Friday evening, June 5, 2020
STATE
NAACP Pushes For Legislation Targeting Racial Injustice
In the wake of mass protests in Utah and across the country over police brutality and racial injustice, the NAACP is pushing for widespread legislative changes to law enforcement agencies across the country. The group is asking for greater accountability for officers accused of excessive force, limiting racial profiling and the use of force, and better data tracking and reporting. Utah was the first state to respond to the organization’s callout, and state and local leaders said Friday they are beginning to work on legislation they hope to pass in the next year. Read the full story. — Jon Reed
Latinx Community Makes Up 40% Of Utah’s COVID Cases
Utah’s Latinx community now accounts for 40% of the state’s COVID-19 cases. That’s after the state’s health department announced Friday 439 new cases of the disease. State Epidemiologist Angela Dunn said in a statement, a third of those cases are in the Bear River Health District in north Utah and are tied to an outbreak at a meat processing facility. Gov. Gary Herbert also announced Friday, the state will not shift to a lower risk level of its pandemic response plan. Instead most parts will stay in the yellow phase, and counties and cities in the orange, moderate risk phase will stay there too. — Ross Terrell
Follow KUER’s coverage of the coronavirus in Utah.
Jon Huntsman To Quarantine Over COVID Concerns
Republican candidate for governor Jon Huntsman is quarantining after one of his campaign staffers tested positive for COVID-19. The Huntsman campaign said they found out Thursday night one of its senior members contracted the virus. They have since directed that person to work from home and have closed their headquarters. A statement from his campaign said Huntsman filled out an online survey on Test Utah. It said he should be quarantined until he can be tested. His running mate, Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi also took the survey but since she has limited contact with the staffer, she does not need to take further action. — Ross Terrell
Flags To Fly At Half Staff For Ogden Police Officer
Gov. Gary Herbert has ordered flags at state facilities and public grounds to fly at half-staff Saturday to honor the death of an Ogden police officer. The Standard Examiner reported Officer Nathan Lyday died responding to a domestic abuse call. Lyday was 24 years old. Herbert offered his condolences in a statement, saying that he is “humbled by the love Officer Lyday showed, the service he rendered, and the sacrifice he made.” Lyman’s funeral service will also occur Saturday. — Roddy Nikpour
NORTHERN UTAH
Salt Lake City Police Release Bodycam Footage Of Bernardo Palacios
Salt Lake City Police released the body cam footage Friday of the officer involved shooting of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal. On May 23, officers received a call about a man making threats with a gun at the Utah Village motel in Salt Lake City. When police arrived they ordered him to drop his weapon before chasing him, firing more than 20 shots, and killing him. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, after the footage was released, urged expediency in the investigation and offered her condolences to the Palacios family. His name has come up multiple times in week-long protests in Salt Lake City against police brutality and racial injustice. — Ross Terrell
UDOT’s Plan For Little Cottonwood Traffic
The Utah Department of Transportation said it has three new plans to tackle traffic on the notoriously congested route to several Utah ski resorts — Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. The plans are for more frequent bus service, a dedicated bus lane, a gondola, or a combination of each. The department said it wants the public to weigh in. People can submit comments on its website starting Monday through Wednesday. There will also be a series of virtual public meetings. — Jon Reed
SOUTHERN UTAH
Lake Powell Pipeline Draft Plan Delayed
The Lake Powell Pipeline draft environmental impact statement should've been released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Instead, due to “unforeseen circumstances,” the document will be released Monday morning. It looks at the potential direct and indirect environmental effects of the proposed 140-mile pipeline. It would divert water from Lake Powell to Washington County. The release will trigger a 90-day window for the public to weigh in. — Lexi Peery
REGION
Environmental Regulations Rollback
President Trump wants to fast track economic development projects. With that in mind he just signed an executive order allowing federal agencies to work around environmental regulations. Conservation advocates say this move will allow industry to skip environmental science and public comment. — Noah Glick, Mountain West News Bureau