies are investigating reports of suspicious calls to residents over the weekend. Deputies say the calls from an unknown person indicate that there’s a discrepancy in a person’s payment to court and then ask for personal information, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and driver’s license information. Deputies also say the calls were made just before or after midnight in each incident. Officials say that courts don’t call people to furnish personal information. Deputies say that if you get such a call, hang up and alert authorities.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-KGUN-TV, Channel 9 in Tucson, Ariz. reports that while 22-year-old shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner appeared in federal court in Phoenix Monday, prosecutors in the case are asking for a change of venue.

The U.S. Attorney for Arizona filed this case late Sunday while the filing says the case should be sent back to Tucson, Loughner’s hometown, because all victims and witnesses live in the Pima County (Ariz.) area.

Local rules also require a crime that occurs in the court’s Tucson region should be tried in the city.

Loughner is charged with attempted assassination of a member of Congress and trying to kill two federal employees. Additional federal and state charges are expected.

The case was originally moved to Phoenix because one of the six who were killed, U.S. District Judge John Roll, was based in Tucson.

(HOUSTON)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports the Houston hospital treating Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords said her condition is improving daily, although doctors are giving no updates on the buildup of brain fluid that has kept her in intensive care.

A statement released by the Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center Sunday afternoon asserted Giffords would continue to receive therapy in the intensive care unit until physicians determine “she is ready for transfer” to a full rehabilitation program.

Doctors have inserted a temporary tube to drain fluid from Giffords’ brain and stated brain fluid buildup is a common problem associated with head injuries, such as the one she incurred when shot in the head by 22-year-old Jared Loughner January 8 in Tucson, Ariz.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-The Arizona Daily Sun of Flagstaff, Ariz. reports that back in 2007, Flagstaff resident and video producer Brian Cass, along with his brother Bill, launched a 12-day adventure down the Escalante River for Brian’s company, Echo Productions.

The duo set out, each in their own inflatable boat, 80 miles along the river, which virtually has no information published about it, even in southern Utah.

Their journey took them through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument en route to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and a DVD, Inflatable Journey, chronicling their adventures has been released.

Brian, a graduate of the University of Utah, grew up in western New York, but a Colorado Plateau resident for more than 20 years, says he love the subject matter and landscape of his new home and has plans for future productions.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports early indications show the number of babies born in Utah dropped for the second consecutive year in 2010.

Jim Bradshaw, the director of planning information for Intermountain Healthcare, which delivers 55 percent of the state’s babies, blamed the economy as the impetus for reduced numbers.

From 2009-2010, births at hospitals owned by IHC, MountainStar Hospitals and the University of Utah Health Care and Health Sciences dropped by 2.5 percent, or a little more than 1,000 births.

Collectively, these hospitals combined for almost 43,000 births, well below the state average of 55,000.

The state’s department of health has not yet compiled statewide births for 2010, but 2009 marks the first time, births have dropped since 1993.

Bradshaw says that if the economy were functioning normally, last year births would have likely grown as much as the overall population did, an estimated 1.5 percent.

The number of births paid for by Medicaid did not decline, but instead jumped by 2 percent in 2010 to 13,888.

Schools won’t see the effects of these reductions until 2013, when babies born in 2008 will be in kindergarten.

Presently, school enrollment continues to grow, by 13,000 this year, but without any additional money from the extra bodies.

(MONROE) – The Central Utah Narcotics Task Force has arrested several Monroe residents on drug charges after a nine month-long investigation. The Richfield Police Department and Sevier County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrests involving 27-year old Chelsee Summerhays, 26-year old Christopher Summerhays, 18-year old Shelby Parsons and 19-year old Jordan Porter. All were arrested on several counts of distribution of a controlled substance, prescription drugs and heroin. The Task Force says more arrests are expected.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-Last week, a group of environmentalists sued the federal government in an effort to force declaration on the source of air pollution over national parks and wilderness areas.

The lawsuit contends emissions from two coal-fired power plants on the Navajo Nation and a third in Washington state have obscured views at places such as Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde and Mount Rainier National Parks.

The suit was filed in Washington last Wednesday and the nine groups have accused the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Interior Department of unreasonably delaying a response to petitions for formal certification of visibility impairment.

The federal agencies would not immediately comment on the lawsuit directly.

(PARK CITY)-While media’s effects on young women have often been censured by authority figures, a filmmaker at the Sundance Film Festival is currently fighting to repel this issue.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a filmmaker, actress and wife of current California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, debuted her latest production, Miss Representation, a synopsis of the negative impact the media has on young women and girls, at the festival this weekend.

The film was produced in tandem with Common Sense Media, an organization which seeks to empower parents with information on various forms of media, including games, music and TV shows.

Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer says his primary purpose is to remind parents that they need to control these forms of media in their own homes or they’ll soon be replaced by them.

Steyer says the major purpose of the film is to help young women realize they have value beyond youth, sexuality and beauty.

For more information, please visit www.missrepresentation.org/welcome.html.

(PARK CITY)-According to a study conducted by University of Utah researchers, the economic impact of the annual Sundance Film Festival nets more than $62 million.

The festival, which is currently ongoing and will continue through January 30, received plaudits from Utah Governor Gary Herbert and Zion’s Bank President Scott Anderson at the Sundance Business Connection Saturday.

Ultimately, since 1994, Sundance has brought in more than a half billion dollars in economic activity for the state.

(CEDAR CITY) – A Southern Utah University administrator arrested in a prostitution sting has apologized and plans to resign his position at the university today. In a letter published on the SUU News website, 58-year old Wesley Curtis admitted to making a terrible mistake that caused so much embarrassment to his colleagues, students and his family. Curtis plans to plead guilty today in Iron County Justice Court. Police records say that Curtis is charged with a misdemeanor count of patronizing a prostitute in a Dec. 10 sting at a Cedar City motel. Curtis was among eight people arrested in the raid. He was the SUU Vice-President for government relations and regional service and has been on leave since the arrest.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah Republican Party has a new chairman. The Republican National Committee says Thomas Wright, the former chairman of the Salt Lake County Republican Party, was elected on Saturday. Wright replaces Dave Hansen, who resigned to work on the re-election campaign for Sen. Orrin Hatch. Wright was also one of five new state party chairmen elected on Saturday, including leadership elections in Arizona, New Hampshire, Oregon and Washington state.

MOAB, Utah (AP)-Zak Hazlett had 28 points and the Grand Red Devils edged the North Sevier Wolves, 54-53 Saturday in overtime in Region 15 boys basketball action. Austin Clark posted 20 points in the loss for the Wolves.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Shelby Dalton had 19 points and the Grand Lady Red Devils got past the North Sevier Lady Wolves, 44-38 in Region 15 girls basketball action Saturday. Kelsey Barney had 13 points and six boards in the loss for North Sevier.

ORDERVILLE, Utah (AP)-Whitni Syrett had 12 points and the Bryce Valley Lady Mustangs hammered the Valley Lady Buffaloes, 56-42 Saturday in Region 20 girls basketball action. Nikki Milligan had 25 points in defeat for Valley.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)-Breanne Bateman had 15 points and the Panguitch Lady Bobcats pummeled Escalante, 50-8 in Region 20 girls basketball action Saturday. Tori Lindsay had four points in the loss for the Lady Moquis.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Dallen Bird posted 22 points while Rhett Bird added 21 more as the North Sanpete Hawks pummeled the Emery Spartans, 72-49 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action.

MANTI, Utah (AP)-Dallin Kay posted 20 points and Taren Wright added 19 more as the Juab Wasps tripped up the Manti Templars, 60-51 in Region 12 boys basketball action Friday. Brady Aste had a game-high 27 points in the loss for Manti.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Joel Swallow had 17 points and the Millard Eagles gashed the Beaver Beavers, 57-42 Friday in Region 13 boys basketball action. Tyler Roberts stepped up with 15 points for the Beavers in the loss.

ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)-Josh Pacini keyed a balanced scoring attack with 11 points as the Enterprise Wolves humbled the Kanab Cowboys, 50-45 in Region 13 boys basketball action Friday. Conor Corry had 17 points and seven boards in defeat for Kanab.

MONROE, Utah (AP)-Race Parsons amassed 21 points and 13 rebounds as the South Sevier Rams edged the Gunnison Bulldogs, 49-47 Friday in Region 15 boys basketball action. Jantz Jensen had 19 points for Gunnison in defeat.

BLANDING, Utah (AP)-A.J. Slavens had 24 points and the San Juan Broncos shellacked the North Sevier Wolves, 73-52 in Region 15 boys basketball action Friday. Austin Clark had 11 points in defeat for North Sevier.

TROPIC, Utah (AP)-Braxton Syrett and Jake Pearson had 17 points apiece and the Bryce Valley Mustangs decimated the Escalante Moquis, 103-53 Friday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Ryan Brooks had 14 points in defeat for the Moquis.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)-Kelton Price stepped up with 33 points as the Piute Thunderbirds held off the Milford Tigers, 56-54 in Region 20 boys basketball action Friday.

BICKNELL, Utah (AP)-Riley Miller led the way with 28 points and the Panguitch Bobcats ousted the Wayne Badgers, 66-60 Friday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Hagan Brian had 19 points in defeat for Wayne.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Kelsi Meyer had 15 points for the San Juan Lady Broncos as they surged past the North Sevier Lady Wolves, 46-35 Friday in Region 15 girls basketball action. Kelsey Barney had 12 points in defeat for North Sevier.

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MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Dallen Bird posted 22 points while Rhett Bird added 21 more as the North Sanpete Hawks pummeled the Emery Spartans, 72-49 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action.

MANTI, Utah (AP)-Dallin Kay posted 20 points and Taren Wright added 19 more as the Juab Wasps tripped up the Manti Templars, 60-51 in Region 12 boys basketball action Friday. Brady Aste had a game-high 27 points in the loss for Manti.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Joel Swallow had 17 points and the Millard Eagles gashed the Beaver Beavers, 57-42 Friday in Region 13 boys basketball action. Tyler Roberts stepped up with 15 points for the Beavers in the loss.

ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)-Josh Pacini keyed a balanced scoring attack with 11 points as the Enterprise Wolves humbled the Kanab Cowboys, 50-45 in Region 13 boys basketball action Friday. Conor Corry had 17 points and seven boards in defeat for Kanab.

MONROE, Utah (AP)-Race Parsons amassed 21 points and 13 rebounds as the South Sevier Rams edged the Gunnison Bulldogs, 49-47 Friday in Region 15 boys basketball action. Jantz Jensen had 19 points for Gunnison in defeat.

BLANDING, Utah (AP)-A.J. Slavens had 24 points and the San Juan Broncos shellacked the North Sevier Wolves, 73-52 in Region 15 boys basketball action Friday. Austin Clark had 11 points in defeat for North Sevier.

TROPIC, Utah (AP)-Braxton Syrett and Jake Pearson had 17 points apiece and the Bryce Valley Mustangs decimated the Escalante Moquis, 103-53 Friday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Ryan Brooks had 14 points in defeat for the Moquis.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)-Kelton Price stepped up with 33 points as the Piute Thunderbirds held off the Milford Tigers, 56-54 in Region 20 boys basketball action Friday.

BICKNELL, Utah (AP)-Riley Miller led the way with 28 points and the Panguitch Bobcats ousted the Wayne Badgers, 66-60 Friday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Hagan Brian had 19 points in defeat for Wayne.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Kelsi Meyer had 15 points for the San Juan Lady Broncos as they surged past the North Sevier Lady Wolves, 46-35 Friday in Region 15 girls basketball action. Kelsey Barney had 12 points in defeat for North Sevier.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – A state representative has resigned his seat in the Utah state legislature. Republican representative Craig Frank gave up his seat today (Friday) because House Republicans refused to seat him on the opening day of the 2011 Legislature on Monday. Frank made the announcement at the state Capitol, urging lawmakers to quickly redraw the boundaries of District 57 to include his Cedar Hills neighborhood. He said his resignation will allow the Legislature to move forward, to correct any errors in a decades-old difference between the Utah County and state election maps. Frank has been a member of the House since 2003 and found out earlier this month that he did not live within his district, as required by state law, when he entered his name into a new House website. The face of another lawmaker came up on his computer screen. Frank moved into the undeveloped Cedar Hills area two years ago and was annexed into the city redistricting after the 2000 Census. Since then, some 2,550 residents have been listed in the wrong House, Senate and congressional districts. Frank hopes the legislature will correct the error as soon as possible.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – Utah attorneys are preparing a lawsuit to seek control of disputed roads that cross federal lands. John Harja, public-lands policy director for Gov. Gary Herbert, is helping to prepare the lawsuit, to add a voice for the counties that have had success with lawsuits over lands in their own counties. Rep. Mike Noel of Kanab said the time is right to push for statewide resolutions to the long-festering dispute, given the loss wilderness groups suffered last week in a related appeals court case against Kane County. In that suit, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, ruled that environmental groups have no standing in disputed county lands lawsuits where they have no private property ownership. Noel said the BLM is restricting access everywhere and now is the time to stop the federal government from arbitrarily designating public lands as wilderness with no local input.

(GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports an acting superintendent has been named at Grand Canyon National Park.

A National Park Service official said Jane Lyder will oversee the park as of next month while the NPS searches for a permanent superintendent.

Lyder has been serving as a deputy assistant secretary with the U.S. Department of Interior.

Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said Lyder has vast experience representing national park interests and the Interior Department in water rights issues, particularly in the Colorado River corridor.

Earlier this month, former superintendent Steve Martin retired earlier this month after a 35-year career with the NPS.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports a new poll indicates a little less than half of Utah’s Mormons agree with the Utah Compact, despite Church leadership’s endorsement.

The Compact, which says immigration should be a federal matter, is supported by 48 percent of Utah’s members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints while 39 percent oppose the Utah document, according to the Tribune’s poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research.

These numbers virtually mirror statewide results, with 49 percent supporting it and 39 percent in opposition.

Ever since its genesis in November, more than 3,000 Utahns have signed it.

The document focuses on five points, chief among them, the notion that the federal government should handle all immigration issues.

Mason-Dixon conducted the poll Monday-Wednesday this week and a total of 625 registered Utah voters were interviewed via telephone.

The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Thursday, the American Heart Association recognized seven Utah companies as Start!Fit Friendly for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace.

The association also released a policy statement showing worksite wellness programs are proven to prevent major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Local companies receiving this distinction include Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Zions Bank, the University of Utah and Usana Health Sciences.

Nationally, the association recognized more than 1,400 companies with more than 2 million employees participating.

Companies involved in the program encouraged physical activity and online tracking tools, among other assets.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A task force studying year-round school plans for Utah high schools and middle schools has given educators three proposals to consider.

The Deseret News reports the 21-member committee was asked to develop feasible plans to improve student outcomes, better utilize buildings and raise teacher compensation without increasing costs.

State Superintendent Larry Shumway says the teams’ 39-page report includes proposals for six-term, four-term and flex trimester calendars while he said each proposal includes specific details, including start and end times for the school day, period length, instruction time per day, class sizes and teacher salaries.

Currently, 44 Utah elementary schools in four districts operate alternative or year-round models.

(WASHINGTON)-While thousands of Americans continually struggle to find permanent employment, temporary employment agencies are putting people to work at a swifter clip.

Labor and data experts say companies are filling both professional and blue collar jobs with temporary, contract and freelance workers, a sign the market is rebounding.

However, the lack of permanence in such jobs is a problem, these experts say, because temporary employment could easily become a permanent fixture in our nation’s workforce.

As the economy begins to recover, companies will begin to assess the pool of applicants with temporary workers first.

Experts say it could still take several years for the economy to get back to “normal,” suggesting there could be more temporary workers for an extensive period.

If the workforce continues to be flooded with temp help, experts say companies may be forced to offer workers higher wages and some benefits just to compete for more qualified candidates.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A supposedly routine traffic stop December 6 in Salt Lake County proved to be much more serious as a Thursday filing in 3rd District Court concerning the incident resulted in the meting out of nine felonies and four misdemeanors.

The offender, 20-year-old Brandon Michael Wyatt of West Valley City, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of someone else’s identification documents, possession of forged documents and multiple driving offenses.

A statement by officers involved in the traffic stop said they noticed a car run a red light at 4500 South and Highland Drive while the car sped up after police turned on their lights and sirens, speeding through a residential neighborhood until the vehicle hit a bump and “sparks flew.”

Once stopped, officers got Wyatt out of the car and a subsequent search reviewed a slew of property pointing to a November car spree, charging documents state.

Officers say they found an $800 computer, another man’s drivers’ license, a woman’s Social Security card, 17 checks belonging to a Layton hotel, numerous credit cards belonging to others, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints paperwork, including names, birthdays and telephone numbers of a couple and their six children.

In tracking property back to the suspected victims, police say they documented victim accounts of several car, home and business burglaries that occurred in November 2010.

(ST. GEORGE)-Less than four years ago, Dixie State College was shrinking while administrators worried about a lack of bachelor’s degree programs as the number of students has declined for two consecutive years.

Now, as it celebrates its 100th anniversary with exploding enrollment and the addition of several new four-year degrees, Dixie State is not far away from becoming a university, offering graduate programs as soon as the next three years possibly.

Friday, college leaders are expected to present a plan to the state’s Board of Regents which would expand Dixie State into a regional university, similarly to Weber State University and Utah Valley University’s status.

Conceptually, the plan to have a regional university in the northern, center and southern portions of the state aligns with the Utah System of Higher Education’s goal for 66 percent of Utahns to have college degrees or certificates by 2020.

Currently, 30 percent of Washington County residents have at the least an associate degree, compared to 39 percent statewide.

Nevertheless, DSC still has several hurdles to clear, each of which would be at the college’s expense.

Dixie State has already crossed off one major item from its list as of last year when legislators approved construction of the $35 million Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons which will boast student housing, a library, classrooms and student service facilities.

Upon its anticipated completion in July 2012, the Commons, named after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Apostle who grew up in St. George, is expected to be the campus’ intellectual hub.

Authorities say it will also allow old buildings, including the old library, to be retrofitted for new math and science programs.

The college plans to add four-year programs incrementally including criminal justice, history, Spanish and many more.

It may prove difficult to ask for additional money from the State Legislature, which has signaled its intent to cut the higher education budget for the third straight year.

DSC president Stephen D. Nadauld acknowledged the process may take as long as seven years, depending on funding.

Ultimately, Nadauld says it is incumbent upon the college to serve the best interests of southern Utah residents.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A Nevada federal judge has temporarily frozen the assets of a multimillionaire St. George businessman who the Federal Trade Commission alleges has run a fraudulent far-reaching Internet enterprise.

U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson also appointed a receiver to take control of iWorks and 60 other companies operated by Jeremy Johnson and nine associates.

Next week, the FTC will ask the court to impose those orders for the duration of the case which could take years to resolve.

Last month, the FTC initiated legal action against iWorks for allegedly scamming consumers out of $275 million by billing them online for products and services they didn’t order.

A complaint filed in federal court in Las Vegas alleges the company offers bogus moneymaking and government grant opportunities on various Web sites.

Those who sign up for the “risk-free” offers are charged monthly fees and enrolled in other programs without their knowledge, the complaint states.

Johnson continues to deny any wrongdoing although his frozen assets mean he is unable to sell, trade or otherwise move anything he owns, such as stocks, real estate or cash.

Additionally, the restriction applies to other defendants in the case, Duane Fielding, Andy Johnson, Loyd Johnson, Scott Leavitt, Scott Muir, Bryce Payne, Kevin Pilon, Ryan Riddle and Terrason Spinks.

Thursday, a Salt Lake City federal judge approved an FTC motion to intervene in another lawsuit against Johnson and several business partners.

Nevada man Chad Elie claims Johnson owes him $20 million from a profitable joint business venture in 2009.

Elie, the owner of Clearwater, Fla.-based Viable Marketing Corp., has also sought a court order freezing Johnson’s assets.

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP)-DeShawn Mitchell amassed 25 points and Mason Sawyer made six of eight 3-pointers while posting 22 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Southern Idaho Golden Eagles outgunned the Snow Badgers, 105-87 Thursday in Scenic West Conference mens’ basketball action.

The loss dropped the Badgers to 14-7 and 3-4 in SWAC play, while they return to action Saturday at Coeur D’Alene, Idaho against the North Idaho Cardinals.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-KPNX-TV, Channel 12 in Phoenix reports a federal grand jury in Tucson, Ariz. meted out the first round of indictments against suspected Tucson shooter Jared Loughner, charging him with the attempted assassination of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the attempted murder of her aides, Ron Barber and Pam Simon Thursday.

The shootings occurred outside a northwest Tucson Safeway supermarket January 8 that left six dead and 13 others wounded.

U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke says authorities are still in the early stages of this ongoing investigation while superseding indictments could come as early as the next 60 days in the murders of U.S. District Judge John Roll and Giffords’ aide Gabe Zimmerman.

Sources indicate the indictments would be done “piecemeal” to sufficiently meet constitutional requirements.

The federal criminal code allows penalties of up to life in prison for an attempted assassination of a member of Congress.

When federal murder charges follow, prosecutors could seek the death penalty.

By federal law, defendants in felony cases must be indicted within 30 days in order to hold them in custody.

The 22-year-old Loughner is the lone suspect in the case and is being detained in a federal detention facility near Phoenix while he is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Phoenix next Monday at 1:30 p.m. MST before U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns at the Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Courthouse.

Barber and Simon have both been released from the hospital after treatment of their injuries while Giffords will be transferred from the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson to a Houston facility Friday, where she will receive additional rehabilitation and therapy.

(SEATTLE)-The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed $359,000 in civil penalties against St. George-based SkyWest Airlines for alleged violations of federal aviation regulations.

The FAA proposed a penalty of $220,000 for alleged failures to document heavily checked bags, motorized mobility aids and a heavy shipment carried in the cargo compartment of the company’s passenger aircraft.

Consequently, the company operated the aircraft on five flights between April 21 and May 25 with incorrect weight and balance data.

The FAA alleges the violations occurred as the carrier’s employees failed to follow required procedures for documenting cargo carried on revenue passenger flights.

The other two proposed civil penalties are for allegedly operating two Bombardier Regional aircrafts when they were not in compliance with federal aviation regulations.

In the first case, a proposed civil penalty of $70,000 may be levied against SkyWest employees for failing to follow the company’s continuous airworthiness maintenance program and the Bombardier maintenance and inspection manual during five attempts by mechanics to correct an avionics system cooling problem on one aircraft.

SkyWest operated the aircraft on at least five revenue passenger flights between July 15 and 21, 2009 when it was not in compliance.

In a second case, the FAA is proposing a civil penalty of $68,500, alleging SkyWest operated another Bombardier jet on eight revenue passenger flights between May 31 and June 1, 2010 when not in compliance with regulations.

The FAA alleges SkyWest mechanics failed to follow procedures required in the airline’s CAMP when replacing the right air conditioning pack’s pressure regulating and shutoff valves.

SkyWest has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letters to reply to the agency.

(LAS VEGAS) – Miss Utah 2010 was named a semi-finalist at the 2011 Miss America Pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas over the weekend. A news release said that Christina Lowe from Midway, was one of 11 semi-finalists selected at the 90th Anniversary of the Miss America Pageant Saturday night, which was broadcast “live” on ABC from Las Vegas. Lowe was awarded a $4,000 scholarship as part of her performance at the pageant. The public relations department of the Miss Utah Organization said that Lowe presented herself very well and is a great representation of the state and her community. Upon her completion as Miss Utah in June, Lowe plans to return to Utah Valley University to finish her degree in International Relations. After graduation, she hopes to join the Peace Corps in January of 2012, then continue to obtain a Juris Doctorate degree and serve in the U.S. Senate.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The head of a conservative think tank and a GOP state lawmaker sponsoring similar legislation to Arizona’s SB1070 for Utah are planning an immigration debate at Thanksgiving Point before the 2011 Legislature begins Monday.

Friday, the president of Salt Lake City’s Sutherland Institute, Paul Mero, will serve as captain of a team of public figures arguing Utah shouldn’t enforce federal immigration laws.

Mero’s team includes Republican Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Democratic Salt Lake City Senator Luz Robles.

Orem Republican Stephen Sandstrom will head the other team, which argues state officials should enforce federal immigration laws.

His team consists of Provo Republican Chris Herrod and Ron Mortensen of the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration.

A panel of journalists will moderate the debate.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Federal officials report Utah’s unemployment rate held steady at 7.5 percent in December, the same rate as November.

The Utah Department of Workforce Services also issued December figures on Thursday, showing the state gained over 15,000 jobs within the past year.

This puts total employment at 1.2 million.

The Department of Workforce Services says the latest figure from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show all the job growth occurred in the private sector.

The department says nearly 102,000 Utahns were considered unemployed in December.

In December 2009, the unemployment rate checked in at 6.6 percent.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The ACLU of Utah is planning to investigate a case of alleged racial profiling involving a 14-year-old boy at Salt Lake City’s West High School.

Lisa and Kevin Winston say their son was targeted by police without just cause while the ACLU says if this is true, the case is troubling on many levels.

On December 16, the Winstons say their son, Caleb, was accused of being a gang member and reported police searched his backpack and photographed him without their consent.

The Salt Lake City Police Department says gang detectives were at West High that day as part of an activity to find out why gang activity was occurring at the school.

Police say a detective confronted Caleb after he saw what he deemed was gang writing on the teen’s backpack while Caleb’s notebook appeared to have gang graffiti on it.

Ultimately though, the officers were unable to find any evidence confirming he was a gang member.

Police say they questioned other students in their search but ACLU of Utah Legal Director Darcy Goddard said officers cannot simply interrogate a child who hasn’t done anything wrong about something as speculative as his backpack.

Friday, the ACLU will meet with Caleb’s parents to further discuss the case while upon the insistence of Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank, the department is conducting its own investigation to ensure officers acted appropriately.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-After a closed caucus Wednesday, House Republicans emerged with what they called an “extremely strong position” against seating Craig Frank as the state representative from District 57.

However, Frank has not ruled out taking this matter to court although he has lived outside the district he represents since 2003.

Frank said he was told there were 35 votes in the caucus to redraft District 57 to include portions of his Cedar Hills neighborhood that have appeared on the Utah County map after the 2000 Census.

House leaders said without the 38 votes needed to pass legislation, they plan to continue discussing this issue while House Majority Leader Brad Dee of Ogden said he expects boundaries to be adjusted this session.

House Speaker Becky Lockhart of Provo said there are still questions as to how to proceed Monday that will have to be answered by legislative attorneys.

After a discrepancy was found in Frank’s neighborhood and his district two weeks ago, House Republican leaders announced a vacancy and Frank seemed to go along with plans to replace him until, he said, supposed constituents began to complain.

(WASHINGTON)-Throughout Utah, 39 homeless assistance programs will receive $4.2 million in funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The organization reports chronic homelessness has dropped since 2005, due to significant investments that establish thousands of transitional and permanent housing units to assist those who have been living on the streets.

In 2010, Salt Lake City experienced a 42 percent downturn in chronic homelessness from 2009 while researchers and human service providers attribute the decline to a 10-year initiative that places the homeless in housing sooner while connecting them to an array of services and case management to deal with issues contributing to homelessness.

The comprehensive report on homelessness was released last fall, asserting 67 percent of Utah’s homeless are “temporarily homeless,” meaning they stay in shelters briefly and don’t return.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Governor Gary Herbert has bumped back his “State of the State” speech back one day to avoid conflicting with President Barack Obama’s State of the Nation address.

In a news release, Herbert’s spokeswoman Ally Isom said Herbert will deliver his address on January 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the House chambers at the Utah Capitol, only two days after the state Legislature reconvenes.

This will be Herbert’s second State of the State address, but his first as an elected governor.

(SALINA) – Salina City police are looking for suspects involved in burglaries at two businesses sometime during the night Wednesday. Police Chief Greg Harwood said that a report was received on a burglary at Wheeler’s Machinery on State Street, where a large lock was cut on a fence and the thieves stole three semi radiators and cores. Harwood also reported that a lock was cut on a change machine at the car wash on State Street in Salina, where thieves tried to drill out the lock mechanism to steal cash from the machine. Police say the two burglaries may be related but continue to investigate. They’re asking the public to report any information in the two cases.

(FILLMORE) – A nine-month long drug investigation has resulted in the arrest of several people in the Delta area. The Central Utah Narcotics Task Force reported that 22-year old Victor Perez-Reyez, 21-year old Jose Orona, 32-year old Martin Lopez, 22-year old Juan Chiquito-Diaz, 18-year old Mendoza Hero and 36-year old Thomas Marquez, all of Delta, have been arrested on various drug charges, illegal immigration and gang ties. The Task Force, along with the Millard County Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, recently made the arrests with more to follow.

(PROVO) – Provo City fire officials are saying that the fire that destroyed the Provo Tabernacle was an accident. Fire investigations have also ruled that arson was not the cause of the fire. The officials said that further information concerning the exact cause of the fire will not be released until the investigation is complete. City fire crews have so far spent more than 800 man hours of investigative work on the fire, including 75 tons of debris that has been removed from inside the building. The investigation continues and the LDS Church, owners of the building, have no plans as to its future. The fire was started in the early morning hours of Dec. 17 and completely gutted the inside of the building.

(FILLMORE) – The Fillmore Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management has announced a scoping period for the Third Phase of the Milford Wind Corridor Project in Millard County. Milford Wind Corridor Phase III, LLC is proposing to build a wind energy facility in Millard County about 45 miles south of Delta. Officials say electrical power from the proposed facility would interconnect to the existing 345-kilovolt generator lead line that runs between the Milford Wind Corridor Phase I substation and the IPP substation near Delta. The scoping period is an opportunity for the public to identify issues or alternatives that should be addressed in the Environmental Impact Study and ends on March 1, 2011.

(PHOENIX)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports a federal judge in Phoenix has officially dismissed a police officer’s legal challenge to Arizona’s new immigration law.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton had granted this request by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Phoenix officer David Salgado.

However, the judge also gave the officer 30 days to file additional court documents.

The officer didn’t file those records, so the case was officially dismissed last week.

Despite the dismissal of several lawsuits seeking to overturn the law, the federal government’s challenge to the law still remains intact.

The U.S. Justice Department’s lawsuit was the case where Bolton put the law’s most controversial sections on hold.

Bolton’s ruling has been appealed.

(MANTI) – Sanpete County detectives continue to investigate a pipe bomb found in a mailbox in Manti last week. The Sheriff’s Office said the bomb was recovered at a residence after a postal worker discovered the device while delivering mail at the home. Detectives don’t believe the bomb was placed at a specific target but more likely a bad prank. The Sheriff’s Office said it’s fortunate the bomb did not explode and no one was injured. Detectives continue to investigate the incident.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports about 6.7 million pounds of rechargeable batteries were recycled in the United States and Canada last year, according to Call2Recycle, North America’s only free rechargeable battery and cell phone collection program.

The Atlanta and Toronto-based organization reports the program in Utah collected more than 48,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2010 from more than 400 collection sites in the state.

Participants included Utah Home Depots, Lowe’s stores and Radio Shacks.

Overall, the program has a network comprised of more than 30,000 drop-off locations at major retailers, businesses and government offices in North America.

By recycling batteries and cell phones, fewer heavy metals wind up in landfills, where they may potentially seep into the water.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A bipartisan group of Utah lawmakers is poised to take on a labor practice which reclassifies some workers as owners, allowing certain companies to skirt tax laws and employment protections.

West Valley Democratic Senator Karen Mayne applauded KSL-TV of Salt Lake City’s efforts in exposing this story and alluded to this reclassification process which deemed Utah construction workers to be “owners” under the limited liability corporation business model.

Critics say such a business model exploits workers, now owners, who are responsible for covering their own payroll taxes, workers’ compensation and employment benefits.

The law in question, SB35, is attempting to rein in the reach of some LLCs using the model to reclassify all workers as “owners.”

Mayne says she ensured having the support of the author of the state’s original LLC laws, Orem Senator John Valentine, a co-sponsor of SB35.

SB35 is attempting to restrict those who are labeled owners of a LLC by establishing certain criteria: the owner must be an active manager, hold at least 20 percent ownership interest and not be subject to workplace supervision.

In a prepared statement, CSG Workforce Services, an LLC that employs the worker/owner model, said the organization supports legislation preventing misclassification of workers, ensures coverage of workers’ compensation insurance, liability insurance, withholding of taxes and other protection for workers.

Mayne says she feels confident the bill has sufficient support from business owners, construction industry insiders, workers and legislators for the measure to pass.

The bill can be viewed at le.utah.gov/<0x7e>2011/bills/sbillint/sb0035.htm

(PROVO)-Utah Valley University has been selected as one of 10 institutions to participate in the International Academic Partnership Program during 2011.

Danny Damron, the director of UVU’s International Center calls it a “great honor” to be selected.

The program’s advisory board selected UVU because of their commitment to increase campus internationalization while drawing upon the university’s desire to foster a partnership with a Chinese institution, according to a news release from UVU.

The program will support student exchanges, joint programs, collaborative research and other partnership-promoting endeavors.

(OGDEN)-Thursday, Weber State University announced they will be privileged to hear from Fidel Castro’s exiled daughter.

Alina Fernandez will speak at the university Thursday as part of its free monthly lecture series at 12:00 p.m.

Series coordinator Tara Peris says Fernandez first fled Cuba in 1993 and penned a memoir titled “Castro’s Daughter: An Exile’s Memoir of Cuba.

Now, a human rights activist and critic of Cuba’s Communist regime, Fernandez has continually shared her experiences with numerous audiences throughout the world.

Previous speakers at Weber State have included Alexandra Cousteau, the granddaughter of famous French explorer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof and hip hop artist Common.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Citing a trend that seems to be worsening in Utah, the state’s Bar Executive Director John Baldwin says the market for law graduates is as bad as it has been in the last 30 years.

Baldwin said he graduated during a recession in the 80s and had a terrible time finding employment but he says things are even worse today.

He says problems for law graduates include many entry level positions being outsourced and clients’ reticence to pay brand new attorneys.

Furthermore, new lawyers that are getting hired are already being swamped with paperwork.

Baldwin says recent law graduates can help resolve these issues by being aware of how attorneys think, knowing how laws are formed or set up and how local ordinances work.

In closing, Baldwin said both federal and state governments have listings that tell of positions where law degrees are required while the repository can also be useful for anyone who has any understanding of law.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A legislative audit released Tuesday confirms only nine of Utah’s 43 state parks and just one of its official four golf courses make enough money to operate without support from the General Fund, which may lead lawmakers to question the policy of subsidizing operations at such a high level.

Those parks, which the audit says require “significant taxpayer subsidy,” include the Green River Golf Course in Green River, the Edge of the Cedars State Park in Blanding, the Territorial Statehouse in Fillmore, Frontier Homestead in Cedar City and the Utah Field House Museum in Vernal.

The audit comes after a request dating back to last year from lawmakers who specifically asked the Office of the Legislative Auditor General to examine ways the state park system could operate with more financial efficiency and if privatization of some parks is a viable option.

Tuesday, auditors during a presentation to lawmakers, the division could take a number of steps to embrace a more “business-like” model of operating the parks, such as relying on seasonal help rather than full-time employees and possibly closing some parks during the off season.

Steps the state has already taken to reduce costs include “heritage parks” and museums being closed Sunday while placing other parks in close proximity under one management umbrella to alleviate administrative costs.

While the previous enforcement of these steps has already significantly reduced costs, Delta-based Mike Styler, the executive director of the state’s Department of Natural Resources agreed, saying it is better to be “less dependent” on this general fund for several years.

Ultimately, auditors questioned the need to have so many of the parks remain open during the off-season and the number of POST-certified law enforcement officers on staff.

In closing, auditors were asked to explore the option of privatizing some of the parks, with the state retaining ownership of the property while contracting out essential services.

They cautioned few states have embraced this model, while if it is something lawmakers wish to pursue, it should be done on a pilot-project basis.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – A judge has postponed the case of two men accused of killing a retired BYU professor for two months. The delay will give the new court-appointed attorneys for Martin Bond and Benjamin Rettig more time to review the prosecution’s evidence in the murder of Kay Mortensen. Bond and Rettig, both 23, have been charged with aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated burglary, all first-degree felonies, in connection with Mortensen’s death. Court documents say that Attorneyn Ron Yengich will defend Bond and Mike Esplin will defend Rettig. Both attorneys are qualified to handle capital murder cases. Prosecutors charged the men in December following a tip that led investigators to a cache of guns allegedly stolen during the murder. The evidence exonerated Mortensen’s son, Roger and daughter-in-law, Pamela, who had been prime suspects. Bond and Rettig will return to court for a hearing March 15.

LAVERKIN, Utah (AP)-Braxton Williams had 12 points as the Beaver Beavers hammered the Cross Creek Bobcats, 68-37 Tuesday in Region 13 boys basketball action.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Jamie Burton had 17 points as the Delta Lady Rabbits edged the Juab Lady Wasps, 52-48 in Region 12 girls basketball action Tuesday at the Palladium. Tessa Bradford had 22 points for the Lady Wasps in the loss.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Taylor Gordon posted 14 points for the North Sanpete Lady Hawks in a 63-52 win over Manti Tuesday in Region 12 girls basketball action. Mandee Christensen had 15 points in the loss for the Lady Templars.

CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)-Taylor Mann led the way with 23 points as the Emery Lady Spartans hammered the Richfield Lady Wildcats, 63-43 in Region 12 girls basketball action Tuesday. Megan Bean had 18 points in the loss for Richfield.

LAVERKIN, Utah (AP)-Kalbie Jordan posted 14 points and seven boards as the Beaver Lady Beavers gashed the Cross Creek Lady Bobcats, 50-16 in Region 13 girls basketball action Tuesday.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Calli Jackson had 16 points for the Kanab Cowgirls in a 63-43 rout of the Millard Lady Eagles Tuesday in Region 13 girls basketball action. Krystyn Stevens had 16 points in defeat for Millard.

MOAB, Utah (AP)-Shelby Dalton amassed 16 points as the Grand Lady Red Devils crushed the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs, 56-32 in Region 15 girls basketball action Tuesday. Madee Christenson posted 13 points in the loss for Gunnison.

(RICHFIELD) – A drug runner out of Colorado was arrested Monday on I-70 after being stopped for speeding. According to a Sevier County Sheriff’s report, 38-year old Kristopher Alsdorf of Aurora, CO. was traveling from Las Vegas back to Colorado when he was pulled over. Sgt. Adrian Hillin noticed the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle and asked the driver about it. Hillin said Alsdorf admitted to having a bottle containing a small amount of marijuana in the car, along with a used pipe and several glass bongs. Alsdorf was cited for speeding, possession of marijuana and of drug paraphernalia.

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.)-KMGH-TV, Channel 7 in Denver reports a critically burned 10-year-old Colorado Springs, Colo. boy, Tyler Sabino, has been transferred to the University of Utah’s Health Care Burn Center.

The fire, which struck early Monday morning, caused the evacuation of 10 people, all of which are safe, while the boy and his father, Tom Sabino, were originally taken to burn units in Aurora, Colo.

Four children who got out of the house were taken to the hospital, where they were treated and released.

Firefighters said it appears the blaze may have started in the home’s garage around 3:45 a.m. MST Monday morning and swiftly spread throughout the two-story home while investigation is still underway concerning what caused it.

Flames rose about 20 feet high, but firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to neighboring homes less than 20 feet away.

(RICHFIELD) – Members of the Sevier County Search and Rescue team have just completed two days of avalanche training from the Utah Avalanche Center. A sheriff’s report said that a public presentation was made on Friday by Grant Helgeson for the Manti-LaSal region, offering tips on how to avoid being caught in avalanche conditions, how to recognize signs of avalanche activity and what to do if you’re caught in an avalanche. Saturday’s training consisted of digging a snow pit to understand the layers of the snow and how to test them for weaknesses that would lead to failure and cause an avalanche. S & R crews also practiced using their beacons and setting up probes for a person wearing a beacon

(Manti) Despite signs of a recovering economy in the state, there are still some lingering budget problems that are the facing the upcoming legislative session. Many state agencies and programs have seen deep cuts over the past few years, and State Senator Ralph Okerlund says that any further cuts will have to be very surgical in order to avoid damaging the structural integrity of the programs. One area that has seen less dramatic cuts is education. Although the cuts to education have been smaller, there has not been any funding to support growth. Utah’s schools have seen, and will continue to see growth in student enrollment and that is causing some problems. There may be some relief coming this session though as the budget that Governor Herbert has proposed does contain some funding to offset the increases in enrollment. Senator Okerlund says that the Legislature will do everything it can to help in the area of education funding.

(WASHINGTON)-KVOA-TV, Channel 4 in Tucson, Ariz. reports the Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from same-sex marriage opponents who are seeking to overturn the District of Columbia’s gay marriage law.

Tuesday, the court did not comment in repelling a challenge from a Maryland pastor and others seeking to get a measure on the ballot which would permit Washingtonians to vote on whether or not marriage should be legally defined as being between a man and woman.

Bishop Harry Jackson of the Hope Christian Church of Beltsville, Md. led a lawsuit against the district’s Board of Elections and Ethics after a refusal to put this initiative on the ballot.

The board ruled that the ballot question would, in effect, authorize discrimination.

Last year, Washington began issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples and in 2009, it began recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere.

(YUMA, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports U.S. Border Patrol agents working a checkpoint near Yuma, Ariz., seized more than 25 pounds of cocaine worth nearly $1 million.

Last Friday, agents arrested a suspected drug smuggler during a routine inspection on Interstate 8 west of Yuma, authorities say.

Border Patrol agent Robert Lowry said a canine team alerted agents to the possibility of cocaine inside a car.

The Yuma Sun reported agents found nine bundles of cocaine hidden inside the rear corner panels of the car.

The cocaine and suspect were then turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports The Utah Avalanche Center has issued a “red,” or “high” ranking for potentially deadly snow slides in Cache Valley mountains Tuesday.

This risk entails mountain slopes in the Logan area, as well as backcountry skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling areas of the Bear River and Wellsville Mountains.

Other legitimate threats remain throughout the state as the Manti-Skyline region is rated as “orange” or “considerable” for avalanche activity, while the Moab area remains “yellow” or “moderate.”

(PROVO)-In their tribute to the legacy of equal rights for minorities in this country, the Brigham Young University Black Student Union conducted a special ceremony Monday.

Keynote speaker Darius Gray, the previous president of the Genesis Group, a support group for black members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and one of two black students who attended BYU in 1965, spoke about the previous injustices blacks have suffered in this country.

Nevertheless, Gray made it clear that he did this to increase education and deepen perspectives, rather than incite anger.

Gray spoke of the years of service blacks have provided in our country, including their assistance to the colonies in the Revolutionary War and their eventual rise from slavery.

Gray cited the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as bellwether legislation, which paved the way for the final end of voting discrimination and solidified rights for African-Americans.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-After Utah public officials gathered at the Northrop Grumman ribbon cutting ceremony Monday, KTVX-TV-Channel 4 of Salt Lake City asked several of them if they are overly concerned after the fatal Tucson, Ariz. shootings January 8.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert says the attack against Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords won’t cause him to handle his security measures any differently.

Instead, Herbert said the incident was “isolated” and had a great deal to do with politics.

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch says he has faced threats on several occasions, including someone threatening to punch him while the mafia threatened him once as well.

Another state senator, Mike Lee, said the best way he and his cohorts can support Giffords is to keep doing what they intended to do in the first place.

It remains unclear whether or not beefing up security for Utah officials will be discussed in the new Legislative session which reconvenes Monday.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Monday, one of the world’s largest defense and commercial aerospace companies opened a 52,000-square foot expansion to its Navigation Systems Division operations facility in Salt Lake City.

The company, Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman, will use its Salt Lake City facility to build military components which can find their way inside missile and aircraft systems for opposing nations in warfare.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert, state senators, republicans Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee and democrat Jim Matheson, all attended a Monday ribbon-cutting ceremony for the expanded facility.

The Utah expansion comes as the defense giant’s missile division prepares to become the anchor tenant for the $1.4 billion Falcon Hill project at Hill Air Force Base near Ogden.

The company is planning to move 650 engineers and other workers supporting the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program from facilities near the base into a five-story, 125,000-square foot building which is part of the new privately financed research park on base.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Monday, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was shot and killed in Kingston, Jamaica.

The Church confirmed Elder Jermaine Luther Walker was shot when he and a group of elders were caught in the crossfire of a police shootout.

Elder Walker was a resident of Kingston.

The Church released a statement saying the missionaries’ vehicle was caught in the crossfire as authorities pursued another vehicle and that Elder Walker was immediately transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Elder Walker was in a group of seven elders serving in the Jamaica Kingston Mission returning to their usual labors after a Preparation Day activity.

Church spokesman Scott Trotter says that while the other missionaries were obviously shaken after the incident, they are otherwise in good condition.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)KOLD-TV, Channel 13 in Tucson, Ariz. reports the condition of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has improved from “critical” to “serious,” as of Sunday.

Giffords was greeted by more than 100 well wishers at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson, while UMC doctors continue to be astounded with her remarkable progress after injuries sustained January 8.

The next hurdle to clear is ensuring Giffords can speak, UMC officials said, while they hope her release will occur shortly.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports the Salt Lake City Catholic Diocese’s lobbyist will retire after 26 years of service.

The lobbyist, 70-year-old Dee Rowland will retire as the government liaison for the diocese January 24 when the Legislature reconvenes at the state Capitol building.

Through a lifetime of service to the Catholic Church, she has represented the diocese on numerous public boards and committees and has especially advocated for Catholics to get involved in local government, particularly in Utah, where they are a significant religious minority.

Her replacement will be announced during the new legislative session.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-Amid criminal charges being filed against him, newly-sworn in Navajo president Ben Shelly was sworn in last week, delivering a message of change and partnership before a crowd braving near-freezing temperatures.

Shelly has succeeded Joe Shirley Jr. while his vice president will be tribal lawmaker Rex Lee Jim.

Shelly, who had previously spent 16 years on the Tribal Council, took office as president with criminal charges against him stemming from October still unresolved.

Shelly and 77 other Navajo lawmakers were charged with a litany of offenses, ranging from abuse of office to discretionary spending.

Shelly has agreed to repay $8,250 in exchange for charges such as theft, conspiracy and fraud being dropped against him.

A tribal judge dismissed charges against Jim as part of a similar settlement but another judge was considering Shelly’s charges.

Shelly says he hopes to help the Navajos retain their distinctive culture while Katherine Benally, one of 16 lawmakers who was re-elected to the new council, said she and her colleagues plan to work with stability while remembering they’re ultimately accountable to the people of the Navajo Nation.

Shelly faces many stiff challenges, such as decreased federal funding and working with a 24-member tribal council, which is smaller than in years past.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-University of Utah law professor and terrorism expert Amos Guoira is teaching his students how to fight back against a wide array of challenges that terrorists present to our world.

Guiora has devised a simulation where students can thrust themselves into the aftermath of a terrorist attack affecting the highest levels of U.S. government while they get to serve as decision makers in the process.

Guiora leads the students through this “mass chaos” and is assisted by 60 others who make the attacks seem lifelike.

This year’s simulation is slated for the U of U’s law school April 1 and Guiora says the emphasis will be on counter terrorism and how to respond to large-scale strikes.

(APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz.)-The discovery of a body found in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix may bring closure to a Utah family who has wondered about a relative’s fate after he went hunting for gold in this region.

Phoenix-based authorities have reportedly found the remains of a third person who was searching for gold in the area, while remains of the first two people in question have already been discovered.

Official confirmation cannot be made until dental records are provided but an adjacent wallet was found nearby with identification. Local family members believe the remains may belong to 49-year-old Curtis Merworth.

Last July, Merworth and two others failed to return after trekking into the Arizona wilderness in search of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine.

A break in the case for their recovery came last weekend, when remains of two other prospectors were discovered.

Merworth and two other companions, 47-year-old Malcom Meeks and 66-year-old Ardean Charles disappeared last summer and family members say they had medical conditions and already were not prepared for the intense summer heat Arizona is known for.

Investigators with the Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff’s Office are awaiting forensic and dental reports on the remains, detective Aaron Douglas said.

Douglas noted indication exists that the bodies may belong to two or three of the missing men, but declined to reveal anything specific.

The sheriff’s office has not released further information and will not do so until they receive “100 percent confirmation” of their identities.

One of the bodies recovered had gray hair which belonged to Charles, a Native American, while the other had black hair, which was Meeks, an African-American.

The mens’ vehicle was found at a trailhead at Lost Dutchman State Park on July 11, about a week after they were due home.

Rescuers scoured the mountain on horseback and via helicopter for six days before they were eventually forced to scale back in their rescue attempts.

(CEDAR CITY)-The St. George Spectrum reports Cedar City received a new councilman last week, after Mayor Joe Burgess intervened in a tiebreaker.

Burgess said two previous terms served on the city council by Joe Westwood gave him the nudge over Holly Porter.

Westwood was sworn in last Wednesday in the stead of Dale Brinkerhoff who gave up his council seat after being sworn into the Iron County Commission.

Westwood was among 14 candidates vying for the seat and he plans to serve a one-year term.

The seat will be on the Cedar City municipal ballot later this year.

(SALINA) – A Salina teenager is $2,000 richer after sinking a basket at half court during a high school basketball contest on Friday. Mid-Utah Radio reported that 13-year old Trevor Okerlund, the son of Justin and Tammy Okerlund of Salina, sunk the basket during the ongoing basketball shootout, where qualifiers have the chance to earn $2,000 if they make a series of baskets, including the winning basket from half court. The teenager is a well-known young basketball player, who participates in several sports events the city sponsors. In spite of Okerlund’s win, North Sevier lost the game against Gunnison by two points in overtime.

(HATCH) – A pair of Lehi travelers were injured on SR-89 near Hatch over the weekend when they lost control of their vehicle and rolled. According to a UHP report, 44-year old Margie Brummett was traveling southbound in a 2010 Chevy Aveo, when she left the roadway, went through a fence and rolled on her top at about 1:30pm Saturday, eight miles south of Hatch. She was wearing her seatbelt and was transported to the Garfield Memorial Hospital with possible injuries. Her passenger, 21-year old Robert Brummett, also of Lehi, was wearing his seatbelt and taken to the hospital. Margie was cited for improper lane travel.

POCATELLO, Idaho (AP)-Brigham Young’s Porshe Giddings placed first in the womens’ 60 and 200-meter dashes to lead the way for numerous track athletes scattered throughout the Intermountain West at the Snake River Open Saturday at Holt Arena.

Other wins came from Idaho State’s Kylee Gleason in the 400-meter dash, Stacy Slight of Brigham Young in the womens’ 800-meter dash and her teammate, Katie Palmer, in the womens’ mile run. Additionally, Southern Utah’s Kayla Kovar won the womens’ shot put.

As for the men, Utah State’s Armahd Lewis won the 60-meter dash, Mike Phillips of Weber State won the 200-meter dash and Sean Adams of Brigham Young placed first in the 400-meter dash. Other wins came from Weber State’s Jonevan DiSimone in the 60-meter hurdles and Aaron Powell of BYU in the long jump, among others.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)-Louisville’s Charachesicia Lockhart placed first in the womens’ long jump to lead the way for various athletes scattered throughout the South Saturday at Day 2 of the Kentucky Invitational. Other wins came from Central Florida’s Dominique Booker in the womens’ 60-meter dash, Kianna Ruff of Tennessee in the womens’ 800-meter dash and Shiyana Mahendra of Eastern Kentucky in the womens’ 200-meter dash.

As for the men, Fred Samoie of Alabama won the mens’ 3000-meter dash, Tennessee’s Dentarious Locke won the mens’ 200 and 60-meter dashes and Kentucky’s Keith Hayes won the 60-meter dash.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP)-Western Michigan’s Amber Brunmeier placed first in the womens’ 5000-meter dash to lead the way for numerous athletes scattered throughout the Midwest Saturday at the Bowling Green Invitational.

Bowling Green’s Jeanett Pettigrew won the womens’ 60-meter dash while Iris Campbell of Western Michigan won the 60-meter hurdles and her teammate Rachel Whitley won the 800-meter dash.

Due to their contributions, the Lady Broncos won the meet with 168 points while Dayton placed second with 148 points. Host Bowling Green ended the meet with 118 points while the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks ended the meet with 112 points, good for fourth place.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)-DeShawn Mitchell had 36 points but it wasn’t enough as the Snow Badgers fell to the Salt Lake C.C. Bruins,95-82 Saturday in mens’ college basketball action. The Badgers fell to 14-6 and 3-2 in Scenic West play with the loss.

CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)-Kash Jewkes amassed 18 points and the Emery Spartans gashed the Manti Templars, 55-41 in Region 12 boys basketball action Friday. Jamen Miller had 13 points in the loss for Manti.

DELTA, Utah (AP)-Dallen Bird posted 24 points while Colton Dunn added 23 more as the North Sanpete Hawks edged the Delta Rabbits, 68-66 in double overtime Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action at the Palladium. Colin Christensen had 14 points in the loss for Delta.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-Brandon Jenson had 18 points while Daniel Chamberlain added 14 more as the Kanab Cowboys tripped up the Cross Creek Bobcats, 61-48 in Region 13 boys basketball action Friday.

FILLMORE, Utah (AP)-Jesse Rhodes had 17 points and the Millard Eagles bludgeoned the Enterprise Wolves, 70-47 Friday in Region 13 boys basketball action.

BEAVER, Utah (AP)-Zach Wood keyed a balanced scoring attack with 18 points and the Parowan Rams shellacked the Beaver Beavers, 82-53 Friday in Region 13 boys basketball action. Korbin Oakden had 15 points in the loss for Beaver.

SALINA, Utah (AP)-Josh Carlisle stepped up with 14 points as the Gunnison Bulldogs outlasted the North Sevier Wolves, 50-48 in overtime Friday in Region 15 boys basketball action. Chan Harrison had 12 points in defeat for North Sevier.

MONROE, Utah (AP)-Race Parsons posted 33 points and 19 boards while Brandon Winn added 21 more as the South Sevier Rams stonewalled the San Juan Broncos, 78-55 in Region 15 boys basketball action Friday.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-Calli Jackson had 18 points and nine boards and the Kanab Cowgirls hammered the Cross Creek Lady Bobcats, 71-17 Friday in Region 13 girls basketball action.

BLANDING, Utah (AP)-Kelsi Myer’s 16 points led the way for the San Juan Lady Broncos as they bested the South Sevier Lady Rams, 58-47 in Region 15 girls basketball action Friday. Kayla King led all scorers with 17 in the loss for South Sevier.

BICKNELL, Utah (AP)-Kalani Norris amassed a game-high 23 points and the Panguitch Lady Bobcats stymied Wayne, 41-31 Friday in Region 20 girls basketball action. Haley Robins and Haylee Barney had eight points apiece in defeat for the Lady Badgers.

MILFORD, Utah (AP)-Kandice Gleave had 41 points and the Piute Lady Thunderbirds dusted off Milford, 68-55 in Region 20 girls basketball action Friday. Gleave prolifically made 21 of 24 shots in her masterful performance for Piute.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-KGUN-TV, Channel 9 in Tucson, Ariz. reports doctors at the University of Arizona’s Medical Center say Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords continues to improve as she recovers from a gunshot wound incurred during last Saturday’s fatal shootings.

UMC neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Lemole said Giffords is opening her eyes “more and more,” while continuing to make all the “right moves in all right directions.”

The major news of the day was Giffords’ district director, Ron Barber, has been discharged from UMC and was able to attend the funeral of Arizona U.S. District Judge John Roll, which began at 10:00 a.m. MST.

(EPHRAIM) – Hazmat crews were called out to the Ephraim Post Office this morning and have the facility under lockdown. Ephraim police cordoned off the block from Main Street to 100 East and have cleared the area for public use until the threat is over. Police Chief Ron Rasmussen there’s no word yet as to the nature of the threat but information will be released later. The public is being asked to stay away from the area until further notice.

(AJO, Ariz.)-KPHO-TV, Channel 5 in Phoenix reports the U.S. Border Patrol has released a statement saying its agents have arrested six illegal immigrants near Ajo, Ariz., about 135 miles northwest of Tucson, Ariz.

Officials report the group was detected Wednesday evening near Arizona S.R. 85 and agents tracked their footprints until they found the offenders carrying bundles of marijuana.

The men were reportedly carrying 600 pounds of marijuana in their makeshift backpacks.

(RICHFIELD) – Richfield City officials gathered in their first council meeting of the new year to discuss several ordinance changes. Councilmembers discussed setting the distance between buildings in zoning districts and standards for “flag lots”. City leaders also discussed changing the animal ordinance and zoning code to allow chickens to be kept with the city limits. No action was taken on any of the ordinances until further discussion is held. Also at the council meeting, members approved the selection of Brion Terry of Richfield to replace Stan Poulsen on the Richfield Planning Commission.

(LAS VEGAS)-Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission filed a petition in Utah District Court to intervene in the lawsuit filed by Las Vegas resident Chad Elie under seal against Jeremy Johnson and other defendants, including two St. George banks.

Elie’s complaint asserts the banks had funds Elie claims belong to him after he entered into a business scheme with Johnson and several other individuals to whom Johnson supposedly transferred funds and other property, all of which came from claims Elie believes he owns.

The FTC has intervened because they believe their plaintiff, Chad Elie, has engaged in a secretive race to the courthouse in a money grab held by the defendants.

The FTC subsequently filed a redacted complaint December 21 in Nevada District Court, alleging Johnson and nine of his cohorts have operated a vast Internet enterprise, consisting of 61 companies.

These companies deceptively enrolled unwitting consumers into membership for products or services while repeatedly charging credit cards or debit bank accounts without the knowledge of consumers or authorization for memberships the consumers never engaged in.

The government says it’s unclear whether these defendants have begun to mount a defense and even if they have, they deem it to be in their interests to keep money for themselves, rather than to lock down assets and provide an orderly claims procedure.

(TAYLORSVILLE)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports motorists who pay to drive in the fast lane during peak hours will enable them to drive 10 miles per hour faster on the most congested portions of Interstate 15, the Utah Department of Transportation stated in its monthly report.

Of course, a major problem exists with solo motorists speeding into the express lane without paying the electronic transponders while traffic engineer David Kinnecom told the Utah Transportation Commission the fear of poachers crossing the double-yellow line creates a “psychological barrier” to zooming past general lanes too quickly.

Drivers can become legal in the express lane by purchasing a transponder for $8.75 while deciding whether or not to use it at the beginning of each entrance onto the freeway.

An electronic reader charges the driver’s credit card for each use and flashes a signal on an overhead board alerting the officer the car is legally in the lane with toll-free car poolers, motorcycles and clean fuel vehicles.

In I-15’s most congested zone, from 14600 South-7200 South, northbound morning traffic in the express lane averages 60 mph compared with 50 mph in other lanes. Heading southbound, the express lane averages 55 mph, while other lanes check in at 46 mph.

The program is covering its monthly expenses thus far, $38,000 in revenues last month, $37,000 in costs, but will end this spring when a contractor begins charging $40,000 a month for 24-hour maintenance.

Kinnecom says the department will begin to break even financially as soon as more Utahns agree to buy the transponders and a big boost is expected when I-15’s Utah County reconstruction is completed.

(PROVO)-During her address at Brigham Young University Thursday, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the country needs to rectify their failing education system as soon as possible.

Rice, who traveled extensively throughout the world as a trusted member of the Bush administration, says the world is a more dangerous place when the U.S. is not among the world’s leaders in such vital areas as education.

Rice has been an education advocate for years, even going as far as founding a non-profit educational program in California.

At the conclusion of Rice’s remarks, the sellout crowd at the Marriott Center applauded her politely while the University of Denver graduate will remain in Utah through Friday.

Friday evening, Rice, a classically-trained pianist, will perform with the Muir Quartet at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City to benefit the Deer Valley Music Festival.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A Utah lawmaker wants to ensure Utahns can legally carry concealed weapons at all times, even without a permit.

Republican Representative Carl Wimmer of Herriman says he plans to introduce a bill eliminating state requirements for concealed weapon permits.

The measure is among numerous ones which will be discussed when the state Legislature reconvenes January 24.

Wimmer says this would not change laws concerning who can legally have a gun.

Felons and illegal immigrants are among the people who would be disallowed from carrying a firearm, Wimmer says.

Meanwhile, Gun Violence Prevention board member Stephen H. Gunn says the state should be tightening its permit process instead of making it more lenient.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-As the Utah High School Activities Association prepares to unfold the latest wave of reclassification for numerous schools throughout the state, another concern has risen to the surface.

Utah High School Activities Association Director Bart Thompson says he appreciates how effective athletic clubs can be for students but he is concerned over potential ripple effects that may occur.

Chief among them is the fact that rural students may not have the same access to club soccer teams, such as Sparta United and Firebirds F.C., that urbane ones do.

The Utah Youth Soccer Association is doing their best to rectify the situation as they are seeking to set up club teams in such communities as Price and Fillmore and a club was recently formed in Vernal.

The UHSAA is not angry with this as Thompson says the organization’s goal is to assist parents in guiding their children to balance both club and school-sponsored sports.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-In a Thursday statement, Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz said the prospects of moving the state Prison elsewhere should be explored again.

Meanwhile, prison officials are warning that if they do not receive additional state funding, inmates will have to be released due to overcrowding.

In 2005, then-Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. explored the idea of moving the Draper-based 675-acre prison to free up property for development while the study found the price tag was prohibitive.

Chaffetz said the Federal government could assist him in bearing the cost while realistically any movement is still about a decade away.

Utah Department of Corrections director Tom Patterson says the state prison is currently slightly over capacity with 7,000 inmates while warning that if the prison operates over capacity for 45 days, state law triggers an emergency release.

Patterson said the state prison has been adding 10 to 15 inmates each month.

(ST. GEORGE) – St. George police arrested nine adult males on Thursday as part of a prostitution sting throughout four states. St. George police officer Johnny Heppler said the men range in age from 24 to 61 and hail from neighboring states of Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, as well as two from within Utah. Police arrested the men after receiving information that they were “patronizing prostitutes” and had “arranged to solicit sexual acts in exchange for money.” Heppler said the arrests are part of an ongoing effort to investigate prostitution solicitation in the area. The men were booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Washington County.

ORDERVILLE, Utah (AP)-Lance Maxwell had 23 points and the Valley Buffaloes got past the Milford Tigers, 58-49 Thursday in Region 20 boys basketball action.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)-Kelton Price amassed 22 points, including four 3-pointers as the Piute Thunderbirds smacked the Panguitch Bobcats, 70-52 in Region 20 boys basketball action Thursday. Riley Miller and Zach Brophy had 14 points apiece in defeat for the Bobcats.

TROPIC, Utah (AP)-Kace Roundy posted 21 points while Korde Chynoweth stepped up with 17 more as the Bryce Valley Mustangs ousted Wayne, 66-57 Thursday in Region 20 boys basketball action. Jason Larsen had a game-high 25 points in the loss for the Badgers.

RANDOLPH, Utah (AP)-Jarryn Skeete had 24 points and the Wasatch Academy Tigers hammered the Rich Rebels, 79-55 in non-region boys basketball action Thursday. Kayden Calder had 27 points in the loss for Rich.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Maklee Bliss had 25 points and the Delta Lady Rabbits mowed over the North Sanpete Lady Hawks, 61-51 Thursday in Region 12 girls basketball action. Taylor Gordon had 17 points in the loss for North Sanpete.

MANTI, Utah (AP)-Taylor Mann posted 32 points as the Emery Lady Spartans decimated the Manti Lady Templars, 68-33 in Region 12 girls basketball action Thursday. Ashley Soper had nine points in the loss for Manti.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)-McKell Lajeunesse keyed a balanced scoring attack with 14 points as the Richfield Lady Wildcats stymied the Juab Lady Wasps, 58-45 Thursday in Region 12 girls basketball action. Kiz Farrer had 15 points in the loss for Juab

PAROWAN, Utah (AP)-Lexi Moss had 13 points and the Beaver Lady Beavers tripped up the Parowan Lady Rams, 43-34 in Region 13 girls basketball action Thursday.

ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)-Jodi Williams had 15 points to lead the Enterprise Lady Wolves to a 51-28 rout of the Millard Lady Eagles Thursday in Region 13 girls basketball action. Keri Brunson paced Millard with 13 points in defeat.

GUNNISON, Utah (AP)-Morgan Okerlund had 17 points for the North Sevier Lady Wolves in a 47-29 win over the Gunnison Lady Bulldogs in Region 15 girls basketball action Thursday. Madee Christenson had 12 points in the loss for Gunnison.

(DRAPER) – Rep. Jason Chaffetz says Utah should take another look at relocating the State Prison from Point of the Mountain. Chaffetz has been named to the House Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee, which allows him to be directly involved in moving the aging facility. In 2005, when Chaffetz was former Gov. Jon Huntsman’s chief-of-staff, the governor ordered a study of what it would cost to move the 675-acre prison in Draper to free up property for development. The study found the price tag was prohibitive. Chaffetz said the federal government could help pick up some of the cost through long-term contracts to house federal prisoners but the move is likely a decade away.

(PHOENIX)-KGUN-TV, Channel 9 in Tucson, Ariz. reports official business is not being conducted at the Arizona House of Representatives Thursday to commemorate the fatal Tucson shootings last Saturday.

The House will be adjourned until Tuesday, due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Monday.

Many state legislators left the state Capitol in Phoenix Wednesday to travel to Tucson for services associated with the shooting, which killed six and wounded 13 others, at the University of Arizona’s McKale Center.

(ST. GEORGE)-Wednesday, St. George police responded to a reported bank robbery at the Chase Bank, located at 95 E. Tabernacle in downtown St. George which authorities now believe was a prank.

The supposed incident occurred around 2:55 p.m. Wednesday afternoon when a male caller contacted bank employees via phone and demanded money, stating he was outside the bank.

The man also claimed to be brandishing a gun and threatened to kill or rape everyone in the bank unless he got the money.

Officers later secured the area by setting up a perimeter around the bank and searched all adjacent parking lots in the area while a local preschool was also placed on lockdown during this time.

Later, officials from the St. George Police Department and local FBI agents responded to the scene according to standard procedure and secured the site.

However, preliminary investigations into the call led investigators to believe this was a prank call as the number from which the call emerged has been linked to various incidents throughout the country entailing similar hoaxes or prank calls.

No actual robbery occurred and there were no injuries associated in the incident.

If additional details emerge from the incident, further information will be released to the public.

(Manti) State Senator Ralph Okerlund is readying a bill for the upcoming state legislative session that could help stop a recently discovered plan by the Interior Department to designate six million acres in Utah as wilderness. Such a move by the Interior Department would bypass Congress and the public process. Okerlund commented that if there is going to be a wilderness designation, it needs to be handled the same way as Washington County’s recent designations. That process brought the public and environmental groups to the negotiating table and once an agreement was reached, it was ratified by Congress. Okerlund feels that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is trying to use a backdoor approach by asking BLM Director Bob Abbey to create the designation. The bill that Okerlund will be pushing would require the Federal Government to be consistent with the process that is already in place through the Resource Management Plans that have been approved at the county and state levels. Okerlund says the Federal Government should have to create a new Resource Management Plan before they can make any changes in designation.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Increased seatbelt use is believed to be a major impetus in the reduced number of deaths on Utah’s roads last year, the lowest number of traffic fatalities in more than three decades.

However, a lack of seatbelt use contributed to at least 40 percent of the 235 deaths on Utah’s roads during 2010, said Utah Highway Patrol Major Mike Rapich.

In 2010, traffic fatalities were down 37 percent from 2000 while most of the deaths were due to improper restraint or lack of seatbelt use, while the second-leading cause of death on Utah roadways was related to speeding.

Holiday traveling accounted for 16 deaths last year while the largest number of deaths came from drivers in the 25-39 age range, resulting in 60 deaths.

Interstate 15 through Salt Lake County placed first in the amount of deaths for motorists, while U.S. Highway 6, between Spanish Fork Canyon and Price was the state’s second most deadly roadway, statistics confirmed.

The complete 2010 fatalities report will soon be available online at www.zerofacilities.com.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Wednesday, a wellness initiative announced by the Utah Department of Health and the state’s Department of Human Services, all publicly-funded substance abuse and mental health facilities in Utah will be tobacco free by 2012.

The purpose of this measure, called the Recovery Plus initiative, is to develop holistic treatment plans for all clients in substance abuse and mental health facilities that receive public funding, authorities say.

Palmer DePaulis, the executive director of the Utah Department of Human Services says on average, people with mental illness die 25 years earlier than the general population, primarily due to conditions caused or worsened by smoking.

Recovering heroin addict, Kandas Prasad, says incrementally implementing the program makes sense as there are certain people in the program with her who are having an extremely difficult time breaking the habit of substance abuse.

(WASHINGTON)-Five-term Republican U.S. Representative Rob Bishop of Utah has been appointed to the House Rules Committee, the Deseret News reports.

Rules Committee chairman David Dreier made the announcement Wednesday.

The speaker of the House in Congress uses the panel to maintain control on the House floor while it can make special rules determining terms and conditions of debate on bills.

Bishop was appointed to this position after serving on the GOP Majority transition team following the Republican takeover of the House.

Bishop represents Utah’s 1st Congressional district while he was elected to a fifth term in November.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A bill providing statewide protection to gays is about to be unveiled at Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City.

Utah State Senator Ben McAdams has drafted the bill in question, which would protect gays against housing and employment discrimination.

The bill, which consists of more than 30 pages, is seeking to do what nearly a dozen Utah cities have already done, protect gays from discrimination, although this time it would be throughout the state.

Thus far, opinions are mixed on the matter, but McAdams says it’s time for Utahns to be less bigoted.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A Utah judge is refusing to dismiss rape charges against a man whose 2001 “spiritual marriage” to an underage girl served as the basis for the Utah criminal prosecution of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs.

Wednesday in St. George, Fifth District Court Judge G. Rand Beachem ruled Allen Glade Steed hasn’t proved a decision by prosecutors delayed filing the case has prevented him from getting a fair trial.

In September 2007, Steed was charged with rape, one day after a jury convicted him of two counts of rape as an accomplice.

Steed’s attorneys sought an October dismissal after the Utah Supreme Court overturned Jeffs’ convictions in July.

(WASHINGTON)-A new Facebook page announced by the Department of Justice and the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children is expected to increase the number of AMBER alerts across the nation.

The alerts will automatically go to Facebook pages throughout all 50 states as well as other U.S. territories, alerting any Facebook users who may sign up for the service, with special updates pertaining to active cases in areas or regions where they live.

Thursday, the Utah AMBER alert plan will be tested in collaboration with national AMBER alert day to ensure messages are going out as swiftly as possible, the Attorney General’s office said.

Tests occur semiannually on January 13 and August 26 while thus far, these alerts have resulted in the safe recovery of 16 children in Utah.

For more information, please visit www.amberalert.utah.gov.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Orem Senator John Valentine made a controversial statement just moments into a Utah System of Higher Education presentation when he said the state’s Board of Regents may no longer be viable.

Dave Buhler, the associate commissioner of the system said it wouldn’t save much money although numerous other legislators have proposed axing the regents through the years.

Buhler said 85 percent of the $27 million that goes to the commissioner’s office is passed straight to students via aid and scholarships.

Legislators are seeking to balance the state’s budget as federal stimulus money and other sources of one-time revenue are perpetually drying out.

The Board of Regents was first created in 1969 to approve academic programs at each school while board members complained last year when the Legislature acted on its own impulse to give the OK to an electronics engineering program at Weber State University.

Valentine argued usurpation of authority is a two-way street, saying regents have often given the approval to projects and measures the Legislature knew nothing about.

Board of Regents chairman David Jordan said the board serves a critical function as an impartial body allocating limited resources, doing statewide planning and encouraging collaboration.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – Two water companies in the state have been identified as not compliant with the Water Conservation Plan Act. The Utah Division of Water Resources says that Clearfield and Nibley cities failed to submit updates to their water conservation plans last year as required by the WCPA. In addition, Helper Municipal was required to submit an update in 2009 and has failed to do so. The Act requires water conservancy districts and retailers with more than 500 drinking water connections to prepare water conservation plans and five-year updates and submit them to the DWRe. The requirement covers systems that provide water to about 93% of Utah’s population and stipulates that non-compliance is to be made public each calendar year.

(PROVO)-Former U.S. Secretary of State Condolelzza Rice will deliver an address at Brigham Young University Thursday morning at 11:05 a.m. at the Marriott Center.

Rice is expected to address global affairs presently as well as during her tenure as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush.

Rice gained global perspective as she worked toward a positive relationship with China, sought to make peace in the Middle East and succeeded in creating an important nuclear cooperation treaty with India.

Rice spent eight years overall in the Bush administration.

Her address will be followed by a quick question/answer session.

Later on, Rice will make an appearance in Park City as she will play the piano with the Muir Quartet at the Stein Eriksen Lodge to benefit the Deer Valley Musical Festival.

(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County residents packed the Commission Chambers Wednesday afternoon to hear two appeals and make comments on the Conditional Use Permit for a proposed rock-crushing operation near Sevier. Several residents expressed concern over the proximity of the operation of the business to homes located in the area, along with the possibilities of earthquakes, floods, aesthetics and safety from increased traffic. County commissioners are considering a CUP for Millennium Construction, Inc. to build a rock-crushing business and transport the product to areas within and outside the state. Commissioners said that comments at the public hearing will be seriously taken into consideration before any decision is made on the CUP.

CASTLE DALE, Utah (AP)-Colin Christensen had 23 points and the Delta Rabbits got past the Emery Spartans, 73-65 Wednesday in Region 12 boys basketball action.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Dallen Bird had 12 points and the North Sanpete Hawks edged the Juab Wasps, 47-46 in Region 12 boys basketball action Wednesday. Taren Wright had 20 points for the Wasps while Dallin Kay added 15 more for Juab.

RICHFIELD, Utah (AP)-Eric Peterson amassed 16 points while Tyler Sorenson stepped up with 15 more as the Richfield Wildcats outlasted the Manti Templars, 64-59 in overtime Wednesday in Region 12 boys basketball action. Brady Aste had 14 points in defeat for Manti.

ENTERPRISE, Utah (AP)-Dallon Blackner posted 20 points and the Beaver Beavers smacked the Enterprise Wolves, 58-34 in Region 13 boys basketball action Wednesday.

PAROWAN, Utah (AP)-Zach Wood posted 31 points and the Parowan Rams bludgeoned Kanab, 79-51 in Region 13 boys basketball action Wednesday. Kade Quarnberg had 18 points in the loss for the Cowboys.

JUNCTION, Utah (AP)-Kandice Gleave had 12 points and the Piute Lady Thunderbirds walloped the Escalante Lady Moquis, 64-35 in Region 20 girls basketball action Wednesday. Tori Lindsay had 21 points in the loss for Escalante.

PANGUITCH, Utah (AP)-Carly Holman had 13 points to lead the Panguitch Lady Bobcats to a 42-23 win over the Milford Lady Tigers Wednesday in Region 20 girls basketball action.

BICKNELL, Utah (AP)-Haley Robins had 14 points for the Wayne Lady Badgers as they routed the Valley Lady Buffaloes, 50-24 in Region 20 girls basketball action Wednesday. Nikki Milligan had six points in the loss for Valley.

(RICHFIELD) – Sevier County has received federal funds to improve safety along county roads. Road Department Manager Mark Richenbach said the county’s responsibility is to identify which roads are most at risk. The Rural Road Signage Project requires the county to spend 6% of up to $225,000 to participate in the project.

(WASHINGTON)-KDBC-TV, Channel 4 in El Paso, Texas reports that while Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords has not yet been released from the University of Arizona Medical Center at Tucson, Ariz., she has still been honored by her political colleagues in Washington.

House Speaker John Boehner opened Wednesday morning’s session by honoring the victims of Saturday’s deadly Tucson shooting, including Giffords.

A resolution was read wherein the 20 individuals involved in the shooting were honored, including six who were slain.

The event transcended political affiliations as both Republicans and Democrats were each given three hours to speak about the tragedy.

Boehner, an Ohio representative, led the Republicans in floor remarks, while the Democrats were led by California minority leader Nancy Pelosi.

(ENTERPRISE)-The Washington County School District’s Board of Education has named Adam Baker the new principal of Enterprise Elementary School.

He will be replacing Evan Johnson who retired in December.

Baker is a lifelong Washington County resident and matriculated at both Dixie State College and Southern Utah University where he prepared to be an educator for elementary school children.

Baker has previously taught in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades in both the Alpine and Washington County school districts and completed a graduate level program through Utah State University in 2006.

Baker has also served as the principal at Lewiston Elementary School in the Cache Valley and said he enjoyed working with parents, student and staff in the community.

Baker and his wife Martha are the parents of six children, including five girls and one boy and he says he’s looking forward to a new adventure at Enterprise Elementary.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Salt Lake Tribune reports the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals has named its 2011-12 Principals of the year.

The honorees are Murray High School Principal Scott Bushnell being named principal of the year, Paul Kirby of Midvale’s Hillcrest High being named assistant principal of the year and Robert Sonju of St. George’s Fossil Ridge Intermediate School being named middle school principal of the year.

These three men will represent Utah in the national MetLife Principal of the Year competition next month at San Francisco.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins says he will meet with various authors of immigration reform bills within 10 days to whittle down the crowded field of legislation to down to “three or four” bills when there were once more than 20.

Monday, Jenkins said after the Senate Republican caucus meeting, the group seemed to be moving in that direction while he said it is the right move as the Legislature is expected to have a full plate of issues to deal with when it reconvenes January 24.

In the next 10 days, Jenkins plans to round up all sponsors of pending immigration legislation in both the House and Senate to see if they could sit down and consolidate the bills.

In the caucus, Jenkins said several lawmakers saw overlapping provisions in their legislation and that prompted several to consider wrapping bills into a few pieces of legislation.

Orem Senator John Valentine said there were a couple of unnamed senators who were still holding fast to keep their bills intact while seeking to avoid them being lumped together.

The House Republicans will conduct their caucus January 19.

(ST. GEORGE)-Utah officials are asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to look into damage in southern Utah caused by flooding last month.

FEMA said it would start its assessment Wednesday.

Teams plan to survey the damage and calculate the money needed to make repairs.

If FEMA determines the cost is more than state and local governments can muster, Utah Governor Gary Herbert can then petition for federal assistance.

Washington County officials estimate damages caused by the flooding will entail $20 million to repair.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Bureau of Land Management’s Director will visit Salt Lake City later this week at Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s request to address controversial concerns over “wild land” designations.

Friday at 2:00 p.m., Bob Abbey will meet with members of Herbert’s Balanced Resource Council in Room 210 of the state Senate Building at the state Capitol complex.

Herbert and select members of Utah’s Congressional delegation were disappointed when Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced an order charting a new course for the BLM to designate lands within its purview as “wild.”

Critics said the order contradicted a 2003 settlement agreement between the head of the Department of the Interior and then-Utah Governor Mike Leavitt.

In this agreement, both officials acknowledged any new designations of wilderness study areas would be decisions that have since expired and such classifications could come via congressional legislation.

Last December’s announcement of new land designations added more fuel to the fire for Utah critics who are still angry over rumors surfacing earlier last year due to a “leaked” Interior department document.

Salazar’s staff said this statement was nothing more than preliminary, but a subsequent meeting with Herbert and his Balanced Resource Council, Salazar was swift to offer assurances.

At that point, Salazar said land use decisions involving wilderness creation were best made via local input and thorough involvement those closest to the impacts.

(DENVER)-Tuesday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled wilderness groups have no standing to challenge Kane County over its claims to so-called R.S. 2477 roads.

A 9-2 decision reverses an earlier ruling by the court, which agreed with a federal judge that the groups had a vested interest in the legal battle.

Instead, the Tuesday ruling asserted groups, such as the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, lacked property rights in the dispute and therefore didn’t have a “dog in the fight.”

Kanab Republican Representative Mike Noel was elated at the news, calling it a win for all Utah counties.

Newly-seated Utah senator Mike Lee served as one of the primary litigators in the case as he was hired by the counties to challenge environmentalists on an issue that has dogged Utah for policymakers throughout much of the West.

Under a “pro-development” policy at the time, Congress granted rights of way to state and local entities in the Civil War era to promote the construction of highways over public lands not reserved for “public use.”

Although this policy, R.S. 2477, was repealed in a subsequent federal act in 1976, that legislation preserved any existing rights of way, leading to conflict when national monument or wilderness designation areas declared historic uses off-limits.

In 2003, things boiled over in Kane County when local officials removed 31 Bureau of Land Management signs prohibiting off-highway vehicle use in certain areas, after which they constructed their own signs saying OHV use was permitted.

Environmentalists refuted the ruling by saying they were simply sharing their “conservation interests” and were not trying to speak for the federal government on the matter.

EPHRAIM, Utah (AP)-Travis Wilkins had 18 points and Mason Sawyer added 15 more as the Snow Badgers bested the Western Wyoming Mustangs, 74-64 Tuesday in non-conference mens’ college basketball action.

The win improved the Badgers to 14-5 on the season and they will resume Scenic West Athletic Conference play Saturday at Salt Lake City against the SLCC Bruins.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole has released a handwritten letter of a convicted forger who committed murder as to what propelled him to a life of crime. 56-year old Mark Hoffman wrote in a letter in 1988 what led him to fake hundreds of historical documents and kill two people with homemade bombs nearly 25 years ago. The four-page letter, titled, “A Summary of My Crimes,” states that even at an early age, fooling people gave him a sense of power and authority. Hoffman said that as time went on, he found he could make large amounts of money through his forgeries and estimated that he forged hundreds of documents with at least 86 different signatures, including items attributed to George Washington, Daniel Boone and Emily Dickinson, among other things. He later admitted he created material to embarrass the LDS Church, hoping they would pay large sums of money to keep them private. Hoffman’s life of crime ended when, on Oct. 15, 1985, he planted a bomb that killed document collector Steven Christensen. Later the same day, Hoffman planted a second bomb that killed Kathleen Sheets, the wife of Christensen’s former employer. Police reports say the next day, Hoffman was injured when a homemade pipe bomb exploded in his car. He is serving a life sentence for the murders in the Utah State Prison.

(Manti) Snow College has seen significant growth over the past couple of years, and according to Greg Dart the school is nearing five thousand students between the two campuses. With the growth has come a need for more classrooms and housing. The school is in the early stages of approval for new housing units on campus. Dart says the school is ready to show plans to the Board of Regents for approval of a revenue bond. If they are given the green light, work could begin in May. These would be the first units built in over forty years that would be owned and operated by the College. The school is also planning to begin utilizing the old Ephraim Elementary Building for classroom space which will help alleviate crowding.

(FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.)-KOB-TV, Channel 4 in Albuquerque, N.M. reports that notwithstanding charges pending against him, new Navajo Tribal President Ben Shelly will be sworn in Tuesday.

Shelly will succeed Joe Shirley Jr. who led the tribe for two consecutive four-year terms.

Shelly says he will uphold the office with honesty, integrity and accountability to the Navajo people.

Shelly, a former lawmaker, had hoped to clear criminal charges filed against him in an investigation of discretionary spending.

However, a tribal judge took a settlement agreement under advisement Monday.

Shelly said he’s agreed to repay the money he is accused of taking and help reform laws on discretionary spending in exchange for the charges to be dropped.

Tribal lawmaker Rex Lee Jim will succeed Shelly as tribal vice president.

A smaller 24-member Tribal Council will also take office.

(GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.)-The Arizona Daily Sun of Flagstaff, Ariz. reports a male kayaker, estimated to be 40-45 years old, died around midday on the Colorado River, 44.5 miles downstream from the boat launching site at Lees Ferry.

According to the National Park Service, the unidentified kayaker was on a private trip and his fellow boaters looked back to see him run President Harping Rapid, only to see his kayak upside down in the water.

They retrieved the man, began CPR and called for help. Rangers continued in CPR, but were unsuccessful in their efforts.

The body was flown to the South Rim at about 4:30 p.m. MST Monday afternoon for transport to the Coconino County (Ariz.) Medical Examiner’s Office.

The man’s name is being withheld pending notification of his family.

(WASHINGTON)-One of the nation’s more prominent lobbying firms has hired former Utah Senator Bob Bennett to provide its clients with advice on dealing with the government.

Arent Fox, a massive law firm and lobbying shop with branches in New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, has also hired former North Dakota Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan to add some anti-partisan balance.

Bennett and Dorgan will be granted the title of senior policy advisers while Bennett will work primarily with the firm’s Los Angeles office with international clients.

Dorgan will be the co-chairman of the firm’s government relations practice along with former Pennsylvania Republican Representative Phil English.

Additionally, Bennett has started his own consulting and lobbying firm, the Bennett Consulting Group, staffed primarily with his former staff members.

The former three-term senator has also taken positions with the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington and the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-Monday, Pima County (Ariz.) Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said society is turning more callous when commenting on the fatal shooting in Arizona’s second-largest city last Saturday.

Dupnik, whose office sees a great deal of illegal immigration from Mexico and violence, said America is exhibiting more prejudice and bigotry than ever before.

Dupnik also said more people need to speak out about injustices swirling around political conversations which at times can escalate out of control.

University of Utah psychiatry chairman Dr. William McMahon said Saturday’s actions could have been instigated by political rhetoric, but it is hard to tell.

McMahon also said society is currently struggling with how to “define itself,” which leads to various conversations, some of which are contentious, concerning how views can be freely expressed without creating violence.

While scouring through 22-year-old gunman Jared Loughner’s home, investigators found an envelope suggesting this assault was planned in advance while the name of shot Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was also found.

Loughner had previously been suspended from Tucson, Ariz.-based Pima Community College after what school officials called “multiple run-ins” with campus police, including physical removal from class.

Loughner was only allowed back in class after he brought a doctor’s note saying he would not be a “danger to himself or others.”

Loughner had previously attempted to join the Army in 2008 but was rejected when failing a drug test. Army recruiters have not revealed what drug was found in his system.

McMahon says the fact that people like Loughner are on the loose increases the need for beefed-up mental health screenings and services.

McMahon also said that while mental health problems are common in our society, violence caused by such individuals is rare.

(YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo.)-Yellowstone National Park officials announced oversnow visits to the park increased slightly last month from the previous year.

The National Park Service says the number of people who entered the park on guided snowmobile and snowcoach trips was just over 9,400, up 1.2 percent from December 2009.

An average of 181 snowmobiles and 41 snowcoaches a day operated in the park from the start of the winter season (December 15) to the end of the month, authorities said.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Salt Lake County prosecutors have filed felony charges against a Utah police department’s spokesman for using a city-issued credit card to buy gasoline for his personal cars.

Cottonwood Heights prosecutor Beau Babka was charged in 3rd District Court Monday with two third-degree counts of misuse of public monies with each carrying a possible penalty of up to five years in prison.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill says the charges are tied to two specific allegations, that Babka used a city credit card to fill up the gas tanks and the car belonged to Babka and his wife.

The 48-year-old Babka was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Monday afternoon while jail records attest he posted $5,000 bail and was subsequently released.

A former undersheriff for the county, Babka has since been working as Cottonwood Heights’ public information officer since 2008 and earns about $60,000 annually.

Last week, Cottonwood Heights Police Chief Robby Russo placed Babka on paid leave pending an investigation into his alleged use of a city credit card to purchase nearly $900 of gasoline for his personal car.

Purchasing records obtained by the Associated Press via a public records request show Babka made 27 gas purchases in November and December, totaling nearly $900.

In some instances, multiple purchases were made on the same day within minutes of each other while Russo declined to comment on the changes Monday.

It also remained unclear whether or not Babka had an attorney and no court hearing date has been set in this case.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-As Utah lawmakers pour over statistics, they say the state has fallen behind in several objective measure of school performance, a problem they are planning to rectify with the help of business leaders.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert has proposed budget calls for $50 million in funding public school enrollment growth, $7.5 million to continue all-day kindergarten and $5.5 million for other programs his education commission endorses.

This is all part of an effort to reverse trends which have seen the percentage of women attending college dropping 12 percent below the national average, among other issues.

Draper Senator Howard Stephenson, the chairman of the Senate’s education committee, says he spoke to several hundred business owners Monday, who applauded his suggestion that Utah’s public colleges should more effectively align courses to help students prepare for “high-demand” careers, especially in science and engineering.

(KANAB) – An energy company is proposing to construct a plant in Kanab that would test a process for turning coal and other carbon-based materials into natural gas but not without public opposition. On Sunday, about two dozen Kanab residents gathered to voice concerns over water usage, pollutants and possible waste products that might be generated. Jim Guthrie, president of Viresco Energy, said the Department of Energy notified him that an environmental study needs to be done because of a complaint the agency received. Guthrie said the project is backed by a $2.4-million grant from the DOE and the study would hold up the project for about six months. He said his company doesn’t need an air quality permit from the state because the plant will burn only about five tons of coal per day and water will come from the city with no contaminants added. Some residents said Kanab City officials pushed the project forward without public input but the city said public hearings on the plant were advertised and the city doesn’t need to approve a conditional use permit. A meeting will be held Thursday at 7pm in the 6th District Courtroom in Kanab to discuss concerns.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Federal officials are warning people to not dial certain area code numbers because the return calls will cost you thousands of dollars. The Federal Communications Commission and AT&T both say the calls are a scam and people should report it to authorities. Officials say that people will receive a call from the scammers who leave a message saying someone in your family has died or been arrested, or you have won a prize and when you return the call, you’ll be charged up to $2,425 per minute. Authorities say the call is a long-recorded message, designed to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges. The feds are telling people to NOT call 809, 284 and 876 area codes from the U.S. or Canada. The FCC says the 809 area code is located in the Dominican Republic. Authorities say that if you do get a call from those specific area codes, report it to the FCC or your local phone company.

(PHOENIX)-KGUN-TV, Channel 9 in Tucson, Ariz. reports that despite the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Legislature still reconvened as planned Monday afternoon at Phoenix.

The House and Senate convened at 12:00 p.m. MST while a joint session presided over by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is still on the docket.

Brewer’s office has said her remarks will be shortened and “significantly revised” due to the incident.

Normally, the address covers the governor’s proposals for legislative action.

Arizona House Speaker Kirk Adams says lawmakers are also abbreviating and revising their own proceedings, calling it the “appropriate thing to do.”

Giffords served as a state legislator before resigning to run for Congress in 2006.

(TUCSON, Ariz.)-KVOA-TV, Channel 4 in Tucson, Ariz. reports the suspect in Saturday’s mass shooting in Arizona’s second-largest city made his initial court appearance Monday in Phoenix, while state charges have yet to be filed.

Authorities say 22-year-old Jared Loughner killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Loughner has been charged with one count of attempted assassination of a member of Congress, two counts of killing a federal government employee and two counts of attempting to kill a federal employee.

Pima County (Ariz.) Sheriff Clarence Dupnik says state charges will also be filed against Loughner while also saying the county attorney’s office will file charges upon recommendation from his office.

Dupnik says there is no incentive to rush the process as Loughner is currently in custody

(ST. GEORGE)-For more than a year, St. George officials have been talking to several airlines in anticipation of the opening of the city’s new airport.

The airport, an $159 million project, already serves as a hub for SkyWest Airlines although the new airport promises to be more accessible, says airline industry analyst Mike Boyd.

SkyWest, flying under the Delta Connection title, will also launch the first-ever daily jet service between St. George and Salt Lake City International, where Atlanta-based Delta Airlines operates its westernmost hub.

SkyWest will fly the route with 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 jets while on March 6, the airline will restore direct flights under the United Express brand to the United Airlines hub at Los Angeles International while SkyWest will operate the route with 30-seat Brasilia jets.

St. George Mayor Dan McArthur says SkyWest’s versatility should lead more passengers to begin their journeys in the bustling southern Utah city which remains one of the fastest-growing metropolises in the United States according to census reports.

McArthur also says travelers who begin their journeys in St. George will avoid parking and fuel costs often associated with driving from McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, or even leaving cars in the garage at the southern Nevada airport.

McCarthur said SkyWest has vetted the city’s marketing material before it was presented to an array of various airlines and believes they are not opposed to anything which can give the company more business.

(PROVO)-While we should all prepare for the future, it’s important to remember we live in the present, said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Quorum of Twelve Apostles at a Church Educational System fireside Sunday evening at Brigham Young University’s Marriott Center.

Elder Christofferson spoke of how to approach difficult goals or tasks one day at a time and told of a Navy SEAL who achieved great things by following this template.

Additionally, Elder Christofferson quoted his colleague in the Twelve, Elder David A. Bednar, who spoke of the individual brush strokes it requires to create masterful paintings.

In closing, Elder Christofferson reminded his audience to reflect on both the good and bad events of the day before retiring to bed, while striving to make the following day a little bit better.

(SALT LAKE CITY) – Rep. Jason Chaffetz and Sen. Mike Lee are answering questions concerning Saturday’s shooting rampage in Tucson, AZ. Chaffetz says he always carries a weapon while in Utah but not in Washington D.C. He talked about the idea of having U.S. Marshals protect lawmakers and said that more can be done to address threats on the Internet. Sen. Lee addressed the political rhetoric over the tragedy and doesn’t think the incident should be tied to anything political. House GOP leaders have cleared this week’s schedule, including a vote on the health care reform law, to honor Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically wounded in the shooting that left six people dead and 14 wounded.

(LOGAN)-A Utah State University smartphone application provides campus news, maps and access to grades.

The Logan Herald-Journal reports the application will be available for students to use for the first time when they return to campus Monday.

The findings were officially released last month upon the end of the fall semester.

Other features of the app include bus routes, athletic schedules and a school directory.

Students and faculty can check their campus e-mail accounts as well.

The app was programmed on the USU campus, as opposed to using a preprogrammed template many universities choose, project coordinator Jeremy Jensen said.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Under new legislation from Utah legislator Paul Ray, anyone under the age of 18 who suffers a concussion would need medical clearance to continue playing organized sports.

Ray, a Clearfield-based Republican, is sponsoring House Bill 204, which would also require amateur adult sports organizations to create concussion policies.

Utah High School Athletics Association Assistant Bart Thompson says this proposal mirrors current policies which already exist for high school sports in the state.

However, Thompson said this bill would also serve private youth sports organizations that don’t have a policy, well.

The National Conference of State Legislators says currently about a dozen states have concussion laws.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-Utah U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen has announced several promotions.

In a news release, Christensen says Assistant U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti will lead the office’s criminal division, overseeing prosecutions in the violent crime, narcotics, white collar, national security and appellate divisions.

Viti,a veteran prosecutor, helped secure the December conviction of Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell.

Christensen also named Barbara Bearnson the acting first assistant U.S. attorney while William Kendall was named deputy section chief of the violent crimes unit.

Veda Travis was named acting chief of the narcotics division while Carlos Esqueda will expand his duties related to civil rights issues and public corruption.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-A Utah Republican is sponsoring a bill which would allow parents to open up or lock credit accounts for their children as soon as they receive their Social Security numbers.

Representative Erin Hutchings of Kearns told the Provo Daily Herald said he was inspired when his youngest daughter was born four years ago.

Hutchings says he wanted to lock her Social Security number to prevent someone from stealing it.

However, he was told he couldn’t do it unless she had an account with a credit bureau.

Hutchings’ bill calls for having a child’s number validated by the state and then having credit bureaus open an account in the child’s name a parent could lock.

Hutchings says he hopes this eradicates the chance of someone else using the Social Security number to get credit

(MIDWAY) – A truck burst into flames after slamming into two horses in the road near Midway Sunday night. The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office says the truck driver was traveling through a foggy area when he hit the horses at about 7pm. The impact killed the horses and caused the truck to catch fire. The driver escaped before the truck burst into flames. The sheriff’s office said the horses most likely got out of a nearby pasture because of the weight of heavy snow on fences.

(RICHFIELD) – A Salina woman escaped serious injury after a rollover on I-70 Sunday afternoon. According to a UHP report, 21-year old Keishia Barney was traveling westbound in a 1999 Chevy Silverado, when she lost control on icy roads near the south Richfield exit and rolled on her roof at about 5pm. UHP said Barney was wearing her seatbelt and was not injured in the accident.

MANTI, Utah (AP)-Jayson Cole had 19 points and Brady Aste added 13 more as the Manti Templars got past the Delta Rabbits, 59-50 Friday in Region 12 boys basketball action. Kyle Church had 18 points in the loss for Delta.

NEPHI, Utah (AP)-Dallin Kay had 24 points and the Juab Wasps got past the Emery Spartans, 60-49 in Region 12 boys basketball action Friday.

MT. PLEASANT, Utah (AP)-Rhett Bird posted 21 points and Colton Dunn stepped up with 12 more as the North Sanpete Hawks hammered the Richfield Wildcats, 58-44 in Region 12 boys basketball action Friday. Eric Peterson had 13 points in the loss for Richfield.

ORDERVILLE, Utah (AP)-Lance Maxwell and Shane Baird had 11 points apiece and the Valley Buffaloes got past the Piute Thunderbirds, 47-41 Friday in Region 20 boys basketball action.

KANAB, Utah (AP)-Kade Quarnberg amassed 27 points and John Terrel had 24 more as the Kanab Cowboys outlasted Pahranagat Valley (Nev.), 88-86 in non-region boys basketball action Friday.

MONROE, Utah (AP)-Kaden King had 30 points and the South Sevier Rams shellacked the Beaver Beavers, 83-47 in non-region boys basketball action Friday. Dallon Blackner had 12 points in defeat for Beaver.

GUNNISON, Utah (AP)-Josh Carlisle had 13 points and the Gunnison Bulldogs snuck past the Green River Pirates, 62-58 Friday in non-region boys basketball action. Jason Johnson had 33 points in defeat for the Pirates.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)-Sean North had 17 points and Wesley Austin added 16 more as the Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s Winged Lions edged the North Sevier Wolves, 52-51 in non-region boys basketball action Friday. Austin Clark, Colton Piep and Dakota Shepherd had 12 points apiece in the loss for the Wolves.

PRICE, Utah (AP)-Tia Pappas had 17 points and the Carbon Lady Dinos hammered the North Sevier Lady Wolves, 64-29 Friday in non-region girls basketball action. Bailey Sorenson had eight points in defeat for North Sevier.

(STERLING) – A Sterling man was taken to the hospital after an Ephraim man crashed into him near Sterling Wednesday night. Utah Highway Patrol reported that 27-year old Jason Fowles of Sterling was traveling northbound in a 2001 Dodge Dakota, when he stopped to make a left turn and was rearended by 30-year old Royal Nielson of Ephraim, driving a 1993 Geo Metro at about 5:30pm. UHP said Nielson became distracted when he slammed into the back end of Fowles’ vehicle. Both men were wearing seatbelts and were transported to the Gunnison Valley Hospital with possible injuries.

(ST. GEORGE) – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has determined that a 20-year old man’s fatal fall in Snow Canyon State Park last Sunday was an accident. News reports said the office found no foul play in the death of Joshua Shillander of St. George after an autopsy was performed by the state medical examiner. Shillander tumbled about 80 feet into a crevice in an area off the Island in the Sky trail in the state park while hiking with two companions. The sheriff’s office said the two other hikers had to be rescued after getting trapped on a ledge. Shillander’s body was found and recovered by helicopter Monday after an initial rescue effort was halted due to icy conditions and darkness. His funeral is scheduled Saturday in St. George.

(PAGE, Ariz.)-The Arizona Daily Sun of Flagstaff, Ariz. reports the editor and reporter of a Page, Ariz. paper have been released from their positions.

The firings come in the wake of the publication of a name of an alleged juvenile victim in an ongoing sex-with-minor case involving a Page mayoral candidate.

Thursday, Lake Powell Chronicle publisher Sue Shinneman confirmed the two no longer worked at the paper, calling it a “new direction” for the Chronicle.

Former editor Lee Pulaski says after the December 29 edition, in which the alleged victim’s name was printed, he received a call from the district manager for the Chronicle’s parent company, News Media Corporation of Rochelle, Ill.

The manager asked Pulaski for his reasoning in deciding to print the name while Pulaski said he wanted to provide “all sides of the story.”

Nevertheless, the manager then told him he violated company policy and delivered all documents to Shinneman as he was told.

Within a few days, the firings were consummated.

(PROVO)-Provo Battalion Fire Chief Gary Jolley says investigators have only “scratched the surface” of the debris field in the burned Provo Tabernacle in an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune.

The focus is primarily on the Tabernacle’s west side where a performance of famed composer Lex de Azevedo’s “Gloria” production, that was to have started the day the Tabernacle burned down, December 17.

Jolley said investigators are not speculating on a cause at this point.

Meanwhile, Provo Mayor John Curtis and Deputy Mayor Corey Norman have removed their names from a list of people encouraging the Tabernacle’s reconstruction who are soliciting funds while Curtis said the decision for such matters rests in the hands of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as it always has.

(SALT LAKE CITY)-The Utah State Board of Education narrowly passed a motion to support the principles behind the Utah Compact, which promotes “reasonable” immigration polices in their monthly meeting Thursday.

The board voted 8-6 to support the compact’s principles after the Coalition of Minorities Advisory Committee, which advises the state’s school board, took a position in favor of the compact and asked the state school board to do so as well.

The motion passed despite significant opposition from select board members and while the board voted to pass select principles of the compact, they did not vote on whether or not to sign it.

Other compact supporters include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Salt Lake City Council, among others.