Utah
WE DID IT! Utah Takes the Crown in Shocking Win – Here's What…
Utah gets dragged a lot for being “so religious” or “too judgmental,” but despite it’s critics, Utah is the #1 place to live in America.
Every place has it’s share of pros and cons, wins and flaws, but Utah definitely has more pros than cons and is ranked #1 out of all 50 states. So Cool! We should celebrate!
So what how was the ranking done? U.S. News a world report compiled the list of criteria and calculated the scores. This is what the Rankings Scorecard looks like:
Utah came in #1 in 2 categories as well as overall. Excellent! These aren’t wimpy categories either. PLUS we were in the top 20 in 7 out of the 8 categories. That is an incredible feat.
Here’s how all of Utah’s rankings all shook out-
Crime and Corrections #15 This category is based on crime rate and property crime rates. We were #20 in crime rate and #7 in corrections outcomes. So we should be congratulating our state police agencies for doing such a great job in de-escalation and positive corrections outcomes. Thank you, THANK YOU to all of those who protect and serve! ♥
Economy #1 We killed it in this category! Most of us are wondering how to afford to live here, but with a great business environment, there is more growth than ANY OTHER STATE. We also have the best employment rate of all 50 states. The overall Best States rankings takes into account each state’s business environment, labor market and overall economic growth.
Education #5 This category looked at pre-K-high school as well as higher education. Despite the federal government jumping in with “No Child Left Behind,” most states are leaving it up to the local school boards. If you are frustrated with anything that is happening with the schools in your area, take action and put that on your list of things to ask your political leaders and those running for office. We have to stop complaining and start acting.
Fiscal Stability #1 This has to do with effective state administration and the fiscal health of long-term and short-term goals. You have the power to shape your state. Make suggestions and ask questions of your leaders. Emails can work wonders.
Health Care #7 This is a biggie. We received this ranking based on the quality, access and positive public health outcomes from our health care system.
Infrastructure #4 U.S News evaluated the quality of live for each states residents base on these key factors: state’s use of renewable energy, the quality of its roads and bridges, and its residents’ access to high-speed internet. Minnesota came in 1st in this category.
Natural Environment #46 This is where we took a nosedive. But, we knew we would. Air quality and pollution need our attention ASAP. We need to remember this issue when it comes time for voting in new leadership. Utah Caucuses are March 5th.
Opportunity #20 Not as bad as Natural Environment, but still something to think about correcting come voting time. This category deals with equity and equality. Wage gaps still exist within the exact same jobs/titles/output between men and women.
Utah is an incredible place to live. It’s diverse beauty is unmatched. It’s clean and safe and if we are looking for the positive in life, we will find more of it.
Final Rankings Scorecard:
For more detail on this ranking you can check out : https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings
Aaronee LOVES the country lifestyle. She has a great little farm with Alpacas, goats, dogs, cats and chickens! So yes, some…..stuff on her boots. 😉 Aaronee’s playlist has everything from Reba & Brooks & Dunn to Rascal Flatts & Garth to Miranda Lambert & Laney Wilson to Kane Brown & Morgan Wallen. She loves them all. ♥ Get her some chips and salsa or tater tots and a root beer float and she is set. She loves chatting on social media so make sure to hit her up on the Cat Country Utah Facebook page!
Gallery: St George, Utah Is Showing Off After Record Rain And Snowfall
St George and Surrounding Areas Show Off Stunning Views
Gallery Credit: Aaronee
Gallery: Cedar City, Utah Is Showing Off After Record Rain And Snowfall
Cedar City, Utah & Surrounding Areas Are Absolutely Gorgeous This Time Of Year
Gallery Credit: Aaronee
Utah
Utah man dies of injuries sustained in avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A man died after he was caught in an avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the weekend.
A spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday that Kevin Williams, 57, had died.
He, along with one other person, was hospitalized in critical condition after Saturday’s avalanche in the backcountry.
MORE | Big Cottonwood Canyon Avalanche
In an interview with 2News earlier this week, one of Williams’ close friends, Nate Burbidge, described him as a loving family man.
“Kevin’s an amazing guy. He’s always serving, looking for ways that he can connect with others,” Burbidge said.
A GoFundMe was set up to help support Williams’ family.
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Utah
911 recordings detail hours leading up to discovery of Utah girl, mother dead in Las Vegas
CONTENT WARNING: This report discusses suicide and includes descriptions of audio from 911 calls that some viewers may find disturbing.
LAS VEGAS — Exclusively obtained 911 recordings detail the hours leading up to the discovery of an 11-year-old Utah girl and her mother dead inside a Las Vegas hotel room in an apparent murder-suicide.
Addi Smith and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, lived in West Jordan and had traveled to Nevada for the JAMZ cheerleading competition.
The calls show a growing sense of urgency from family members and coaches, and several hours passing before relatives learned what happened.
MORE | Murder-Suicide
Below is a timeline of the key moments, according to dispatch records. All times are Pacific Time.
10:33 a.m. — Call 1
After Addi and her mother failed to appear at the cheerleading competition, Addi’s father and stepmother called dispatch for a welfare check.
Addi and her mother were staying at the Rio hotel. The father told dispatch that hotel security had already attempted contact.
“Security went up and knocked on the door. There’s no answer or response it doesn’t look like they checked out or anything…”
11:18 a.m. and 11:27 a.m. — Calls 2 and 3
As concern grew, Addi’s coach contacted the police two times within minutes.
“We think the child possibly is in imminent danger…”
11:26 a.m. — Call 4
Addi’s stepmother placed another call to dispatch, expressing escalating concern.
“We are extremely concerned we believe that something might have seriously happened.”
She said that Tawnia’s car was still at the hotel.
Police indicated officers were on the way.
2:26 p.m. — Call 5
Nearly three hours after the initial welfare check request, fire personnel were en route to the scene. It appeared they had been in contact with hotel security.
Fire told police that they were responding to a possible suicide.
“They found a note on the door.”
2:35 p.m. — Call 6
Emergency medical personnel at the scene told police they had located two victims.
“It’s going to be gunshot wound to the head for both patients with notes”
A dispatcher responded:
“Oh my goodness that’s not okay.”
2:36 p.m. — Call 7
Moments later, fire personnel relayed their assessment to law enforcement:
“It’s going to be a murder suicide, a juvenile and a mother.”
2:39 p.m. — Call 8
Unaware of what had been discovered, Addi’s father called dispatch again.
“I’m trying to file a missing persons report for my daughter.”
He repeats the details he knows for the second time.
3:13 p.m. — Call 9
Father and stepmother call again seeking information and continue to press for answers.
“We just need some information. There was a room check done around 3:00 we really don’t know where to start with all of this Can we have them call us back immediately?”
Dispatch responded:
“As soon as there’s a free officer, we’ll have them reach out to you.”
4:05 p.m. — Call 10
More than an hour later, Addi’s father was put in contact with the police on the scene. He pleaded for immediate action.
“I need someone there I need someone there looking in that room”
The officer confirmed that they had officers currently in the room.
Addi’s father asks again what they found, if Addi and her mother are there, and if their things were missing.
The officer, who was not on scene, said he had received limited information.
5:23 p.m. — Call 11
Nearly seven hours after the first welfare check request, Addi’s grandmother contacted police, describing conflicting information circulating within the family.
“Some people are telling us that they were able to get in, and they were not in the hotel room, and other people saying they were not able to get in the hotel room, and we need to know”
She repeated the details of the case. Dispatch said officers will call her back once they have more information.
Around 8:00 p.m. — Press Conference
Later that evening, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police held a news conference confirming that Addi and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, were found dead inside the hotel room.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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Utah
Ban on AI glasses in Utah classrooms inches closer to passing
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — AI glasses could allow you to get answers, snap photos, access audio and take phone calls—and now a proposal moving through the legislature would ban the glasses from Utah school classrooms.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Kizzy Guyton Murphy, a mother who accompanied her child’s class on a field trip to the state Capitol on Wednesday. “You can’t see inside what the student is looking at, and it’s just grounds for cheating.”
Mom Tristan Davies Seamons also sees trouble with AI glasses.
“I don’t think they should have any more technology in schools than they currently have,” she said.
Her twin daughters, fourth graders Finley and Grayson, don’t have cell phones yet.
“Not until we’re like 14,” said Grayson, adding they do have Chromebooks in school.
2News sent questions to the Utah State Board of Education:
- Does it have reports of students using AI glasses?
- Does it see cheating and privacy as major concerns?
- Does it support a ban from classrooms?
Matt Winters, USBE AI specialist, said the board has not received reports from school districts of students with AI glasses.
“Local Education Agencies (school districts) have local control over these decisions based on current law and code,” said Winters. “The Board has not taken a position on AI glasses.
MORE | Utah State Legislature:
Some districts across the country have reportedly put restrictions on the glasses in schools.
“I think it should be up to the teachers,” said Briauna Later, another mother who is all for preventing cheating, but senses a ban could leave administrators with tired eyes.
“It’s one more thing for the administration to have to keep track of,” said Later.
The proposal, HB 42, passed the House and cleared a Senate committee on Wednesday.
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