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Show Utah's uninsured residents rising SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The number of uninsured Utah residents increased from 2005 to 2006, although at a slower rate than the previous two years. The Utah Department of Health, which released the most recent figures Tuesday, expects the reopening of a state-federal program this summer will cut the total even more, but that would still leave hundreds of thousands without health insurance. "It's good that it's slowing down, but it's still going in the wrong direction," said Norman Thurston, a health economist for the state Health Department. "We would really like to see that turn around and go down." According to the agency, there were an estimated 306,500 uninsured people in Utah in 2006, an increase of 13,700 from 2005. The total had increased 4-1,400 from 2004-2005 and 36,900 the year before that. The increase last year was primarily among children, whose parents are not covered. "Children are really at the mercy of what adults do for them, so it's alarming in that sense," Thurston said. The state hopes to have the total number of uninsured cut by more than half to 150,000 over the next three years, regardless of whether Congress makes any progress on the contentious issue over that time. Any extra funding from the federal government would be great, Thurston said, but the state isn't counting on it. "We're pressing forward whether or not the feds come through," he said. The latest move to assist the uninsured is reopen- ing enrollment in the state's Children's Health Insurance Program, a state and federal partnership that shut down in September when the funding ran out. The Legislature appropriated $4 million this year that will insure 12,000 more children than had been enrolled before. Jennifer Erickson, a spokeswoman for the program, said CHIP had funding to insure an average of about 35,000 children when the money ran out last fall. That total and the additional 12,000 children could be covered. Erickson said the average cost per child was $122.55 in 2006. Enrollment for the program reopens July 2 and is expected to remain open for about a year. "We're starting to get the word out," Erickson said. Gardner's pilot lost depth perception in plane crash SALT LAKE CITY(AP) - Lake Powell turned "glass smooth" when a pilot lost depth perception and crashed, leaving Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner in another extraordinary fight for his life, federal investigators reported Tuesday. The National Transportation Safety Board provided the pilot's account of the Feb. 24 crash along the 186-mile-long reservoir that straddles Utah and Arizona. The National Park Service, concerned about pollution from oil and gas, ordered the pilot's insurer to salvage the small highperformance plane. The recovery from 115 feet of water at Good Hope Bay was made April 3. The NTSB report quoted Randy Brooks of American Fork, Utah, saying at first he was flying 50 feet over the rippled surface of Lake Powell and had good perception. About 30 minutes into the flight, Brooks made a turn into Good Hope Bay, where he said his Cirrus SR22 dropped to just 25 feet over water. "A few moments later, near the center of the bay, the water turned to glass smooth, and I must have lost depth perception because in a moment we were touching water," Brooks told NTSB air safety investigator Jim Struhsaker of Seattle, a former Air Force pilot. The plane rapidly decelerated but didn't "nose over" when it hit water or sink immediately, the report said. Brooks, his brother and Gardner managed to jump out and had to swim for an hour in 44-degree water before reaching a distant shore. After a night without fire or shelter, they flagged down a fisherman on a boat the next morning. Salvage contractor James L. Cross said he found the plane largely in one piece but the engine likely ruined. "They had to have hit at a shallow trajectory, like a stone skipping across the lake. The plane is in remarkable shape," said Cross, owner of American Fork-based Marine Projects Consulting Co. and Cross International Search and Recovery. Experts say it's unlikely the nearly $300,000 plane could ever be repaired and put back in service. Gardner captured a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Two years later, he was stranded for a night by his snowmobile in subzero temperatures in the BridgerTeton National Forest, about 15 miles from Afton, Wyo. He slipped into an icy creek several times, and his body temperature fell to 88 degrees. Gardner lost a toe to frostbite but survived. Then, two years later, he survived a serious motorcycle accident, also in Wyoming. AP photo A PRIVATE PLANE that had former Olympic wrestling gold medal winner Rulon Gardner on board when it crashed, is salvaged from the bottom of Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, Monday, April 2,2007. Gardner, the pilot and another passenger suffered minor injuries in the Feb. 24 crash. BILLBOARD From page 7 Salt Lake City is the world headquarters of the Mormon church, and Logan, 80 miles north, has more than 30 LDS churches. The local temple was on the city seal until about a decade ago. Local Mormon leaders don't seem concerned about the billboard or the group. "I have no information or any knowledge or any thoughts about them," said Dean Quayle, a Mormon who is part of Cache Community Connections, a civic group of people from different faiths. "Like everybody else, we've all got our positives and negatives," he said. Ricks and others are working to raise money for billboards in Provo, St. George and Rexburg, Idaho. The group has chapters at Utah State University and in Provo, St. George, Seattle, Phoenix and Portland, Ore., Ricks said. He said 100 people or more attend weekly meetings in Logan. "We want to build bridges if we can. As what we're doing gets more and more visible, the Mormon community will get acclimated to it and not think we're terrible, evil people," Ricks said. • MATH From page 7 students with the best. The Web site, with its creation funded by the National Science Foundation, has undergone many successful revisions. Heal said the library of manipulatives is an ongoing project. They are always looking to improve the award-winning site and welcome suggestions. Cannon said they have received positive feedback from users from not only teachers and students locally, but from all over the world. "We think it is the best. We are not competing with anyone with this, but we want students to have as many tools as possible available," Cannon said. "It is a very exciting and satisfactory thing. We had a vision, and we worked a long time to bring it to fruition. We are gratified by the feedback from teachers and students who are finding it helpful in learning." ~ariek@cc. usu.edu Opponents of vouchers may force a vote SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - People who oppose using Utah tax dollars for private schools said Monday they collected enough signatures to force a statewide election on the nation's broadest voucher program. Signing the petition was for many "an act of courage" because it challenged the state's political culture, said Pat Rusk, a teacher, petition organizer and former president of the 18,000-teacher Utah Education Association. If there are enough valid signatures, it would be the first attempt to repeal a Utah law at the ballot box since 1974- - the result of an extraordinary 40-day blitz by a coalition of unions, school boards and other groups tied to the state's public education system. Voucher opponents said they were submitting 131,000 names by the 5 p.m. deadline Monday, about 40,000 more than necessary. "The people of Utah, our citizens, have spoken," said Carmen Snow, president of the Utah PTA. The drive received the personal support of Kim Burningham, who is chairma i of the state Board of Education, but he acknowledged that the effort to overturn a law was fraught with uncertainty. That's because there are two laws tied to the voucher program. Critics collected signatures only against the first one, which was narrowly passed by lawmakers during their recent annual session. A second law to amend the first was approved by a two-thirds majority in the Utah House and Senate. In an opinion in March, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said an election victory by voucher opponents still might not be enough to kill the program. A court fight seems inevitable. Rusk said her group, Utahns for Public Schools, disagreed with his interpretation: "We believe if we overturn the first law, the second becomes null and void." Utah's voucher program is like no other in the country because it is not targeted solely at low-income families or students attending poorly performing schools. • Starting this fall, Utah will give parents $500 to $3,000, depending on income, for each child they want to send to a private school. Kids already in private schools wouldn't qualify. Utah doesn't make it easy for voters to overturn a law by referendum or create a new law by initiative. Voucher opponents had little more than a month after the Legislature ended its annual session to collect signatures from 92,500 registered voters. They needed at least 10 percent of the voters in at least 15 of Utah's 29 counties. Rusk said voucher opponents exceeded that threshold by getting 131,000 signatures, including 10 percent of the voters in 24 counties. "We do believe there will be legal challenges from anybody and everybody," Rusk said of voucher supporters. "We're expecting roadblocks to be thrown up." A spokeswoman for the pro-voucher group Parents for Choice in Education said it should be no surprise that opponents met the threshold, noting there are thousands of teachers and other public employees who could sign or circulate petitions. "We believe we will win the election," Nancy Pomeroy said. The petitions were to be filed with county clerks by 5 p.m. Monday. The clerks will have until April 24 to certify registered voters' signatures. The lieutenant governor's office has until April 30 to look at the results and make the decision on an election. Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman would pick a date, as early as June or as late as November. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert strongly backs vouchers but "politics will play no role" when he decides whether organizers have "everything in order" for a referendum, said his chief of staff, Joseph M. Demma. Briefs USUprof publishes Logan Canyon book The National Geographic Society recently released "Last Unspoiled Place, Utah's Logan Canyon" written by USU professor Michael Sweeney. He will autograph copies and speak about his writing experiences April 11 at 7 p.m. in the historic Cache County Courthouse. "I've written seven books, but this is the one that I am most passionate about," Sweeney said. "Who wouldn't want to do research for a book by spending every free minute in Logan Canyon—one of my favorite places on Earth?" "Last Unspoiled Place" brings to life the legends, culture, geology, flora and fauna of the 41 miles of the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway from Logan to Bear Lake. The full-color, coffee table publication is only available through National Geographies subscription series, but by special arrangement copies are being sold exclusively at the Cache Valley Visitors Bureau gift shop. Supply is limited. "Last Unspoiled Place" is $19.95. The Cache Valley Visitors Bureau gift shop is located at 199 North Main St. and open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 755-1890 for more information. Audition being held for female dancers Auditions are being held for 10 female dancers for "Fascinating Rhythm," the 2007 Celebrate America Show: the year's premiere big band show, dinner and dance. Dance auditions consist of learning and performing jazz, lyrical and novelty numbers. Tap and ballet are part of the audition to see how quickly performers can learn routines, but will not be judged. Wear flesh colored tights, dance leotard and dance shoes. Bring tap shoes if you have them. Applicants must appear college age. Auditions are at 11 a.m. Saturday April 14 at 200 East 2600 North in Thomas Edison Charter School. For information visit www.celebrateamericashow.com or call Tina at 7134160 or Brenda at 753-1551. Interior designer holding lecture USU's Caine School of the Arts and its Visiting Artist Program present a lecture by interior designer Barry Dixon. The event is free and open to the public. It is Wednesday, April 11, at 4:30 p.m. in the Eccles Science Learning Center auditorium. Dixon will present "Everything New is Old Again," a discussion of how and why venerable styles boomerang through time, said Darrin Brooks, a faculty member in USU's Interior Design program. Believing that the core of good design lies in what is appropriate for the context, Dixon has become one of the nation's most sought designers. For the fourth consecutive year, "House Beautiful" identified him as one of America's top designers. His work is featured frequently in numerous publications, including "Traditional Home," "Southern Accents" and "House Beautiful." Brooks said Dixon has built an impressive resume that includes private residences and commercial projects nationwide. He has received accolades from regional and national organizations and in the media. English prof giving Last Lecture Thurs. Patricia Gantt, an English professor, will present the 32nd annual Last Lecture on Thursday, April 12 at 12:30 p.m. She will present the speech "Waiting for the World to Change: Reflections of an Aging Hippie." The lecture will take place in the TSC Ballroom. Admission is free. •Compiled from staff and media reports |
