Content warning: This article contains information about child sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised. Report child sexual abuse to local law enforcement and contact the DCFS 24/7 hotline: 855-323-3237. For more information, visit dcfs.utah.gov.
Utah
Utah lawmaker won’t seek reelection because he is moving out of his district
SALT LAKE CITY — A prominent Republican state lawmaker is ending his reelection campaign because he is moving out of his district.
Rep. Jefferson Burton announced the decision in a post on social media, calling his legislative service “one of the greatest honors of my life.” Although he had previously filed to seek another term, state lawmakers are required to live within the boundaries of the district they represent, unlike federal representatives.
“My family and I will be moving outside of my district, and because of that, I will be withdrawing from reelection to the Utah House of Representatives,” wrote Burton, R-Salem.
Prior to joining the Utah House in 2021, Burton served for 37 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard. He retired as adjutant general of the Utah National Guard in 2019.
“Through all of it, my mission has been the same: serve with integrity and never forget that every decision affects real people and real families,” he added. “I carry that same commitment with me as I close this chapter. I leave proud of the work we did together. Thank you for your trust. It has been a true privilege.”
The exact timing of Burton’s move is unclear. The Utah Constitution states that lawmakers “may not continue to serve in that office after ceasing to be a resident of the district from which elected.” Burton’s announcement only states that he won’t seek another term, so it won’t require a special election to replace him.
The filing deadline for legislative candidates passed in January and Burton had two Republicans sign up to challenge him: Matthew Durrant and Jackie Larson. His replacement will take office early next year.
At the Capitol, Burton is the chairman of the House Government Operations Committee and serves on the powerful House Rules Committee. In recent years, he has sponsored legislation to revamp the state’s vote-by-mail system and passed a bill this year directing the state to study possible changes.
Burton joins several other incumbent lawmakers who are not running for reelection.
Those include Rep. Cheryl Acton, R-West Jordan; Rep. Stewart Barlow, R-Fruit Heights; Majority Assistant Whip Bridger Bolinder, R-Grantsville; Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo; Rep. Matthew Gwynn, R-Farr West; Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City; Rep. Mike Kohler, R-Midway; Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Syracuse; Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay; Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton; and Rep. Christine Watkins, R-Price.
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.
ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) — A Utah father has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing and raping his juvenile daughter in their home.
The 55-year-old man, who ABC4.com is not naming to protect the identity of the victim, has been arrested on 11 counts of sodomy on a child (first-degree felony), six counts of rape of a child (first-degree felony), three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child (first-degree felony), and one count of rape of a child (first-degree felony),
According to court documents, on May 5, officers with the St. George Police Department received a Division of Child and Family Services referral regarding a sex offense. The referral claimed that the 55-year-old man was sexually abusing his juvenile daughter in their home.
The victim was taken to the Children’s Justice Center for a forensic interview. She reported that her father would perform sexual acts on her, as well as force her to perform sexual acts on him.
During an interview with police, the father admitted to sexually abusing and raping his juvenile daughter. He was then arrested and transported to the Washington County Jail where he is being held without bail.
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Maricopa County officials used Snapchat to locate a missing 17-year-old girl allegedly held and assaulted by a man recently released on sexual assault charges. FOX 10’s Andrew Christiansen learns more about how he held the teen against her will at his Litchfield Park home.
LEHI, Utah (Amazing America) — Featuring over one million blooming flowers, including about 400,000 tulips imported from Holland, the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival is one of the largest, most popular springtime events in the U.S., held each year at Ashton Gardens in Lehi, Utah.
The festival runs for about six weeks, usually from early April until mid-May. This year’s celebration concludes on May 16, so there’s still time to see the beautiful blooms.
Throughout the course of the festival, new flowers are always blossoming — and not just tulips. Visitors can admire daffodils, poppies, hyacinths and more.
Each year, tens of thousands of people flock to the festival from all over. What really sets Thanksgiving Point apart is that every October, the team redesigns bloom patterns and plants new bulbs, making for a completely fresh experience for visitors each year.
The Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival is filled to the brim with the sights, scents and sounds of spring. It’s a must-visit for all flower enthusiasts, but there’s really something for everyone to enjoy, including sweet and savory treats, live music on select days, interactive classes and tours, and plenty of unique photo opportunities.
Timed entry tickets are required, and prices range from $17 to $29. Children two and under enter for free. The festival is typically open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Sunday. For more information, click here.
We know there are plenty of other stories of unique landmarks and cultural experiences in all corners of the USA, and we’re making it our mission to find and highlight them. If you know of one, we’d love to hear about it. Send a DM to @amazingamericatv on Instagram!
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