Utah - The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Football: Quinton Pedroza dismissed for violating team rules

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:56:30 MDT

Utah Football: Quinton Pedroza dismissed for violating team rules

By Tony Jones The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 11:56PM MDT

Two months remain until Utah makes its football season debut against Utah State. But the Utes are already thinner at wide receiver. Receiver Quinton Pedroza was dismissed from Utah for a violation of team rules, university officials told The Salt Lake Tribune. The 6-foot-2 California native had been poised to have a big junior season in Dennis Erickson’s new pass-oriented offense. Instead, this could turn out to be a big loss. Pedroza played sparingly in his first two years in the program, mos...

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Lower fees, new options in store for Utah’s college savings plan

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:56:22 MDT

Lower fees, new options in store for Utah’s college savings plan

By Jennifer Napier-Pearce The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 09:56PM MDT

Utah’s official 529 college savings plan is announcing new investment choices and lower fees effective June 21. The Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP) is dropping its annual administrative asset fees on age-based and five of six static investments by an average of 10 percent to between 0.14 and 0.18 percent. (Fees for customized investment options will remain at 0.20 percent and the Public Treasurers’ Investment Fund option will stay fee-free). The nonprofit, which manages more than $5.9 bill...

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Swallow’s fate in House GOP’s hands Wednesday

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:03:33 MDT

Swallow’s fate in House GOP’s hands Wednesday

By Robert Gehrke | The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 19, 2013 12:03AM MDT

As Republican House members prepared to meet Wednesday to discuss how to deal with a string of allegations against Attorney General John Swallow, the leader of the majority in the chamber said it is “highly likely” the House will investigate the charges even as Swallow made a last-ditch attempt to explain the accusations against him. House Majority Leader Brad Dee, R-Ogden, said Tuesday that he believes it is “highly likely” that the House will proceed with an investigation into the allegations...

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Food briefs: Herb growing class, art brunch

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:51:03 MDT

Food briefs: Herb growing class, art brunch

By Heather May The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 07:51PM MDT

Preserve herbs Learn how to grow, cook and preserve herbs at the Utah State University Botanical Center’s class “Having the Thyme of Your Life.” Participants will go home with an herb-filled planter and herb-infused oil. When • Thursday, June 27, 6-8:30 p.m. Where • USU Botanical Center, 725 S. 50 West, Kaysville Cost • $29 for USU garden members and $37 for public. Register • USUBotanicalCenter.org or call 801-593-8969 Eat Local Learn how to find local farmers, bakers, ranchers, beek...

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Utahn follows natural path of winemaking

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:51:03 MDT

Utahn follows natural path of winemaking

By Heather May The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 07:51PM MDT

The story of how 30-year-old Evan Lewandowski began making wine in Utah starts with a guy walking into a bar. Lewandowski, who moved to Utah for the snow — and college — in 2001 had his first inkling that wine was his calling after he tried a Robert Mondavi sauvignon blanc while busing tables at the defunct L’Avenue restaurant. It was a far cry from the swill in a box he drank at college parties. That led him to work as a server at a wine bar in Park City, where a man from Communicating for Agri...

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

Miss Utah USA’s botched answer makes her a star

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:47:14 MDT

Miss Utah USA’s botched answer makes her a star

By Scott D. Pierce The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 10:47AM MDT

Marissa Powell didn’t win the title of Miss USA on Sunday, but she did make quite an impression en route to being named third runner-up. Not necessarily a good impression, but certainly one that is unforgettable. When asked what it says about society that women continue to earn less than men, the Salt Laker stumbled and bumbled her way through an answer that went viral on the Internet: “I think we can relate this back to education and how we are continuing to try to strive to figure out how to...

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Herbert not budging on Snake Valley deal

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:07:04 MDT

Herbert not budging on Snake Valley deal

By Brian Maffly The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 11:07PM MDT

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert stands by his decision against signing a proposed agreement with Nevada for sharing groundwater under the Snake Valley, an agricultural region straddling the state line. That’s according to a top aide, Mike Mower, speaking Tuesday before the State Water Development Commission. But that doesn’t mean Herbert is not interested in reaching an accord with Nevada. Rather he hopes to negotiate a new deal acceptable to Snake Valley residents, who stand the most to lose if the Sou...

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Report says too many teachers, too little quality; Utah educators question study

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:38:52 MDT

Report says too many teachers, too little quality; Utah educators question study

By Lindsay Whitehurst The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 09:38PM MDT

Utah educators are questioning a wide-ranging, scathing new study that called America’s teacher-education institutions “an industry of mediocrity,” and found an online university to be the state’s only school to make the grade. Western Governors University was one of a handful of institutions to earn three stars from the National Council on Teacher Quality in the controversial report released Tuesday. Though the authors ranked Utah teacher education above average in many areas, especially math...

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Jordan QB Kafentzis verbally commits to Wisconsin

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:56:30 MDT

Jordan QB Kafentzis verbally commits to Wisconsin

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 11:56PM MDT

Jordan High quarterback Austin Kafentzis has given a verbal commitment to play for Wisconsin and former Utah State coach Gary Andersen. Kafentzis, who led the Beetdiggers to a state championship last year as a sophomore, is in Madison for the Badgers’ camp and gave his commitment Tuesday, according to his father, Jordan defensive coordinator Kyle Kafentzis. “He just felt it was the right thing to do,” Kyle Kafentzis said. “It was the right place for him.” Kafentzis, the top quarterback recruit i...

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NBA: Jazz work out Carter-Williams, but don’t expect Burke

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:56:29 MDT

NBA: Jazz work out Carter-Williams, but don’t expect Burke

By Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 11:56PM MDT

The Utah Jazz have worked out nearly every top point guard available in the NBA Draft on June 27. It’s going to stay that way. After another pre-draft workout Tuesday morning, vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin said he does not expect Michigan’s Trey Burke to audition for the Jazz. Burke is the top-rated point guard in the draft whose advisors obviously don’t think he’s going to be available to Utah, which owns the 14th and 21st picks in the first round. “I’ve been in communication w...

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Wharton: Selfish reasons to oppose Nevada water deal

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:47:23 MDT

Wharton: Selfish reasons to oppose Nevada water deal

By Tom Wharton The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 02:47PM MDT

Most of us are selfish. We view the world through a prism of what helps us get through life. I thought about this recently when reading a story about how Utah water barons such as Washington County Water Conservancy District general manager Ron Thompson are critical of Gov. Gary Herbert for vetoing a water-sharing agreement with Nevada over underground water in Snake Valley that straddles the two states. The veto concerns Thompson because of fears that Nevada water barons will make it more diffi...

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Utah Arts Festival preview: Swift turns landmarks into art

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:27:04 MDT

Utah Arts Festival preview: Swift turns landmarks into art

By Sean P. Means The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 14, 2013 10:27PM MDT

The first time that Salt Lake City photographer and graphic designer Stephanie Swift applied to display her work at the Utah Arts Festival, it wasn’t for the usual reasons of artistic expression and ambition. “My sister hounded me to apply to the festival, and I did it to get her off my back,” Swift said in a recent phone interview. Now Swift’s digitally enhanced photo prints of Utah neon landmarks, bearing her brand Pretty Little Pixel, are a regular feature at the festival. This year, Swift i...

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Charter-school pioneer discusses innovative ed movement at Utah conference

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:49:04 MDT

Charter-school pioneer discusses innovative ed movement at Utah conference

By ray parker The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 06:49PM MDT

Charter schools could not get out of the political battleground of polarized lawmakers of today. That’s according to Ember Reichgott Junge, who helped author the first charter school law in Minnesota 20 years ago. “We had bipartisan support,” Reichgott Junge said. “It also came from outside the political spectrum, from civic leaders. “I feel something like charters wouldn’t pass today because there isn’t any middle anymore [in politics].” The charter-school pioneer, who was a state Democrati...

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Utah producer aims to crowd-fund animated ‘sizzle reel’

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:54:03 MDT

Utah producer aims to crowd-fund animated ‘sizzle reel’

By Sean P. Means The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 17, 2013 01:54PM MDT

A Utah businessman has a big dream, which began with a little golf ball. “I’ve never given up on it, and it’s finally bearing fruit,” said Steve Brown, who is pitching an animated project called “Henny Bogan” to major media outlets — and has started a crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter to get it off the ground. The project began, Brown said, a decade ago with a business venture in a golf-related game. The game wasn’t a success, but people asked about licensing the artwork associated with it. ...

Radio spots highlight Utah lawyers’ contributions

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:45:50 MDT

Radio spots highlight Utah lawyers’ contributions

By Jennifer Napier-Pearce The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 06:45PM MDT

Lawyers in the Beehive State are trying to polish up their image. The Utah State Bar has launched a public information campaign to let people know about the productive role attorneys play in the community. And they’ve taken to the airwaves, producing four 60-second radio spots being played on KSL, KODJ, ESPN, KSFI, KUBL, KZNS and KONY in St. George. Bar president Lori Nelson said in a statement that the state’s 10,000 lawyers and judges perform a vital role in society, from instilling justice to...

Utah State football: Keeton, Fackrell named to CFPA watch list

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:56:30 MDT

Utah State football: Keeton, Fackrell named to CFPA watch list

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 11:56PM MDT

Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton and linebacker Kyler Fackrell are part of the 2013 College Football Performance Awards Watch Lists. Keeton is one of five Mountain West Conference quarterbacks named to the Quarterbacks Watch List of 30, while Fackrell is one of 41 players named to the Linebackers Watch List. Overall, Keeton is the only quarterback from the state of Utah recognized, while Fackrell is one of two in-state linebackers to make the Watch List along with Utah’s Brian Blechen...

Gun lobbyist seeks restoration of firearms rights

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:07:12 MDT

Gun lobbyist seeks restoration of firearms rights

By Taylor w. anderson The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 11:07PM MDT

For perhaps three more weeks or longer, Clark Aposhian — Utah’s leading gun lobbyist — will be without his arsenal of guns, as he received a continuance at his hearing Tuesday on a protective order filed by his ex-wife. Mitch Vilos, Aposhian’s attorney, said he will spend the next few days developing a brief proposing to lift the federal law banning Aposhian’s access to his weapons while facing charges in court. Aposhian was charged with domestic violence after a Memorial Day incident when h...

Utah basketball: Utes make an in-state offer

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:43:37 MDT

Utah basketball: Utes make an in-state offer

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 11:43AM MDT

Before this spring, Makol Mawien was a relative unknown. Then the 6-foot-9 center from Granger High enjoyed two of the most productive months of his young basketball career. Last week, Utah offered Mawien a scholarship, the first hard offer the Utes have doled out for the Class of 2015. Mawien has been on Utah’s campus in an unofficial capacity. He plays AAU basketball for the Utah Prospects Under-16 team. It’s the same AAU team that Brekkott Chapman plays for, the 6-9 power forward from Roy Hig...

Utah Jazz, Miller family to enhance sights, sounds at arena

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:31:35 MDT

Utah Jazz, Miller family to enhance sights, sounds at arena

By Bill Oram The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 11:31AM MDT

The kiss cam is about to get a whole lot more intimate. The Utah Jazz on Monday unveiled plans for an upgraded audio and video system at EnergySolutions Arena, including upgraded high-definition screens above center court, LED (light-emitting diode) rings around the top of the lower bowl and auxiliary screens in the corners of the arena. The screens over center court are 10 times larger on the sides than the current scoreboard, which was installed in 2001. The cosmetic update is the most visible...

Wanted Utah man creates new life in Mexico, but cops find him anyway

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:49:53 MDT

Wanted Utah man creates new life in Mexico, but cops find him anyway

By Janelle Stecklein The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 06:49PM MDT

It didn’t take Jesse Amos Bunker long to establish a new life in Mexico. In less than five years, the 33-year-old had purportedly built a nice life for himself, complete with a wife and a 1-year-old child, said Sgt. Jason Randall, who works with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Investigations Unit and the Joint Criminal Apprehension Team (JCAT). But Bunker also had a secret. In March 2009, he had posted $20,000 bond for 10 first-degree felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a chil...