WASHINGTON, D.C. — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday released details of a nearly three-year study probing future shortages in the Colorado River based on demand that will increase over the next 50 years.
The much-anticipated U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Study will explore a whole host of options to counter those projected imbalances, including ambitious new water conservation strategies and Colorado basin diversions to counter shortages.
Salazar, when pressed, did say options like huge diversions to the Colorado Front Range from the Missouri or Mississippi rivers or diverting water from the Snake, Bear or Yellowstone Rivers to boost supplies in the Green River generally won't work.
The study was funded jointly by the bureau and the seven basin states, including Utah. More than 150 proposals to "solve" the shortage problem were received by the bureau, Connors said, and the next step will be to pursue those solutions that are practical
The report was released on the same day a three-day conference by the Colorado River Users Association gets under way in Las Vegas.

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>>Do Ya Feel '12-12-12' Lucky? Well Do Ya?

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Residents around Salt Lake City get a case of 12-12-12 excitement. The "Tribune" says yesterday's rare calendar date was considered by many Utahns as a luckier-than-usual day - from couples who saved December 12th, 2012 for their nuptials to long-married couples looking to renew their vows. The "Tribune" says Salt Lake mom Natalie Whitney delivered her newborn at 12:12 in the afternoon at Saint Mark's Hospital.

>>Bounty Hunter 'Pistol Pete' Catches SLC 'Grinch'

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- A man is under arrest in Salt Lake City for his alleged Grinch-like thefts of Christmas packages from right off people's doorsteps. Authorities say Larry Ray Stairs was apprehended yesterday by a local bounty hunter and arrested on outstanding warrants. Bounty hunter "Pistol" Pete Minenno was led to one of Stairs' Salt Lake-area safe houses yesterday where he kicked down a front door and took the crook into custody. Stairs denies taking the Christmas boxes.

>>Psychologist's Study Finds Tech Saps Creativity

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- A new study seems to show it's not healthy to always have your face buried in your smartphone or iPad. Utah psychology professor David Strayer partnered with researchers at the University of Kansas to look into what happens to people's well-being when they take vacations from the real world. Released today in the online journal of the Public Library of Science the study found 50-percent of people they sent backpacking out in nature without access to a computer or iPhone for at least four-days scored 50-percent better on creative-thinking tests. Strayer said the study found that people's constant bombardment of urban life and technology suppresses problem-solving, decision-making and creativity.

>>Woman Sixth Utah To Win Coveted 'Miss Rodeo'

(Las Vegas, NV) -- The dream of a Roosevelt, Utah woman is finally fulfilled. Chenae Shiner became the sixth Utahn of all-time to be named Miss Rodeo America. Shiner took home the honor during yesterday's National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
>>Topic Of "Gay Mormons" Is Discussed At Forum

(Ogden, UT) -- People in the Salt Lake City area are buzzing about the conflict people who say they are "gay Mormons" face. The topic was discussed last night at a forum the Ogden OUTreach Center held. The issue came up after the LDS Church recently said on its new website that sexuality is not a choice and that gays and lesbians can be devoted Mormons.

>>Salt Lake Police Beefing Up DUI Patrols Over Holiday Season

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Salt Lake City Police are beefing up DUI patrols and enforcement during the holiday season. The goal over the next few weeks is to stop and deter drunk driving. The next enhanced DUI effort will happen Saturday night and additional patrols are also planned for New Year's Eve. A state commission says DUI/alcohol-related deaths increased from 25 to 39 from 2010 to 2011.

>>Utah Makes Number One On "Forbes" Business List

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Once again, Utah is number one on the "Forbes" list of the Best States for Business. It's the third consecutive year it's topped the list. The business magazine said the state has young, energetic workers, with a median age of 29 and one-third of Utah's workforce is bilingual. The state economy has grown more than two-percent a year since 2006.
SALT LAKE CITY – A group of young Utahns who call themselves the Dream Team took over a corner of downtown Salt Lake City’s Main Street Plaza on Wednesday. Their goal was to give sightseers a look at the faces of people who live with the possibility of deportation.
Six years ago Wednesday, 1,300 undocumented workers at the Swift meat-packing plants were detained in raids across the country. 150 of those workers came from the plant in Hyrum.
On Wednesday, a group of young activists chose a place full of families to talk about the impact of immigration policy on families.
The LDS Church owns the Main Street Plaza. They did not formally endorse the vigil, but they did grant a permit for the Salt Lake Dream Team’s event.
(Abby Tapia Audio)
　
　(Moab Utah)-- 2012 was a good year for Moab's tourism economoy...but not as good as some recent years. Grwoth has been healthy, tho,,,most businesses in Moab are sayng. .
According to numbers released by the City of Moab sales tax revenues are up 5.2 percent over last year at this time and 6.8 percent over the budgeted amount.
Statistics from the Moab Area Travel Council also show that through the first three quarters of the year the transient room tax (TRT), is up 12 percent over the same period last year.
Visitation to Arches National Park this year were also up by over two percent.
Two major Hollywood movies’ film crews were based in Moab over the summer. Johnny Depp’s remake of “The Lone Ranger” and Will Smith’s “After Earth” each took up dozens of hotel rooms in Moab for several weeks each, from April to July, Moab’s biggest tourist months.
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