Governor Olene Walker kicked off National Infant Immunization Week (April 25-May 1) by reading to a group of immunized children at the Main Salt Lake Library today. The "Love Them, Protect Them" immunization event highlighted two other important issues for children, healthy nutrition and reading, and showed how they can help get more Utah children immunized.

The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) is offering a free book to parents on the WIC Program (Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program) when their child is adequately immunized. Each child who is less than two years of age, enrolled in WIC, and is current on immunizations receives a book titled "I Love You As Much," by Laura Krauss Melmed.

"It’s a winning combination," said Governor Walker. "Children are better protected with immunizations and parents are encouraged to develop children’s reading skills." Walker emphasized the correlation between a strong mind and a strong body. "It’s important that we implement effective strategies to increase immunization levels so that infants and children in Utah can be healthy and reach their fullest potential," Walker added. Utah’s child immunization levels have increased from 66 percent in 1999 to the current 77.4 percent, but there is still room for improvement, according to health officials. Last year, about 49,000 babies are born in Utah, and approximately 20 percent of those are not adequately immunized during their first two years of life.

Although immunization levels in Utah are high or near record highs for most vaccines, disease-causing viruses and bacteria are still circulating – either at low levels in the United States or elsewhere in the world. Those diseases not currently circulating in this country are only a plane ride away.

In recognition of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), several counties and local immunization coalitions across Utah will hold activities for children in childcare settings,

WIC clinics, community health centers, recreational centers, libraries, schools and health departments.

To participate in NIIW events, contact the Utah Immunization Program at (801) 538- 9450 or your local health department. For more information on immunization, call the Utah Immunization Hotline at 1-800-275-0659.

10:36:51 AM    

Gov. Olene Walker responded to action taken by the state Legislature Monday afternoon in a veto override session, expressing her concern that politics were at play and that the best interests of Utahns were not served.

"I stand by my vetoes because I believe in good government," Walker said. "I have been patient with the process, hoping that the greater good would be served. I am concerned that a few individuals have railroaded the process and taken actions I find questionable."

Walker made specific reference to the legislation overridden, calling it "poorly drafted law."

"Senate Bill 115 restricts our citizens’ local decision making ability," she said. "I often hear these legislators say they want things done at the local level, but they haven’t backed that up today. Senate Bill 239 is a vague bill that will put a damper on economic development in this state."

The governor also criticized the politicking of some legislators, saying their actions tainted the democratic process.

"I understand there has been arm-twisting and a few closed-door meetings to lock down the votes for these overrides," Walker said. "Boiled down, this is purely politics, and I hope Utahns can recognize what has happened here today. I am disappointed, and the public should be too."

Walker again extended her invitation to work on the bills in cooperation with the Legislature, but noted that in the meantime "Utahns would have to live with bad law."

Walker also noted that today’s override session cost the state’s taxpayers approximately $20,000 dollars.

7:45:06 AM    

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Transportation Commission approved the following list of projects for federal enhancement funding at its April 23 meeting in Salt Lake City:

Blanding City-$148,000

This project constructs a second phase of a visitor information center on U.S. Highway 191. This consists of landscaping, walkways, picnic tables and additional parking.

Syracuse City-$474,200

This project constructs an asphalt trail and a trailhead parking lot. This is the final phase of a four-phase trail project through Syracuse City following the Historical Emigrant Trail.

Highland City-$132,000

This project provides a safe underpass crossing of state Route 92 near the mouth of American Fork Canyon. It would create a safe connection for the Highland City Trail System and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail System by constructing an underpass across S.R. 92.

Midway City-$500,000

Midway City is reconstructing the existing Midway City Main Street from Second West to 300 East. Enhancements will add bike lanes, sidewalks, landscape areas and street lighting. UDOT will provide some surfacing as part of this project.

Beaver County-$400,000

This project is a 3.8-mile long bike/pedestrian trail that will utilize Rotomill tailings for its surface. It starts at the mouth of Beaver Canyon on state Route 153 and extends to the golf course parking lot.

Town of Tropic-$400,000

This project provides a landscaped entryway on both ends of town on state Route 12. Landscaping, lighting and sidewalk will be installed along three blocks in conjunction with a UDOT pavement project.

Santaquin City-$400,000

This project constructs a pedestrian walkway along U.S. Highway 6 from the east side of Interstate 15, then west to connect with the existing sidewalks at 400 East. Landscaping along this corridor will also be provided to create an entryway for Santaquin.

Manti City-$500,000

This project will provide rest room facilities at the existing visitor information center in Manti and add enhancements to the main street (U.S. Highway 89). Landscape planters, trees, new lights and textured intersections will be constructed.

Springville City-$500,000

Springville City is will add enhancements to Main Street as part of a UDOT rehabilitation project. Dedicated bike lanes that tie into the local trail system, landscaped medians, pedestrian walkways and textured crosswalks are all elements of this four-block project.

Salt Lake City-$388,240

This .5-mile section of trail at the mouth of Emigration Canyon connects the existing city trail system to a county-sponsored trail in Emigration Canyon. This section of trail needs additional funds to construct retaining walls to facilitate the trail construction along the existing roadway.

Salt Lake County-$500,000

This project extends the proposed trail from Tanner Park area westward along Interstate 80 to 1700 East (approx two miles).

American Fork City-$392,000

This project constructs a 2.8-mile trail to connect regional parks in American Fork.

Gunnison City-$240,000

This project constructs an underpass at an existing structure on U.S.89 in Gunnison, as well as add one mile of trail along the Sanpitch Diver dike.

Draper City-$249,600

This project completes the last phase of the Porter Rockwell Trail.

Moab City-$472,000

Moab City will enhance a UDOT reconstruction project scheduled for U.S. Highway 191 in 2005. This will add landscaping features from 200 North to 100 South. Landscape medians, bike lane striping, trees, new lighting, and textured concrete intersections are proposed.

Santa Clara City-$500,000

This project adds landscape enhancements to a 1.2-mile segment of Santa Clara Drive. These enhancements are part of a local project to improve the roadway section.

Payson City-$400,000

This project enhances the existing I-15 South Payson interchange by adding landscaping. Some hillside type plantings with drought resistant native plantings and desert bark and rock will be included in the design. Payson City will take over maintenance of the landscaping

Grand County/UDOT-$500,000

This project constructs the next two-mile phase of a trail eastward along state Route 128 next to the Colorado River. The initial phase of this project should be under construction this summer.

UDOT-$240,000

This project provides an underpass connection for an existing trail system in Logan Canyon that will be part of a UDOT bridge project.

UDOT-$240,000

This enhancement project provides for a sidewalk to state Route 108 specifically for school children and other pedestrians in Davis County.

SLC/UDOT-$400,000

This project develops a trailhead for the Jordan River Trailway at North Temple and the Jordan River. UDOT has worked with the city in development of this site and the access to it.

UDOT-$250,000

A project is scheduled to make improvements to St.George Boulevard. This additional funding would provide landscaping enhancements to that UDOT project.

UDOT-$500,000

This project was recommended by UDOT to complete the proposed enhancement elements proposed by Midway City. This funding would complete the Midway improvements (item 4 on this list) as one construction project.

Enhancements funds are administered by UDOT as part of a program created by the U.S. Congress in 1991. The program was reauthorized through 2003 with the passage of the Transportation Equity Act for The 21st Century of 1998 (TEA-21). The Transportation Enhancements program provides opportunities to use federal highway dollars to enhance the cultural and environmental value of the nation's surface transportation systems.

Applications are being accepted for federal fiscal year 2004 and 2005, based upon the anticipated Congressional authorization of continued program funding under either the current or a new highway bill. Projects will be selected based upon qualifying criteria but will not be awarded until funds have been authorized for this purpose. The annual funds available to Utah are estimated at $3 million per year.

7:43:30 AM