The winners and the losers

• Winner: Eleven years is a long time, but the arm of the law is long, indeed, when the crime is murder. Salt Lake County detectives deserve a lot of credit for finally arresting a suspect in the 1996 murder of 18-year-old Jamie Weiss. The suspect, her then-fiance Billy Justin Charles, had been suspected all along. It wasn't until more modern techniques were developed, combined with evidence accumulated over time, that they felt they had enough reason to make an arrest.

Charles will have his day in court, of course. But the verdict already is in on the relentlessness of local authorities.

• Loser: Hispanic leaders say Salt Lake City's new street vendors ordinance, which imposes tough rules on their conduct, is discriminatory. They have a case. When the city first allowed vendors, 16 years ago, the vision was of quaint vendors selling warm chestnuts on frosty fall evenings. But those ventures fell flat for lack of public interest. Instead, taco carts along downtown's periphery caught on.

Some City Council members say there have been complaints of public urination and trash. It's strange, however, that no one can point to citations for these crimes that tie them specifically to the carts, rather than to people who happen by at odd hours.