Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

AM News Brief: Unified Police, Expiring Food Benefits & Huntsman Back On The Trail

Photo of Unified Police Car.
Wikimedia Commons
The Taylorsville police precinct is separating from the Unified Police Department. The city plans to create its own law enforcement agency within the next year. This and more in the Wednesday morning news brief.

Wednesday morning, June 24, 2020

Northern Utah

Taylorsville To Split From United Police

The Taylorsville police precinct is separating from the Unified Police Department. The city plans to create its own law enforcement agency within the next year. Currently, Taylorsville spends around $10.5 million a year to be part of the UPD, which allows more than 10 communities in the Salt Lake County area to share resources between police departments. Kim Horiuchi with Taylorsville said the city has been with UPD since 2012 and has seen the cost increase each year. She said the decision will help create a more community centered police department. — Jessica Lowell

Huntsman Back On The Trail

Jon Huntsman Jr. is back on the campaign trail following a positive test for the coronavirus. The Salt Lake County Health Department cleared the former Utah governor who had been in quarantine. Huntsman is vying for the GOP nomination for governor. In the primary election he faces Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes and former state GOP Chair Thomas Wright. — Diane Maggipinto

Passing The Bishop Mantel

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, is stepping down from Utah’s 1st Congressional District after nearly two decades. The four Republican candidates looking to replace him have many of the same priorities, like more local control of public lands and supporting Hill Air Force Base. Weber State political scientist Leah Murray says the candidates don’t need to differentiate themselves from the congressman because the district’s people and issues have mostly remained the same. Besides, Murray said, Bishop’s seat is so Republican, that whoever wins the primary will likely win the general election, too. Read the full story. — Emily Means

Blake Leads Fundraising in 1st Congressional

Blake Moore was a late entry in the race to replace Rep. Rob Bishop, but his campaign is leading in fundraising with nearly $358,000 generated as of June 10. Among all candidates vying for a primary win for the 1st Congressional District seat, Democrats Jamie Cheek and Darren Parry round out the bottom of the fundraising list. Mail-in ballots for the respective party primaries are due June 30. — Diane Maggipinto

State

Latest COVID Numbers

The state Department of Health announced 394 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, marking two weeks of more than 300 daily cases. Utah passed another grim milestone as more than 300,000 people here have been tested. The recent rise in cases has led to Salt Lake County’s mayor submitting a formal request to the governor asking for approval to require people to wear face coverings in certain public settings. So far, more than 10,000 of Utah’s cases are considered recovered. — Ross Terrell

Follow KUER’s coverage of the coronavirus in Utah.

Region/Nation

Expanded Food Benefits To Expire

The federal government gave needy families a boost when COVID-19 hit by increasing food benefits, and making them easier to access. But in many states in our region, those extra benefits are about to expire. In the Mountain West, only Colorado and Montana have applied for the extension so far. — Amanda Peacher, Mountain West News Bureau

Navajo Nation Sees Downward COVID Trend

The Navajo Department of Health reported 43 new cases and one death Thursday, marking a downward trend for the one of the areas hit hardest by COVID-19 in the country. Navajo President Jonathan Nez said his public health emergency order that requires all on the reservation to wear masks in public is helping, as is a daily curfew still in effect on the Navajo Nation. The health department data show 336 deaths, just under 7,100 total cases and nearly 51,000 tests administered. — Diane Maggipinto

Police Officer Honored

Flags on the Navajo Nation are at half-staff through Thursday to honor the first officer on the tribal police force to die from the coronavirus in the line of duty. Officer Michael Lee died June 19 at a Phoenix hospital. The 50-year-old served 29 years with the tribal police department. He began his career as a recruit with the Navajo Police Academy in 1990. Lee's funeral is scheduled for Thursday. He is survived by his wife and children. — Diane Maggipinto

KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.