http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/articles.sec-8431-1-the-way-it-is.html By Eric S. Peterson

Congress recently passed a bill extending unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks nationwide. While the bill in Utah may help more than 12,000 unemployed in the state, Republican congressmen Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop voted against the bill, agreeing with President George W.]]> By Eric S. Peterson

With the largest bank collapse in U.S. history hanging over desperate political negotiations on the proposed $700 billion Wall Street bailout, economic anxiety is running high across the country. City Weekly asked Michael Berry of Michael Berry Custom...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

School vouchers are re-emerging as a 2008 election issue. The Utah Democratic Party is reminding voters of Republican support of the voucher issue, which was defeated in referendum this past November. State GOP leaders, however, contend that school vouchers...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

Jean Welch Hill, Democratic candidate for the attorney general’s race, has made campaign-finance reform a major part of her platform. If elected, she says she wants to forbid candidates from using donations for personal use and limit election cycle...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

The West Valley City Council recently capped the number of taco-stand licenses at 15. Some council members feel they’re not aesthetically pleasing and are a burden to existing health inspectors’ workloads. City Weekly asked Cathy Moran of...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

Sen. John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, has a 17-year-old daughter who is pregnant and unmarried. Reports have been mainly favorable since she has decided to keep the baby. City Weekly asked Kim Benson, a receptionist...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is questioning a Jordan School District policy which allows teachers to investigate allegations of child abuse on their own before reporting to the police. The policy is in question after the conviction of...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

Utah recently began its four-day work week for certain state government employees. The effort is meant to conserve energy and cut down commuter pollution. But many state employees complain it throws their schedules off while citizens complain of not...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

The City of Bountiful recently voted to start a mandatory recycling program for all residents beginning this December. Some citizens believe the added fees (expected to be an extra $36 a year) are too burdensome and unfairly force the residents into recycling....]]> By Eric S. Peterson

A University of Utah study has found that more walkable neighborhoods built before the 1950s have healthier residents, with average male residents in walkable neighborhoods weighing 10 pounds less than those who don’t, and average female residents...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

With the high cost of food, many lower-income families are taking advantage of a Salt Lake City School District program offering children healthy free lunches in the city’s parks. Since the program doesn’t screen who takes part in it, a number...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

Law enforcement experts will speak next week at a U.S. Senate committee about FLDS communities. Critics wonder if the committee is justified in light of the legal failures surrounding recent Texas polygamy raids. City Weekly asked Joseph Amici, a University...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

The Utah County drug-court program, which keeps offenders out of jail by sending them to treatment, will now only be open to serious offenders. Program directors believe serious offenders are best suited for the program, while critics argue that excluding...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

With $20 million set aside for school districts who design pay systems for teachers based on merit, districts have rushed to create different merit-based pilot programs. Some teachers worry that this plan ignores the class-size issue, others however...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

Congress recently passed a bill extending unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks nationwide. While the bill in Utah may help more than 12,000 unemployed in the state, Republican congressmen Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop voted against the bill, agreeing...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

Rising fuel costs have pushed the Salt Lake City 2009 budget into the red by nearly $1 million, causing city leaders to consider reducing free meter parking nights and weekends. Local businesses, however, railed against this, saying it would scare business...]]> By Dan Fletcher

From prefabricated, worm-colony composters to organic hemp shower curtains, the green movement is introducing Americans to environmentally friendly alternatives for everyday use. However, some feel that reducing consumption is the only way to achieve...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

Experts want to reduce investment in biofuels like ethanol which are made from corn, arguing that they’re hurting food prices too much. Biofuel proponents contend that the tradeoff is worth the savings in gas prices. City Weekly asked Anna Brozek...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

Newsweek magazine recently highlighted a new trend of Mormons appearing on reality TV shows, pointing out Todd Herzog of Survivor and Murray’s own David Archuleta as an American Idol finalist, to name a few. City Weekly asked Hillary Musgrove of...]]> By Eric S. Peterson

A Dan Jones poll found 69 percent of Utahns believe some sex crimes are worse than others and 54 percent opposed individuals on the sex offender registry from ever having their names stricken from the registry, as some offenders have recently requested....]]>