Salt Lake City news stories on Newser

Romney's Fishy Olympic Past Still Pays Off

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:45:00 CDT

We all know Mitt Romney ran a pretty good Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City 10 years ago. But few recall the bribery scandal that preceded him, or know that its major players have become significant Romney supporters, the Daily Beast reports. Businessman David Simmons, who pleaded guilty on tax...

Gayest City in America Is .... Salt Lake?

John Johnson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:32:19 CST

The Advocate has crunched the numbers to determine the "gayest cities in America." This isn't some census-based survey, but rather a "decidedly objective" equation that factors in everything from the number of elected LGBT officials to the presence of nude yoga classes. And the winners are: Salt Lake City, Utah:...

Utah's Odd Liquor Laws Kill Some of the Buzz

Sarah Whitmire — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 06:05:50 CDT

Happy hour never comes, you'll never see a restaurant bartender mix your drink, stiff drinks are a no-no, and don't even bother asking about a drink special … welcome to Utah! Though the state's infamously strict liquor laws lightened up considerably in 2009, the system remains rife with quirks—but...

Good News for Homeless Guy: You're Rich!

Polly Davis Doig — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 08:32:16 CDT

Max Melitzer was wandering the streets of Salt Lake City yesterday, pushing all his worldly belongings in a shopping cart, when a man approached with some pretty good news: Melitzer, who has been homeless for years, had just come into a lot of money. Seems Melitzer's brother died last year,...

Mom Offers to Sell Daughter's Virginity for $10K

Mary Papenfuss — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:20:53 CDT

A Salt Lake City mom has been arrested after investigators say she offered her 13-year-old daughter's virginity to a man for $10,000. Felicia Rae McClure was turned in by her boyfriend, who noticed a series of troubling texts about the pending transaction on her cellphone, say cops. McClure, 32,...

Mitchell: Elizabeth Smart Had a 'Glorious Experience'

Polly Davis Doig — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:21:36 CST

Trial resumed in the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case today, with jurors hearing testimony that Brian David Mitchell was not delusional, but rather deliberately controlling and intimidating, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. Mitchell "has a personality that is much larger than I’ve ever encountered," testified a former cop who ran into...

10 Sexiest, Ugliest American Cities

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:33:46 CST

Travel + Leisure put together its annual America’s Favorite Cities survey, of which arguably the most interesting category is the American cities that boast the most attractive—and least attractive—residents. Click through the top five in each category in the gallery, or click here for more.

Judge Boots Elizabeth Smart Defendant From Court

Polly Davis Doig — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:52:17 CDT

Brian David Mitchell may have been found mentally competent to stand trial, but that doesn't mean he's capable of controlling his urge to sing hymns in court, reports the AP. The serenading of Elizabeth Smart 's alleged kidnapper lasted about a half-hour during jury selection before the judge kicked him...

Raleigh Tops in Quality of Life

M. Morris — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:15:00 CDT

Raleigh, NC, is the American city with the highest quality of life, according to a new survey by Portfolio magazine . With its low unemployment rate, quality housing stock, and rapid pace of growth, Raleigh beat out the other 66 largest metro areas in a comparison of 20 statistical measures of...