AM News Brief: Salt Lake Protest, Romney College Savings Plan & Vaccines And Pregnancy

Monday morning, April 19, 2021

Status

The state’s tax revenue falls short

Utah’s main sources of income lag behind projections for the year. According to the state’s financial analysts, the state is currently 1.6% behind estimates. If things don’t change it could result in a fiscal year-end deficit of $ 148 million. State lawmakers recently approved a $ 100 million tax cut based on budget projections. Legislative economists predict collections will increase if people and businesses pay income taxes this month and next. – Lexi Peery

State cuts processing time for Sexual Assault Kits in half

The average turnaround time for sexual assault kits in Utah has halved since the backlog was cleared seven months ago. Sexual assault kits contain swabs from a survivor that have been tested for DNA in the state crime lab. At the beginning of September it took an average of 90 days for a new kit to be completely processed. It’s now 41 days, according to Amy Lightfoot, director of the state crime lab. Read the full story. – Sonja Hutson

Weekend COVID update

The Utah Department of Health reported 661 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend, but no new deaths. Almost 1.2 million Utahns have received at least one dose of the vaccine and about 790,000 are fully vaccinated. The state’s test positivity rate was 3.6% for the past week, with the daily average being 394. – Lexi Peery

Health Expert Promotes Vaccine During Pregnancy

Experts say the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant people and can protect unborn children from the virus as well. Dr. Sean Esplin is Senior Medical Director, Women’s Health at Intermountain Healthcare. He said the data does not show any unusual pregnancy complications due to the virus. He also said there is some evidence that it creates an immune response that reaches the baby. Esplin said that COVID-19 infection can be more serious in pregnant people, so getting vaccinated is especially important for them. – Sonja Hutson

Follow KUER’s coverage of the coronavirus in Utah.

Northern Utah

Protest in Salt Lake City commemorates victims of police murders

Around 70 people gathered outside Salt Lake City Hall on Saturday to protest the recent police killings of Daunte Wright near Minneapolis and Adam Toledo in Chicago. Trinidad Allred, 23, spoke at the rally. “White people don’t understand the trauma when one of us dies,” she said. “We blacks know all too well how close we are to becoming the next” Justice For “campaign that will never get justice.” The protest was hosted by the Salt Lake Chapter of the Socialism and Liberation Party. The spokesperson argued that the city must disappoint the police to prevent further violence. – Sonja Hutson

Johnston rules the city’s homelessness efforts

Salt Lake City Councilor Andrew Johnston will be the city’s new homelessness and public relations director. He will be responsible for shaping the city’s response to homelessness and coordinating with nonprofits and other government agencies. Johnston is a licensed clinical social worker and part of the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness. The city has not said when he will take up his new position. It is also not yet clear when and how his position on the city council will be filled, but the city promises more details in the coming days. – Sonja Hutson

Region / nation

Romney sponsors College Savings Bill

Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah, is joining forces with Senator Kyrsten Sinema, D-AZ, to support federal legislation to create a new type of savings account for low-income students looking to save for higher education. Qualified students would set up savings accounts and the state or a nonprofit would raise $ 8 for every dollar a student deposits in the account. Once a student enrolls in a school, they can access that money to pay for tuition. The program would also offer training and financial literacy grants. The bill was presented for the first time in March last year and will be presented again to the Senate at this meeting. – Caroline Ballard