Thursday evening, Nov. 11, 2021
State
Employer vaccine exemptions
Utahns can opt out of their employers’ COVID-19 vaccine requirements for almost any reason under a new bill passed by the Utah Legislature this week. The bill carves out three exemptions for employees — medical, religious and sincerely held personal beliefs. Employers also cannot fire someone for using an exemption, and if they require workplace COVID-19 testing, they have to pay for it. Some lawmakers thought it was too intrusive into business practices. Curtis Blair, president of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, said he believes the bill will encourage employers to communicate and collaborate with their employees. Read the full story. — Emily Means
Northern Utah
Record breaking Ute women’s game
The University of Utah women's basketball team set a new school record Wednesday night. The team made 19 3-pointers during their home game against Lipscomb University. The previous record was 16 in one game. It was the Ute’s third highest scoring game of all time and the most points scored in one game since the 1983-1984 season. It was the team's first game of the season, and they came out victorious. The final score was 105-56. — Martha Harris
Region/Nation
Doctor accused of lying for helicopter rescue
A Utah doctor is accused of lying about his climbing party becoming ill to get a helicopter rescue off Denali last spring. The U.S. attorney's office in Alaska has charged Dr. Jason Lance of Ogden with filing a false report and interfering with and violating the order of a government employee. He is accused of lying about climbers in his party being in medical shock and suffering from early hypothermia in order to get a high-altitude helicopter to retrieve them. He's also accused of violating a direct order and deleting messages from a satellite communication device before handing it over to a ranger. His virtual arraignment is set for Dec. 6. — Associated Press
Inmate seeks millions in legal fees after transgender surgery battle
After a years-long court battle, Adree Edmo was the first incarcerated person in the nation to receive court-ordered gender confirmation surgery. Now, her lawyers are seeking $2.82 million in fees from Idaho and one of its private insurers, Corizon. They argue it’s a reasonable amount, given how many hearings there were. The case was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, though that body declined to hear it. The state could file its opposition to the request in the coming days. Read the full story. — Madelyn Beck, Mountain West News Bureau
U.S. oil production on the rise
Despite the Biden administration’s promise to reduce carbon emissions, a new federal report shows oil, gas and coal production in the U.S. is increasing. The report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration said the rise is expected to last for at least another year, and it’s fueled by unusually cold weather and high energy prices. — Nate Hegyi, Mountain West News Bureau