Daily News Roundup

July 6, 2021

Governor Cox Addresses Rise In COVID Cases

Photo Credit: Melody Pitman Bainbridge

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Governor Spencer Cox is addressing the state's rise in COVID-19 cases. Over the weekend, the governor appeared in an interview with CBS Face the Nation to discuss Utah becoming a national hotspot due to the rise in the delta variant in the state. Cox says the rise is concerning and hospitalizations are rising again, but the good news is that the state's adult population is getting vaccinated at the same rate as the rest of the country. He added that the state is focused on encouraging younger populations to get vaccinated as 85-percent of Utahns over 65 are, and their death rates have come down because of it.

Man Dead After Hours Long Standoff With Police

(West Valley City, UT) -- Police are reporting that an hours-long standoff with a West Valley City man yesterday ended with his death. Police say the incident started when they were dispatched after reports of domestic violence at a home near 71-hundred West and three-thousand South in West Valley City. They added that he barricaded himself inside after they started questioning him. A SWAT team was called to help while police contacted the man through a phone and tried to obtain a search warrant. However, officers reported hearing two gunshots inside the home around 2 p.m. and found the man dead from self-inflicted wounds.

Kaysville Woman Arrested For Allegedly Starting Five Fires

(Kaysville, UT) -- A Kaysville woman is in custody for allegedly starting five yard fires during the 4th of July. Police say they were called by witnesses who claimed to have seen Tawny Lynn Hutchings lighting multiple grass fires, causing fire crews to douse some of the flames. Officers eventually made contact with Hutchings and arrested her. She is currently facing multiple charges of reckless burn and arson.

Photo credit: Chaice Moyes, La Verkin

Out-Of-Town Visitors Blamed For Starting Fire In LaVerkin

(LaVerkin, UT) -- Some out-of-town visitors are being blamed for starting a wildfire in LaVerkin on Sunday. Officials say the visitors were allegedly setting off fireworks at an Airbnb when the flames started. Crews were able to put out the blaze and no one was injured, but the costs to put out the fire were estimated between three and four-thousand-dollars. The group was charged by police for the incident.

LDS Church Announces Reopening Of Final Temple Closed Due To Pandemic

President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church, and his wife, Wendy Nelson, stand in front of the Bountiful Utah Temple. President Nelson encourage members in a social media post on July 5, 2021 to celebrate the reopening of all temples to some level of operations.
Credit: Matthew Reier

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says it has reopened the only remaining international temple closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kyiv, Ukraine Temple reopened yesterday, according to a social media post from Church President Russell M. Nelson. Nelson thanked scientists, health care workers, world leaders and Church members for their efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus so the temples could reopen. Yesterday's announcement means that every temple not currently closed for construction or renovation has now resumed some level of operation.