Friday morning, June 4, 2021
Northern Utah
Translation Service Connects Parents And Teachers
The Ogden School District is trying something new to connect teachers with parents who don’t speak English — a translation phone service. Claudia Lopez, district translator, said it’s needed because of the growing diversity in the area. Two-thirds of families in the district identify as non-white, and many speak Spanish as their primary language. That can make it difficult for teachers to build relationships with their students’ families and tell them what’s going on. The phone service allows teachers to connect with a licensed translator while the parent is on the other end. Lopez said it’s a major improvement from having to have students translate for their parents or waiting for some of the few Spanish-speaking staff members to help out. Read the full story / Leer en Español. — Jon Reed
Southern Utah
Historic Trading Post Listed As “Endangered”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has listed a dilapidated trading post near Monument Valley as one of the most endangered historic sites in the country. The trust puts out a list of 11 at-risk sites each year. The Oljato Trading Post was built in 1921 and is located on the Navajo Nation. A number of state agencies as well as the tribe are working to restore the structure, but the project will cost around $1.3 million. They hope it could become a community center and tourist destination. — Kate Groetzinger
Final Report On Fatal Bus Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report into the 2019 crash of a tour bus in Utah. Federal investigators said it highlights a lack of safety standards for bus roofs and windows. Four Chinese tourists died in the crash near Bryce Canyon National Park after the driver drifted off the road and overcorrected as he steered back into the lane. The report found the death toll was worsened by the roof caving in during the crash and that passenger seat belt use was inconsistent. — Associated Press
Utah Man Sentenced In Wife’s Murder
A Utah man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for beating his wife to death on an Alaskan cruise. The sentence was handed down Thursday, and the federal judge described the 2017 crime as violent and brutal. Prosecutors had sought life in prison for Kenneth Manzanares. His attorneys had requested seven and a half years and plan to appeal the sentence. Manzanares looked back briefly in court — toward where two of his daughters sat in the courtroom — before being led away after sentencing. — Associated Press
Region/Nation
Resources Make The Difference For Kids At Risk Of Suicide
A new survey by the national nonprofit The Trevor Project found that more than 40% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the last year. Kids of color were disproportionately affected, with Indigenous youth reporting the highest rate. The survey underscored the need for more supportive spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in Mountain West states, like community centers, finding lower rates of attempted suicide among kids who had access to those resources. Even simple things like respecting a young person’s pronouns made a big difference. — Robyn Vincent, Mountain West News Bureau
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Utah Crisis Line at 801-587-3000 or the Crisis Text Line by texting 741741.