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Utah News for Tuesday, March 27

  • Gov. Herbert Has Approved a New Education Budget
  • Man Charged with Aggravated Murder for Shooting a Smoke Shop Owner's Son
  • California Man Honored with Bravery Award for Saving a Life in Zion National Park

State Education Budget
The governor signed the last of a series of budget measures today that total just over $3 billion for the next school year, an 1.3% increase from this year's funding. One bill provides more money for pre-kindergarten and optional all-day kindergarten programs. Another makes performance pay part of school administrators' salaries.

Murder Charge in Smoke Shop Death
Yelfris Sosa-Hurtado was charged yesterday with aggravated murder. Authorities say the 26-year-old son of smoke shop owner, Isabel Chavez, was shot in the hand and then in the torso after he told Sosa-Hurtado to stop disrespecting his father.

Bravery Award
A California police detective has won the National Citizen's Award for Bravery for saving the life of a hiker in Zion National Park. David Bavencroff was hiking on Angel's Landing Trail in March 2010 when he saw a teenage girl slip off the trail. He quickly grabbed her by the ankle and prevented her from a fall that officials say probably would have been fatal.

Red Canyon Visitor's Center Now Open
With the arrival of spring many of Utah's scenic attractions are shaking off the winter cobwebs. Dixie National Forest announces the opening of the Red Canyon Visitor's Center near Panguitch. Southern Utah correspondent Chris Holmes reports that new facility has a bookstore, art gallery and interpretive displays highlighting the area's resources. The Center is located between Panguitch and Bryce Canyon, just off U.S. Highway 89, on scenic byway SR-12. It will be open 7 days a week starting May 1.

Tom Williams worked as a part-time UPR announcer for a few years and joined Utah Public Radio full-time in 1996. He is a proud graduate of Uintah High School in Vernal and Utah State University (B. A. in Liberal Arts and Master of Business Administration.) He grew up in a family that regularly discussed everything from opera to religion to politics. He is interested in just about everything and loves to engage people in conversation, so you could say he has found the perfect job as host “Access Utah.” He and his wife Becky, live in Logan.
Mackinzie Hamilton started her career in 2009 as a reporter for 610 AM KVNU and staff writer for Cache Valley Daily.com before joining UPR in 2011. A freshman at Utah State University, she is majoring in Journalism and communications with a minor in vocal performance.