Tuesday evening, April 6, 2021
State
Gov. Spencer Cox Signs Bill Regarding Troubled Teen Industry
Gov. Spencer Cox, several lawmakers and celebrity Paris Hilton gathered for a ceremonial bill signing at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday afternoon. The event recognized the passage of S.B. 127, the first bill in 15 years to tighten restrictions on teen treatment businesses in the state. The new law comes six months after activists rallied in Provo to call for industry reform. The protest was organized by celebrity Paris Hilton and the advocacy group Breaking Code Silence. A group spokesperson says their next goal is federal legislation. Read the full story. — David Fuchs
300 New COVID-19 Cases Reported
More than 994,000 Utahns have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. That’s according to the latest numbers released Tuesday by the state’s health department. Officials also reported 300 new COVID cases. Four more people have died from the virus. — Ross Terrell
Northern Utah
Utah’s Manufacturing Industry Resilient During Pandemic
A new study from the Utah Industry Resource Alliance found the state’s manufacturing industry proved resilient during the pandemic. The group said it expects manufacturing sales in the state to be back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021. That’s a year earlier than originally predicted. It also said manufacturing jobs fared better here compared to the U.S. as a whole. Employment in the industry was down half a percent in Utah. Nationally, it dropped more than 6%. — Caroline Ballard
Region/Nation
Deb Haaland Visits New Mexico, Heads To Utah This Week
Deb Haaland is making her first trip as Secretary of the Interior to the Mountain West region this week. She spent Tuesday listening to Pueblo leaders in New Mexico express concerns about everything from water rights to challenges tribal police face dealing with crime by non-native people on tribal land. On Thursday, she’ll travel to Utah to meet with tribal leaders and local stakeholders about the future of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. — Savannah Maher, Mountain West News Bureau