Local Headlines 2-18-15

Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: Fuss over homeless shelter is off target

House votes to toughen seat-belt law, holds off on plan to weaken anti-texting law

House OKs ban on youth in smoke shops

Immigrant drivers could face higher fees, more robust background checks

BLM oil and gas auction nets $342,000

Students say lawmakers should be required to visit schools before making laws about them

Bill again seeks to tear down Utah liquor laws’ ‘Zion curtain’

Committee kills bill to delay Utah’s Count My Vote candidate-selection compromise

Bill limiting police forcible entry advances in Senate

Sex assault measure moves forward

Rolly: Hey, contact-lens wearers, here’s a Utah bill to keep your eye on

Deseret News

Op-ed: Potential long-term health care costs born out of short-term political expediency

Jay Evensen: Texting and driving — how do you outlaw stupid?

Editorial: Don’t ratchet back 1-year-old law on distracted driving by allowing some use of devices

Motorists not wearing seat belts would face warning, ticket under proposed law

Bill to boost countable ballots passes House, moves to Senate

Bill would provide smartphone app to report bullying, suicide in schools

House panel votes down bill to delay Count My Vote compromise

Proposal to designate ‘Start Believing Day’ for sexual assault victims passes House

Senate panel approves bill changing search warrant laws

Senate committee passed bill to stiffen distracted driving laws

Senate panel OKs bill increasing penalties for game fowl fighting

House passes bill to outlaw young people from entering smoke shops

Medicaid expansion up in the air as Utah Legislature passes halfway point

Huntsman: I won’t challenge Sen. Mike Lee

Senate gives preliminary approval to partisan school board election bill

Tax increase to equalize school funding gets preliminary Senate approval

Are Utah students tested too much? Lawmakers ask for alternatives to high-stakes testing

Senate panel endorses sexual assault bill without debate

Gov. Herbert, Reyes praise action halting Obama immigration move

Other

Utah lawmakers tighten up seat belt laws (Daily Herald)

Bill to make not wearing seat belts a primary offense clears House (Standard-Examiner)

Cockfighting bill passes test in Senate committee (Standard-Examiner)

Bill to fund charter schools stirs up local opposition (Park Record)

Utah’s minimum wage is a women’s issue (Park Record)

Cache County Republican Party Chairman to resign (Logan Herald Journal)