AM News Brief: School Closures, Power Outages & Clean-Up
Wednesday morning, September 9, 2020
The nearly 3,200 power outages across Utah add up to more than 110,000 homes and businesses without electricity according to Utah’s main provider Rocky Mountain Power. Representatives said crews have been working around the clock by people should be prepared to be without power into Thursday and should 72-hour kits of water, food, and batteries. They also warn people to steer clear of any downed wires, as they could be live. — Diane Maggipinto
City Tree Cleanup
Salt Lake City crews began working Tuesday to clear streets of fallen trees and debris following the storm that brought wind gusts of nearly 100 miles per hour. In a press conference, Mayor Erin Mendenhall asked people to be patient and to not haul branches into the roads for clean-up. She said crews must prioritize their efforts. Residents and businesses can report fallen city trees by calling 801-972-7818 or on the city website. — Elaine Clark
- There are no classes Wednesday for students in Salt Lake, Davis, Ogden and Weber school districts due to widespread power outages, continued strong winds through the morning and travel restrictions for high-profile vehicles like school buses.
- In Davis County, in-person instruction will resume Thursday for Group 2, students with last names beginning with the letters L-Z and Friday for Group 1, students with last names A-K. B-day classes will be held on Thursday and Friday for secondary school students.
- For the Salt Lake City School District, acting superintendent Larry Madden said it could be two days before power is restored across the system. Meals for students will be available from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday outside in the parking areas at Backman, Edison, Meadowlark and Whittier Elementary schools, Northwest Middle School and West and East High Schools.
- Granite School District closed some schools for Wednesday. They are: Spring Lane, Upland Terrace and Eastwood elementary schools, Bonneville Junior and Granite Connection High.
- Canyons District cancelled classes Wednesday at three Sandy schools: Albion Middle and Quail Hollow and Brookwood Elementary schools
- Classes at Weber State University have been called off Wednesday.
— Diane Maggipinto
Police Vow To Cooperate With Investigations In Shooting Of 13-Year-Old
Leaders at Salt Lake City Police are vowing to cooperate with several investigations centered on the officer-shooting of a 13-year-old autistic boy in Glendale Friday. Police said they were called to the home with a report of a boy who had threatened people with a weapon. The boy reportedly ran and was shot by an officer after being pursued by law enforcement. The Salt Lake City Police Department said Wednesday in the statement that each time there is a shooting involving an officer "a protocol team made up of officers from multiple agencies with no ties to the Salt Lake City Police Department conducts an independent investigation." — Associated Press
Land Leases Challenged
Almost 700,000 acres of public land in the Western United States could be leased to energy developers before the end of 2020, including 51,000 acres in Utah. Wildlife and taxpayer advocacy groups are calling on the federal government to cancel these upcoming auctions. They say offering up public land to oil and gas developers right now is costing taxpayers by allowing developers to lock in leases at low rates. But federal law requires the Bureau of Land Management to hold lease sales when energy developers nominate parcels of land. Read full story. — Kate Groetzinger, Bluff