After a recent study found halogen emissions coming from a magnesium plant in Tooele County, lawmakers have finalized the first major piece of legislation based on the report. The bill calls for the creation of a state study on halogen emissions along the Wasatch Front.

The bill has been amended to focus on bromine, which the study found contributed heavily to a 25% bump in pollution.

The bill's sponsor Rep. Andrew Stoddard said, "We have something that I think is a truly great bill, and I think this fourth (substitute) is really going to make progress with our air quality, and everyone's on board."

Stoddard also argued that this bill would put Utah ahead of the Environmental Protection Agency as far as tracking bromine emissions, which the state and federal government do not currently track.

‘Parents know best’: Rep. Burgess Owens wants to fund school choice at national level

Utah Rep. Burgess Owens is aiming to help K-12 students catch up from unprecedented learning losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Utah Republican recently sponsored a bill that would offer children throughout the United States scholarships that could be used to pay for private school tuition or private tutoring.

“Education should be looked at as a civil right,” Owens told the Deseret News in an interview. “Every child, no matter what their background, race, creed, or ZIP code has great potential when given the same opportunities.”

The Raising Expectations with Child Opportunity Vouchers for Educational Recovery (RECOVER) Act would allow parents and school districts to tap into funds already allocated under President Joe Biden’s $1.7 trillion American Rescue Plan Act.

Read more about the bill.

More in Politics:

• Biden’s not in a rush to announce he’s running for reelection (Deseret News)

• Opinion: Romney has a plan that is pro-business and pro-climate (Deseret News)

• Utah Legislature finalizes record $29B budget. Here’s how it’s spending your money (Deseret News)

• ‘Expect Russia to wage war again’: Romney on the danger of leaving Ukraine unsupported (Deseret News)

FROM UTAH BUSINESS

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Utah Business recognizes members of the C-suite who are changing the way we do business for the better.

Are you acquainted with a C-suite executive who makes the hard decisions that impact daily operations as well as the long-term vision of their company? Submit a nomination before March 10.

Health:

• What’s the sleep ‘sweet spot’ to boost longevity? (Deseret News)

• The cancer that took Chadwick Boseman is growing in risk among younger adults (Deseret News)

Faith:

• 5 things about the BBC’s England MTC doc ‘The Mormons Are Coming’ (Deseret News)

• Spiritual leader in Azerbaijan gets a new view of America with Utah visit (Deseret News)

Education:

• Opinion: Washers, dryers, showers and food — this is what 15,499 homeless Utah students need (Deseret News)

• Sterling Scholars: Here are Utah’s 2023 semifinalists (Deseret News)

Northern Utah:

• Train derails in Ogden, spills chemical compound (ABC4)

• Weber Basin water district OKs changes to put check on water use (Standard-Examiner)

Wasatch Front:

• Hold on to your brookies, Utah’s new Trader Joe’s is now open (Deseret News)

• Salt Lake City housing prices have cooled down (Axios Salt Lake City)

Southern Utah:

• St. George baby boy survives despite rare fatal condition, awaits kidney transplant (St. George News)

The West:

• Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder (KSL.com)

• From wool to hemp, sustainable building materials are a growing business in the Mountain West (KUER)

The Nation:

• Is Trump immune from civil lawsuits over Jan. 6? DOJ says no (Deseret News)

• More than 60 million people are under severe weather warnings — and number will grow (Deseret News)

The World:

• Japanese official denies Lee statement on commitment to expedite release of Lt. Ridge Alkonis (Deseret News)

• Russia's foreign minister gets laughed at over Ukraine remarks at a global conference (NPR)

Sports:

• Why Pac-12 schools are back talking to the Big 12 (Deseret News)

• BYU beats San Francisco with defense, 3-point shooting, Lauren Gustin’s record performance (Deseret News)
• Did BYU pull off a win against LMU? (Deseret News)

• Runnin’ Utes finally get back to full strength, but still suffer fifth-straight loss (Deseret News)