Remembering Merlin Olsen

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Utah State University Aggie legend and NFL great Merlin Olsen dies after battling cancer.

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NASA Restructure and ATK

Reported by Sheri Quinn

The Obama administration is restructuring NASA with their 2011 budget request and it is causing the Utah aerospace and defense company Alliant Tech Systems, known as ATK, to prepare for more job losses in northern Utah. Sheri Quinn reports.

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U.S. Recovery Act in Utah

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

United States Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan was in Utah recently to review United State Recovery Act projects in Salt Lake City and Logan. Nearly $10.5 million dollars has been provided through the USDA to help rural Utah communities improve health care and other facilities. UPR's Kerry Bringhurst has this report.

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Dr. Stephen R. Covey Joins USU

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Dr. Stephen R. Covey, an internationally recognized authority on leadership and a best-selling author has joined the Utah State University faculty as a tenured, full professor and the first incumbent of the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Chair in Leadership. During his first lecture at USU Covey encouraged up and coming graduates to prepare now to enter the workforce.

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Stephen Hough

Reported by Tom Williams

A conversation with renowned British pianist Stephen Hough, including talk about his blog, airline travel, more on his love of hats, and a fascinating story about how Stephen Hough discovered his Australian heritage and became a dual citizen of Great Britain and Australia.

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For more on Stephen Hough listen to the February 23 episode of Access Utah.

Disabilities Programs

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Cuts to Utah Department of Health and Human Services could mean a 10 million dollar reduction in spending for programs, including services for people with disabilities. Terri Secrist is the mother of a 26 year old with Down's Syndrome. She say her son Sage is a tax paying member of society because of those programs.

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Funding of the Arts in Utah Education

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Members of the Mountain West Strings Academy spent a day with the Utah Symphony. The Northern Utah string students are among the thousands of students who participate in the symphony's education outreach program. Art's organizers are hoping arts education programs will continue to be funded by Utah lawmakers.

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Mayor Peter Corroon

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Salt Lake County Mayor and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Peter Corroon discusses his position on legislative issues including gay rights, ethics reform, and public education. Kerry Bringhurst reports.

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Sundance Film Festival

Reported by Sheri Quinn

The 2010 Sundance Film Festival continued a strong tradition of premiering documentaries that inspire social change. UPR's Sheri Quinn reports.

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Restropo

Reported by Sheri Quinn

The documentary film called RESTREPO (PRONOUNCED REH-STRE-PO) premiered at the Sundance film festival Thursday. In 2007, Filmmakers Sebastian Junger (PRONOUNCED YOONG-ER), author of "The Perfect Storm" and Vanity Fair photographer Tim Hetherington, embedded themselves with U.S. soldiers at the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan called Restropo. The remote valley outpost consisted simply of sandbags and ammo. The two journalists lived alongside the soldiers doing everything with them except standing guard or firing a weapon. The film is not a commentary on war, but rather a chance for viewers to experience in 90 minutes what it feels like to be in a military platoon. Reporter Sheri Quinn talked to Junger and Hetherington at the festival about their stay in this violent war zone. First, we hear from Junger.

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The Buddy Box

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Utah schools are now required to have a policy to support students who are victims of the school bully. The buddy box, a resource for Utah students to find help when combating bullies, is one of these solutions.

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Team Marius

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

A young boy from Romania survives a home fire that kills both his parents. Students from Brigham Young University find a way for him to receive treatment in the United States. The story of Marius is featured in a national medical program. Kerry Bringhurst speaks with Marius following a surgery to re-construct the boys nose. For updates see this site.

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United Nations Climate Summit

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Utah State University Researcher Fred Wagner says discussion at the United Nations Climate Summit should include the moral aspects of how changes are effecting small island nations throughout the world.

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Utah Water Rangers

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Utah Water Rangers volunteers are collecting and recording rural rain and snow fall for a national data base. Robert Davies is director of the Utah CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network). He says the information is used to monitor climate change, track unique weather trends, and to predict weather related emergencies.

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President Obama's Plan for Afghanistan

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Marine Corp. Sergeant Damian McGee speaks with Kerry Bringhurst about President Obama's call for an additional 30,000 troops to be sent to afghanistan.

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National Recognition for Cache Valley Resident

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Cache Valley resident Hector Mendiola has received national recognition for a program assisting the local Latino population.

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Sweat with a Pet

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

The Cache Humane Society was formed to benefit the pets and people of Cache Valley. Their goal: That all of the pets of Cache Valley have good homes. The Cache Humane Society "Sweat with a Pet" event was held on October 10, 2009.

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Health Care Reform Proposals

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

United States Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis speaks with Kerry Bringhurst about President Obama's national health care reform proposals.

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Aggie Audio Scrapbook

Utah State University welcomed graduates during the USU Homecoming. Utah Public Radio shares stories of school traditions and memorable mentors.

Below is a list of interviewees and their audio.

Health Care Reform and Rural Utah

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack talks with Kerry Bringhurst about healthcare reform and rural Utah.

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USU State of the University Address

Also the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences State of the College Address

Utah State University President Stan L. Albrecht addressed a large crowd gathered in the Taggart Student Center Sept. 15 for his first ever State of the University address. The full text of President Albrecht's speech is available here.

College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Dean Yolanda Flores Niemann gave her State of the College address the next day, Sept. 16.

Listen to President Albrecht | Listen to Dean Flores Niemann

Obama School Broadcast

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

It was the hope of President Obama to address students throughout the nation today. But as Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst tells, teachers and administrators in some Utah schools chose to delay or cancel the live back to school broadcast.

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Sundance Film Festival

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Since it began in 1985, the Sundance Film Festival has become the largest film festival in the United States, known for pioneering independently produced films. The institute that hosts the festival is now expanding on that reputation. As Sheri Quinn reports, Sundance has partnered with a humanitarian foundation, to support filmmakers who are focusing their lens on social entrepreneurs.

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Dinosaur National Monument

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Throughout the month of July Utah Public Radio joins in celebrations marking the day when 100 years ago paleontologist Earl Douglas discovered dinosaur bones along the Utah-Colorado border. Kerry Bringhurst reports.

Hear the Story: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

Pushing the Boundaries: Utah's New Immigration Law

Reported by Jenny Brundin

Come July 1st, state and city governments and their contractors will be enlisted in Utah's crackdown on illegal immigration. Senate Bill 81 requires all new local government hires be checked out through a federal electronic database called E-Verify. We continue our series, "Pushing the Boundaries: Utah's New Immigration Law" with a look at how Senate Bill 81 could affect Utah's estimated 110,000 undocumented workers and -- as KUER's Jenny Brundin reports -- hundreds of Utah employers.

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Wyoming Wind Energy Boom

Reported by Lee Austin

Wind energy is becoming increasingly popular in the United States as a clean alternative to coal and gas burning power plants. New wind farms are being developed in Utah. But in Wyoming they are calling it a wind energy boom. Lee Austin has more.

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Logan's First Presbyterian Church

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Logan's First Presbyterian Church is celebrating 130 years with the dedication of a renewal project.

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Adaptive Skiing

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Kerry Bringhurst takes to the ski slopes to share adaptive skier Shawnie Christensen's first time experience in an innovative "body boot". The Bi-Ski is used by individuals who benefit from alternative recreation programs.

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Barbie's Birthday

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Students at Utah State University recognized the 50th Birthday of Barbie by displaying more than 100 different versions of the doll. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst takes a tour of the "Reinventing Barbie" Bash featuring displays of Barbie never before imagined.

Hear the Story: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

Western Mining and Railroad Museum

Reported by Lee Austin

Residents of Carbon County recently celebrated the grand "re-opening" of the Western Mining and Railroad Museum. Housed in a former hotel in Helper, Utah, the museum had been closed for several weeks during a leadership transition. Lee Austin recently spoke with the new museum director, and prepared this report.

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Atrial Fibrillation

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Atrial Fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm defect in the nation. It affects millions of Americans. It can destroy the heart and lead to strokes and even death. Dr. Nassir Marrouche director of the Atrial Fibrillation Clinic at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City developed a novel procedure that cures this disease. It's a one of a kind clinic and Dr. Marrouche has the highest success rate in the world for treating this heart arrhythmia. UPR reporter Sheri Quinn brings us a two-Part series about this disease, including a profile of Dr. Nassir Marrouche.

Hear the Story: Part I Part II

Cache Valley Fashion Show

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

In the second in our series on Fair Trade, we visit a Cache Valley fashion show where women gather to promote and purchase goods that are good for women throughout the world.

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Cafe Ibis

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Products with a Purpose: A Northern Utah coffee roasting company is proving responsible product sales can pay off for the environment, third world producers and the customer.

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Iron Bull Milling and Mining

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Cedar City government and business leaders are welcoming the re-opening of the Iron Bull Milling and Mining operation as a source of income and community pride.

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Geothermal Power

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Typically wind and solar power come to mind when thinking about alternative energy resources. But there's another less talked about kind called geothermal power and new technology is making it easier to utilize. A Utah company celebrated the construction of their first geothermal power plant in Beaver, Utah last week. It's going to power homes in the city of Anaheim, California.

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Hi Def

Reported by Sheri Quinn

What's happening in outer space has an impact on the weather here on earth. A group of researchers in Logan, Utah are proposing to launch a constellation of satellites to figure out how space weather affects the planet and future space exploration.

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Kokanee Salmon

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

A record number of Kokanee Salmon were counted at Porcupine Reservoir during the 2008 spawning season. More than 10 thousand of the fish were seen swimming in the Northern Utah Blacksmith Fork tributary.

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Medication Disposal

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Residents in the Uintah Basin, Washington County, and Salt Lake Valley have received grants to Participate in a pilot program to encourage proper disposal of unused medications.

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Air Quality

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Vehicles cause at least half the air pollution along the Wasatch Front. To improve air quality Salt Lake City and County is sponsoring the Idle Free Campaign with help from elementary school student.

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Disorganized

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Concerns about economics has many of us cutting back on non-essentials. But, as we learn in the report, some Americans are finding spending money to have a home or business professionally organized can mean more money in your pocketbook with the added benefit of having your clutter cleared.

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Baseball Season

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Baseball season is winding down this week. The Salt Lake City Bees just ended their regular season on a winning note. This year, Baseball.com took an inventory of ballparks from around the country with the best surrounding views. Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City took second place. Producer Sheri Quinn offers this audio postcard from a Bees Game.

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Sarah Palin

Reported by Tom Williams

With Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain running mate and subsequent stories about the Governor and her family, Tom Williams talked with Duncan Moon, Managing Editor of Alaska Public Radio Network about how Governor Palin is viewed in Alaska, some of her political strengths and liabilities, and Alaskan's reaction to her selection.

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My Gang Life

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Utah's Hispanic gang culture is growing. They are primarily influenced by Southern California gangs. This month federal officials started a round up of gang members in Utah resulting in over a dozen arrests. Utah Public Radio reporter Sheri Quinn produced a profile of a 15 year old gang member from Mexico. The story called "My Gang Life" is told through his own voice.

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Blinding Science

Reported by Kathryn Hopkins

A summer internship program for aspiring scientists brought a group of high school students to the USU campus. Utah Pubic Radio's summer intern, Kathryn Hopkins tells us the teens talked technology and studied Nano Science with some of the university's top research scientists. For more information on the USU High School Chemistry and Biochemistry Summer Internship program contact the College of science at (435)797-3517.

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Assert Autism

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Researcher at Utah State University's Center for Persons with Disabilities say a model classroom for pre-schoolers diagnosed with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder gives professionals and educators training to improve the success of an increasing number of students diagnosed with the disorder.

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Odyssey Dance Company

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Seven members of a Utah based dance company will be among venue performers entertaining during olympic events in China. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst has more on the Odyssey Dance Company's performance in Beijing.

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Four Day Work Week

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Beginning August 4, 2008 Utah will be the first state in the nation to mandate a four day work week for employees. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst says an increasing number of Utah city and county officials are considering a four day work week for their employees.

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Fire Safe Cigarettes

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

In July Utah became the fourteenth state in the nation to limit the sale of cigarettes to brands that meet Fire Safe Standard Certification. Retailers are clearing store shelves of all cigarettes that do not meet the new standards. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst reports that some Utah smokers say the new standards are a real drag.

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Rocket Launch

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Several rockets were launched in Green River, Utah last week by college students from around the country. In an effort to improve engineering education, Utah State University Professor Paul Mueller started the national intercollegiate rocket launch competition, now in its third year.

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Urban Sprawl

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Growth and development in rural Utah is forcing agricultural producers to defend their rights to farm. Houses are being built up and around local dairy farms, but little do the home builders take notice of the smell and the flies that accompany living so close. Because of this home builders are asking to have the dairy farms removed, but is that their right?

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Isabel Katana

Reported by Lee Austin

Isabel Katana, well known in Cache Valley as a community activist, volunteer and benefactor, died Sunday night at Logan Regional Hospital. She was 94. Katana was also well known to Utah Public Radio listeners. Lee Austin prepared this remembrance:

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Utah Raptors

Reported by Lee Austin

While the professional baseball season for most teams has been underway for some time, competition in the Pioneer League Begins June 17. That means preparations have been underway at Lindquist Field in Ogden, where the Raptors will be celebrating their 15th season. Lee Austin visited a recent Raptor's practice session and prepared this report:

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Gabriel House

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Students from Utah State University are providing adaptive equipment and waste water treatment improvements to orphans in Mexico. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst says the Gabriel House Project involves the USU DePartment's of English and Communicative Disorders, and the university's chapter of Engineers Without Borders.

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Land Preservation

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Cache County landowners could have access to open space preservation monies should voters approve a $10 million dollar property tax bond in November. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst reports using money to off-set the cost of preserving private property is not an ethical alternative according to some agriculture land owners.

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Miricale for Marius

"A Miracle for Marius" ...the first in a series of reports about two Utah students volunteering at a Romanian orphanage. Part one features the story of the cultural challenges and life changes of two young friends determined to make a difference. Visit teamMarius to find out how you can help out. During Part 2 in the series "A Miracle for Marius" meet the young boy from Romania recovering from a home fire that left him without his parents. Ashley Ludlow and Jessica Free are two twenty year old university students from Utah who began the Marius Burn Fund.

Hear the Story: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Honeybees

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Most of the nation's crops depend on the fate of the struggling honeybees for pollination. Scientists at the US DePartment of Agriculture bee laboratory in Logan are researching native non honey bees to find out how these pollinators can help.

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Rattlesnakes in the Wasatch Front

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Rattlesnakes in the Wasatch Front are leaving their dens right now to hunt. They are less likely to bite in the Spring, they are focused on getting food. The Great Basin rattlesnake is the only species of rattlesnake that lives in the Wasatch Front. They are abundant but their populations have decreased dramatically.

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Brain Damage

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Nearly half of Traumatic Brain Injury accidents in Utah occur in rural communities. Utah State University's Center for Person's with Disabilities (435-797-8810) and the Brain Injury Association of Utah (800-281-8442) have received funds to oversee a pilot project to study Traumatic Brain Injury services. The second in a series on Traumatic Brain Injury and what one Disability Service Coordinator is doing to prepare for the influx of veterans with ware related TBI.

Hear the Story: Part 1 Part 2

Space Garden

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Scientists from Russia, NASA, and Utah gathered at the Space Dynamics Laboratory in Logan, Utah recently to study how plants in outer space can benefit humans both physically and mentally.

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University Smoking

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Members of Associate Students at Utah State University have voted to support a plan to ban the use and sale of tobacco products on the campus. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst says the ban would be the first on at a Utah institution of higher education.

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USU Shuttle Mission

Reported by Sherri Quinn

Utah State University is Part of an international space shuttle mission scheduled to launch tomorrow morning before dawn. Astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour will deliver experiments designed at a USU physics laboratory to the International Space Station.

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Prison Education

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Members of the state legislative education appropriations committee have voted to provide Partial funding used to train inmates in the Utah state prison system.

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Spiral Jetty

Reported by Sheri Quinn

Utah's Spiral Jetty is one of the world's most important works of land art. A proposal to drill for oil in the Great Salt Lake, five miles away from the immense basalt rock earthwork has set off an international alarm.

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IRIS Training

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Research to determine the best methods of training teachers has led a Utah based company to develop a virtual instructor that is receiving national attention. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst brings us this report from North Logan.

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KRCL Renovation

Reported by Sheri Quinn

KRCL community radio station 90.9 in Salt Lake City and now on 90.5fm in Logan is getting a makeover. In an effort to increase listenership along the Wasatch Front, the station is replacing its 20 plus weekday volunteer programmers with three paid DJ's. The decision announced last week was met with both ambivalence and outrage among volunteers. Some say it puts the meaning of "community" in community radio into question.

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Sundance Film Festival

Reported by Sheri Quinn

The Sundance film festival wraps up this Sunday. Staged each winter in the snowy mountain town of Park City, Utah, Sundance is America's premiere showcase for independant movies. Out of the 207 films being shown at Sundance this year, 47 are foreign productions. One of them, "Dinner With The President: A Nation's Journey," explores the prospects for democracy in one of the most populous Muslim countries in the world, Pakistan.

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Port 15 Utah

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Utah Trust Land planners says a development project incorporating an in-land railway port could eventually bring in as much as $10 million dollars a year to the fund used to help educate the state's public school children.

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State Capitol Restoriation

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Utah State Capitol restoration and renovation celebrations continued through January 12, 2008. The $200 million dollar project includes unique safety features along with several additional works of art. Utah Public Radio's Kerry Bringhurst has more.

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Utah State Capitol

Reported by Dan Bammes

A four year renovation of the Utah State Capitol is now complete. Dan Bammes reports the $230 million dollar project to the "People's House" was designed to restore the structure to it's original splendor.

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Sevier Power Plant

Reported by Lee Austin

Developers of a coal fired power plant in South Central Utah have made gains in recent weeks. The Sevier County Planning and Zoniong Commission gave the project preliminary approval last week, and the State Division of Air Quality voted last month to uphold an earlier decision granting a license for the power plant. But as Lee Austin reports, the fight is far from over.

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New Year's Celebration

Like the New Year, all celebrations undoubtedly call for champagne. It's just so fabulous, festive and bubbly. And it's all thanks to the discovery that it's okay to keep one of fermentations byproducts, carbon dioxide. We sit down with the local owner of Vintage Wine Cellars to help us determine what makes a fine champagne.

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Shadow of Corruption - 4 Part Series

Reported by Sheri Quinn

The Ache are one of the last remaining hunter/gatherer groups in the world. They live in a remote region of the endangered Atlantic rain forest in Eastern Paraguay in South America. The Ache are trying to protect a chunk of the rare forest called the Mbaracayú Reserve. Less than ten percent of intact rain forest remains in Paraguay and the deforestation rate continues at a rapid pace. The reserve is in severe jeopardy despite the allocation of international conservation funds to help protect it. With the help of two anthropologists, the Ache are trying to save what's left of the reserve and adjacent forest, but they are faced with recent forest fires and constant corruption on the local and national levels.

Hear the Story: Part I Part II Part III Part IV

Mental Health Court pt.2

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

Utah Public Radio Reporter Kerry Bringhurst discusses the impacts of incarcerating the mentally ill. This report includes comments from President of the Utah Jail Commanders Association, NAMI- Utah Executive Director, and a personal account from a twenty year old young man with a mental illness who now mentors youth in the Utah juvenile justice system.

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Mental Health Court pt.1

Reported by Kerry Bringhurst

More than one million inmates in the nation's jails are estimated to have some type of mental illness. In an effort to address the problem, the Utah Legislature is providing seventy five thousand dollars of ongoing money to fund a juvenile mental health court in Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties.

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Romney Speech on Religion

In a speech delivered at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas, Romney hoped to put aside the issue of his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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