Utah has an official state vegetable, state rock and state cooking pot. And now, it’s one step closer to having a state gun. House Bill 219 passed on a 51-to-19 vote this morning on the House floor and now goes to the Senate. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports on the heated debate leading up to the vote.
Residents from two Cedar Hills voting districts intend to file a lawsuit against the Utah Republican Party, the Utah County Republican Party, and the state because their elected delegates won’t likely be allowed a vote to fill the vacancy in District 57.
In his State of the Union address last night, President Barack Obama touched on several themes that should appeal to a conservative state like Utah, like cutting the deficit, slashing corporate taxes and even repealing No Child Left Behind. But he also talked about investing in things like fixing roads and clean energy, which some say is just more federal spending.
A Utah House Republican wants to cut down on Medicaid costs by giving health care providers an incentive to send patients to another provider if it’s less expensive.
Utah is getting closer to controlling the sale and use of spice. Two spice-regulating bills earned unanimous recommendations in legislative committees yesterday after lawmakers discussed the possible dangers and lack of research on the marijuana copycat. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports.
Social service advocates gathered at the Utah Capitol’s dumpster Tuesday, hoping to send the message to lawmakers that there are no disposable members of society. The group held signs and handwritten letters protesting expected cuts to health and human services.
Democratic Utah lawmakers say education is their top concern during this year’s session, and that means more funding. But as KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports, Republican leaders are set on making sure the amount of money coming in isn’t less than the amount that’s being spent, and that means cutting $313 million.
While the national consumer confidence index hits an eight-month high, a new survey suggests Utah consumers are even more positive about the future of the economy. The newly released Consumer Attitude Index from Zions Bank is 76.2 for January, compared to the national index of 60.6.
A bill that would designate a Browning handgun as the state firearm received a favorable recommendation from a House committee yesterday.
Delivering the annual State of the Judiciary Address to Utah lawmakers, Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court Christine Durham said any further budget reductions to the state’s third branch of government would halt progress that’s being made in the court system. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports.
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