Utah news

• Utah firefighters return from battling Southern California fires

  20-12-2017 23:34
  SOUTH JORDAN — Utah firefighters who have spent the past two weeks helping fight the devastating wildfires in Southern California returned home on Wednesday.
  Seventy-eight firefighters from 16 agencies in northern Utah — from Layton to Provo — joined firefighters from other parts of the nation in helping California crews who became overwhelmed by the massive wildfires in their state.
  Utah Task Force 2 was first assigned to the Lilac Fire in San Diego that burned about 4,100 acr
  
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• Kearns celebrates groundbreaking for long-awaited paved roads in industrial business park

  20-12-2017 23:21
  KEARNS — For years, local businesses in the so-called "Camp Kearns" area have dealt with rugged, muddy roads that have diminished their reputations and made accessibility a nightmare in the wintertime.
  "As you come down these roads, there are potholes everywhere," said Lane Debois of Condies Foods Inc., a fresh produce company at 4850 S. 5300 West.
  The 40-company industrial area, located south of 4700 South along 5200 West, was once a World War II Army air base. Since then, businesses in C
  
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• Utah school districts ramp up suicide prevention efforts

  20-12-2017 23:20
  OGDEN — Two Utah school districts are boosting their suicide prevention efforts after a recent investigation shed light on the state's spike in youth suicides.
  Every secondary school in both the Weber and Ogden school districts now have Hope Squads, or groups comprised of students who are trained to watch for at-risk students, provide friendship and seek help from adults, the Standard-Examiner reports.
  Ogden School District spokesman Jer Bates says the district is starting to put Jr. Hope
  
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• Hatch says he's fighting to make Trump presidency greatest 'maybe ever'

  20-12-2017 23:04
  SALT LAKE CITY — President Donald Trump recognized the "great chairman" Sen. Orrin Hatch while celebrating the passage of the Republican tax plan Wednesday on the White House steps.
  In turn, Hatch, R-Utah, said, "We're going to keep fighting to make this the greatest presidency we've seen not only in generations but maybe ever."
  "Whoa," Trump responded. "Paul Ryan just said, 'How good was that?'"
  Exultant House and Senate Republican leaders gathered with Trump on the White House South Lawn
  
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• Two arrested in Mexico in connection with West Jordan slaying

  20-12-2017 22:57
  
  Two people wanted in connection with the killing of a West Jordan man have been arrested in Mexico.
  
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• Prison ordered for man whose pregnant girlfriend died in FrontRunner crash

  20-12-2017 22:31
  
  A Salt Lake man has been sentenced to prison for manslaughter after driving around a railroad crossing barrier and being hit by a train, killing his pregnant girlfriend.
  
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• 2 buck deer, bull moose killed in 3 poaching incidents

  20-12-2017 21:03
  
  Utah Division of Wildlife officials are asking for the public’s help in gathering information about three separate poaching incidents during November.
  
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• Utah Legislature hires human resources manager

  20-12-2017 20:55
  SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Legislature has hired a human resources administrator.
  Debbie Cragun, the executive director of the Utah Department of Human Resource Management, will start the new job Jan. 15.
  "The Legislature recognized more than a year ago the importance of hiring a human resources professional given the increasing complexity of employment law," said Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy.
  Cragun, who has 25 years of experience in the field, will oversee the Legislature'
  
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• Curtis appoints press secretary for D.C. office

  20-12-2017 20:50
  WASHINGTON — Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, has appointed Katie Thompson press secretary of his office in Washington, D.C. Most recently, Thompson was the chief brand officer of the film advocacy startup Causeumentary.
  "Katie's unique experience and startup background is a great addition to the talented team we are assembling in Utah and in Washington to serve the people of Utah's 3rd Congressional District," Curtis said in a statement.
  Thompson has served many years as a communications strateg
  
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• Inmate released after appeal kept him behind bars 14 extra years

  20-12-2017 20:48
  UTAH STATE PRISON — An American Fork man who was sent to prison when he was 19 and spent 30 years behind bars was released Tuesday from the Utah State Prison.
  Frank Gene Powell is now 49. He ran over and killed a man following a fight over whose truck was faster. ****
  On Nov. 29, 1987, Powell was 19 and at a house party in Pleasant Grove where alcohol was being served. He and Glen Candland, 20, got into an argument over whose truck was faster. The argument spilled over to the parking lot o
  
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• How Utah Mormons offer lessons on fixing political division

  20-12-2017 20:45
  Deseret News opinion editor Hal Boyd recently explained in an opinion piece for The Weekly Standard that Utah and its Mormon population serve as a positive case study on how to solve the deep partisan divide.
  Boyd wrote that Utah's unique political and religious culture offers a lesson on how all Americans can navigate the vast political divide.
  He wrote that Utah's policies often seem to be more fitting for liberal states, even though it's full of conservative voters.
  "While Utah has a reputati
  
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• Ogden OKs ordinance allowing backyard chickens

  20-12-2017 20:40
  OGDEN — The City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance allowing backyard chickens in residential neighborhoods. The measure passed on a 4-3 vote.
  "We are grateful for the incredible public involvement in this process," Chairwoman Marcia White said in a statement. " We have heard from those on both sides of the issue, had difficult conversations and worked hard to strike a balance that meets the needs of our community."
  The ordinance allows up to six chickens in the backyards of single-fa
  
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• Prison ordered for man whose girlfriend died when he drove around barrier

  20-12-2017 20:10
  SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man has been sentenced to prison for manslaughter after he drove around a railroad crossing barrier and was hit by a train, which killed his pregnant girlfriend.
  Nephi Adelino Makaya, 27, was sentenced last week to at least one and up to 15 years in prison for the death of Kaipa ?Ofa Ki?Uiha Sateki Kinikini, 30, in July 2016.
  A jury in November found Makaya guilty of manslaughter, a second-degree felony. When the verdict came down, Makaya pleaded guilty to driv
  
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• Mistrial declared in Nevada armed standoff with US agents

  20-12-2017 20:10
  
  A U.S. judge in Nevada declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case against a states’ rights figure, his two sons and another man accused of leading a 2014 armed standoff with federal agents during a cattle grazing dispute.
  
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• Man charged with fleeing police multiple times in past month

  20-12-2017 20:09
  MILLCREEK — A man accused of ramming two police cars in an attempt to escape was charged Wednesday with numerous felonies.
  Harley Gregory Welsh, 39, of Salt Lake City, is charged in 3rd District Court with two counts of theft, and two counts of assault against a police officer, all second-degree felonies. He is also charged with two counts of failing to respond to an officer's signal to stop, a third-degree felony; and failing to stop at the command of a law enforcer, a class A misdemeanor
  
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• Sen. Mike Lee fighting law that could allow spying on U.S. citizens

  20-12-2017 19:57
  SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has threatened to vote against any spending bill that permanently renews a foreign intelligence data collection program that he believes can be used to spy on Americans.
  But he said Wednesday he doesn't think it will lead to a government shutdown because there is increasing awareness in Congress that the two things shouldn't be tied together.
  "There's not enough of a nexus there. There's no good reason to say we're not going to fund the government un
  
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• Historic home preserved for long future thanks to Draper council vote, family says

  20-12-2017 18:46
  
  The city council voted Tuesday to approve changes that a family maintains will preserve a pioneer-era home long into the future.
  
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• See how this former BYU running back defeated his decades-long battle with opioids

  20-12-2017 18:43
  The first time Alema Harrington took a Percocet was in 1984 during his freshman year at Brigham Young University. He was sitting on a bench in a common area in Helaman Halls when he felt the narcotic hit his bloodstream.
  "It filled me with a sensation of euphoria and peace, like everything was going to be OK," he remembers.
  The BYU team doctors had provided the pills to control the pain of a football injury.
  Harrington, a running back, started taking the drugs recreationally.
  "I don't recall eve
  
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• Afternoon Utah snowstorm may make roads 'a mess' for travelers

  20-12-2017 18:40
  SALT LAKE CITY — Snow is expected this afternoon throughout the Wasatch Front, making travel conditions difficult.
  Commuters and travelers can expect slippery road conditions because of snowfall from noon through the evening commute, according to the National Weather Service's winter weather advisory.
  "It is very warm and windy, but there's quite a change we're expecting here in the next several hours," said KSL-TV meteorologist Grant Weyman.
  Weyman said roads for people traveling from the
  
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• California man last heard from 2 months ago may be missing in San Rafael Swell

  20-12-2017 17:58
  
  Deputies are searching for a California man who went missing mid-October near the Justensen Flats and Copper Globe area of the San Rafael Swell in Emery County.
  
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• California man last heard from 2 months ago may be missing in San Rafael desert

  20-12-2017 17:58
  
  Deputies are searching for a California man who went missing mid-October near the Justesen Flats and Copper Globe area of the San Rafael desert in Emery County.
  
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• Final round: Which is Utah’s favorite Christmas movie?

  20-12-2017 17:30
  
  Only one will be crowned Utah’s favorite Christmas movie. We’re giving you until Thursday night to vote to determine the winner.
  
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• Nevada ranching standoff case to resume amid mistrial talk

  20-12-2017 17:17
  LAS VEGAS — There is talk of a possible mistrial in the prosecution of a Nevada rancher and states' rights figure, two of his sons and another defendant accused of leading an armed standoff that stopped a federal roundup of cattle in 2014.
  Proceedings are scheduled to resume Wednesday in federal court in Las Vegas for Cliven Bundy, Ryan and Ammon Bundy, and Ryan Payne.
  The defense alleges that prosecutors and government agents failed to properly turn over evidence before the trial began in
  
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• Jay Evensen: Despite numerous failures, we can't give up on fixing Pioneer Park

  20-12-2017 17:05
  SALT LAKE CITY — The hopeful look in the eyes of Pioneer Park Coalition members I met with Tuesday afternoon was familiar. I’ve seen it so many times before on the faces of others.When I asked the coalition’s executive director, David Garbett, whether he believes this time, really and truly, the city’s most centrally located park — once the site of a Mormon pioneer fort built in 1847, but for decades now the city’s largest open-air drug market — can be t
  
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• Meet the artist behind the Grand America Holiday Window Stroll

  20-12-2017 16:00
  SALT LAKE CITY — We may be only three weeks into December, but artist Jonnie Hartman has been in the holiday spirit for months, designing and building the Grand America Holiday Window Stroll.
  Three miles of fluffy yarn, 18 pounds of hand-applied glitter and 2,000 hours of sketching later and Hartman has transformed each of The Grand America Hotel's 15 decorated holiday windows into this year's display, titled "Winter A to Z."
  The displays also include a life-size yeti made of 96 square fee
  
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• Utah workers fear Rio Tinto 'realignment' could mean layoffs

  20-12-2017 15:19
  
  This year, Rio Tinto announced it would be evaluating the business segments at all of its locations across the globe in 2018 in a massive “realignment” process.
  
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• Rio Tinto ‘realignment’ may impact Utah employees

  20-12-2017 15:19
  
  This year, Rio Tinto announced it would be evaluating the business segments at all of its locations across the globe in 2018 in a massive “realignment” process.
  
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• SL County Council clashes over add-ons before passing $1.3M budget

  20-12-2017 14:56
  
  The Salt Lake County Council passed the 2018 budget with some but not many changes to Mayor Ben McAdams' proposal — but not without some fireworks between Republicans and Democrats.
  
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• In our opinion: Utah could reach its high school graduation goal

  20-12-2017 14:05
  Utah education leaders set a goal a few years ago to raise the rate of high school graduation to 90 percent by the year 2020. It seemed audacious at the time, with graduation rates hovering at about 81 percent in 2013, but there are encouraging signs the state may very well reach that goal after an impressive investment of resources to get more kids through secondary school.The state reported this week that the rate of graduation has increased every year in the past five, and is now up to 86 per
  
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• Utah's congressional delegation votes for Republican tax overhaul

  20-12-2017 07:18
  
  All six members of Utah's congressional delegation voted for the massive Republican tax overhaul Tuesday, saying the middle class will see bigger paychecks and lower taxes as early as next year.
  
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• Group delivers donated tarps to homeless in Pioneer Park

  20-12-2017 06:55
  
  With the dramatic drop in temperatures and snow in the forecast, a group volunteers spent time Tuesday night helping to provide some shelter to homeless individuals and their belongings.
  
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• Why stress is life-threatening and what you can do about it

  20-12-2017 06:40
  
  There's an illness seemingly on the rise that's causing debilitating symptoms. Like headaches, high blood pressure and depression. It's chronic stress and it could be life-threatening.
  
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• Kaysville residents: Who keeps stealing our baby Jesus figurine?

  20-12-2017 06:30
  
  Unfortunately, theft of Christmas lights and other lawn decor is something pretty common this time of year. But who steals a baby Jesus figurine from a Nativity display? One Kaysville neighborhood is trying to figure that out.
  
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• BYU's 'bridesmaid of the year,' an online scam and 8 other stories that trended in 2017

  20-12-2017 06:18
  Sometimes, trending news hits home with Deseret News readers.
  From a BYU senior's antics going viral through Reddit to an elephant and a goose duking it out at Hogle Zoo, trending news was alive and vibrant this year in Utah. A television star's photo of Mormon missionaries, as well as one lawmaker's plan to split California into three states, also piqued a lot of interest in the Beehive State.
  We shared these stories with our readers through links to social media or other publications, and each
  
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• Provo man charged with kidnapping, accused of luring 10-year-old into apartment

  20-12-2017 06:10
  
  A 66-year-old Provo man is facing a child kidnapping charge after police say he lured a 10-year-old girl into his apartment last week.
  
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• More pushback over Utah's .05 percent DUI threshold

  20-12-2017 05:39
  
  A national hospitality and alcohol trade group is strengthening its push against Utah's lower DUI threshold.
  
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• Despite political clashing, Salt Lake County Council passes 2018 budget

  20-12-2017 04:45
  SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County Council passed the 2018 budget with a few changes to Mayor Ben McAdams' proposal — but not without some fireworks between Republicans and Democrats.
  At issue in the $1.3 billion budget? About $367,000 in add-ons some council Republicans said they couldn't support out of concern for the county's credit rating.
  The budget's passage — with just one Republican, Councilman Michael Jensen, voting in favor — means the county's partially moth
  
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• Tail to the chief: Newest county mayor shows paw-tential

  20-12-2017 04:24
  SALT LAKE CITY — There was no shortage of dog puns Tuesday as the Salt Lake County Animal Services' "pawlitcal" winners were sworn into office.
  "If only they could keep us on a leash," Salt Lake County Ben McAdams joked after the ceremony in front of the Salt Lake County Council.
  Kandie, a therapy pit bull, was sworn in by Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swenson as the Salt Lake County Animal Services mayor. Also sworn in was her deputy mayor, a white boxer named Churchill, and nine other "
  
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• More pushback over Utah's .05% DUI threshold

  20-12-2017 03:41
  SALT LAKE CITY — A national hospitality and alcohol trade group is again pushing back against a lower DUI threshold set to take effect in Utah in a year.
  Utah has trouble enforcing a prior law requiring drivers with DUI convictions to install breathalyzer devices that lock the ignition until a sober reading is recorded, the American Beverage Institute said Tuesday in a prepared statement.
  Utah lawmakers "should focus on enforcing existing laws targeting convicted drunk drivers rather than
  
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• Looking back at some of Utah's longest recorded inversions

  20-12-2017 03:32
  
  With “persistent cold pools" back in play, here is a list of the longest recorded inversions.
  
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• Last minute gift ideas: Local experiences to fit your budget

  20-12-2017 03:00
  
  Instead of buying your loved one a present that will sit on a shelf, consider giving them one of these 13 experiences.
  
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• Family celebrates Christmas by honoring fallen officers

  20-12-2017 02:54
  OREM — A Utah County family is celebrating Christmas by honoring police officers who died within the last year.
  The Daily Herald reports Dave and Sarah Farley, of Orem, are decorating their Christmas tree with blue ribbon, a blue and black star topper, black baubles with a thin blue line across their middle and strips of paper with the names of 118 fallen officers from 2017.
  Sarah Farley's 13-year-old son from a previous marriage, Jesse Burk, helped his mother and stepfather decorate the t
  
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• With limited space in Utah, ICE may be eyeing Idaho for jail beds

  20-12-2017 02:53
  JEROME, Idaho — With space tight in Utah, an Idaho county's officials are awaiting a contract from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to lease beds at the county jail.
  The Times-News reports the agency last January described Jerome County as an "ideal location" to lease 50 beds to make up for a lack of space in Utah. By establishing a presence in Jerome, the agency says it would save money by cutting the transportation costs of sending detainees to Seattle or Salt Lake City.
  The agen
  
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• Spectrum executive editor Steve Kiggins resigns

  20-12-2017 02:25
  ST. GEORGE — The executive editor of the Spectrum newspaper is resigning to take a job in California.
  The Spectrum reports that Steve Kiggins has been the top newsroom leader since May 2015. He also led the Desert Valley Times in Mesquite, Nevada. It was his third stint at the Spectrum after previously working as a sports editor and bureau chief.
  Gannett, the newspaper's parent company, says it will launch a national search to replace Kiggins, whose last day is Dec. 22.
  Matthew Jacobson, a
  
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• Group selling handmade Christmas ornaments to help Utah County teen

  20-12-2017 01:35
  
  A group of crafters in Utah County is coming together to raise money for a Springville teenager in need of a life-saving surgery.
  
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• Time running out for Utahns to file for refund in Western Union scam

  20-12-2017 01:32
  SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Division of Consumer Protection is reminding consumers who may have lost money in scams using Western Union money transfer services that time is running out to be eligible for a refund from a federal government settlement.
  Consumers who used Western Union between Jan. 1, 2004, and Jan. 19, 2017, in money transfers that turned out to be fraudulent are eligible to apply online with the court appointed claims administrator.
  According to data obtained from Western Uni
  
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• Rio Tinto ‘realignment’ may impact Utah employees

  20-12-2017 01:11
  SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of local workers may be affected by efforts of global mining company Rio Tinto to restructure its business operations in areas around the world. This year, the company announced it would be evaluating the business segments at all of its locations across the globe in 2018 in a massive "realignment" process.
  While no layoffs have been announced, the Deseret News has received anonymous email messages expressing concern about possibly imminent large-scale job cuts.
  Ri
  
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• Salt Lake company unveils state's biggest battery of electric vehicle chargers

  20-12-2017 01:03
  SALT LAKE CITY — State and local leaders gathered at the headquarters of Packsize International on Tuesday to cut the ribbon on the company's newly completed battery of 50 electric vehicle charging stations — the largest private installation of its kind in Utah.
  Packsize CEO Hanko Kiessner said he hopes investing in the chargers, which will also be available to the public, will help incentivize his employees and other Utah drivers to make the switch to zero-emission electric vehicles
  
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• Park City chef to share recipes with ‘Today’ viewers on Christmas Day

  20-12-2017 01:03
  PARK CITY — Zane Holmquist, vice president of food and beverage and corporate chef at Stein Eriksen Lodge, will be a guest chef on NBC's "Today" show on Christmas Day.
  Holmquist has been invited to share his cooking expertise on the national morning show for six years running to prepare signature menu items available for guests at Stein Eriksen Lodge during the winter season.
  For the in-studio segment, Holmquist will share and create his recipes for three holiday beverages, including Ginge
  
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• Woman arrested after chase then steals cop car, police say

  20-12-2017 01:01
  TREMONTON — A woman was arrested twice Tuesday — first after allegedly getting into a chase with police, and then after allegedly stealing the police car she was placed in during her first arrest.
  The wild series of events began just after 2 a.m. Tremonton's lone officer on patrol at that time attempted to stop a car for speeding near Main and Tremont Street, according to Chief David Nance. Following a short chase, the car occupied by four people stopped and the driver, Ashley Quinta
  
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