Thursday evening, April 8, 2021
State
New Utah Unemployment Claims Increase, Continued Claims Fall
New unemployment claims in Utah have increased every week since mid-March. Last week, nearly 4,800 Utahns filed for first-time benefits. That’s based on numbers released today Thursday by the state’s Department of Workforce Services. However, continued claims have steadily dropped. Around 27,000 people kept receiving benefits. That’s down from more than 28,000 the week before. — Ross Terrell
483 New COVID-19 Cases Reported
Utah health officials reported 483 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday. The seven day average of new cases is now 399. Ten more people have died from the disease but officials said four occured before March 18. More than 1.6 million doses of the COVID vaccine have been given out so far. More than 42,000 doses were administered Wednesday. — Caroline Ballard
Northern Utah
Black Panelists Gather To Discuss The Need For The CROWN Act
The University of Utah hosted a panel discussion Thursday to talk about the CROWN Act. The legislation would ban discrimination against African hairstyles, like afros and braids. It was introduced during Utah’s Legislative session this year but failed to get out of committee. Panelists said the lack of support sent a painful message, that “how you are naturally is unacceptable and that you have to change yourself to be able to be taken seriously.” Eight states have approved the CROWN Act so far. The bill’s sponsor said he plans to re-introduce the CROWN Act next year. — Emily Means
Southern Utah
Deb Haaland Visits Utah To Discuss National Monuments
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is meeting with tribal and Utah state leaders this week to talk about Bears Ears National Monument. Former-president Donald Trump shrunk the monument by 85% in 2017. Haaland is under pressure from the tribes to enlarge Bears Ears but she’s facing opposition from Utah politicians, who have historically fought the monument. Patrick Gonzales-Rogers is the director of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal coalition. He said the tribes are happy Haaland met with them, because neither Interior Secretary under Trump did so. The coalition wants a 1.9 million acre monument. Read the full story.— Kate Groetzinger, Bluff