News briefs

N. Ogden police ID man killed in crash
Police have identified a man killed in a car crash with an Ogden police officer.

Police said Richard Gee, 45, of North Ogden didn't yield to traffic when he was hit by a police cruiser driven by officer Christopher Edwards.

"We concluded there was a failure to yield from Mr. Gee," said North Ogden police officer Jason Child. "The officer had the right of way on Washington (Boulevard)."

Child said officers were trying to figure out why Gee didn't yield. He said it is possible high snowbanks in the area of 1900 North and Washington Boulevard made it difficult for him to see.

Officers said Gee was not wearing a seat belt. The crash left Edwards with a broken arm and a concussion.

Film on Iraq invasion screening at the U.

Winter Conference at the University of Utah kicks off today with a screening of the movie "Meeting Resistance."

Local organizations, including the Wasatch Coalition for Peace and Justice, Utah Jobs with Justice, and We the People for Peace and Justice, along with numerous sponsors, organized the conference to include a number of films, speakers and forums addressing the Iraq war and various social issues.

"Meeting Resistance," a film on the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Orson Spencer Hall auditorium.

Changing to an environmentally sustainable energy policy is the focus Saturday morning, beginning with the 9 a.m. screening of the Al Gore film "An Inconvenient Truth." It will be followed by a speech by environmental activist and author Larry Lohmann.

Argument for national health-care reform takes the stage at 2 p.m. with a screening of Michael Moore's "Sicko." A panel discussion regarding health care will follow.

A variety of forums, workshops and panels addressing a number of other issues will be ongoing. For more information, visit www.Agenda08.org.

Moab cleanup too slow for Matheson

Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman is "dragging" his feet on removing 16 million tons of radioactive tailings piled close to the Colorado River near Moab, Rep. Jim Matheson said this past week.

Matheson, D-Utah, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said in a statement that his requirement to get the tailings moved by 2019 is seen as a "soft deadline." Matheson has been pushing for $30.5 million in this year's Department of Energy budget toward cleaning up the Moab tailings.

Bodman told Matheson during a committee meeting this week that the mess near Moab is considered less of a priority than other long-term cleanup projects. But scientists have said that it's a matter of when, not if, a major flood will hit the Moab area, washing some of the radioactive tailings into the Colorado River.

Ogdenites are urged to clear fire hydrants

Ogden firefighters are asking for help uncovering fire hydrants after a series of snowstorms has pummeled the city in recent weeks.

With more than 2,500 hydrants throughout the city, it is a "daunting task" for city crews to clear every onehydrant, officials said.

The fire department asked residents to clear a path around each hydrant so firefighters can locate them in case of an emergency.

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