Wednesday morning, December 4, 2019
Nation
Special Coverage
Listen live to NPR News coverage of today's House Judiciary Committee hearing on KUER. Our regular daytime programming is available on a special stream at KUER.org and the KUER mobile app.
Central Utah
Amazon’s Local Economic Impact
Amazon, one of the world’s largest and highest valued companies, has been expanding its operations all over the globe — including Utah. It was recently announced that a third operation will bring 300 new jobs to the state. But while state leaders have praised the company as an economic windfall, a recent report on the company’s impacts in Los Angeles is raising questions about those benefits. Read the full story — Jon Reed
Salt Lake County Tax Hike
The Salt Lake County Council voted 7-2 to increase property taxes. Tuesday, the panel approved a 7.88% boost, according to KSL. That's about a half-percent lower than what was sought by Mayor Jenny Wilson. The hike translates to just more than an additional $30 a year on a home valued at about $368,000, according to Darrin Casper, the county’s chief financial officer.
Great Pyrenees Rescue
The plight of abandoned working dogs left in the mountains when sheepherders come down for the winter is a recurring problem. Shauna Thompson of Great Pyrenees Rescue said animal cruelty statutes don't apply to livestock animals like herding dogs. A trio of Great Pyrenees puppies were found over the weekend in the mountains of Weber County and rescued after snowmobiliers called search and rescue and wildlife officers. Weber County officials said the pups and their mother probably were left behind by a sheep rancher. Thompson said her rescue organization has long been working to change the law. — Diane Maggipinto