MOAB — A lay midwife accused of attempting to help a woman, in Moab with a high-risk pregnancy deliver her baby at her house, resulting in the newborn dying and the mother nearly bleeding to death, was charged Tuesday, here, with negligent homicide. Valerie ElHalta, 71, was charged in Grand County's 7th District Court with unlawful conduct, a third-degree felony; and negligent homicide and reckless endangerment, both class A misdemeanors. In August 2012, ElHalta, who now lives in Eagle Mountain, attempted to assist a 31-year-old woman in delivering a baby at her Moab home. The pregnant woman had previously had three cesarean section deliveries, making an attempted birth at home high-risk, according to charging documents. In addition, prosecutors say ElHalta administered prescription drugs to the mother during the birth, even though she was unlicensed at the time and her midwife certification was revoked years earlier by the North American Registry of Midwives Board. When contacted at her home Wednesday by rporters, , ElHalta said she was unaware of the charges. "I'm totally in shock," she said. "I didn't hurt the baby. I just delivered it." The infant died Aug. 25th at Primary Childrens medical Center from lack of oxygen to the brain. "The high-risk delivery should not have been attempted at home," the charges state.

After the infant was taken to Moab Regional, the mother complained of feeling very hot. She soon began bleeding very heavily, according to court records. ElHalta again administered prescription medication and attempted to suture the mother, though she was not certified to do either, according to prosecutors. When the mother was taken to the hospital, ElHalta did not accompany her, and doctors did not know what drugs she had been given and had no information on the recent delivery, according to the charges. The court issued a summons for ElHalta to make an initial appearance in court on July 9.

>>Climbing Routes Reopened

(Undated) -- Some Arches National Park climbing routes are open again. Biologists were trying to find out whether raptors were nesting or bighorn sheep were lambing [[ LAMMING ]]. Industrial Disease in the Devils Garden and Tonka Tower are open. The feature just north of Tonka Tower is also okay to use

(Casatle Valley Utah)- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Wednesday, announced funding for 15 businesses in 10 states to create or retain jobs and expand economic activity. Vilsak says USDA Rural Development’s Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan program plays a major role in helping qualified firms and organizations in rural areas gain access to the capital they need to start or expand their enterprises. .

USDA selected Castle Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast to receive a $600,000 loan guarantee to acquire and stabilize the establishment, providing a positive economic impact and tax base to the community near Moab, Utah. This project will save and create four jobs for this locally owned and managed business.


>>Republicans Will Launch Investigation Of AG Swallow

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- State House Republicans are going to investigate Attorney General John Swallow, who's accused of campaign violations. Depending on what they discover, lawmakers could try to impeach him.

{SLCrepkenivory1_1} Q...have to go. 000:10

That's state Representative Ken Ivory at a caucus meeting yesterday, where GOP House members voted to form an investigative committee. Swallow's been a controversial figure since he started office in January. The first accusation came when a businessman accused Swallow of planning a bribe with federal lawmakers. Liberal and conservative groups have demanded Swallow resign.


>>Springdale Officials Charges Dismissed

(St. George, UT) -- No charges against two Springdale officials accused of mismanaging cash fines. That was the word from a judge yesterday. Town manager Richard Wixom and police chief Kurt Wright had been accused of sending cash bail to the town instead of the Hurricane Justice Court. The judge said the state hadn't met its burden of proof.

>>Boys Recovering After Near Drowning

(West Jordan, UT) -- Two young boys are recovering after yesterday's near-drowning. Authorities say one nearly drowned in a community pool at 93rd South and Redwood Road. The other child almost lost his life in a home pool. Officials remind you not to take your eyes off children in a pool, and be vigilant about maintaining barriers like pool fences.

>>Lehi Homeowners Told Not To Use Drinking Water On Lawns

(Lehi, UT) -- People in Lehi are being asked to stop using in-home drinking water and spigots attached to their homes to water lawns, driveways and gardens. Lehi is facing an emergency shortage of this "culinary" water.
City workers have been going door-to-door asking people to stop using culinary water for restricted reasons like lawn watering. Another issue is a shortage of secondary water, which is also called pressured irrigation. Consecutive dry summer and winter months have caused the water shortage. Lehi's only getting 30-percent of its assigned water supply.

>>Mayor Becker Vetoes Tax Hike

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has vetoed an eight-million-dollar property tax hike the City Council just approved. The Council yesterday approved the tax increase as part of next fiscal year's budget, but Becker said today in a statement it's not "the appropriate time to increase the tax burden on the community." Five council votes could override the mayor's veto and the council will meet Friday to consider such a move.


(Moab)- The Moab Times Indpendent this morning reports that the Grand County School Board's proposed budget for the next school year includesand increase in the Captial Levy Tax. School officials say the money would be used to create a capital improvement fund that could be used for renovations or rebuilding Grand County Middle School. The board put off immediate plans for the middle school until money can be generated for the project. The proposed ncrease would raise taxes on a 200-thusand dollar home by just over 17 dollars a year. One a million dollar business, the impact would be a 156 dollar increase.