Thursday evening, April 29, 2021
State
Utah Department Of Corrections Reaches Vaccination Milestone
The Utah Department of Corrections reported Thursday that every inmate at its Draper and Gunnison locations has been offered a COVID-19 vaccine, though that doesn’t include new arrivals. According to a corrections spokesperson, nearly 2,700 individuals have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the ACLU of Utah says vaccine distribution at county jails has been inconsistent. The ACLU is pushing local health departments to make a vaccination plan for incarcerated people by next Tuesday. Read the full story. — Emily Means
Utah Offering Free Mobile Vaccination Clinics To Any Business Or Organization
Forty percent of all Utahns have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. State and health officials want to see that number increase. So, Gov. Spencer Cox said starting Thursday any business or organization can request a mobile vaccination clinic. “We will come to you and at no cost to your organization,” Cox said. He said they will set aside about 25,000 doses from next week’s allotment. Health officials reported 463 new cases Thursday. The state’s test positivity rate is now 3.5%. It’s risen steadily since last Saturday. — Ross Terrell
Northern Utah
Salt Lake City Sees Tiny Homes As Solution To Homelessness
Salt Lake City announced plans Thursday to build a tiny home village to help address homelessness. The city is teaming up with The Other Side Academy, a nonprofit, social organization. The homes will be for people experiencing chronic homelessness. Mayor Erin Mendenhall said she hopes to have the village up and running by the winter. Though, officials haven’t yet said where it will be. According to federal data, 643 people in Utah experienced chronic homelessness last year. — Ross Terrell
Part Of Bangerter Highway Closing For Six Months
Starting Sunday, 10400 South in South Jordan will be closed to east-west traffic at Bangerter Highway. The closure will be in place for six months since work is being done there on the underpass. That means drivers will have to find another place to cross the highway — 98th and 114th South will be open. Traffic will be detoured around the closure. More information and a graphic of detours is available at udot.utah.gov. — Caroline Ballard
Southern Utah
Apple Valley Man Arrested For Role In Capitol Insurrection
Another Utah man has been arrested and charged for his role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Landon Copeland, 33, lives in Apple Valley. Federal officials allege video shows Copeland shouting at officers and shoving another crowd member into the police line. And later, they claim he was engaged in a tug of war style struggle with police over a bike rack. Officials said after a chemical irritant was used, Copeland threw the bike rack at officers. At least three other Utahns have been arrested for their role in the insurrection. Nationally, at least 400 people have been charged for participating. — Ross Terrell
Region/Nation
Canadian Supreme Court Ruling Impacting Mountain West Tribes
A recent Canadian Supreme Court ruling has broad implications for tribes in the Mountain West with historic ties to lands in Canada. It affirms their right to hunt, fish and do other treaty-reserved activities on those lands even if they aren’t citizens or residents there. — Nate Hegyi, Mountain West News Bureau