Tuesday morning, June 9, 2020
Northern Utah
Beef Plant Accounts A Third Of COVID Case Spike
Over the last week and a half, Utah has seen a spike in coronavirus cases. Officials attributed much of the increase to the state’s economy reopening, though roughly a third are also tied to an outbreak at the JBS Beef Plant in Hyrum. The company said it’s been taking precautions to protect its workers from the virus, but it is one of many meat packing plants across the country that have struggled to contain it. Workers are in close quarters in humid environments, cutting up dead animals. Many are also immigrants and not likely to take a day off. Read the full story. — Jon Reed
Investigation Finds Ogden Mayor’s Death In Afghanistan Was Planned
An investigative report by the U.S. Army found that an Afghan commando who fatally shot North Ogden mayor Maj. Brent Taylor in 2018 had planned the killing for weeks. The report was obtained through a public records request by Ogden’s Standard-Examiner. It shows that U.S. Intelligence screeners failed to act swiftly enough on signs of the radicalization of the commando who was being trained by Taylor, a National Guardsman. The 39-year-old Taylor had taken a yearlong leave of absence for his deployment to Afghanistan. — Associated Press
Young Boy Dies After Rescue From Pond
An 18-month-old boy has died after being rescued from a car submerged in water at a golf course. South Salt Lake Police say officers jumped into the retention pond at Golf in the Round after finding the car upside down in the water late Sunday night. The toddler's mother, 28-year-old Brittanie Miloshevsky was arrested for DUI resulting in serious bodily injury, child endangerment and criminal mischief. Criminal charges were amended last night to child abuse homicide after her son died at the hospital. — Diane Maggipinto
Rare “Derecho” Storm Breaks Records
Snow came on the heels of the rare weekend derecho in the Wasatch Range, and broke a number of records. Twelve and a half inches fell at Alta, breaking the June 8, 1974 mark by nearly twice as much. And a new record for the lowest temperature of 29 degrees shatters the old mark of 37 from 1979. There were also record low temperatures for June 8 in 13 locations including Spanish Fork and downtown Salt Lake. — Diane Maggipinto
Southern Utah
Body Found In Fire Damaged By Wildfire
The body of a 50-year-old man was found in a structure damaged Monday by a wildfire southeast of Hurricane. The Apple Fire has been mapped at 49 acres and the cause is unknown. The Washington County sheriff’s department is investigating the death. The blaze west of Apple Valley in Washington County broke out last night and is 10% contained. — Diane Maggipinto
Follow KUER’s coverage of Utah’s 2020 Fire Seaon.
State
State Averages 303 New COVID Cases In Past Week
The Utah Department of Health announced 256 new cases of COVID-19 Monday. Over the last week, the state averaged 303 new cases each day. That meant a week-long positivity rate of about 10%, determined by the number of positive results each day compared to the total number of people tested. Before the recent spike, that number hovered around 4%, which health officials said meant cases here had plateaued. Health officials also announced three new deaths. All were hospitalized and over the age of 60. — Ross Terrell
Follow KUER’s coverage of the coronavirus in Utah.
Region/Nation
Vail Resorts Revenues Tumble
The pandemic has caused revenues at Vail Resorts to tumble, though according to a report to investors, the declines began prior to resort shutdowns. The company is wrestling with how to manage crowds when slopes eventually reopen, and are particularly concerned about social distancing on lifts and gondolas and in food service areas. Vail plans to open its U.S. resorts for summer recreation later this month, though no dates have been announced for Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort in Utah. – Sarah Mulholland, Colorado Public Radio
Navajo Nation COVID-19 Update
The Navajo Nation Department of Health reported 90 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, but no new deaths. The total number of positives stands at 6,110. Tuesday, Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer host an online town hall on their Facebook page. — Elaine Clark
