Utah

Utah abortion ban remains on hold after ruling by state’s high court

Published

5 months ago

August 1, 2024

Utah abortion ban remains on hold after ruling by state’s high court

The Utah Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a block on the state’s near-total abortion ban, leaving in place a law that allows abortions up to 18 weeks of pregnancy. The ruling dealt a blow to Republican legislators who passed the ban two years before Roe v. Wade was overturned and continued to press for restrictions.

That 2020 “trigger law” would prohibit all abortions except in cases of rape, incest or serious risk to the mother’s health, or if two maternal fetal medicine physicians determine that the fetus has a lethal defect or severe brain abnormality. A state district judge blocked the measure shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal protections for abortion in 2022, and Thursday’s 4-1 ruling maintains that suspension while the ban’s constitutionality is litigated in the lower court.

The decision by Utah’s majority-female Supreme Court means abortion remains broadly legal throughout the American West, with the exception of Idaho, where it is prohibited in nearly all cases. A ban is on hold in Wyoming, while voters in at least half a dozen states — including Colorado and Nevada plus possibly Montana and Arizona — will vote in November on ballot measures that would strengthen abortion rights.

Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and ACLU of Utah, which challenged the ban in 2022, hailed the ruling while cautioning that their battle has not ended. They argue that the law violates state constitutional rights to privacy, to bodily integrity and to determine one’s family composition.

“Today’s decision means that our patients can continue to come to us, their trusted health care providers, to access abortion and other essential reproductive services right here in Utah,” Kathryn Boyd, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, said in a statement. But, she added, the group “looks forward to this unconstitutional law being permanently struck down.”

For the legislature’s Republican supermajority, the ruling comes as another court setback. The state says its constitution, ratified in 1895, includes no right to abortion.

The court decision Thursday noted that the justices, all Republican appointees, were addressing only whether the lower court abused its discretion in concluding that Planned Parenthood met the then-standard for an injunction.

“The district court did not,” the majority said, also noting in its ruling that Planned Parenthood “raises serious issues” about the ban’s constitutionality.

Abortion opponents expressed disappointment and even “great sorrow” over the outcome. Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said in a statement that they were “hopeful that this decision will be a temporary setback.” Others went further.

“The decision made today is a grim reminder that our society has strayed far from the moral compass that once guided us,” Mary Taylor, president of Pro-Life Utah, said in a joint statement with the leaders of Utah Eagle Forum and Abortion-Free Utah Coalition.

Abortion is now mostly or completely prohibited in 18 states, a patchwork that includes much of the South and Midwest. In Idaho, Utah’s neighbor, a sweeping ban allows only some emergency abortions at hospitals after a Supreme Court decision in June. Arizona prohibits abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Planned Parenthood operates three of Utah’s four abortion clinics, which do the vast majority of procedures in the state. In 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, 3,129 abortions were recorded.

Utah’s legislature took aim at those facilities last year, requiring abortions to be performed in hospitals and prohibiting the licensing of such clinics. Planned Parenthood also sued over that measure, which it described as a backdoor attempt by the lawmakers to criminalize abortion even as the judiciary weighed their initial law.

The same district court suspended the clinic law just before it was to take effect. The legislature this year repealed the law in a bid to simplify — and expedite — the high court ruling issued Thursday.

Source link

Utah

Utah junior high teacher arrested for alleged possession of child porn

Published

8 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Utah junior high teacher arrested for alleged possession of child porn

PROVO, Utah — A teacher within the Alpine School District is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor after allegedly uploading child porn to the internet. Travis Adamson, 49, is currently being held without bail.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 13 News, investigators were first notified of the potential crime at the end of April 2023. Adobe Inc. reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via CyberTip that a user had uploaded files containing depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on their account.

The CyberTip also included account information regarding the suspect user, including an IP address and email address that belonged to a teacher within the Alpine School District. Detectives used geo-location to trace the suspect’s IP address and found it was located within or near the city limits of Provo.

The school district confirmed to investigators that Adamson was still an employee within the district.

On Monday, detectives interviewed Adamson at the school where he confirmed that he was the sole user of the Adobe account and admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material.

Adamson also told detectives that he had downloaded several thousand images and videos onto his hard drive which is located at his home. He denied ever photographing or doing anything sexual or inappropriate with his students or other kids.

Detectives are now working to get access to Adamson’s hard drive and more charges could be coming.

Source link

Utah

Utah cracks AP Top 25 Women’s Basketball poll before key matchups

Published

16 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Utah cracks AP Top 25 Women’s Basketball poll before key matchups

The Utah Utes have made headlines by cracking the AP Top 25 at No. 22 for the first time this season, following a hard-fought 75-67 win over Iowa State. This marks Utah’s third consecutive season being ranked, despite an unexpected coaching change early in the season. Head coach Lynne Roberts departed for the WNBA, leaving longtime assistant Gavin Petersen to step in. Under Petersen’s leadership, Utah has thrived, demonstrating resilience and cohesion.

Petersen credited the team’s ability to stay focused and overcome adversity. “Our resilient crew has stepped up and faced the adversity that’s in front of them,” Petersen said. Utah’s win over Notre Dame during a Thanksgiving tournament was a pivotal moment that signaled their strength and potential.

Utah has ‘big money’ problem with a billionaire calling NIL shots for rival

The competition for dominance in women’s college basketball continues to intensify as the Big Ten and SEC assert themselves as the sport’s premier leagues. This week’s Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll highlights the strength of both conferences, with each boasting seven ranked teams, including four in the top 10.

The Big Ten’s recent expansion with the addition of No. 1 UCLA and No. 4 USC has bolstered its claim as the top league. UCLA’s consistent performances, including a victory over South Carolina, solidify their place at the top of the rankings, earning 30 of 32 first-place votes. Meanwhile, the SEC has also grown stronger with No. 5 Texas and No. 10 Oklahoma joining the conference. South Carolina, a perennial powerhouse, remains No. 2 and will face Texas in a highly anticipated showdown.

This week, the Utes prepare for a marquee matchup, hosting No. 12 Kansas State at the Huntsman Center. This game not only pits two top-25 teams against each other but also serves as a litmus test for Utah’s aspirations in the Big 12.

As Utah continues its unbeaten run in conference play, upcoming matchups against No. 11 TCU and No. 17 West Virginia will provide further opportunities to climb the rankings and solidify their standing among the nation’s elite.

Source link

Utah

Utah State Football Lands BYU OL Transfer From Portal

Published

23 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

Utah State Football Lands BYU OL Transfer From Portal

LOGAN, Utah- Since the winter transfer portal opened on December 9, 2024, and closed on December 28, 2024, players across the country have left their current teams to find new homes, and teams have been active in recruiting these players to recoup losses and strengthen their rosters.

The transfer portal is especially important for a team like the Utah State Aggies, who just hired Bronco Mendenhall and a brand-new coaching staff.

Utah State Football Fills Out 2025 Schedule With SEC Tilt

Former Weber State Wildcat and BYU Cougar Jake Eichorn entered the transfer portal at the end of December and will be headed to his third stop in the Beehive State as he has committed to play his final year of eligibility for the Utah State Aggies.

ALL IN. 🤘@USUFootball @CoachAcitelli pic.twitter.com/eqKgTGCIe5
— Jake Eichorn (@EichornJake) January 6, 2025
Advertisement

Eichorn spent two seasons as a member of the Weber State Wildcats between 2021-2023. Following his time in Ogden, Jake entered the transfer portal ranked as a three-star interior offensive lineman.

Eichorn chose to head down I-15 to Provo, where he spent a year as a backup offensive lineman for the BYU Cougars.

Eichorn then hit the portal for the third time in his collegiate career, landing in Logan where he will play for first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall.

About Jake Cichorn Before College

Prior to the start of his college career, the former Beaver High School standout helped the Beavers win back-to-back state titles in 2019 and 2020.

Eichorn was one of the best high school football players in the state of Utah and signed with Weber State in December 2020. The offensive lineman sat out his first season with the Wildcats in 2021.

Tanner Tripp is a sports writer for KSL Sports covering all teams across the state of Utah. Follow him on X @tanner_tripp and Instagram @tanner.tripp here.

What more coverage of the Utah State Aggies? Take us with you, wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

Follow @tanner_tripp

Source link