One of the smallest colleges in Utah is attracting students from across the world. Westminster College, Utah’s only private, comprehensive liberal arts institution is now home to more students from out-of-state than from Utah. KCPW’s Jessica Gail explains what the school is doing to reach out to teens and why students seem to be responding.
TRAX riders making daily commutes into downtown Salt Lake City and the University of Utah have mixed feelings about the route changes the Utah Transit Authority implemented two weeks ago. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, some say the changes make more sense for their commute, while others say it makes theirs more difficult and time consuming.
In her new book, Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness, Alexandra Fuller writes about a very memorable character: her mother, Nicola. The Wyoming-based author previously wrote about her experiences as a white child growing up in Africa’s Rhodesia in the midst of a civil war in her memoir, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, which was not exactly well-received by her mother.
A billboard aimed at atheists and non-religious Utahns is now up along a popular Salt Lake City highway. The Utah Coalition of Reason, an alliance of non-theist groups across the state, put up the sign, which reads “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.” Elaine Ball, director of the group, hopes the billboard makes their community more visible.
Extra seating and two police officers were needed to help organize the crowd that showed up to voice their opinions last night on a Wal-Mart zoning change that is set to be voted on by the Salt Lake City Council. KCPW’s Jessica Gail talked with residents who are passionate about both sides of the issue, and reports on when a final decision is expected.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill says he won’t file criminal charges against the Salt Lake City police officer accused of an unjustified shooting in May. Gill sent a letter to Police Chief Chris Burbank today saying a review of the investigation determined there was cause to believe that Officer Mathew Giles’ actions violated the law, but there wasn’t enough evidence to support a criminal case.
In an unexpected move Monday, the Utah Legislature’s Redistricting Committee chose a citizen map for new state school board boundaries. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, a software designer from Logan had the golden ticket, when several maps drawn by lawmakers and school board members did not make the cut.
While Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz is out of the running for U.S. Senate, a Republican lawmaker is still considering a challenge against longtime incumbent Senator Orrin Hatch. State Senator Dan Liljenquist of Bountiful was first elected to the Utah Legislature in 2008.
The newly-elected chairman and other leaders of the Utah Democratic Party have embarked on a “Red Rock Tour.” The party says Jim Dabakis and others are traveling more than 1,100 miles across Southern Utah, telling voters in cities like Cedar City, Moab and St. George that they should get their own congressional district.
Republican Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz says he would like to return to Washington, but not as a senator… at least for now. In a surprise announcement Monday afternoon at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics, Chaffetz said he will not be running against Senator Orrin Hatch in 2012. KCPW’s Jessica Gail spoke to the Congressman about what prompted his change of heart, and reports on what it means for Utah’s political future.
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