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GAY MARRIAGE-UTAH
Utah AG: Defense of marriage ban not about hate
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes says his defense of the state's same-sex marriage ban in a federal appeals court is not motivated by hate.
Reyes said Friday during a rally of gay marriage opponents that he decided to defend the 2004 voter-approved ban to stand up for the state's rights to define marriage as residents decide. He again declined to reveal his personal position on gay marriage, saying only that he has friend and families on both sides and empathy for all involved.
Reyes spoke during a rally at the Utah Capitol attended by about 100 supporters of Utah's same-sex marriage ban.
They gathered to thank Reyes and stand up for what they called traditional marriage a day after a federal appeals court heard arguments about the constitutionality of the law. Utah is spending up to $300,000 to have a team of three outside attorneys defend the law in appeals court.
MORMONS-UKRAINE
Mormon missionaries transferred in Ukraine
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is transferring 85 missionaries to different parts of Ukraine because of civil unrest there.
The church said Friday that the missionaries are being moved from the Donetsk area to other regions in Ukraine.
Last month, the church ended missions early for 22 men and women serving in Ukraine so they could return to the United States.
The Salt Lake City-based church has several hundred missionaries and about 11,000 members in Ukraine. Worldwide, the church has about 15 million members and 84,600 missionaries.
Ukraine isn't the only country where the LDS church has to take action to protect missionaries. The church pulled 152 missionaries out of Venezuela in March because of unrest in the country.
MEDICAID EXPANSION-UTAH
Utah Gov. says Medicaid negotiations progressing
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says talks with federal officials over a Medicaid expansion plan are progressing.
Herbert, a Republican, said Friday he hopes to reach an agreement with federal officials by the end of this summer. He is returning Monday to Washington, D.C., to continue negotiations.
He says he doesn't expect the resignation of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to have an effect on the talks.
He is seeking a chunk of federal money for a three-year pilot program to pay for about 110,000 people to buy private health insurance. But the governor has not outlined the details of his proposal or how much flexibility he's seeking.
An agreement with federal officials must also get approval from Utah's Legislature.
BYU GROPER-CHARGES
Charges filed related to BYU groping incidents
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a 22-year-old Brigham Young University student on suspicion of jogging up to women on campus and groping them as he ran past.
Provo City Prosecutor Steve Schreiner filed two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery Thursday against Nathan Eric Fletcher.
Police say he could face more charges as they continue to investigate 16 reports of assault since January.
Police cameras have captured at least one case of the groping, in which a jogger maintains his stride as he grabs a woman from the right side.
Fletcher is scheduled to appear in court on May 1.
OVERDOSE PREVENTION
Utah governor voices support for overdose laws
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and other lawmakers gathered to show their support for a pair of new laws designed to prevent drug overdoses.
One of the new laws encourages drug users to report a friend who has overdosed.
Under the measure, calling 911 for such a companion would work in favor of people charged in drug cases because courts would consider it a mitigating circumstance.
The other bill stipulates that people acting in good faith are immune from liability in giving Naloxone to a person who is having an opiate-related overdose.
The National Conference of State Legislatures says 16 states and the District of Columbia have enacted some type of a 911 drug immunity law.
Under the other 2014 Utah measure, friends and family members who fear someone they know may overdose can get such a drug in a nasal spray or other form. The law also allows emergency workers and police to obtain such a substance.
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