This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.
Utah
Opinion: What does life in a child care crisis Utah?
Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.
You’ve heard about the child care crisis in Utah. Parents can’t afford child care. Child care workers can’t afford to live on what they make.
I wanted to know what that really looks like when life becomes unworkable.
“We look at daycare differently,” said Ginette Bott, president and CEO of the Utah Food Bank. “These are things that families need to have, have a right to have. The availability is not there, so they’re becoming creative, and I’m seeing the results of that creativity.”
The results of that creativity are frightening.
Home alone
“Some of these families find it easier to buy an inexpensive cell phone, let the kids be on their own and call to check on them because they can’t afford care,” Bott said.
This doesn’t happen just in families with teenagers. Sometimes elementary-age kids are sent home with a cell phone.
“A lot of families we have been seeing are sending kids to the public library after school because it’s warm. It’s safe. It’s supervised,” Bott explained. “The library system called us and said, ‘We have nothing to feed them. We have to feed these kids.”
You could be living in a child care desert. Here’s what that means
So the Utah Food Bank has been working with the Utah library system to provide a dinner meal to these children.
“We serve dinner in 11 public libraries five days a week because these kids have no place to go,” Bott said. “A public library should not be the answer to unaffordable daycare. A family should not have to choose to send a child home alone with an inexpensive phone. These families and children deserve safety and dignity and care and compassion.”
“If these were your children”
If you worked with feeding hungry families all over the state of Utah, you would be forgiven for feeling passionate about this issue.
“You can damn well bet if you were the person making the decisions and those were your children, you’d be looking at this through a whole different lens,” Bott said. “Forgive my passion, but I see these small, incredible little people that we’re serving. Daycare is becoming a frightening reality that so many families don’t have access to and shame on us.”
Not a single Utah county has an adequate number of licensed child care providers.
Only 36% of the state’s needs for child care are met. According to a report from Voices for Utah Children, two out of three families need both parents to work in order to afford housing and other basic needs.
“Let me give you an example,” Bott shared. “Young lady, nurse, makes $32/hour, has three children who have to be in daycare. They quoted her $28/hour. That leaves her $4. She has a job that pays a great wage. If she can’t afford it, those who make a lot less will never be able to afford it.”
Amanda Dickson is the co-host of Utah’s Morning News and A Woman’s View on KSL NewsRadio. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Utah
Large police presence responds to the area of Crestwood Drive in South Ogden
SOUTH OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — There is a heavy police presence in the area of Harrison Blvd in South Ogden. ABC4 is working to learn more.
While police have not confirmed any information, ABC4 has acquired footage from a bystander that shows law enforcement detaining one individual. The individual can be seen handcuffed and without a shirt.
Several residents have also reported seeing over a dozen police vehicles heading to the area and reported hearing gunshots on social media.
Courtesy: Kade Garner // KTVX
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, including Davis County SWAT, Weber County Sheriff’s Department, and Morgan County Sheriff’s Department. Officers from Riverton Police Department, Roy Police Department, Clinton Police Department, and Layton police Department all responded to the scene.
Law enforcement also used several drones and several armored vehicles responded to the scene. Additionally, it appears at least one person was transported from the scene by ambulance
Courtesy: Randy Ferrin
At this time, law enforcement has not confirmed any details regarding this incident. However, they appeared to have cleared from the scene.
Utah
Penalties to be enforced if Trump’s face covered on national park passes, reports say
SALT LAKE CITY — Those using a new national park pass who want to enjoy Utah’s “Mighty Five” better do so with President Donald Trump’s face perfectly intact, or you might pay a literal price.
The new annual park passes, which debuted on Jan. 1, feature Trump’s image alongside that of George Washington. At the same time as the release, the Department of the Interior reportedly updated its rules to ensure Trump’s face remains free and clear.
According to the Washington Post, the updated “Void if Altered” policy prohibits anyone from defacing the pass or covering up any images or information on the cards. Visitors found by rangers to have altered a pass by any means will be ordered to return it to its original condition or possibly be charged a regular entrance fee.
SFGate reported the policy originally prohibited any alteration of the signature portion of the pass, with the updated policy including the front of the card, with a warning that “writing on it or adding stickers or other coverings” is no longer allowed.
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Many believe the updated policy is in direct response to the large pushback over the inclusion of Trump, leaving people to share creative ways to hide the president’s image from passes, including stickers and sleeves.
Along with the suggestions on how to hide Trump’s image, a nonprofit environmental group has filed a lawsuit claiming its design did not comply with legislation that requires public participation in the selection.
Utah
Two killed, six wounded in shooting outside Mormon church in Utah
Two people were killed, and at least six were wounded when gunfire erupted outside a funeral at a Mormon church in Utah on Wednesday night, according to authorities and reports.
Eight people were hit by gunfire when shots rang out outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Redwood Road in Salt Lake City around 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Police Department spokesperson Glen Mills told the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Two people were killed, and six people were injured in the shooting that occurred outside in the church’s parking lot as dozens were attending a funeral service inside.
Of the six wounded, three individuals are in critical condition, the Salt Lake City Police Department posted on X. All of the victims were adults.
There were no suspects in custody as of late Wednesday night, and it is not immediately clear if there were multiple gunmen involved. A motive was also unknown.
However, police said they have obtained solid leads in the investigation and are working to locate individuals involved in the shooting.
“We believe this was not a random incident,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd told reporters.
The shooting was not believed to be targeting a religion, Redd clarified.
Roughly 100 law enforcement vehicles swarmed the area in the aftermath of the gunfire as helicopters flew overhead.
The area around the Mormon church remained closed into the evening as authorities urged the public to stay clear of the still active scene.
“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall.
The Salt Lake City Police Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
The incident remains under investigation.
With Post wires.
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