Utah Legislature Tackles AI Child Pornography: KSUB News Summary

Utah lawmakers are at work on legislation regarding child exploitation using new forms of technology. Representative Ariel Defry is the sponsor of House Bill 148 which proposes to clarify the illegal nature of developing or distributing AI-generated child pornography in Utah. The state wants to be sure that this kind of pornography will be illegal, preventing a misuse of artificial intelligence to harm children.

Water Managers Will Release Water From Utah Lake

Utah water managers will begin releasing water from Utah Lake as it reaches maximum capacity for the first time in more than a decade. The state Lake Water Users Association will work with engineers to coordinate controlled releases beginning early Thursday. The move is designed to prevent flooding as well as to add much needed water into the Great Salt Lake, The Utah Division of Water Resources estimates that Utah Lake is at almost 100 percent capacity. The lake is about 20 percentage points above its median average for early February. Officials say they expect more water to come into the lake when the annual spring snowpack runoff begins.

Utah Pilot Facing Human Trafficking Charges

A 48-year-old Ogden pilot is charged with paying teenage girls for sex. John Carroll Hammans faces two counts of human trafficking of a child, a first degree felony and two counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, a third degree felony. He was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court following an investigation that began last December. The Utah Attorney General's Office received information that a teenager was the possible victim of trafficking and prostitution. She told investigators she made contacts with men using "sugar daddy" websites. It is alleged that Hammans paid the girl and her 15-year-old friend for sex.

Utah National Guard Will Be At Super Bowl

The Utah National Guard is headed to the Super Bowl for the second time. Members of the 85th Civil Support Team will work alongside other CST teams to ensure public safety at the event on Sunday. The guard had six teams at the Super Bowl last year in Glendale, Arizona. In addition to participating in safety at Allegiant Stadium, guard members will be assigned throughout other events in Las Vegas this weekend.

Utah Komodo Dragon Picks Super Bowl Winner

An unusual Super Bowl winner prediction expert calls the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium its home. A komodo dragon named Raja on Monday chose from two footballs made from a favorite food: dead mice. Raja turned up his nose at the Kansas City Chiefs treat and carried away one touting the San Francisco 49ers. The Draper aquarium has a good track record for predicting winners. When the two teams last met in a Super Bowl, Takoda a two-toed sloth correctly chose the Kansas City Chiefs to win.