SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced Wednesday plans to create a state Office of Outdoor Recreation in an effort to manage one of Utah's most treasured assets. The announcement came on the opening day of the Outdoor Retailer Convention at the Salt Palace in downtown Salt Lake City. Last summer, the Outdoor Industry Association, which hosts the show, urged the state to take a major stand to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. The new plan is laid out in a small 59 page booklet. It outlines the importance of the outdoor recreation industry in Utah, a huge economic force in Utah. The industry $6 billion every year and keeping 65,000 people employed. The governor said the vision document is not a "be-all, end-all," but more of a work in progress. There are many issues in the state regarding public lands that are, at times, contentious, but the plan at least gives a direction on how to address those concerns.

　

>>Logan Man Tasered By Police Dies

(Logan, UT) -- A Logan man is dead after twice being Tasered by police. Logan police said in a statement yesterday that a 49-year-old man was Tasered after officers saw him acting erratically and reaching for a gun on January 17th. He was shot at a second time inside the hospital where he was receiving treatment after police were told he'd gotten into a fight with hospital security. The Weber County Attorney's Office has taken over the investigation.

>>Utah Teacher Preparation Earns D

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- A new report says Utah has room to improve when it comes to preparing its school teachers. The National Council on Teacher Quality gives Utah a D in its study into how states prepare teachers to do their jobs. The think-tank found all states need to raise the admission standards for teacher preparation programs, raise standards for licensing and states need to demand more teacher accountability. Four states were best with a B-minus. Nationally, the average grade was a D-plus.

>>L-D-S Church Announces Layoffs

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- An unspecified number of employees from the L-D-S Church are losing their jobs. The "Deseret News" says the church's staff cutbacks are actually a planned reduction in force. The layoffs include up to eight-percent of L-D-S's publishing and information communication departments.

>>Poll Finds Utah OK Giving Teachers Guns

(Salty Lake City, UT) -- A majority of Utahns say school teachers should be allowed to carry guns in class. According to a new poll by Jones and Associates six out of ten Utah residents believe it's OK to let teachers carry a gun. The survey also found more than half of Utah residents are against tighter gun-control laws in the wake of the Connecticut elementary school shootings.

>>Chinese Lanterns Could Be Snuffed Out

(Bountiful, UT) -- Chinese lanterns could soon be illegal in Utah. The state's Fire Marshal says he wants the law to be very clear about how dangerous paper Chinese lanterns can be. Organizers from a Salt Lake City Chinese New Year celebration say they understand the lanterns can be a fire hazard.

>>Group Wants Investigation Into Utah AG

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- An advocacy group is calling for the Utah State bar to investigate state Attorney General John Swallow on potential misconduct charges. The Alliance for a Better Utah says Swallow needs to be investigated on whether or not he violated professional conduct rules in his dealings with indicted businessman Jeremy Johnson. Johnson has claimed the Utah AG helped put together a deal to bribe Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in an effort to stop a FTC investigation into Johnson's company. Swallow has denied those allegations.


>>Timpanogos Cave May Allow Online Reservations

(American Fork, UT) -- Folks may soon be able to make online reservations for summer cave tours at Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Monument officials are asking the public to comment on a proposal that would have Timpanogos join the National Recreation Reservation System, which would allow online reservations for cave tours for an additional service fee. Officials say they are looking into the system due to large demand for cave tours during summer weekends and holidays. Park rangers currently sell advance tickets over the phone but officials say staff members have been overwhelmed by the demand.


>>Physicians Declare Air Public Emergency

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- More than 100 Utah doctors are asking the governor to take action on the state's air quality, which they say has become a public emergency. Dr. Kurtly Jones of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment said in a press conference yesterday that the problem has become acute.
State air quality officials say 50-percent of Utah's pollution comes from drivers.

>>Congressman Wants To Ban Mature Video Game Sales To Children

(Washington, DC) -- Utah Congressman Jim Matheson is trying to keep "mature" video games out of the hands of children. He is pushing a bill that would restrict sale of adult video games.
Matheson says stores would have to check the ID for people trying to buy video games rated Mature or Adult-Only. The games are already rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board based on violence, drug use, sexual content and other factors. Under Matheson's bill, those ages 17 and up would be able to buy the Mature video games and those 18 and older could purchase the Adults-Only games. Matheson says some parents like his recommendation while some people in the video gaming industry are concerned about the limits.