Washington • The House on Wednesday protected the National Security Agency’s ability to broadly collect phone data in the first vote on the covert program revealed earlier this year by Edward Snowden, a former security contractor and now a fugitive.

By a vote of 217-205, the House defeated an amendment offered by Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., that would have prohibited the use of the Patriot Act to gather information on people not suspected of a crime.

His plan split the political parties and divided Utah’s delegation. The state’s Republican Reps. Rob Bishop, Jason Chaffetz and Chris Stewart voted to end the program even though a majority of Republicans, 134 of them, voted to keep it.

Rep. Jim Matheson, a Democrat, voted to keep the program, even though a majority of Democrats, 111, went the other way.

Washington • Utah senators found themselves on opposite sides of a deal on student loans that the Senate approved Wednesday.Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, supported the plan linking the rate on federal loans to the financial markets and reversing an automatic doubling of the rate, from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, that went into effect July 1 after Congress failed to act on an expiring law.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, was the only Republican to oppose the bill but for a different reason than the 17 Democrats who fought for a lower rate.Lee argues that the compromise just papers over the cracks in a fundamentally broken system."We should be working to create a higher education system that doesn’t force students tens of thousands of dollars into debt in the first place, rather than fighting over $7 a month," Lee said in a statement. The Senate legislation, he said, "doesn’t come close to solving any problems."

　

(Moab Utah)- The Times Independent today reports the Grand County School District will hold a public hearing August 14th to present a proposed protery tax increase to increase needed revenue. The hearing will be at 6pm at the Distric Office on 4th east. Full details in today's TI.

　

>>Two Women Charged With Neglecting Disabled Kids

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Charges of neglect are filed against two women in Salt Lake City accused of leaving their disabled children unattended at home. Mary Gutierrez and Bobbi Jo Schantz both allegedly told police they haven't left their kids at home more than five-times. Neighbors who heard the children crying were the first to alert authorities.

>>Scouts, Rockwell Honored

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- An exhibit celebrating Scouting and Norman Rockwell is coming to Salt Lake City. The LDS Church's History Museum is honoring the famous illustrator with a Scout-themed exhibit. The event is also to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the church's relationship with the Boy Scouts of America. The exhibit will be open through December 31st.
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>>Mom Charged With Locking Son In Bedroom

(Sandy, UT) -- A Sandy mother is facing felony charges for locking her son in a bedroom. Sim Gill, Salt Lake County district attorney, says Bobbi Schantz [[ SHONTZ ]] told police she has no one to watch her son while she's at work.

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Neighbors contacted police after they heard the four-year-old screaming and crying. Authorities say Schantz did this five times between April 1st and June 25th. She's been charged with abuse and neglect.


>>Arrest In Maverik Shooting

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- A man's in custody in connection with a deadly shooting outside a convenience store. Detective Cody Lougy [[ LAUW-gee ]] says Vilisoni Angilau [[ VILL-uh-sone-ee ANGLE-ow ]] was arrested last night. Nineteen-year-old Sione Fakatoufifita [[ SEE-own FOCK-uh-toe-fif-eetuh ]] was killed April 13th. Authorities say he and Angilau were rival gang members. Angilau and others allegedly chased Fakatoufifita before shooting him.

>>High Speed Kidnap Chase

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Investigators are trying to figure out how a woman wound up kidnapped from a Park City parking lot. The unidentified victim told police that yesterday, a man and woman forced her into their vehicle at a McDonald's. She escaped shortly after. The alleged kidnappers led authorities on a chase that ended in a three-car pileup on Interstate 80. The suspects are in custody.

>>Cricket Protein Energy Bars

(Undated) -- A Salt Lake City-based energy bar maker is turning to crickets as a source of nutrients. According to CNN Money, the makers of Chapul Bars use cricket flour to give their bars a boost of protein. Chapul's founder Patrick Crowley says the six-legged critters are a "rich source of edible protein" that is more environmentally friendly than protein