Weekend rewind: News and photos you may have missed

Catch up on news and photos you may have missed over the long holiday weekend:

Salt Lake City mayor may dump fireworks to clear the air • To make a statement for cleaner air, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker is proposing to eliminate city-sponsored fireworks this summer at Liberty and Jordan parks. But will the City Council go along?

Blowout was firm's second spill from old well near Green River • A leak flowing over Wednesday and Thursday is the latest example of how Utah's aging oil and gas fields, often equipped with outdated and failing infrastructure, threaten public lands.

LGBT leader calls for apology over Utah governor's comments • Gov. Gary Herbert's controversial comments — calling other states' decision not to defend their same-sex marriage bans the "next step toward anarchy" and implying that homosexuality is a choice — may not impact Utah's legal fight to defend its own gay-marriage ban. But it has prompted at least one LGBT advocacy group to demand that the governor apologize.

Minecraft's virtual worlds can teach real U.S. history • Amber Palmer's fifth-graders visit the Minecraft universe to dig into U.S. history. At the beginning of the school year, the Bennion Elementary students learned about explorers and land charters, which they had to request from Queen Palmer to begin their virtual building on iPads. (Later, the queen's stiff taxes provoked a revolt.)

Pope's Mideast tour generates hope in Utah faith communities • Many Utah Muslims, Christians and Jews have more than a passing interest in the Middle East and Pope Francis' historic tour there this weekend. After all, the Beehive State is awash in these faiths, which trace their theological origins and end-time beliefs to common sites in Jordan, Bethlehem and Jerusalem — the places where the Catholic leader is speaking, leading services and meeting people.

After Swallow scandal, Utah senator seeks crackdown on BizOps • Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, is in the early stages of targeting business-opportunity enterprises (so-called "BizOps") and online marketers, which are multibillion-dollar industries in the state — but tarnished by high-profile crackdowns by regulators for deceptive business practices.

Utah boy, 16, fighting 1-to-15-year prison sentence • How did South Ogden teen Cooper Van Huizen end up in the "Uintah 1" facility — the same unit that houses death-row inmates, gang members, and other high profile offenders?

Will Utah shift more big-business tax bills to little guy? • Utah lawmakers are beginning to explore changes in the handling of property tax disputes with some of the state's biggest corporations in a way that opponents fear could lead to higher taxes for homeowners and local businesses.

Other news:

Utah school welcoming smartphones to art class

New veterans' cemetery planned for rural Utah

Porcupine Pub owners buy Market Street Broiler building near the U.

As Salt Lake building comes down, 'The Gulls' wait to fly again

Barricaded man allegedly hit wife, kids with broomstick

A Utah man's search for his immigrant ancestor reveals common story of many new arrivals

Mormon missionaries safe in Thailand after coup

Cowboy poetry/music festival ropes in Antelope Island visitors

Entertainment news:

Sean P. Means: Dissecting Adam Sandler: Is there anybody in there?

Review: Utah Symphony delivers a grand finale

Sports news:

Utah Jazz: Gentry, Griffin may be at top of team's coaching list

Monson: No dancing around what Jazz need most

Kragthorpe: RSL needs goalie's shutout to stay unbeaten

Opinion and commentary:

Kirby: Some folks have no place to memorialize loved ones

Editorial: Utility rules should consider air quality

Editorial: Save the state fair, but move it