Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Last Generation Network News: UTAH EDITION December 5, 2013 –THURSDAY- Tevert 2, 5774 Vol.I No.5

Last Generation Network News America

Last Generation Network News

December 5, 2013 –THURSDAY- Tevet 2, 5774

   Vol I. No.5

UTAH EDITION 

"Information is always biased by opinion" -MJS

 

KSL SECTION

Latest News & Features »

 

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Judge hears arguments on Utah's gay marriage ban

Brady McCombs, Associated Press  |  posted Dec 5th - 1:05am
 
A federal judge says he'll do his best to rule by early next year on a legal challenge to a same-sex marriage ban in Utah, after an attorney called for an end to the prohibition by arguing that the precedent has been set by the U.S. Supreme Court and discrimination has gone on long enough.
 
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Festival of Trees underway in Sandy

Brooke Walker  |  posted Dec 4th - 10:55pm
 
The 2013 Festival of Trees began Wednesday at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy with the proceeds of every tree sold going toward the benefit of kids at Primary Children's Hospital.
 
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George leads Pacers over Jazz, 95-86

Associated Press  |  posted Dec 4th - 10:44pm
 
The Jazz fought with the Pacers, but couldn't hang for four quarter, falling 95-86.
 
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Car seat tips to keep your child safe

Shara Park  |  posted Dec 4th - 8:52pm
 
During the winter parents need to think twice before strapping our child into their car seat with a puffy coat on.
 
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Books to give this Christmas — for everyone on your list

Teri Harman, ksl.com Contributor  |  posted Dec 4th - 8:29pm
 
This holiday season give the gift of a story. Books make memorable and thoughtful gifts. This Book Matters list includes exceptional books for each age group.
 
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Snow causes icy commute, canceled school

Haley Smith and Andrew Adams  |  posted Dec 4th - 8:15pm
 
Cold air moving in from the north sent a chill down the Wasatch Front following Tuesday's snowstorm. While the snowfall overnight was not as strong in many places as Tuesday, wet roads froze, creating slick spots.
 
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Gov. Gary Herbert reveals $13.3B budget for next year

Lisa Riley Roche  |  posted Dec 4th - 8:00pm
 
Gov. Gary Herbert announced Wednesday his $13.3 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, 2014, including $261 million in new money for education and $36 million to expand the state prison at Gunnison.
 
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Truck crashes into home, hits 2 men on couch

McKenzie Romero  |  posted Dec 4th - 7:45pm
 
Two men were hospitalized Wednesday after a truck crashed into a Taylorsville home and hit them while they were sitting on a couch in the living room.
 
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Wags and barks: What is your dog telling you?

Sue Manning, Associated Press  |  posted Dec 4th - 7:30pm
 
Wags and barks speak volumes when it comes to understanding what a dog is saying, but there are also clues in a dog's eyes, ears, nose or the tilt of its head. Are humans getting the right messages?
 
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Road salt less effective during extreme cold, UDOT says

Mike Anderson  |  posted Dec 4th - 7:05pm
 
Plow drivers were expected to cover and re- cover areas of the road with salt during shifts Wednesday night, in an effort to prevent black ice. While road salt plays a major role in melting the snow, there's only so much it can do.
 
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Historic Ogden cathedral damaged in fire

McKenzie Romero  |  posted Dec 4th - 6:41pm
 
Crews responded to a small fire at St. Joseph's Catholic Church that started during maintenance work Wednesday.
 
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Cottonwood Heights mayor, residents unhappy with snow removal service

Alex Cabrero  |  posted Dec 4th - 6:21pm
 
The roads were clear of snow Wednesday in Cottonwood Heights, but the mayor and several residents say the private company recently contracted to plow the roads took too long to get the job done.
 
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5 people Hollywood said goodbye to in 2013

Travis Poppleton, ksl.com Contributor  |  posted Dec 4th - 6:09pm
 
The recent loss of "Fast & Furious" actor Paul Walker has acted as a sort of exclamation mark to an already melancholy year for Hollywood. Here are five people Hollywood said goodbye to in 2013.
 
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911 calls show anguish and tension in Conn. school

Michael Melia and Jack Gillum, Associated Press  |  posted Dec 4th - 6:06pm
 
As gunfire boomed over and over in the background, a janitor begged a 911 dispatcher to send help, saying, "There's still shooting going on! Please!" A woman breathlessly reported seeing a gunman run down a hall. And a teacher said she was holed up in her classroom with her children but hadn't yet locked the door.
 
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Van stolen, returned after baby discovered in back seat, police say

Celeste Tholen Rosenlof  |  posted Dec 4th - 6:05pm
 
A woman was arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle, only to return it when she realized a baby was inside the van.
 
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Should teachers be allowed to return to classroom after misconduct?

Benjamin Wood  |  posted Dec 4th - 5:46pm
 
Members of the State School Board are scheduled to discuss revisions to policy regarding the suspension of teacher licenses due to misconduct.
 
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Driver charged in death of child 'couldn't see very well'

Pat Reavy  |  posted Dec 4th - 5:06pm
 
A woman accused of hitting and killing a 2-year-old in a stroller wasn't wearing her glasses and had a tint on her windshield that wasn't legal, according to prosecutors who filed charges against her Wednesday.
 
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Utah Supreme Court reinstates doctor's sexual battery conviction

Emiley Morgan  |  posted Dec 4th - 3:34pm
 
The Utah Supreme Court has reinstated the misdemeanor sexual battery conviction of a Logan doctor in a ruling that overturned a decision from the Utah Court of Appeals.
 
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Support for stricter gun control fades, new poll says

CNN  |  posted Dec 4th - 3:01pm
 
As memories fade from last December's horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, a new national poll indicates that support for stricter gun control laws appears to be fading, too.

 

DESERET SECTION

ruck crashes into Taylorsville home, hits two men sitting on couch

Two men were hospitalized Wednesday after a truck crashed into a Taylorsville home and hit them while they were sitting on a couch in the living room. Read more »

6 hours ago

0 comments

Families face uncertainty, unite in prayer as search for crash victims continues

For the families of five people lost in a plane crash in a remote area of Idaho, the hardest part of the search so far is the uncertainty. Read more »

9 hours ago

1 comment

Air quality improvement plan receives unanimous approval

A plan seven years in the making to improve the state's air quality received unanimous approval from the Utah Air Quality Board on Wednesday. Read more »

11 hours ago

1 comment

Tea Party Express endorses Sen. Mike Lee in 2016 race

"We need more conservatives just like Senator Mike Lee who are there to protect the Constitution and fight for the American people," Amy Kremer, national chairwoman of the Tea Party Express, said. Read more »

12 hours ago

7 comments

Watch live: Human rights advocate and Nigerian trailblazer Hauwa Ibrahim speaking in Park City

Judge, lawyer and author Hauwa Ibrahim will speak in Park City Wednesday, sharing stories of her work and her quest to advance human rights in her home country of Nigeria.Read more »

12 hours ago

0 comments

Utah third-graders ready to 'read to learn' with new dictionaries

More than 70 third-graders at Nibley Park School excitedly thumbed through brand-new dictionaries with their names on them Wednesday morning. Read more »

13 hours ago

0 comments

Child killed in head-on crash near Clinton school

A child was killed in a head-on collision in front of Clinton Elementary School on Wednesday. Read more »

13 hours ago

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Local journalists join father asking Canyons School District to release security video

The local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has filed an amicus brief with the Utah Court of Appeals in the case of a father petitioning Canyons School District for school security... Read more »

13 hours ago

1 comment

State School Board to review teacher misconduct policies

Members of the State School Board are scheduled to discuss revisions to policy regarding the suspension of teacher licenses due to misconduct. Read more »

13 hours ago

0 comments

Driver charged in death of child 'couldn't see very well'

A woman accused of hitting and killing a 2-year-old in a stroller wasn't wearing her glasses and had a tint on her windshield that wasn't legal, according to prosecutors who filed charges against... Read more »

13 hours ago

0 comments

Signing Santa Claus brings cheer to students from school for deaf

Students from the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf spent time with a Santa Claus who communicated in sign language at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday.Read more »

13 hours ago

0 comments

Saratoga Springs accepting Planning Commission applications

Saratoga Springs is now accepting applications for members of the Planning Commission. Read more »

15 hours ago

0 comments

Sandy taking nominations for Noal Bateman Award

The Noal Bateman Award is the highest honor given to Sandy residents for service to their community. The awards committee is currently taking nominations for the 2013 recipient. Read more »

15 hours ago

0 comments

Woman stole van, but returned after finding baby in back, police say

A woman who police say stole a van apparently had a change of heart after discovering a small child was still in the vehicle.Read more »

15 hours ago

4 comments

'Intern Queen' to share advice on college opportunities

Lauren Berger, known as the "Intern Queen," will offer college students advice about how to make the most of internship opportunities. Read more »

15 hours ago

0 comments

United Way Salt Lake CEO to serve in national leadership position

Deborah Bayle, president and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake, has been elected to serve on United Way Worldwide's National Professional Council. Read more »

15 hours ago

0 comments

UTA's six-person group pass is here for the holidays

The Utah Transit Authority is offering a special holiday Group Pass for $15 can be used for six instead of the usual four people. Read more »

15 hours ago

0 comments

High court reinstates Logan doctor's sexual battery conviction

The Utah Supreme Court has reinstated the misdemeanor sexual battery conviction of a Logan doctor in a ruling that overturned a decision from the Utah Court of Appeals.Read more »

16 hours ago

0 comments

 

DeseretNews.com reaches page view milestone; No. 24 most visited U.S. newspaper website

DeseretNews.com properties reached a new milestone of 40 million monthly combined page views in November.Read more »

 

TRIBUNE SECTION

Utah News

 

4Utah SECTION

 

 

 

 

2 News SECTION

Top Stories

 

(KUTV) Three men were taken to the hospital after a truck hauling a trailer filled with construction equipment smashed through the picture window of a home at 5784 Ferron Circle in Taylorsville.

It happened just before 2 p.m. when family members say Ben Pearson, 54, potentially blacked out while driving and smashed into the house where Dean Rottini, his dog Nicki and his friend Tommy Gonzales were watching TV.  

Both men suffered injuries, including several lacerations to Rottini's face, and an injury to Gonzales's hip.  For a moment, Nicki, a 1-year-old Chihuahua was lost, but fire fighters managed to find the dog hiding in the splintered wood inside the home.

A relative of Pearson's says this is not the first time he has passed out.  Emily Pearson says her father-in-law collapsed inside his home last year and had to be rushed to the hospital. 

Wednesday night both Rottini and Gonzales have been released from Intermountain Medical Center, Pearson remains in the hospital for observation.

By Chris Jones 

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)

Utah Weather for the evening of December 4: Temperatures are dropping quickly this evening across the entire state.  A few clouds are moving into northern Utah tonight.  These clouds will limit our cooling a little bit, but not much.  Areas in central and southern Utah that have clear skies tonight will see extremely frigid temperatures overnight.

Forecast for the Wasatch Front for tonight & tomorrow:  Tonight:  Becoming mostly cloudy.  Few isolated light snow showers.  Overnight lows in the single digits.  Tomorrow:  Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy.  A few isolated snow showers possible--mainly in the mountains and near the Great Salt Lake. Highs near 20.

(KUTV) The American Red Cross is asking for financial contributions to help secure housing for several Brigham City families displaced by an apartment fire. 

The fire struck Monday around 7:30 p.m. at an apartment complex at 58 n. Main Street. The wind-swept flames spread quickly through the connected attic space and left seven apartments uninhabitable.

Initially, residents from 20 units were forced to sleep elsewhere, but most were able to return home once gas and electricity were restored to the apartments. 

Of the residents who are still without permanent housing, most are staying with family and friends. However, as of Wednesday night, the Red Cross reports that over a dozen people are still staying at a temporary shelter. 

"Most of them will be starting over from scratch," said Scott Vest with the American Red Cross Utah Chapter. "Several people came out without even socks or shoes."

Vest says the community has been very generous with donations of food and clothing. However, he says the real need is for financial assistance to help families obtain housing. 

"Money can be used for many different things," Vest said. "Where, if you've got a coat it only works for a coat."

Displaced residents may need monetary assistance to pay for utility hook-ups, security deposits and first month's rent for new apartments, Vest explained. Also, families will need furniture and other household items. 

"Even though you may have a place over your head, it's still not inhabitable if you don't have the necessities of life," he said. 

"I know that there's about 14, 15 different children that don't have a home anymore," said Sammi Apodaca, whose apartment was destroyed in the fire. 

Apodaca and her family have found a new apartment, but can't move in yet. In the meantime they are staying with family. She says she is worried about the other families who don't have the money to secure a new place to live. 

"The community has come out and helped so much," she said. 

For more information on how to donate to the Utah Chapter of the American Red Cross, visit: www.redcross.org/utah

By Ladd Egan 

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) After five months of renovations, the 100 year-old Capitol Theatre is ready to welcome audiences again.  

The work was finished just in time for the opening of The Nutcracker in a few days.  "It's a gem and she looks great for 100," said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams of the theatre.  

Six million dollars were spent on adding a new ticket and concessions area in the lobby, refurbishing every seat in the theatre, adding new carpeting and a new electric elevator to replace the old, hydraulic orchestra pit elevator.  None of the improvements compromise the luxurious details or old charm of the venue.

Next door to the theatre is phase two of the renovations.  The Ballet West Academy building is being constructed and will open next fall.  Its lobby will connect to the Capitol Theatre lobby.

McAdams said by the time the Ballet West building is finished, the cost will be 32 million dollars for everything.  Taxpayers will cover half that cost. The other half comes from private donors and businesses.  

The Theatre's new official name:  Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, reflects major donations from the Quinney Lawson family.

By Cristina Flores

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) Terrifying moments for a Salt Lake father as his van is stolen with his two year old son still in the back seat. 

The father had left his mini-van idling to keep it warm for his son while he quickly ran inside his business to grab something. 

"When I went inside she [the suspect] run and grab the van," said Jose Rubio to 2News' Dan Rascon as he points out where it all happened on Tuesday morning. "Oh so scared for a moment I feel like I lost my baby." 

It was 8:15 in the morning when Rubio pulled his white mini-van next to his Salt Lake City Business near 800 south and 900 west. 
 
He then ran inside to grab his boys blanket. 

The van was idling and his son. Emanuel, was in the back seat. 

That's when police say 27-year-old Juana Marie Valdez, who was standing nearby jumped into the driver's seat and drove away. 
                
Seconds later Rubio came outside.

"Hey where is my van? I look like that every direction over there and I didn't see my van anymore," said Rubio. 

Rubio ran and flagged down a Salt Lake City police officer who happened to be driving nearby. 

"I didn't know what to think. What's going to happen with my baby," said Rubio. 

Fortunately police say once Valdez realized there was a child in the van she turned around and drove back to the scene of the crime. 

Rubio was reunited with his son and Valdez was arrested and booked into jail. 

"I just need to say thank God because she come back with the baby," said Rubio. 

"Just a matter of seconds," said Det. Veronica Montoya with the Salt Lake City Police Department as she speaks about how long it takes for someone to steal an idling car. 

That's why police say never leave your car unlocked and idling. 

"There are people out there who are just waiting to see if someone leaves the car running. They will get in and driver off with your vehicle," said Montoya. 

And Rubio says especially don't leave your kids alone in an idling car. 

"Never, never leave the kids even for a minute, because you know people just watching you," said Rubio. 

Rubio says one of his customers grabbed the suspect when she returned and held her until police arrived.

Valdez was booked into the Salt Lake County jail for possession of a stolen vehicle. 

Montoya says they are not looking to charge her with kidnapping since she immediately turned the car around after realizing a child was inside. 

By: Dan Rascon

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
(KUTV) A legal battle over same sex marriage in Utah headed to a crowded U.S. District courtroom in downtown Salt Lake City; and after lawyers in dueling "summary judgment" motions were finished talking, a judge said he has his "hands full" in reaching a decision.

"You've only complicated the task for me," said Judge Robert Shelby, as he complimented attorneys at the end of the session, which stretched for several hours.  

Three same sex couples have challenged Utah law and a state constitutional amendment that defines marriage between one man and one woman.

"To rely on tradition is not a particularly great argument," said Kate Call, one of the plaintiffs, outside the courthouse.  Moudi Sbeiety, who stood next to partner Derek Kitchen said "We just want to get married."

Lawyers from the Utah Attorney General's Office said it's up to citizens of the state to decide, and roughly ten years ago, voters overwhelmingly passed Amendment 3 to the Utah Constitution---codifying only heterosexual marriage.

"It is evidence of the strong commitment of the people to abide with what the traditional definition of marriage has always been," said Assistant Attorney General Phil Lott.  "The state is concerned with fostering responsible procreation and generating an environment where children will be raised by their biological mother and father."

Further, Lott said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision which struck down a section of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, "does not establish a universal right to same sex marriage."

"There's a clear line of authority from the Supreme Court that says you cannot allow a popular vote to decide citizens' constitutional rights," said Peggy Tomsic, an attorney representing the same sex couples.  She said the Utah vote for Amendment 3 "doesn't matter."

The couples' motion said the state is "depriving and will deprive Plaintiffs of numerous rights," and that "this Court must strike down Amendment 3 and the Marriage Discrimination Statutes."

The state's motion for summary judgment said the U.S. Constitution "does not require States to recognize same-sex marriage.  The Plaintiffs have not met their burden of proof."

Judge Shelby listened, at time challenged attorneys on both sides, and indicated he will rule soon---perhaps by early January.

By Brain Mullahy

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Gov. Gary Herbert is calling for an additional $260 million for education in his budget proposal for next year.

The governor's office released Herbert's recommendations Wednesday for the state's $13.3 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The proposal does not recommend any new taxes or additional debt to pay for road or building projects.

Budget forecasts show that in the upcoming year the state will have an extra $338 million, about $130 million of which can be spent on one-time projects.

Herbert is recommending those investments go toward a new building at Weber State University, expanding the Gunnison Prison and making state vehicles more energy efficient.

The governor's proposal goes to the Legislature, which convenes in January and will set the state budget.

MICHELLE L. PRICE, Associated Press

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(KUTV) A fatal car accident took place near Clinton Elementary around 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. 

Reports say a car was headed westbound when it veered into the opposite lane where it collided with an eastbound vehicle.

Officers say the westbound driver had two children in the car, one was pronounced dead. The driver and other child passenger were taken to the hospital in critical condition. 

The driver of the eastbound vehicle was also taken to the hospital in critical condition.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) After a year and a half of construction and far more planning, the Sugar House Streetcar is up and running.

"It's awesome. Finally. A dream in the works for several years, and we're excited it's going to be open on December 8th," said senior project manager for the streetcar, Jim Webb, of Utah Transit Authority. "It's very unique. I don't know of another one in the nation that's similar to this."

The streetcar, called the S-Line, runs on an old freight corridor, and soon a green trail system will be on each side of the rails. 

"Whether they're going to be playing bocce on the side of the linear park or sitting on a bench enjoying the street art, or riding the streetcar," Webb said.

Though it resembles other UTA trains, the single car travels at an average of 15 miles per hour and stops every two blocks. The line is about two miles long and has seven stops from the Central Pointe station at 2100 south to Fairmont Park in the heart of Sugar House.

"You've got some residents, some business, you have some industrial areas in the corridor," Webb said.  "Over time, it will likely drive some economic development."

Indeed, economic growth was the goal. Most of the funding for the project came from a Tiger Grant from the United States Department of Transportation, amounting to $26 million.

Bill Smithers, owner of Sugar House Barbecue Company, didn't initially benefit from the location of the line, one foot from his property.

"There's no way that we were going to stay in business. We lost 80 percent of our parking," Smithers said, adding that accessibility for drivers became nearly impossible.

Smithers had to take out a big loan to move his restaurant that boasts "every kind of meat you can imagine" in Memphis dry rub to a location a few blocks away. It's now at 880 east 2100 south. But Smithers was leasing UTA land at a good price and knew he might have to move someday. He has no hard feelings.

"None whatsoever," Smithers said. "Make lemonade out of lemons We've got a better building, better accessibility, better visually. It worked out great for us."

Most businesses in the area are expected to thrive, Webb said.

The line opens officially on Dec. 8th, and, by 2030, UTA expects 2,000 daily riders. 

"It drives development in the area, and people are excited about it," Webb said.

The streetcar runs Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sundays during shorter hours. The standard fare is $2.50, but UTA is offering a $1 promotional fare for those who pay electronically. On Dec. 7th, UTA will host a community celebration for the S-Line Streetcar from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Anyone who brings a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Utah Food Bank can ride the streetcar for free.

By Christine McCarthy

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) It's "digging out" day after that winter storm that blew through our area and now one local city admits it blew it when it came to clearing roads.

Cottonwood Heights recently became the first city to drop county snow removal services and used a private contractor instead.

Residents say things didn't go well. 

Streets didn't get plowed, main arterials got caked with ice and snow and residents say the city is to blame.

Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore admits handling of the storm was problematic.

"We had contracted with a new company for snow removal, it was their first outing and they failed miserably,"says Cullimore.

Cottonwood Heights turned over its public works to private company Terracare as of November.

Cullimore says, when the storm hit, Terracare supervisors didn't deploy all of the company's resources and once it did, the mayor says they could never quite catch up.

Police had to shut down Fort Union Blvd for a time because there were so many slide offs.

The horror stories quickly buried the mayor's email inbox.

The mayor met with Terracare representatives and says he's working with them to pinpoint mistakes.

Terracare flew an executive out from Denver to help sort out what happened. 

The mayor says he'll be watching very closely to see whatever problems solved and if they're not, he'll be forced to look for an alternative which is a process that would take months.

By Roxeanne Vainuku

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A board of state regulators has adopted a set of comprehensive plans to cut chronic air pollution along the heavily populated urban corridor of northern Utah.

The plans won't achieve federal air quality standards for four more years at the earliest — and by then, Utah may have to find ways to cut emissions further.

The Utah Air Quality Board acted Wednesday, adopting regulations that for the greater Salt Lake region are supposed to reduce emissions by 247 tons a day.

Other plans are taking effect for Utah and Cache counties.

The regulations cover everything from industrial smokestacks to household products. Utah is banning the sale of aerosols like hair spray with high concentrations of hydrocarbons. Another regulation requires hamburger joints to install catalytic converters for open broilers.

Most of northern Utah's air pollution comes from tailpipe emissions.

PAUL FOY, Associated Press

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Court records show four people suspected of stealing copper from a Utah County mine and causing damage to the property are facing felony charges.

The Daily Herald reports that charges were filed in state court Wednesday against Faith Fernandes, Richard Fernandes, Robert Valdez and JJ Lnu.

The group is accused of making multiple trips to Trixie Mine near Eureka over the past year to steal copper wire and cable to sell.

The mine's property manager Adren Underwood told The Salt Lake Tribune that the estimated damage to the mine was more than half a million dollars.

The Utah County Public Defender's Office said that attorney Lisa Estrada was representing the group but was out of the office Wednesday and unavailable to comment on the case.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(KUTV) Snow was the story all day Monday, but from here on out the plot turns to black ice. 

The story changes with plummeting temps and possibility for black ice. UDOT switched shifts with a fresh crew that will work 15 hours straight to ensure a safe morning commute.

Ken Syme a UDOT manager has a game plan, "we're going to do anti icing procedures tonight and that's all we can do when temperatures drop. Lots of salt and brine to get it cleared for the morning commute." The salt they use comes from Redmond Utah, if you've used Real Salt from a local grocery store it is the same thing. The natural minerals help melt ice at lower temperatures compared to regular white table salt.

UDOT crews work to keep up with the storms though they say keeping up with Mother Nature is impossible. She always wins. Drivers can't control conditions like the below freezing temps, they're also left battling stupid humans. That's where we can help.

Syme says, "If everyone would back off and stay away from us it would make our jobs earlier." If he sounds a little grouchy, cut him some slack. You have to think about his end goal. As he explains it, "we're all headed to the same place work or family and we want everybody to get there!"

He says drivers often underestimate the danger of road conditions and the sheer size and momentum of their plows. Syme explains he has, "seen cars get drug down the road, cars slide into the wall and bounce back into the plow."

This happens when drivers try to pass plows, it happened Tuesday. The driver of a white hummer was in such a hurry, he decided to pass a plow from the right side. The plow driver tried to get out of his way, but clipped the bumper as the hummer driver went up onto the sidewalk.

Bottom line, snow packed roads are nothing like the Daytona 500 and, "you don't need to pass us - stay behind, chill out for a few minutes and we'll be out of your way."

By Heidi Hatch


(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) It's not every day you see a car rolling down the freeway with no driver. In fact, there wasn't a single person in the car, says Thomas Goodman, who shot video of an empty early-90's Buick LeSabre, cruising along southbound I-15.
 
Goodman says he was near Woods Cross, north of Salt Lake City, when he noticed a man sitting alone on a snowbank on the side of the interstate. "He was slamming his fist in the snow and making some negative remarks," says Goodman.
 
A short distance down the highway, Goodman noticed drivers steering to the right side of the road, while one car slowly rolled along on the left, without a soul inside. It became evident to Goodman, that this was the man's car, escaping him down I-15. "Prior to that, I didn't know how he got dropped off, I didn't know if his folks kicked him out or his girlfriend," says Goodman.
 
Neither Goodman, nor Utah Highway Patrol could confirm what happened to the man and the unattended Buick Tuesday night. Goodman says it's a reminder to him of the craziness that winter weather brings to our roadways.
 
"All I could think is that he crashed the car and jumped out after he got hit the mouth with the airbag, I'm assuming."

By Chris Miller

To see the RAW footage click here: http://kutv.com/news/features/raw-news/stories/vid_14.shtml?wap=0 

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) The man tapped by the governor to temporarily replace embattled former Attorney General John Swallow, has some asking if he wants the job long term.  

Tuesday during several media interviews, the interim attorney general was asked if he was interested in the job.

Reporter Chris Jones: "Do you want the (attorney general's) job permanently?"
Brian Tarbet: "Not at this point."
Jones:  "Now for clarification you said, 'not at this time,' when we asked you if you wanted the job permanently.  What does that mean?"
Tarbet: "It doesn't mean anything, don't read anything into it."
Jones:  "does that mean you might be interested in the office later on?"
Tarbet:  "No, I'm not interested in political office; I'm interested in THIS office."

This exchange lead to some confusion, and caused other media outlets to suggest that Tarbet was considering a run for the office, but during the interview with Jones, Tarbet suggested a distaste for the politics of politics, " I'm not a politician, I'm not interested in running for election and raising money," says Tarbet.  

Later, Jones reached Tarbet at home who explained that if he was asked to head the office for a year without the issues related to political office he would do it.  

By Chris Jones

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) The search resumes for a missing plane and its five passengers after the aircraft went down in the mountains of central Idaho.

The plane disappeared on Sunday.   One of the passengers is Jonathan Norton is a student from BYU-Idaho who grew up in Salt Lake.  His fiancee, whom he is supposed to marry in a few weeks was on the plane with him.

The mountainous terrain in central Idaho where the small plane disappeared on Sunday is vast. The pilot, Dale Smith of San Jose California was flying his family from Oregon to Montana when the plane went down.

Among his four passengers were Jonathan Norton and his fiancee Amber, the pilot's daughter.  We talked to Jonathan's uncle Matt Dayton who is in Idaho near the rescue operation.

Matt Dayton says on Sunday, Dale Smith, an experienced pilot, radioed air traffic controllers in Salt Lake saying his Beach Bonanza was having engine trouble.  He asked for coordinates to a small air strip in these mountains, but the plane never made it there.

Jonathan's uncle says he just received his nephew's wedding invitation in the mail.

Wednesday morning about 40 searchers will head back into the mountains to look for the plane.  They'll be assisted by helicopters.  They have narrowed the search area thanks to a beacon signal that they believe is coming from the airplane.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) The first major snow storm of the season to hit the roadways brings with it dozens of accidents along the Wasatch Front. 

In the city of South Jordan alone, 27 accidents were reported by one o'clock in the afternoon. 
  
"It's been crazy," said South Salt Lake Battalion Chief Kent Robertson as he pulled up on an accident at 3300 south and I-15 around noon.  "This is the 14th accident for us today." 

At this accident a semi-truck slid on the icy roads causing several other cars to smash into it. 

"Nobody hurt.  We are lucky on this one. It could have been a lot worse," said Robertson. 

Robertson was not alone as emergency crews could be seen all along the valley responding to one accident after the other. 

"A lot of slide offs, a lot of rear end accidents," said UHP Trooper Michael Funk as he worked another accident. 

One of the accidents even included a UHP trooper. The trooper had pulled over to help a crash victim when suddenly that victim's wife who was coming to the scene crashed into the trooper's car. Fortunately the trooper was outside his car and not hurt, but one of the crash victims was injured. 

"Right now the most serious injury we have is a broken nose on the driver of the red vehicle," said Sgt. Manful with UHP. 
 
At the Utah Department of Transportation's operation center every TV screen can be seen with some kind of accident on it. Emergency crews say it all started first thing this morning with the commute. It continued throughout the afternoon and is expected to continue into the evening. 

"This is going to be an extended storm where we are going to be out and about around the clock until all the roads are clear," said John Gleason UDOT's spokesman. 

The snow didn't only cause havoc on the freeways.  In the city of Sandy heavy snow could be seen falling with very slick roads as drivers slide back and forth while trying to navigate the hills in the neighborhoods. 

Power crews worked to restore one power pole that had been knocked down by a sliding vehicle. 

Slick roads have been the biggest problem for drivers all over the valley.

That's why police and fire are all saying the same thing. 

"Slow down. Increase your following distance," said Sgt. Manful. 

"Drive slow. Ease on the brakes," said Sgt. Wooldridge with Salt Lake City Police. 

"People need to slow down and they need to take their time," said Chief Robertson. 

"It's OK to be a little bit late," said Trooper Funk. 

By Dan Rascon

Final reported numbers of accidents across the valley.
Salt Lake County 167 total, 20 injuries
Davis County 62 total, no injuries
Utah County 68 property damage, 7 injuries

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) The Unified Police Department received a call of a robbery at the U.S. Bank on 4135 S. Redwood Road Tuesday.

Reports say the suspect entered the bank and stated "this is a robbery", and then demanded money.  The suspect proceeded to jump over the counter, demanded the teller open the cash drawer and then took the money out. 

No weapon was displayed during the robbery, the teller complied with the suspects demands and no one was injured.  The suspect received an undisclosed amount of money and fled the bank on foot.  It is unknown if he got into a vehicle.  

UPD officers searched the area thoroughly, but were unable to locate the suspect.  

They are asking the public if they know who the suspect is, or saw him as he was fleeing the area.  

The suspect is considered dangerous.  If anyone has any information as to the identity of this suspect, or has information about the robbery, they are asked to contact the Unified Police Department at 385-468-9814.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) Governor Gary Herbert will present his state budget proposal Wednesday.

It's been one of the top business matters at the capitol for the past month.

He's keeping it as secret as possible, but some general outlines are clear.

On Wednesday Governor Gary Herbert will travel to Utah Valley University to unveil his budget.

Last year, the governor and the legislator underestimated state revenues by $240 million dollars. If this year is as good as last year, state spending could go up by that amount.

Utah's public schools remain the worst funded of any state.  Educators are asking for money to catch up. The governor says education will get whatever he can find for them.

The governor won't talk specific numbers. "Just like you shouldn't unwrap your Christmas presents before Christmas, I'm not going to reveal my budget until I reveal it in detail." Herbert said. 

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) A fire on Monday evening that tore through a Brigham City apartment complex inhabited mostly by families evacuated eighteen units, according to Jim Buchanan, director of the city's emergency services department.

"Upon the first arriving engine, we had smoke coming through the windows and through the eaves," Buchanan said. "Once it got up into the ceiling, into the roof space itself, with a little bit of a breeze, it just raised through."

Sammi Apodaca's four-year-old son noticed the commotion around 7:30 p.m., and ran to tell her there were flashing lights outside the complex at 580 N. Main St.

"I looked to my right and apartment number 3A was just in flames," Apodaca said. "They tried to put it out, and then all of a sudden it just started right back up, and I just basically hit my knees and just collapsed because that's our home."

Investigators determined on Tuesday that tenants in one apartment had left for work with their heat on and their sofa bed up against the radiator, causing a slip cover or blanket to catch fire.

Eight apartments were damaged or destroyed, and, while fighting the flames, crews rerouted electricity and gas in 11 other units, one of them vacant. Willard, Honeyville and Corinne crews assisted Brigham City fire fighters. All residents escaped safely, and no fire fighters were injured. 

A local church opened its doors for residents to keep warm, while the American Red Cross rushed from its Ogden office to provide food and clothing. Twenty-one residents stayed in the local fire station, where the Red Cross began operating a shelter.

"We have donations given to us by the generosity of the American public; that's the way that we respond," said Scott Vest, public information officer for the Red Cross. "So we'll use those as necessary."

The Red Cross will work with its non-profit partners to find long-term shelter for the residents, if needed.

Apodaca said she lost all of the Christmas gifts she bought for her son, nieces and nephews.

"I sat there and watched all of our Christmas go up in flames," Apodaca said. "I know that there's basically nothing left. We have to start from the bottom."

Investigators were still on scene late Tuesday morning, working on the cause of the blaze.

Donations of food, toiletries, youth and adult clothing and other necessities for displaced residents are being accepted at the Brigham City Senior Center.

By: Christine McCarthy

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) A group of Salt Lake elementary school students joined Gov. Gary Herbert and first lady Jeanette Herbert as they unveiled holiday decorations at the Utah governor's mansion on Tuesday.

Herbert's office says in a release Monday that third-grade and fourth-grade students from Stewart Elementary School, a Chinese immersion school in Centerville, participated in the event.

The students also performed a Christmas carol in Chinese.

They also helped the governor and first lady decorate a Christmas tree.

The event was not open to the public, but visitors can see the decorations from Dec. 3 to Dec. 19 when the mansion is open for tours from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Texas inmate has been executed for the death of a corrections officer during a short-lived escape from prison six years ago.

Jerry Martin had requested that no additional appeals be filed on his behalf, clearing the way for his lethal injection Tuesday evening.

Martin was serving 50 years for attempted capital murder when he and another inmate bolted from a work detail outside a Huntsville-area prison in September 2007.

In the ensuing chaos and gunfire, a 59-year-old prison officer on horseback, Susan Canfield, suffered fatal head injuries. Both Martin and his partner, John Falk, were captured within hours after fleeing in a stolen pickup.

Martin's execution was the 16th and last scheduled for this year in Texas, which carries out capital punishment more than any other state.

MICHAEL GRACZYK, Associated Press

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal prosecutor has vowed to prove that a former BP drilling engineer destroyed evidence when he deleted hundreds of text messages from a mobile phone after the company's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

But a defense attorney told jurors Tuesday that Kurt Mix deleted the texts "for the most innocent of reasons" and didn't hide anything from a grand jury probing the nation's worst offshore oil spill.

Mix is charged with two counts of obstruction of justice for deleting messages to and from a supervisor and a BP contractor.

At the start of Mix's trial, a prosecutor said BP repeatedly warned the Texas resident about the consequences of deleting messages. Mix's lawyer, however, said he preserved documents containing the same information he allegedly tried to conceal.

MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Associated Press

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(KUTV) Tuesday’s blast of wintery weather has many Utahn’s adapting to the cold, slippery conditions. Ron went on the run to find out how residents of Salt Lake were dealing with the cold.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.) 
(KUTV) A winter storm left it's mark on the Tuesday morning commute.  Utah Highway Patrol says it handled about 80 crashes from Davis County down to Utah County during the morning commute. The agency also dealt with numerous slide offs.

One crash involved a Utah highway Patrol trooper. The trooper stopped to help a man whose Porsche had slid off the road and hit a wall. UHP says the man's wife was trying to pick up her husband when she came upon the scene and slid into the trooper.  The trooper wasn't hurt. The woman suffered minor injuries. The Utah Department of Transportation says it expects the worst of the storm's impact in Salt Lake County through 5pm Tuesday.  Utah County will be impacted late into the evening. Some areas between Payson and Cedar City could see as much as 12 inches of snow. 

By: Roxeanne Vainuku

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.) 
(KUTV) Safety is the top priority for state agencies as Utahns brace for a winter storm that is expected to bring arctic temperatures this week. 

With the heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures on the way, weather experts warn that power outages are possible.  During power outages, firefighters say one of the biggest mistakes that people make is using the wrong kind of heat or light source.  "Candles are a risk.  We see a lot of that and any unattended flame is a serious risk," said Captain Michael Harp with Salt Lake City Fire. 

Instead of candles, firefighters advise using battery-operated candles or flashlights.  They also warn that any type of generator or combustible engine should not be brought inside a home or garage for heating purposes. 

In addition, safety experts tell homeowners to check the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and to make sure their chimneys and furnace filters are clean.  "If you're using alternate heat sources that use fuel, make sure you're being careful with the carbon monoxide, and to have proper ventilation," said Wade Mathews with the Be Ready Utah Emergency organization. 

With temperatures dipping into the teens, there is the possibility of water pipes freezing in homes and businesses.  To avoid water damage, experts say the best solution is to keep the faucet slightly turned on so that water will drip and flow through the pipe.

Officials with state agencies also stress the importance of checking on elderly family members and keeping your pets inside during winter storms.  Putting cats and dogs outside, especially overnight, can lead to overexposure and even death.  "Have plans for your pets.  Have plans for your neighbors who are elderly or have special needs.  Go check on them," said Mathews.  

By Jonelle Merrill

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(CNN) -- Emergency responders searched a mountainous section of Idaho Monday for a single-engine plane carrying five family members that went missing Sunday afternoon. 

The pilot reported engine failure at 9,000 feet at about 3 p.m. MT (5 p.m. ET) and asked the Salt Lake tower for coordinates to a remote airstrip near Cascade, a small town in central Idaho, said Lt. Dan Smith of the Valley County Sheriff's Office in Cascade. 

The plane dropped off the radar and all contact was lost, Smith said.

The unidentified family was heading from Baker, Oregon, to Butte, Montana, in a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft.

Smith said authorities used the pilot's cell phone signal to narrow the search to a two- to- four-square-mile area in the mountains. 

The Idaho Army National Guard is searching with two helicopters. Deputies and rescue workers also joined the search in mixed rain, snow and fairly high winds, Smith said.

By Suzanne Presto 

The-CNN-Wire

™ & © 2013 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
(KUTV) A south Salt Lake City family says they regret showing mercy after they wrote a letter that they had been told may have kept an 18-year-old burglar from being deported.  

In 2012, Deryk Robledo was arrested in connection with the burglary of a south Salt Lake City home.  The parents of Robledo told the victims that their then, 18-year-old son was in the US.  

Robledo's parents asked that the victims write a letter to the court asking for leniency.  David, who asked us not to identify him, says he did just that.  

Then fast forward to this weekend, when police arrested that same teenager for allegedly hitting and killing 75-year-old Gerano Zargoza-Valencia.  Police say after Rebledo hit the man he sped away then tucked his damaged 2001 BMW in the garage of his in-laws where he was living at the time.  

Over the weekend Robledo was arrested.  We spoke with the family that wrote that letter, they say they regret writing it, and wish Robledo would have been deported.  

At the time of the hit and run accident, Robledo was on probation for the burglary.  Monday night he remains in the Salt Lake County jail.

By Chris Jones

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
LAYTON, Utah (AP) — Utah's Hill Air Force Base has been selected as an operational base for a fleet of new fighter jets.

The Air Force chose northern Utah over several other locations.

The announcement came Tuesday from officials at the base about 20 miles of Salt Lake City.

The Air Force previously announced in September that Hill would maintain the new F-35.

The latest announcement means 72 of the fighter jets and their pilots will be permanently based in Utah.

The fleet will show up starting in 2015 when the F-35 goes into service. One of the jets has been at Hill since September for software and other upgrades.

The F-35s will replace the F-16 with greater speed and combat range and lower maintenance costs due to a computerized self-test system, according to the Air Force.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

(KUTV) It's a busy time for holiday shopping and Salt Lake County leaders are hoping that as you shop throughout the season, you'll remember those less fortunate.

The county kicked off a program to help homeless kids Monday.

A tree with angel cards will be set-up in all Shopko, Cyprus Credit Unions, and The Leonardo.

A person can pick any angel(s) they wish from the tree to adopt.  There are angels for the elderly and for children in the local area.  The angel's name, age, sex, sizes and gift ideas are listed on the Angel Tree ornaments.  

The trees are located in the lobby of the Salt Lake County government offices at 20th south and State Street.

The gifts must be returned to the location from which the angel was adopted by December 19th.       

The gifts need to be new and unwrapped.  

All gifts are picked up and distributed by the Salvation Army to the families in need. 

Last year there were over 11,000 angels adapted from Logan to Spanish Fork.

Additional information on the program can be found here:http://www.kutv.com/custom/angel-tree-2013/

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)

(KUTV) One Utah Legislator says he wants to get parents more involved in schools.

According to the Daily Herald, State Senator Aaron Osmond wants to make a “parental bill of rights” that would legally give parents some say in their child’s education. The proposal comes with more responsibility for parents, as well.

All parents that put their kids in school would have to agree to accept all district policies and go to all parent teacher conferences, among other things.

Educational groups around the state say they need more time to look at Osmond’s proposal before commenting on it.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)

(KUTV) The man accused of killing a Draper Police Officer – and his girlfriend are both scheduled to be in court Tuesday. Timothy Troy Walker will go through scheduling in the aggravated murder case. 

Walker’s girlfriend, Traci Lee Vaillancourt, will go through scheduling on obstruction of justice charges in the same incident. 

Walker is accused of shooting and killing Draper Police Sergeant Derek Johnson in September. He’s also accused of shooting Vaillancourt on the same day. 

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.) 

(KUTV) An upcoming U.F.C. fight in California will feature one of Utah's own: Court McGee who fights out of a gym in Orem.

Dave Debes can't wait because he says he knows McGee personally.

"One of my best friends is on that card so I was stoked to go down there and actually see him fight,"  Dave said.

The very minute tickets for the fight went on sale, Dave says he rushed to Ticketmaster.com and he got great seats.

"What we had is center cage tickets and they were roughly eight rows back," Dave said.

But now months later, Dave got an email from Ticketmaster. It reads, "We had to cancel the tickets you bought for the following event because they were sold to you in error."

Ticketmaster offered Dave what the email calls, "comparable seats," but Dave says the new seats are lousy by comparison.

Dave did find seats still available that he says are more comparable, but they are $100 more than what he originally paid. Much of that added cost was in fees levied by Ticketmaster, so considering the error, Dave asked Ticketmaster if they would be willing to waive those fees, or consider selling him the seats he wants at the price he had previously paid. Dave says Ticketmaster refused.

Frustrated, Dave decided to Get Gephardt.

Get Gephardt contacted Ticketmaster on Dave's behalf and an escalation manager told us that the issue was not Ticketmaster's fault, rather their client's. Ticketmaster did not specify which client, be it the venue or the promoter or U.F.C. In a statement, Ticketmaster simply wrote, "we had to reseat fan at the request of our client."

But, though Ticketmaster says it was not their fault, they have opted to make the situation right for Dave offering to sell Dave the better seats at the lower price by refunding him the difference.

Ticketmaster called the move a "good will gesture." 

We tried to reach U.F.C. to ask why Dave's tickets were revoked. They organization did not respond.

Ticketmaster does have a policy that if a ticket was sold in error, no matter what the error, they have the right to cancel the tickets and offer a refund.

By Matt Gephardt
Produced by Cindy St. Clair
Edited by Amber Monio
Photography by Brian Morris

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) The Unified Police Department broke ground on a new police station Tuesday. 

The new station is located in Riverton near City Hall. The Salt Lake County Sheriff says the money used to build the new station won’t be coming from new tax dollars – but instead, the UPD is taking the money they’d use for renting another building. 

The police station was made possible through a bond. UPD officials say they plan to put station sin all the communities they serve in the future. 

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group.)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Democratic state representative is pushing a measure that would grant limited criminal immunity to people who call police to report an overdose.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Rep. Carol Spackman Moss of Holladay says several young people have died in recent years from drug and alcohol overdoses because the people they were with were afraid to call police and get in trouble.

This proposal has been endorsed by a state criminal justice committee. It will be reviewed by the full Utah legislature when the session opens in January. It has the backing of the state's association of prosecutors and from the conservative Utah Eagle Forum.

More than a dozen other states have these "good Samaritan" laws.

The 502 reported overdose deaths in Utah in 2012 were a seven-year high.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Officials say federal agents in Salt Lake City joined an international effort to crack down Monday on hundreds of websites illegally selling fake goods.

U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement says in a release Monday afternoon that its agents helped seize hundreds of domain names for the websites.

The operation was timed to coincide with one of the busiest online shopping days of the year, so-called Cyber Monday.

ICE spokesman Andrew Muoz says agents with the Homeland Security Investigations unit in Utah posed online as consumers to purchase items from websites they suspected were selling counterfeit goods.

Muoz says 10 foreign law enforcement agencies participated in the effort, as did agents in Texas and Colorado.

Officials say the counterfeit products include sports gear, luxury goods, and electronics, among other items.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board says a train that derailed in New York City was traveling 82 mph as it approached a 30 mph zone.

The Metro-North Railroad commuter train jumped the tracks Sunday morning along a sharp curve where the speed limit drops from 70 mph to 30 mph. Four passengers died.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators on Monday mined the train's data recorders, shedding light on such things as the train's speed and the use of its brakes. NTSB member Earl Weener says he's unaware of any problem with the train's brakes.

The investigators have also sought to question the engineer and conductor for clues. The rail employees union says engineer William Rockefeller was injured in the wreck and is cooperating with investigators.

FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press
JIM FITZGERALD, Associated Press

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(KUTV) Holiday shoppers took advantage of big deals on this "Cyber Monday".

Here in Utah, one internet shopping company has been preparing for the day all year long and they expect record sales.

Overstock has a retail store selling heavily discounted merchandise.  It's right next door to their warehouse open Thursday through Saturday.  If you mention this news story they say they'll give you an extra 20 percent off.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) In every neighborhood there is a Christmas house, the one with way more lights than the rest.

We found one that will amaze, but you wouldn't know it driving by. As the old saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover and the family who lives inside calls it "Santa's Secret".

When Jeff Wallis opens the door he welcomes you in with a huge smile saying, "this is where we live and what we live for."  A Christmas music box plays traditional Christmas songs as you enter. There is so much to look at, it's difficult to focus. Jeff and Julie Wallis have been married 34 years and collecting Christmas decorations for many years as well.

Just ask and they can tell you they have dozens of handmade wreaths, seven decorated Christmas trees, 328 statuettes, 35 Santa's reindeer everywhere and gingerbread as far as the eye can see.  They do it because it makes them happy. As Jeff says, "If you can wake up in a good mood it's a good day."

The Wallis family started decorating in July and it likely won't come down until Easter. This year they're turning their efforts into a fundraiser for their nephew Austin who was just 15 when he died from MS. 

Everyone is welcome to take a tour; they will tell you "were not asking anything. It's free, but if you like to make a contribution 100 percent goes to muscular dystrophy."

Their nephew Austin was a huge Christmas kid. A jar in their entry reads: he's always remembered, never forgotten.

Giving tours for this couple never gets old; the two love to see kid's faces. While it takes a lot of time and energy they say they wouldn't trade it for the world. 

If you would like to see the inside you can drop by on Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Saturday between 5-10pm. Their home is in Riverton at 2996 west 11925 south. Look for the simple blue lights on the roof line.

By Heidi Hatch

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) Students and faculty in Cache County on Monday honored an award-winning high school biology teacher who was killed in a train accident last weekend.

"It's been a somber, kind of quiet day... Lots of tears shed today," said Principal Robert Henke of Mountain Crest High School. "He was a wonderful teacher. He was an icon at the school."

On Saturday, 56-year-old Stanley Lawrence "Larry" Litizzette, of Logan, was hunting with his son in Spanish Fork Canyon, when he was struck by a train on a railroad bridge and pushed into the Price River. His son pulled him from the water, but he had already died.

"I had a friend text me and tell me about it, and I was just like, 'No way. Is this real?'" said Mountain Crest High junior Taylor Kleven. "He was happy. He was stellar. He always told stories of his life and things that were relevant to the subject that we were learning."

A basket of flowers was left in his parking spot on Monday, and students signed a memorial banner to give to his wife.

Litizzette's classroom was left untouched. His desk remained covered in teaching materials, his genetics lesson still on the board.

"It looks exactly the way it did when he left for Thanksgiving break last Tuesday. We haven't done anything to it, including erase the whiteboard,"Henke said. 

Litizzette taught biology at Mountain Crest for 29 years, receiving many teaching honors, including the prestigious Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education.

"I know that he was a great man and a hero to a lot of people," said student Briana Christensen. "He changed a lot of people's lives by making them pursue their career in biology."

Students coordinated through a mass text message to wear their best clothing on Monday to honor their teacher.

Counselors were available for grieving students and teachers throughout the day Monday.

"These kids in the A.P. class have one trimester with him, and for them to feel so impacted, that's the kind of teacher he was," said counselor Kris Hart. "They're really, really struggling with the loss."

The department head filled in for Litizzette's classes on Monday. Henke is working on a schedule for substitute teachers for the rest of the week and coming months. Some of the teachers he has asked about filling in on a more permanent basis said it would be too much of a challenge to live up to Mr. Litizzette's legacy.

While Utah County investigators and the medical examiner are gathering more details about Litizzette's death, the school where he spent nearly three decades of his life is left with a hole that will never be filled.

"It's a loss if we lost anybody," Henke said, but there are certain teachers that probably would create a bigger void, and he's certainly one of those."

By Christine McCarthy

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) An apartment fire in Brigham City has displaced a number of people Monday night.

Crews responded to 580 north Main Street in Brigham City around 8:30 pm Monday night. Firefighters were able knock down the flames quickly and minimized damage.

Officials say as many as eight units were affected; the Red Cross is at the location to help those who have been displaced.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) The Utah Department of Transportation is geared up and ready to attack the first major snow fall of the season, that's expected to dump plenty of snow on the roads along the Wasatch Front.

"We're ready," said Jake Brown and operations manager with UDOT. 
 
For Brown this is like game day at his UDOT shed in Salt Lake. 

"We put the sanders in the back and the plows on and make sure everything works mechanically. It's a big process," said Brown. 

UDOT predicts they will need about 10,000 tons of salt for this storm and they expect to have hundreds of snowplows hit the roads overnight so they can be ready for the morning commute. 
   
"It's going to reach the Ogden area about 10pm," said Jeff Williams with UDOT's weather operations. 

Williams says they are looking to have one-two inches sticking to the road in the Ogden area and two-three inches in the Salt Lake Valley and four-six inches of snow sticking to the roads in Utah County. 

"We do anticipate that the road plows will be able to keep up with this snow storm, but there could be a couple of trouble spots," said Williams."

David Kelly has a word of warning for drivers who come up on a snow plow. 
                
He's been driving snow plows for 11 years.  Last year he got in his first accident. 

A driver tried to pass him when suddenly she went out of control right in front of him. 

"Scary, scary," said Kelly. "We just urge people to slow down and stay way behind us let us get the roads plowed off." 

By Dan Rascon

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) Salt Lake City Police are seeking the public's help identifying a man suspected of robbing the U.S. Bank located at 1575 south Main Street.

On Monday morning a man entered the bank and demanded cash from a teller. After the teller complied the man walked out of the bank with an un-disclosed amount of cash. The suspect is believed to have fled in an older 80s white four door passenger car with a temporary tag in the back window.  

The suspect is described as a white adult male that is 6' 2" with a slender build. He is believed to be in his mid 30's with tattoos on his face and neck area. The suspect was last seen wearing a green jacket and a blue tee shirt with a character on the front.

The Police Department asks anyone who may know the identity or location of the suspect to call (801) 799-3000. Anonymous tips may be sent by texting the keyword TIPSLCPD plus any relevant information to CRIMES 274637. Reference: case #13-190168.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) Swallow said it is pure coincidence that he is leaving after serving the exact length of time necessary to qualify for a state pension.

John Swallow announced 11 days ago that he would be resigning as attorney general. Democrats charged he put off his resignation because by serving until December 2nd, Swallow qualifies for a $12,000 dollar a year pension from the state when he reaches retirement age.

Swallow said he retired on the first business day after he returned from an out of country Thanksgiving vacation with his family, and it's just coincidence that by waiting until Monday, he gets a pension. 

Rod Decker has more on the story.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) Comic book fans have a pair of releases to consider this week in Marvel’s animated feature Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United and Fox’s triumphant The Wolverine, a flawed by suitable apology for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, with Hugh Jackman returning as the three-clawed-anti-hero Wolverine. This week’s releases also include Sony’s children-friendly The Smurfs 2, the cinematic adaptation of the popular teen novel The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and the long delayed horror All the Boys Love Mandy Lane starring Amber Heard.

This week’s television releases include the fourth season of TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland with Betty White, the 16th season of The Simpsons and the excellent and final entry in the Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited series featuring the modern doctors Matt Smith, David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston.

On the indie scene is Joe Swanberg’s improvisational romantic drama Drinking Buddies with Anna Kendrick, Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson and Ron Livingston, the Criterion Collection’s release of Robert Altman’s musical Nashville  and Ello Petri’s Oscar winning Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and the Eric Idle and Neil Innes inspired insanity of The Rutles Anthology, a wonderful parody of The Beatles.

It’s also a fairly heavy release week for deluxe editions and box sets as Paramount releases Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (The Rich Mahogany Edition) just ahead of Anchorman 2’s theatrical run, Warner Bros offers up an extended version of Ben Affleck’s acclaimed thriller Argo in the Argo: The Declassified Extended Edition set as well as the Hangover Trilogy for those in the mood for extended debaucher, A&E has Duck Dynasty: Seasons 1-3 Collectors Set, Fox gives us the ridiculously cool X-Men: The Adamantium Collection and Boston Red Sox fans get 2013 World Series Collector’s Edition just in time for Christmas.

By Ryan Michael Painter

(2013 Copyright Sinclair Broadcast Group)
(AP) A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that Washington's Steve Sarkisian has accepted the Southern California coaching job.

The person spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made by either school.

Sarkisian is a former USC assistant under Pete Carroll and has been at Washington for five seasons.

He'll be the permanent replacement for Lane Kiffin, who was fired earlier in the season and replaced on an interim basis by Ed Orgeron. The Trojans went 6-2 under Orgeron.

RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
LAS VEGAS (AP) Health officials have confirmed norovirus is behind an outbreak at a youth football tournament in Las Vegas last week that sent more than two dozen people to the emergency room.

Southern Nevada Health District spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said Monday that two stool samples tested positive for the virus, which is a mostly food- or water-borne illness that can also be spread by an infected person.

Tournament spokesman Justin Gates said some 90 to 100 players, coaches and parents developed flu-like symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during the four-day National Youth Football Championships that ended Saturday.

Clark County firefighters responded to the Rio casino on Friday and 18 guests were taken to the hospital, although Gates says nobody stayed at the hospital for long.

AP's earlier story is below.

As health officials investigate an outbreak at a youth football tournament that sent an estimated 28 people to the emergency room, organizers said it appears to be just a bad stomach bug that swept through groups of children in close quarters.

Tournament spokesman Justin Gates said some 90 to 100 players, coaches and parents developed flu-like symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea during the four-day National Youth Football Championships that ended Saturday. The outbreak prompted tournament organizers to prohibit end-of-the-game handshakes between opposing players out of fear that participants might infect each other.

Health officials are working from the assumption that it's norovirus, a mostly food- or water-borne illness that can also be spread by an infected person. There have been no obvious commonalities between the cases, such as a restaurant or hotel that all sick people visited.

"It's just a run-of-the-mill old virus," Gates said. "It's a weird year when you don't have this go through a team."

Southern Nevada Health District officials issued surveys to attendees and are conducting tests on samples to make a more definitive ruling in coming weeks, spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said.

The outbreak attracted attention when Clark County firefighters responded Friday to a cluster of sick people at the Rio casino, where the tournament was headquartered. Eighteen people, including five children, were taken from the hotel to hospitals.

None of those taken to emergency rooms stayed for long, Gates said.

Of the estimated 90 to 100 people who fell ill, a Santa Monica, Calif., team accounted for about 50 cases and a Bakersfield, Calif., team accounted for some 25 cases, Gates said. He suspects some people may have caught the sickness before coming to the tournament, and spread it to others during long bus rides.

Nine of 100 teams from across the country were affected, Gates said, but it only stuck a little more than 1 percent of 7,000 attendees. One game had to be forfeited because of sick players.

The tournament, organized by the Florida-based Sports Network International, draws teams from 17 states and as far as Panama. Players range in age from 6 to 15.

MICHELLE RINDELS, Associated Press

Associated Press writer Martin Griffith contributed to this report from Reno.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(KUTV) Say so long to the beautiful fall weather and get ready for slippery roads and shoveling.

With a winter warning out, Ron Bird went on the run to see how people are getting ready for the snow and cold temperatures.

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The head of a legislative investigative committee says the panel of lawmakers will meet soon to wrap up their inquiry into Utah Attorney General John Swallow, whose resignation takes effect Tuesday.

Taylorsville Republican Rep. Jim Dunnigan told The Salt Lake Tribune last week that the committee is meeting Dec. 7 to finish their investigation. He says they will then put together a report of their findings.

Swallow, a Republican, announced last month that he was stepping down, citing the strain of multiple ongoing investigations.

The Utah House launched an investigation this summer into the allegations, which include accusations that Swallow arranged a bribery plot and offered businessmen protection in return for favors.

Swallow has repeatedly wrongdoing and says he will work to clear his name as a private citizen.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
(KUTV) The National Weather Service has issued several warnings, watches, and advisories as a storm approaches the state of Utah Monday night through Wednesday. 

Below are all the advisories and be sure to stay tuned to 2News for all the latest weather updates.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the cities of Salt Lake City, Tooele, Lehi, Provo, and Nephi in effect from 12am Tuesday to 4pm Wednesday. Two to six inches are expected across the Salt Lake and Tooele valleys with five to ten inches expected across the southern Wasatch Front (Utah County).

A Winter Storm Advisory has been issued for the cities of Logan, Smithfield, Brigham City, Ogden, Bountiful, Snowville, Woodruff, Randolph, along with Evanston, WY and Wendover, NV in effect from 6pm Monday to 12pm Tuesday. 1 to 3 inches is expected in the valleys through 12pm Tuesday with 5 to 10 inches in the mountains.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the cities of Huntsville, Park City, Heber City, Alta, Brighton, Mirror Lake Highway, and Scofield in effect from 6pm Monday night to 4pm Wednesday. 1 to 2 feet of snow is expected in the mountain areas with 5 to 10 inches expected across the Wasatch mountain valleys, the most coming south of I-80.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the cities of Price, Castle Dale, Emery, Green River, Hanksville, Manti, Richfield, Delta, Filmore, Beaver, Cedar City, and Milford in effect from 6am Tuesday to 4pm Wednesday. 8 to 16 inches of snow is expected across the valleys of central and southwest Utah by late Wednesday afternoon.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the cities of Cove Fort, Koosharem, Fish Lake, Loa, Panguitch, and Bryce Canyon in effect 6am Tuesday to 4pm Wednesday. One to two feet of snow is expected by late Wednesday afternoon with up to three feet possible in some areas.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the cities of Ely, McGill, Connors Pass, and Great Basin National Park in Nevada in effect from 4am Tuesday to 4am PST Wednesday. Four to ten inches is expected in the valleys with eight to ten inches expected in the mountainous areas.

A Winter Storm Warning is currently under effect in the cities of Afton, Alpine, and Thayne in Wyoming until 5am Tuesday morning. 6 to 10 inches are expected across the Southern Star valley including Afton with 10 to 14 inches in the north including Alpine.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Salt River and Wyoming ranges until 5am Tuesday morning. 1 to 2 feet of snow is expected with higher amounts in favored upslope areas. 

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
(KUTV) During an eight-day Jewish festival that celebrates religious freedom, Rabbi Benny Zippel never expected to wake up to police telling him the six-foot menorah at his Jewish center in Sugar House had been vandalized, but that's exactly how his fourth day of Chanukah began.

"We've been placing every year on the holiday of Chanukah a menorah in front of our location as a symbol of religious freedom, as a symbol of freedom of good over evil, of acceptance over mutual intolerance and bigotry," Rabbi Zippel said. "It is deplorable to see such acts of vandalism and insensitivity in a country like the United States of America, which is a country that is built on mutual tolerance, mutual acceptance and mutual respect." 

Salt Lake City police, around 2:30 a.m., called Rabbi Zippel, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, to tell him the symbol of the Festival of Lights had been broken. He went to the center at 1760 South 1100 East, where he had been shortly after 11 p.m., to see the damage for himself.

"Three of the eight arms of the menorah had been detached, the wires had been ripped and the arms of the menorah were on the floor right next to it," Rabbi Zippel said. "I don’t think we were targeted. I really don't believe so. There were no swastikas, there were no threats. I think it is just an act of insensitive young people who were probably drinking or partying at one o'clock in the morning, looking for some thrill, and they just found something to do with themselves."

Zippel, however, left the menorah in pieces, to be fixed within the week, and led Chanuhak on Ice, two hours of ice skating free for members of the Jewish community at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday afternoon. The event culminated in a ceremony during which Rabbi Zippel lit Utah's largest menorah.

"I think it's all about religious freedom and people just getting along, coming together as a community and doing what's right for another. It's unfortunate that people don’t have better things to do," said Joel Stevenette, who brought his family to Sunday's event. "It's not about the offenders, it's about the community... I'm sure they’ll be held accountable, but, you know, it's all about the spirit and what we're doing today."

"It's horrible that people would want to do that, but I know that God is with us," said Stacy Kaplan, who brought her 11-year-old daughter to ice skate, "and so whatever is meant to be will be, and good will come out of it."

Zippel himself said his job is to dispel darkness and keep his community from focusing on such negativity.

"In the chabad philosophy, we never like to dwell on the negative aspect of things," Rabbi Zippel said. "We are determined to build to make this Chanukah 2013 an even brighter and more joyous one."

In fact, the word, "Lubavitch," derived from the Russian town, means "town of love," Rabbi Zippel said, determined to focus on community and love.

By Christine McCarthy


Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group



(KUTV) A beloved and respected teacher from Mountain Crest High School was killed over the weekend after being struck by a train in Spanish Fork Canyon.

56-year-old Stanly Litizzette was on a duck hunting trip with his son at the time of the accident. The Utah County Sheriff's Department said in press release that Litizzette was seen walking on the rail line when he was hit by the train.

His son told authorities that the impact of the train threw Litizzette's body into the river below, he was killed instantly. 

Principal Robert Henke says grief counselors will be at the school on Monday to help staff and students deal with the loss.

Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group

(KUTV) Instead of waiting days for an online purchase you may be waiting less than an hour. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos sat down with 60 Minutes to unveil Amazon Prime Air. The secret project involves drones, which are capable of carrying up to five pounds of weight.

The new technology could get products to a customer in a half-hour after the online purchase is made. The company would use 96 different warehouses for distribution--but don't too excited, the project is still about 4 to 5 years away from becoming a reality.

Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group


NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City commuter train rounding a riverside curve derailed Sunday, killing four people and injuring more than 60 in a crash that threw some riders from toppling cars and swiftly raised questions about whether excessive speed, mechanical problems or human error could have played a role.

Some of the roughly 150 passengers on the early morning Metro-North train from Poughkeepsie to Manhattan were jolted from sleep around 7:20 a.m. to screams and the frightening sensation of their compartment rolling over on a bend in the Bronx where the Hudson and Harlem rivers meet. When the motion stopped, all seven cars and the locomotive had lurched off the rails, and the lead car was only inches from the water. It was the latest accident in a troubled year for the nation's second-biggest commuter railroad, which had never experienced passenger death in an accident in its 31-year history.

Joel Zaritsky was dozing as he traveled to a dental convention aboard the train. He woke up to feel his car overturning several times.

"Then I saw the gravel coming at me, and I heard people screaming," he told The Associated Press, holding his bloody right hand. "There was smoke everywhere and debris. People were thrown to the other side of the train."

In their efforts to find passengers, rescuers shattered windows, searched nearby woods and waters and used pneumatic jacks and air bags to peer under wreckage. Officials planned to bring in cranes during the night to right the overturned cars on the slight chance anyone might still be underneath, National Transportation Safety Board member Earl Weener said.

The agency was just beginning its search into what caused the derailment, and Weener said investigators had not yet spoken to the train conductor, who was among the injured.

Meanwhile, thousands of people braced for a complicated Monday morning commute, with shuttle buses ferrying passengers to another line.

Investigators were due to examine factors ranging from the track condition to the crew's performance. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the track did not appear to be faulty, leaving speed as a possible culprit for the crash. The speed limit on the curve is 30 mph, compared with 70 mph in the area approaching it, Weener said.

Authorities did not yet know how fast the train was traveling but had found a data recorder, he said.

One passenger, Frank Tatulli, told WABC-TV that the train appeared to be going "a lot faster" than usual as it approached the sharp curve near the Spuyten Duyvil station.

Nearby residents awoke to a building-shaking boom. Angel Gonzalez was in bed in his high-rise apartment overlooking the rail curve when he heard the roar.

"I thought it was a plane that crashed," he said.

Mike Gallo heard the same noise as he was walking his dog. He looked down at the tracks, saw injured people climbing out of the train and "knew it was a tragedy right away."

Within minutes, dozens of emergency crews arrived and carried passengers away on stretchers, some wearing neck braces. Others, bloodied and scratched, held ice packs to their heads.

Three men and one woman were killed, said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the railroad. Eleven of the injured were believed to be critically wounded and another six seriously hurt, according to the Fire Department.

Three men and one woman were killed, the MTA said. Three of the dead were found outside the train, and one was found inside, authorities said. The victims' names had not yet been released.

To Cuomo, the scene "looked like a toy train set that was mangled by some super-powerful force," the governor said in a phone interview with CNN.

As deadly as the derailment was, the toll could have been far greater had it happened on a weekday, or had the lead car plunged into the water instead of nearing it. The train was about half-full at the time of the crash, rail officials said.

"On a workday, fully occupied, it would have been a tremendous disaster," New York City Fire Commissioner Salvatore Joseph Cassano told reporters at the scene. The affected line, called the Hudson line, carries about 18,000 people on an average weekday morning.

For decades, the NTSB has been urging railroads to install technology that can stop derailing caused by excessive speed, along with other problems.

A rail-safety law passed by Congress in 2008 gave commuter and freight railroads until the end of 2015 to install the systems, known as positive train control. Aimed at preventing human error — the cause of about 40 percent of train accidents — it can also prevent trains from colliding, entering tracks undergoing maintenance or going the wrong way because of a switching mistake.

But the systems are expensive and complicated. Railroads are trying to push back the installation deadline another five to seven years.

Metro-North is in the process of installing the technology. It now has what's called an "automatic train control" signal system, which automatically applies the brakes if an engineer fails to respond to an alert that indicates the speed is excessive.

Such systems can slow trains in some circumstances but not bring them to a halt, said Grady Cothen, a former Federal Railroad Administration safety official.

Sunday's accident came six months after an eastbound train derailed in Bridgeport, Conn., and was struck by a westbound train. The crash injured 73 passengers, two engineers and a conductor. In July, a freight train full of garbage derailed on the same Metro-North line near the site of Sunday's wreckage.

"Safety is clearly a problem on this stretch of track," state Sen. Jeff Klein, who represents the nearby area, said Sunday.

Earlier this month, Metro-North's chief engineer, Robert Puciloski, told members of the NTSB investigating the Bridgeport derailment and that the railroad is "behind in several areas," including a five-year schedule of cyclical maintenance that had not been conducted in the area of the Bridgeport derailment since 2005.

The NTSB issued an urgent recommendation to Metro-North that it use "redundant protection," such as a procedure known as "shunting," in which crews attach a device to the rail in a work zone alerting the dispatcher to inform approaching trains to stop.


Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
(KUTV) The Utah Highway Patrol says nine people were critically injured Saturday night when the driver of a Chevy truck lost control of the vehicle and swerved into oncoming traffic. 

The accident happened on State Road 6 near Wellington.

According to a UHP press release, a Nissan Pathfinder crashed into the truck and all occupants of the truck--which include two adults and three children--were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

The four occupants of the Pathfinder--which include two adults and two  children--were also taken to the hospital in critical condition. 

Troopers say one of the tires on the truck separated causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. 


Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group



(KUTV) Police responded to a 911 call coming from a home near 5292 South Leprechaun Lane in Kearns Saturday night. When officers arrived at the home they found that a 17-year-old boy had been shot. The victim was transported to the hospital in fair condition. 

According to Lt. Justin Hoyal of the Unified Police Department a further  investigation by detectives determined that the evidence was not consistent with the story that was told by the victim.

Police say detectives interviewed the victim and he admitted that the home invasion robbery was staged and the gunshot was self-inflicted.

Charges against the victim may be filed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office for filing a false police report.
(KUTV) A Logan man was killed Saturday after being hit by a train in Spanish Fork Canyon.

The Utah County Sheriff's Department says 56-year-old Stanly Litizzette was hunting in the area with his son. He was seen walking on the rail line near the highway at about mile marker 219.5

The man's son told police that Litizette was on a railroad bridge when he was hit by the train and thrown into the river, he was killed instantly. 

Officials say there are still some unanswered questions and the investigation is ongoing.

Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) — Paul Walker, the star of the "Fast & Furious" movie series, died Saturday in a car crash that killed two people north of Los Angeles, his publicist said. He was 40.

Walker died Saturday afternoon, Ame Van Iden told the Associated Press.

A statement on the actor's Facebook page said he was a passenger in a friend's car, and that Walker was in the area to attend a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.

"We ... are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news," the statement said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's department said that deputies found a car engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision in the community of Valencia. Two people who were found in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Santa Clarita Signal reports a red Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree and burst into flames.

Walker was working on "Fast & Furious 7" at the time of his death. He also starred in the suspense drama, "Hours," which is set for release this month.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press
(KUTV) Utah sculptor Karl A. Quilter, who is best known for his work on the Angel Moroni statue, passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday. He was 84 years old.

The Angel Moroni statue that Quilter made famous, sits atop almost all of the LDS temples. In addition to his sculpting work, he was also known for his nativity scenes displayed outside most LDS temples. 

Quilter also designed many statues for local high schools. His family said in a statement to media outlets that Quilter's death was unexpected.

Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group





(KUTV)  A suspected hit and run driver who is accused of killing a 73-year-old man has been arrested.

 

 

 

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