Daily News Round Up

July 9, 2021

COVID-19 Cases Continuing To Rise Throughout Utah

(St. George, UT)  --  COVID-19 cases keep rising throughout Utah. Yesterday, the state added 668 new cases to the total, pushing it over 418-thousand. This is the state's largest jump in daily new cases since March 17th. Two new deaths related to the virus were added to the death toll, which is at 23-hundred-89.

Founder Of Black Lives Matter Utah Chapter Defends Controversial Facebook Post

(Salt Lake City, UT)  --  The founder of Black Lives Matter Utah is defending a controversial Facebook post in which she accuses those who fly the American flag of being racist.  The post shared Sunday on the social media platform calls the flag a symbol of racism and claims Black Americans know those who fly the flag are not safe to be around.  In an interview with the Deseret News published yesterday, BLM Utah founder Lex Scott defended the post, saying it stirred a needed national conversation on how racist groups use the flag as a symbol and are not challenged for it.  Scott says she has received death threats over the post but won't apologize or take it down, calling it "her truth."

Southern Utah Expected To Get Record Heat This Weekend

(St. George, UT)  --  Record-high heat is forecasted to hit Southern Utah this weekend. Officials say temperatures could reach 114-degrees on Saturday and Sunday, which is three-degrees shy of tying the state's hottest day recorded. Officials expect temperatures to drop starting on Monday then Tuesday.

Governor Cox Selected For President Biden's Council Of Governors

(Salt Lake City, UT)  --  Governor Spencer Cox is being selected by President Joe Biden to join his bipartisan Council of Governors. Cox, along with the governors of Ohio, Minnesota, Tennessee, Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon, Vermont and Wyoming will be advising the president. White House officials say the group will strengthen partnerships between the federal government and state governments to better protect the nation from threats to our homeland security and all types of hazards. Cox says he's grateful for this appointment that gives Utah a seat at the table. He's the first Utah governor to join this more than a decade-old council.