State - The Salt Lake Tribune

Obama pledges urgent aid after deadly Oklahoma tornado

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:33:57 MDT

Obama pledges urgent aid after deadly Oklahoma tornado

The Associated Press

Updated May 21, 2013 10:33AM MDT

WASHINGTON • President Barack Obama pledged urgent government help for Oklahoma Tuesday in the wake of “one of the most destructive” storms in the nation’s history. “In an instant neighborhoods were destroyed, dozens of people lost their lives, many more were injured,” Obama said from the White House State Dining Room. “Among the victims were young children trying to take shelter in the safest place they knew — their school.” The president added that the town of Moore, Okla., “needs to get every...

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

For Utah college presidents, raise in pay, ire?

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:47:13 MDT

For Utah college presidents, raise in pay, ire?

By Lindsay Whitehurst | The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 07:47AM MDT

Utah public college presidents would get raises of up to 24 percent in July under a plan approved by the Utah Board of Regents. The extra money is designed to bring relatively low Utah salaries closer to rates at similar schools, a move Utah Commissioner of Higher Education David Buhler said is necessary to attract the best leaders. “Decisions they make can have an effect not just on students and faculty, but their decisions can also save the state millions of dollars,” he said. “We understan...

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Utah man sentenced to life in prison for murdering girlfriend, mutilating her body

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:08:17 MDT

Utah man sentenced to life in prison for murdering girlfriend, mutilating her body

By Jessica Miller The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 20, 2013 10:08PM MDT

A 44-year-old Orem man will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally stabbing his live-in girlfriend last year and mutilating her body, a judge ruled Monday. To escape the death penalty, Steven Gray pleaded guilty in March to first-degree felony aggravated murder and agreed to be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the October slaying of 44-year-old Jennifer Brackenbury. He also pleaded guilty to second-degree felony mayhem and third-degree felony abuse or desecratio...

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5A baseball: Copper Hills ousts Taylorsville from playoffs

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:24:13 MDT

5A baseball: Copper Hills ousts Taylorsville from playoffs

By neil k. warner For The Tribune

Updated May 21, 2013 12:24AM MDT

Orem • Tanner Anderson’s performance in Monday afternoon’s 5A state baseball elimination game at Utah Valley University posed one puzzling question. How did this guy lose three games this year? Anderson pitched a four-hit shutout to help Copper Hills to a 5-0 win over Taylorsville. “He’s been doing that all year. He’s been throwing really well. The trouble we’ve had is getting him to finish. He’s been going four, five or six innings but he finished today,” said Copper Hills coach John Morgan. “I...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

After Benghazi, U.S. presses forward on security upgrades

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:15:01 MDT

After Benghazi, U.S. presses forward on security upgrades

By ERIC SCHMITT The New York Times

Updated May 20, 2013 09:15PM MDT

By late this summer, the U.S. State Department plans to send dozens of additional diplomatic security agents to high-threat embassies, install millions of dollars of advanced fire-survival gear and surveillance cameras in those diplomatic posts, and improve training for employees headed to the riskiest missions. The price tag for the security improvements put in place after the attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11 has reached $1.4 billion to meet the most urgent needs...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Kerry to Mideast to advance struggling Syria plan

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:59:16 MDT

Kerry to Mideast to advance struggling Syria plan

By BRADLEY KLAPPER The Associated Press

Updated May 20, 2013 07:59PM MDT

Washington • Secretary of State John Kerry is headed back to the Middle East to press his case for peace talks between Syrian rebels and President Bashar Assad’s regime amid increasing signs the new U.S. strategy to halt the war is being undermined by Russia. Kerry left Washington on Monday for Oman where he will have discussions with the sultan of the Gulf state. He will then travel on to Jordan to gather with 10 of America’s closest European and Arab partners to discuss how to advance a politi...

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

State senator to Beretta: Come make guns in Utah

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:12:43 MDT

State senator to Beretta: Come make guns in Utah

By Derek P. jensen The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 20, 2013 09:12PM MDT

Utah Sen. Howard Stephenson just messed with Texas. The Draper Republican, president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, opened a bill file at the Legislature to lure Beretta and other gun manufacturers to Utah through tax incentives after the iconic gun maker announced that strict gun-control laws just passed in Maryland will force Beretta to bolt that state. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has openly courted gun companies to relocate to the Lone Star State. Titled “Shelter From The Storm: Utah’s Opport...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

3A softball: Stansbury claims school’s first state title

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:42:08 MDT

3A softball: Stansbury claims school’s first state title

By David Cordero Special to The Tribune

Updated May 18, 2013 11:42PM MDT

St. George • Nothing that happened before Elise Sutherland’s first at-bat during Stansbury’s second contest could foreshadow what was coming next. She struck out twice and stranded a village on the basepaths against Spanish Fork in the first game Saturday. Sutherland made up for it with her team trailing by two in the second inning of a winner-take-all title match-up against the Dons. She put a charge into the ball that helped the Stallions make school history. Sutherland, Stansbury’s No. 9 hi...

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State Department: Reports of anti-Semitism increase

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:10:30 MDT

State Department: Reports of anti-Semitism increase

By MATTHEW DALY The Associated Press

Updated May 20, 2013 01:10PM MDT

WASHINGTON • The State Department appointed a special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism Monday as a new report documents a global increase in incidents of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. Ira Forman, former CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council, was named special envoy as the State Department released its annual report on religious freedom around the world. Forman replaces Michael Kozak, who had served in an acting role after Hannah Rosenthal stepped down last year. The 2012 r...

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

Olympics: Russian oligarchs foot most of bill for Sochi Games

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:12:19 MDT

Olympics: Russian oligarchs foot most of bill for Sochi Games

By Nataliya vasilyeva AP Business Writer

Updated May 20, 2013 01:12PM MDT

Sochi, Russia • The mountains of Sochi are now home to Potanin’s slope, Gazprom’s gondola lift and Sberbank’s ski jump. The nicknames used by locals and an army of construction workers leave no doubt about who is paying for the 2014 Winter Games: Russia’s business powerhouses. Other countries that have hosted the Olympics have overwhelmingly used public funds to pay for the construction of needed venues and new infrastructure. The Russian government, however, has gotten state-controlled companie...

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

Bees: More than 11,000 kids expected to attend Tuesday’s game

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:05:16 MDT

Bees: More than 11,000 kids expected to attend Tuesday’s game

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 20, 2013 12:05PM MDT

The Salt Lake Bees expect more than 11,000 fifth and sixth graders to attend Tuesday’s 10:35 a.m. game against Memphis for Prevention Dimensions Day. The drug and alcohol prevention promotion is in conjunction with the Utah State Office of Education, which will host. The opening ceremony features more than 400 Utah elementary students from the Davis, Granite and Salt Lake school districts. Utah’s First Lady, Jeanette Herbert and Verne Larsen, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinator for the Utah ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Utah GOP again rejects reforms to nomination process

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:44:28 MDT

Utah GOP again rejects reforms to nomination process

By Robert Gehrke The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 18, 2013 11:44PM MDT

The Utah Republican Party again rejected a series of reforms to the party’s nominating process in a move that could trigger a threatened ballot initiative to overhaul the system for picking candidates. Count My Vote, a group made up of several prominent Republicans, including former Gov. Mike Leavitt, argued the current system puts too much power in the hands of a small group of delegates, depresses turnout and leads to radicalization of Utah politics. The group had said if changes weren’t ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Thurl Bailey named as state’s refugee liaison

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:04:33 MDT

Thurl Bailey named as state’s refugee liaison

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 20, 2013 11:04AM MDT

Former Utah Jazz forward Thurl Bailey will serve as Governor Gary R. Herbert’s ambassador to the state’s refugee community. Appointed Monday, Bailey will act as a liaison between the Governor and the more than 50,000 refugees who call Utah home. “Thurl has demonstrated exceptional character and passion, both on and off the court,” Governor Herbert said. “His advocacy on behalf of Utah’s refugees will be extremely beneficial as we continue to help them integrate into our communities, and enhance ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

News roundup: Some Clinton loyalists vow to sit out 2016

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:43:02 MDT

News roundup: Some Clinton loyalists vow to sit out 2016

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 20, 2013 07:43AM MDT

Clinton loyalists too scared for a 2016 run. Bennett: Swallow should take a leave. Utah GOP rejects convention changes. Happy Monday. Four key advisers to Hillary Clinton say they will not take part in a 2016 presidential bid, saying they remain too scared from her 2008 showdown with eventual President Barack Obama and one offered some unsolicited advice to her former boss: "She shouldn't run as a front runner." [WaPost] Topping the news: Utah Republican delegates once again reject an atte...

No solution

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:09:57 MDT

No solution

Updated May 19, 2013 11:09PM MDT

“Non sequitur: when a train of thought proceeds from A to B and back again to Q.” — Bill Griffith’s comic strip, “Zippy the Pinhead” There are many words one could use to describe state Sen. Todd Weiler’s idea for addressing the scandal swirling around Attorney General John Swallow. Two such words are “counterintuitive” and “déjà vu.” Weiler’s proposal to make the state attorney general an appointed rather than an elected office closely resembles others cooked up on Capitol Hill that purpor...

Israeli seeks interim deal with Palestinians

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:09:57 MDT

Israeli seeks interim deal with Palestinians

By JOSEF FEDERMAN The Associated Press

Updated May 19, 2013 11:09PM MDT

Jerusalem • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s senior coalition partner says that reaching a final peace agreement with the Palestinians is unrealistic at the current time and the sides should instead pursue an interim arrangement. Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s assessment, delivered in a published interview Sunday just days before the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, throws a contentious idea into the mix as the U.S. searches for ways to restart peace talks. It remains unclear wh...

Q&A: Utah teachers and guns in schools

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:11:22 MDT

Q&A: Utah teachers and guns in schools

By Ray Parker The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 20, 2013 06:11AM MDT

Here’s a look at questions about teachers and guns in Utah schools. Q: What laws govern how Utah teachers handle guns in schools? A: Utah school districts and charter schools must allow employees, including teachers, to carry firearms under state laws governing concealed weapon permit holders. Salt Lake City School District spokesman Jason Olsen said employees with permits can carry in schools, but their weapons, as state law says, must remain concealed and in their personal possession. Canyo...

Prep boys’ track: Kafentzis leads Jordan sweep of throwing golds

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:42:07 MDT

Prep boys’ track: Kafentzis leads Jordan sweep of throwing golds

By Matt Ellis Special to The Tribune

Updated May 18, 2013 11:42PM MDT

Provo • Make it two in a row for Austin Kafentzis. The standout sophomore quarterback on the Jordan football team used his arm strength to secure his second consecutive Class 5A state championship in the javelin Saturday at the state meet. His throw of 179 feet was more than enough to earn him the win, but he entered the competition with higher hopes. Kafentzis holds the state record of 199 feet, 5 inches, and he wanted to be the first one to crack the 200 feet mark Saturday. A host of factors...

Prep girls’ track: State title eases some of Atisme’s disdain for the 400

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:42:08 MDT

Prep girls’ track: State title eases some of Atisme’s disdain for the 400

By Matt Ellis Special to The Tribune

Updated May 18, 2013 11:42PM MDT

Provo • Layton Christian senior Alissa Atisme could have a few more state championships to her name if she had started running the 400 meters earlier in her career. As it is, she took the title in the event Saturday at the state track and field meet even though it was only the fourth time she had run the race at a meet. She finished in 59.93 seconds to earn her second Class 1A state title of the day at BYU in an event that she had resisted doing in the first place. She finally was talked into d...

Prep boys’ track: Park City elite runner catches his idol

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:02:30 MDT

Prep boys’ track: Park City elite runner catches his idol

By Aaron Falk The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 18, 2013 12:02AM MDT

Provo • Luke Puskedra had to “chase ghosts” in high school. As the state’s top distance runner in 2008, the Judge Memorial star lacked the competition to test him on the track. So his coach had him look elsewhere for something that would push him, like the clock or the last man in the heat after lapping the competition. Ben Saarel swears his ghost is real. He’s met Puskedra, shook his hand. And on Friday morning, Saarel still was chasing him. It was cool and gray as Saarel and the rest of the fi...