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WILDFIRE-BUDGET
Congress studies new way to fund massive wildfires
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to change the way the country pays to battle its most catastrophic wildfires.
Lawmakers from Oregon and Idaho met with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on Monday to discuss the budget reform.
President Barack Obama's proposed budget would prevent the diversion of money intended for forest thinning and other wildfire prevention efforts.
Historically as fire season progressed, money that had been set aside to thin forests and restore burned land was taken and used to pay for fighting the biggest blazes.
Legislation introduced in Congress would direct that when firefighting costs reach 70 percent of the 10-year average, firefighting agencies could dip into the government's fund for battling natural disasters like hurricanes.
OBIT-L'WREN SCOTT-UTAH
Scott, Jagger's designer girlfriend, found dead
NEW YORK (AP) — A law enforcement official said L'Wren Scott, a fashion designer and celebrity stylist who was Mick Jagger's girlfriend, was found dead in Manhattan of a possible suicide.
The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the victim's next of kin had not yet been notified. The official said no note was found and there was no sign of foul play.
Scott was adopted by Mormon parents and raised in Roy, Utah. A spokeswoman for Mick Jagger says the singer was "completely shocked and devastated by the news." The pair had been dating since 2001. Scott was a fixture on Jagger's arm and, at around 6-foot-3, towered over her famous boyfriend.
She founded her high-end label in 2006 and recently created a more affordable line of clothes with Banana Republic.
MORMON WOMEN-PRIESTHOOD
Mormon church tells women's group not to protest
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church is warning a group of women pushing for gender equality that it will not be allowed to protest in Temple Square next month during a biannual conference.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told the members of Ordain Women in a letter sent Monday that if they insist on going forward with their plans, they'll need to protest in a zone set aside for protesters on the street.
The church says activist events detract from the sacred environment of the weekend conference in Salt Lake City.
The group's founder Kate Kelly says members will go forward with lining up outside the meeting of male priests and ask to be let in. She says they are discouraged by church leaders comparing them with outside protest groups.
POLYGAMIST SECT-JEFFS HOSPITALIZED
Polygamist sect leader Jeffs hospitalized in Texas
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs has been hospitalized.
Department spokesman Robert Hurst says Jeffs is in stable condition Monday at a Galveston hospital. Hurst says Jeffs was admitted March 11 for treatment of a condition that's not life-threatening.
Hurst declined to say why the 58-year-old Jeffs was hospitalized or to release any additional details.
Jeffs is the ecclesiastical head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was convicted in August 2011 and sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two of his child brides. Prosecutors said Jeffs had two dozen underage wives in all.
4TH DISTRICT RACE
Love, others file for Utah's 4th District race
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republican Mia Love has officially filed to run for Congress in Utah's Fourth Congressional District which is being vacated by longtime Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson.
Love, the former mayor of Saratoga Springs, filed her campaign declaration Monday afternoon at the Utah lieutenant governor's office, which oversees elections.
Democrat Doug Owens, a son of late U.S. Rep. Wayne Owens, also filed Monday afternoon.
Another Democrat, Bill Peterson, has already filed to run, as has Libertarian candidate Jim Vein, who ran for the seat in 2012.
In the Republican race, Love is expected to face Republican Bob Fuehr, a former U.S. West executive.
Fuehr released a statement Monday announcing he will file Tuesday morning.
MEDICAID EXPANSION
Utah governor optimistic about Medicaid talks
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Gov. Gary Herbert says he's encouraged by early discussions with federal officials over his vision for expanding Medicaid in the state.
Herbert has a team in Washington, D.C. this week to start negotiations. The governor plans to travel there next month to continue talks.
Herbert, a Republican, is seeking a federal block grant to help about 110,000 low-income Utah residents buy private health coverage instead of enrolling them on the government program.
It's unclear if federal officials will approve the plan or if they'll agree to another program.
Utah legislators failed to adopt any Medicaid expansion plan before wrapping up their 2014 session last week.
Herbert will eventually need to bring them on board, but it's unclear if a plan will be ready for lawmakers before they convene again next January.
STEVEN POWELL
Steven Powell to be released from prison Sunday
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Steven Powell is due to be released Sunday from the Washington state prison where he's been serving 30 months for voyeurism.
Department of Corrections spokeswoman Norah West said Monday that Powell is scheduled to complete his sentence March 23.
Powell is the father-in-law of Utah mother Susan Cox-Powell, who disappeared in 2009. His son, Josh Powell, was a suspect before he killed himself and his two children in an explosive house fire in 2012.
Steven Powell was convicted of voyeurism for taking photographs of two young neighbor girls as they used the bathroom in their home.
West says Powell will living in Tacoma and under community supervision. He'll be required to wear a GPS locator for at least 30 days, as well as attend sex offender treatment.
HEAVY WINDS
Severe winds close ski lifts in northern Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Fierce winds have shut down ski lifts at northern Utah resorts.
Gusts starting around 50 mph and blowing up to 90 mph halted the operations Monday.
Ogden Peak and the upper Cottonwood canyons registered the most severe winds.
Each of nine lifts at Snowbasin Ski Area near Ogden stopped in the afternoon.
The four resorts in the Cottonwood canyons and the three near Park City were also affected by the gusts, which were triggered by a cold front rushing over southern Utah
The National Weather Service reports gusts from near 50 and up to 60 mph at Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain Resort.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports Brighton Resort has called off night skiing.
INVASIVE FISH-VIRGIN RIVER
Officials may kill invasive Virgin River species
ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — Arizona and Utah wildlife officials are considering a plan to kill off an invasive fish species in an effort to protect another fish in the Virgin River.
The Spectrum reports wildlife officials are meeting Wednesday in Mesquite to discuss the plan. It would involve using the chemical rotenone to kill off the red shiner and restore habitat for the rare woundfin.
Officials say the plan calls for treating the river this summer, and would involve restricting some access to the river.
Virgin River Program Director Steve Meismer says the treatments are the only way to preserve habitat for the woundfin, which is a 4-inch minnow only found in no other part of the world. The red shiner is a fertile species, and one female can produce some 10,000 offspring.
GOOD SAMARITAN STRUCK-TAYLORSVILLE
Utah man hit while helping crash victims dies
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (AP) — A Taylorsville man who was hit by a vehicle while he checked up on people in another car crash has died in the hospital.
Police say 35-year-old Anthony Rodriguez died at Intermountain Medical Center on Saturday, four days after he was struck.
Authorities say Rodriguez had called 911 after witnessing a two-car crash at the intersection of Redwood Road and 5200 South, near his home.
He was in the road apparently checking on the people in the crash when he was hit by a passing car.
The people in the original accident were not injured.
Hoyal says the case is still being investigated and it's unknown whether the 21-year-old driver who hit Rodriguez will face charges.
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