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BC-UT-CITY REDESIGN-STREET CLOSURE
Utah city weighs street closure to help struggling industry
OGDEN (AP) — Ogden City officials are considering an idea that would involve closing off Historic 25th Street to vehicular traffic. The Standard-Examiner reports that Mayor Mike Caldwell says the city is open to any and all ideas that might help local eateries and taverns as the restaurant and bar industry continue to be hard hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with many Ogden area establishments still closed to dine-in service. One idea that appears to be gaining some traction in city circles is temporarily prohibiting cars on 25th Street between Grant and Wall avenues, and then allowing businesses on the street to expand their seating and use the extra space to spread customers out.
BC-UT-PROVO BREWERIES
Referendum challenging Provo brewpub license falls short
PROVO, Utah (AP) — A citizen referendum challenging the creation of a license for brewpubs in Provo has narrowly failed to get enough signatures to make the ballot. The Daily Herald reports organizers were stymied by the coronavirus pandemic and fell less than 200 signatures short of making the ballot in November. Mayor Michelle Kaufusi says allowing brewpubs has been a controversial issue in the community, and the city must respect the results of the signature count. If the referendum had succeeded, voters would have been considering the creation of a Class F beer license, which allows people to open a brewpub in any of three specific zones in the city.
KIDNEY TRANSPLANT
Teen's kidney transplant rescheduled after COVID-19 delays
SPRINGVILLE, Utah (AP) — A Utah teenager’s kidney transplant that was postponed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic is now scheduled after over three months of waiting. Thirteen-year-old Isabel “Izzy” Rammell was supposed to undergo the procedure earlier this year, but it was pushed back when Utah hospitals postponed elective surgeries as the pandemic ramped up. The Daily Herald reported Friday that the kidney transplant is scheduled for next month at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. The donor will be Izzy's non-biological brother. Izzy's mother says her family will take every precaution to make sure Izzy is safe after her surgery.
TEENS-WATER TANK-CHARGES
3 Utah teens face charges after trespassing near water tank
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Authorities in Utah say three young men are facing criminal charges after surveillance video shows them trespassing near a culinary water storage tank in Woodland Hills last month. The Daily Herald reported that the Utah County sheriff’s office said the city received an alert that someone crossed into a fenced area around 1:45 p.m. on June 15 where the water tank is held and maintained. City officials issued an order after seeing the footage, asking residents to boil their water for 48 hours to determine if the water was contaminated. The test cost the city about $700. The three 17-year-old teens face criminal trespassing and criminal mischief charges.
BC-UT-VIRUS OUTBREAK-SCHOOLS
Gov. allows exception to coronavirus rules to reopen schools
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert carved out an exception to virus restrictions Thursday to allow Salt Lake City schools to fully reopen rather than hold classes online. The capital city has higher case numbers than most other parts of the state and remains under stricter rules aimed at stopping the spread of the virus. Those rules would have meant online or distance learning rather than in-person classes for Salt Lake students. Schools statewide are due to have reopening plans complete by Aug. 1, ahead of starting later that month. Herbert has mandated students and teachers wear masks at schools, and said they will be provided.
RACIAL INJUSTICE-DIXIE-UTAH
Utah health care company to drop Dixie from hospital's name
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A major Utah health care company says it will remove “Dixie” from the name of one of its hospitals. Intermountain Dixie Regional Medical Center, located in southern Utah, will be renamed Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, effective in January. The decision comes as institutions throughout St. George have begun reconsidering the Dixie name amid a national reexamination of symbols related to the Confederacy and slavery. Hospital officials told reporters Thursday that they had been discussing a name change for several months. Hospital administrator Mitchell Cloward says the meaning of Dixie can be confusing for some and have “offensive connotations” for people who are not from the area.
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