Utah news

• West Valley massage therapist charged with abusing patient

  08-03-2018 23:57
  SALT LAKE CITY — A licensed massage therapist was charged Thursday with inappropriately touching a patient.Gabriel Rodolfo Bran, 53, of West Valley City, is charged in 3rd District Court with object rape, a first-degree felony.On Jan. 8, a 40-year-old woman said she "received a massage for medical issues" from Bran at a chiropractor office in Salt Lake County, according to charging documents. During the massage, Bran pulled one of the woman's legs away from her body and inappropriately tou
  
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• 3 reasons to visit Fish Lake, the ‘gem of Utah’

  08-03-2018 23:57
  
  If you are looking for a new part of the state to explore during spring break, Fish Lake, also known as the “gem of Utah,” has a variety of outdoors offerings.
  
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• Burlington to cut ribbon at Sandy store on March 23

  08-03-2018 23:44
  SANDY — Burlington will hold a ribbon-cutting at its new 45,000-square-foot store, 10453 S. State, at 9:30 a.m. on March 23."We are thrilled to open a new Burlington in the Sandy community, bringing even more jobs to the neighborhood and providing local residents with a valued shopping experience," says Tom Kingsbury, president, CEO and chairman of Burlington Stores.During the ribbon-cutting Burlington will donate new merchandise to the Salt Lake City Mission, which provides emergency food
  
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• Baby Animal Days runs April 4-7 at American West Heritage Center

  08-03-2018 23:42
  WELLSVILLE, Cache County — The American West Heritage Center's Baby Animal Days will run April 4-7.Visitors can pet baby lambs, goats, ducks, chicks, piglets, calves, turtles and more.In addition, patrons will have a chance to see baby bears, watch sheep-shearing demonstrations, and take rides on a pony, train or mechanical bull. Games and activities will also be held on the mountain man, pioneer and 1917 farm sites.Events run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, although the line to see the b
  
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• West Jordan man accused of burning down trailer faces 15 felonies

  08-03-2018 23:40
  WEST JORDAN — A West Jordan man accused of intentionally burning down an abandoned trailer now faces 15 felony charges.Christopher William Baron, 45, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated arson, a first-degree felony; burglary, four counts of reckless use of an incendiary device, and nine counts of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, all second-degree felonies. He was additionally charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person
  
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• Kaysville to kick off sesquicentennial celebration March 15

  08-03-2018 23:40
  KAYSVILLE — Residents are invited to attend the city's sesquicentennial celebration on Thursday.The event, which will kick off a yearlong celebration, will be at 5 p.m. at the City Center, 23 E. Center. It will feature elementary school choirs from across the city performing an original musical number by resident Craig Nybo, the reading of a city declaration by longtime resident and Utah House Majority Leader Brad Wilson and birthday cake.Other events scheduled throughout the year include
  
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• Enrollment at SUU tops 10K

  08-03-2018 23:29
  CEDAR CITY — After three years of record enrollment growth, Southern Utah University is reporting its enrollment surpassed the 10,000 mark with 10,245 students attending the 121-year-old institution.According to SUU officials, the undergraduate student population stands at 9,324, with 21 percent coming from out of state — mostly Las Vegas and Southern California — 565 are international students from 46 countries.In addition, the university reported the number of degrees awarded
  
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• Rehabilitation center worker charged with abusing patient

  08-03-2018 23:00
  SALT LAKE CITY — A staff member at a Salt Lake nursing home and rehabilitation center has been charged with sexually abusing one of the facility's patients.Jorge Luis Vera, 63, of Salt Lake City, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.A 64-year-old woman told investigators that while she was recovering from surgery at St. Joseph Villa, 451 Bishop Federal Lane, from Nov. 10 to Nov. 21, Vera would inappropriately touch her under the pret
  
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• Magic Johnson says at Qualtrics X4 event that all of his life's most 'powerful' moments happened in Utah

  08-03-2018 23:00
  For Earvin "Magic" Johnson, some of the biggest moments in his life happened in Utah.He won the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City 39 years ago. He competed against the Utah Jazz as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.And, after a short visit to Salt Lake City, he learned he was diagnosed with HIV."All the things in my life that were powerful happened in Utah," he said. "My championship game in college was here. The day I got called home about HIV. Where was I? Utah."Johnson was one of the speaker
  
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• Lin-Manuel Miranda unveils trivia facts about 'Hamilton' at Qualtrics event

  08-03-2018 22:59
  Did you know that the opening number of "Hamilton" originally had a different hook?Did you know that Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote Alexander Hamilton's final song in the play after he spent some quiet time with his son?Did you know that Miranda plays tribute to Mobb Deep in the musical's rap lyrics?All of these facts were revealed by Miranda when he spoke at the Qualtrics X4 Summit in Salt Lake City on Thursday afternoon.Miranda, who created the musical "Hamilton," which will arrive in Salt Lake City
  
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• Florida man dies after crashing snowmobile in Uinta Mountains

  08-03-2018 22:53
  
  A Florida man died after crashing his snowmobile in a remote area of the Uinta Mountains south of the Utah-Wyoming border Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
  
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• Is bill delaying ballot initiatives targeting marijuana measure?

  08-03-2018 22:43
  SALT LAKE CITY — As a bill to delay implementation of ballot initiatives awaits a vote in the Senate today, advocates and backers of the bid to legalize marijuana for medical use in Utah are alone in raising their voices against the late-session legislation.Organizers and advocates for the Utah Medical Cannabis Act say that's because a bill passed late Monday night in the House would substantially impact only that ballot measure.And backers of the remaining initiatives concurred late Wedne
  
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• Utah man charged with biting off his brother's ear

  08-03-2018 22:41
  SALT LAKE CITY — A West Jordan man has been charged with biting off his brother's ear.Ronald Contreras-Rodriguez, 22, of West Jordan, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with one count of mayhem, a second-degree felony.On Feb. 24, Salt Lake police and the Utah Highway Patrol responded to a car that had pulled off to the side of the road near 600 South and 400 West. There appeared to be a struggle inside the vehicle, according to charging documents.An officer saw Contreras-Rodriguez o
  
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• UTA to suspend FrontRunner service to Pleasant View

  08-03-2018 21:35
  
  The Utah Transit Authority announced Thursday it will suspend FrontRunner service from Ogden to Pleasant View beginning in August.
  
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• Legendary pro skater Tony Hawk tells Qualtrics X4 Summit participants how he deals with haters

  08-03-2018 21:06
  Legendary pro skater Tony Hawk said a child once asked him why his parents named him after a video game character.He said he once met man who said, "You're Tony Hawk. My kid thought you were just a video game character.""That's happened more often than I care to admit," he said.Hawk stopped by Salt Lake City on Thursday for the Qualtrics X4 Summit, where he was interviewed by Olympic gold medalist Summer Sanders. Hawk spoke about how he dealt with haters and why skating doesn't need validation f
  
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• Senate passes bill seeking to put Medicaid funds toward mental health crisis response teams

  08-03-2018 20:39
  SALT LAKE CITY — The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a bill seeking a federal waiver to allow the state to use Medicaid money to help pay for mobile crisis outreach teams.Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, has described such teams as a "mental health ambulance."Mobile crisis outreach teams, frequently referred to as MCOTs, would be made up largely of mental health experts who could respond to behavioral health crises that are best suited with a treatment-oriented home visi
  
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• Charged Logan teacher had 'student fantasies,' warrant says

  08-03-2018 19:50
  LOGAN — As a Logan High School teacher accused of engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl awaits his initial appearance in court, investigators are working to determine if there are additional alleged victims.Joseph Scott Harris, 57, of Nibley, Cache County, was charged in February in 2nd District Court with six counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony. He was arrested Feb. 16 when Weber County sheriff's deputies found him parked in a car in West H
  
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• Motorcyclist, 20, killed in Ogden crash

  08-03-2018 18:33
  OGDEN — Police say a 20-year-old motorcyclist from West Haven was wearing a helmet when he was killed in a car crash Wednesday afternoon.A 73-year-old driver in an SUV turned off of Canfield Drive and collided with the northbound motorcycle on Washington Boulevard about 4 p.m., Ogden police said in a prepared statement.The driver was not injured. He was the only person in the car.The motorcyclist was pronouced dead at the scene. His name was not released as officers worked to notify his fa
  
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• Fugitive wanted in two states arrested in Utah

  08-03-2018 18:32
  WEST VALLEY CITY — A wanted fugitive accused of ramming a police car and leading officers on a brief chase was arrested Wednesday night.Todd Pace, 32, of West Valley City, and two others were arrested in an inoperable motor home parked within walking distance of the West Valley Police Department. Police surrounded the mobile home and after about 15 minutes of refusing to come out, Pace surrendered without incident, said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku.Two other people who w
  
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• Bingham High School junior selected for Team USA youth weightlifting team

  08-03-2018 16:20
  
  Chloe Wise, a junior at Bingham High School, was one of 20 youth who was selected for Team USA's Youth Pan American weightlifting squad that will compete in June in Palmira, Colombia.
  
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• Deal between Our Schools Now, lawmakers moves forward

  08-03-2018 16:16
  
  A proposed deal between lawmakers and backers of the Our Schools Now initiative to raise income and sales taxes to bring in $700 million for education moved forward Wednesday with the passage of last-minute legislation.
  
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• Is Salt Lake City a good place to get your Irish on?

  08-03-2018 16:00
  Salt Lake City and West Valley City ranked among the top 200 cities for St. Patrick's Day celebrations in a new report from WalletHub.Salt Lake City ranked at No. 66 on the list, while West Valley City ranked at No. 159. Salt Lake also ranked 85th for St. Patrick's Day traditions (more on that later).The city, however, was the sixth-best in the country when it came to affordability.Salt Lake City also ranked 151st for its weather during St. Patrick's Day and at 141st for safety and accessibility
  
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• Fire damages home in Fruit Heights

  08-03-2018 14:58
  
  Crews are on the scene of a house fire near 500 North and 1400 East in Fruit Heights.
  
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• This Utah fusion center tries to get 'predictive' about opioid trends

  08-03-2018 14:54
  SALT LAKE CITY — They were panicky, confused. Some slurred their speech. Others had hallucinations. Convulsions. Seizures.All said they had recently ingested cannabidiol oil that they'd bought at local smoke shops, though that didn't make sense to the nurses and pharmacists answering the phones late last year at the Utah Poison Control Center. CBD oil is a nonpsychoactive component of the marijuana plant. Federal law technically bars smoke shops from selling it, but the law is widely disre
  
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• Man accused of ramming into patrol vehicle during chase taken into custody

  08-03-2018 09:23
  
  Authorities were searching for a man Wednesday morning after he rammed a police vehicle during a pursuit.
  
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• 'It's that bad:' Salt Lake officials decry rushed OK of altered inland port bill

  08-03-2018 07:19
  
  In a final-hour sweep of changes, the Utah Legislature passed a controversial bill late Wednesday that would create a board to control the development of a global trade hub in Salt Lake City's northwest quadrant.
  
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• Utah in line to get more tobacco settlement money

  08-03-2018 06:56
  SALT LAKE CITY — Utah appears to be in line to receive millions of more dollars from a revision to the longstanding settlement with Big Tobacco.The Senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday approving an update to the 20-year-old agreement with cigarette makers. It now goes to the House.In April, the state will receive its regular $28 million annual payment plus another $28 million, according to SJR19. From 2018 and 2027 the state will receive "substantial" additional payments totali
  
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• Committee likely to prevent Senate hearing on bill barring Down syndrome abortions, sponsor says

  08-03-2018 06:51
  SALT LAKE CITY — The Senate Rules Committee is likely to stymie a bill barring doctors from performing abortions when they know the woman seeking it is doing so because of their child's diagnosis or risk of Down syndrome, the measure's sponsor said late Wednesday."It's very, very frustrating. It's heartbreaking, knowing what this bill would do if it passed," Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, told the Deseret News.Speaking of the Senate Rules Committee, Lisonbee said "I think ... they'r
  
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• Former 'frequent-flyer' helps to reduce return trips to the Utah County Jail

  08-03-2018 06:35
  
  It’s one of the greatest challenges facing the nation’s jails and prisons: keeping inmates on the "straight and narrow" so they don’t wind up behind bars again.
  
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• Motorcyclist dies after Ogden crash

  08-03-2018 06:34
  
  A 20-year-old man died after his motorcycle crashed into an SUV in Ogden, police said.
  
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• Utah teen faces potential weapon of mass destruction charge

  08-03-2018 06:32
  
  A detention hearing was held Wednesday for a teenage boy accused of leaving explosives in a backpack at a St. George high school and raising an ISIS flag at another.
  
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• Vigil honors those slain in domestic violence as lawmakers debate

  08-03-2018 06:24
  SALT LAKE CITY — About 30 advocates gathered on the steps of the Utah Capitol Wednesday evening at a somber vigil honoring more than three dozen people killed in cases of domestic violence last year."We need to do more," said Jenn Oxborrow, executive director of the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. "Every single one of these deaths was preventable."Inside, lawmakers were making last-minute tweaks, at the request of gun-rights groups, to a proposal designed to protect more victims from pot
  
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• Bill overhauling UTA now includes local option sales tax increase for transit

  08-03-2018 06:22
  SALT LAKE CITY — After trying to win support for a long list of revenue options to pay for transit projects, including a statewide sales tax hike, lawmakers are settling on giving some counties the option of raising sales taxes 0.2 percent."While I would like to see us take bigger steps, I'm excited about this step," Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said at a conference committee to resolve issues with House changes to SB136.The House approved the revised bill 40-32 with no de
  
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• Senate passes cannabis bills giving dying patients access and instructing state to grow it

  08-03-2018 06:02
  
  The Senate on Wednesday passed a pair of cannabis bills granting access to dying patients and allowing the state to oversee the growing of it for research purposes.
  
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• Man accused of holding 99-year-old woman hostage faces multiple felonies

  08-03-2018 05:30
  
  A documented gang member accused of holding a 99-year-old woman hostage was charged Wednesday with numerous felonies.
  
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• Qualtrics CEO notes changing business climate as summit opens

  08-03-2018 05:24
  SALT LAKE CITY — Qualtrics co-founder and CEO Ryan Smith says it's "a different world" and that companies are coming to understand the need to focus on providing a positive customer experience if they are to thrive.Utah's customer experience giant kicked off the fifth edition of its annual user summit on Wednesday, with a morning of marquee speakers and an afternoon of special topic sessions for the 7,000-plus in attendance.Smith's company, which got its start in 2002 focused on providing
  
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• State lawmaker dropping proposal to rename southern Utah roads after Trump

  08-03-2018 05:12
  
  A Utah lawmaker's attempt to rename a southern Utah highway after President Donald Trump ran out of gas Wednesday amid sometimes vulgar criticism.
  
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• Adobe breaks ground on $90 million, second office in Lehi

  08-03-2018 04:03
  LEHI — Software giant Adobe broke ground Wednesday on a project that represents a literal doubling-down of the company's investment in Utah, and it's one that's slated to have sizable impacts on the state's economy for years to come.The company dug the first shovel full of earth on a $90 million facility that will, when it opens in two years, be home to 1,000 new employees. The building will be adjacent its seven-year-old Lehi facility off I-15 and will have much the same eye-catching appe
  
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• Opioid abuse education, rural busing needs among education issues addressed by Utah lawmakers

  08-03-2018 03:57
  SALT LAKE CITY — State lawmakers have earmarked $150,000 in one-time funding to develop secondary school curriculum to better address the state's opioid abuse, addiction and overdose crisis.Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake City, sought the appropriation to update existing curriculum on addiction developed by the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah.The funding, part of late appropriations included in the yet-to-be approved HB3, will be used to update and expand an existi
  
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• Downtown Salt Lake shelter still on track to close; overflow 'worst case scenario' and unlikely, state officials say

  08-03-2018 03:53
  SALT LAKE CITY — No, there shouldn't be a need for an additional shelter, and yes, the downtown Road Home shelter is still on track to safely close in 2019.Those were assurances state officials shared Wednesday, the day after Salt Lake City leaders expressed new doubts about whether the new homeless resource centers' 700 beds will be enough to keep people off the streets when the up-to 1,100-bed downtown shelter closes in 2019."When we look at (the numbers), we feel ahead of the curve rath
  
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• Deal between Our Schools Now, Utah lawmakers moves forward

  08-03-2018 03:21
  SALT LAKE CITY — A proposed deal between lawmakers and backers of the Our Schools Now initiative to raise income and sales taxes to bring in $700 million for education moved forward Wednesday with the passage of last-minute legislation.The legislation approved by the House Political Subdivisions Committee allows voters to tell lawmakers in November whether they want the state's gas tax increased by 10 cents a gallon, a major part of the deal that would halt the initiative.Lawmakers have un
  
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• A 15-minute, intense workout once a week? Science supports the idea

  08-03-2018 03:08
  
  Finding time to workout is hard. But a new workout craze might be a solution. It's called high-intensity interval training.
  
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• $5K reward offered for information on missing American Fork woman

  08-03-2018 03:07
  
  The family of a missing American Fork woman is offering a $5,000 cash reward for information leading to her whereabouts or the arrest of anyone involved with her disappearance.
  
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• Photos: Midnight Thursday deadline bearing down on 2018 Legislature

  08-03-2018 02:56
  Rep. Susan Duckworth, D-Magna, offers Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Cottonwood Heights, some cinnamon bears as they work on the penultimate day of the 2018 Utah Legislature at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. With just hours left in the annual 45-day session, lawmakers still have a host of issues to hash out. As of late Wednesday, 394 bills had passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives.See the world through the eyes of award-winning photojournalists. Click through the gallery ab
  
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• Utah lawmakers moving bill giving selves power to intervene in court cases

  08-03-2018 02:31
  SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers are a vote away from giving the Legislature the power to intervene in court cases on its own behalf.Rep. Lavar Christensen, R-Draper, said SB171 would prevent putting the attorney general's office in the position of having to decide who it represents as happened when former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz resigned last year.The Legislature sought an opinion from the attorney general on holding a special election to replace Chaffetz, but citing the governor as its c
  
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• Lanes reopened after crash on westbound I-215 near Redwood Road in Taylorsville

  08-03-2018 02:31
  
  A crash temporarily closed the westbound side of I-215 South near the Redwood Road interchange, officials said.
  
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• Shelter funding plan stripped of fee on cities lacking affordable housing

  08-03-2018 02:10
  SALT LAKE CITY — After some final-hour negotiations, a bill that would have required cities lacking affordable housing to help pay for homeless shelters in other cities was drastically altered on the Senate floor Wednesday and got final approval from the House.But it still accomplishes the same goal: funding half of the three new homeless resource centers' annual operation costs. The bill now goes to Gov. Gary Herbert for consideration.Before it was substituted, HB462 would have fined Utah
  
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• Designing the body: Real-life 'Bionic Man' visits Utah Valley University

  08-03-2018 01:57
  OREM — If you think bionic people only exist in popular 1970s TV shows, you probably haven't met Dr. Hugh Herr. He has been called the real-life Bionic Man."How I would describe myself is: 'I have a fairly unusual body,'" he said.Herr has 12 sensors and three computers in his bionic legs, which make his movements "powered" instead of "passive," he says."I'm basically a power tool," Herr quipped as he addressed Utah Valley University students as part of the school's Presidential Lecture Ser
  
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• Aurora, beloved polar bear born at Utah's Hogle Zoo, dies at upstate New York zoo

  08-03-2018 01:47
  
  A beloved polar bear has died at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York.
  
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• Heart recipient gives donation of hope to athletes in upcoming Transplant Games

  08-03-2018 01:41
  SANDY — Shaun Coon didn't use to like spicy foods, but the man who donated a life-saving heart to him did.That man, from Las Vegas, also liked custom-building engines and had a young daughter who took a liking to Coon immediately upon meeting him."I didn't want anyone to die for me to live," Coon said. But in September 2006, after "wearing out the wheels twice" on the cart carrying his biventricular assist device, he received a new heart and a new lease on life.The now-42-year-old owner of
  
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