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Utah News Dispatch
FBI intercepts ‘suspicious’ envelope containing white powder addressed to Utah Lt. Gov.
The FBI found what it called a “suspicious letter” containing white powder addressed to Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s office on Friday, adding Utah to a list of at least 20 states where elections officials have been targeted. That’s according to Henderson’s office, which in a news release said the envelope was intercepted in Reno, […]
As lawmakers eye judicial reform, Gov. Cox says no to elected judges but is open to other ideas
In the wake of two major Utah Supreme Court rulings that upset Utah’s Republican-controlled Legislature — one siding with anti-gerrymandering groups and one upholding a block on Utah’s near-total abortion ban — lawmakers are eying possible reforms to the judiciary. House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, told Utah News Dispatch last month that elected judges, term […]
Utah Gov. Cox could support a secure firearm storage law
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox couldn’t say for sure, but suggested if the legislature were to pass a bill requiring the secure storage of a firearm in the presence of a child, he might support it. It all depends on whether Cox feels like the bill infringes on the Second Amendment, telling reporters during the monthly […]
Environmentalists sue Inland Port, alleging ‘unconstitutionally formed’ board
Two environmental advocacy groups are suing the Utah Inland Port Authority, the governor and legislative leaders for what they describe as “a violation of the separation of powers,” arguing the board that governs the authority is “unconstitutionally formed” and under control of the Utah Legislature. Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment and the Center for […]
Utah teacher union asks judge to void Amendment A, launches campaign to vote ‘no’
Utah’s largest teacher union and the other plaintiffs suing the Utah Legislature over the state’s new “school choice” voucher program are taking a page out of the Amendment D playbook. As part of their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, the Utah Education association, two parents, a public school teacher […]
The Fed says its long-awaited rate cut is apolitical, even close to the presidential election
The Federal Reserve’s first key interest rate cut in four years coincides with another major four-year event: the homestretch of the presidential election. Fed Chair Jerome Powell downplayed the central bank’s role in the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, in announcing the half-percentage point cut in its […]
Biden administration seeks to remove gray wolf protections in Lower 48
The Biden administration on Friday asked a federal appeals court to reinstate a rule passed under the Trump administration to remove Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the Lower 48 states which, if successful, would put the animals under state management like is currently the case in Montana and surrounding states. On behalf […]
Lawmakers revive bill targeting ritualistic child sex abuse
Lawmakers took steps to revive a failed bill from last legislative session that would define and criminalize “ritualistic child sexual abuse.” On Wednesday, members of the legislature’s Judiciary Interim Committee voted to re-open Child Abuse Amendments, a version of a bill sponsored by Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, during the 2024 legislative session that appeared […]
Lawmakers shut down discussion of Utah Republican Party’s chaotic presidential preference poll
For the second time in less than a month, Utah lawmakers on Wednesday yanked from a legislative committee agenda a discussion of the Utah Republican Party’s chaotic presidential preference poll on Super Tuesday in March. After previously being rescheduled from the Government Operations Interim Committee’s Aug. 21 meeting amid pressure from Republican party leadership, the […]
The YIMBY push for multifamily housing hits a ‘nope’ from homeowners
When Minneapolis, then Oregon, then other local and state governments began stripping away exclusive single-family-home zoning over the past five years to allow the construction of multifamily housing, many development advocates predicted the start of a pro-YIMBY revolution. But the “yes-in-my-backyard” movement has stumbled even before it’s really gotten started. In court challenges around the […]
Woman sustains thermal burns in Yellowstone National Park, park says
A 60-year-old woman from New Hampshire suffered second- and third-degree burns to her lower leg on Monday while walking in a thermal area in Yellowstone National Park, the park said Wednesday. The park said she was near Mallard Lake Trailhead at Old Faithful. “The woman was walking off-trail with her husband and leashed dog in […]
Don’t put raw milk regulations out to pasture
I farm, homeschool, garden, bake bread, raise chickens, and make my own yogurt. It seems I’m following the fad of the homesteading hobbies. However, I’m not fully converted. I balk at the principle of drinking raw milk. I have been known to give lectures to friends and random strangers asking me if my family drinks […]
Red and blue states have big climate plans. The election could upend them.
Pennsylvania wants to remain a manufacturing powerhouse. But state leaders also want to reduce climate change-causing emissions from steel mills and other industrial facilities, while cutting back the toxic pollutants that cause health problems in nearby neighborhoods. Thanks to a nearly $400 million investment from the federal government, the state is preparing a massive plan […]
SLC tax hike is closer to reality after unanimous nod from legislative panel
The plan to raise Salt Lake City’s sales tax by 0.5% to create an entertainment district downtown keep swiftly advancing, now with a nod from a legislative panel tasked with reviewing a deal reached by the city and Smith Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Utah Jazz and the Utah Hockey Club. The Revitalization […]
State election review finds high signature rejection rates, other discrepancies in Utah County
The Utah County clerk — who has been a vocal critic of voting by mail — is facing calls from state election officials to improve his office’s election processes after a state review of the 2024 primary found some of his staff were “too strict” during ballot signature verification, “resulting in unnecessarily challenged ballots.” The […]
New Meta protections for teen accounts not enough for Utah’s governor
Meta recently announced several new, default protections for Instagram accounts belonging to minors, but Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the steps inadequate. Cox helped spearhead the state’s attempt to enact into law similar, default restrictions on accounts belonging to minors and on Tuesday he gave credit to Meta. “However, while these are positive steps, we […]
Donation of enough water to fill a small reservoir now headed to the Great Salt Lake
Enough water to fill a small reservoir is now headed north through the Jordan River, the latest effort from the state and its partners to help the ailing Great Salt Lake. On Monday, water managers and state officials announced a 10,000 acre-foot donation of water, stemming from Utah Lake, that will be conveyed through the […]
Legislative panel to take first look at SLC downtown revitalization deal and tax hike
A legislative committee may make a decision to pave the way for a potential Salt Lake City sales tax hike to create a Downtown Revitalization Zone as soon as Tuesday. The Revitalization Zone Committee, created by SB272, a bill that sought to use the tax revenue for the project to attract a National Hockey League […]
Colorado to capture Canadian wolves for second year of reintroduction program
The next group of gray wolves that Colorado’s wildlife agency will release in the state as part of a voter-approved reintroduction program will come from across the Canadian border. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said Friday that they have reached an agreement with their counterparts in the province of British Columbia to capture and relocate […]
Utah Supreme Court to decide whether Amendment D will stay voided or be revived
There’s a chance the controversial constitutional Amendment D on Utah’s Nov. 5 ballot — voided last week by a district court judge — may come back from the dead. Over the weekend, the Utah Supreme Court agreed to hear the Utah Legislature’s appeal. In an order issued Saturday, the court scheduled a hearing for oral […]
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