Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022
Northern Utah
Salt Lake City and Utah lawmakers agree on inland port compromise
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and House Majority Leader Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, have compromised on a bill they say will provide more stability for the inland port going forward. It passed its first committee hearing on a 9-1 vote Wednesday morning. Under HB 443, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Magna and West Valley City would lose their voting seats on the Inland Port Authority Board. The new board would be smaller and made up of people with business experience. In return, Salt Lake City would get more property tax revenue from the project and more control over how the Inland Port Authority spends its portion of that revenue. It would be required to spend 40% of it on mitigating the environmental impact of the port. Read the full story. — Sonja Hutson
Southern Utah
Vandalism at bouldering site near Moab
The Bureau of Land Management is offering a reward for information about vandalism at a popular bouldering site near Moab. Earlier in February, someone smeared a petroleum-based grease on the handholds at the Big Bend Bouldering Area. That recreation area is about 10 miles northeast of Moab along the Colorado River. The BLM is offering $1,000 for information that could lead to the identity of the people responsible. — Caroline Ballard
State
Utah resettling nearly 900 Afghan refugees
Nearly all of the 900 Afghan refugees assigned to Utah for resettlement have arrived, but Gov. Spencer Cox said Wednesday the state still needs help securing long-term housing for the final 220 people. That will require another 50 units. Cox said the goal is to have everyone housed by the end of March, but he acknowledged the state is dealing with housing challenges. To help in the resettlement efforts, Cox signed a bill Tuesday that provides access to translation for Afghans to get a driver’s license. — Ross Terrell
As of today, 900 Afghans have arrived in Utah for resettlement. We're grateful for the tireless work of @UTRefugeeServe, @CCSUT, and @RESCUEorg in welcoming these new Utahns. pic.twitter.com/XrlWAVNtMW
— Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) February 23, 2022
Utah’s Title 1 schools continuing to underperform
A new state audit has found Title 1 schools in Utah continue to underperform. The federal program gives money to schools that have a high percentage of students from low income families. Utah received $75 million in 2020 which went to about a third of its schools, but from 2014 to 2019, the achievement gap between Title 1 schools and those that don’t receive that federal funding has widened. Students in those schools also have lower proficiency rates in English, language arts and math — and higher dropout rates. State officials said to address these issues, spending must be strategic to help students overcome systemic inequities. — Ross Terrell
Region/Nation
Restricting where hot air balloons can fly in Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico, is known worldwide for its balloon fiesta. But now a Federal Aviation Administration rule is restricting where balloons can fly. Local officials and pilots say a safe event requires year-round access to the Rio Grande Valley. If exceptions aren’t made, it could hurt the international balloon fiesta in October. Scott Appelman of Rainbow Ryders said the rule has led to some canceled and relocated flights that would have blown into restricted air space. In 2019, the fiesta attracted almost 900,000 visitors. About 43% were from New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. — Emma Gibson, Mountain West News Bureau