This is your daily news rundown for Thursday, August 16. In this edition:
- Republican Phil Lyman and Democrat Brian King teamed up for a joint ad against Gov. Spencer Cox
- A proposed constitutional amendment would expand what income tax revenue in Utah is used for
- Members of Utah State University's gymnastics team were honored for academic excellence
- A Utah woman died after she and five other people suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning last week
- The murder trial for Kent Cody Barlow has been set back by eight days
And check out this story from UPR and The Salt Lake Tribune Reporter Clarissa Casper:
Utah News
Vandals cut down pride flags again in Logan. This time they were caught on camera
Clarissa Casper
Phil Lyman and Brian King make joint video against Spencer Cox
4:12 p.m.
Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Lyman teamed up with Brian King, the Democratic nominee, in a joint advertisem*nt against Gov. Spencer Cox.
The video, released Thursday by King’s campaign for governor, parodies a similar video by Cox and his then-democratic challenger Chris Peterson in 2020. In it, King says he and Lyman “disagree better” about most issues, referencing Cox’s initiative, but they agree that Cox isn’t the right choice for Utah.
Lyman lost to Cox in the Republican primary and unsuccessfully challenged the result at the Utah Supreme Court. He said he will run a write-in campaign and is identified in the ad as “former (or current depending on who you ask) GOP candidate for Utah governor,” with a note that litigation is pending.
A spokesperson for Cox’s campaign released a statement in response to the ad saying voters have the choice this November between “Utah values or liberal, California-style policy positions.”
Proposed amendment would expand what income tax can be used for
4:12 p.m.
An amendment on this November’s ballot for Utahns would allow income tax revenue to be used for any public function.
Currently, the Utah Constitution limits income taxes to be used for public education, higher education, other services for children, and services for disabled individuals.
The proposed amendment would allow that revenue to be used for any public function as long as they maintain certain school funding provisions.
If the amendment passes, two companion bills would take effect — one to increase certain per-student funding for 5-10 years if enrollment declines, and one to repeal the state sales tax on food.
A policy brief from the Kem C. Gardner Institute found that income tax, with its limited budget flexibility, has grown much faster than other state taxes.
USU gymnastics team members awarded for academic performance
4:12 p.m.
Thirteen members of Utah State University’s gymnastics team received Scholastic All-America Award accolades from the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Assocation.
They were some of 1,159 student-athletes across the country who earned a 3.5 or higher GPA over the past academic year. Three of Utah State’s gymnasts posted a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Utah State was one of 63 teams recognized for having a GPA above a 3.5.
Utah woman dead and five others suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning
9:39 a.m.
A Utah woman died after she and five other people suffered carbon monoxide poisoning last week in Vineyard.
It is believed 24-year-old Avila Almanza and one other person inhaled the gas while running a vehicle in a closed garage to use the air conditioning. Four residents living in the apartment notified the Utah County Sheriff’s Office after carbon monoxide sensors activated.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Timpanogos Regional Hospital and then flown to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray in critical condition. She was placed on life support and then died on Sunday afternoon.
The man found in the garage with her was taken by ambulance to Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. An update on his condition was not released Wednesday.
A 27-year-old woman and three children — ages 4, 2 and 9 months — were inside the home at the time of the incident. They were taken to local hospitals for treatment and then released.
Previously declined delay of murder trial against Kent Cody Barlow set back
9:39 a.m.
After previously deciding not to delay the murder trial for Kent Cody Barlow, Utah's 4th District Judge Robert Lund filed an order Friday allowing the trial to be set back — but only by eight days.
The 28-year-old is accused of causing the deaths of two 3-year-olds — Odin Jeffrey Ratliff and Hunter Charlie Jackson — in a crash in Eagle Mountain on May 2, 2022. Charges say The toddlers had been playing in a horse corral when Barlow's car left the road and veered into Cedar Valley Stables.
Barlow is charged with two counts of murder, a first-degree felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor.
His trial was set to begin Sept. 16, but at a July 30 hearing, co-workers of Barlow's attorney, Benjamin Aldana, explained Aldana is on leave due to his father's terminal illness. They argued he would not be able to prepare for the trial or be the lead attorney for the trial by that time.
Judge Lund has rearranged the schedule to have the trial begin Sept. 24.
Attorneys are prepared to argue about two defense motions to reverse the charges back to manslaughter, citing "vindictive prosecution" and Utah's constitutional statute for equal application of the law, a motion for a 12-person jury instead of eight and a motion to suppress cellphone evidence.
