>>Protection Request For Canyonlands Criticized

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- The request to turn more than a million-acres of land around Canyonlands National Park into a monument is meeting some fierce opposition. The Outdoor Industry Association sent a letter to President Obama requesting protection for the area that would be called the Greater Canyonlands National Monument. Utah state representative Mike Notel says the plan won't work and that Utah would be a better manager of the lands. Utah Representative Bob Bishop told the "Tribune" quote, "this is clearly a process that's trying to do an end run around what's good for Utah." A national monument is like a national park, but it doesn't need congressional approval.

>>ACLU Suing School Over Kids Book Promoting Gays

(Farmington, UT) -- The ACLU is suing the Davis School District over its decision to remove a book that depicts a family with same-sex parents. District schools were told last spring to put any copies of "In Our Mother's House" behind library counters. Students also must have a parental permission slip before checking out the book. A group of 25 parents petitioned the district to remove the book which they contend is sensitive material for young children.

>>Local Cities Helping With Tree Removal

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Cities around Utah are helping residents whose properties have fallen trees resulting from last weekend's snowstorm. Trees all across the Wasatch Front were bowed or broken by the heavy snow and are now causing safety hazards. In Salt Lake County, residents can call 385-468-6101 to request help moving downed trees and branches. In Salt Lake City, call the Parks and Public Lands Division at 801-972-7800.
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah – Some parents are hoping the Granite School District will not make elementary band or orchestra classes an after-school program.
“These changes you’re proposing will be of great disservice to students,” says parent Trudi Rouse. Fifth and 6th graders are taught twice a week by music specialists and Rouse believes if those classes become an after-school program, the students will be short-changed.
Granite administrators say the problem is that students are being pulled out of core subjects for 90 minutes of band instruction per week.


SALT LAKE CITY – UTA began tests on the new 6-mile airport TRAX line on Tuesday morning.
The airport line starts out at the Arena Station at 201 West South Temple then heads along North Temple to the Salt Lake City International Airport with six stops along the way.
The train is expected to be on the tracks performing the low-speed tests until noon on Wednesday and Thursday. Faster tests will come in the next few weeks.
UTA expects to have the new airport line up and running starting April 14, 2013.
-0-OREM, Utah — The city of Orem joined Pleasant Grove, American Fork and other cities in Utah County Tuesday night and agreed to lift the ban on Sunday beer sales.
The ban was reminiscent of blue laws aimed at restricting commerce on the Christian Sabbath.
But it was not in keeping with state law, which actually trumps local laws.
No word on when Sunday beer sales in Orem will begin.
　SALT LAKE CITY — An online petition to secede from the United States of America is sparking some interest across the country. People from 40 states have started petitions, including one here in Utah.
Many of the states involved are southern states, with Texas leading the way. That state has gained more than 75,000 of the 25,000 signatures needed to trigger a legal response from Washington, D.C.
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