JOHNSON - The Salt Lake Tribune

A first: GOP lawmaker calls for Utah A.G. John Swallow to resign

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:20:49 MDT

A first: GOP lawmaker calls for Utah A.G. John Swallow to resign

By Robert Gehrke The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 24, 2013 11:20PM MDT

Rep. Paul Ray said Friday that it is time for Attorney General John Swallow to resign for the good of his office and the state. The Clearfield Republican becomes the first lawmaker of either party to publicly call for Swallow’s departure amid a monthslong scandal and a federal and state investigation into alleged wrongdoing. “It’s to the point he needs to step down. He needs to resign,” Ray said. “I think the evidence is overwhelming from the stories we’ve seen and similar stories from different...

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PCL baseball: Despite big hitting performances, Bees fall to Redbirds

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:00:45 MDT

PCL baseball: Despite big hitting performances, Bees fall to Redbirds

By Kyle Goon The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 23, 2013 11:00PM MDT

Andrew Romine and Keith Johnson have a history that stretches far beyond Salt Lake — back to when both were in Single A Cedar Rapids five years ago. Romine, the 27-year-old infielder, has learned to value his longtime manager’s advice. The two spent some time during Thursday’s batting practice talking about Romine’s slow start at the plate since coming back down to Triple A. Johnson, who doesn’t lack for talking points, had a surprisingly simple message. “It was mental approach more than physic...

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Frances Monson, wife of Mormon church leader, dies

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:08:01 MDT

Frances Monson, wife of Mormon church leader, dies

By peggy fletcher stack The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 23, 2013 06:08PM MDT

It was love at first sight — or at least first meeting — for the tall, loquacious Thomas S. Monson and the slender beauty, Frances Beverly Johnson. Soon, he was smitten, Monson later recalled, “I knew I’d found the right one.” Now, after nearly 65 years of marriage, Monson, the LDS Church’s 16th president, has lost the woman who walked in dignity beside him, providing quiet strength, support and encouragement as he performed his church duties. Frances Monson, who had been hospitalized for sev...

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West Jordan Council votes intent to expand mayor’s job

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:29:57 MDT

West Jordan Council votes intent to expand mayor’s job

By cathy mckitrick The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 23, 2013 12:29AM MDT

West Jordan • City Council members in Utah’s fourth largest city voted Wednesday to draft intent language that would reclassify the mayor’s job to reflect its full-time nature. However, they reached no agreement on how much the expanded role should pay. The 5-to-1 vote — Council member Clive Killpack voted against the motion and Councilman Chad Nichols was absent — came after vigorous discussion about the mayor’s role and what the change would signify. During public comments, former councilman ...

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Data drives UHP’s Memorial Day crackdown

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:07:16 MDT

Data drives UHP’s Memorial Day crackdown

By Michael McFall The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 23, 2013 11:07PM MDT

Utah Highway Patrol hopes to make this Memorial Day weekend one for their history books. No one died in a highway crash last Memorial Day weekend — the first time that had happened in more than 15 years — and if no one does this time, that would be “almost unheard of ” for UHP, said Cpl. Todd Johnson. To better ensure that happens, UHP is using data for the first time to strategize their patrol. “[We’ve been]looking at the data over the major holidays throughout the year, tracking where we have...

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West Jordan City Council to discuss full-time pay for mayor

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:47:08 MDT

West Jordan City Council to discuss full-time pay for mayor

By Cathy McKitrick The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 10:47PM MDT

On Wednesday, the West Jordan City Council will discuss changing the mayor’s position from part-time to full-time without changing the city’s current form of government. At present, West Jordan functions under the Council-Manager form of government where the city manager serves as the city’s chief executive and the mayor is a voting member and head of the City Council. To change to a Mayor-Council form of government would require placing the issue on the ballot for a public vote. Melissa Johnso...

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UHP: One dead, one critical after I-215 crashes

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:11:18 MDT

UHP: One dead, one critical after I-215 crashes

By Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 11:11PM MDT

The Utah Highway Patrol was trying Tuesday to figure out why a car drove into oncoming traffic on a southern Davis County stretch of Interstate 215, triggering a head-on crash that killed one man and left another critically injured. Berton L. Stephens, 54, of Bountiful, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 5:22 p.m. Monday accident that culminated on the westbound on-ramp from Redwood Road to I-215, said UHP Cpl. Todd Johnson. Johnson said Stephens was driving a 2004 Honda Accord northbound...

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Fatality reported in North Salt Lake crash

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:12:19 MDT

Fatality reported in North Salt Lake crash

By Kimball Bennion The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 09:12AM MDT

A fatal crash occurred Monday afternoon on Redwood Road in southern Davis County, the Utah Highway Patrol reported. The two-vehicle crash occurred near the intersection with eastbound Interstate 215 in North Salt Lake, according to UHP Cpl. Todd Johnson. Johnson confirmed at least one fatality in the crash, but said he was awaiting more details on the crash as of 6 p.m. Monday. The Utah Department of Transportation shut down I-215 in the area of the crash at about 6 p.m. and reopened the freewa...

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Funeral set Thursday for Frances Monson, wife of Mormon president

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:04:53 MDT

Funeral set Thursday for Frances Monson, wife of Mormon president

By Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 01:04PM MDT

Funeral services are set Thursday in downtown Salt Lake City’s Tabernacle for Frances J. Monson, wife of LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson. No public viewing was planned but the public is invited to attend the noon funeral, officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Monday. Further details on the funeral, including speakers and burial plans, will be released later this week. Frances Monson died Friday at age 85 after having been hospitalized for several weeks. Th...

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NFL: Chad Johnson arrested on probation violation

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:22:59 MDT

NFL: Chad Johnson arrested on probation violation

The Associated Press

Updated May 20, 2013 09:22AM MDT

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. • Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson has been arrested on charges that he violated probation stemming from an altercation with his now ex-wife, TV reality star Evelyn Lozada. A Broward County judge ordered Johnson jailed Monday until he posts a $1,000 bond. Another hearing was set for June 3. An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month when Johnson failed to meet his probation officer. The six-time Pro Bowl player formerly known as Chad Ochocinco is serving a yea...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson claims All-Star race

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:42:09 MDT

NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson claims All-Star race

The Associated Press

Updated May 18, 2013 11:42PM MDT

Concord, N.C. • Cross another milestone off of Jimmie Johnson’s list. He stands alone in All-Star history. “Five-time” became the first four-time winner of NASCAR’s annual All-Star race, breaking a tie with the late Dale Earnhardt and teammate Jeff Gordon on Saturday night. “To beat Jeff and Earnhardt, two guys that I have looked up to my whole life, two massive icons of our sport, this means the world to me,” Johnson said. He also joined the late Davey Allison as only the second driver to win b...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NASCAR: Carl Edwards gets pole for Sprint All-Star race

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:03:38 MDT

NASCAR: Carl Edwards gets pole for Sprint All-Star race

Updated May 19, 2013 05:03PM MDT

NASCAR • Carl Edwards captured the pole for the Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Edwards, the 2011 winner in the exhibition event, completed three laps and a four-tire pit stop Friday in 1 minute, 51.297 seconds. Kurt Busch will start alongside Edwards on the front row Saturday. Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch and Joe Logano round out the top five. For the first time since 2000, NASCAR waived the pit-road speed limit, allowing drivers to enter and leave the pits at high...

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The death of old-time liberalism

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:01:05 MDT

The death of old-time liberalism

By brian c. Johnson

Updated May 17, 2013 01:01AM MDT

I am musing about the death of real liberalism in America as I write my not insignificant annual check to the Human Rights Campaign, the national political action committee for LGBTQ rights in the United States. Why is it that, rather than simply being satisfied with my support for its incredibly worthy cause, the organization — along with so many others at least nominally espousing social justice views I find laudable — feels compelled to tout candidates and politicians (including the likes of ...

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Sacramento staying put

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:48:32 MDT

Sacramento staying put

The Associated Press

Updated May 16, 2013 11:48PM MDT

Dallas • Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson flashed a few smiles when his bid to save the city’s NBA franchise finally succeeded. Just not too many. The former All-Star guard didn’t want to celebrate at the expense of Seattle after league owners voted Wednesday to reject, once and for all, an aggressive bid to move the Sacramento Kings. “I went to Seattle,” said Johnson, who spent all but the first 52 games of his 12-year career with the Phoenix Suns. “I played against those fans in that communi...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

5A baseball: Syracuse pitchers silence American Fork

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:30:41 MDT

5A baseball: Syracuse pitchers silence American Fork

By Kyle Goon The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 16, 2013 10:30AM MDT

Syracuse • Spencer Johnson had a little more left to give when he was called off the mound in the sixth inning Wednesday. The Syracuse senior only had allowed one hit. But he wasn’t sweating his substitute, Jordan Cobabe. Along with fellow pitcher Jason Jourdan, the Syracuse stars have been friends on the diamond since the third grade. Johnson was confident the slim lead the Titans had over defending state champion American Fork would hold. “I felt like I could’ve kept going, but I knew Jordan h...

Condition improves for Duchesne man in pickup vs. semi crash

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:01:40 MDT

Condition improves for Duchesne man in pickup vs. semi crash

By Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 14, 2013 01:01PM MDT

The condition of a Duchesne man hurt in a crash with a semi-trailer rig had improved and he was expected to be released from the hospital soon, the Utah Highway Patrol said Tuesday. UHP Cpl. Todd Johnson said the 19-year-old man had been listed in serious condition Monday afternoon following the accident on U.S. 40 near the highway’s junction with State Route 87, just west of Roosevelt. The Duchesne man was westbound on U.S. 40 just after noon on Monday when the semi made a left turn from S.R. 8...

Judge slaps gag order on Jeremy Johnson, others in his criminal case

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:38:24 MDT

Judge slaps gag order on Jeremy Johnson, others in his criminal case

By tom harvey The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 14, 2013 11:38PM MDT

Jeremy Johnson certainly has caused a stir this year: headline-grabbing allegations about Utah Attorney General John Swallow and a vigorous media campaign against federal regulators and prosecutors. Now he’s been told to zip it. A federal judge has signed a gag order to prevent the St. George businessman and others involved in his criminal case from making statements about it to the news media or on social media. U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Warner signed the order at the request of prosecutors, ...

Jeremy Johnson tried to subpoena John Swallow, feds say

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:11:30 MDT

Jeremy Johnson tried to subpoena John Swallow, feds say

By Tom Harvey The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 14, 2013 10:11AM MDT

Jeremy Johnson is intimidating witnesses and trying to drag John Swallow into a civil lawsuit to which Utah’s embattled attorney general apparently has no connection, prosecutors pursuing criminal charges against the St. George businessman asserted Monday. In their latest court filing, federal prosecutors in Utah also denied Johnson’s allegation that the chief prosecutor in his criminal case was willing to strike a deal to protect Swallow from possible prosecution. The back-and-forth accusations...

Questionable ties pop up in Shurtleff’s money trail

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:42:38 MDT

Questionable ties pop up in Shurtleff’s money trail

By Tom Harvey The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 13, 2013 01:42PM MDT

Jason Brailow, cited by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection after 356 consumer complaints, contributed $22,600. The Tax Club kicked in nearly $100,000, all of it after being slapped by the state’s fraud police. Topping all donors, Jeremy Johnson’s I Works and various associates shelled out more than $217,000. Johnson’s company has been targeted by the state and now faces a federal lawsuit while Johnson himself is staring at 86 criminal charges. All these donors and dozens more with regulat...

Payday lenders and the Harry Reid connection

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:25:15 MDT

Payday lenders and the Harry Reid connection

By matt canham The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 13, 2013 09:25AM MDT

Washington • Fearing new regulations in the aftermath of the financial crisis, payday lenders decided to make a major play for the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. They contributed more than $126,000 to his campaign as the Nevada Democrat attempted to beat back a tea party challenge, hoping that the man who controls the Senate agenda would protect their interests. Their gambit didn’t stop the creation of a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which Reid supported. And yet, it m...