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Salt Lake County proposes mutual commitment registry

SALT LAKE CITY – Unmarried couples and same-sex partners living in Salt Lake County will soon be able to get benefits they don’t have now. The county is launching a mutual commitment registry, similar to what Salt Lake City put in place in 2008.

The idea, however has its critics. The county is legally recognizing relationships the state doesn’t, especially when it comes to same sex couples, but the registry is also for people who may be the legal caretaker of someone, whether it’s a relative or a partner. Still, one group says it’s a slippery slope.

“I believe this will be primarily used by same sex couples,” says Salt Lake County Councilman Arlyn Bradshaw who is openly gay.

Man cited after road rage leads to assault

SALT LAKE CITY – A road rage incident resulted in a brutal beating Monday night, and one man is recovering from injuries as another is facing criminal charges.

A young man, his fiance and his 4-year-old niece were travelling by car to Sherwood Park, and during the drive they said another woman in an SUV tried to pass them.

Michael, who requested that his and his fiance’s last names not be used, said the woman waved her hands in the air and looked angry, but they didn’t think anything of it until a man confronted them on the playground 15 minutes later.

“We get to the park, and I’m playing with my niece and the next thing I know I see this guy coming up to me,” Michael said. “He’s like, ‘Hey you. Can I talk to you for a minute?’”

Michael said he had never seen the man, and he didn’t even get to talk to him before the attack began.

“Before I could say anything he started hitting me, punching me in the face,” he said.

Utah task force awaiting activation

By Alexandria Autrey

SALT LAKE CITY – In a maximum time of four hours a fleet of doctors, firefighters, engineers, canines, searchers and heavy rescuers from a Utah task force can be deployed to anywhere in the country and beyond.

The Utah task force includes firefighters from Unified, Salt Lake and Park City Fire Departments.

There are currently 28 task forces around the country available to go to work immediately when a disaster strikes.

A task force Captain from Utah was in Oklahoma when the tornadoes hit, and he got the ball rolling quickly on the local team.

“They’ll send out a recon unit that will go out with canines to evaluate structures and the guys will go out with their cameras and locate where people are and as soon as they confirm they found a person the heavy rescue come in and take the building apart around the person,” said Captain Ryan Mellor of Utah Task Force 1.

Study: Salt Lake City ranks highest in same-sex couples raising children

SALT LAKE CITY — Researchers at a UCLA think tank say the Salt Lake City metropolitan area ranks highest in the nation for same-sex couples raising children.

Twenty-six percent of same-sex couples in Salt Lake City are raising children, according to a press release issued Monday by The Williams Institute at UCLA.

“The metro areas with the highest percentages of same-sex couples raising children are in states that have a constitutional ban on marriage,” the press release said.

The Williams Institute published separate findings for metropolitan areas with populations above 1 million (including SLC), metropolitan areas with populations below 1 million and individual states.

The State of Utah ranked 13th in the nation for the percentage of same-sex couples raising children. Slightly over 20 percent of same-sex couples in Utah are raising children, according to data provided by The Williams Institute.

Judge orders evaluation for man accused of pulling gun at police headquarters

By Alexandria Autrey

WEST VALLEY CITY – A judge ordered an evaluation into a suspect who police say pulled a gun on officers inside the West Valley City police headquarters. 

James Kammeyer is facing charges including terrorism, aggravated assault and a use of firearm by restricted person.  

The judges ordered a scheduling conference Monday that will help the judge decide whether or not James Kammeyer should be granted bail.

Residents temporarily without power after car accident

By Alexandria Autrey

SALT LAKE CITY – Some Salt Lake City residents were without power Sunday morning after a van crashed into a light pole.

The crash happened just before 8:30 a.m. on California Avenue near Glendale Drive.

Police said a van was headed westbound on California Avenue when a dog ran out in front of the van.The driver swerved to avoid hitting the dog and ended up crashing into a light pole, which knocked out power for several homes in the area.

“Luckily he didn’t get hurt, no one else around the accident was injured but uh, just kind of one of those things you never know when something is just going to pop out in front of you,” said Lt. Scott White of the Salt Lake City Police Department.

The surrounding area was without power for 3 to 4 hours after the accident.

SLC police seek suspect after armed bank robbery

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