KCYN-KCPX NEWS ALERT!!!!!

(Moab-Salt Lake City)- Utah’s governor has reached an agreement with the Obama administration that could get Utah’s national parks open again, though many details are still being worked out.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told Governor Gary Herbert the state of Utah will be allowed to use its own money to pay for operations of Utah’s five national parks and another eight national monuments. Governor Herbert said last night....

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The governor has some emergency money he will immediately use for the parks, but if that’s not enough, he’d need legislative approval to dip into the state’s Rainy Day fund.

The national sites specified in the deal include Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Glen Canyon-Lake Powell and Natural Bridges.

Under the terms of the deal, the Interior Department will notify site-specific personnel to return to work as soon as the State of Utah wires the money. Secretary Jewell indicated to the Governor that within 24 hours of receiving wired funds, the national sites could be open and fully operational. At the time of this release, Utah expects parks to begin re-opening later today (Friday) and become fully operational by Saturday.

　

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Utah's gay and lesbian community appears to be heading towards a courtroom showdown with the state over a couple's ability to file joint tax returns. The "Tribune" says Utah's Tax Commission decided this week not to mirror a recent IRS decision that lets homosexual couples file joint tax returns. The commission said yesterday in a statement that "since Utah does not recognize same-sex marriages, same-sex couples may not file a joint state income tax return." The commission's chairman said the decision was based on legal advice it received in accordance with Utah's Constitution which mandates joint tax filings are only allowed for a quote, "husband and wife."

>>Hearing Set For Layton Man Shot By Cops

(Layton, UT) -- A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the case of a man shot by Layton police after he allegedly shot the mother of his children. The "Tribune" says Brian Harris will appear in court November 8th to face charges including assault and obstruction of justice. Police shot Harris shortly after he allegedly shot Kayla Lane in the leg as his two young kids watched. Last summer lawyers for both sides deemed Harris competent to stand trial.

>>Data: Fewer Utahns Chronically Homeless

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Fewer people in Utah are chronically homeless. That's according to new data from the state which says chronic homelessness - defined as any person without a residence for more than a year - fell by nearly ten-percent in 2012. However the report by Utah's housing division found 15-thousand people are still homeless across the state for 26-days on average.

>>Lawsuit Against EPA Alleges Utah's Non-Compliance

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- A newly-filed lawsuit alleges Utah is one of several states which failed to submit plans mandated under the federal Clean Air Act. WildEarth Guardians filed the lawsuit this week against the Environmental Protection Agency for its alleged failure to force Utah and several other states to make known their plans for regulating pollution-causing nitrogen dioxide. The suit contends the states' failure to comply with the EPA has set back the agency's own deadline for how it will regulate those emissions.



>>Abuse Victims Want Abuser's Expected Parole Stopped

(Undated) -- Victims of sexual abuse are making a public plea to keep one of Utah's convicted abusers behind bars. KSL-TV says Michael Doporto has spent 15-years in Utah State Prison for his conviction for raping a child in 1998. The group of female abuse victims spoke before the prison's parole board this week in an attempt to stop Doporto's scheduled parole next month. Doporto - who has battled serious health conditions in prison - read from a statement at the hearing and apologized for his crimes.

>>Utah Cops Meet At Annual Violent Crimes Conference

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Law enforcement officials from around Utah are converging in Salt Lake City to discuss new ideas for investigating violent crimes. About 200 officials are meeting at the annual Utah Violent Crimes Conference to talk about topics like "Robbery one-oh-one" and new technologies for training homicide detectives. One official tells the "Deseret News" that while burglaries and larcenies are a major concern, violent crimes make communities feel most vulnerable.

>>Provo Woman, Boyfriend, Charged In Child's Death

(Provo, UT) -- A Provo woman and her boyfriend are facing criminal charges in connection with the death of her three-month-old child. Brianna Brown and Joshua Harding each face the charge of child abuse homicide. Police say they responded to Brown's residence last year and found Paxton Stokes wasn't breathing. Investigators said the baby's body also had bruises indicating repeated blows and a possible leg fracture that was already healed.

>>Social Media Bullying Investigated At Provo-Area H-S

(Provo, UT) -- Provo police are investigating an apparent case of cyber bullying involving students at a local high school. Officials from Timpview High School are assisting police in looking into a posting on the social media site Instagram that ranked a number of photos of female students. Comments under the photos were often derogatory and made sexual references. The matter was brought to the attention of police after the daughter of Timpview's assistant principal was among the girls ranked.

>>Ogden Man Ignores Stoplight, Killed At Intersection

(Ogden, UT) -- An Ogden man is dead following an accident at an intersection. Police say the driver ignored the stoplight at 31st and Wall yesterday before he drove into the intersection and was tee-boned by a truck. The man was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. His name hasn't been released.