This is your rundown of the daily news for Monday, July 22. In this edition:
- Salt Lake County's new homelessness plan includes creating 1,000 new housing units
- A woman died in southwest Utah in the state's fourth heat-related death this month
- Utah State University says Blake Anderson was fired for contacting a potential domestic violence victim
- Utah State University mourns the loss of student-athlete lost to cliff-jumping accident
- The Sandhurst fire has caused evacuations near Utah State Capitol
- A 13-year old drowned in Bear Lake
- A retired San Juan County sheriff was arrested after various discoveries of child sexual abuse
Salt Lake County’s new homelessness plan includes 1,000 new housing units
2:44 p.m.
Salt Lake County leaders aim to create 1,000 new housing units in the next five years as part of a new homelessness plan.
Over half the housing units, including 300 group home units and 300 permanent supportive housing units, will be targeted to individuals with mental illness, with the other 400 units meant for any individuals experiencing homelessness.
The county estimated that 1,000 people are currently experiencing homelessness in its borders.
County leaders noted at a news conference on Friday that housing alone isn’t enough to combat homelessness. Other parts of their plan include hiring 10 more drug enforcement officers and providing more crisis intervention training for law enforcement.
The new plan is estimated to cost $42.29 million over the next five years. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said the county is looking at local, state, federal, and philanthropic money to fund it.
Woman dies in southwest Utah in fourth heat-related death this month
2:44 p.m.
A 56-year-old woman died in southwest Utah on Sunday in what is believed to be Utah’s fourth death from heat-related illness this month.
Emergency crews responded Sunday to a report of a hiker “in distress” on a trail near Quail Creek Start Park. They found the woman unresponsive, and after attempting life-saving measures on the scene, the hiker was pronounced dead.
The woman’s identity and cause of death hasn’t been released, but police say she didn’t have enough water and it was 106 degrees Fahrenheit when the crews responded.
The incident comes after three other heat-related deaths in Utah’s outdoors this month. A father and daughter from Wisconsin died at Canyonlands National Park on July 12 after reportedly becoming lost and running out of water, and a 30-year-old died while hiking in Snow Canyon State Park with her parents on July 13. Her parents were last reported in critical condition.
Utah State says coach was fired for contacting potential victim, failing to report
2:44 p.m.
Utah State football coach Blake Anderson was fired for contacting a potential domestic violence victim and witness to the incident after an Aggies player was arrested, and for failing to properly report the case, according to a termination letter obtained Friday.
The final report of a review by the Husch Blackwell law firm, also obtained by the Associated Press Friday through an open records request, concluded that Anderson violated university policy by failing to report information to the Office of Equity.
It also said he undermined the university’s goal to respond diligently to sexual misconduct by delaying suspension of the athlete and not disclosing the arrest information with other university administrators.
Anderson’s response to the termination letter said the investigation was a “sham,” arguing he wasn’t required to report under Utah State’s policy but his actions still met reporting requirements.
Utah State University mourns loss of student-athlete lost to cliff-jumping accident
9:22 a.m.
Utah State University is working to ensure their athletics department staff and student-athletes have emotional and mental support as they process and grieve the death of football student-athlete Andre Seldon Jr.
He and a group of USU athletes were recreating at Porcupine Reservoir Saturday when Seldon was seen cliff-jumping into the water. Witnesses say he did not resurface.
Seldon joined the Utah State football program this summer and was scheduled to start classes this fall semester. He most recently played for two seasons at New Mexico State University.
Sandhurst fire causes evacuations near Utah State Capitol
9:22 a.m.
Existing fire lines held Sunday on the wildfire burning near Ensign Peak above the Utah Capitol.
Police have lifted evacuation orders in the neighborhoods previously threatened by the Sandhurst Fire. The command team is requesting residents who return should remain prepared to evacuate, if needed.
Salt Lake police say trail closures for Ensign Peak, Tunnel Springs, and the section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail nearest the fire remain in effect. Area park closures may remain in effect, including City Creek Canyon.
Police evacuated and shut down Memory Grove Park Saturday afternoon to allow firefighters to access a water source safely.
13-year old girl drowns in Bear Lake
9:22 a.m.
A 13-year-old girl drowned in Bear Lake on Saturday.
Bear Lake County Sheriff’s deputies say they received multiple 911 calls around 6 p.m. reporting that the girl was missing on the East Shore of the lake. The Sheriff's Office marine deputies with boats were in the area within minutes and located the girl, who was immediately turned over to medical personnel.
The Sheriff's Office stated in a news release that "Despite heroic medical efforts the female was pronounced deceased at 9 p.m.," The girl's identity was not released, pending notification of family.
Retired San Juan County sheriff arrested for various charges including child sex abuse
9:22 a.m.
A retired San Juan County sheriff's deputy was arrested Sunday during an ongoing investigation into "recently disclosed criminal behavior," including child sex abuse, "going back at least two decades," the sheriff's office said.
The allegations against 74-year-old Grayson Redd include rape of a child and forcible sex abuse of minors, according to a statement from the office.
Due to Redd's standing as a former deputy and the long duration of the alleged behavior, the San Juan County Sheriff's Office and the county's attorney's office are encouraging anyone who may be a victim of Redd to contact the county attorney victim advocate or their office.
