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Utah's Republican governor is a no vote on Trump again
Republican Gov. Spencer Cox will not vote for former President Donald Trump in November, he told CNN, saying his concerns include how the Jan. 6 Capitol riot unfolded.What he's saying: "I want my party to win," he said on "The Source with Kaitlan Collins" Wednesday night. "They chose a candidate this time around that was not my first choice, wasn't my choice last time either, but the party has spoken."Cox said he plans to write in a candidate.Between the lines: Cox hasn't voted for a major presidential candidate since Sen. Mitt Romney's 2012 run.The big picture: Cox's profile as a moderate Republican has risen nationally since he was named chair of the National Governors Association last July, where he launched a campaign to reduce partisan polarization.The "Disagree Better" initiative has been lambasted by far-right conservatives and liberals alike.Zoom out: Utah GOP voters demonstrated less-than-enthusiastic support for Trump in 2016 and 2020. Many Latter-day Saints voters have been turned off by his brashness and conduct.Catch up quick: Cox last month defeated his GOP primary challenger, state Rep. Phil Lyman, of Blanding, 54.4% v. 45.6%.
Utah Supreme Court: Lawmakers must heed voter-passed gerrymandering reforms
Utah legislators cannot ignore the state's voter-approved anti-gerrymandering ballot initiative in drawing electoral maps, the state Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday.Why it matters: The decision could lead to new congressional district boundaries and ultimately change the makeup of Utah's all-Republican congressional delegation.Catch up quick: Voters in 2018 narrowly approved the "Better Boundaries" ballot initiative, which created a seven-member independent redistricting commission to draw new congressional boundaries and avoid gerrymandering.Yes, but: The GOP-controlled Utah Legislature in 2020 revised the voter-approved law to make the commission merely advisory. Lawmakers in 2021 rejected the commission's maps and drew new ones that split blue-leaning...
Utah bar owners say the state is cracking down on straw tests
Salt Lake City bar owners say Utah liquor regulators are cracking down on straw tests — a common technique used to ensure the quality of a cocktail.Driving the news: State enforcers within the past year started warning bars against taste tests, several bar owners and staff told Axios.Regulators say these tests amount to illegal consumption of liquor on the job.Why it matters: Mixologists at some of Salt Lake's most acclaimed bars say the straw test ban is stifling their creativity and forcing them to change their operations.They argue it's also likely to deter culinary talent from Salt Lake's exploding craft...
How Great Salt Lake dust impacts Latinos and Pacific Islanders
Airborne dust from the dwindling Great Salt Lake is disproportionately impacting Latino and Pacific Islander communities, per a recent study.Why it matters: Communities of color have historically faced the brunt of environmental hazards and human-caused climate change.Context: That's been especially true in the Salt Lake metro area where many of Utah's most racially diverse residents live.The EPA in 2022 launched an environmental justice assessment into the challenges facing Salt Lake City's west side neighborhoods.The assessment found West Siders have long encountered poor air quality due to their proximity to highways, the airport and refineries, confirming what residents have known and...
Tips to camp in a wildfire lookout tower
If you want a million-dollar view for less than $100 a night, one option rises above the rest: camping in a wildfire lookout tower.The big picture: The U.S. Forest Service rents dozens of its old, remote fire lookouts now that infrared tools and aircraft have replaced human eyes in most areas.The "cabins" are like mountain lighthouses, designed for 360° views from high peaks. Settling into the fire lookout at Thompson Peak, Montana. Driving the news: Some of the lookouts' fall and winter reservations open up today, so hop online pronto if you want a chance to stay there.Catch-up quick: Foresters...
Salt Lake City launches e-bike voucher program. Here's how to apply
Salt Lake City officials on Tuesday launched a long-anticipated e-bike voucher program to promote better air quality and get cars off the road.Why it matters: Cars, semi-trailers, trains, buses and airplanes produce the most emissions along the Wasatch Front than any other source, per the Utah Department of Air Quality.The big picture: Salt Lake's program comes as other U.S. cities provide their residents e-bike rebates, including Denver and Washington, D.C.By the numbers: E-bikes can cost several thousands of dollars, and the city's new $230,000 lottery-based program can help residents cover the cost of one.How it works: There are a limited number of vouchers — ranging from $300 to $1,300 — depending on income level and the type of bike being purchased.To apply, applicants must live in Salt Lake City, provide proof of residency and 18 or older.The city is accepting one application per person or up to two per household.What's next: They must be submitted by July 16 at 11:59pm.People will know if they've been awarded a voucher by July 31, and it must be used by Sept. 30. The vouchers can be redeemed at these five participating bike shops: Bingham Cyclery, Contender Bicycles, Magnum, Rad Power Bike and Trek.
How to spot a "polygamy house" apartment in Utah
As cities and developers nationwide scramble to convert schools and churches into much-needed housing, Utah has already tapped into a unique apartment-conversion source: houses built for polygamists. The big picture: You can occasionally find apartments around Utah that once housed plural marriages. "I've definitely heard of a lot of them,"...
Need a late-night bite? Head to Tacos Lopez for Tijuana-style street food
I've been in my new home in West Valley City for two weeks now and my friends keep telling me the Mexican food here is superb. State of play: They're not wrong. As I explore my new neighborhood, I find myself going back to Tacos Lopez, a Utah-based, Tijuana-style taqueria.
My supposedly-polygamous apartment in Salt Lake City
My first apartment in SLC was in a stately home built on 700 East for a polygamous family — or so said the landlord.The intrigue: Conflicting records swirl around the house, near 100 South.Estimated construction dates range from 1871 to 1912, and county property records show a flurry of deed transfers between and within families for decades.The big picture: Complicated property transactions may signal a history of polygamy, since the practice raised legal questions around inheritance and women's ownership of property.But it's hard to know for sure—and puzzling out polygamous genealogy can be so messy that the Church of Jesus...
Where to celebrate Salt Lake City's Winter Olympics announcement
Utahns may have more than one reason to celebrate on Pioneer Day.State of play: Salt Lake City is throwing a July 24 watch party downtown for the likely announcement of the Winter Olympic Games coming to Utah in 2034. The International Olympic Committee is set to make its announcement in Paris during the Summer Games.Driving the news: Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will be in Paris for the final pitch before the IOC takes a vote around 4am MT.Yes, but: That means a livestream of the IOC proceedings will begin at 3am in Washington...
Salt Lake's housing market is cooling down
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/AxiosSalt Lake City's housing market is cooling down faster than the national average, according to an analysis by Redfin.Why it matters: With fewer buyers competing, homebuyers might find it easier to avoid paying more than the asking price.By the numbers: Between April 2023 and April 2024, Salt Lake metro saw a 5% decrease in the share of homes sold within two weeks, compared to about a 3% drop nationally.Meanwhile, housing inventory increased 17% year-over-year.The big picture: Supply issues continue to put pressure on home prices across the U.S., despite mortgage rates dampening demand.Data: Redfin; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosZoom...
Salt Lake heat waves are getting longer
It's not a mirage. Heat waves in Salt Lake are lasting longer.Why it matters: The weather events are becoming longer, more frequent, and more intense due to human-caused climate change.Driving the news: Updated data from the EPA shows the upward march of heat waves in the U.S.State of play: The Salt Lake metro area saw the third-highest heat wave duration increase among the 50 largest U.S. metro areas between 1961 and 2023. The length of heat waves in Salt Lake City rose to an average of nearly four days during that time period.Only New Orleans, Louisiana, and Fort Worth, Texas, surpassed Salt Lake City. Both metros saw an increase between 4 and 4.5 days.How it works: The EPA tracked events of two or more consecutive days when daily, humidity-adjusted temps topped the 85th percentile of historical July-August temps between 1981-2010.What we're watching: How longer heatwaves will impact the outlook for heatwaves this summer.
Rep. Celeste Maloy holds razor-thin lead in GOP primary re-election bid
Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) holds a razor-thin lead in her re-election bid against GOP opponent Colby Jenkins in Utah's 2nd Congressional District primary, the latest unofficial results show.By the numbers: As of Wednesday, Maloy led Jenkins, an Army veteran, by 295 votes in the Republican primary race that has yet to be called.Why it matters: The results could potentially lead to a recount.Between the lines: Candidates can request a recount if the margin is .25% or less, per the state's election law. Maloy is currently ahead by .28%. State of play: That scenario is what Jenkins is hoping for, per...
Utah's July 4th travel forecast: Busy but construction-free
Utah roads will be busy but mostly construction-free for the Fourth of July, state transportation officials said.The big picture: AAA researchers predicted the busiest Fourth of July for travel in U.S. history, with 71 million people expected to make a trip, Axios' Sareen Habeshian reports.Yes, but: Road crews are leaving most of their posts and opening up lanes through the weekend, per a statement from the Utah Department of Transportation.Caveat: On July 3, expect delays of up to 10 minutes on northbound I-15 in Davis County, I-15 in Salt Lake County, and southbound I-15 near Nephi.U.S. Highway 6 — the main route to Moab — could get slow when lanes close down Sunday night in Spanish Fork Canyon.U.S. 191 near Moab and S.R. 9 near Zion will also likely face delays as visitors flock to the national parks.
Open Streets makes July return to downtown Salt Lake City
Open Streets is back for two weekends in July.State of play: Main Street in Salt Lake City — between 100 and 200 South — will close to cars July 12-13 and July 19-20.Context: The city rolled out the popular pandemic-era initiative in 2020 to spur more foot traffic to local businesses downtown. It featured buskers and allowed restaurants and bars to provide outdoor dining that spilled into the sidewalk.State of play: A poetry slam and an immersive fashion and music experience are scheduled July 12 weekend, while a mariachi festival is set for the next. What they're saying: "Main Street and downtown are at their best when people are prioritized over cars," Downtown Alliance executive director Dee Brewer said in a statement.
USU dismisses to football staffers, announces plan to fire head coach Blake Anderson
Utah State University intends to fire head football coach Blake Anderson following an external investigation into "alleged noncompliance" of Title IX policies, the school announced Tuesday.Why it matters: Utah State University has, in the past, faced sharp criticism over how it handles sexual assault allegations.The big picture: Anderson's looming dismissal comes about two and a half years after he was heard on a recorded team meeting, telling players it "has never been more glamorized to be a victim" of sexual assault.The U.S. Justice Department accused the school of mishandling sexual assault reports after a 2020 investigation that focused, in part,...
Why homeless enforcement efforts could become stricter in Salt Lake City
A recent Supreme Court decision that allows local governments to ban sleeping in public even when no shelter space is available could lead to stricter enforcement of homeless encampment bans. Why it matters: The decision effectively gives the OK for cities facing rising homelessness to enact similar restrictive laws targeting...
93% of Utah 988 crisis hotline calls answered
About 7% of Utah calls to the 988 crisis hotline have gone unanswered this year. Why it matters: It's a lower rate than in most of the country, and lower than the 9% missed in April and May 2023 but that still amounts to more than 200 unanswered crisis calls each month.
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