This week in Utah news:
A new record high number of new coronavirus cases were reported on Thursday, as Utah’s rate of new diagnoses continued to skyrocket, along with hospitalizations. For the past seven days, Utah has averaged 916 new positive test results per day — up from Wednesday’s average of 876 and far exceeding July’s top week-long average of 671 new daily cases, the Utah Department of Health reported.
After the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney is not breaking ranks with his party this time. He signaled Tuesday that he will support allowing a vote before the election on whether to confirm a nominee by President Donald Trump to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.
Salt Lake City police on Monday released body camera footage showing an officer shooting and injuring a 13-year-old boy who has autism. The shooting occurred Sept. 4 when officers were called to a home to help with what officials have called a “violent psych issue.” During the pursuit, one officer fired a gun and shot the boy several times.
Despite decades of opposition from environmentalists, hunters and Grand County officials, a proposed highway through Utah’s Book Cliffs never died. A right-of-way application was filed from a consortium of energy-producing counties, and local leaders are upset that the application is moving ahead without any consultation with it by legislators and Gov. Gary Herbert who back it.
At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune reporters Lee Davidson, Brian Maffly, and Jessica Miller, and news columnist Robert Gehrke join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories. Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.