Friday morning, April 30, 2021
State
Temporary Change To Medical Cannabis Testing Protocols
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is temporarily changing tests for medical cannabis products. The state has filed an emergency rule due to a shortage of lab supplies because of the pandemic. Labs will still be required to test aerobic microbial counts and total yeast and mold counts, but certain other pathogens will be tested for only at the discretion of the department. Agriculture officials said they want to make sure patients still have access to safe cannabis. The emergency rule is in effect through Aug. 27. — Elaine Clark
Some State GOP Convention Delegates Look To Censure Romney
The Utah Republican Party convention is Saturday, and the agenda includes a resolution to censure Sen. Mitt Romney for voting to impeach former President Donald Trump. Resolution sponsor Don Guymon, a delegate from Davis County, told the Standard-Examiner that Romney should be held accountable after voting against Trump in both impeachment trials. Neither Romney's office nor State GOP officials immediately responded to the newspaper for comment. — Associated Press
Drought Leads To Fewer Deer Hunting Permits
The Utah Wildlife Board approved a cut in the number of general-season deer hunting permits this year. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists recommended the reduction in light of drought conditions that they said are having a significant impact on habitat and deer survival rates. Seventeen deer hunting units across the state will see a combined reduction of 5,650 permits from last year. There are still over 74,000 general-season deer hunting permits that will be issued for 2021. — Pamela McCall
Northern Utah
BYU Quarterback No. 2 NFL Draft Pick
The New York Jets selected Brigham Young University quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft. Wilson had been linked to the Jets for the last few months. The frustrated franchise has gone 10 seasons without making the playoffs and 52 without reaching the Super Bowl. The Jets also traded up from No. 23 and acquired the No. 14 pick from Minnesota to select USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker. That will give Wilson a protector up front on New York's offensive line. — Associated Press
Region/Nation
Planning For Water Shortages
Water users in the Lower Colorado River Basin are getting ready for the first-ever official shortage declaration. A federal declaration is likely later this year, and will restrict who can access the river’s water in Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. Ted Cooke, general manager of the Central Arizona Project, said his agency is attempting to mitigate the shortage, but some users will be left without a water supply. Studies show the watershed is warming faster than other parts of the country. Drought conditions are the worst they’ve been in almost a decade. — Luke Runyon, KUNC
Navajo Nation Weekly COVID Numbers
Three people have died from COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation since last week. Bringing the number of people who have succumbed to the virus on the reservation to 1,276. The Navajo Department of Health also reported an additional six new cases since last Thursday. In a news release, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez reminded his people to continue taking precautionary measures even after being fully vaccinated. He also advised people to still stay home as much as possible and to avoid large in-person gatherings. — Pamela McCall
Racial Disparities In Vaccinations
The Kaiser Family Foundation released new data this week on racial disparities in the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. The numbers vary state by state. In Colorado, white people make up 68% of the state’s population, but they’ve received 81% of the vaccines administered there so far. The report said the problem is accessibility — making sure vaccine clinics are open during several different times of day and are in neighborhoods that are easy to get to. There’s also a tax credit available to some employers for giving paid time off to workers to get and recover from the vaccine. — Nate Hegyi, Mountain West News Bureau