This week in Utah news:
A windstorm wreaked havoc in Utah, causing widespread damage, power outages and school closures across the Wasatch Front. Power outages affected as many as 170,000 on Tuesday, and crews continue to work on clearing downed trees and restoring electricity. The Salt Lake City School District canceled classes until at least Monday, delaying the start of their school year of online-only instruction until COVID-19 conditions improve.
All of Utah’s partner states sharing the Colorado River’s water are raising legal objections to the Lake Powell pipeline, possibly opening a schism in the interstate compact that has divvied up the mighty river’s flow for the past century. The pipeline is among several major projects whose environmental reviews are to be expedited under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in June.
Salt Lake City police shot a 13-year-old boy with autism who was running away during a “mental episode” last week — an encounter that came just hours before a new policy took effect requiring officers to try de-escalation first when responding to most cases. The shooting has renewed fears, too, about how officers treat individuals with mental illness.
And when are we really getting a coronavirus vaccine? Andy Larsen dives into the recent news concerning why pharmaceutical companies have pledged to distribute a vaccine only after completing clinical studies, and why the scientists in the room are very much still in charge of the process.
At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune senior managing editor Matt Canham, reporter Andy Larsen, and editorial page editor George Pyle join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories. Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.
