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AM News Brief: More Temples Reopen, Land Closed To Shooting & Getting Kids To Wear Masks

LDS Temple in Brigham City, Utah
Dan Bammes
/
KUER
Next week, 10 Utah temples will begin “Phase Two” of reopening in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This story and more in the Tuesday morning news brief.";s:

Tuesday morning, August 11, 2020

Northern Utah

Hideout’s Future Still In Limbo

After a nearly 12-hour court hearing Monday, the future growth of a small town in Wasatch County remains uncertain. Until March of this year, a city needed approval from the county it wanted to annex land from if it was across county lines. But that changed after the Utah Legislature passed a bill in the final days of the 2020 general session. Now, the Town of Hideout, in Wasatch County, is considering taking more than 650 acres of land from Summit County against Summit’s wishes. While Hideout argued it needs more land for services, Summit County said that area is planned to remain as open space. A judge postponed her decision to issue an injunction against the annexation until Friday. Read the full story. — Emily Means

Fear Of Sparks Closes Public Land 

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has temporarily banned recreational shooting of firearms at 17 wildlife management areas in central and northern because of hot, dry conditions. Utah fire officials said as of Aug. 5, more than 700 wildfires in the state were caused by people. That's 333 more than last year at the same time, and of those, 28 wildfires started from target shooting. The closure is in place now until conditions improve. Target shooting with firearms is not allowed anywhere on select wildlife management areas in Box Elder, Cache, Morgan, Sanpete, Summit, Utah, Wasatch and Weber counties. — Diane Maggipinto

Follow KUER’s coverage of Utah’s 2020 Fire Season.

Unified Police Shooting Incident In Holladay

A man was shot following a confrontation with officers at a parking garage in Holladay over the weekend. The Unified Police Department said the 39-year-old was armed with a handgun and was suicidal. He was critically injured after officers negotiated with him for a half hour. No officers were hurt, and several of them were wearing body cameras that will be reviewed as part of the investigation. — Associated Press

State

More Temples To See Phased Reopening

Next week, 10 Utah temples will begin “Phase Two” of reopening in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Monday the temples moving into the next phase include those in Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Logan, Mount Timpanogos, Ogden, Payson, Provo and Vernal. In this phase, temple ordinances are available for all living individuals. Twenty-nine temples world-wide will be operating under Phase Two by next Monday. Patron housing, clothing and cafeteria services are all still closed. The Church said reopened temples will also have increased health safety and social distancing measures. — Caroline Ballard

Monday Sees Lowest COVID Cases Since Early June

Utah health officials reported 263 new COVID cases Monday, marking the lowest number of new cases since early June. But officials also announced that nine more people have died from the virus. Seven were Salt Lake County residents, one was from Washington County and another was from Grand County. For the past week, Utah has averaged 400 new daily cases, which is the goal Governor Gary Herbert set for the state to achieve by Sept. 1. — Ross Terrell

Region/Nation

COVID Claims 473 Lives On Navajo Nation

Navajo Nation health officials reported Monday seven new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death. That brings the total number of infections to just more than 9,300 and the known death toll to 473 people. Tribal President Jonathan Nez pointed to the latest coronavirus figures as evidence that most Navajo Nation residents are complying with lockdown orders and the advice of medical experts. The Navajo Nation recently changed its 57-hour weekend lockdown to a 32-hour curfew that covers the vast reservation across parts of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The next curfew is this weekend, from Saturday at 9 p.m. through Monday at 5 a.m. Monday. All businesses on the Nation will be closed. — Daine Maggipinto

Bureau Of Land Management HQ Move Official

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt formally signed the order Monday to relocate the Bureau of Land Management's headquarters to Colorado. The agency has been based in Washington D.C. since it was established in 1946. The Robert F. Burford Bureau of Land Management Headquarters in Grand Junction is now official, according to E&E News. The new building is named for the longest-serving BLM director, who helmed the agency from 1981 to 1989. The agency said by the end of August, most assigned staff will be on duty at the new headquarters. Dozens of career employees have stepped down, though. Nearly 200 staffers based in D.C. resigned, retired, or moved to another Interior bureau in Washington. — Diane Maggipinto

Kids And Masks

As school districts weigh how or when to reopen, they’re grappling with how and when to ask students to wear masks. The CDC recommends cloth face coverings in schools as a cornerstone to preventing the spread of the virus. It suggests parents and students practice wearing masks before school begins, so kids can get used to them. And, let kids pick out their masks, so they can choose a favorite color, or fun character. — Amanda Peacher, Mountain West News Bureau

What are your questions about kids, COVID and schools in Utah? Tell us what you need to know and KUER reporters will work to find experts to share answers and advice. Submit your question here, or call (801) 609-1163 and leave a message.

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