Legislative Coverage

Interim DABC Leader Recommends How to Clean Up Agency

November 8, 2011 Jeff Robinson

The temporary head of Utah’s embattled Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control weighed in this morning on how to clean the agency up, in the wake of an audit that uncovered widespread mismanagement and alleged illegal activity. Speaking to a legislative committee, Francine Giani said the executive director of the DABC needs to report directly to the Governor and the Legislature, not the part-time DABC commission.

Environment

Will Legislature Address Air Quality on State Level?

October 26, 2011 Jessica Gail

Idling your car in Salt Lake City could soon cost you a hefty fine. In a unanimous vote this week, the Salt Lake City Council passed an anti-idling ordnance, banning drivers from idling cars for longer than two minutes. But will it be followed by any efforts to improve air quality on the state level? KCPW’s Jessica Gail talked with legislative leaders to find out what legislation, if any, is coming to help clean up Utah’s air.

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Legislative Coverage

Lawmakers Discuss Troubled DABC’s Future

October 26, 2011 Jessica Gail

Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups and House Speaker Becky Lockhart addressed a recent audit of the Utah Department of Alcoholic and Beverage Control in a news conference this morning at Salt Lake Community College. Lockhart says working on restructuring the DABC will be one of the major tasks during the upcoming legislative session starting in January.

Legislative Coverage

Becker: Democrats Supported Maps Because they Were Protected, like GOP

October 25, 2011 Jeff Robinson

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker observed this year’s legislative redistricting process from a completely different role. During the last redistricting a decade ago, he was a Democratic lawmaker in the Utah House of Representatives. And now, he says it looks like legislators from his own party were willing to support the House and Senate maps because their seats were protected.

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Legislative Coverage

Hair Braiding Regulation Sparks Debate in Legislature

October 19, 2011 Whittney Evans

Hairs were split at the State Capitol this morning when licensed cosmetologists filled a committee room to protest a potential bill that would remove the license requirement for braiding hair in Utah. Right now, a person must obtain a cosmetology license.

Legislative Coverage

DABC Audit Shows Serious Mismanagement

October 18, 2011 Jessica Gail

The former executive director of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control could be facing felony charges. In a report released Tuesday, legislative auditors say Dennis Kellen violated the law, and are calling on the Attorney General’s office to investigate. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports on the audit’s findings and how the legislature plans to clean up the department.

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City Beat

Winder Surprised West Valley City Split in Final Map

October 18, 2011 Jessica Gail

Utah’s second-largest city will likely have two representatives in Congress after the 2012 election. West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder says he was surprised to learn that legislators had passed a congressional map that split his city in half.

Legislative Coverage

Politics Up Close: Rep. Carl Wimmer Runs for Congress

October 14, 2011 Jeff Robinson

It’s official: Republican State Representative Carl Wimmer is in the running for Congress. The conservative lawmaker and co-founder of the legislature’s states-rights oriented Patrick Henry Caucus expects to run in the state’s new 4th congressional district, after the final boundaries are adopted next week.

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Legislative Coverage

Politics Up Close: Party Leaders, House Speaker on Redistricting

October 7, 2011 Jeff Robinson

Utah lawmakers haven’t been able to reach an agreement on how to re-draw the state’s congressional boundaries, as the redistricting process has created a firestorm of controversy, generated protests and led to the threat of a lawsuit. Utah Republican Party Chair Thomas Wright joined Democratic Party Chair Jim Dabakis in the studio for a discussion and debate about what’s happening with redistricting in Utah.

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Legislative Coverage

Salt Lake County Likely to be Split in Future Congressional Map

September 22, 2011 Jessica Gail

As the redistricting process draws close to an end, state lawmakers in charge of evaluating proposals for the four congressional district boundaries are under scrutiny. KCPW’s Jessica Gail explains why some feel the latest congressional maps are not what the public asked for, and how others are responding.

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