Utah news

• Mentally ill man sent to prison 17 years after murdering wife

  19-03-2018 23:51
  SALT LAKE CITY — After 17 years of legal proceedings and attempts to restore his competency, a Salt Lake man has been sentenced to prison for murdering his wife.William Hartnell Booty, 67, was sentenced last week to one to 15 years at the Utah State Prison. He pleaded guilty and mentally ill to an amended charge of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, last year."I could not be more proud of our office and our prosecutors for sticking with this matter," Salt Lake County District Attorney S
  
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• Saint Mary's College of California provost emeritus named 19th president of Westminster

  19-03-2018 23:35
  SALT LAKE CITY — Bethami Dobkin, provost emeritus of Saint Mary's College of California, has been selected the 19th president of Westminster College.Westminster's board of trustees, after conducting a nationwide search, announced the selection Monday. Dobkin succeeds Stephen R. Morgan, who will retire in May after three years as president and 37 years in leadership roles at Westminster. Dobkin will join Westminster in July with an inauguration celebration planned for the fall.Dobkin, who w
  
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• Police: Woman sexually assaulted at Dimple Dell

  19-03-2018 23:29
  SANDY — Police are investigating a report of sexual assault on an urban trail in Sandy.A woman in her 40s was walking in Dimple Dell Regional Park on Monday afternoon when a man assaulted her, Sandy police said. Witnesses called police, who said they found the woman with injuries but did not elaborate.Few details were immediately available. Sandy police said they believe the suspect is a 6-foot man in his 20s with a dark complexion and a thin build. He was thought to be wearing a black bea
  
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• Farmington cleanup set to start Monday

  19-03-2018 23:26
  FARMINGTON — A citywide residential spring cleanup is set to begin Monday.During the cleanup, residents can place yard waste for curbside pickup. Tree branches, which must be cut into pieces no longer than 5 feet and no wider than 8 inches, should be stacked at the curb in a pile no larger than 10 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 feet high. Please don't put material in bags or boxes. Leaves can be left in pilesWaste in the north half of the city — from State Street to the city limits, in
  
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• Capitol Reef National Park gets new superintendent

  19-03-2018 23:23
  CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK — Susan Fritzke, deputy superintendent of four National Park Service sites in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been named superintendent of Capitol Reef National Park.Fritzke, who served as acting superintendent Bryce Canyon National Park in 2016-17, assumes her new post on April 15."Sue is an accomplished park manager and strong communicator who knows how to foster a positive workplace and build relationships with local communities and elected officials," Sue Mas
  
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• DWR hosting ‘Listen to the Owls Night’

  19-03-2018 23:22
  PRICE — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting a "Listen to the Owls Night" on the evening of Thursday, April 5.The free event, which will be held in conjunction with owl surveys in south-central Utah, will start at the Desert Lake Waterfowl Management Area east of Elmo and conclude in Huntington Canyon."Great horned owls, barn owls and screech owls are common species in Utah," Morgan Jacobsen, regional conservation outreach manager, said in a statement, "but stealth and twilig
  
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• Shelter in place lifted in SLC neighborhood

  19-03-2018 23:15
  
  A shelter in place was lifted Monday afternoon after a SWAT team could not find an armed man suspected in an attempted home burglary.
  
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• Sen. Mike Lee says Congress shouldn't bail out 'Obamacare' in spending bill

  19-03-2018 22:43
  SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Mike Lee is among conservative Republicans speaking out against what they see as an "Obamacare" bailout in the $1.3 trillion spending bill Congress will consider this week to keep government running.America's Health Insurance Plan, the lobbying arm of the health insurance industry, sent a letter to GOP leadership demanding billions of dollars in new subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance policies. The letter did not mention that health insurance companies are alr
  
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• Utah case could be tied to $500K underwear theft, police say

  19-03-2018 22:41
  SALT LAKE CITY — Three people who investigators believe may be tied to a Chilean theft ring responsible for stealing more than $500,000 worth of merchandise from Victoria's Secret stores in Las Vegas have been convicted in Utah.William Orlando Pinzon Galindo, 41, pleaded guilty on March 6 to theft by receiving stolen property, a third-degree felony. He was placed on probation and ordered to pay restitution.Omaira Reina-Martinez, 24, pleaded guilty the same day to theft by receiving stolen
  
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• Payson family of teen with Down syndrome suing Boy Scouts

  19-03-2018 20:43
  
  The Boy Scouts of America and the Utah National Parks Council in Utah County are facing a lawsuit after a family of a teen with Down syndrome claims their son was not accepted into the Alternative Eagle Scout Program because of his mental disability.
  
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• Disgruntled arborist chopped down Springdale trees he planted, police say

  19-03-2018 20:42
  SPRINGDALE, Washington County — After a yearlong investigation, the former arborist for Springdale has been arrested and accused of cutting down more than a dozen trees around the town's hall and causing more than $10,000 in damage to town property in an apparent disgruntled rage.Shane Curtis Lowery, 52, of Hurricane, was arrested Monday for investigation of criminal mischief. Another man, Steven James Stone, 41, of Hurricane, was also arrested Monday for investigation of criminal mischief
  
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• 4 activities for spring break in central Utah

  19-03-2018 20:11
  
  Spring break is a great time to get out and enjoy time together as a family. If you don't feel like taking a big trip to the beach, though, there's plenty of stuff to do right here in central Utah.
  
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• Political party caucus meetings on tap Tuesday across Utah

  19-03-2018 19:54
  SALT LAKE CITY — Political parties in Utah will hold caucus meetings Tuesday night to elect delegates and cast votes for candidates to run in primary and general elections.This year's meetings come amid prolonged bickering in the Utah Republican Party over the state's controversial nominating process that allows candidates to gather voter signatures to get on the primary election ballot as an alternative to the caucus/convention system.Waning attendance at precinct caucuses over the years
  
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• 3 Salt Lake County men arrested in 'large scale' meth bust

  19-03-2018 19:10
  
  Three men were arrested after police recovered more than 10 pounds of meth, two guns and thousands of dollars in cash during multiple raids of a suspected “large scale” drug ring over the weekend, according to a jail report.
  
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• Local 2018 races to watch in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah Counties

  19-03-2018 19:05
  SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake County's longtime clerk, Sherrie Swensen, is gunning for an eighth term after nearly three decades in office, but an unexpected rival is challenging her.One of Swensen's right-hand employees — Rozan Mitchell, the Salt Lake County elections director — is running against Swensen. And it's not exactly being considered a friendly competition."It's been rocky," Mitchell admitted when discussing her decision to run against her boss in an interview last week
  
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• Milwaukee Brewers pay tribute to this epic 'Sandlot' scene

  19-03-2018 19:00
  The Milwaukee Brewers paid tribute to the heroes and legends of "The Sandlot" in a new video posted to Twitter on Sunday.To celebrate the movie's 25th anniversary, the Brewers reenacted the classic scene from the film when Hamilton 'Ham' Porter hits a home run that goes over the fence ... into their neighbor's yard.Watch the Brew Crew reenact the scene below.There's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die. pic.twitter.com/z7mKroaOQ1— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brew
  
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• 4 injured after chase ends in 4-vehicle crash, police say

  19-03-2018 18:52
  
  Two people were critically injured and two others were transported to a hospital after a woman driving a stolen van crashed at an intersection while evading officers, police said.
  
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• Kolob Canyon Road to close for 7-month construction project

  19-03-2018 18:45
  ZION NATIONAL PARK — A seven-month project to repave the Kolob Canyon Road and add accessible parking, sidewalks and toilet facilities, is set to begin Tuesday, May 1.During the project, the entire road will be closed, denying access to the Taylor Creek Trail, the Timber Creek Overlook Trail, the Lee Pass Trailhead and other areas served via the road. The Kolob Canyon Visitor Center and the parking lot off I-15 will be closed as well.Construction engineers and park officials say the closur
  
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• Police chase ends in four-vehicle crash

  19-03-2018 18:36
  CLEARFIELD — A police chase early Monday ended in a crash involving four vehicles and multiple injuries.The incident began when Clinton police officers attempted to stop a Chevy van reported stolen out of Ogden, said Clearfield Assistant Police Chief Kelly Bennett."Initially, the stolen vehicle stopped in a driveway of a home in Clinton and then fled the area when law enforcement attempted to communicate with the driver," he said.At that point, an active pursuit was initiated. At the inter
  
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• Make Your Week: Getting free tickets to the zoo, clearing the snow for others

  19-03-2018 18:20
  
  There are a lot of good people in the world. But if you are feeling a little down or need to have your faith in humanity restored, look no further than at the stories below.
  
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• Man stealing political signs threatened Avenues resident with gun, police say

  19-03-2018 18:08
  SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police are looking for a man who they say stole political signs out of yards in the Avenues neighborhood and also pulled a gun on a resident who confronted him.About 2:30 p.m. Sunday, a man was spotted taking signs from residents' properties in the area of 120 North and F Street, said Salt Lake police detective Robert Ungricht. Neighbors told police this has been a problem in the area for several weeks.The signs being taken were mainly those that support generall
  
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• What Utah found when surveying students about vape, alcohol use

  19-03-2018 17:38
  SALT LAKE CITY — Extensive surveying of Utah youth in 2017 found that more than 20 percent respondents who are in eighth grade or above have tried e-cigarettes at least once, and that similar numbers have tried alcohol, according to the Utah Department of Health.The Student Health and Risk Prevention survey is conducted every other year in the Utah's public schools among students in grades six, eight, 10 and 12. Carried out by the Department of Health, Department of Human Services and the
  
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• Community rallies around embattled Idaho teacher; woman who reported puppy's death feels threatened

  19-03-2018 17:00
  
  Although people from across the U.S. and beyond are calling for science teacher Robert Crosland to lose his job for allegedly dropping a sick puppy into a classroom aquarium containing a hungry snapping turtle, the vast majority of those who live in his community appear to be supporting him.
  
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• Passersby pull man from vehicle after it hits a tree

  19-03-2018 16:17
  RIVERTON — A man was hospitalized in serious condition Monday after his vehicle burst into flames after hitting a tree and passersby pulled him from the vehicle.The man was westbound on 12600 South in Riverton when his vehicle drifted into the eastbound lanes and then struck a tree, Unified Police Lt. Ken Malone said.Malone said the collision caused the vehicle to burst into flames.Passersby stopped to help pull the man out of the vehicle, Malone said. The man was taken to the hospital wit
  
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• Building at Big Shot Ranch near Grantsville a 'total loss' in fire

  19-03-2018 16:14
  GRANTSVILLE — A fire Monday morning engulfed part of Big Shot Ranch north of Grantsville.The fire at the ranch, 6711 Highley Road, was reported at 4:27 a.m., according to authorities.Video of structure Fire at Big Shot Ranch this morning. pic.twitter.com/B6DhUohOL6— North Tooele Fire (@NTCFD) March 19, 2018
  Firefighters said the building was a "total loss." Crews were working to determine what caused the fire.More information will be reported as it becomes available.
  
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• Police: Man seriously injured after passersby pull him out of burning car

  19-03-2018 14:40
  RIVERTON — A man was in critical condition Monday morning after his vehicle burst into flames after hitting a tree and passersby pulled him from the vehicle.The man was westbound on 12600 South in Riverton when his vehicle drifted into the eastbound lanes and then struck a tree, Unified Police Lt. Ken Malone said.Malone said the collision made the vehicle burst into flames.Passersby stopped to help pull the man out of the vehicle, Malone said. The man was taken to the hospital with serious
  
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• Building at Big Shot Ranch near Grantsville a 'total loss' in fire (+video)

  19-03-2018 14:31
  GRANTSVILLE — A fire Monday morning engulfed part of Big Shot Ranch north of Grantsville.The fire at the ranch, 6711 Highley Road, was reported at 4:27 a.m., according to authorities.Video of structure Fire at Big Shot Ranch this morning. pic.twitter.com/B6DhUohOL6— North Tooele Fire (@NTCFD) March 19, 2018
  Authorities said the building was a "total loss." The fire's cause is undetermined at this time.This report will be updated as more information becomes available.
  
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• Utah's Pluralsight soaring with online tech ed offerings

  19-03-2018 13:00
  FARMINGTON — If one were to track the evolutionary path of Utah's online education giant Pluralsight back to its earliest incarnation, you'd find 8-year-old Aaron Skonnard plunking away on the keyboard of an early Apple computer, learning how to code in the basement of his family's Portland, Oregon, home.The company's co-founder and CEO said his father's gift of an Apple II — a text-command driven desktop model most current users would be hard-pressed to identify as the progenitor to
  
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• Utah survey finds over 20 percent in 8th grade or above tried vaping

  19-03-2018 06:08
  SALT LAKE CITY — Extensive surveying of Utah youth in 2017 found that more than 20 percent respondents who are in eighth grade or above have tried e-cigarettes at least once, and that similar numbers have tried alcohol, according to the Utah Department of Health.The Student Health and Risk Prevention survey is conducted every other year in the Utah's public schools among students in grades six, eight, 10 and 12. Carried out by the Department of Health, Department of Human Services and the
  
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• Provo couple uses pieces of the outdoors to build 'fairy houses'

  19-03-2018 05:39
  
  PROVO — Using items from nature to build miniature homes for mystical creatures may seem a bit unconventional, but to Mike and Debbie Schramer, it makes perfect sense.
  
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• Photos: On the bubble of better weather

  19-03-2018 04:43
  Brennan Mitch holds his daughter Keira up as they try to pop giant bubbles while visiting the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Sunday as several Utahns got out to enjoy some drier conditions. According to KSL meteorologists, mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and warmer temperatures will take hold for the first half of the week.See the world through the eyes of award-winning photojournalists. Click through the gallery above to view the unique images our visual storytellers captured today. Don't for
  
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• Longtime Salt Lake County clerk being challenged by her own employee

  19-03-2018 04:32
  SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake County's longtime clerk, Sherrie Swensen, is gunning for an eighth term after nearly three decades in office, but an unexpected rival is challenging her.One of Swensen's right-hand employees — Rozan Mitchell, the Salt Lake County elections director — is running against Swensen. And it's not exactly being considered a friendly competition."It's been rocky," Mitchell admitted when discussing her decision to run against her boss in an interview last week
  
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• Children as young as 5 learning art of 3-D animation in Sandy

  19-03-2018 03:37
  
  Children, as young as 5 years old, are learning how to make Disney-Pixar style 3-D animated movies at Paper Plane Productions, an after-school program based in Sandy.
  
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• 'Incredibly humbling:' 19 soldiers of Utah National Guard honored for acts of valor in combat

  19-03-2018 01:59
  DRAPER — For acts of bravery — from using their own bodies to shield injured comrades to disregarding their own wounds to return fire — 19 soldiers of a special forces unit of the Utah National Guard on Sunday were awarded for their valor during a 2017 deployment to Afghanistan.Four of the soldiers of the Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group received Silver Stars — the nation's third highest award for valor in combat.Three were awarded the Purple Heart,
  
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