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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A federal judge will take the weekend to decide whether the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's investigation of the Crandall Canyon mine disaster should be halted until the courts decide whether hearings, interviews and documents should be open to the public.
U.S. District Judge Dee Benson questioned lawyers for the government, the mine operator and the media for an hour Thursday.
A coalition of media groups has sued for an open investigation and is seeking a temporary restraining order to block the mine probe until the broader issue is decided.
Attorneys for the federal government contend they should be able to conduct confidential interviews and withhold other information from the public.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
