Utah

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Obama Taps Utah Gov as China Envoy

(Newser) - Barack Obama will name Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., an up-and-coming Republican star, as his ambassador to China this morning, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. Huntsman will resign as governor to take the post. The popular Mormon speaks Mandarin Chinese, has an adopted Chinese daughter, along with six other children,...

Computer Science School Tries to De-Geekify Students

Everyone majors in computer science

(Newser) - At Utah’s Neumont University, everyone majors in computer science and “geek” is a badge of honor, not an insult. But some at the school are worried that grads—though highly valued for their tech skills and nearly certain of landing jobs—might be lacking in other areas, the...

Utah Drinkers Get in Touch With Bartenders

New law knocks down barriers, hands-off policy in restaurants

(Newser) - Under a new law that went into effect yesterday, restaurants that sell alcohol no longer need to separate patrons from the people serving them drinks, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. “Not having these barriers is going to save us a lot of time, especially with out-of-state visitors who constantly...

Obama Insider 'Queasy' Over '12 Challenge From Utah Gov.

(Newser) - President Obama’s campaign manager says he’s a “wee bit queasy” about a possible election challenge from Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman in 2012, Salt Lake City’s KTVX-TV reports. “I think he’s really out there speaking a lot of truth about the direction of the party,...

Polygamists Push to Legalize Marriages

Some 40,000 live in polygamous families in Utah

(Newser) - As many as 40,000 people live in polygamous families in Utah and parents are stepping up efforts to make plural marriages legal, reports the BBC. The lobbying organization Principle Voices is pressing for state law changes. Authorities rarely crack down on polygamous families unless they're linked to child brides...

Mormon Crickets: Earmark to Some, Real Plague to Others

(Newser) - Critics, most notably John McCain, have lambasted the latest omnibus spending bill for its 8,500 earmarks; one frequently cited provision is $1 million to fight Mormon crickets in Utah. “Is that a species of cricket or a game played by the Brits?” joked McCain over Twitter. But to...

Utah Considers Caffeine Tax
 Utah Considers Caffeine Tax 
Mar 13, 2009 12:17 PM CDT

Utah Considers Caffeine Tax

Legislators consider tithing both soda and coffee

(Newser) - After seeing multiple proposals to raise the tax on cigarettes fail, one Utah legislator has set his sights on another addictive substance: caffeine. Rep. Craig Frank has initiated a yearlong study on the impact of such a tax, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. If it can fly anywhere, Utah might...

Supreme Court Rules Against Utah Sect

Monument won't fly; public statues are 'government speech'

(Newser) - The Supreme Court today denied a Utah sect the right to erect a monument in a public park, settling a case that had serious implications for free speech and freedom of religion, the New York Times reports. Members of the Summum religion are free to espouse their beliefs in the...

DC Residents May Finally Get Rep. in Congress

(Newser) - Residents of the nation’s capital are poised to finally have a vote in Congress, the AP reports. Debate opened today on a bill that would give Washington’s 600,000 residents a House seat, and with a Democratic Congress and president in place, it might pass this time. Democrats...

Top Nail Grower Loses Claim to Fame in Wreck

(Newser) - The holder of the Guinness World Record for longest fingernails lost her honor in a traffic accident, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. Lee Redmond of Utah, who started growing the nails in 1979 and reached a total length of 28 feet and 4.5 inches, suffered the loss of her...

Hello, 1991: MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice Plan Concert

Nineties rap stars will appear in Utah

(Newser) - Your inner adolescent is not going to believe this: MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice are back. And they’re back together, reports TMZ. The aging rappers will team up Feb. 27 for a concert in, of all places, Orem, Utah—a town commonly referred to as “Family City USA....

US Cancels Gas, Oil Leases Near Utah Parks

Administration moves to drilling in environmentally sensitive areas

(Newser) - The Obama administration is scrapping the sales of oil and gas leases on areas of federally protected land spanning 130,000 acres in Utah, Bloomberg reports. “Those are American iconic treasures we need to make sure are being protected,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said today, adding that the...

Blue States Dominate, and Purple Gains Ground

Dramatic shift in electorate favors liberals: poll

(Newser) - Blue states are far bluer than red states are red, says a new Gallup poll. Party registrations favor Democrats—they lead by 10 or more percentage points in 29 states and the DC, compared to four states where Republicans dominate—suggesting that Dems can expand on ther gains they made...

Student May Face Fed Charges for Fake Drilling Bids

Activist infiltrated auction, won 22,000 acres of federal land at auction in protest

(Newser) - A Utah college activist may face federal charges and jail for making bids he can't afford on scenic tracts in a federal drilling auction last month, the Washington Post reports. Economics student Tim DeChristopher wielded his red auction paddle 13 times to snag $1.8 million in property before federal...

Suspected Dallas Sniper Is Ex-Trooper

He shoots himself after highway attacks that killed two

(Newser) - Authorities say a man suspected in a series of rush-hour shootings near Dallas is a former Utah state trooper. Dallas police said today that 37-year-old Brian Smith killed at least one of the two victims of Monday's rampage. Smith shot and injured himself after a standoff with police and is...

8 States Poised to Lose House Seats: Census

Sun Belt boom may be ending

(Newser) - After a generation, the Sun Belt’s population boom may be ending, new Census data suggest. Over the year ending July 1, more people left Florida than moved there for the first time in some 30 years; after 23 years in the top four fastest-growing states, Nevada fell to eighth...

US Health Ranking Puts Vermont First, Louisiana Last

Southern states plagued by high obesity, smoking rates

(Newser) - Move over, Mississippi: Louisiana is now America’s unhealthiest state, Reuters reports. An annual state-by-state report that measures factors like smoking, obesity, and health insurance coverage also put Vermont at the top for the second year in a row. The five healthiest states are:
  1. Vermont
  2. Hawaii
  3. New Hampshire
  4. Minnesota
  5. Utah
...

Utah Activists Test Mormon Support for Gay Rights

Will Mormon Church stand by claim that it only objects to marriage?

(Newser) - In leading the fight against gay marriage in California, the Mormon Church liked to say that it wasn’t antigay and had no problem with gay legal rights—just marriage. Gay rights activists in Utah have decided to test that claim, reports the New York Times, and gay Utah legislators...

Dems Gain a State With Nixon Win in Missouri
 Dems Gain a State With Nixon Win in Missouri
governors races
Nov 5, 2008 1:00 AM CST

Dems Gain a State With Nixon Win in Missouri

They take 7 of 11 governor contests

(Newser) - Democrats captured a Republican governor's seat last in Missouri, where state Attorney General Jay Nixon defeated Rep. Kenny Hulshof, AP reports. And in the night's closest races, Democrats Bev Purdue won in North Carolina and Christine Gregoire beat her opponent in Washington. With all 11 races in, Democrats now control...

Governors Face Tight Races
 Governors Face Tight Races 
Nov 4, 2008 2:44 AM CST

Governors Face Tight Races

Eleven states in play, four are close

(Newser) - Eleven states are choosing governors in a number of tight races today, with both Democrats and Republicans already crowing about victory. The closest contests are in Washington and North Carolina, reports MarketWatch. Neither state has elected a Republican in 20 years, but polls show candidates are neck-and-neck in both states....

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