Latest Utah news, sports, business and entertainment

MEDICAID EXPANSION-UTAH UPDATE

Utah GOP governor rejects full Medicaid expansion

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Republican Gov. Gary Herbert says he wants to reject a full Medicaid expansion in his state, and instead, seek federal dollars to help the poor.

Herbert's decision came after months of pushing back an announcement, making him one of the last governors in the country to announce his intentions about expanding Medicaid.

Herbert says the state will find "innovative ways" to help the poor if the federal government provides the money with no strings attached.

About 60,000 Utah residents are not currently covered by Medicaid or eligible for federal subsidies to pay for private insurance.

His plan would use the money Utah would have received to fully expand to help those up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. The money would help them purchase private plans.

ELIZABETH SMART-KIDNAPPING PREVENTION

Utah House approves bill to prevent child abuse

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah lawmakers have advanced a state proposal that has the backing of former kidnapping and sexual abuse victim Elizabeth Smart.

The House on Thursday voted unanimously to approve the bill aiming to prevent child abuse. Smart visited the Capitol Thursday, reiterating her support for the bill.

The measure from Salt Lake City Democrat Rep. Angela Romero would create a statewide program to teach K-12 schoolchildren what to do if they are kidnapped or abused. It would let schools choose whether to teach the information. And parents could opt their children out of the program.

Lawmakers debated Thursday if the bill should instead require parents who desire such lessons to explicitly request them. Lawmakers abandoned the idea after Romero said it could hurt existing programs.

The bill advances to the Senate.

TEXTING AND DRIVING

Utah bill aims to cut down on distracted driving

(Information in the following story is from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah lawmaker says current state law against texting and driving isn't powerful enough.

St. George Republican Sen. Stephen Urquhart brings a proposal that would make it illegal to dial a phone number or look up an address while driving.

Under the proposal, adults would have to pull over to tap on their devices but could still talk on cell phones while they drive.

Current Utah law prohibits texting. But Urquhart says there's not much difference between texting and dialing because in both cases, driver's eyes are not on the road. He says his bill would make the current law easier to enforce.

The Deseret News reports it would still allow drivers to use hands-free devices.

The proposal goes to a Senate committee for the first round of approval.

ONLINE EDUCATION-AUDIT

Audit: Utah's online schools receive lax oversight

(Information in the following story is from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A new state audit finds that Utah schools have been lax in overseeing their online and distance-learning programs for K-12 students.

The audit from Utah's State Office of Education says school officials hire outside companies to lure students to such programs. But the officials have little to do with online students once parents sign them up.

The inspection finds that schools instead pass oversight of students' progress and attendance to those recruiting companies.

Leaders of the hired companies contend they provide important services. They say the current state rules regarding online education aren't clear.

Spanish Fork Republican Sen. Deidre Henderson says the students are "ghost students" and schools must be more accountable.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports about 2,550 students are currently enrolled in such programs.

ANCIENT ROCK TOPPLED

Utah House panel kills Goblin Valley-inspired bill

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A committee of Utah lawmakers has rejected a proposal that would make it a felony to damage Utah's geologic features.

The House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee voted 8-6 on Wednesday to hold off on the measure, which they say is unnecessary and broad.

Ogden Republican Rep. Dixon Pitcher sponsored the proposal after two former Boy Scout leaders were accused of knocking over an ancient rock formation at Goblin Valley State Park. The men said the formation might otherwise have fallen and killed a visitor.

The two men face felony criminal mischief charges for tipping the mushroom shaped sandstone pillar, which is about 170 million years old.

Pitcher's bill would make it a felony punishable with up to five years in prison for damaging natural features worth $1,500 or more.

TEACHER-SEX CHARGE

Female teacher pleads not guilty to student rape

(Information in the following story is from: Standard-Examiner, http://www.standard.net)

FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) — A female high school teacher accused of a sexual relationship with a student half her age has pleaded not guilty to rape charges.

The Standard-Examiner of Ogden reports 34-year-old Brianne Altice pleaded to the three felony counts Thursday. Trial is set for May 12-13.

The hearing came a week after a teenage boy testified that he began having sex with his English teacher last year with after she succumbed to his frequent flirting.

The boy, whose name is being withheld because he's a minor, said he was out of his comfort zone after moving to Utah and Altice was the first teacher who was sympathetic.

Altice worked at Davis High School in Kaysville and was arrested in October. Her husband filed for divorce a month later.

NEWLYWED KILLED-DRUNK DRIVER

Drunk driver to prison in dead of newlywed on curb

PROVO, Utah (AP) — A 27-year-old drunk driver who drove up on a sidewalk and killed a newlywed Orem woman has been ordered to prison.

Judge James Taylor sentenced Ramiro Serrano Hernandez on Thursday to one to 15 years behind bars in the death of Ashlee Zimmer.

Police say the 22-year-old woman was sitting on the curb smoking a cigarette early in the morning Aug. 25 when Hernandez drove an SUV onto the sidewalk.

Authorities say he hit Zimmer and dragged her, then fled the scene on foot. Zimmer's husband found her pinned under a car and called police.

Hernandez was arrested about an hour later when he was found hiding behind a trash bin.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to automobile homicide and said Thursday through a Spanish interpreter that drunk driving was a mistake.

BROTHERS KILLED

Teen charged in death of brothers back in court

(Information in the following story is from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com)

FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) — A hearing to determine if a Utah teenager charged in the deaths of his younger brothers will be tried as an adult has been scheduled for May.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that a juvenile court judge set the certification hearing for May 21-23 during a hearing Thursday in Farmington.

The teen's attorney Todd Sessions said mental health professional evaluating the 15-year-old need two months to complete their reports.

The teen, whose name is being withheld by The Associated Press due to his age, is charged with murder in the deaths of his brothers, 4 and 10. They were found stabbed to death inside their West Point home on May 22.

Prosecutors want him tried as an adult but the teen's attorney says the case should stay in juvenile court.

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