The number of jobs in Utah has grown by almost 19,000 over the past year, according to a new employment summary from the Utah Department of Workforce Services. And unemployment dipped from 7.6 percent in March to 7.4 percent in April. But DWS Chief Economist Mark Knold says to keep in mind the state lost about 80,000 jobs during the recession, a giant hole that’s slowly being refilled.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert says selling federal land to help ease the national debt is an idea worth exploring. He was responding to Florida Congressman Dennis Ross’s comments, using Utah as an example that if the federal government needs the cash, it should “start liquidating.” Speaking at his monthly news conference on KUED, Herbert said it’s not a bad idea.
Governor Gary Herbert responded this morning to a legislative audit slamming the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for doling out liquor to an Eden, Utah package agency that went bankrupt. The mishap cost the state about $300,000. Governor Herbert said the loss was padded by insurance, but there’s obviously some concern about the incident.
Salt Lake City’s Head Start program is finding unique ways to stay on its feet after surviving what could have been the axe from federal budget cuts. With a sigh of relief, Head Start officials decided to reach out to local businesses and the community for a fundraiser that includes lots of food, fashion, and as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, plenty of cute “kiddos” taking the runway.
The Utah Transit Authority allowed reporters to ride along for a test run today of the new TRAX lines that will open this summer. The Mid-Jordan line starts out in South Jordan at Daybreak, connects to the main line at Fashion Place, and becomes the new University line. The West Valley line starts behind West Valley City Hall, connects at 2100 South and travels to Salt Lake Central Station.
A new national survey produced mixed results about how people feel about a college education and how much it costs. According to the Pew Research Center, 74 percent of college graduates said their college education was useful in helping them grow intellectually, and 55 percent said it was useful in helping them prepare for a job or career.
Salt Lake City residents who live near Red Butte Creek say they still feel the effects of the Chevron oil spill last June that sent more than 30,000 gallons of crude oil flowing downstream. Over the weekend, the city celebrated the cleanup of Liberty Lake, where a lot of that oil settled. But as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, residents upstream say there’s little cause for celebration.
No one has officially made a bid for Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon’s job, which is up for grabs in the 2012 election, but there are a few hopefuls willing to say it’s in the cards. Democrats lost control of the county council in the last election. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, could that mean the Mayor’s office is next?
Most Utah Transit Authority bus routes in Salt Lake County will change in August according to the agency’s final plan to make room for new light rail lines to South Jordan and West Valley City. UTA worked for the past six months, taking public comment to decide how those adjustments should be made. Spokesman Gerry Carpenter says when any adjustments are made, it has a ripple effect throughout.
Just like the state capital, Utah’s second-largest city is undertaking an effort to usher in a more transit-oriented, livable, workable and walkable downtown. And KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, West Valley City will begin by creating a downtown.
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