Ben Lockhart
About 200 Utah seniors suffer serious falls each week, report says
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Jan. 13 - 7:30 a.m.
Each week, about 200 Utahns 65 years of age or older suffer a fall and receive medical help for their injuries at an emergency room, according to a report released this week by the Utah Department of Health.
Vivint sales reps don hair nets, assemble more than a quarter million meals for orphans worldwide
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Jan. 10 - 8:03 a.m.
About 1,300 sales representatives for Vivint Smart Home donned hair nets Wednesday and assembled more than 272,000 meals to be sent to orphans in Third World countries.
'A new lease on life': University of Utah celebrates record-breaking year for organ transplants
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Jan. 4 - 7:00 p.m.
University of Utah Hospital on Friday celebrated its record-breaking year for solid organ transplants, with 255 completed in 2018.
Wife of mayor killed in Afghanistan asks anyone 'moved by our story' to donate to veterans charity
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Jan. 3 - 7:33 p.m.
Jennie Taylor, wife of the late Utah National Guard Maj. Brent Taylor, the North Ogden mayor who died while serving in Afghanistan, implored Utahns to support veterans and their families by donating to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Utah researchers say study is breakthrough for examining low-functioning autistic youth
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Jan. 3 - 11:51 a.m.
Researchers say a newly published study authored by experts at BYU and the University of Utah represents a breakthrough in how to more adequately examine the brain activity of autistic youth who have low cognitive abilities.
Agency claims VA 'overscreens' homeless applicants' addiction histories, leading to vacant beds
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Jan. 2 - 7:02 a.m.
The Housing Authority of Salt Lake City says it is seeking to change admittance regulations at the Valor House, a facility that provides apartment housing for homeless veterans, making access easier for those with a history of substance abuse.
'We got to zero and my phone went off': Utah's 1st baby of 2019 arrives shortly after stroke of midnight
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Jan. 1 - 7:14 p.m.
The first Utahn born in 2019 was Evolet Figuerola, who was born at 12:21 a.m. Tuesday at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches long.
U. researchers: Alzheimer's patients can benefit from familiar music
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 29 - 12:05 p.m.
MRI scans of patients who have Alzheimer's disease show that playing songs with personal meaning to them activates parts of their brain.
U. study yields 'upsetting' results linking miscarriages with spikes in Utah air pollution
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 27 - 5:30 p.m.
Researchers say a new University of Utah Health study has found "upsetting" results showing women are at greater risk of losing their pregnancy within days of a spike in nitrogen dioxide pollution along the Wasatch Front.
Boy, 13, credited with saving friend from house fire; neighbors rallying around family before holidays
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 22 - 8:25 p.m.
Authorities are crediting a 13-year-old boy with potentially saving his friend's life from a house fire Friday.
Man chasing dog into road dies after hit-and-run crash
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 22 - 7:19 p.m.
Police have confirmed the death of a man who was hit by a truck Friday while chasing after a dog who had run into the road.
AG's office responds to court petition seeking referendum on medical marijuana compromise bill
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 20 - 9:10 p.m.
The Utah Attorney General's Office this week responded to a recent petition filed in court that calls for allowing a referendum vote on a medical marijuana compromise bill recently passed by state legislators.
Organ donation hailed as 'the gift of life' as Utah donors are honored at holiday celebration
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 18 - 9:09 p.m.
At a holiday celebration put on by Intermountain Donor Services' Yes Utah campaign, organ donors were honored and the organization urged Utahns to consider the value of giving "the gift of life" to those in need — whether in life or death.
Utahns urged to review their options on federal health exchange as enrollment deadline approaches
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 13 - 7:21 a.m.
As the deadline approaches for Utahns to sign up for coverage through the federal health exchange, those who already have a plan are being cautioned to carefully consider their best options for 2019 rather than passively re-enrolling.
Utah patients upset at surprise medical bills; hospitals, insurers at odds over who is to blame
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 12 - 8:32 a.m.
Several Utahns spoke to the Health Reform Task Force on Tuesday to decry a practice known as "balance billing."
Hatch calls for research of e-cigarettes in schools, recommends 611 for suicide hotline
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 10 - 10:05 p.m.
As his 42-year career in the United States Senate enters its final weeks, Sen. Orrin Hatch is not done pursuing new legislation.
Patient groups ask court to invalidate Utah's medical marijuana compromise
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 6 - 5:19 p.m.
Two patient advocacy groups are suing to invalidate the medical marijuana compromise bill passed by the Utah Legislature Monday that supersedes the voter-approved Proposition 2.
Department of Public Safety vows to ensure 'rights are upheld' for medical marijuana patients
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 4 - 8:37 p.m.
Utah Department of Public Safety leaders promised Tuesday to do everything thy could to ensure the rights of qualifying patients to possess medical marijuana are upheld in light of the new law in effect in the state.
Gov. Herbert signs medical marijuana compromise into law
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 3 - 9:34 p.m.
Gov. Gary Herbert has signed into law a medical marijuana bill to replace the ballot initiative that voters approved on Nov. 6.
Utah enrollment in ACA exchange down 11 percent so far, but industry leaders, advocates not alarmed
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 3 - 6:47 a.m.
The number of Utahns enrolling in insurance plans on the federal health exchange is down compared to this time last year, new data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid shows.
'The donations matter': Millers urge Utahns to give to matching homelessness campaign
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Dec. 2 - 11:55 a.m.
The Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation and Shelter the Homeless made a holiday season push Monday to encourage Utahns to donate to homelessness service providers through home4change.org.
State audit: Workforce Services could be more careful in awarding, renewing public assistance benefits
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Nov. 29 - 8:23 a.m.
An audit released Tuesday raised concerns about some Utahns' state-awarded child care assistance benefits being renewed without a proper annual review of their eligibility.
Prop. 2 supporters show up en masse at public hearing, express skepticism on compromise
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Nov. 26 - 9:39 p.m.
More than 100 Utahns showed up at a legislative committee hearing Monday to weigh in on the compromise medical marijuana bill state lawmakers are expected to consider next week to potentially replace Proposition 2.
Police officer 'fighting for his life,' suspect dead after burglary incident escalates in South Salt Lake
Ben Lockhart, Deseret News | Posted Nov. 24 - 11:03 p.m.
A South Salt Lake police officer was "fighting for his life" Saturday night after being hit by a car occupied by alleged burglars, one of whom was shot and killed by police.
