KUTV Top Stories

At Least 20 Children Among 51 Killed In Oklahoma City Area Twister

Mon, May 20 2013, 03:26 PM MST

MOORE, Oklahoma (CNN) -- Rescue workers raced against time and darkness Monday night looking for survivors after a powerful tornado blasted an area outside of Oklahoma City, leveling homes and leaving at least 51 people dead.

At least 20 of the dead were children, including at least seven from Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, which lay directly in the path of the monster storm's wall of wind. ...

Susan Cox Powell's Journals, Will Among Documents Released

Mon, May 20 2013, 10:05 PM MST

By Heidi Hatch
(KUTV) In the mountain of documents released Monday by West Valley Police in the Susan Powell case, the public hears for the first time from Susan in her own words. As the case essentially draws to an end without closure we are able to read her most intimate thoughts—her journal entries and her last will and testament. ...

Tanner's Story: Surviving Suicide

Mon, May 20 2013, 01:58 PM MST

(KUTV) In the first five months of this year, Utah suicide officials report 32 kids have committed suicide—kids between ten and 19-years-old.

People don't like to talk about suicide. It is dark, ugly, and devastating to so many who are left behind. But talking about it might not only help the survivors—it just might stop young people from doing it. ...

WVCPD Announces Close to Active Search for Susan Powell

Mon, May 20 2013, 08:36 AM MST

By Christine McCarthy
(KUTV) West Valley City Police announced the end to the active phase of their search for Susan Powell at a press conference Monday, but said the case is still open, 3.5 years after she went missing.

"We have no further active leads to develop at this point," said West Valley City Manager Wayne Pyle. ...

Exploring Solutions For Panhandling, Homelessness

Mon, May 20 2013, 09:46 PM MST

By Chris Miller
(KUTV) Data released this month by the Lt. Governor shows that the number of homeless people in Utah has decreased since last year. That's good news, but some Utah communities believe panhandling is another problem they're hoping to solve. ...

Heartbreaking Scenes In Oklahoma City Area After Twister

Mon, May 20 2013, 09:38 PM MST

MOORE, Oklahoma (CNN) -- The enormity of what they saw caused many to pause, raw emotion welling up as they tried to put haunting images into words.

Monday's Oklahoma City area tornado brought tears but also stories of heroism and people helping neighbors. ...

SLC Doctor's Bail Remains At $1.5 Million

Mon, May 20 2013, 05:10 PM MST

By BRADY McCOMBS
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A Salt Lake City pediatrician charged with killing his ex-wife will remain in jail on a $1.5 million cash-only bail.

Utah district court judge Robin W. Reese said Monday during hearing that he was not likely to change the bail without knowing the case. ...

Utah Company Promises Faster, Better 'Superbug' Test

Mon, May 20 2013, 06:45 PM MST

By Ladd Egan
(KUTV) A Southern Utah-based company has announced that its infectious disease testing system will have exclusive rights to a new test for drug-resistant superbugs.

DxNA LLC, located in St. George, says its test will offer hospitals and other care facilities quicker, cheaper and more detailed detection of Staphylococcus strains including MRSA. ...

Utah Politicians Working On 'Grand Bargain' With Environmentalists

Mon, May 20 2013, 07:00 PM MST

(KUTV)Utah politicians and environmentalists have been locked in disagreement for 25 years over how much wilderness Utah should have. At the same time, Utah politicians complain the federal government won’t allow enough energy development, and the state gets shorted on royalties. ...

Father Accused of Shooting, Killing 5-Month Old Son in Court

Mon, May 20 2013, 12:44 PM MST

By: Roxeanne Vainuku

(KUTV) Utah County prosecutors say they are moving ahead cautiously in the case of an American Fork man accused of shooting his five-month-old son. Joshua Petersen's life is on the line in what could end up a death penalty case for the baby's murder. ...

Utah Group Pushing For Primary Election

Mon, May 20 2013, 06:09 PM MST

(KUTV) At least four former governors, former party chairs, and other dignitaries, asked Utah’s Republican Party to change its convention rules last Saturday.

About 80 percent of Utahns used to vote, but now turnout is only 55 percent.

Rich McKeown with a group called Count My Vote says that so much is decided early on that voting is no longer interesting. ...

Dream Act Documentary to Screen at Gateway Megaplex

Mon, May 20 2013, 12:51 PM MST

(KUTV) The Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington is talking about the proposal to allow some young illegal immigrants to stay legally in America Monday.

As part of the Dream Act push, a documentary will screen at 7:30pm at the Gateway Megaplex. The documentary showing this evening is timed to rally support for the Dream Act, now in Congress. ...

Living Apart Becoming Popular Arrangement For Married Couples

Mon, May 20 2013, 05:50 PM MST

(KUTV) You fall in love, get married, and move into separate homes? Believe it or not, such an arrangement is growing in popularity with couples who say living apart is what’s keeping them together.

“We decided right away that we were going to keep our own places,” Allen Sheinman says. ...

Weather: Forecast For May 20, 2013

Sun, May 12 2013, 07:41 AM MST

Weather update for the morning of May 20, 2013: Scattered showers & thunderstorms have continued through the early morning hours giving us a little lightning at times. Temperatures have dipped to the high forties this morning.

Forecast for Today & Tonight: Rain and possible thunderstorms will continue in waves today. ...

Ron on the Run: Click It or Ticket

Mon, May 20 2013, 01:59 PM MST

(KUTV) Heading into Memorial Day, the UHP is once again telling us to “click it” or get a ticket.

This year is the 14th annual “click it or ticket” campaign – and the Sheriff’s Department and UHP across the state will conduct seat belt focused patrols starting today through June 2. ...

Funeral Services Announced for Frances J. Monson

Mon, May 20 2013, 10:00 AM MST

(KUTV) Funeral services for Frances J. Monson, wife of President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Thomas S. Monson, will be held Thursday, May 23.

The services will be held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at noon. The public is invited to the funeral service. ...

Second Firearm Found at SLC Airport in Less Than a Week

Mon, May 20 2013, 12:50 PM MST

(KUTV) Officials found the second firearm in less than a week at the Salt Lake International Airport.

TSA found the gun in a passenger’s luggage.

Earlier this week, another passenger brought a loaded gun with seven rounds of ammunition to the security checkpoint. ...

4-Year-Old Found With Alcohol Poisoning, Family Looking For Answers

Sun, May 19 2013, 07:09 PM MST

By: Christine McCarthy

(KUTV) The father of a 4-year-old girl with cerebral palsy is begging for answers after his daughter was found with alcohol poisoning last month.

Paul Silva has temporary custody of Le'A, who was three years old at the time, as Weber County Sheriff's detectives investigate the incident in which her mother called 911 to report her unresponsive at her Marriott-Slaterville apartment on April 11. ...

Utah Firefighters Honored After 70 Years

Mon, May 20 2013, 08:21 AM MST

(KUTV) Utah firefighters and their families were remembered for their sacrifice 70 years ago on Sunday.

The special tribute honored three killed during the Victory Theater Fire in 1943. A second floor balcony collapsed, killing Theron Johnson, Harry Christensen, and Melvin Hatch. ...

West Jordan High Student Reaching New Heights

Mon, May 20 2013, 07:58 AM MST

(KUTV) Just a small amount of kindness is making a big difference in one Utah student's life. Bryan Gilchrist suffers from dozens of strokes every day but he never thought he'd have the chance to be part of a high school team.

The West Jordan High sophomore is a new member of the school's track and field team, but it's not so much about the thrill of competition, as it is about the confidence Bryan's gained from being part of a team. ...

Keepin' It Fresh: May 20, 2013

Mon, May 20 2013, 08:40 AM MST

(KUTV) It's time for Keepin' It Fresh.

That's when the 2News AM Crew play back through all the flubs and funny accidents through the last week of morning show news.

Just watch!

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)

Utah Soldier Among Latest Casualties In Afghanistan

Sat, May 18 2013, 06:12 PM MST

(KUTV) 21-year-old Cody Towse from Utah County is among the latest U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan.

Towse was reported missing after an improvised explosive device detonated close to where the Army Private First Class was standing.

The family was informed by the military of the situation this week. ...

Could A Nuclear Power Plant Be Headed To Utah?

Sun, May 19 2013, 09:21 PM MST

(KUTV) A proposed nuclear power plant outside of Green River has sparked an energetic debate in a small Utah community. A company wants to build a nuclear power plant in this desolate area of southeastern Utah, which might be good news for a town that has been struggling through rough economic times and needs the jobs. ...

Eruption Could Be Imminent For Alaskan Volcano

Sun, May 19 2013, 10:12 PM MST

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Trace amounts of ash from a remote Alaska volcano have fallen on an Aleutian Islands community, but the latest ash cloud remained just under the 20,000-foot threshold considered to be a major threat to trans-continental aircraft.

Geologist Kristi Wallace of the Alaska Volcano Observatory says the aviation color code for Pavlof Volcano remains at orange, just under the highest ranking of red, which would mean a dangerous eruption was imminent or underway. ...

Five Injured After Rollover In Tooele County

Sun, May 19 2013, 03:40 PM MST

(KUTV) The Utah Highway Patrol says five people were injured Sunday morning after a vehicle rolled on I-80 near mile marker 88.

Troopers say the 19-year-old driver of the vehicle drifted off the left side of the road, then over-corrected causing the Ford Explorer to roll multiple times--ejecting three of the occupants. ...

Man Shot and Killed For Allegedly Pointing A Rifle At Police

Sun, May 19 2013, 03:15 PM MST

(KUTV) Evanston police have released new details into the officer involved shooting that killed a man Saturday night.

Police say Naim Keith Labaki fired a shot in front of home in Evanston, Wyoming and then drove to a sporting goods store and demanded weapons from a store clerk. ...

Three Car Crash in Saratoga Springs

Sun, May 19 2013, 09:55 AM MST

(KUTV) Four people were taken to the hospital after a three-car crash last night. The accident happened in Saratoga Springs on State Road 73 around 9:30 last night.

Officials say a man was driving westbound towards Eagle Mountain when his pickup crossed into traffic. ...

Thousands Head To Idaho Hours Before Powerball Drawing

Sat, May 18 2013, 11:43 PM MST

By Christine McCarthy
(KUTV) Thousands of Utahns lined up at stores in Idaho border towns, hoping to hit the biggest jackpot in Powerball history and the second largest lottery ever.

"We stood in line in the rain for two and half hours, and we just got the winning tickets right here," said Bob Kelly, who drove from Magna, Utah, to the Chevron store in Malad, Idaho, for a chance at the $590. ...

Mia Love Announces Congressional Bid

Sat, May 18 2013, 04:47 PM MST

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love is officially announcing she wants another shot to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson in 2014.

Love made the announcement Saturday while addressing delegates at the Utah Republican Party's annual organizing convention. ...

Suspected Robber Gets In Shootout With Police

Sat, May 18 2013, 10:17 PM MST

(KUTV) A drive by shooting and robbery in Evanston, Wyoming leads to a shootout between a suspected robber and police.

Officials say the suspect fired at an Evanston home and then tried to rob a downtown sports store.

The suspect then led officers on a high speed chase but eventually crashed into an unmarked patrol car near the I-80 interchange. ...