Government

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Former Sen. Jesse Helms, an unyielding champion of the conservative movement who spent three combative and sometimes caustic decades in Congress, where he relished his battles against liberals, Communists and occasionally a fellow Republican, died on the Fourth of July. He was 86.

A state audit confirmed Thursday what some have alleged about the Utah Division of Securities: that it's lake of codified policies and procedures made for an environment in which employees decided on the fly how to pursue cases, leading to allegations of impropriety and internal conflict.

Lehi City has hired Travis Ball as its municipal power director. His first day on the job was Monday.

Free fireworks -- Just because you couldn't get tickets for the Stadium of Fire doesn't mean you can't see a spectacular fireworks show.

American Fork is considering upping its property tax rates, with up to a 50 percent increase. In addition, the City Council members may put several budget issues on the November ballot for voters to approve other increases.

The Alpine City Council voted to spend $22,000 to run power to the rodeo grounds in time for Alpine Days in August. This new power source will mean no generators putting out loud noise limiting the hearing during the rodeo.

A year and a half of negotiation and planning fell through on June 24 as the American Fork City Council turned down a proposal to put a mixture of commercial and residential buildings on a 10-acre piece of property on the east side of 900 West, across from Costco.

The iProvo deal is complex. Really, really complex.

During this year's Alpine Days there won't be loud generators running during the rodeo because by the time the city celebration rolls around in August, there will be a permanent power supply there.

The Utah County Commission asked residents of Spring Lake in a public hearing Tuesday night to prepare a petition for incorporation as a town.

Leaders of Provo City and Broadweave Networks were harder to find Monday than cheap gas.

A proposed Provo ordinance would place a slew of new burdens on landlords, including a requirement that criminal background checks be run on an applicant -- unless the applicant is a student attending a university with a "code of conduct." In Provo that would exempt students attending Brigham Young University. The ordinance also directs that landlords evict tenants they think have broken a law on the premises.