Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

Utah Artist Remembered for Passion, Sensitivity

Those who love V. Douglas Snow said Utah lost a "constant inspiration" and a man with a "poetic kind of nature" Tuesday. Snow, 82, an artist whose life passion was painting the rugged landscape of southern Utah, died in a rollover in Sevier County, northwest of his Wayne County home in Teasdale.

Legislators Learn More About Climate Change

Dueling scientists made presentations Wednesday at the state Capitol to a packed legislative committee hearing on the science behind global warming, and the political divisiveness over whether it is significantly caused by humans. First, members of the House Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee heard from James Steenburgh, professor and chairman of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah.

Lawmakers Riled Over Bonuses for Trust Land Officials

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are outraged over hefty bonuses handed out to top managers of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration -- double what they get annually -- given the state's tough fiscal times. "I just find this totally inappropriate," said Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville. "This sort of thing gives government a black eye."

Study-Abroad Videos Sought

The National Association of Foreign Student Advisers: Association of International Educators, along with the global education magazine for students, Abroad View, are inviting college students across the country to submit videos about their study abroad experiences for the 2009 Student Diplomat Video Contest. The contest is open to undergraduate students who are currently studying abroad or have recently returned from a study abroad experience. Three-minute videos should focus on how the exper...

Couple Killed in Castle Dale; Son in Custody

CASTLE DALE -- A man who according to family has a history of mental illness is expected to face homicide charges as early as today in the shotgun slaying of his parents. Peter Sharp, 26, was arrested Wednesday on Main Street in Castle Dale following the shooting of William Sharp, 51, and Charmaine Sharp, 54, said Emery County Sheriff Lamar Guymon.

Leaders to Offer Details On 'Spy Center'

State and federal leaders apparently are ready to officially confirm and give some details about a new $1.9 billion "spy center" at Camp Williams. Gov. Gary Herbert, members of Utah's congressional delegation and U.S. Deputy Director of National Intelligence Glenn Gaffney have scheduled a joint news conference Friday at the state Capitol "to announce a major project at Camp Williams," according to a news release.

Bennett Spending Heavily a Year Before Senate Election

The 2010 U.S. Senate election in Utah is more than a year away, but embattled Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, is spending heavily now -- with much of his money coming from the financial industry that benefited from bailouts he initially supported. He spent nearly $545,000 in the past three months, more than entire congressional campaigns often cost in Utah, new disclosure documents show.

Leonardo to Open On Namesake's Birthday in 2011

The Leonardo, a downtown science, technology and arts center, will open April 15, 2011 -- Leonardo da Vinci's 557th birthday, Mayor Ralph Becker announced Tuesday. "We all have a lot to accomplish before then," Becker said in addressing a group of donors and dignitaries Tuesday. "The city team has a building to renovate, and Team Leonardo has a fundraising campaign to wrap up, partnerships to forge, exhibits to build and a massive installation process to complete."

Utah Food Bank Dedicates $10m Facility in South S.L.

Wednesday was "chocolate chip cookie day" for Utah. That's what Bishop H. David Burton, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said as a new $10 million Utah Food Bank facility was dedicated in South Salt Lake.

President Monson Top Octogenarian

In addition to guiding more than 13 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson now leads Slate.com's annual list of the nation's most powerful octogenarians. The online current affairs magazine ranked the 82-year-old President Monson No. 1 on its roster of "80 over 80," assembled by Slate in order of power and importance and released this week.

State Legislators 'Disappointed' by Actions of College's Trustees

Members of the Utah Legislature are "disappointed" by the recent actions of the Utah College of Applied Technology College board of trustees, which recently reappointed a former president who left the school in the wake of scandal. Robert O. Brems was announced as the newest UCAT president last week, but his reappointment may have been against state law, legislators said Wednesday.

Polanski Lawyers Split On Possible Surrender

GENEVA (AP) -- Lawyers for Roman Polanski split on strategies Wednesday, with one suggesting for the first time that Polanski might voluntarily return to the U.S. to face justice in California for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. Until now the position had been that the Oscar-winning director, who has been a fugitive for 31 years, would not surrender to U.S. authorities.

Dui Fatalities Decreased in '08

Drunken-driving fatalities in Utah decreased 19 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to a report to the Legislature on Wednesday. The Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice's Seventh Annual DUI Report to the Transportation Interim Committee noted that in 2008 there were 34 DUI-related fatalities, down from 42 in 2007.

H1n1 Flu Kills 5 More Utahns

As the H1N1 and seasonal flus continue to spread throughout the Beehive State, five more Utahns have died and scores of others have been hospitalized in the past week after contracting the flu. The Utah Department of Health's newest report, released Wednesday, shows eight total deaths associated with the H1N1 virus since Sept. 1 -- five more than the department reported a week ago. It also reported that 274 people have been hospitalized after contracting either H1N1 or the seasonal flu -- mor...

This Week's Utah Hiking Adventure: Butler Fork Loop -- Big Cottonwood Canyon

At the start, the trail crosses the creek and comes to a rocky outcrop. After crossing the rocks, the trail becomes steeper as you make your way up the hill. This is the steepest section on the hike. At the top of the hill, you enter the Mount Olympus Wilderness area at .30 mile and the trail smooths out to a footbridge. After the bridge, you come to the first junction. Take the Mill A Basin Trail. The trail follows the creek, then veers away and makes 15 switchbacks to the ridgeline. After t...

Ethics Reform Taking Shape

The Utah Legislature is on the verge of historic ethics actions - - in part because of a citizen initiative petition nipping at their heels. But only time will tell if Utah voters will accept as sufficient lawmakers' ethics reforms, or whether residents will still want the strict and far-reaching initiative.

Vehicular Reality Check Unusually Real for Students

BOUNTIFUL -- The mangled vehicle rests behind Viewmont High School in the rear of the parking lot. Unless a student was going to the football field or the track, the white pickup truck is not in an area that gets a lot of traffic. But everyone at Viewmont is talking about it, and everyone knows where it is.

Pilot Killed in Crash Near Provo Airport

PROVO -- A Utah Valley University student died Wednesday when the single-engine airplane he was piloting crashed near Provo Municipal Airport. Benjamin Hill, 30, was on his way from Spanish Fork-Springville Airport and reported engine trouble about three miles from the Provo runway, according to Provo Fire Battalion Chief Roger Gourley. The plane crashed at 4:10 p.m. about 500 feet short of the runway on the dike road that circles a landfill by the airport, Gourley said.

2 Are Confirmed for Liquor Panel

Richard Sperry and Jeff Wright were confirmed Wednesday by the Senate to fill two vacancies on the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. The pair were nominated by Gov. Gary Herbert to replace Mary Anne Mantes and Kathryn Balmforth, whose terms expired June 30.

Lawmaker to Quit, Take Job at Usu

State Rep. Brad Winn, R-Ephraim, is resigning his District 68 seat to take a job with Utah State University. Winn currently works for Snow College and will have to move out of his district for his new job. State law says if a legislator moves out of his district, he must resign his seat.