Utah News

Combining the talents of high school students, amateurs, and professional artists, Michael Bingham is spearheading a fundraiser in Northern Utah to send artists to school. UPR's Brianna Bodily sat down with Bingham to find out all about "Art in a Bag".

Michael Bingham, who is a local professional artist himself explains, "This event, Art in Bag, is a whole bunch of little paintings, they're 5 x 7 inches. You pay $10 for one bag or 3 for $25."

The value of many of the paintings is between $200 - $400.

Reactions to the Supreme Court's decision regarding national health care reform vary. During UPR's Access Utah broadcast Thursday morning, guests were asked to give their reaction to the decision, less than an hour after the announcement, and by mid-day Utah's high-level politicians had released their statements.

Besides dominating the news over the past 2 weeks, the wildfires that are consuming thousands of acres across the state are taking their toll on Utahns' mental health. When confronted with natural disaster and personal tragedy, a range of stress, anxiety, and depression are common.

The national Disaster Distress Helpline is available to provide counseling to anyone who needs help in dealing with the wildfires in Utah.

A wildfire near New Harmony, south of Cedar City, has destroyed 1 home so far and 7 other structures, forced the evacuation of about 40 homes, numerous farm animals, and led to the closure of I-15 between Cedar City and St. George.

Richard Hatch teaches magic classes during the  Cache Valley Summer Citizens program. UPR's Brianna Bodily sat in on one of Hatch's classes called "Magic 201: How to be an Amazing Audience."

At the beginning of the class, the students raise their right hands and pledge: "I promise not to expose the secrets of magic."

In addition to teaching magic tricks in his classes, Hatch also talks about the science of deception:

Organizers of the anti-corporate personhood Move to Amend initiative have taken their request to get on the ballot in Salt Lake City this year to the Utah Supreme Court.

Despite having more than enough signatures, the city recorder’s office rejected the initiative, because state law doesn’t allow for local initiatives that don’t create actual legislation to appear on the ballot. The city council had planned to circumvent that law by voting to place the initiative on the ballot directly, but Utah code apparently doesn’t allow that, either.