Utah news

• Utah National Guard soldiers prepare for deployment

  28-12-2017 23:51
  DRAPER — When military soldiers train, they know that one day their training could be used in the realm of actual combat. And while they often long for the opportunity to put their preparation to the test, when that time comes there is a sobering reality for them and the family that supports their goal of serving their country.
  For a group of 15 Utah soldiers, the chance has come to put their skills and training to use in the nation's ongoing efforts to battle terror in the Middle East. So
  
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• Utah lawmaker wants to ban hand-held phone use while driving

  28-12-2017 23:03
  
  A Utah lawmaker is working on legislation that would make it illegal to hold a cellphone while driving.
  
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• Pew unveils its 17 most striking findings of the year

  28-12-2017 22:22
  The Pew Research Center unveiled its 17 most striking findings for 2017 in a post earlier this week.
  Pew often studies a variety of topics for the U.S. and world. Many of these findings relate to religion, family life, media and politics.
  The most striking findings included: President Donald Trump has made an impact on the United States' reputation, about 4-in-10 Americans say they live in a gun-owning household, and Democrats and Republicans disagree over the media's role as a watchdog, among m
  
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• Investigators determine cause of fatal Christmas Eve fire

  28-12-2017 22:14
  
  Officials have released the cause of a fire that consumed an Ivins home on Christmas Eve, leaving one woman and possibly two dogs dead while injuring another woman.
  
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• Idaho short-eared owl study expanding to 8 western states

  28-12-2017 22:10
  
  Researchers observing a possible decline in short-eared owls are expanding their study from Idaho to eight western states.
  
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• The top 10 most-read KSL articles of 2017

  28-12-2017 21:16
  
  While Washington storylines dominated the national headlines throughout the year, for KSL readers, the biggest news came from within Utah’s borders.
  
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• Salt Lake City ranked one of the best cities to keep your New Year's resolution. Here's why

  28-12-2017 20:39
  Where's the best place to live if you want to keep your New Year's resolutions?
  A new report from WalletHub ranked Salt Lake City among the top five cities nationwide for helping residents stick to their goals for 2018.
  WalletHub ranked each city by taking the most commonly kept and broken resolutions and compared them to each city's level of conduciveness to helping people achieve those goals. WalletHub reviewed 52 metrics — including gyms per capita for health resolutions or income growt
  
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• Fog, sooty air prompt open burn ban across 6 Utah counties

  28-12-2017 20:16
  
  Authorities say dense fog and air pollution are combining to create hazardous conditions in the Salt Lake City area, prompting officials to ban opening burning and solid fuel in fireplaces or wood burning stoves.
  
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• S.L. County OKs ZAP tax funding for 25 organizations

  28-12-2017 20:02
  SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake County has announced 22 organizations will receive funding through the zoo, arts and parks tax tier I program in 2018.
  In addition, three organizations — Utah's Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary and the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium — will receive funding through the program's zoological category.
  The ZAP tax — 1 cent of every $10 spent in the county — partially funds more than 190 county arts and cultural organizations, as well as 30 parks and re
  
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• Teens crash cars onto Midvale property, damaging garage

  28-12-2017 19:30
  
  One teen is in custody and police are looking for several others after two cars crashed into a garage in Midvale.
  
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• Here's how much Utahns spend every year (and how it ranks nationally)

  28-12-2017 18:51
  American consumers spent from $30,000 to more than $56,000 in 2016.
  A new report from Howmuch.net revealed how consumer spending varies by state. Utah ranked at the bottom-end of states, with Beehive State residents spending between $34,000 to $36,900 per year.
  Utah specifically spent $35,100 per capita, which is higher than neighboring Arizona. Utah ranked below neighbors Nevada ($36,200), New Mexico ($35,700) and Texas ($36,500).
  Washington, D.C., ($56,843) and Massachusetts ($51,981) topped t
  
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• Layton man charged in fatal Weber County crash

  28-12-2017 18:25
  MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE, Weber County — A man who investigators say crashed his car and killed his passenger while fleeing from an earlier crash was driving with a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit, according to court documents.
  Derek Lyle Hendricks, 33, of Layton, was charged Wednesday in 2nd District Court with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony; causing an accident involving property damage, a class C misdemeanor; and having an open container in a vehicle, a
  
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• Lehi man in child porn case also faces sex abuse charges

  28-12-2017 18:21
  LEHI — A Lehi man awaiting sentencing in federal court in a child pornography case now faces new charges of child sex abuse in state court.
  Robert Edwin Francis, 41, was charged Wednesday in 4th District Court with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony; and two counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
  In September, Francis was indicted in federal court with production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and possession of chil
  
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• Handful of minor earthquakes hit area northwest of Cedar City

  28-12-2017 18:00
  
  A handful of small earthquakes near Cedar City were recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey Wednesday.
  
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• Former probation officer faces new felony charges

  28-12-2017 17:33
  
  A former Washington County probation officer who has had multiple run-ins with the law is facing new felony charges for allegedly fraudulently using a credit card on an online dating website.
  
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• A. Scott Anderson: Utah’s good people made 2017 an excellent year

  28-12-2017 16:40
  The year 2017 was a very fine year for Utah. I hope all Deseret News readers and their families enjoyed a great year.As I look back at the issues and events of 2017, a few things stand out that I believe helped Utah experience a terrific year.The first is the general good character and generosity of Utahns. The foundation of a successful society, good government and a healthy economy is strong families, integrity and hardworking citizens. We are blessed to have that solid foundation in Utah, and
  
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• Institute celebrating Eccles Center’s anniversary with ticket giveaway

  28-12-2017 16:16
  PARK CITY — The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts is celebrating its 20th anniversary in January, and the Park City Institute is offering patrons a chance to win a pair of VIP tickets to one of the remaining shows in the 2017-18 Main Stage season.
  Patrons are asked to submit descriptions of approximately 150 words about their favorite experience at the Eccles, either in the comments section on the institute's Facebook post announcing the contest, or by
  
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• Op-ed: The economic folly of rolling back Grand Staircase-Escalante

  28-12-2017 14:45
  President Trump has peddled his recently announced plan to shrink the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument with the claim that he wants local businesses to have more say-so on how the land is used.For the president, Secretary of Interior Zinke, Congressman Rob Bishop and others who have knives out for Grand Staircase-Escalante, however, only one kind of business seems to matter — coal mining.Based on their statements and actions, politicians hollering to shrink the monument believe
  
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• 2 cars crash into garage; police seek juvenile driver

  28-12-2017 14:40
  
  Police are looking for one of two juveniles who crashed their cars into a garage in Midvale then fled late Wednesday night.
  
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• Snowmobiler buried in avalanche sustains only minor injuries

  28-12-2017 06:46
  LOGAN — A snowmobiler caught in an avalanche Tuesday was relatively unharmed after his brother, father and uncle dug him out.
  The rider was with another snowmobiler when they triggered the slide in the Franklin Basin area of Logan Canyon, the Utah Avalanche Center said on its website. The man's name was not immediately released.
  The pair had hoped that dense tree growth in the part of lower Boss Canyon would help to prevent an avalanche, the Avalanche Center said.
  One of the men managed to
  
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• Utah County rescuers offer ice safety tips

  28-12-2017 06:33
  
  Search and rescue officials are warning the public about dangerous ice conditions after an 8-year-old boy chasing a dog fell through an icy pond Monday.
  
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• Drama and emotion: See the best sports photos from 2017

  28-12-2017 06:00
  In 2017, Deseret News photojournalists captured the emotion and drama as the sports year unfolded in the state of Utah.
  They were on hand for NCAA tournament games played in Salt Lake City. They were there as dozens of high school championships were awarded. They followed the ups and downs of professional and college sports in Utah — the Jazz, Utes, Cougars, Aggies, Real Salt Lake and more.
  Scroll down or click through the gallery to see the best of the best from 2017.
  
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• Transportation officials' resolution: Zero deaths on Utah roads over New Year's

  28-12-2017 05:47
  SALT LAKE CITY — One person died on Utah roads over Christmas weekend compared with three last year, transportation officials said Wednesday.
  But they don't count the reduction as a victory.
  "One fatality is too many," said John Gleason, spokesman for the Utah Department of Transportation.
  Friends and family are mourning the death of Cage Patterson, 19, of Oregon. Patterson was killed Saturday when a family member who was driving fell asleep on I-215 and crashed into a concrete wall, polic
  
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• Utah lawmaker's revisions to DUI law may include self-defense weapons exemption

  28-12-2017 04:48
  SALT LAKE CITY — The state lawmaker behind Utah's .05 percent DUI threshold is preparing tweaks to the law that pertain not just to driving but also to carrying and firing a gun while intoxicated.
  Rep. Norm Thurston seeks to carve out an exemption for people who are under the influence but use a weapon to defend themselves or someone else, he said Wednesday.
  That's among a handful of potential changes the Provo Republican said he's working on in advance of the 2018 Utah Legislature, which
  
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• Record-breaking sales at Utah liquor stores before Christmas

  28-12-2017 04:05
  
  Sales at Utah state liquor stores broke an all-time record on the Friday before Christmas.
  
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• Christmas tree pickup begins Jan. 24 in Lindon

  28-12-2017 04:00
  LINDON — Republic Services will provide curbside Christmas tree pickup Wednesday, Jan. 24, through Tuesday, Jan. 30.
  To ensure prompt pickup, residents are asked to place trees on the curb by 7 a.m. on the 24th. Service is limited to one tree per household.
  
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• Rep. John Curtis confident Utahns will like new tax bill — eventually

  28-12-2017 03:01
  
  The newest member of the state's congressional delegation, Rep. John Curtis, said he expects Utahns will like the just-passed Republican tax bill even though it may take some time for them to come around.
  
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• Panel to discuss plans for Liberty Park fitness court

  28-12-2017 02:46
  SALT LAKE CITY — The city's Historic Landmark Commission is inviting the public to give input on a proposal to build a fitness court at Liberty Park during its meeting on Thursday, Jan. 4.
  The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Room 326 of the City-County Building, 451 S. State.
  According to the city's Parks and Public Lands Program, the outdoor gym would include exercise equipment designed for multiple fitness routines. The equipment would be secured in place on 38-foot by 38-foot concr
  
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• Taylorsville City Council looking to fill vacated seat

  28-12-2017 02:42
  TAYLORSVILLE — The City Council is accepting applications to fill a midterm vacancy for District 2.
  Interested parties who live in the district must submit their name for consideration to City Recorder Cheryl Peacock Cottle by 5 p.m. Friday at City Hall, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd.
  Applicants can email [email protected] or call 801-955-2006 to schedule an appointment for submitting a declaration of candidacy in person.
  The City Council will then interview candidates at 6 p.m. on We
  
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• Philosopher to discuss ‘Civility in Modern Times’ Jan. 12 at WSU

  28-12-2017 02:41
  OGDEN — Philosopher, political activist, social critic and author Cornel West will discuss "Civility in Modern Times" during an appearance at Weber State University on Friday, Jan. 12.
  West will speak on keeping Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of love and justice alive at 7 p.m. at the Val A Browning Center. Tickets for the general public are $10-$25, or $6 for students.
  West, professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard, has written 20 books, including "Race Matters" and "Dem
  
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• Eagle Mountain offering free Christmas tree disposal

  28-12-2017 02:39
  EAGLE MOUNTAIN — The city's Parks Department will offer free Christmas tree disposal through Saturday, Jan. 20.
  Residents can drop live trees, free of all decoration, at the rodeo grounds parking lot, 4447 Major St.
  
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• Snags for overdose-reversing drug in Utah

  28-12-2017 02:27
  SALT LAKE CITY — A widely available antidote has reversed more than 1,800 painkiller and heroin overdoses in Utah, but advocates say stigma around syringes has stymied its success.
  Authorities and others are confiscating needles that come packaged with naloxone under the suspicion that they are drug paraphernalia, say those who provide the kits. It's happening on sidewalks, in treatment centers and workplaces across the state, even though the substance and accompanying needles are legal.
  "
  
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• UTA to extend TRAX service on New Year’s Eve

  28-12-2017 02:18
  SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority will run limited service on New Year's Day, but it will have extended TRAX and S-Line service to get riders home from New Year's Eve events.
  Trains will run every 20 minutes on New Year's Eve. The last southbound Blue Line train will leave the City Center Station at 12:46 a.m; the last southbound Green Line train will leave the station at 12:51 a.m.; and the last southbound Red Line train will leave the Courthouse station at 1 a.m.
  Please note th
  
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• School supplies business to close its doors after 120 years

  28-12-2017 02:18
  WEST JORDAN — One of Utah's oldest retail companies is preparing to make its final sale after more than a century of doing business.
  Utah-Idaho Supply/Map World announced Wednesday that it will close its doors in early 2018 "due to competition from national-chain, big box stores and ever-expanding online vendors." The firm has supplied supplies to educators for more than 120 years.
  Founded in the late 1890s as the textbook depository for Utah and Idaho, the business originally specialized
  
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• Photos: Workshop lets kids hone their ‘Ninja Warrior’ skills

  28-12-2017 02:18
  Tyler Kurtzhals tries out the obstacle course as Brent Steffensen, star of "American Ninja Warrior," conducts a clinic at Obstacle Warrior Kids at the Shops at South Town in Sandy on Wednesday. Obstacle Warrior Kids operates similar to a trampoline park with open play for kids of all ages. Many of the obstacles mimic those seen on the television show, including warped walls of varying heights, a salmon ladder, ropes, rings and more. The obstacle park is open all day for open play Monday through
  
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• Rep. John Curtis confident Utahns will like new tax bill — eventually

  28-12-2017 02:13
  SALT LAKE CITY — The newest member of the state's congressional delegation, Rep. John Curtis, said he expects Utahns will like the just-passed Republican tax bill even though it may take some time for them to come around.
  "I believe, or I wouldn't have voted for it, that it will be received well, that it's the right thing for the state and it is the right thing for the country," Curtis told members of the Deseret News and KSL editorial boards Wednesday.
  But the 3rd District representative,
  
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• Smog, haze to usher out 2017

  28-12-2017 01:58
  SALT LAKE CITY — It appears the last few days of December will lack much to celebrate when it comes to weather, with an inversion setting up to stay and thick fog making travel challenging.
  Dense fog in the valley areas near the Great Salt Lake slowed Wednesday morning's commute, and it's expected to be troublesome over the next several days.
  As the stagnate weather conditions continue, the Utah Division of Air Quality is forecasting worsening conditions and advising people with respirator
  
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• South Towne Expo Center getting new name in $3.9M deal

  28-12-2017 01:46
  SANDY — South Towne Expo Center is getting a new moniker.
  The convention hall will be renamed the Mountain America Expo Center during a ceremony at the facility on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at noon. The renaming rights are part of a 10-year $3.9 million agreement with Salt Lake County, which will retain ownership of the facility.
  "We're pleased to partner with Mountain America Credit Union at our Sandy convention and meeting facility. They are all about serving their members, just as Salt Lake Cou
  
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• Need a designated driver this New Year's? Orem police have you covered

  28-12-2017 00:04
  
  In addition to increased patrols, Orem Police Department is taking another approach this year in an effort to stop drunk drivers from reaching the road on New Year's weekend.
  
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