Friday, April 8, 2022
Northern Utah
Delta pilots protest at SLC airport
Delta pilots picketed outside the Salt Lake City International Airport Thursday, with many holding signs reading “I look tired because I am.” The Salt Lake Tribune reported pilots said they’ve worked record overtime since the start of the pandemic because of staffing shortages, and Delta’s schedules have left little time for them to recuperate. That’s led some pilots to cancel flights because they were too tired to fly. The pilots are urging Delta to match their schedules to their staff availability. In a statement to the Tribune, Delta said their schedules are in line with FAA regulations. More demonstrations are planned at other Delta hubs in Detroit, Seattle and Minneapolis. — Saige Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune
This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aims to inform readers across the state.
State
Some undocumented parents now eligible for childcare support
Families of mixed-immigration status are now eligible to get help paying for childcare through the Utah Department of Workforces Services. Because of a policy change, undocumented parents of U.S. born children no longer have to show proof of work authorization or social security number to apply for child care support. Rebecca Banner, director of childcare at the department, said this change occurred after input from organizations advocating for Latinos. Still, there’s been hesitation from the community to apply because of fear about how it could impact them. Read the full story. The story is also available in Spanish here. — Ivana Martinez
Emergency relief for livestock producers
Emergency relief payments are coming to many livestock ranchers across Utah through a national Farm Service Agency program. It's meant to help livestock producers who suffered last year because of severe drought and wildfires. Acting State Executive Director of the FSA in Utah Jeanine Cook said drought conditions in the state have stagnated, or worsened in some places, and they’re continuing to seek out ways to help livestock producers deal with the financial strain. — Leah Treidler
Region/Nation
Handgun danger in the Mountain West
People who live in homes with handguns are more than twice as likely to die from homicides, according to a new study from Stanford University. It also found people living with handgun owners were seven times more likely to be shot and killed by their spouse or partner — and the vast majority of those victims were women. The study looked at homicides among 18 million Californians. Stanford’s David Studdert said the danger could be greater in the Mountain West because regulations here aren’t as strict. Some states in our region have the highest gun ownership rates in the country and the least restrictive gun laws. — Robyn Vincent, Mountain West News Bureau
Ammon Bundy fined and sent to jail
Idaho gubernatorial candidate and anti-government activist Ammon Bundy has been fined $3,000 and sentenced to 10 days in jail for contempt of court. Bundy was immediately handcuffed Thursday in Fourth District Court in Boise and taken to the Ada County Jail. Judge Annie McDevitt ruled Bundy failed to perform 40 hours of community service following a 2020 trespassing conviction at the Idaho Statehouse. Bundy argued his work on his own campaign for governor counted toward the 40 hours of community service. But McDevitt told Bundy that he blatantly disrespected the court's order and made a mockery of the sentence he had received. — Associated Press
KUER's newscast was produced with assistance from the Public Media Journalists Association Editor Corps funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.