Monday, April 25, 2022
State
Avian flu cases could hurt poultry and egg supply
Utah agriculture officials are worried about the potential impact of avian flu outbreaks on the poultry industry and the food supply following two confirmed cases in the state. The case reported on April 23 was on a farm in Cache County. Because the disease is so contagious, all chickens on that farm will be culled, according to Bailee Woolstenhulme, a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. “That will hugely impact our egg availability and our chicken availability due to the loss of other chicken farms in the country," she said. Twenty-nine states have reported outbreaks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read the full story. — Sonja Hutson
Fewer fish in some Utah lakes
To minimize the impacts of the drought, Utah wildlife officials will again reduce or eliminate fish they stock in some bodies of water. The Division of Wildlife Resources said low water levels can lead to higher fish kills because the water heats more quickly and diminishes oxygen levels. State officials are looking at long-term solutions to manage fishing at lower water levels — including bringing in more warm-water species, changing when fish are stocked and buying more water rights for drought-impacted fisheries. Just under half of the state is in extreme drought and Gov. Spencer Cox issued a drought emergency order last week. — Lexi Peery
Southern Utah
Dixie offering ‘seamless transfer’ from some community colleges
Dixie State University has new agreements with three community schools to help students graduate within four years — Salt Lake Community College, Snow College and the College of Southern Nevada. Students can spend two years at one of those schools in pursuit of an associate degree before going onto DSU to earn a bachelor’s. DSU officials said the ‘seamless transfer’ will encourage students to get a four-year degree. — Jon Reed
Northern Utah
Bad language gets fine for Jazz player
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for using profanity during a televised interview Saturday. Gobert made a game-winning alley-oop dunk over the Dallas Mavericks, tying the teams 2-2 in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After the game, Gobert was asked about the potential for the Jazz and talk that the team might not be able to hold together. He used an expletive to describe his feelings about that kind of “talk” and said the series is their focus. Game 5 is Monday night in Dallas. — Associated Press/Elaine Clark
Region/Nation
Reducing carbon emissions with fat
Airplanes flying in or out of an airport near Vail, Colorado, can now gas up with a blend of jet fuel and livestock fat. The goal is to reduce their carbon footprint. The blend is made of about 30% tallow and 70% traditional jet fuel. Brian Batty, director of fuel operations for sustainable aviation fuel company Signature Flights Support, said the fuel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25%. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions says about 2% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation. — Emma Gibson, Mountain West News Bureau