Utah News

Former Army Officer and West Point graduate Donna McAleer announced her plan to run for Congress against Republican Rob Bishop on Friday, while attending a Salt Lake City protest of the government shutdown.

McAleer is one of two Democrats, including Ogden’s Peter Clemens, who have announced their candidacy for Utah’s First Congressional District. McAleer ran in last year’s election and was defeated by Bishop, who took 72 percent of the district’s votes.

McAleer said the government shutdown is hurting Utah families through no fault of their own.

As Utah State University fans are revving up for the football game against BYU tonight, the Utah Department of Transportation is revving up for heavy traffic. UDOT is advising motorists to take alternative routes to Romney Stadium in Logan.

John Gleason from UDOT advises motorists to avoid  the Layton area on the way back to the Wasatch Front on Friday night.

Vic Saunders, regional communications manager for UDOT, suggests alternative routes for incoming fans.

Governor Herbert said about 20 percent of Utah’s close to 40,000 federal employees will likely be furloughed in the coming days due to the government shutdown.

These employees earn close to half a billion dollars in wages every year, according to a reporter at the governor’s monthly address.

Herbert said a frustrating part of the shutdown is its impact on Utah’s national parks.

Thursday, a female motorist in a black Infiniti sedan was killed by police after leading them on a high-speed chase through nation’s capitol.

The car, driven by Miriam Carey and carrying a one year old child in the back seat, crashed into White House barricades and struck a police officer before a lengthy pursuit.

Decontamination efforts are underway at a home in Cache County where police say a woman attempted suicide with the poison, ricin.

According to a press statement issued by the Bear River Health Department, emergency dispatchers received a call around 10 p.m. Wednesday from an individual who was concerned that her cousin may be attempting suicide by swallowing processed castor beans.

Authorities responded to a basement apartment at a residence near 2300 N. 700 East in North Logan.

The Women, Infant and Children Program—commonly known as WIC was not spared from Tuesday's government shutdown. The federal assistance program allows women to purchase nutritious foods at specified stores, provides infant formula vouchers, nutritional education and access to healthcare.

Women in Utah who already received WIC vouchers for the month of October will be able to use the money; however women who did not receive payment may be affected by the shutdown.

The last nuclear power plant was built in the U.S. in the 1970s, but Blue Castle Holdings wants to build a new one near Green River, Utah. The feasibility of the plant as well as water rights granted to the company were on trial last week. Kim Schuske with Explore Utah Science has the story.

In 1953, General Electric released a promotional animated movie called "A is for Atom." It explained nuclear fission to the public.

Nuclear video: What would happen, they wondered, if they fired a neutron at a Uranium nucleus, already the heaviest in nature? Why not try? So they tried. And the result…nuclear fission. Instead of a minor change, the atom split in two. Truly a discovery to change the world.

Municipal leaders in Logan on Tuesday night took a big step toward improving the city’s urban trails. Council members approved a $1.75 million deal that will fund trail construction projects to connect Logan neighborhoods to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and other paths in and around Logan Canyon.

Logan resident Mark Lunt was an active supporter for the enhanced trail system and has advocated for more livable communities throughout the city.

For a good number of visitors to Utah, vacation plans quickly became a victim of the shutdown when the barricades went up at the national parks on Tuesday.

October 1 marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and with it 30 days of facial hair freedom for Cache County Sheriffs and Deputies.

The officers are able to purchase a month-long beard permit for $30, which will be donated to the Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency.