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VIRUS OUTBREAK-UTAH

Utah becomes latest state to cancel rest of school year

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah is joining more than 20 other states in canceling classes at public schools for the rest of the school year to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Gary Herbert said Tuesday that students will finish the year doing mostly online assignments. Public schools have been closed since March 16. Halting in-person classes has cast thousands of parents in the role of home school teachers as they guide students through online assignments. Utah joins states such as Arizona, Oregon and Washington that previously made the decision to cancel classes. About 667,000 children go to public schools in Utah.

AP-US-DIESEL-BROTHERS-COURT-APPEAL

'Diesel Brothers' TV show appeals air pollution fine

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — The stars of the “Diesel Brothers” reality TV show are appealing a federal court ruling requiring them to pay $848,000 to the U.S. government and a Utah county over pollution law violations. The Standard-Examiner reported Monday that a judge ruled in March that David “Heavy D” Sparks and other defendants were to pay $761,451 to the federal government and $90,000 to Davis County. The defendants filed their notice of appeal last week with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. As of Monday, the court had not set a date for a hearing.

BC-UT-ELECTION 2020-GOVERNOR

Gov. hopeful Greg Hughes chooses southern Utah running mate

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes has chosen an elected official from southern Utah as his running mate in the governor's race. He praised Washington County Commissioner Victor Iverson’s efforts to keep the tax rate low and rainy-day funds robust in Washington County, calling him a proven leader with a commitment to conservative principles. Iverson has served as president of the Utah Association of Counties and a public-lands policy advisor for Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee. Hughes facing several opponents in the race, including former U.S.-Russia ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr., Ex-GOP chair Thomas Wright, businessman Jeff Burningham and Salt Lake County Council member Aimee Winder Newton.

DRY SOUTHWEST

More drought on tap for western US amid low river flows

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — The mighty Rio Grande is looking less mighty as U.S. forecasters predict spring flows will be less than half of average — or worse. That signals potential trouble for the already stressed waterway. The Rio Grande delivers drinking water and irrigation supplies to millions of people from southern Colorado into Texas and Mexico. With more dry years than wet ones over the last two decades, how much water ends up flowing downstream has been a point of contention among the states. Meanwhile, environmentalists are concerned about the river's overall health and the implications of another dry year for silvery minnows and other imperiled species.

AP-UT-ELECTION 2020-GOVERNOR

Huntsman becomes third to qualify for GOP primary ballot

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman Jr. qualified for the Republican primary ballot on Monday, joining Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox and ex-GOP chair Thomas Wright. Huntsman made the cut hours before the deadline after the coronavirus crisis made the typical strategy of knocking on doors to gather signatures impossible. Candidates can also qualify by convincing party delegates at the GOP convention later this month. Ex-House Speaker Greg Hughes, businessman Jeff Burningham and Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton are among the candidates also vying for the Republican nomination.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-UTAH-NEW YORK TEAMS

Utah health care workers head to New York to treat patients

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah-based health care organization will send two coronavirus response teams of medical workers to New York hospitals that are suffering from staffing shortages because of the outbreak. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Intermountain Healthcare announced the 50-member teams will be deployed for two weeks. The Utah personnel will work with New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Northwell Health in the New York City area beginning early next week. Intermountain says the New York health care providers will attempt to support Utah when the state faces its own expected surge of virus patients. Intermountain says hundreds of its medical workers expressed a desire to help.

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