AM News Brief: Four Injured in Avalanche, A Million Vaccines & U Ski Team Wins NCAA Championship

Monday morning, March 15, 2021

State

A Million Vaccine Doses

Utah health officials reported over the weekend that more than a million COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered in the state — including second doses. Roughly 670,000 people have received at least one dose. The state health department also reported 887 new cases and 10 more deaths over the weekend. Hospitalizations dropped from 191 to 167 over the last week, and there’s now an average of 507 new daily cases. — Sonja Hutson

Follow KUER’s coverage of the coronavirus in Utah.

Utah’s Tax Cut May Cost Federal Funds

Under the new federal pandemic relief bill, Utah could have to return $100 million in aid. That’s because the state Legislature recently passed a tax cut of the same size. There's a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act, the latest coronavirus relief package which President Joe Biden signed into law Thursday, aimed at preventing states from directly or indirectly using federal funds for tax cuts. But because Utah's tax revenue increased over the past year, that provision might not apply. Read the full story. — Sonja Hutson

Northern Utah

Four Injured In Avalanche

Four people were involved in an avalanche accident on Sunday near Pfeifferhorn Peak. Utah and Salt Lake County rescue teams responded to the incident where two people suffered leg and ankle injuries and the other two sustained minor injuries. This winter has been particularly dangerous, and six people have been killed in Utah avalanches this year. The avalanche forecast this past weekend was for moderate danger. Experts warned that wind-loaded areas could be more vulnerable to slide after high winds and new snow hit the Wasatch. — Sonja Hutson

Fatality In Taylorsville House Fire
A woman in her 60s died in a house fire in Taylorsville over the weekend. The fire was reported on Saturday morning by another woman who lived there, but a Unified Fire Authority spokesperson said crews were unable to rescue the victim. There was heavy fire damage to at least one bedroom, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. The woman's name has not been released. — Associated Press

U Ski Team Brings Home National Title
The University of Utah ski team won their 14th national championship on Saturday, marking the third time they’ve won the national championship in the past four years. Park City native Sydney Palmer-Leger bolstered the team with wins in two individual events. Program director Fredrik Landstedt said in a statement it was particularly exciting to win this year because the championship was cut short in 2020 due to the pandemic. — Sonja Hutson

Region/Nation

Riding Out The Demand For Bikes

There’s a national shortage of new bicycles due to disrupted supply chains and a huge demand from consumers looking for a way to exercise safely and keep socially distanced. Matt VanEnkevort Marin Mountain Bikes said suppliers in Asia are wary of ramping up production of bicycle parts fearing the demand bubble will burst. But VanEnkevort believes the demand won’t abate too much because he thinks many people will continue working from home post-COVID. That gives them more free time to cycle. — Nate Hegyi, Mountain West News Bureau