General News

LDS Church Participates in Salt Lake Interfaith Network

The Salt Lake Interfaith Hospitality Network is alive and well and includes 76 area congregations including Protestants, Catholics, Episcopalians, Mormons and Jews. They share the burdens of feeding and housing the homeless, providing temporary housing for nearly 300 families a year and even share parking lots and trash cans.

Local News

LDS Members, Leaders Helping in Wake of Tragic Murder-Suicide

LDS Church members and local leaders are helping a family of at least four children in the wake of the tragic murder-suicide of their mother and her live-in boyfriend. Joseph Bailey, 44, a police officer in Anaheim, called 911 Monday morning to report that he had killed his wife and wanted to kill himself. By the time police arrived at the couple's home, he was also dead.

BYU to Cancel Classes Four Days During 2002 Winter Olympics

President Merrill J. Bateman announced today that Brigham Young University will cancel classes for four days during the second week of the Winter Olympics. The university is adjusting Winter Semester 2002 to make up the cancelled days, which will run Feb. 19-22.

Sports

Utah Ready with Olympics Due in One Year

This Thursday begins the one year countdown to the February 8, 2002 Opening Ceremonies to the 2002 Winter Olympics being held in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee will mark the date by announcing the route of the Olympic torch and festivities will include a performance by skater Michelle Kwan.

Mad dog unleashed

Mark Madsen, 25, selected in the first-round 2000 NBA draft, is happy to be a Laker. He's getting more court time now that NBA Most Valuable Player Shaquille O'Neal has missed the past five games due to a sprained arch. On Jan. 31 he played 33 minutes and scored 15 points during the Lakers' game against Minnesota.

Politics

Larry King: Hinckley Opposes Bush Faith Initiative

In his weekly column in USA Today, Larry King says that LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley is opposed to President Bush's Faith-based initiative. While the LDS Chuch has no official position on the proposal, King says that Hinckley told him the LDS Church isn't interested because "once the government is involved, regulations follow."

Beijing Sees Pro-Mormon Push Behind Bush Appointments of Huntsman, Gong

The expected appointments of two LDS Church members to posts in the Bush administration that deal with China has upset Chinese officials. The Chinese object to the appointments of LDS Church members Jon M. Huntsman Jr. as US Ambassador to China and Gerrit W. Gong as the National Security Council staff's China specialist, claiming that their appointments indicate that China is less of a priority for the administration. They also see behind the appointments an attempt to promote religious freedom in China and push the country to accept Mormon missionaries.

Internet

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People

No brakes on a desire to help

Wellsville resident Cathy Swensen has been driving a big orange school bus for the Cache County School District for the past 11 years. Arriving at 6:40 a.m. to pick up the first of her kids, aged 5 to 18 years old, Swensen finds driving the bus an opportunity to give service beyond what is expected. Cache County School District Transportation Supervisor, Wayne Reese said, "You can tell that she really cares about the students she transports. She's not one who takes time off. She's very committed to her job and very capable."

Arts & Entertainment

'Standing For Something' Due in Paperback Next Month

LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley's bestselling book "Standing for Something" will be released in paperback by Random House's Three Rivers Press next month. The book hit national bestseller lists in the US last March when a hardcover edition of the book was released, and stayed on the lists through May.

Hatch's Song Sung at National Prayer Breakfast

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch's songwriting has once again landed in the public eye. The Ref. Wintley Phipps, a two-time Grammy nominee for gospel singing, sang Hatch's "Heal Our Land" at the 49th annual National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton.

Business

Tribune Co. Delt Setbacks in Sale Lawsuit

The Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Company was delt a couple of setbacks this week in its attempt to reverse the newspaper's sale to Denver-based MediaNews Group. On Tuesday the company's lawyers gave up their attempt to add the Deseret News to the lawsuit, saying they had received assurances that the Deseret News would follow any judgement made in the suit even though it isn't a party to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, AT&T Corp., which sold the newspaper to MediaNews, asked the court to withdraw an affidavit supporting the Tribune company, saying that the affidavit was wrong. The Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Company manages the newspaper under contract with its owner, and claims to have an option to purchase the newspaper that the recent sale will thwart.

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