The polygamous Lehi family made famous for their TLC television series “Sister Wives” is challenging Utah’s anti-polygamy law. Kody Brown and his family are filing suit tomorrow in a Salt Lake City federal court, hoping to protect polygamous families like theirs from punishment under a law they and their attorney say is unconstitutional.
False or nuisance fire alarms are burdening the Salt Lake City fire department, causing stations to respond to unnecessary calls and leaving service gaps for real emergencies and taking up valuable time and resources. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, that’s why the city wants to charge fees for false alarms, when they persist.
A Utah State University student is off the hook for a 4th of July protest where he and his friends wrote on an American flag and carried it through a Hyrum city parade. A sheriff’s deputy threatened Justin Jerez with a class B misdemeanor citation under a Utah law that predates a U.S. Supreme Court decision protecting flag desecration as free speech.
Right now in Utah, there’s a woman who’s been battered and wants to go to a shelter, but recognizes a shelter may not be the best place for her three children. Or a single mother is giving birth, and no one is around to care for the child she already has so that she can make it to the hospital. And still another parent hasn’t had a wink of sleep in days and just needs a break. It’s cases like these when Family Support Centers can lend a hand, but as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, diminishing state funds for those centers are making it more difficult to provide those services.
A quilt embroidered with the picture of a fallen soldier from every state who fought in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is being displayed in Utah as part of a nationwide tour. The Lost Heroes Art Quilt created by Julie Feingold is on view at the Utah Capitol in the Hall of Governors. Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell joined members of the Utah National Guard at a ceremony today honoring those soldiers and the artist.
The families of soldiers who commit suicide while on combat duty or die accidentally will now get a letter of condolence from the President of the United States, joining families of countless other soldiers who died in the line of duty. President Obama announced this week he was breaking the custom, saying, “They didn’t die because they were weak. And the fact that they didn’t get the help they needed must change.” And as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, that sentiment is felt here in Utah.
The state Air Quality Board yesterday denied a citizen petition to adopt a greenhouse gas reduction plan that could drive down carbon emissions by 6 percent per year. The group, called iMatter, filed the petition with the governor’s office and eight state agencies in May, hoping to address climate change and poor air quality. But as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, the board agreed resources are too scarce to carry out the measure and legislative backlash would follow if it were approved.
Growing costs have prompted the Salt Lake City Arts Council to seek text message donations to help pay for the annual Twilight Concert Series, which kicks off next week.
Former Utah Governor and Presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman made a campaign stop in Taylorsville Tuesday afternoon to tour the labs of a life sciences company and tout the economic policies the company benefitted from during his time leading the state. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, Huntsman told reporters he could ensure the same economic success across the country.
West Valley City is considering a property tax increase of more than 18 percent to balance its 2012 budget. Earlier this year, the city forecast a $7.5 million budget gap, but was able to shrink it down to $3.5 million through budget cuts and hiring freezes. Mayor Mike Winder says he hates tax increases, and knows it’s going to be a hard sell to residents.
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