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Stop driving on Great Salt Lake’s exposed lakebed, Utah agency says

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Stop driving on Great Salt Lake’s exposed lakebed, Utah agency says


Tire tracks from a car illegally driving on uncovered Nice Salt Lake lakebed. Utah land managers say they’re seeing an increase in unlawful driving on the lakebed. (Utah Division of Forestry, Hearth and State Lands)

Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — The shrinking Nice Salt Lake has generated newly uncovered lakebed because it continues to drop right down to record-low ranges.

It has fallen to an elevation of 4,189.4 toes, as of Aug. 25, in accordance with the Utah Division of Water Assets. That is practically a foot beneath the earlier file low set final yr. Each foot it falls has the potential to reveal just a few sq. miles of beforehand lined lakebed, Utah Division of Forestry, Hearth and State Lands consultants defined earlier this yr.

But the Nice Salt Lake continues to be a preferred draw regardless of its decline, and state land managers say it is leading to an uptick in unlawful driving on the uncovered lakebed, which is inflicting “severe issues.”

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“Driving on the lakebed would not simply disturb the fragile crust, nevertheless it additionally has severe implications for wildlife, air high quality and the delicate (Nice Salt Lake) ecosystem,” stated Ben Stireman, the sovereign lands program administrator for the Utah Division of Forestry, Hearth and State Lands, in an announcement Thursday.

It’s unlawful to drive on uncovered lakebed or navigable rivers in Utah with out written permission. Each are thought-about lands owned by the state, which implies Utah manages legal guidelines for land areas.

The Utah Legislature tweaked the regulation earlier this yr, clarifying that primarily each car with a motor is banned by uncovered lakebed or navigable rivers, together with off-highway autos. Violation of the regulation is a category B misdemeanor and might go away somebody chargeable for civil damages, in accordance with division officers.

This additionally applies to different widespread recreation areas like:

  • Utah Lake
  • Jordan River
  • Moab Trade Lands
  • The Utah portion of Bear Lake
  • Parts of the Bear, Colorado and Inexperienced rivers

However the regulation tweak was particularly made this yr with the Nice Salt Lake in thoughts. The mud from the Nice Salt Lake accommodates poisonous heavy metals that may be blown into communities close to the lake, inflicting extreme air high quality issues. Driving on the uncovered lakebed can disturb the lakebed’s pure salt pan that will in any other case entice the poisonous mud within the floor.

“This was designed to be sure that the more and more uncovered lakebed would not get damaged up,” stated Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek, the invoice’s sponsor, in an interview again in April. “If you happen to break that crust, then the underlying mud is extra simply airborne. … It is a severe air high quality subject, probably.”

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State land managers add there’s additionally a threat for autos to be caught in comfortable mud, leading to a “tough” car restoration that does ever extra lakebed injury. That is why they’re reminding guests that they can not drive on the uncovered lakebed.

The state regulation would not apply to land throughout the boundaries of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Tooele County, which is operated by the Bureau of Land Administration. The bureau usually permits motor recreation with some seasonal closures, particularly when the salt is moist within the spring.

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Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter who covers normal information, open air, historical past and sports activities for KSL.com. He beforehand labored for the Deseret Information. He’s a Utah transplant by the best way of Rochester, New York.

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Utah

Crash between semi truck, RV, and boat leaves 1 in critical condition

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Crash between semi truck, RV, and boat leaves 1 in critical condition


WASATCH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — Three people were injured in a crash on US-40 on Sunday afternoon, with one person being flown to the hospital, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Officials with UHP told ABC4.com that a semi truck with an empty tanker was traveling eastbound on US-40 when it got hit by an RV that was turning to go westbound on the same road.

UHP officials said the RV was towing a boat at the time of the crash.

The incident happened near Strawberry Reservoir in Wasatch County, and officials said both the driver of the semi truck and the driver of the RV suffered minor injuries, but neither was taken to the hospital.

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The passenger in the RV was flown to the hospital in critical condition, according to UHP.

According to the Utah Department of Transportation, the crash occurred near milepost 40, about 19 miles south of Heber City.

UDOT said the crash happened just before 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, and drivers were advised to seek alternate routes while the roads were closed. UDOT said motorists should expect major delays in the area.

The incident was expected to be cleared by 4:30 p.m., according to UDOT. However, UHP told ABC4.com that traffic in the area was alternating and that the road was not closed.

There is no further information at this time.

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Gordon Monson: Utah State AD Jerry Bovee shares his side of football firings story

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Gordon Monson: Utah State AD Jerry Bovee shares his side of football firings story


There are multiple sides to most stories and Jerry Bovee wants his side told after Utah State dismissed him as the school’s deputy athletic director.

Here is that telling.

First, the setup: USU president Elizabeth Cantwell and athletic director Diana Sabau this past week gave Bovee notice that he and Utah State football coach Blake Anderson were being fired. The reason, according to a statement from the school’s top administrators, was that there had been an unacceptable rupture in a required reporting process for sexual misconduct, including domestic violence, inside Anderson’s football program.

In Bovee’s case, USU said in a news release, there had been “violations of university policies related to the reporting of sexual and domestic violence” and “failures of professional responsibilities.”

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Au contraire, said Bovee.

I wrote a column criticizing Anderson for his shortcomings in this regard, past and present, and congratulated Cantwell and Sabau for knocking down walls that often are put up by coaches and administrators to protect their programs and themselves.

Bovee subsequently told me he did report information he received from Anderson within 24 hours of hearing about it, as is required according to school policy, to an appropriate USU official.

“I reported it through the vice president of student affairs to the Equity Office,” he said. “That’s ingrained in our heads … we take that seriously.”

Two other individuals at the school reported alongside Bovee, he said. “All three of our names are on the report.”

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Bovee said he couldn’t speak to Anderson’s actions in this case or others.

For the university’s part, it said it would have no additional comment until further notice.

The incident at hand centered on a football player at Utah State who Bovee said was involved in an “incident” with a woman in April, 2023. Said athlete shortly thereafter transferred to another school. Because Bovee is filing a grievance against Utah State for his termination, he did not share specifics of what precisely took place, other than to say there were no charges filed in the case.

The deputy AD, who at the time of that incident and report was the school’s interim athletic director, said he is confused by the decision reached by Cantwell and Sabau to fire him on these grounds. Asked why Cantwell and Sabau would fire him if he had followed proper channels in the case, he said he could only guess. And he preferred not to. Again, Bovee wouldn’t speak to or for Anderson or the coach’s situation, but he reiterated that he reported what he knew when he knew it, promptly and properly.

“My reputation and my name, I’m going to fight for that,” he said. “… It’s hurtful that my name is associated with this. I’ve been doing [sports leadership] for 32 years, this is at the top of my list, the importance of getting [such issues] right regarding women.”

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Bovee said he’s gone to great lengths to educate personnel and players at Utah State regarding issues of sexual misconduct, how to report it, how to eradicate it, how to — due to past history — make Utah State a “safe school.”

He added that it’s not his intention to do harm to USU, the school that is his alma mater: “I have a great love for Utah State. I have confidence in the grievance process,” and that the school upon further review “will get this right.”

Bovee and his attorney issued this statement to The Salt Lake Tribune:

“Jerry Bovee, recently terminated by Utah State University, is vigorously defending his reputation as a loyal Aggies alum and stellar Associate Vice President and Deputy Athletics Director. With decades of athletic leadership under his belt, Bovee is a firm supporter and defender of Title IX civil rights law. In his tenured career, he has never incurred disciplinary action or accusations of misconduct of any kind.

“Bovee, who was blind-sighted by this decision, understands he was terminated based on an inconclusive and untimely review of an incident that took place more than a year ago in April of 2023, while he was Interim Athletic Director. Contrary to what has been represented, Bovee and two other USU employees did in fact report the incident to the USU Office of Equity. Even so, the external review did not commence until the fall of 2023. And not until July 2, 2024, some eight months later, was Bovee summarily terminated, without an opportunity to respond to the results of the review.

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“He fully intends to file a grievance pursuant to USU policy within 30 days of termination. Bovee has no ill will against USU, an institution that he loves. He trusts the University will consider in good faith all the circumstances specific to actions taken by Bovee in considering his grievance and will also refrain from further comment while his grievance is pending.”

Bovee’s side of the story includes this comment, though: “This is the most painful week I’ve had in my career. I’m hopeful I’ll get fair treatment. To say there’s been a lot of tears shed in the Bovee home this week is understating it.”



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Former Utah Gymnastics All-American loses home in Fourth of July fire

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Former Utah Gymnastics All-American loses home in Fourth of July fire


Former Red Rocks star Kari Lee and her family are grappling with the devastating loss of their family home during the fourth of July holiday. The tragic event unfolded early Thursday morning in Peoria, Arizona, when a barbeque fire spiraled out of control, ultimately destroying their suburban home.

A GoFundMe account has been established to support the Lee family as they work to rebuild their lives. Despite the severity of the fire, it is a relief that everyone managed to escape with only minor injuries being reported. However, the family faced a heartbreaking loss as they were unable to save their five dogs and lost all their belongings in the blaze.

Kari’s athletic achievements as a gymnast for the University of Utah from 2015 to 2019 are a testament to her resilience and determination. During her illustrious career, she earned the distinction of being a three-time All-American and a six-time All-Pac-12 honoree. Kari’s leadership skills were evident as she served as a co-captain in her senior year, demonstrating a high level of consistency by hitting 96% of her routines and securing 20 career victories.

Lee’s contributions were instrumental in Utah’s success, helping the team clinch two Pac-12 Titles in 2015 and 2017. Her efforts also propelled the team to a near-victory at the National Championships in 2015, where they finished as runners-up .

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The loss of their home and beloved pets is an unimaginable hardship for Kari and her family. As they navigate this difficult period, the support from the community through the GoFundMe campaign is crucial. The outpouring of generosity and compassion serves as a beacon of hope, helping them to begin the process of healing and rebuilding.



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