KDXU up to the minute news

Utah Avalanche Center preparing for snow

The Utah Avalanche Center is gearing up for another season of warning skiers, hikers and climbers of possible dangers in the backcountry.  Avalanche forecaster Craig Gordon says the avalanche center caters to a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts.

Escapees arrested in small Arizona town

According to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona, Blane and Susan Barksdale were located and arrested Wednesday after several weeks on the run. The couple escaped custody in southern Utah on August 27th after they faked a medical emergency and overpowered their guards. David Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona says the two were captured in a remote area near Punkin Center, Arizona about 80 miles northeast of Phoenix.

Man purposely shoots himself at gun range

A man is hospitalized after police say he purposely shot himself at a Summit County gun range.  Sheriff's officials say the man went to the range yesterday and followed the normal procedure for renting a gun.  He then entered the firing area, where he shot himself in the chest and head.  Officials say the man survived the shooting and was rushed to the hospital in extremely critical condition.

Utah voters split over gun policy

Utah voters are split over which political party they trust more to handle gun policy in Congress.  In a poll from UtahPolicy.com, 36-percent said they believe Democrats are more reliable, while 42-percent said they would back Republicans.

Bus dumps holding tank at Bryce Canyon National Park

Officials at Bryce Canyon National Park are hoping someone might have seen a bus dumping its sewage tank at the Inspiration Point parking lot.  The park posted a photo on its Facebook page saying the sewage was found around 5 p.m. Tuesday by park employees.

Meadow Creek Fire crews gaining containment

Crews battling a wildfire in Millard County are gaining the upper hand.  The Meadow Creek Fire south of Fillmore is 90-percent contained after burning about 42-hundred acres.  The U.S. Forest Service says yesterday's rainstorm did make it difficult for firefighters to travel in the area, but they still managed to build new containment lines.

Eagle Scout project being praised

A 14-year-old Eagle Scout is being praised for helping to restore dozens of headstones at the St. George Cemetery.  Andrew Wyckoff recruited nearly 60-people to help him lift and level headstones that had settled into the ground over the years.  The teen's mom says he spent more than 130-hours planning, recruiting, and carrying out the work.

Reps from several Utah cities meet to discuss population boom

Representatives from several Utah cities met today to discuss how they will prepare for a future population boom.  The Wasatch Front Regional Council presented a blueprint to the Utah League of Cities and Towns Convention, accounting for projections that the region will have gain more than two-million people by 2050.

Salt Lake taking steps to slow drivers down in school zones

Salt Lake City is trying to get the attention of drivers to get them to slow down in school zones.  City Traffic Safety Engineer Dan Bergenthal says the city is painting beige designs on crosswalks near 22 elementary schools. The "bulb out" design is meant to narrow the area cars can travel in the crosswalk zone, forcing drivers to slow down.