KUED monthly news conference
-------------------------
Work Zone Cam’s Construction Time-Lapse Showcases La Quinta’s New Del Sol Location
WHAT: La Quinta Inns & Suites recently opened their second “Del Sol” prototype in Cedar City, Utah. The hospitality company partnered with Work Zone Cam to document construction of their new 89 room hotel, which is the second flagship location of the new branding model to be used across the United States. Work Zone Cam created a professional time-lapse movie displaying the entire construction process in less than 1 minute!
WHY: The newest part of La Quinta’s business strategy, Del Sol provides guests with a welcoming and enjoyable experience, while also lowering operating costs for the hotel owner. Widespread research into guest experience led to the creation of the new brand for La Quinta Inns & Suites. According to La Quinta, there are currently over 60 planned properties to be developed.
HOW: Observe the construction process with Work Zone Cam’s construction time-lapse movie.
To share the time-lapse online, please use the YouTube embed code:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rJWt2EvIkmM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Online credit requirement:
On-air credit requirements:
DENVER—In response to news that Utah Governor Gary Herbert is preparing his own plan to protect the Bears Ears region, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement.
Jennifer Rokala, Executive Director:
“We’re happy to see Governor Herbert acknowledge that Congressman Rob Bishop’s Public Lands Initiative is effectively dead. Like so many involved, the governor agrees that Bears Ears is in urgent need of protection. When Interior Secretary Jewell sits down with the governor in the coming weeks, we’re confident she will take his input seriously alongside that of tribal governments and other stakeholders.”
In new national monuments, President Obama continues to allow native uses, elevate tribal voices
###
The Center for Western Priorities is a conservation policy and advocacy organization focused on land and energy issues across the American West.
-------------------------------
Nominees announced for three 4th District Court vacancies
SALT LAKE CITY – The 4th District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for three vacancies on the 4th District Court. These vacancies result from the retirements of Judge Fred Howard, effective Dec. 1, 2016, Judge Claudia Laycock, January 1, 2017, and the confirmation of Judge David Mortensen to the Utah Court of Appeals, June 15, 2016. The 4th Judicial District includes Juab, Millard, Utah, and Wasatch counties.
The nominees for the vacancy are: Rod Andreason, shareholder, Kirton McConkie; Jared Eldridge, county attorney, Juab County; Joshua Faulkner, commissioner, Fourth District Juvenile Court; Anthony Howell, chief counsel, attorney, Utah County Public Defenders; Robert Lunnen, criminal division chief, United States Attorney’s Office; John Penrod, attorney, Springville City; Kraig Powell, attorney, Attorney Kraig Powell, PLLC.
Written comments can be submitted to the 4th District Judicial Nominating Commission Chair Dale Whitlock at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon Sept. 19, 2016. The Nominating Commission may request further information or conduct an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments. After the public comment period, the names will be sent to Gov. Gary R. Herbert, who will have 30 days to make an appointment. Gov. Herbert’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
-------------------------------------
SENATOR URQUHART RESIGNS FROM THE UTAH SENATE
SALT LAKE CITY- Senator Steve Urquhart (R-St. George) resigned from the Utah State Senate this afternoon. He presented the following letter to Senate President Wayne Niederhauser.
I write to inform you that will I resign from the Senate effective September 9, 2016.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause the Senate. I wanted to--and anticipated that I would--finish my current term at the end of this year, but things are moving faster than I had anticipated with my post-legislative life. I will be working for the University of Utah as a global ambassador, looking to make the U's international efforts bigger and better by bringing on corporate, government, and others to partner with the U and its students. As you can imagine, I am very excited to work to make the University and higher education better.
As part of this assignment, I will live in Salt Lake City. Currently, I am splitting time between St. George and Salt Lake (and various locations throughout the world). However, with remodeling nearing completion on a property I purchased in Salt Lake and my work at the U progressing nicely, I need to permanently move to Salt Lake City--meaning that I will live outside my district and, therefore, meaning that I will need to resign my Senate seat.
It has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life to serve in the Utah Legislature and the Utah Senate. It is still just absolutely amazing and humbling to me that I have been able to do this. I love our State and the good people of Washington County. I hope and believe I leave the State a bit better than I found it when I entered the Legislature in 2001. The experience surely has left me a better person.
I want to thank you for your leadership and friendship. Mine was the privilege of working with many great leaders, and I place you at the top of that outstanding group. Whether you have personally agreed or disagreed with my position on issues, you always have respected and supported my desires to represent my constituents as I thought best and as I was uniquely charged to do as the Senator from District 29. You believe in the process, the Constitutions that direct us, and--I have always felt--you believe in me. That means a lot.
I will miss you, our colleagues, and the Senate. I will miss working daily for my constituents. But the work goes on. Please guide our beautiful Senate and the wonderful State of Utah. God bless them both!
Senate President Wayne Niederhauser commented, “Senator Urquhart exhibited exceptional talent and courage in his legislative career. I have admired his character and ability. His capacity as a legislator will be greatly missed, along with his distinct wit and candor.”
Senator Urquhart served in the Utah Legislature for 16 years, eight years in the House of Representatives and eight years in the Senate. He has been a pioneer of political community-building on social media. No currently serving elected official has engaged the public on political issues via social media longer than Senator Urquhart. During his time in the legislature he worked towards higher education reform, the Utah Compromise for LGBT and religious liberties, anti-discrimination, and abolishing the death penalty.
###
Notes
1. Washington County Republican officials will call a meeting for the county delegates who live in Senate District 29. They will select the district’s interim senator.
2. Party officials will notify Governor Herbert of their selection and he will make the appointment.
3. The State Senate will swear in the newly appointed senator.
4. The new senator will serve for the remainder of Senator Urquhart’s term, which ends December 31, 2016.
5. Chapter and verse:
Utah Constitution: Article VI, Section 13
Utah Code: Midterm Vacancies in the Legislature
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $211 Million in Grants for New Buses, Facilities to Improve Bus Service Nationwide
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the selections for its Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program that will help provide more modern, reliable bus service for transit riders across the country. Sixty one projects in 41 states, the Virgin Islands, and Indian Country will receive a share of nearly $211 million to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase transit buses and related equipment, and construct bus-related facilities. A list of the selected projects is available online.
“The Obama Administration is committed to improving transportation options that connect people in rural and urban areas across the country to opportunities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These grants will improve mobility for thousands of transit riders who depend on bus service every day, expanding access to employment, education, healthcare, and other important services in their communities.”
Selected projects include those that replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate and construct bus-related facilities, such as buildings for bus storage and maintenance.
“FTA is proud to partner with state, local and tribal authorities to invest in projects that will help improve the condition of our nation’s public transportation bus fleets,” said FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers. “Maintaining our public transit systems in a state of good repair is vitally important to meet the needs of today’s transit riders and a growing population.”
Among the projects selected to receive 2016 Bus Program funding:
· The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will receive approximately $5.8 million for the expansion and replacement of transit vehicles that serve rural counties throughout the state;
· The Mass Transportation Authority in Flint, Michigan, will receive $12.8 million for the purchase of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and a workforce development training program for mechanics and bus drivers; and
· The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will receive $4 million to rehabilitate the Wissahickon Transit Center on the Manayunk/Norristown Line in Northwest Philadelphia.
Demand for FTA’s Bus Program far exceeded available funds, as FTA received 284 applications totaling $1.64 billion from 236 applicants in 47 states. Project proposals were evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, with priority given to projects that address significant repair and maintenance needs, improve the safety of transit systems, include advanced technologies to connect bus systems with other networks, and support the creation of ladders of opportunity.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in December 2015, authorized FTA’s competitive Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program through 2020.
