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AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-NATIONAL-PARKS

3 more national parks close to prevent coronavirus spread

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Three more of America's most popular national parks have closed their gates as pressure mounts on superintendents to prevent crowded trails that could lead to more spread of the coronavirus even as the Trump administration sticks to its decision to waive entrance fees at the parks. Glacier in Montana and Arches and Canyonlands in Utah announced their decisions to close Friday night just days after several other well-known parks such as Yellowstone, Grand Teton and the Great Smoky Mountains did the same. The Interior Department is deciding whether to shut down individual sites on a park-by-park basis, in consultation with state and local health officials.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-UTAH

Utah congressman released from hospital, virus cases jump

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah congressman who tested positive for the coronavirus has been released from the hospital as the number of cases in the state jumped to more than 600. Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams said on Twitter Saturday that his doctors released him from the hospital after eight days to continue his recovery at home. He urged everyone to take the threats of COVID-19 seriously and to follow public health guidelines. The Utah Department of Health reported a jump of 122 newly confirmed cases Saturday for a total of 602 coronavirus cases in the state. No new deaths were reported. Two people in Utah have died from the disease.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-STIMULUS-TRIBES

Tribes say persistent efforts pay off in massive stimulus

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Tribes say their persistent efforts to be included in a massive stimulus bill to respond to the new coronavirus have paid off. Tribes have been lobbying Congress to help address shortfalls in an already underfunded health care system that serves Native Americans. They secured $10 billion in the bill that President Donald Trump signed Friday. Most of it is set aside as a relief fund that will be distributed based on need. More than $1 billion will go to the federal agency that provides primary health care for more than 2 million Native Americans. The Navajo Nation in the U.S. Southwest has been hardest hit by the virus with more than 90 confirmed cases.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-UTAH

Utah governor tells people to stay home to combat COVID-19

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Hebert issued a stay-home directive Friday as the state works to curb the spread of the new coronavirus that's now infected hundreds of people and killed two in the state. The directive calls on people to avoid non-urgent visits and public places as much as possible. It does not require business closings or carry penalties if the rules are broken. Herbert said it was a “data-driven” approach that would allow for some economic activity to continue while creating protections to combat the virus that has infected 480 people.

ELECTION 2020-UTAH GOVERNOR

Utah investigating hacking of candidate's virtual event

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Attorney General’s Office is investigating the hacking of a video call hosted by a gubernatorial candidate who saw the call hijacked by pornographic images and racial slurs on Thursday. A spokeswoman for Republican Aimee Winder Newton said she was about five minutes into the virtual event on the Zoom platform when the trouble began as all 130 state delegates on the call were unmuted. She says the call was hosted on a Utah GOP account, but hacker disabled administrative control, so the moderators were unable to stop the images when they began flashing on the screen

TROOPER SHOT-NEVADA

Highway patrol sergeant slain in northeast Nevada; man held

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities say a highway patrol sergeant was shot and killed by a man who stole his uniform and patrol vehicle before being arrested with possible explosives several hours later in a remote area of northeastern Nevada. The Nevada Highway Patrol said Friday Sgt. Ben Jenkins died in the shooting about 6 a.m. on U.S. 93 north of Ely. The suspect, John Dabritz, 65, who lived in White Pine County, was later arrested. The NHP says Jenkins won a department gold medal of valor in 2011. A sheriff says Dabritz had multiple weapons, and it appeared he acted alone.