Utah News

Authorities say a rock climber died after falling 60 feet in a remote spot in southern Utah.

Washington County Sheriff's Lt. David Crouse said in a news release Thursday that 63-year-old Fiorenzo Marino Antognini fell on Monday while climbing near the small town of Motoqua.

A police report shows the Tesla that crashed while in Autopilot mode in Utah this month accelerated in the seconds before it smashed into a stopped firetruck. Two people were injured.

The Associated Press obtained the report Thursday, which says data from the Model S electric vehicle show it picked up speed for 3.5 seconds shortly before crashing into a stopped firetruck in suburban Salt Lake City. The driver manually hit the brakes a fraction of a second before impact.

A Utah man has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for illegally making and selling more than 1,400 machine-gun converter devices for AR-15-style rifles.

Scott Ray Bishop told the judge that he thought his product was the same as bump stocks or trigger assemblies that are sold legally. A jury in January found Bishop guilty of unlawfully engaging in the business of manufacturing machine guns and illegal possession and transfer of machine guns.

Utah police say they've found the body of a woman who disappeared on her way home from English class three years ago shortly after she moved from Mexico.

Authorities said Thursday that Elizabeth Elena Laguna Salgado's death is being investigated as a homicide after her skeletal remains were found in a canyon several miles (kilometers) from where she was last seen.

A trial for a former Utah State football player accused of sexually assaulting seven women has been set for January.

  24-year-old Torrey Green appeared in court Tuesday, where attorneys established a plan for trial. The seven cases charged against him will be tried in two separate trials in Box Elder County.

U.S. officials say they're expecting record numbers of visitors to southern Utah's Zion National Park this holiday weekend that could have people waiting more than 45 minutes to enter the park and board shuttles.

The National Park Service says Memorial Day weekend is their busiest of the year at Zion.

  A state tax official says lawmakers should meet in a special session this summer to stave off a higher tax bill that some Utah families could face next year.

Utah Tax Commission Chairman John Valentine said Tuesday at a conference of the Utah Taxpayers Association that the overhaul of U.S. tax laws passed by Congress in 2017 effectively canceled out several Utah tax credits.

Parents at a Utah elementary school say they raised concerns about a janitor's behavior months before he was arrested on child sex abuse charges, but were told there was no evidence of abuse.

Parent Nancy Glover said on Tuesday that the Nebo School District needs to own up to its mistake after they sent a letter to parents in March saying the matter was being closed after a thorough investigation.

  U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch's staff says the retiring Republican lawmaker has no plans to become the ambassador in Australia despite recent speculation.

Hatch spokesman Matt Whitlock said Tuesday in a statement that the 84-year-old senator hasn't had any conversations about an ambassadorship.

A self-styled Utah prophet accused of secretly marrying young girls because of his beliefs in polygamy and doomsday will serve at least 26 years in prison after pleading guilty to child rape and abuse charges.

Samuel Shaffer was sentenced Tuesday in Iron County, where police raided a remote desert compound he and a friend built to house their upstart group called Knights of the Crystal Blade.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has rededicated a temple south of Salt Lake City after completing extensive renovations.

The temple in South Jordan was rededicated Sunday after being closed for two years to update its furniture, carpet, decorative paint motifs, artwork and art glass.

A Salt Lake City high school student is in juvenile detention after allegedly bringing a gun to school Thursday.

School district spokeswoman Yándary Chatwin said that the West High School ninth-grade boy had indicated he was holding the handgun for someone else and that there was no immediate threat to the school. It's unclear who he was holding it for.

Utah suicide prevention researcher Michael Staley says suicide isn't easily explained, and a community forum won't end suicide or suicidal behavior. But he calls it a start.

A Thursday evening meeting in Herriman drew about 400 couples, families with teens, school administrators, pastors and counselors.

A 20-year-old Utah man accused in the shooting death of a man authorities say was a rival gang member has been charged with murder.

Kaden Michael Gilliatt was charged Wednesday. The station reports he was also charged with possession of a firearm by a restricted person.

Top leaders from the NAACP and Mormon church are calling for greater racial harmony and mutual respect following the first official meeting between national leaders of the civil rights organization and Utah-based religion.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson said the alliance should be an example for others to work in harmony and with greater civility as he read prepared remarks during a media event in Salt Lake City Thursday. Mormon church President Russell M. Nelson called for greater racial and ethnic harmony.