A resolution urging the State Board of Education to thoroughly evaluate its adoption of the Common Core standards developed by several states was given more teeth today. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, it now calls on the board to reconsider that decision, rather than simply monitor it.
The Utah House of Representatives approved a measure Monday that would require women in Utah to wait three days before getting an abortion. House Bill 461, sponsored by Republican Representative Steve Eliason, extends the waiting period from 24 to 72 hours. He says in Utah, abortions are rare, and since the initial waiting period went into effect, there has been a fairly dramatic decrease in the number of abortions.
A proposal to allow personal income tax contributions for elementary schools across Utah was narrowly rejected by the Utah Senate this morning. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports on the debate.
Utah is a step closer to joining a multi-state compact that would petition the federal government for state control of healthcare dollars. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, proponents of the bill say letting the state control Medicaid and Medicare spending is more efficient and potentially cost effective than the federal bureaucracy, but opponents say it’s biting off more than it can chew.
With less than a week left in the session, House and Senate leaders are closing in on an agreement to fund the states $12.9 billion dollar budget. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, they’re stuck on a few key funding items, but are finding more money for education and state employee salaries.
The Utah Senate approved a bill this morning to keep online gambling illegal in the state as the federal government moves to allow it.
House Bill 108 would opt Utah out of U.S. House Resolution 1174, which is currently under review by Congress. Republican Senator John Valentine co-sponsored the bill. He says it preserves Utah’s tradition of being a state that doesn’t allow gambling.
A legislative resolution to support connecting Salt Lake County and Summit County ski resorts is being amended to satisfy environmental groups and local governments that oppose the SkiLink project between the Canyons and Solitude resorts.
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.
Small business owner and retired two-star General Peter Cooke became the first Democrat to enter the race for Utah Governor this morning, announcing his bid against Republican incumbent Gary Herbert. In his speech at the Fort Douglas Museum on the University of Utah campus, Cooke said the common good is losing out, being shoved aside by one-party rule.
Cities across the country and Utah are opting to bury their power lines instead of stringing them overhead, and one Democratic state lawmaker wants to help them pay for it. House Bill 291, sponsored by Representative Joel Briscoe, allows city councils to approve a tenth of a cent sales tax hike to be used solely for burying utility lines. He says there are many good reasons to halt the construction of new above-ground lines, aside from saving trees.
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