Wednesday morning, May 20, 2020
State
State Economic Plan 3.0
State officials plan to release the third version of their COVID-19 economic recovery plan later this week. It will include instructions for people at high risk for complications from COVID-19, address impacts on multicultural communities and begin planning for the state’s recovery phase. It will also include information about impacts of COVID-19 on things like housing, food security, and mental health. — Sonja Hutson
Follow KUER’s coverage of the coronavirus in Utah.
Northern Utah
City Council Set To Oppose Kaysville Concert Plan
The Kaysville City Council will vote Thursday to formalize their position against a concert supported by the city’s mayor, Katie Witt. Utah Business Revival, a group of small business owners that wants to fully reopen the economy, plans to host the concert, which is expected to draw hundreds of people. Witt has championed the event as a celebration of freedom, but Councilmember John Swan Adams said the council is united in its opposition to the event, and so are his constituents. The city council will vote on a proclamation against the concert as well as a resolution that puts a freeze on issuing special events permits. Read the full story. — Emily Means
Woman Sues Employer Over COVID Policies
A woman who contracted the coronavirus in Utah has sued her employer arguing the American Fork-based company did not take proper precautions to protect its employees. Juana Victoria Flores filed the lawsuit Tuesday against Built Bar, a company that makes and distributes nutritional supplements. Flores said she emailed human resources April 8 concerned about sick coworkers and never heard back. She tested positive for COVID-19 a week later. Built Bar denied the allegations, saying it has met and exceeded government guidelines on sanitizing and social distancing while working to keep employees safe. — Associated Press
Moose Calves Reunited With Mama
A Utah state trooper helped a pair of newborn moose calves reunite with their mother and narrowly avoided a clash with her. Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Nick Street said Trooper Alexander Agin was driving home near Heber City Monday when he noticed the hours-old calves on the road without their mother. Worried they could be hit by a car, Agin stopped and put up a traffic barrier, then guided them away from traffic danger. Just as he led them off the pavement, mother mose arrived and began to charge Agin, who scrambled back into the cruiser and watched as the trio walked back into the woods. — Associated Press
Southern Utah
Wildfire Contained
The Anderson Junction Fire is now fully contained. State wildfire officials say crews were able to get the upper hand on the burn in the Toquerville/Hurricane area by midday Tuesday. GPS mapping shows the fire scorched 786 acres. — Diane Maggipinto
Region/Nation
BLM Rent Comes Due
The Bureau of Land Management is charging back-due rent on renewable energy projects on public lands. An industry group says the BLM just never sent out rent bills in 2019 and most businesses have set money aside. The group says a bigger issue for renewable energy moving forward is the cost of developing on public lands, which can be more costly than private lands. — Noah Glick, Mountain West News Bureau
Navajo Nation COVID Cases
Navajo Nation officials said 12% of the population has been tested for COVID-19, as compared to about 10% for the states. That's according to Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. The Navajo Department of Health reports 82 new cases, 2 additional deaths and 1,001 recoveries as of Tuesday. The number of COVID-19 cases is approaching 4,200 with 144 deaths. Health officials said reports from remote parts of the reservation are still pending. — Diane Maggipinto
Latter-day Saints May Resume Sunday Worship (Cautiously)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Tuesday that it would “cautiously” begin a phased reopening of worship services and other activities. A letter sent to general and local leaders instructed them to follow all relevant government regulations. In Phase I of the plan, Sunday worship services will be shorter — and there is a limit of 99 participants. Other activities — including weddings and funerals — will also be truncated and may be held remotely. Church guidelines require considering the health and safety of members and following recommended social distancing practice. — Elaine Clark