This week in Utah news:
Gov. Gary Herbert warned that as the state experiences record-high coronavirus hospitalizations and case counts continue to climb, the health care system is at or near capacity. “It should cause us all alarm,” Herbert said, warning that “our hospitals are starting to fill up.” The Utah Department of Health reported 1,543 new coronavirus cases on Thursday and 301 patients concurrently admitted to hospitals. On average, 296 patients have been receiving treatment in Utah hospitals each day for the past week — a record high.
As Utah lawmakers continue to face pressure from constituents who want them to end the COVID-19 state of emergency, they met again Tuesday to discuss ways to rein in the executive branch’s powers but indicated there’s still a lack of consensus on how to move forward. Sen. Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi, said he and other lawmakers are working to find compromise on the issue among the House and Senate as well as the governor’s office and state and local health departments. But without language drafted, he said any changes to the state’s Emergency Management Act likely won’t come until next year’s general legislative session.
And during the Utah attorney general debate, Sean Reyes complained that his opponent, Democratic nominee Greg Skordas, was using negative campaign tactics and then went on to read a series of negative online reviews from the attorney’s clients. He then claimed Skordas would be an “activist attorney general." Skordas accused Reyes of putting a “for sale sign” on the attorney general’s office “the size of Central Park” and of taking questionable campaign contributions. He also criticized him for his actions regarding health care and his support for a controversial state contract with the surveillance company Banjo.
At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune government and politics editor Dan Harrie, reporter Bethany Rodgers 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.