EnergySolutions will have a hand in cleaning up radioactively contaminated seawater at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan that was used to cool nuclear reactors after an earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the plant last year. The company will now work with Toshiba to decontaminate about 40 million gallons of water.

While the Utah legislature made no gains this year in passing legislation mandating businesses use E-Verify, the Salt Lake County Council approved a resolution this week (last week) to make sure businesses in its unincorporated areas are using the system.

Occupy Salt Lake protesters made their way back into the spotlight Wednesday at the Utah Capitol, but didn’t draw much attention from lawmakers. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports on their Debutante Ball, a cross-gender theatrical production protestors used to demonstrate what they say is corporate control of the legislature.

A strong advocate for downtown businesses in Salt Lake City was struck and killed by a Utah Transit Authority bus this morning. Police Sergeant Shawn Josephson says 82-year-old Richard Wirick, longtime owner of the Oxford Shop, was crossing 400 South at 200 East this morning at about 7:30 a.m. when the light changed as he was in the middle of the street.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney took a break from the campaign trail Saturday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games.

Some state liquor stores may be open on holidays after all. After previously rejecting a bill to create a pilot program for selling alcohol on holidays, the House Government Operations Committee approved it this morning. Republican Representative Lee Perry amended the bill to clarify that on certain major holidays, stores could not remain open, despite the pilot project.

Residents and commuters in downtown Salt Lake City can take advantage of the Harmons City Creek store on the corner of 100 South and State Street, which opened its doors this morning. The local grocer now has 16 locations across Utah, from Ogden to St. George. Vice President Bob Harmon says as a downtown store, the basket size will be smaller, but the frequency of customers will be higher than many other markets.

State lawmakers gave the green light to one of three bills considered Tuesday that would revamp some of Utah’s liquor laws. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, the House Government Operations Committee hit pause on a bill that ensures some members of the liquor commission drink alcohol, killed a measure to open liquor stores on holidays, and approved legislation to increase the number of restaurant liquor licenses.

Restaurants, hotels and resorts would have been able to sample the liquor they serve to their customers before purchasing it from packaging agencies or the DABC, under a bill that failed to pass out of a Senate committee yesterday. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, its supporters say they were caught off guard because of the positive feedback the bill had received earlier.

Salt Lake City leaders are used to having to defend themselves before the Utah Legislature every year. And this year is no exception, with lawmakers proposing to kill the city’s plans to clamp down on electronic billboards, and do away with its anti-idling ordinance as well. So how is the city pushing back? KCPW’s Jeff Robinson spoke with Salt Lake City Council Vice-Chair Charlie Luke.