Utah
Utah leaders react to the death of former President Jimmy Carter
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah leaders responded to the death of former President Jimmy Carter with praise for the 100-year-old’s long-standing commitment to a service-oriented life.
According to a statement from The Carter Center, President Carter died on Sunday surrounde–d by family. He had entered hospice care more than a year ago, according to the Associated Press.
“A life well lived”
In a Facebook tribute, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson offered thanks for Carter’s “service to our country.” She added her gratitude “for his service to humanity.”
Former President Carter was elected to the U.S. presidency in 1977. He also served the people of Georgia as a state senator, and later, as the state’s governor.
“Deeply devoted to his country”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox praised President Carter’s devotion to “humanitarian efforts around the globe,” in a post on X.
Jimmy Carter lived a life of service, integrity and faith. As a man deeply devoted to his country and to humanitarian efforts around the globe, he leaves a legacy that transcends politics. Our prayers are with his family and all who mourn his passing. pic.twitter.com/1rPfnjYXJe
— Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) December 29, 2024
Carter volunteered for more than 30 years at housing nonprofit Habitat for Humanity. The organization helps provide housing for low- and moderate-income households across the United States and in “more than 70 countries around the world,” according to its website.
On Sunday night, Gov. Cox ordered state flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days to recognize Carter’s death. Cox welcomed private citizens and businesses to participate in the recognition.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released a statement following the passing of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter:
“Leading by example”
Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remembered the former president as a “dedicated public servant,” and offered comfort to the Carter family.
We express our deepest sympathy to the family of President Jimmy Carter and join with others in honoring his legacy of service to his country. President Carter embraced the Savior’s admonition to “love thy neighbor,” leading by example in many humanitarian causes and promoting peace worldwide. He will be remembered as a dedicated public servant and devoted man of faith. We pray that the Carter family may feel comfort and peace as they reflect on President Carter’s remarkable life.
“Testament to integrity, humility”
In a statement, the Utah House Democratic Caucus described an event they held in 2024. It honored President Carter and First Lady Rosalyn Carter’s “incredible legacy.”
Earlier this year, to honor President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s incredible legacy, Utah State leaders joined Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity for a special tribute to the Carter’s work with Habitat for Humanity. Utah Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla … alongside Habitat CEO Ed Blake, unveiled “Opening Doors.” The installation began as two plain white doors, symbolizing the Carters’ efforts to open doors to brighter futures for thousands of low-income families.
“A champion of human rights”
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes also noted the former president’s humanitarian work “with global charities, his church, and local community” in a post on X.
AG @SeanReyesUT and our entire AG office convey sincere condolences to the family of President Jimmy Carter, recognizing the service he rendered to our nation before, during and after he served as America’s 39th President.
From his time in the U.S. Armed Forces, his work with… https://t.co/wGjJkRS0jM
— Utah Attorney General (@UtahAG) December 29, 2024
“Unwavering dedication to peace”
After he lost the presidency to Ronald Reagan in 1979, former President Carter created The Carter Center. According to the Associated Press, Carter didn’t want the center to be a library or museum. Rather, he wanted to build “a place where we could work.” The AP defined The Carter Center’s work as that of ” international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights.”
It was that work of Carter’s that Rep. John Curtis noted in his tribute to the former president on X.
President Jimmy Carter was a man of faith and had an unwavering dedication to peace. A copy of the Jerusalem Post from the day the Camp David Accords was signed hangs in my office. It serves as a reminder of the possibility of peace, the importance of building alliances, and the… https://t.co/cKXUMgqdjN
— Rep. John Curtis (@RepJohnCurtis) December 29, 2024
“Making the American Dream available to all”
Utah Democratic Party Chair Diane Lewis used the former president’s own words to honor former President Jimmy Carter.
“President Jimmy Carter said, ‘The test of a government is not how popular it is with the powerful and privileged few, but how honestly and fairly it deals with the many who must depend upon it.’ As Democrats, we share President Carter’s commitment to making the American Dream available to all, regardless of the circumstances of birth. May we learn from President Carter’s example as we work towards a government that works for all Americans.”
SANTAQUIN — A mother is accused of leaving her young child in a hot car in 2019, resulting in the toddler’s death.
Amy Kay Bethers, 29, was charged Thursday in 4th District Court with child abuse homicide, a first-degree felony.
On Aug. 13, 2019, about 5:45 p.m., Bethers brought her 6-month-old son – identified in court documents only as W.T. – to Mountain View Hospital. An obituary identifies the toddler as Wade Ron Taylor.
The boy’s “jaw was locked tight in the onset of rigor mortis, he was warm to the touch, he had sloughing of the skin on his scalp, face, ear and chest, his skin was discolored and mottled, and (his) eyes were open with dryness over the cornea and fixated pupils,” according to charging documents. The toddler’s body temperature was recorded at 109.8 degrees Fahrenheit and he was pronounced deceased about 6:15 p.m.
Doctors “believed that W.T.’s death was probably related to being in a hot environment for too long,” the charges state.
Bethers told police she was driving with her child to a storage unit in Santaquin “when she noticed W.T. was not as ‘wiggly and chattery’ as usual, so she ‘rolled down the windows some more’ and turned around to go home,” according to the charges.
Bethers told police she noticed he was “getting discolored” and his lips turning purple, “and he started ‘getting stiff’ and drooling,” the charges state.
She told investigators that she had been driving for two to three hours and her vehicle did not have air conditioning. Temperatures that day reached about 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
W.T.’s “immediate cause of death was hyperthermia,” but the manner “‘could not be determined’ because her findings from the autopsy were not consistent with Bether’s accounting of events,” according to the charges.
A doctor later concluded “that under conditions where both windows were up and the vehicle was traveling 25 mph, W.T.’s temperature could reach 109.8 degrees in 50-70 minutes; under conditions where both windows were up and the vehicle was traveling 45 mph, W.T.’s temperature could reach 109.8 degrees in 70-150 minutes; under conditions where both windows were up and the vehicle was traveling 65 mph, there would be little to no change in W.T.’s temperature during anytime of the day. (The doctor) concluded that under conditions where the vehicle was parked in the sun and both windows were closed, W.T.’s temperature could reach 109.8 degrees in 40-50 minutes; under conditions where the vehicle was parked in the shade and both windows were closed, there would be no change in W.T.’s temperature,” the charges state.
Court documents do not explain why it took several years to follow up on the charges.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Public Safety is urging people to make sure items are safely secured to vehicles while traveling on Utah roads. Saturday marks the 10th annual National Secure Your Load Day, and DPS is using the occasion to remind motorists that securing cargo isn’t just the law — it saves lives.
So far this year, there have been over 130 debris-related crashes in Utah, which are dangerous for other drivers and troopers who have to retrieve that debris.
“Statewide, on average about 70 times a day, highway patrol gets called to respond to debris in the roadways, so that adds up to over 25,000 times per year that we’re having to respond to get items pulled out of the roadway that people have not secured,” said UHP Lt. Zach Randall.
Unsecured loads are a persistent hazard on Utah’s roads, contributing to more than 700 preventable crashes and traffic disruptions each year. While incidents have dropped 12% over the past five years, DPS said the risk remains high and urges drivers to take “full responsibility for their cargo” before hitting the road.
Over the last five years, 17 fatalities have been caused by debris-related crashes.
Debris hazards can also cause serious injuries or deaths when striking vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians, with DPS noting that such obstacles are often difficult to avoid safely, leading to sudden braking, swerving, and collisions.
Clearing debris can also slow traffic to a crawl. Interstate traffic is often halted entirely so crews can remove dangerous items from the roadway, adding delays and frustration for drivers.
Utah law carries fines between $200-1,000 for unsecured loads, and in severe cases, offenders can face penalties up to a Class A misdemeanor. Officials emphasize that a few minutes spent checking and securing cargo can prevent tragedy — and costly legal consequences.
Randall explained how it is important to use bungee cables, racket straps and rope to secure items to your car.
“We have a blanket that you could wrap over and then a bungee or tie-down strap over top of that,” he said. “So with some loose items like wood, we tied them together so they’re not bouncing around the truck, being able to bounce out. You can use something like a plastic wrap or a cellophane wrap to tie those together so that they’re in one unit.”
DRIVEN TO CHANGE
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Utah
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(Jose Luis Magana | AP) The University of Utah’s Lance Holtzclaw testifies before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
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