Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, 2020
State
Enforcing Oil And Gas Regulations
When a state legislative audit in November said Utah’s Division of Oil, Gas and Mining has an “alarming” lack of oversight, outcry was intense, focusing on a finding that the division hadn’t pursued a fine for violations since 1995. Now, a bill by Sen. Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe, is trying to address that by changing the appeals process and creating a standardized schedule of fines the division could impose. Read the full story. — Sonja Hutson
Fraud Case Against LDS Church Headed For Settlement
Allegations of fraud against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been referred to a settlement conference by a Utah court. McKenna Denson's allegations of sexual assault against Joseph Bishop, who was Provo Missionary Training Center president at the time, were dismissed more than a year ago because the statute of limitations had passed. A judge ruled last spring that the two counts of fraud still stand because an alleged cover-up was discovered. A jury trial was vacated last Friday and the fraud allegations were referred to a magistrate judge for settlement. — Associated Press
Voting Deadlines
Super Tuesday is a week away, and today is the deadline to complete an online registration to vote in Utah's primary March 3. It's also the last day a person can walk into a county clerk's office to register in real time. Vote-by-mail has been happening since mid-February, and a polling location at the Salt Lake County Government Center is for early in-person voting. Additional polls open around the state Wednesday. — Diane Maggipinto
Southern Utah
Bernie Sanders In St. George
On the heels of a decisive victory in the Nevada caucus, the Bernie Sanders campaign has redoubled its efforts in states holding primaries on March 3. That includes conservative Southwest Utah, where over 50 people turned out for a campaign organizing event in St. George on Saturday night. Read the full story. — David Fuchs, St. George
Northern Utah
Fatal Roy House Fire
The state fire marshal is investigating a fatal house fire in Roy. Crews found the body of 60-year-old Jamie Allen inside her home which was totalled in the Sunday fire. Firefighters spent several hours shoring up the home before it was safe to enter and search for the homeowner, found in a bedroom near the back of her house. — Associated Press
Centenarian Recalls Her World War II Service
A Utah veteran turning 100 has recalled her service in World War II. The Daily Herald reported Olive O'Mara was 21 when Japanese planes attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She enlisted and served in the women's naval reserve. O'Mara was one of only two women on the East Coast to qualify as an electrician and later moved to a classified communications office. — Associated Press
Region
Animal Virus Not THAT Coronavirus
It’s not uncommon for livestock in our region to get certain strains of coronavirus. But rest assured, these strains are not the ones causing havoc in China and now, around the globe. In cows or pigs it’s known as bovine coronavirus or Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea and there is no evidence of it transmitting to humans. — Maggie Mullen, Mountain West News Bureau