Friday evening, November 22, 2019
CENTRAL UTAH
What’s Next For The Road Home
The Road Home has been at the center of a difficult transition in Salt Lake’s homeless services model. But yesterday – the same day the group closed its downtown facility for good – the nonprofit announced a $5 million donation from a charity backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Executive Director Michelle Flynn said the funds will go mostly to bolster housing programs for families and a new data system to better match people with housing opportunities. Read full story. — Jon Reed
Weekend Highway Delays
If you’re traveling on Bangerter Highway near Taylorsville or I-15 in Lehi this weekend, plan for delays. Bangerter Highway will go down to one northbound lane and two southbound lanes in Taylorsville starting Friday night through early Monday morning. Northbound I-15 in Lehi will go down to four lanes on Saturday, and down to three northbound lanes Sunday morning. — Caroline Ballard
Puny Pumpkins
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, people looking to bake pumpkin pies from scratch might have trouble finding a pumpkin at their local grocery store this year. Sara Roach is the facility manager for Murray’s Historic Wheeler Farm and says Utah crops tanked early because of a freeze in October. So this year you have the perfect excuse for the “canned stuff.” — Jenny Goldsberry
EASTERN UTAH
Duchesne County Under Boil Order
All homes served by the South Duchesne Culinary Water are currently under a boil order. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality says multiple tests found coliform bacteria in the county’s drinking water. E. coli was not found. The order requires residents to boil water used for drinking, preparing food or brushing teeth. — Caroline Ballard
REGIONAL
Grading Discrimination
A report published this week graded 506 cities around the U.S. on how inclusive their towns are to the LGBTQ community. Some cities in our region including Missoula, Denver and Reno got the top score of 100. The scores are based on how well the cities suppress discrimitation against members of the LQBTQ community in things like law enforcement and employment. Utah’s highest-scoring city for LGBTQ inclusivity was Salt Lake City with 66. Meanwhile, it’s lowest-scoring city was Orem with 20. — Madelyn Beck, Mountain West News Bureau
NATIONAL
Stewart on “Impeachapalozza”
In impeachment hearings this week, Utah Republican Congressman Chris Stewart repeatedly called the inquiry into President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine unfair and lacking any evidence of wrongdoing. The Democratic-led impeachment inquiry is investigating whether the president withheld military aid to Ukraine in exchange for a political favor earlier this year. Stewart is Utah’s only representative on the House Intelligence Committee, which heard from 9 witnesses this week. Read full story — Sonja Hutson
Romney Attends President’s Vaping Meeting
Senator Mitt Romney attended a meeting held by President Trump to discuss vaping rates among young people. In a release, Romney said there are differing views on how to combat high rates of youth vaping, but he hopes the administration will move forward on a flavor ban. Either way, Romney said he will continue to push his own legislation that would enact a flavor ban and promote more preventative measures.— Caroline Ballard