KCYN-KCPX News Tues Nov 27th 2012

>>Woman Found Dead IDd In Cottonwood Heights

(Cottonwood Heights, UT) -- Police working in Cottonwood Heights release the identity of a woman found dead in her home. Authorities say they're investigating yesterday's discovery of 58-year-old Zita Gruodis as a homicide. Officers say when they stopped a man during a traffic stop he told them his wife was dead inside their home. Police wouldn't speculate how long Gruodis had been deceased when they found her body.
Cottonwood Heights Police Sgt. Gary Young said police had the man and another female relative, who was found in the house with the body, in custody Monday night, though no arrests were made. Young said later the woman is believed to be the couple's daughter

>>Outsourcing Of Substitute Teachers On Rise In Utah
(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Substitute teachers in Utah are being outsourced in increasing numbers. The substitute staffing agency Kelly says they help outsource teachers to school districts Alpine, Cache, Logan, Provo, Wasatch and Washington counties. Substitutes with teaching licenses can earn up to 65-dollars a day. Educators say the substitutes help at a time when budgets are so tight.

>>Hill AFB Mulls Ideas To Save Base In Light Of Cuts

(Hill Air Force Base, UT) -- Officials at Hill Air Force Base are preparing for big changes should they be hit with federal budget cuts. The "Tribune" reports the base is considering many possibilities including moving the Army Reserve and Utah Air National Guard units to the base, which is located about 25-miles north of Salt Lake City. Officials say by increasing its workload the base can be protected. Representative Bob Bishop says the base would be in a stronger position against any federal discussions to close military bases.

>>Feds Say Utah HS Grad Rates Fall Short

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Utah educators are trying to get a handle on some disturbing news. The U.S. Department of Education says Utah's overall high school graduation rate ranks among the lower half compared with the rest on the country. During the 2010-2011 school year, Utah had a lower overall graduation rate than 31 other states. When it comes to minority students, data was worse. Utah had the fourth-lowest rate of graduation among Latino students and was second-lowest for Asian-Pacific Islander students.
　
　
　
　

(Ogden, UT) -- A public forum in Ogden yesterday focused on a controversial children's book that was pulled from shelves in the Davis School District. A group of about 25 parents signed a petition to have the book -- "Our Mothers' House" -- taken off of elementary library shelves. It's about a family having two moms and no dad. A community forum at the Pleasant Valley library yesterday featured same-sex parents, their children, a teacher, a child psychologist and an ACLU attorney. The ACLU is suing the district, alleging the ban is a violation of First Amendment rights.

>>Fundraiser Planned For Burned Perry Boys

(Perry, UT) -- The town of Perry is coming together behind four boys who were badly burned by exploding gasoline cans at a neighbor's home. Mardi Obray, who owns owner of The Peak Children's Activity Center, is putting together a fundraising event to help with medical bills. The boys were playing with a lighter near several gasoline cans about two weeks ago. Seven-year-old Tayton Winward remains in a medically induced paralyzed state, while three other boys were released from the hospital last week.

>>Festival Of Trees Honors Family

(Sandy, UT) -- The annual Festival Of Trees in Sandy is taking on new meaning as a family comes to terms with the loss of four members killed in a plane crash. Dow Webb and his family are paying tribute to those who died by decorating four trees -- one for each person killed. In August 2011, a plane carrying Webb's sister, husband and their two children crashed near Burley, Idaho. The cause of the crash remains a mystery. The Festival of Trees begins tomorrow at the South Towne Expo Center and runs through Saturday, December 1st.

SOUTH WEBER — A Colorado woman who police originally tried to pull over for a headlight violation in Morgan County was shot by an officer after law enforcers say she led deputies on a long chase and rammed two police vehicles.
Kristine Nicole Biggs, 41, of Whitewater, Colo., was reportedly in intensive care but in stable condition Monday morning after being shot in the face, said Davis County Sheriff's Capt. Kenny Payne. Whitewater is located just outside of Grand Junction.
SALT LAKE CITY — Commuters will be able to take FrontRunner to Utah County in the coming weeks. On Saturday, December 8, the Utah Transit Authority will open up its FrontRunner South line, connecting Salt Lake City and Provo. The commuter rail will ease congestion in Utah County through the point of the mountain and into Salt Lake County. With the south line soon to open, commuters could ride the train from Ogden to Provo, reducing transportation costs and traffic. UTA spokesperson Gerry Carpenter said the FrontRunner South will be officially open for regularly scheduled business on December 10, but on the Saturday before, commuters in Utah County can try the train free with a donated can of food at the Provo station. UTA will have their grand opening celebration on Dec. 6.