Utah State Workers Get 4-Day Week

The state's liquor laws are ... unusual

(NEWSER) - Happy hour never comes, you'll never see a restaurant bartender mix your drink, stiff drinks are a no-no, and don't even bother asking about a drink special … welcome to Utah! Though the state's infamously strict liquor laws lightened up considerably in 2009, the system remains rife with quirks—but that hasn't stopped bar owners from accepting the challenge of dispensing alcohol in the widely conservative state, the New York Times reports. Salt Lake City is now home to 118 bars, many of which argue that although Utah has come a long way in little time, the restrictions around serving alcohol are excessive to the point of hurting business. More»

Faithful think he's trying to distance himself from LDS church

(NEWSER) - Jon Huntsman isn't flying his Mormon colors proudly enough for many in Utah, reports Politico . The former governor's decision to put his 2012 headquarters in Florida, coupled with comments perceived as downplaying his faith (he told Time it was "tough to define" whether he was still a Mormon), led to a spate of stories in Utah featuring LDS members carping that he views his church as a political liability. Huntsman's camp has countered that he remains "proud" to be a Mormon, but it seems clear he'd prefer that the topic not become a big issue. More»

Utah shows economic, environmental, and health benefits from new scheme

(NEWSER) - A year ago, Utah’s governor instituted a 4-day, 10-hour-a-day workweek for some 17,000 state employees—and the results so far show big benefits, GOOD reports:

• Closed offices on Fridays have cut energy use by 13% and reduced the state’s carbon footprint by some 6,000 metric tons—and that doesn’t even count the gas saved through fewer commutes.

He's 'no panda-hugger,' but he does speak Chinese

(NEWSER) - After President Obama nominated Utah’s Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr as his ambassador to China, New Yorker correspondent Evan Osnos takes the pulse of the Chinese press. He found three matters of note:

• The press approved Obama’s personal announcement of Huntsman’s new post: It shows Obama takes the job “seriously,” even if Huntsman’s not a close personal friend, as his predecessor was to President Bush.

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama will name Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., an up-and-coming Republican star, as his ambassador to China this morning, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. Huntsman will resign as governor to take the post. The popular Mormon speaks Mandarin Chinese, has an adopted Chinese daughter, along with six other children, and has led a trade mission to China. He served as an ambassador to Singapore under Bush I and a deputy trade representative under Bush II. More»