INTERRUPTION, SET FOR TODAY, NORTH OF ST. GEORGE BECAUSE OF
PERMITS, AND THOSE AFFECTED WILL BE NOTIFIED.
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A SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK THAT WENT OUT OF CONTROL ON I-15 WHILE
TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND NEAR NEW HARMONY STRUCK A PASSENGER
CAR INJURING FOUR. THE UTAH HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS THE DRIVER OF
THE SEMI WAS A STUDENT DRIVER. HIS INSTRUCTOR WAS ASLEEP AT THE
TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. TROOPERS SAY SPEED IS SUSPECTED IN THE
ACCIDENT. DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT WAS HIT WAS FLOWN TO
INTERMOUNTAIN MEDICAL CENTER IN MURRAY WITH BROKEN BONES.
THE OTHER THREE IN THE CAR SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.
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A LAS VEGAS COUPLE WERE FOUND SAFE BY SEARCH AND RESCUE
CREWS AFTER GETTING LOST IN HEAVY SNOW NEAR BRIAN HEAD SKI
RESORT. THE SNOWMOBILERS LEFT THE MAIN PATH, DOWN INTO A
CANYON AND GOT STUCK SEVEN MILES WEST OF THE RESORT. THEY
WERE ABLE TO WALK UPHILL SOME TWO-MILES WHERE THEY WERE
FOUND BY RESCUERS. NEITHER SUFFERED INJURIES.
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A UTAH STATE SENATE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD
REQUIRE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PROVIDE A LETTER
STATING THAT A MEDICAL PROCEDURE IS COVERED IF IT’S PRE-
AUTHORIZED TO ANY PLAN MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING WHO ASKS FOR
IT. THE BILL ADDS 14-LINES TO THE STTE INSURANCE CODE AND
SPECIFIES THAT THE STATEMENT WOULD NOT BE A GUARANTEE OF
PAYMENT BY THE INSURER. THE BILL’S SPONSOR SAYS THE WRITTEN
STATEMENT WOULD INCREASE TRANSPARENCY OF AN ADMINISTRAVELY
MURKY AREA FOR CONSUMERS, PROVIDERS AND INSURERS. HOWEVER, A
SPOKESMAN FOR THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY SAYS THE BILL WOULD DO
THE EXACT OPPOSITE. HE SAYS THE PROPOSED ADDS A “RING OF OUTER
DARKNESS” TO THE ALREADY OVERCOMPLICATED BILLING PROCESS.
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UTAH’S CONSERVATIVE SOUTHERLAND INSSITUTE CALLS A PROPOSAL,
PUT FORWARD BY UTAHNS FOR ETHICAL GOVERNMENT “DANGEROUS”
AND IS ASKING LAWMAKERS TO STREAMLINE THE NAME-REMOVAL
PROCESS FOR THOSE WHO SIGNED THE GROUP’S PETITION BUT NOW HAVE
CHANGED THEIR MIND. CURRENT LAW REQUIRES PETITION SIGNERS TO
SUBMIT NOTARIZED STATEMENTS TO THEIR COUNTY CLERKS TO GET
THEIR NAMES OFF A PETITION. A PROPOSAL FROM STATE SENATOR
HOWARD STEPHENSON WOULD SKIP THE NOTARY AND PROVIDE SIMPLER
WAYS TO REMOVE YOUR NAME FROM A PPETITION. UTAHNS FOR
ETHICAL GOVERNMENT HAVE UNTIL APRIL 15TH TO GATHER 95-
THOUSAND SIGNATURES IN ORDER TO PLACE THEIR ETHICS REFORM
PROPOSAL ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
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THOUSANDS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES RALLIED AT THE
STATE CAPITOL OVER THE WEEKEND URGING LAWMAKERS NOT TO
APPROVE A MASSIVE RESTRUCTURING OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS. THE
SPONSOR OF THE MEASURES SAYS THEY’RE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO
PREVENT A CATASTROPHE. PROTESTORS ARE ASKING LEGISLATORS TO
SLOW DOWN AND STUDY THE ISSUES BEFORE VOTING. ONE PROPOSAL,
SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR DAN LILJENQUIST, WOULD CUT PENSION
SYSTEM BENEFITS FOR NEW EMPLOYEES AND DO AWAY WITH THE
EXISTING 1.5% 401-K MATCHING FUNDS. THE LEGISLATOR SAYS HIS
PROPOSALS WOULD ENSURE THE LONGEVITY OF A RETIREMENT SYSTEM
FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. HE SAYS WAGES WOULD NEED TO INCREASE IN
ORDER TO MAKE UP FOR THE CUT IN BENEFITS.
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