Utah’s Noon News

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Doctors from Intermountain Healthcare held a news conference today, saying their hospital staff members are stretched thin and very tired.  They’re asking people not to gather with people from outside their homes for Thanksgiving to prevent an even higher spike of COVID-19 cases.

The family of an autistic boy who was shot by Salt Lake City police has filed a lawsuit.  The police department says they have not yet seen the lawsuit.  

President Russell M. Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a video message today of "Hope and Healing for the World."  He encouraged members of the Church to find reasons to be grateful, even during a pandemic, and share those those grateful thoughts with family and friends. 

You can hear his entire message 16 minutes into the newscast.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert says he will not put a mandate in place limiting Thanksgiving gatherings.  He is asking people to keep gatherings small and include social distancing with masks because of the current surge in COVID-19 cases. 

State health officials say a COVID-19 vaccine could be rolled out in Utah as soon as December. Rich Lakin, Immunizations Director for the state of Utah, says the number of doses coming to the state will be based on population.

Utah lawmakers are working on a bill to make it a felony to block traffic during protests. 

Utah doctors say they are seeing more children coming into I-C-U units with severe symptoms after contracting the COVID-19 virus.

A Vietnam Vet who spent over a month in the hospital battling COVID-19 gets to come home today and his neighbors are going to be lining the streets to welcome him back. 

Utah set a new record today for new COVID-19 infections... with over 39-hundred people testing positive.  There are also 468 Utahns currently hospitalized.

The Utah National Guard is stepping up their efforts to help the state with COVID-19 contact tracing.  It's part of the Governor's new emergency declaration.  

Utah Governor Gary Herbert says his new emergency declaration is not based out of fear or politics.  He says we all need to do our part to slow the spread of the coronavirus because right now our hospitals are struggling to keep up with COVID-19 cases. 

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes is taking some heat after tweeting he’s on personal leave to help prepare litigation in several states dealing with the election process.

The Presidential election is still up in the air this hour.  Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina are still very close races.

Plus, 

The state of Utah is reporting 2,807 new COVID-19 cases today.  There are also 389 people hospitalized with coronavirus which is a new record high for the state.

We are waiting to get the final results from Michigan, Pennsylvania and a handful of other battleground states in the Presidential election.

County clerks around the state are reporting record setting numbers as the votes are being counted.  Many Utahn's took advantage of early voting through mail-in-ballots. 

Over 1-million ballots have already been processed in Utah and we haven't even reached election day.  During the last Presidential election there were less than one-point-two million votes cast once ALL the votes were counted.  

The state department of health is reminding Trick-or-Treaters to wear cloth face coverings while out trick-or-treating tomorrow. People are also encourage to avoid being in large groups because of the pandemic.  

Ten more Utahns have died after getting the coronavirus.  The state is reporting 1,837 new cases from yesterday with 317 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19.  Doctors from Utah's healthcare systems say they are being stretched thin during this current surge of cases.  

Gail Miller announced her family is selling off a majority interest of the Utah Jazz to Qualtrics co-founder Ryan Smith.  Smith says he grew up a Jazz fan and plans to keep the team in Salt Lake City. 

The Salt Lake County District Attorney announced a murder charge in the Sherry Black cold case. 

The man who killed University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck is in court being sentenced.  Ayoola Ajayi pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, abuse, and desecration of a human body.

A 13.5-million dollar settlement was reached between the University of Utah and the parents of murdered student Lauren McCluskey.  President Ruth Watkins also gave an apology to Lauren's parents for campus police not responding appropriately to Lauren's concerns about her boyfriend before he killed her.

A review of police response times in Salt Lake City shows people are waiting longer for an officer to arrive. 

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson unveiled her proposed budget for 2021.  The pandemic has led to previous cuts, and the mayor says the cuts will continue and more corrections might need to be made.

Orem City says the Range Fire in Utah County started at their police training range.  An officer who was at the range when the fire started is said to be cooperating with fire investigators. 

Judge Amy Cohen Barrett faced a second day of questioning from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in her Supreme Court nominee hearing.

Senators from the judiciary committee were given time today to ask questions directly to Supreme Court Nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett. 

The noon hour starts with Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett finishing off her opening statements to the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Many kids who were exposed to coronavirus at school won’t have to quarantine as long.  Under new rules signed by the governor, if your kid was exposed to coronavirus or tested positive, they’ll only have to quarantine for 7 days IF: they don’t have any symptoms, they have a negative nasal swab test, and the person who got sick—as well as the person who was exposed—were both wearing face-masks correctly.

The Vice Presidential debate at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City is going forward, but there are tight restrictions in place on who will be allowed inside Kingsbury Hall. 

Vice President Mike Pence makes his way to Salt Lake City to prep for Wednesday's Vice Presidential debate. Senator Kamala Harris is already here. In the meantime, there is still a beehive of activity around President's Circle of the University of Utah. Hinckley Institute of Politics Executive Director Morgan Lyon Cotti says since we're in the midst of a public health crisis, security protocols could change right up until the candidates take the stage. 

President Donald Trump is isolating in the White House after he and the 1st Lady tested positive for COVID-19.  Utah Senator Mike Lee has also tested positive after he got tested because he was feeling symptoms similar to having allergies. 

The state reported another 1,008 cases of COVID-19 today.  There are currently 201 people hospitalized with coronavirus... but no new deaths were reported. 

Ogden Police say a suspect is injured following an officer-involved shooting near the 3100 block of Wall Avenue around 7:30 Wednesday morning. 

A new study says over 8-percent of Utah's workforce relies directly on tourism.

The Unified Police Department issued an Amber Alert, asking for your help locating a missing six-year-old from the Millcreek area. 

Terran Alexander Butler was last seen wearing black gym shorts, hiking boots, and a green t-shirt with blue sleeves. Police say he has blonde hair and brown eyes. He is described as standing about 4’0″ and weighing around 40 pounds. 

A teacher at Corner Canyon High School in Utah is in the ICU at the hospital after contracting COVID-19.  Students are showing support while school officials decide how to deal with an increase in coronavirus cases. 

Investigators say a man shot outside of Viewmont High School fired at police officers first with a rifle. 

The Salt Lake City School district is trying to find out why they have thousands of fewer students signed up for classes this fall.

A three alarm fire gutted a business building in downtown Salt Lake City.  Fire investigators say this is the third suspicious fire in downtown in one day, and they have a suspect in mind. 

A group of Provo residents are trying to get a referendum on the ballot to overturn the city’s newly passed mask mandate.  The city council unanimously approved the mandate, and then they overrode the mayor’s veto. 

The Utah Jazz announced today the Vivint Arena in downtown Salt Lake City will be a polling location this November for those who opt not to mail in their ballots. 

Several of Utah's Universities are welcoming students back to class today.  There are a lot of new safety rules in place because of the pandemic. 

Plus, Utah's Republican delegation casts their votes for President Trump at the Republican National Convention.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert has issues a new emergency declaration that will allow the state more easily get Federal assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The previous declaration is set to expire. 

Some Utah teachers that resigned shortly before the school year started could face fines that are outlined in their contracts.  The Granit district says if a teacher calls it quits at the last minute it hurts the school kids the most as the district now scrambles to find a new teacher. 

Some teachers in the Granite school district are planning a rally ahead of the district’s school board meeting.  The teachers say they don’t feel teaching in a crowded classroom is safe right now.

Utah’s school districts are encouraging parents to get their kids registrations turned in now.  The districts need to know how many kids will be learning online, so they can prepare classrooms for those who will be in the school building.   

Many parents are still struggling to decide if they want their kids back in the classroom this fall, or if they will choose an online option.  Some Utah online Charter schools say they are seeing their enrollment go up. 

Over one hundred teachers showed up outside the Utah state capitol building to voice concerns over going back to school, and they're desire for more protections to be in place during the pandemic. 

Dueling petitions are being signed by parents in the Salt Lake City School District over how kids should return to school this fall.  Some want the kids back in the classroom while others say it is too risky with the pandemic. 

A new report from the White House recommends Utah close bars and gyms and limit gatherings in some areas to stop the spread of Covid-19.  

his report says Utah and 17 other states are in the red zone and the trend is very concerning. It's a document repaired for the white house coronavirus task force....and published by the center for public integrity. It recommends Utah close bars and gyms in hot spot counties....and limit indoor dining and move to outdoor dining. it also says gatherings should be limited to ten people or less

The report calls out Salt Lake City and St George as problem cities for Utah....with Salt Lake, Washington, Tooele, Millard and San Juan counties also in the danger area.

A man died in Northern Utah while waiting in line to get COVID tested near Ogden, Utah. Officials say he was in the line less than 45 minutes.

Breaking news on KSL newsradio... 

When the official numbers come from the state health department today... they're expected to report 867 new coronavirus cases. 

This news... coming from doctors at hospitals here in Utah. 

KSL Newsradio's Paul Nelson has been monitoring a news conference with them. Paul, tell us more. 

It's a new daily high... just 12 hours after Governor Gary Herbert urged Utahns to wear masks... saying if we couldn't get down to 500 cases per day... The current average -- 585. 

Get ready for crowded highways as people try to get out of town for the 4th of July holiday weekend.  More people say they'll be driving rather than flying this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Utah Governor Gary Herbert is calling on all Utahn's to be respectful to others by wearing face coverings when out in public.  The Governor says this is important to be able to keep the economy moving.  Grand County leaders are also asking for permission to put in place a face mask requirement.

Utah's primary election day looks a lot different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Voters have to mail in or drop off their ballots.   

Monica Williams, Weber State associate professor of criminal justice and Chris Burbank, former SLC police chief

The way minorities and ethnic neighborhoods view satisfaction with their police

James Jackson III, Utah Black Chamber of Commerce and Sara Jones, CEO and founder of Inclusion Pro diversity consultants

Race relations in the workplace--James providing expertise on the challenges minorities face in starting, conducting, and recruiting for businesses

Sara will discuss dynamics within the workplace among coworkers, particularly tensions and racism at work among different racial groups 

Utah has seen several weeks of large spikes in the number of Coronavirus cases.  The Governor says he will not put the state back into a shutdown, but is considering various options.  He also is encouraging everyone to use face coverings when out in public where social distancing is not possible. 

The Salt Lake City council diverted over $5 million dollars from the city's police department, but the police chief says the money will actually be used to buy more body cameras which will benefit his officers. 

The South Salt Lake DMV office is closed until further notice, after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. Online appointments have been canceled. The tax commission says the employee had contact with other employees, but not the public.

Kane County in southern Utah has transitioned to the green phase of the state's coronavirus health risk plan.  Some restaurant owners tell KSL Newsradio they will continue to keep extra precautions in place, but they are hopeful the move to green means more customers. 

Rexburg, Idaho police and the FBI served a search warrant at the home of Chad Daybell.  He's the husband of Lori Vallow-Daybell who is in the Madison County jail after she failed to show the courts that her children were alright.  Her kids, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, disappeared months ago. 

Some Utah cities are discussing how police can better be held accountable when abuses take place.  This comes as protests continue around the country following the death of George Floyd.

The Utah National Guard members that were activated and asked to help keep the peace in Washington DC had to find a new hotel today.  Washington DC's mayor does not want the soldiers there and the troops hotel contract was canceled. 

A South Jordan, Utah community is rallying around a mother after police say a murder suicide left her two young boys dead at the hands of their father. 

Salt Lake City's police chief says people who damaged property and assaulted officers and others during Saturday night's protest will be held accountable.

Two US astronauts are sitting aboard a space capsule and rocket designed the SpaceX company.  If the weather permits, they soon will be the first astronauts from the US to travel into space from US soil onboard a US built rocket since 2011. 

We are learning more today two Utah County businesses that were earlier called out by county leaders after coronavirus outbreaks happened in their workplace.  Today, the county attorney says the businesses were not acting irresponsibly and the county health department information that said employees were forced to come to work sick wasn't true. 

The "Utah Leads Together" plan is about to get an update.  Governor Gary Herbert will be unveiling new guidelines that focus on the most vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic.   

The CEO of a Utah County business is firing back about allegations of 'recklessly' exposing employees to COVID-19. Nick Greer, is the CEO of Built Bar, a protein bar maker, which has a production facility in American Fork. He says their team outlined coronavirus concerns back in March.

Most of Utah will be transitioning from the Orange phase in the Governor's pandemic plan to the Yellow "low risk" phase starting tomorrow morning.  That means some of the restrictions will be relaxed. The Governor's eviction moratorium is also expiring.  

COVID-19 restrictions are causing state tax revenues to plummet and may
force lawmakers to call another special session. State Senator Todd Weiler
says they're dealing with financial circumstances that no one could have
predicted.