National Law Firm Takes On Utah Census Lawsuit

The national law firm Sidley Austin Brown &Wood LLP has agreed to represent the state of Utah in its lawsuit seeking a fourth U.S. Congressional seat before the U.S. Supreme Court. In the case, to be heard March 27th, Utah argues that the U.S. Census Bureau illegally increased the population counts it made when enumerators were unable to contact residents in a process the Bureau calls "imputation."

Salt Lake City to Shelter the Homeless during Olympics

The Los Angeles Times reports that Salt Lake City is experiencing an increase in homeless persons due to the coming Olympics, in part because some motel owners are forcing out weekly and monthly renters to get higher room rates from event attendees. The city has planned for such an increase by adding a 450-bed emergency shelter and providing increased meal services.

Utah Legislators Use LDS Handbook in Abortion Debate

Aiming for votes in this year's elections, some Utah legislators are seeking to make a statement on abortion, since the state's law is already as restrictive as possible under U.S. Supreme Court rulings. The nonbinding resolution they want passed asks the U.S. Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to "protect the life of the unborn." And when one representative, Trisha Beck, D-Sandy, suggested allowing exceptions for legal abortions in the case of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother, others brought up the LDS Church's General Handbook of Instructions, which allows some exceptions, with Rep. Brent Parker, R-Wellsville, adding, "I cannot sustain an absolute ban on abortion." But Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem, suggested that the handbook isn't relevant, adding sarcastically that maybe exceptions should be allowed "after prayer and fasting and consultation with her LDS bishop." The amendment allowing exceptions deadlocked at first, and then passed when Rep. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley City, showed up to break the tie.

Huntsman Asks Utah Legislature to Help Cancer Center

Suggesting that the state increase its cigarette tax by 30 cents per pack, LDS billionaire Jon Huntsman Sr. asked the Utah State Legislature to give 5 cents of the tax to the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.

Hatch Statement on Cloning

Today the Committee takes up an important set of issues as we explore how considerations of law and ethics affect - and should affect - the science of what is commonly and perhaps sometimes confusingly lumped together under the term cloning.

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