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Teen will graduate despite negative tweet directed at coach

SPANISH FORK, Utah — Nebo School District officials have decided to allow a Spanish Fork High School student to graduate Thursday despite a negative tweet directed at the school’s cheer coach.

Chelsea Ralson said the school’s principal told her on Wednesday that she wouldn’t be able to take part in her graduation ceremony Thursday morning because she posted “Screw [coach's name]” on twitter.

Chelsea was called to the principal’s office within minutes of posting the tweet, which has since been deleted from her twitter account.

Chelsea’s mother said the tweet didn’t threaten or call the coach bad names, so the punishment is uncalled for, and Chelsea says she just wants to graduate.

“I’ll do anything. This is really important to me. I even told the principal I would rather walk than have my diploma which is really dumb but it’s a big deal,” Chelsea said.

Climber dead after fall at Bridal Veil Falls

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS, Utah – A climber is dead after a fall at Bridal Veil Falls Wednesday night.

The fall occurred at around 9 p.m. at Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon. The identity of the climber and the nature of the fall are not yet known.

Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff’s Dept. says crews are on the scene working on a plan to recover the climber’s body.

LDS film project wrapping up in Utah’s Jerusalem

GOSHEN, Utah – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is about to call it a wrap on its movie-making project in Goshen.

Filmmakers will complete their multi-year production of the New Testament this week, which offers a series of videos about the life of Jesus Christ.

In the three summers spent making the films, the LDS church has made nearly 100 short stories about the life of Christ.

Actress Savannah Stevenson plays the role of Mary, and she talked about their most recent project.

“The scene we were doing today is the scene where Mary has just returned from visiting her cousin Elizabeth, so she’s pregnant, and this is where Joseph actually finds out she’s pregnant,” she said.

Provo ramps up professional panhandling prevention

PROVO, Utah – People in Provo said panhandlers were uncommon in the city up until the past few years, and some are now concerned about the problem of professional panhandlers.

Panhandling is legal, but Lt. Matt Siufanua, Provo Police Department, said some of the people begging for change are actually part of a complex system.

“Not all of them, but there are some groups out there that are very organized, and they assign where they’re gonna go, how long they’re gonna be there, and then when they get together they pool their money,” he said.

Police said Center Street, with its frequent stops and 15 mph speed limit, is an inviting place to panhandle, but they said they are trying to prevent the activity.

“We’re doing all we can do right now,” Siufanua said.

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Prosecutors ask for more time in case of father accused of killing infant son

PROVO, Utah – Prosecutors are asking for more time in the case of an American Fork father, accused of shooting and killing his infant son.

Joshua Petersen, 21, is facing aggravated murder charges in connection with the shooting death of his five-month-old son Ryker in April.

A status conference scheduled for Monday was delayed. Prosecutors are asking for more time to go over some of Petersen’s medical records. They want to know more about his mental state at the time of the shooting. Petersen has a history of depression.

Investigators say Petersen was upset that his girlfriend broke up with him, so he plotted to kill his five-month-old son. He is accused of shooting Ryker in the head with a rifle in April at his American Fork home. Police say Petersen tried to kill himself before family members stopped him.

Prosecutors say no matter how long it takes, they want justice for the victim’s family.

Black bear captured in Provo neighborhood

PROVO, Utah – Authorities worked to capture a small black bear in a Provo neighborhood on Sunday night.

The bear was in a tree on private property near 1400 East Spring Dell Drive, in Provo Canyon.

Sgt. Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff’s Office, said sheriff’s deputies assisted officers from the Department of Wildlife Resources.in trapping the bear.

Cannon said the bear had been spotted in the neighborhood multiple times in the last few days, and when it appeared on Sunday night authorities responded.

Officers said they considered using a tranquilizer dart on the bear, but they decided against it as the bear was in a tall tree and could have been injured.

Sgt. Chad Bettridge, Division of Wildlife Resources, said setting bait for the bear was their next step.

Family of Utah Army medic say he died giving aid to fellow soldier

PAYSON, Utah — In the backyard of the Towse home, a group of neighbors working in the yard are proof that in a time of pain and sadness, hope can still grow.

“It’s unbelievable the love we’ve seen. Our yard was a disaster, it’s just beautiful now,” Jim Towse said.

Friends have been helping out at the house since Tuesday, when Towse received word that his son, Army Private First Class Cody Towse, was missing in Afghanistan.

“The chaplain and another officer came to the house, about 11:30, and knocked on the door,” Towse said. “We were in bed ,and my son goes, ‘There’s a couple of guys from the Army out there.’ I just knew. I didn’t want to go to the door.”

Towse was informed that an IED had exploded where Cody was working in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, killing at least three others.