General News

Two LDS Missionaries Mugged in Dallas Two LDS missionaries were attacked and beaten with a baseball bat in a Dallas neighborhood on Tuesday, leaving one Elder in the hospital with injuries that will take six weeks to heal. The muggers attacked the Elders at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and escaped with about $30 in cash.

Judge Rules for City, Church in Main Street Case Saying the city's sale and subsequent changes stripped one block of Salt Lake City's main street of its public status, U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart yesterday rejected the ACLU's contention that rules prohibiting protest on the plaza are unconstitutional. Stewart said that in this case "free speech rights do not outweigh private property rights." The ACLU has already indicated that it will appeal the decision to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court in Denver.

Local News

Police Identify Family and Motive for Jordan Temple Trespassing The father in the family that forced their way into the LDS Church's Jordan River Temple on December 22nd told police that he thought he was already dead. Michael R. Robinson and his wife, Dea, both of whom were reportedly active LDS Church members, were discovered praying in the Temple's Celestial room with their six children, dressed only in their undergarments.

Sports

No Matter What the Score, Reid Wins Should the Philadelphia Eagles win Sunday over the New York Giants, who have beaten them twice already this year, it may be something of a miracle. But Philadelphia fans won't be that surprised. Coach Andy Reid has given them at least one miracle already -- the Eagles made the playoffs.

Politics

Census Official That Cost Utah House Seat Is LDS The US Bureau of the Census official who made the decision to include overseas military personnel but exclude LDS missionaries, a decision that cost the state of Utah a fourth representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, is LDS, a returned LDS missionary and a native of Utah. Reporter Howard Berkes of National Public Radio interviewed Jay Waite, assistant director for the dicennial census in the bureau of the census, learning that Waite is also a 'regional leader' in the LDS Church.

People

Laotian Mormon Learns You Can't Return From Going Home A Laotian man who converted to Mormonism after immigrating to the U.S. has discovered the peril of returning to Laos. Neng Chao Lor returned to his homeland, Laos, following the death of his first wife and now is having difficulty in returning to the U.S.

Arts & Entertainment

Signature Books Announces Management Change The start of a new foundation by Signature Books publisher George D. Smith has led to a management change at the academic Mormon publisher. Longtime Signature associate publisher Gary Bergara will become the managing director of the new Smith-Pettit Foundation, and the associate publisher position will be filled by Bergara's associate and collaborator Ron Priddis, until now the company's marketing director.

Business

After FTC Approves, Salt Lake Tribune Sale Completed Despite many attempts by the management of the Salt Lake Tribune to block its sale, Denver-based Media News Group completed its acquisition of the Tribune yesterday, following the approval of the sale by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The commission reviewed the sale and approved it December 22nd, but only announced the approval on Friday, December 29th.

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