Utah News

To encourage self-sufficiency and sustainability the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is challenging Utahns to grow their own food with the 10,000 Garden Challenge.

The overgrowth of invasive weeds in Utah is in part to blame for out-of-control fires in the state according to Larry Lewis of the Utah Department of Agriculture. Lewis says the department is working with Utah State University Extension experts and local weed control experts to eradicate weeds and encourage the regrowth of native grasses.

According to Lewis, wildfires burning in rural communities where invasive weeds are found can force smoke to filter throughout the state, impacting air quality in all areas of the state.

The Tour of Utah cycle race -- "America's Toughest Stage Race" -- will take the state by storm August 7 - 12. UPR's Kerry Bringhurst spoke to Steve Miller, the Tour's president, to find out just how excited we should be about this event coming to Utah.

Six of the world's top 15 international cycling teams have committed to the race that will see some changes this year, says Miller.

Logan's annual Summerfest begins at noon Thursday at the downtown historic tabernacle. UPR's Brianna Bodily brings us a preview of what we will see from one Cache Valley artist whose works incorporate quilting, painting, and photography.

Lucy Peterson Watkins is this year's featured artist, who describes her unique work to UPR this way:

Listen to Storee Powell's full interview with Donna McAleer, 1st District Congressional Candidate. McAleer will debate Ryan Combe in Logan on June 14 in anticipation of the Democratic Primary on June 26.

A complaint from a European tourist visiting Zion National Park prompted a state audit of the Springdale Police Department. The tourist claimed that after receiving a citation, she was told she needed to pay the fine immediately, and in cash.

That practice violates state law. The concern is that officers could conceivably write citations, collect cash, destroy the documents, and keep the cash. Of the 423 citations issued from January 2011 to January 2012, the audit found that 1/3 were missing from the town's records.

Kanab-based Healing Heart Sanctuary is one of only 2 Utah non-profit organizations that has been selected this year as a finalist in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program, a major philanthropic initiative in which the automaker is giving 100 cars to 100 non-profit charities over the course of 100 days. Healing Heart Sanctuary was selected as a finalist from more than 4,000 applications nationwide.