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UTAH LEGISLATURE-FAWSON
Governor appoints Justin Fawson to open House seat
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has appointed North Ogden city council member Justin Fawson to fill a House seat vacated by Ogden Republican Ryan Wilcox.
Herbert announced the appointment Thursday after Fawson was recommended by state Republican Party delegates.
Fawson is a director of marketing at security company Mountain Alarm and has served as a councilman since 2012.
Fawson is also running in an election for Wilcox's seat this November.
He faces a June 24 primary race against Dan Duel for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Democrat Camille Neider and Libertarian Roger Condie in November's general race.
Wilcox resigned his seat in House District 7 in mid-March to work for U.S. Sen. Mike Lee.
GOVERNOR'S NEWS CONFERENCE-FEDERAL LANDS
Gov.: Utah should have more control of public land
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Gov. Gary Herbert says Utah should have more oversight of public lands within state borders.
Herbert said Thursday in a monthly televised news conference on KUED state officials are better equipped to manage federal lands because they're more familiar with local issues.
Herbert says federal projects and plans can take years to approve and he believes state authorities could streamline the process.
Herbert said he does not foresee any conflict in Utah akin to an armed standoff in recent weeks between Nevada protesters and the federal Bureau of Land Management. He cautioned against such an exhibition.
The governor's comments come on the heels of a meeting of officials from nine Western states who on Friday said it's time they take control of federal lands rich in oil, timber and minerals.
ROLLOVER CRASH-OGDEN
Police blame Ogden crash on distracted driving
(Information in the following story is from: Standard-Examiner, http://www.standard.net)
OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Police say a distracted driver received a careless driving citation after a rollover crash that injured her and two other people in Ogden.
Weber County sheriff's Sgt. Lane Findlay tells the Standard-Examiner the 35-year-old Roy woman claimed mechanical problems with her Chevrolet Blazer before the crash about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on 1900 West near 16th Street.
But several witnesses told police she was using her cell phone and appeared distracted when she veered onto the wrong side of the road.
The woman received minor injuries when her Blazer struck an Audi sedan and landed on its roof.
Weber firefighters pulled a 56-year-old driver and her 82-year-old mother from the Audi.
They were taken to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden with injuries that weren't believed to be life-threatening.
MORMON COIN AUCTION
Rare $10 Mormon coin up for auction in Utah
(Information in the following story is from: KSL-TV, http://www.ksl.com/)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah auctioneer says he thinks a gold coin minted by Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley could fetch more than $500,000 before bidding ends Thursday night.
Tyson Emery is a coin expert from All About Coins in Sugar House.
He tells KSL-TV he already has a $375,000 online bid for the $10 coin made by early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settlers.
He says the territorial coin dates to the 1800s, when U.S. coins and currency were scarce.
Mormon currency made from mid-century California gold ore came in denominations including $2½, $5, $10 and $20.
The LDS Church History Museum has a replica display featuring coins, dies and other equipment.
Simple and rugged designs showed clasped hands, with uneven lettering and numbers.
BREAST CANCER FUND-ALLEGATIONS
Better Business Bureau: Charity kept most proceeds
(Information in the following story is from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Better Business Bureau is accusing a charity of raising about $500,000 for breast cancer patients but using less than 10 percent for that purpose.
The office says the Cancer Fund of America in 2012 raised the money for prostheses, bras and other items for women fighting the disease. It says the charity also known as the Breast Cancer Financial Assistance Fund gave 8 percent to patients and kept the rest.
The fund could not be reached by phone Wednesday.
The bureau says at least 65 percent of such money should go toward donations.
It's urging potential donors to use caution in giving to the fund.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports the charity is based in Knoxville, Tenn. but has an office in Salt Lake City.
TRUCK SPILLS TURKEYS
Truck carrying turkeys crashes into Utah reservoir
HEBER CITY, Utah (AP) — A semitrailer carrying hundreds of live turkeys has crashed into a reservoir northeast of Provo, injuring the driver and spilling birds in and around the water.
Utah State Parks spokesman Eugene Swalberg said in a statement Thursday morning that the driver was hospitalized but details about the driver's condition were unknown.
Swalberg says the truck was headed down Provo Canyon on U.S. Route 189 when it hit a guard rail, sending the truck into Deer Creek Reservoir.
KSL-TV reports the crash left crates and dead turkeys in the reservoir and on the bank.
Swalberg says it's unclear what caused the crash.
He says crews are working to contain any diesel fuel leaked by the truck.
WYOMING PLANT EXPLOSION
Residents of Wyoming town allowed to return home
OPAL, Wyo. (AP) — Residents of a small town in southwestern Wyoming are being allowed to return home nearly 22 hours after an explosion at a natural gas processing plant forced their evacuation.
No injuries were reported in the explosion at about 2 p.m. Wednesday in Opal (oh-PAL'). The town of about 95 people about 100 miles northeast of Salt Lake City was evacuated as a precaution against further explosions and smoke.
Lincoln County spokesman Stephen Malik said that the evacuation order was lifted shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
Malik says a fire is still burning at the plant but authorities say it and the smoke no longer pose a risk.
There's no immediate word on what caused the explosion.
US SENATE-SHANNON
Shannon gets tea party support at Oklahoma rally
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Hundreds turned out for a rally in Tulsa featuring three tea party favorites who support Republican Oklahoma state Rep. T.W. Shannon in his race for the U.S. Senate.
Former Alaska Gov. and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah touted Shannon's conservative credentials and told the crowd that it's time to take the country back from what they call liberal leadership.
They said Shannon will stand up to party bosses and what they call "Republicans in name only."
Shannon faces seven GOP candidates for the nomination to replace Republican Sen. Tom Coburn. U.S. Rep. James Lankford and former state Sen. Randy Brogdon from nearby Owasso are also in the GOP race as are three Democrats and an independent.
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