http://kcpw.org en The Utah Supreme Court ruled Friday Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert can postpone announcing until after the primary whether he'll ask the Attorney General's office to launch a special investigation of state treasurer candidate Mark Walker. During the hearing, Assistant Attorney General Thom Roberts argues that Herbert's decision could influence the outcome of the election. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:41:42 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6161 There's a widely held public belief that when sex offenders are released from jail, it's only a matter of time until they commit another crime. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:40:19 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6461 Optimism in Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's administration led the Greater Avenues Community Council to postpone a vote of no confidence in the city's planning division on Wednesday night. Board member Michael Hughes says the community wants to give Becker more time to change the planning process. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:04:55 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6459 Congressional Republicans continue to berate their Democratic colleagues for giving our senators and representatives a five-week break while voters continue to pay more than $4 dollars a gallon for gas at the pump. When Congress resumes its session in September, it won't have much time to come up with a solution, whether that be renewable resources, increased oil drilling, electric cars, or all of the above. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:00:04 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6450 The Utah Sentencing Commission voted yesterday to endorse a proposal to change the state's pornography distribution laws. This comes as a result of several Davis County teens sending nude pictures to each other on their cell phones. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:00:05 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6451 Tonight, residents of the Yalecrest neighborhood will learn more about a new retail development proposed for the corner of 1300 South and 1700 East. The neighborhood is already besieged with parking issues, which rank top on the list of residents' concerns about the development, says Yalecrest resident Virginia Hylton. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:18:42 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6452 Parents who apply for their children to receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk programs will now receive a tutorial on how to get health insurance for their child. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:17:22 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6449 Just before voting for Congress to adjourn last week, Utah Representative Jim Matheson joined other moderate Democrats in introducing the Fuel Act. It's a bill he says will address all aspects of the energy crisis. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:22:06 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6448 This evening, residents in the Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City may elect to send a strong message to the city government -- by holding a vote of no confidence in the city's planning division. It's scheduled for tonight's meeting of the Greater Avenues Community Council. Wayne Green, chairman of the council, says the planning division needs to recognize that there are many customers affected by its decisions. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:19:33 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6446 Rough economic conditions aren't just making things difficult for potential homebuyers right now - after the fallout related to the subprime mortgage crisis, it's not as easy getting a loan to start up a new business, either. But there's another source of start-up capital available to Utah entrepreneurs during these tough times. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:00:04 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6439 Salt Lake County will now give $2 to Salt Lake City of every $10 dollar fee it levies on vehicle registrations. The money will go toward the airport TRAX line. The move was formally approved by the county council yesterday, after the state legislature mandated the county do so during the legislative session. But some council members weren't happy they weren't asked their opinion about it before city leaders and state lawmakers negotiated the fee transfer. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:00:04 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6442 A proposal to repair and reopen Oxbow jail remains on the table and will appear, again, on the Salt Lake County Council agenda next week. The issue took nearly an hour of the council's time Wednesday, and sparked heated remarks between Council Chairman Michael Jensen and Councilman Joe Hatch. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:00:04 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6443 For the first time in a decade, Salt Lake County's corrections bureau is nearly fully staffed. Sheriff Jim Winder says the county is constantly recruiting new hires, especially targeting minorities. But he says something else is helping boost interest in corrections. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:00:05 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6453 Eyeglasses for Medicaid recipients could be in jeopardy next year, after a slowing economy has forced more people onto the state's health plan. Last year, lawmakers allocated $250,000 from surplus Medicaid money to pay for the vision benefit, but what will happen to the benefit this year if that surplus runs dry, asks Lincoln Nehring of the Utah Health Policy Project. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:16:06 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6444 Residents of unincorporated Salt Lake County overwhelmingly prefer to continue living in townships, rather than incorporating or annexing into a neighboring city, according to the results of a survey released by the county yesterday. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:09:03 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6441 Critics of the state's new four-day workweek say the schedule does a disservice to the people state offices are supposed to serve. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:43:48 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6440 The state of Utah has 17 years to meet Governor Jon Huntsman's goal of providing 20 percent of the state's power from renewable resources by 2025. Last Wednesday, the Utah Renewable Energy Zone Task Force met to start down that road by identifying where the state's renewable resources are and how feasible it would be to develop them. KCPW's Jeff Robinson spoke with task force co-chair Dianne Nielsen, who is also the governor's energy adviser, about what resources the state has to work with. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:00:29 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6433 Tonight, South Jordan will likely join the growing list of Utah cities restricting the use of air guns in their communities. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:00:29 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6434 As the state gears up for the 2010 Census, demographers are reminding the public how important the official head count is for state funding and government. Research economist Pam Perlich of the University of Utah says the next census results will likely give Utah a fourth congressional seat after it narrowly missed the target by 856 residents in 2000. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:00:29 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6436 Abandoned Oxbow Jail needs $700,000 in repairs before it can be reopened to ease overcrowding at the Salt Lake County Jail, says Sheriff Jim Winder. He and corrections chief Rollin Cook, will recommend reopening one wing of Oxbow at a regularly scheduled Corrections Department briefing during the county council meeting this afternoon. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:00:29 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6437 Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker just got back from a meeting with about 40 other mayors from across the country in Madison, Wisconsin, called the Mayors' Innovation Project. Becker says he had great things to share about Salt Lake's public transportation system, but also learned a lot from what Madison itself is doing with bike transportation. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:36:28 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6432 Thousands of state employees are working their first 10 hour shift today under the governor's four-day workweek initiative. Some have complained the new schedule was announced last month without adequate input from employees. Jeff Herring, executive director of the Utah Department of Human Resource Management, says the announcement was not premature. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:12:49 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6431 Hogle Zoo and Democrats on the Salt Lake County Council will present a reworked $65 million bond proposal to the entire council tomorrow. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:21:36 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6429 After seven months of negotiations, both of the final reports issued on Friday by the asset transition teams for the two new Jordan School Districts recommend arbitration. While the teams select arbitrators to represent them, east side board president Tracy Scott Cowdell says he hopes the teams can still reach an agreement on their own. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:21:37 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6428 Utah's community fisheries are becoming more and more popular amongst the state's anglers because of the variety of fish species available in the ponds. From catfish to bluegill to bass - the ponds offer sportsmen challenges not generally found in the state's lakes and reservoirs. It's up to the Division of Wildlife Resources to make sure that challenge exists. KCPW's Eric Ray recently spent a day with the DWR as it made the rounds stocking the ponds with catfish. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:00:02 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6417 Congressman Jim Matheson's Republican opponent in the November election is calling him out for voting for Congress to adjourn last week. Former homebuilder Bill Dew says Matheson is joining his fellow Democrats in Congress to put off the problem of high gas prices and the lack of oil shale development in the West. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:00:02 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6424 The survey was taken to determine if residents of those areas would like to remain living in unincorporated territory, incorporate into a municipality, or annex into a neighboring city. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:00:03 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6426 Voters now have a way to avoid campaign attack ads and misinformation about candidates coming from various special interest groups. Project Vote Smart is offering what it's calling the Voters' Self Defense System, which the organization says provides factual information about candidates. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:33:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6423 A water conservation bill that Congressman Jim Matheson believes will benefit the entire nation passed the House this week. Matheson says the Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act, which he introduced in October, will fund new conservation technology and create a mechanism for that technology to be shared between the states. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:24:06 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6422 This morning, Independent Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader applied at the Utah Capital Building to have his name added as a third-party candidate on Utah's November ballot. In the lieutenant governor's office, surrounded by local media, Nader took the oath of candidacy. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:19:26 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6427 E-mails from presidential candidate John McCain's campaign and the Democratic National Committee have been filling reporters' inboxes across the country, full of statements from various advisers responding to just about everything being said by their opponents. Barack Obama now accuses McCain of spending more time attacking Obama rather than focusing on his own qualifications to be president. And McCain accuses his opponent of skipping a meeting with wounded troops in Germany to go to the gym. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:01:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6414 School districts across the state can now apply for grant money to retrofit older model school buses with technology that cleans up emissions. Division of Air Quality director Cheryl Heying says, as a mom, she's been concerned about school bus emissions for years. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:01:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6419 While the Governor supports it, and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control just approved it, the Legislature will ultimately decide the fate of a proposal to get rid of the state's members-only private club law. Senate President John Valentine says it's unlikely the Republican majority would support such a move. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:01:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6420 Less than a month after adding a 25-cent fuel surcharge to ticket prices, the Utah Transit Authority announced another increase slated to go into effect in October. UTA spokeswoman Carrie Bohnsack-Ware says fuel prices rose above $4 a gallon last quarter. This triggered the increase under a fuel surcharge matrix approved by the UTA board in May. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:21:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6418 Michael Clara of Poplar Grove is organizing a group called The Romero Alternative to help the community find answers to gang violence. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:15:25 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6416 U.S. Senator Bob Bennett urged his colleagues yesterday to consider the GOP's answer to the energy crisis, the Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008. Bennett says the act gives the nation the materials needed to build the bridge to a future powered by alternative energy sources. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:00:20 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6412 Consumer rights advocate and frequent presidential contender Ralph Nader will be in Salt Lake City tonight, joining former Mayor Rocky Anderson to speak at the University of Utah. The candidate, who has long been discouraged from running by Democrats because of the perception that he cost Al Gore the election in 2000, says that both parties are leaving several major issues out of the discussion this year. KCPW's Jeff Robinson spoke with Nader in advance of tonight's event to find out what those issues are. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:00:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6403 The federal government should help cities in the Intermountain West as they grow into their new role as powerful, megapolitan areas. So says a new Brookings Institute report on what it calls "the new American Heartland." Alan Matheson of Envision Utah agrees with the findings. He says the region's rugged individualism is healthy, but the new west will need partners. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:00:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6411 State fire officials say they still don't know how a fire that has burned 130 acres in City Creek Canyon started. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:44:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6406 Local realtors and homebuilders are applauding a housing stimulus bill signed by President Bush yesterday. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act provides a $7,500 tax credit to first-time home buyers who purchase and move into a home between April of this year and July of next year. Chris Sloan, President-elect of the Utah Association of Realtors, says the bill will mean good things for Utah's sluggish housing market. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:40:09 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6405 A failed proposal to reopen Oxbow Jail might be revived this year. The option is looking more attractive as overcrowding at the Salt Lake County jail is forcing officials to release inmates with more serious criminal convictions than ever before, says Salt Lake County Councilman David Wilde, the chairman of the council's law enforcement committee. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:00:06 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6404 Pressure to increase domestic energy supplies could endanger wildlife habitats if federal policies don't change, warns a coalition of western sportsmen. William Geer of Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development, and a former director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, says public land policies favor energy developers, not wildlife. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:00:12 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6401 This week, KCPW debuted a new show from Public Radio International called The Takeaway. From 4 to 6 a.m., the Takeaway brings you news and analysis live from WNYC in New York City. KCPW's Jeff Robinson spoke with co-host John Hockenberry to find out what sets the show apart from Morning Edition, and how it's different than NPR's recently canceled morning venture, the Bryant Park Project. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:00:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6393 With Gonorrhea infections nearly doubling in Utah since 2000, and with teenage pregnancy rates increasing for the first time in more than a decade, the Planned Parenthood Action Council says it's time to change the state's abstinence-only sex education curriculum. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:00:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6395 The Utah Museum of Natural History broke ground this morning at the site of its future building. The museum is now one step closer to having a new state-of-the-art facility, big enough to display 10 times more. Museum Director Sarah George is ecstatic. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:01:46 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6400 This afternoon, the Salt Lake County Council is considering adopting a riparian overlay zone similar to an ordinance passed by the Salt Lake City council earlier this year. Natalie Rees, the county's water resources specialist, says it's one of the most important of 15 goals outlined in the draft Water Quality Stewardship Plan. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:59:39 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6399 The Salt Lake County Council will decide this afternoon whether to protect 250-acres of open space in Killyon Canyon, above Emigration Canyon. Lorna Vogt, the county's open space program director, says the property has prime wildlife habitats and recreation potential. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:56:25 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6398 Apparently, no business sector can escape high gas prices -- not even the cemetery business. T.J. Tsakalos with the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office estimates that the price of burying or cremating the remains of indigent residents has quadrupled in recent years. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:04:58 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6396 By the time kids in Salt Lake City reach 10th grade, more than half of them will have tried alcohol according to ParentsEmpowered.org. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:12:22 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6394 One bill file for next year has already been opened to boost tax incentives for films shot in Utah. Democratic Representative Karen Morgan will sponsor the bill, and Marshall Moore, director of the Utah Film Commission, says more are on the way. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:00:12 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6402 Over the last decade Utah has built a reputation for hosting major sporting events, like the Winter Olympics and the NBA Finals, just to name a few. Later this week another sport, armwrestling, brings its national championship to Salt Lake City. Some might be surprised to find out that several major stars of the sport call Utah home. KCPW's Eric Ray spent a day with one contender - Kevin Bongard - to find out what life is like for an armwrestling champion. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:00:58 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6388 The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ensures access and accommodation for those with disabilities in the workplace, public services and facilities. Saturday marked the 18th anniversary of President George H.W. Bush's signing of the bill. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:29:10 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6392 The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is seeking county council approval of an interlocal agreement struck with Taylorsville earlier this year for SWAT team services. Sheriff Jim Winder says the interlocal agreement could be a model for the future. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:08:34 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6389 As gas prices climb past $4.00 per gallon, one local bicycle shop owner says the dynamics of his business are changing. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:42:33 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6387 Health care advocates for Utah's poor say a move to double the waiting period, from 90 days to 6 months, for two state sponsored public assistance programs, CHIP and UPP, will punish those who most need the state's help. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:07:39 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6385 The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to build 39 new veterans centers nationwide - but none in Utah, which is currently home to just two. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:02:16 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6384 Salt Lake City's riparian ordinance approved Thursday includes an incentive for property owners who restore portions of the city's streams by removing culverts, a process known as daylighting. District 7 councilman Soren Simonsen says the incentive decreases the building setback from 100 feet to 25 feet for those who daylight streams on their property. But this might not be enough, he says. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:17:27 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6391 Summertime is concert-season. And for a group of more than 30 Headcount.org volunteers, it's also time to get out the vote. Sarah Duffany, Headcount's Utah team leader, says the non-partisan group has registered 500 Utahns since March. Many of them are first-time voters. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:13:23 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6390 The operators of the Crandall Canyon Mine broke the law by not reporting three coal outbursts, including one that happened just three days before the August 6th mine collapse that killed six miners and led to the deaths of three rescuers. That was the conclusion of an investigative report by Mine Safety and Health Administration officials, who held a news conference in Price after meeting with the families of those who died. Richard Stickler, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, said the mine was poorly designed. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:00:20 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6381 The famed "troop surge" that occurred early last year was trumpeted by conservatives as the solution for decreasing troop deaths in Iraq and sectarian violence. But did it take significant steps toward solving the country's political problems on a larger scale? For one Utah marine who just returned from combat last month, that answer is no. Sgt. Alex Lemons worked directly under General David Petraeus in southern Iraq, where he trained Iraqi and Polish troops. KCPW's Jeff Robinson sat down with him to get his assessment of how the Iraq War is going. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:00:20 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6382 NPR Utah, KCPW, presents a special documentary at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. in place of The Public Square. Join us for Saving the Sierra: Grassroots Solutions for Sustaining Rural Communities. This one-hour public radio special shows how unlikely allies are coming together to preserve rural culture from rapid residential growth, sustain local economies as recreation developments boom, and protect clean water and open space for future generations. Produced by two-time Peabody award-winning producer Catherine Stifter and award-winning community media maker jesikah maria ross. Click here for an online tool-kit on Saving the Sierra. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:06:05 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6376 Camping out on the sidewalk along Salt Lake City's Pioneer Day parade route is a time-honored tradition for many families, though officially frowned upon by the capital city's police department. Judy Hill's family has been doing it for more than 60 years. Sitting on a lawn chair in a shady patch of grass along 200 East, Hill says she's expecting 50 of her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to join her this evening. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:07:54 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6379 Small businesses in Salt Lake City can now breathe a little easier - six months after eliminating nearly all conditional use permits allowed in residential zones, the city council passed a new conditional use ordinance last night. But city councilman Soren Simonsen says the design criteria set by the ordinance could become a burden. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:40:39 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6377 Incoming commissioner of higher education, William Sederburg, says applied technology courses will continue to be taught at the state's four-year colleges. However, they will likely offer students advanced technical courses and professional development opportunities, while the applied technology colleges will remain focused on teaching basic skills. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:11:30 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6374 The Wasatch Front Regional Council's first-ever Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan for seniors and the disabled is a step in the right direction, says Andrew Riggle of the Disability Law Center. However, he says the challenge will be in getting there. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:06:31 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6373 LDS faithful across the region will celebrate Pioneer Day on Thursday with barbeques and rodeos. But BYU philosophy professor Chris Foster says the Word of Wisdom that advises Mormons to abstain from drinking caffeine and alcohol also applies to eating meat and treating animals unkindly. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:01:01 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6372 Last night was a productive one for the Salt Lake City Council. It passed a parking ordinance that encourages mixed-use communities like 15th and 15th to be more walkable by providing incentives for businesses to install bike racks and other amenities. The council also adopted a new riparian corridor ordinance to protect the city's streams and determined the path for a proposed trolley in Sugar House. This morning, KCPW's Jeff Robinson caught up with Councilman Soren Simonsen for a wrap-up of last night's meeting. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:00:47 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6371 Violent crimes committed by gang members in Salt Lake City were up five percent in 2007, according to a new report by the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:00:53 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6369 A proposed youth sports complex in Salt Lake City could be facing a $7 million funding gap. It's a hole backers of the complex hope Salt Lake County will help fill. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:57:06 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6368 Salt Lake City is looking to add some affordable housing to a prime TRAX corridor. Today, the Redevelopment Agency will vote on whether to purchase about half an acre just off 4th South and 9th East for that purpose. The property is not in a redevelopment zone, but D.J. Baxter, the agency's executive director, says that's not an issue. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:01:57 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6367 The Mine Safety and Health Administration's accident investigation report of the Crandall Canyon Mine collapse won't be released until Thursday, says Richard Stickler, Assistant Secretary of Labor for MSHA. That's because agency encountered problems while translating the document into Spanish. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:34:00 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6365 One candidate running for the Utah House of Representatives will most likely get to spend the next few months as a legislator, whether he wins in November or not. Brian Monsen was appointed by Salt Lake County Republican delegates last night to temporarily fill former Representative Mark Walker's seat in House District 45. He says he doesn't plan to get comfy in the position. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:57:36 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6363 Education and health care were the big topics this afternoon at a debate between two candidates hoping to replace former Utah Representative Mark Walker this November. When asked how to balance the heavy funding needs of both issues, Democrat Laura Black emphasized a public-oriented approach. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:10:21 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6362 Half of Utah's American Indian students drop out of school before earning a high school diploma, a rate more than double that of the general population. Forrest Cuch, Director of the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, says the reasons are mostly cultural. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:47:54 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6361 As police agencies across the country search for ways to deal with rising gas prices, at least one in Utah may pass the cost on to the public. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:42:36 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6360 About a dozen middle and high school students attended a week-long robotics camp at Westminster College last week. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:24:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6359 Last Tuesday, the founder of KCPW in Salt Lake City and KPCW in Park City, Blair Feulner, announced on the air it would be his last day and that he was going on a six month sabbatical. The announcement took many off guard including the board of trustees of Community Wireless, currently the parent company of both stations until October, the expected closing date for Wasatch Public Media to assume ownership of this station. From our sister station KPCW in Park City, Linda Gorton reports. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:56:29 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6358 Earlier this year, the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 177, which allows cities and counties to regulate development in areas at risk of geologic hazards. The Utah Geological Survey has just made things easier for municipalities by releasing a database of maps that highlights danger zones across the Wasatch Front. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:02:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6350 Last week's session of Governor Jon Huntsman's 21st Century Work Force Initiative explored why half of Utah's new teachers end up quitting within five years. State Rural and Legislative Affairs Coordinator Gayle McKeachnie, who's overseeing the process, says the session revealed that new teachers often receive very little support in managing their classrooms. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:02:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6352 Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker wants the legislature to treat the capital city better. The sometimes contentious relationship is partly natural tension between the lawmaking body and the largest city in the state, Becker says. But a lot of it is caused by a misperception that the city already gets a lot from the state, he says. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:02:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6355 Mayor Ralph Becker says Salt Lake City could follow the state's lead and move to a four-day workweek. Becker says it will take two to three months to study the issue before making a final decision. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:24:02 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6356 This afternoon, about 50 Utahns got to visit with an American astronaut who recently returned from space. Dan Tani was a flight engineer on the International Space Station from October 2007 to February of this year. He's now enjoying some down time. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:51:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6353 Rob Latham, Director of Government Affairs for the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, says prosecuting people that legally obtained marijuana in another state is an injustice. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:14:45 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6351 A new peer-reviewed paper published in the 2008 BYU Law Review alleges Utah educators manipulated student data to falsely indicate minority students are scoring higher on standardized tests than they actually are. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:37:03 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6349 A new Environmental Protection Agency report highlights the health impacts of climate change. Cheryl Heying of the Utah Division of Air Quality says the report's findings are not surprising. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:31:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6348 Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has set a date - August 22 - for the education summit promised in his inaugural 180-Day Plan. Becker says the summit will help flesh out ideas for things the city can do to support schools and students. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:27:27 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6347 Unlike his counterparts at Hogle Zoo, who seem upset at the Salt Lake County Council's decision requiring it to collect private funds before receiving county money from property taxes, Tracy Aviary Executive Director Tim Brown says he is fine with the council's decision on its bond request. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:03:05 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6339 By now, sports fans in Utah have become accustomed to watching professional basketball each July during the annual Rocky Mountain Revue. However, the NBA summer league will have a bit of a different look this Olympic year as the Iranian national team is in town to play.The team's visit is part of a much larger people-to-people exchange program sponsored by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Goli Ameri is the Assistant Secretary of State for the bureau. She tells KCPW's Eric Ray about the history behind these people-to-people exchanges: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:03:05 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6346 Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker reports on his first six months in office and his plans for the future. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:36:03 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6316 Two Utah Republican legislators came together this week to iron out a tense situation between a handful of representatives and Republican leadership. Representative Sheryl Allen sat down with House Speaker Greg Curtis on Wednesday. She says it was a productive, frank discussion that allowed her to present her concern that only legislators are allowed to file ethics complaints against fellow legislators. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:07:12 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6345 Your electricity rates might be going up twice in the next eight months if you get it from Rocky Mountain Power. Although the Public Service Commission has not yet granted the company's first rate increase, which was requested last December, the utility filed for a second rate increase today. Michele Beck, Director of the state's Committee of Consumer Services, says that's unfair. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:22:38 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6343 It came as no great surprise on Tuesday when the Salt Lake County Council agreed to put a $65 million dollar bond request from Hogle Zoo on November's ballot. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:01:41 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6334 Much attention has been drawn this week to Latino voters and their concerns and hopes for the next President of the United States, with both major candidates addressing the National Council of La Raza about the economy and immigration. Senator Barack Obama says his rival used to champion immigration reform with his McCain-Kennedy bill, but bowed to political pressure. Senator John McCain says the reality is that Americans want the borders secured before reforming the immigration process. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:01:41 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6337 Utah's diabetes rate has nearly doubled over the past 20 years. Richard Bullough of the Utah Department of Health's Diabetes Prevention and Control Program says the growing problem is largely caused by an uptick in the preventable, Type 2, or adult-onset, form of the disease. He says a holistic approach is needed. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:01:15 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6342 Half of Utah's American Indian students drop out of school before earning a diploma, according to the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Educational Statistics. The situation has dire consequences for the quality of life in Indian Country. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:50:59 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6340 The banking industry was rocked this week by the collapse of IndyMac, but one bank with a heavy presence in Utah is trumpeting good earnings in the midst of a slumping economy. Today, Wells Fargo reported lower, but strong second quarter earnings. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:07:41 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6336 As gas prices top $4.00 per gallon, and with airfare for many non-stop flights nearly triple the cost of a year ago, more people are staying close to home to use their vacation time. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:43:15 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6335 Children as young as three years of age have a basic understanding of what is right and wrong. But in violent societies, children learn that morality is conditional, according University of Utah researcher Cecilia Wainryb, who is the co-author of a new study on moral development and violence published today in the Journal "Child Development" Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:52:51 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6332 Four public health nurses are now making house calls to pregnant, first-time moms in Salt Lake County. The new program is a replication of a 30-year-old initiative that comes with an impressive reputation. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:18:51 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6331 Should Salt Lake City decide to follow a recommendation from the Downtown Theater Action Group to immediately enter negotiations to acquire a site for a theater, group Chair Bill Becker says part of the cost could be paid for with New Market Tax Credits. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:00:50 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6328 Thanks to the Salt Lake County Council, a $65 million bond for Hogle Zoo will be placed on the ballot in November. But today's decision wasn't exactly the victory zoo officials were hoping for -- because there's a catch. If voters approve the bond, the zoo will have to raise $20 million in private funds before any of the bond goes into effect, thanks to a motion passed by council Republicans. Zoo Director Craig Dinsmore said that would delay the zoo's proposed projects. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:20:36 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6329 The Salt Lake County Council voted today to reduce a proposed interlocal agreement with the Valley Emergency Communications Center from three years to one. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:34:44 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6327 Utah cherry growers are either harvesting their crops or getting ready to, but they won't be harvesting as much as last year thanks to a frosty spring. Grower Robert McMullin, who owns more than 900 acres in Utah County, recalls one particularly bad day in late April. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:52:22 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6326 Only 36-percent of registered voters in Utah showed up at the polls in 2006, giving the state the lowest voter turnout in the nation, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report. Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen says low turnout is typical in off-years, when there isn't a presidential election. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:05:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6325 Since Utah Representative Mark Walker's resignation last week, allegations made through blog postings, editorials, and anonymous comments have been abundant online. Those who side with the five legislators who filed the ethics complaint against Walker say the Republican leadership threw him under a bus in order to avoid being investigated themselves. Those who side with the Republican leadership say media outlets have been parroting accusations made against them by legislators who lack credibility and proof. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:00:24 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6324 Building a 2,400-seat, Broadway-class theatre in downtown Salt Lake City would cost $81.5 million, according to a draft report just prepared by the city's Downtown Theatre Action Group, led by Broadway producer Bill Becker. But despite the price tag, Becker says it could be publicly financed through a mix of tax credits, money from the city, county, and state, as well as sales tax revenue. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:41:21 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6323 Following last week's shooting death of a seven-year-old Glendale girl, and law enforcement's concern that gang activity is on the rise in Utah, Latino community leaders have organized a summit this week to discuss how to stop the violence. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:00:17 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6313 Rising fuel prices are having serious economic effects on government agencies that rely on driving the roads to do their jobs. This includes police departments in the Salt Lake Valley, which are making moves to reduce their fuel usage. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:49:16 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6311 Starting this morning, the commute from Magna to the closest TRAX station is at least 20 minutes faster for the roughly 4,000 people who take the bus route daily. Carrie Bohnsack-Ware, Utah Transit Authority spokeswoman, says the faster ride is thanks to the state's first bus rapid transit line. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:06:27 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6318 Red Butte Gardens Amphitheater re-opened Friday evening to a sold out crowd. Wynton Marsalis lead the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on a new stage as the audience filled in the now larger lawn seating and marveled at the changes, which include a crowd-favorite - permanent bathrooms. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6317 This week, South Jordan will again join the growing list of west side cities formally urging the Utah Legislature not to make the Mountain View Corridor a toll road. The resolution will be the second passed by the city on the issue; the first was in December 2006. City Manager Rick Horst said the primary concern is that the toll will be an economic hardship. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:00:25 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6312 Urban sprawl has forced Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources to sell 117 acres of land near Roosevelt. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:33:50 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6310 There's been a shake-up in the leadership of an organization that represents more than 650 Hispanic-owned businesses in Utah. Or has there? Antonella Packard insists she is still president of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, even though the board of trustees unanimously voted to dismiss her from the position on Tuesday. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:41:32 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6309 The Green River Formation spanning Utah, Wyoming and Colorado potentially contains trillions of barrels of oil. Prospectors have eyed the region for decades, but no one has successfully squeezed a profit out of the oil-soaked rocks. Now, a Utah company is on the verge of producing the first commercial-grade shale oil. It is just one story on the frontlines of the race to find a viable technology to extract Utah's buried oil. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:18:00 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6320 Ogden is gaining national attention as its renaissance continues, transforming from an old railroad town into a potential outdoor recreation mecca. Outside Magazine just ranked the city the third best in the country for its recreation opportunities. And though the transition was difficult, with the city even being sued over its adventure mall, the Salomon Center, Mayor Matthew Godfrey says he's won over his critics. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:01:02 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6307 Utah is waging two separate water fights with Nevada. The proposed Lake Powell Pipeline is drawing opposition from Nevada. Meanwhile, many in Utah are concerned about that state's proposal to draw water from aquifers in Snake Valley. At least one Utah official thinks the two battles might actually be connected. KCPW's Eric Ray reports: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:37:40 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6306 Long-time Republican dissident Mike Ridgway has been cleared of a trespassing charge against the Salt Lake County Republican Party, after a judge dismissed it on Wednesday . Party Chairman James Evans and other Republicans were told the burden of proof was not met, and that a civil complaint or disturbing the peace charge would have been more appropriate. But Evans still believes that Ridgway is not a problem any more. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:18:59 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6305 A group that advocates for in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants is now expanding its mission to include supporting their families as well. Karen Crompton, co-chairwoman of Utahns for the American Dream, says sweeping immigration reforms passed earlier this year warrant a broader scope. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:25:09 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6304 Eighty seven of Utah's school districts and charter schools have submitted a variety of performance pay proposals to the Utah State Board of Education. Assistant Superintendent Larry Shumway says the diversity will help the state's education leaders hash out what works - and what doesn't - as they develop a statewide policy. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:20:14 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6303 Gang violence in Utah is now in the spotlight following the drive-by shooting death of a seven-year-old Glendale girl. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:02:13 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6297 Presidential candidate Barack Obama may have scored a political victory on the Iraq War this week. The Democratic candidate had been sharply criticized by Republican John McCain's campaign for saying he would "refine" his position on troop withdrawal after visiting Iraq, which Republicans took to be a flip-flop. But now that the Iraqi government leaders have made it clear they also want a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal, just as Obama has called for, the pressure will shift to McCain. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:02:13 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6299 Access to affordable treatment and medical insurance is the top health concern for Utah's Hispanic population, says Sylvia Garcia Rickard of the Hispanic Health Care Task Force. She says addressing this gap is vital as Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in Utah. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:30:52 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6302 A case of alleged trespassing that pits the Salt Lake County Republican Party against a longtime foe of party leaders went to trial this morning. Mike Ridgway is charged with a criminal trespass infraction at state party headquarters in March 2007 for trying to enter an executive committee meeting that party leaders say was closed. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:12:38 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6298 Utah's Office of Guardian ad Litem, which is charged with representing children in cases of alleged abuse or neglect in both juvenile and district court proceedings, is losing attorneys at a rapid pace. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:02:04 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6296 As the population throughout the West continues to grow, developers and conservationists are often at odds. Stephen Trimble, a Utah author and photographer explores this tension in his new book, "Bargaining for Eden: The Fight for the Last Open Spaces in America." Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:04:54 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6295 An update on Governor Jon Huntsman's 21st Century Workforce Initiative Steering Committee slated for the State Board of Education Meeting Thursday will likely touch on some concerns about the process. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:57:35 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6294 If you have an idea that could revolutionize outdoor recreation, one Utah non-profit and Ogden City want to turn that pipe dream into a reality. Grow Utah Ventures is now accepting entries for Concept to Company, a contest promoting northern Utah's outdoor industries, including skiing, hiking, biking, climbing and water sports. Grow Utah Ventures CEO Craig Bott explains that to enter, you have to describe a new idea or invention for that marketplace. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:01:12 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6286 Members of the political action group MoveOn-dot-org will be gathering today at gas stations nationwide, including in Salt Lake City, in an attempt to rally support to elect what they are calling an "oil-free president." Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:01:12 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6287 The school-year begins in less than two months but Utah's deaf and blind students don't have a school to go to. Twelve-year-old Maddie Flavin says it's unfair the state hasn't funded a permanent facility for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:21:41 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6293 Just as drag queens puts on a guise of femininity, heterosexual men are also in masculine drag, says University of Utah doctoral student William Elder. He's studying how men learn this behavior - and un-learn it in their intimate relationships with women. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:17:49 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6292 Activists in Utah and Nevada allege the Southern Nevada Water Authority is trying to bar the public from an upcoming water hearing to determine water rights to a vast underground aquifer spanning the border near Snake Valley, Utah. Not true, says Pat Mulroy, the water authority's general manager. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:11:42 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6291 The Utah Taxpayer's Association supports a plan to expand the congestion pricing, or toll, system currently used on freeways in the Salt Lake metropolitan area. But some lawmakers are still wondering if it's a good idea. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:07:48 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6290 A Park City local has been injured in Pakistan while on a K2 expedition. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:40:43 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6288 Taking after bigger cities like Denver and Portland, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker says it's in the plans to make at least one major city street pedestrian-only. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:31:15 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6285 Representative Mark Walker's resignation from the Utah Legislature opens up an opportunity for Brian Monsen, the Republican running for Walker's seat in November, to get an early start. Clark Aposhian, the Salt Lake GOP legislative chair for District 45, says Monsen definitely has the best chance of replacing Walker in the short term. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:08:28 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6284 The Utah Taxpayers Association is speaking out in opposition to a $65 million bond request by Hogle Zoo. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:01:18 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6279 There are more than two presidential candidates in the running this year, and though he doesn't have the name recognition of John McCain or Barack Obama, Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin spent last week in Utah, drumming up support. Baldwin, a Baptist pastor and radio talk-show host from Florida, openly acknowledges he has no experience in politics, but to him, that's a big plus. And he says his platform of securing the borders, taxing all foreign imports and eliminating several federal departments is drawing voters who feel disenfranchised by both parties. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:01:18 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6281 With rising prices at the pump, a bus route between Salt Lake City and Park City is being studied again. Park City transit director Kent Cashel says a letter of intent between the resort town, Summit County and the Utah Transit Authority is developing. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:43:40 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6283 Today is Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's 180th day in office. As part of his campaign, Becker promoted a 180-day plan to make progress in several key areas, including public education, the environment, and equality. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:51:59 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6280 Utah Representative Mark Walker appears to have dodged a bullet this week by resigning just before the House Ethics Committee was about to decide whether to investigate him. KCPW's Jeff Robinson has the details and the reaction. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:10:30 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6278 Two of Utah's major animal attractions, Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary, are asking the Salt Lake County Council to place bond requests on the ballot in November. The zoo wants $65 million to complete its master plan, which includes exhibits for Arctic and Asian animals. The aviary is asking for more than $19 million to enlarge its amphitheater and create a walk-through rain forest. Last week, four members of the council toured both facilities to get a first hand look at what is, and what could be. KCPW's Eric Ray tagged along and files this audio postcard: Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:00:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6262 The Utah House Ethics Committee meets this morning to decide whether to investigate a complaint against Representative Mark Walker. Another Republican legislator is drawing plenty of discussion to his blog with his thoughts on the matter. House Rules Committee Chairman Steve Urquhart says three of the five legislators who filed that complaint are "grandstanding hacks." Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:00:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6272 If you're looking for a job in Utah and need some financial assistance, help could be on the way. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:00:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6273 Two Utah senators joined local elected officials to meet with Governor Jon Huntsman on Wednesday to make their case for a special session, which lawmakers would use to study the controversial Jordan School District Split. Given the new boundaries, Senator Michael Waddoups presented the governor with data showing that the new East side district would be able to lower property taxes under the proposal, while forcing the remaining West side to raise taxes. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:20:06 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6277 Utah's Indian population, now estimated at more than 5,000 families, continues to grow. Now, the Indian community wants to expand its reach by building a new cultural center next to the Sri Ganesha Temple in South Jordan. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:44:16 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6275 With the recent death of a five-month-old Clearfield infant whose mother left him in a sweltering vehicle, the Utah Department of Health is urging people to take measures to keep their kids safe around cars this summer. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:51:36 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6271 Retired General Wesley Clark likely blew his chances of being presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's running mate this week after questioning the relevance of John McCain's war record on national television. Even though Clark didn't directly criticize McCain's military service, his comments drew a rare rebuke from both campaigns. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:02:15 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6265 Utah Governor Jon Huntsman and state fire and lands managers from across the state gathered yesterday to send a message about fireworks. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:02:15 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6267 It's easier than ever for low- and middle-income Utahns to get help paying premiums for their work-sponsored health plans. As of July 1, anyone who qualifies for Utah's Premium Partnership for Health Insurance Program, or UPP, now can sign up anytime. But there's a catch. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:02:15 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6268 Two million dollars will go a long way to fight the obesity epidemic in Utah, says Lynda Blades of the Utah Department of Health. The Department will use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant to start a new program that will encourage exercise, better diets and healthier community planning and policymaking. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:02:15 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6270 Three suspects are in custody in connection to the theft of stolen computer backup tapes containing personal information for millions of University of Utah Health Care system patients. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:02:03 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6269 A new report from the Utah Foundation shows that purchasing a condo or townhouse, what's known as multifamily housing, is becoming a popular choice for young Utah families. The main factor is the high appreciation rates of single-family homes. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:10:53 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6263 All other things being equal, the color of your skin will affect the interest rate you receive at America's largest mortgage lenders. That's according to the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP, which joined other branches across the country today to call attention to a lawsuit the organization has filed against 17 financial institutions. President Jeanetta Williams said she's received mortgage discrimination complaints from Utah residents. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:11:37 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6264 The Salt Lake City Council met last night to continue its discussion of parking requirements for small businesses in neighborhood districts, like 15th and 15th. The council is trying to create more walkable communities while making sure that neighborhood residents aren't aggravated by business patrons taking up their spots. The council also continued to discuss the proposed Sugar House Trolley and where they'll put it. KCPW's Jeff Robinson spoke with 3rd District Councilman Eric Jergensen for a wrap up of the meeting, and about a few lawsuits the city is facing over its riparian district ordinance, which some residents complain infringes on their property rights. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:05:54 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6261 Two lawsuits have been filed against Salt Lake City for approving a riparian corridor overlay district that sets guidelines for how property owners adjacent to five Salt Lake City waterways can use their land. Council chairwoman Jill Remington Love stands by the ordinance. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:21:31 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6260 A handful of Utah companies are poised to produce commercial-grade oil from Utah's shale deposits, say Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett. But there's one problem Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:12:06 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6259 Salt Lake County plans to spend more than $3.3 million dollars to add a trailhead to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and a park along Wasatch Boulevard in Cottonwood Heights. Yesterday, the county council approved the use of both Open Space and Parks and Recreation money for the purchase of two nearby plots. But before the vote, Councilman Joe Hatch suggested that instead of using limited open space funds to buy the land, that the county solicit money from the Utah Transit Authority and allow it to simultaneously use the larger parcel as a park-and-ride lot. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:01:38 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6257 Climate change might be a hoax to many Republicans, but not to some conservative state leaders in the Western United States. Today, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman closed out the annual Western Governors' Association meeting with a discussion on energy and climate change, saying that the west should lead the way for the creation of a national cap-and-trade emissions program. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:13:58 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6255 The State Office of Education says 88 percent of Utah's public education students graduated high school in 2007, the most recent data available. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:35:35 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6254 Getting a driver license is one of the most important steps teenagers take toward independence. But new drivers are some of the most dangerous on the road. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:29:47 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6253 The Sierra Club will rally Wednesday in two of Utah's national parks, protesting a proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule change allowing coal-fired power plants closer to national parks. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:58:40 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6258 Having dealt with 36 major disasters across the U.S. since April, the American Red Cross is experiencing some difficult economic times. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:01:01 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6249 Westminster College professor Jeffrey Nielsen lost his previous teaching job at BYU for criticizing the LDS Church over its opposition to gay marriage, but he's not letting that deter him from speaking out again. After church leaders urged California Mormons last weekend to support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, Nielsen wrote his own open letter to them, encouraging them not to support the amendment. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:01:01 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6250 Salt Lake Community College's decision to close its south campus pool isn't a sign of financial crisis, says SLCC spokesman Joy Tlou. However, he says it was a financial decision. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:34:40 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6251 The Salt Lake County Council is pondering whether to place nearly $85 million worth of bonds to upgrade two of Utah's top animal attractions on November's ballot. Tomorrow, council members will get an up close and personal look at those attractions when they tour Hogle Zoo and the Tracy Aviary. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:48:51 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6248 Despite Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's re-organization of the Planning Division and his creation of a one-stop shop for planning and zoning services, one neighborhood says change isn't coming quickly enough, and some residents are ready to send out a stern message. KCPW's Jeff Robinson reports. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:44:23 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6247 Formed by the Federal Government in 1992, the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission works to offset the impacts to fish, wildlife, and other recreation resources caused by the Central Utah Project. However, much of the commission's work might not be immediately apparent to Utah residents. KCPW's Eric Ray caught up with Executive Director Michael to discuss the past, present and future work of his office. Weland says most Utahns are surprised about the size and environmental impacts of the Central Utah Project. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:01:13 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6226 With the Fourth of July comes fireworks season. For many Utahns, this means an annual trip to Wyoming to purchase fireworks that are illegal here. Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder wants people to know that the police will be paying attention. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:01:13 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6242 Clubs on the Internet advocate it, but AAA spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough says hypermiling can be dangerous. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:01:13 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6245 More federal dollars could be heading to Monticello, Utah, residents exposed to radiation from a U.S. Department of Energy uranium processing mill that operated until 1960 on the outskirts of town. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:42:49 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6244 Police officers in Washington and Weber Counties will soon begin enforcing federal immigration laws. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:16:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6241 Two Republicans in the Utah House have joined three Democrats in filing an ethics complaint that won't likely earn them any brownie points from Republican leadership. Representative Steve Mascaro wants the House Ethics Committee to investigate whether Mark Walker offered his rival, Richard Ellis, a raise to drop out of the treasurer's race. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:55:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6240 Despite the high-profile of the race for the 3rd Congressional District, Tuesday's primary drew more than 13,000 voters fewer than in 2006, when Chris Cannon defeated challenger John Jacob. KCPW's Jeff Robinson spoke with Congressional Quarterly's Bob Benenson about Republican turnout on a national scale, how the issues in the race were different this time around, and why the primary was as much of a loss for Cannon as it was a victory for Chaffetz. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:30:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6239 A Canadian company wants to build a $100 million uranium mill just west of Green River to cash-in on the renewed interest in nuclear power. But the deal is far from finalized. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:16:27 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6238 The House approved new standards for juvenile boot camps yesterday, but Utah's congressional delegation split along party lines. Democratic Representative Jim Matheson approved the new rules that intend to clamp down on so-called "tough-love" practices, which allegedly have led to widespread abuse and deaths at the camps. But Republican Congressman Rob Bishop voted against it. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:12:52 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6237 Governor Jon Huntsman was elected Sunday to lead the Western Governors' Association during the group's annual conference underway in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Huntsman's spokeswoman, Lisa Roskelley, says the move was expected and it's good for the state. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:41:01 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6246 Despite the fact that there is no cure for HIV, more people in Utah are becoming complacent when it comes to protecting themselves from the disease and rates are on the rise, says Health Program Specialist Rob Sonada of the Utah Department of Health. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:00:22 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6233 Today, Utahns will be able to check out a new movie from acclaimed animation studio Pixar. The film, WALL-E, is about a trash-compacting robot who's been left behind on Earth after the entire human race has left. KCPW's Jeff Robinson got a sneak preview of the film and spoke with director Andrew Stanton. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:00:22 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6234 The U.S. State Department has assumed a lead role in helping Afghanistan reconstruct a justice system destroyed by the country's civil war. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:34:37 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6232 Planning on leaving work early on Friday to go the DMV? You won't be able to do that much longer. Today, Governor Jon Huntsman revealed that Utah is about to become the first state to roll out a four-day work schedule for 16,000 or more state employees, closing up to a thousand buildings on Fridays. KCPW's Jeff Robinson explains. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:18:08 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6230 Eighty-thousand people will descend on Library Square over the next four days for the thirty-second annual Utah Arts Festival. The event is an opportunity to celebrate the state's growing art community, says festival director Lisa Sewell. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:56:20 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6228 A bill is moving through Congress to allow the School and Institution Trust Lands Administration to swap 40,000 acres of land with the Bureau of Land Management. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:51:43 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6227 Two of Utah's top Republicans introduced competing federal energy bills Thursday. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:06:04 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6236 A candidate forum held Wednesday at the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce gave Utah House Speaker Greg Curtis a chance to square off with his long-time challenger, Jay Seegmiller. Although Speaker Curtis spoke first, he started on the defensive, saying he was just one of many Republicans who voted in favor of school vouchers, even though he's blamed as the tie-breaker that passed the bill in the House. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:00:28 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6222 After a decisive 60-to-40 percent victory in the 3rd Congressional District primary, up-and-coming Republican Jason Chaffetz says change is on the way to Washington. But after promising that change, can he deliver it, especially with Democrats widely expected to gain several more seats in the House of Representatives in November? KCPW's Jeff Robinson caught up with Chaffetz after his victory to ask that question, and to find out whether he thinks the other primary races this week should be a signal to the Republican party. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:00:28 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6223 It's a great place to take kids, it's a tremendous community asset, and it needs to make some upgrades to remain such. The Salt Lake County Council is getting hit with that argument from two organizations, Tracy Aviary and Hogle Zoo. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:00:29 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6224 Up-and-coming Republican Jason Chaffetz has been the talk of political analysts today after beating incumbent Chris Cannon by 20 points in yesterday's primary for the 3rd Congressional District. Chaffetz attributes the blow-out to volunteers support that helped him win while spending only a fraction of what the incumbent did. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:22:05 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6221 Each winter, bald eagles seem to flock to Utah. In fact, the state boasts one of the largest populations of wintering bald eagles in the United States. However it's rare for bald eagles to nest and raise their young in Utah. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:33:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6220 More Utahns are falling below the federal poverty level, according to a new report on poverty by the Utah Community Action Partnership. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:03:48 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6229 Republican Utah voters have spoken: newcomer Jason Chaffetz will be their nominee in the November election for the 3rd Congressional District, not six-time incumbent Chris Cannon. Voters also decisively sent current Chief Deputy Treasurer Richard Ellis to November's race for the state treasurer, not state legislator Mark Walker. KCPW's Jeff Robinson spoke with Dr. Tim Chambless, a political science professor at the University of Utah, for analysis of the results and what it means for the Utah Republican Party. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:53:32 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6219 Republican challenger Jason Chaffetz has ousted incumbent 3rd District Congressman Chris Cannon, earning 60 percent of the vote. The former chief of staff to Governor Jon Huntsman ran a very vocal campaign, criticizing Cannon for Congress's lack of action on energy and for his support of a guest-worker program for immigrants. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:57:15 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6218 With oil selling at more than $130 a barrel, a handful of bills have been introduced in Congress to curb the practice of oil speculation, which involves trading oil contracts with no intention of ever actually purchasing the oil. One of those bills is sponsored by Congressman Jim Matheson, who says excessive speculation is definitely part of the problem. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:39:39 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6217 Scientists are preparing to pump 3 million tons of pressurized carbon dioxide 5,000 feet into the ground near Price, Utah, over the next four years. But questions remain about who is liable if something goes wrong. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:00:21 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6214 Twelve candidates from eight states have applied to lead the new east-side school district splitting off of the Jordan District. It is a major step toward independence, says Rickie McCandless of the new district's Education Transition Team. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:00:21 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6215 A steady stream of voters turned out this morning at Granger Community Church in West Valley City. Republicans here will decide whether incumbent Chris Cannon or newcomer Jason Chaffetz will appear on the ballot this November. And like the rest of Republicans in the state, they'll decide which candidate for treasurer to send to voters, Richard Ellis or Representative Mark Walker. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:50:40 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6216 Starting on Saturday, business coalition Local First Utah will celebrate Independents' Week, promoting independently owned businesses in Utah. Local First Director Alison Einerson says the recent salmonella scare linked to tomatoes is a prime example of why it's good to buy locally grown food. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:30:01 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6212 The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission today approved spending an additional $900,000 toward completing a project for public access to four rivers and streams impacted by the Central Utah Project. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:20:45 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6211 Today, between 40,000 and 60,000 voters are expected to go to the polls in Salt Lake County to vote in a handful of Republican primaries and non-partisan school board elections. That amounts to as much as 10 percent of registered voters, but early voting turnout has been much worse than that. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:00:41 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6200 Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore hopes the Salt Lake County Council will agree to purchase a parcel of land near Wasatch Boulevard with the intention of turning it into a trailhead for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:00:41 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6205 Utah's teacher shortage has colleges rethinking how they can attract more people to the profession. At the University of Utah's College of Education, outreach begins as young as junior high. And they're looking specifically for minorities to teach the next - more ethnically diverse - generation of Utahns. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:00:41 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6207 Climate change will eventually force federal and state agencies to change their resource management strategies as ecosystems adapt to a warmer planet, warns a new Environmental Protection Agency report. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:00:41 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6208 Traumatic brain injury is so complicated it takes a team of medical and social service providers to care for the wounded and their families, says Dr. Jennifer Romesser, a clinical psychologist with the Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Heath Care System. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:42:19 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6209 Downtown in Motion is the first-ever master transportation plan. It includes six local agencies, from UTA and UDOT to city planners and the Chamber. That's a lot of chefs, but the process emphasizes collaboration. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:55:19 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6204 More bike lanes, looping TRAX lines and color-coded buses could be in downtown Salt Lake City's future, if the Downtown in Motion transportation master plan is adopted by the city council next month. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:48:27 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6203 Thanks to the popularity of the television program "Baywatch" in the 1990s, fewer people consider being a lifeguard a serious career option, says American Red Cross Health and Safety Director Mary Mathiessen. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:23:21 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6202 Tomorrow's Republican primary for State Treasurer pits a two-time state legislator against current Chief Deputy Treasurer Richard Ellis. During his eight years in that role, the Treasury Department has moved many of its operations online, making daily operations of the state's Public Treasury Investment Fund easier. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:11:19 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6201 After being denied by Salt Lake County Council Republicans last year, representatives from Hogle Zoo will once again ask the council to place a $65 million bond request on November's ballot. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:00:42 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6193 The Sierra Club commends the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a new report on faith communities and the environment. Marc Heileson of the Sierra Club's Utah Chapter, says the report shows many religious groups across the nation are committed to being good stewards of the earth. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:00:42 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6197 Tomorrow, Republican voters in Utah's 3rd District will decide who they want to send to Congress: a 57-year-old, six-term incumbent, Chris Cannon, or his 41-year-old vocal challenger, Jason Chaffetz, former chief of staff to Governor Jon Huntsman. Chaffetz accuses the congressman of 12 years of inaction on several key issues; Cannon shoots back that Chaffetz has distorted the incumbent's record. KCPW's Jeff Robinson spoke with both of them to find out how different they really are when it comes to the issues. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:00:42 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6199 Utah will strive to curb greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by the year 2020, keeping 27 million tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. That's equivalent to roughly 9 tons per person. Rick Sprott, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, says the goal is tough, but doable. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:06:35 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6198 Utahns have the 12th highest burden in taxes and mandatory fees according to a new report from the Utah Foundation, which studied both taxes and spending data from 2006. Stephen Kroes, president of the foundation, notes that we pay the 5th highest amount when it comes to mandatory fees alone. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:08:14 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6195 Another milestone accomplished! The FCC application transferring the two FM licenses for 88.3 and 105.3 was filed today, Friday, June 20, 2008. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:35:32 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6194 Utah art lovers who have yet to see the works of masters like Rodin, van Gogh, and Matisse in person will have that opportunity beginning next week at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:31:12 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6192 Utah's system of highways and freeways is the lifeline to the state's economic growth. These vital arteries carry workers, services, goods, and tourists throughout the state. But the majority of the state's infrastructure is nearing the end of its lifespan. Over the next five years, UDOT estimates it could cost more than $1billion to replace. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:11:04 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6191 Few people can imagine life without such modern conveniences as the telephone and voice mail. But for the deaf community, the ease of dialing a number and getting instantly in touch with friends and family isn't so simple. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:45:06 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6189 While the recent temperature increase may have had some assuming that summer had finally arrived, that wasn't the case, until today that is. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:03:49 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6185 The Salt Lake City Police Department plans to ask lawmakers to once again provide grant money that helps local businesses install surveillance cameras. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:03:49 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6186 (KCPW News) The noise from the presidential campaigns has been seemingly endless this past week, with the major contenders going back and forth on energy policy and national security. On top of that, Senator Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of former Vice President Al Gore, but hasn't reached out to all of Clinton's backers, and it's starting to show. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:49:46 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6188 Representatives of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP says so-called payday lenders will be in their crosshairs when lawmakers convene in January. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:47:19 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6184 Move over Denver: a major travel website now sells the majority of its ski package deals to Salt Lake City visitors. Scott Beck, president of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the bureau's Ski Salt Lake pass was number one on Travelocity.com for the first time this season. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:10:47 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6183 Guaranteeing access to an affordable, basic plan could help stem the rising cost of health insurance, threatening the state's economic competitiveness. That's the argument Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce President Lane Beattie made at the Health System Reform Task Force meeting Thursday. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:02:13 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6190 Some speculate there could be billions of barrels of oil in Utah's shale deposits, but the technology needed to extract the resource is still years in the future, says John Baza Director of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:06:31 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6181 The United States will remain dependent on fossil fuels for at least the next 50 years but there's a dearth of new power plants, says coal scientist Tom Sarkus with the U.S. Department of Energy. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:56:49 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6179 According to Utah Board of Pardons and Parole Chairman Curtis Garner, some undocumented immigrants who commit violent crimes in Utah end up back on the streets without getting deported. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:01:34 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6178 Intermountain Healthcare's Clinical Genetics Institute in Salt Lake City will soon get a check from Microsoft to help them develop an online application for gathering family medical histories. Director Marc Williams said right now, patients don't have a simple way of keeping their medical records up to date with all of their care providers. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:30:32 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6176 Despite how some Utah lawmakers might feel, there are no concerns about public safety when it comes to issuing Concealed Firearm Permits to non-Utah residents says Richard Townsend, Deputy Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:44:34 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6175 A new report from health care advocacy group Families USA claims Utah's economy gained more than $350 million dollars in business activity last year because of grants from the National Institutes of Health, and calls on Congress to increase NIH funding at a faster rate. Executive Director Ron Pollack says NIH funding has effectively gone down 13 percent in the last five years because of inflation. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:22:12 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6174 After a month of tweaking and deliberating, the Salt Lake City Council has finalized and signed off on its budget for next fiscal year, which starts in July. The mayor and council opted to raise several fees, rather than taxes. This morning, KCPW's Jeff Robinson spoke with freshman councilman J.T. Martin about the decisions that were made, whether new property taxes are in our future, and whether the city budget will be able to absorb skyrocketing fuel prices. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:15:56 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6172 Utah could be the breadbasket for domestic energy sources, says Representative Roger Barrus, co-chairman of the Natural Resources Interim Committee. The bicameral committee unanimously pledged its support Wednesday for a regional study to determine how best to develop Utah's energy resources. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:59:22 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6180 A failed attempt to build a hydroelectric plant on the shores of Bear Lake earlier this year has spurred conversations about future management of the lake. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:00:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6165 Lawmakers will have an opportunity today to scrutinize the cost and regulatory impacts of Governor Jon Huntsman's decision to sign the state onto the Western Climate Initiative. It's an opportunity long overdue, says Senator Scott Jenkins, who earlier this year sponsored legislation to curb the governor's power to sign such interstate agreements without Legislative approval. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:00:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6169 Proposition 13 continues to draw criticism 30 years after California voters passed sweeping property tax reform into law. Now, Utah lawmakers are considering adopting a component of the lightning-rod legislation. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:00:07 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6170 The need for affordable housing will continue to increase as the state's population grows and home values continue their steady upward climb, says Gordon Walker, director of the Utah Division of Housing and Community Development. On Wednesday, he'll give lawmakers in two different interim committees an overview of affordable housing in the state. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:00:26 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6171 Representatives from the Utah Department of Public Safety can expect to hear some very pointed questions from lawmakers about concealed firearm permits during tomorrow's Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee meeting. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:48:50 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6167 Tonight, the Salt Lake City Council is set to adopt its budget for the next fiscal year after more than a month of making adjustments. Councilman J.T. Martin, who is new to the process, said it went well for all the problems the council had to deal with. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:17:34 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6166 With Salt Lake County expected to take in $5 million less in sales tax this year than it projected, County Mayor Peter Corroon has put a quote "soft freeze" on hiring new employees, meaning any new hires will have to be approved by his office. Still, Corroon maintains that this is not a gloom-and-doom situation. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:59:23 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6164 On Friday, the State Board of Education approved a scathing statement alleging the current system of electing board members without a primary is unconstitutional. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:05:39 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6163 After announcing that the Deseret News would have to cut up to 35 staff positions, Editor Joe Cannon said the new direction of the paper would be quote "more local, more online, more Mormon." But after using that phrase, he wants readers to know that he did not mean the publication will start putting a Mormon spin on all its news coverage. Instead, he says readers from a survey indicated that they want more news about LDS-related topics. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:58:27 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6157 Democratic Salt Lake County Councilman Jim Bradley wants the state of Nevada to perform more research on possible environmental effects of the proposed Southern Nevada Pipeline and Snake Valley Water Withdrawal. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:03:18 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6158 The Department of Human Services will ask lawmakers on Wednesday to support creating a network of community-based pediatric mental health facilities. Davis County Representative Paul Ray, co-chairman of the Health and Human Services Interim Committee, says creating the centers could side-step the need to replace an expensive building on the Utah State Hospital campus. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:03:18 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6162 On today's edition of The Bottomline, we met Salt Lake City's new Director of Community and Economic Development, Frank Gray. Gray talked with about the future of the planning department in Salt Lake City, how Salt Lake City's downtown landscape has changed in the past twenty years, and his plans to fill up the vacancies still open in the downtown area. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:48:17 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6156 Utah's Wildlife Board is expected to approve several changes to the state's bear policy during its meeting on Thursday. Kevin Bunnell, Mammals Program Coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, says one of the changes is significant. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:36:01 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6154 After years of violence between Hutu and Tutsis that left 200,000 people dead, the East African Country of Burundi is now stable but still faces many challenges. A group of young Burundians are turning to film to help change their country for the better. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:32:26 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6159 For city residents, it wasn't so long ago that taking a kid fishing meant packing a day's worth of food, filling up the gas tank, and driving up to an hour to get to the nearest lake or reservoir. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and many city recreation departments have the answer for parents who want to introduce their kids to the outdoors in the midst of a busy urban lifestyle. KCPW's Eric Ray reports: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:00:28 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6151 The Utah State Board of Education made only minor changes to the state's sexual education program during a regularly scheduled meeting Friday. Lynn Greenwood, State Office of Education Curriculum and Instruction Director, says the school board did not discuss the recent controversy about the state's sex ed policy. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:36:33 -0600 http://www.kcpw.org/article/6160