Public News Service

The Public Lands Rule helps ensure BLM management decisions will continue to be guided by science and data. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 29, 2024

Utah opposes BLM's new Public Lands Rule

The Bureau of Land Management recently released its final Public Lands Rule, which is set to put conservation on equal footing with other multiple …

Utah's Orphan Well Plugging Program has spent about $2.5 million to plug orphan wells since its inception in 1992. (Adobe Stock)

Greater accountability sought for abandoned well cleanup in West

According to the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, there are at least 49 orphan wells in the state -- wells that are abandoned and not plugged -- …

A Utah Foundation report found Utah residents in 2022 earning a median income of just under $90,000 dollars could only afford a mortgage payment of just over $2,200 dollars without monthly housing costs exceeding 30% of their income. (Jason Finn / Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah homeownership increasingly out of reach for many

For generations, homeownership has been synonymous with the American Dream, but a new Utah report shows housing affordability is at historic lows…

Between 2000 and 2019, the number of immigrants in Utah increased by 63.7%, while the U.S.-born population grew by 36.9%, according to the American Immigration Council. (Eduardo Barraza/Adobe Stock)

UT Gov. visits southern border over 'public safety issue'

After a trip to Texas to visit the southern border, Gov. Spencer Cox expressed concern, calling the situation a public safety issue. Cox joined 14 …

Since its implementation, more than 22.5 million households have utilized the Affordable Connectivity Program's monthly discount of up to $30 for internet service, and up to $75 monthly for those living on tribal lands. (Adobe Stock)

Federal internet assistance plan winding down in Utah

For a number of years now, Congress has appropriated billions of dollars to the Affordable Connectivity Program to help internet access become more …

Around 34% of Americans, a near record high, say abortion should be legal in all cases, according to a recent Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on State's Abortion Trigger Ban

Tomorrow, the Utah Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in relation to the ongoing lawsuit against Senate Bill 174. Commonly known as the "trigger …

According to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, wildfires scorched more than 25,000 in 2022, but only 1,104 of those acres burned as a result of natural causes. (Adobe Stock)

State Leaders Break Ground on New UT Fire Operations Center

Utah state leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new firefighting center to be built along the Wasatch Front. Jamie Barnes, director of …

Utah's average cost of center-based child care for toddlers was $9,003 per year, 9% of the median income of a married couple. (Adobe Stock)

UT Excels in Child Well-Being, But Parents Struggle with Child Care Costs

Utah ranks second in the country for overall child well-being, moving up from last year's fourth-place ranking in the annual Kids Count Data Book…

According to Education Superhighway, the Affordable Connectivity Program has a 35% adoption rate across the country. (Adobe Stock)

Low-Income Utahns Lag on Broadband Access

Gov. Spencer Cox has announced a statewide initiative to increase awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which aims to get more Utahns …

According to an Annie E. Casey Foundation report, Utah saw a 9% increase in child population from 2010 to 2020. (Robert Kneschke / Adobe Stock)

Report: UT Sees Child Population Increase Despite National Decline

A new report found the population of children recorded in 2020 was 1.1 million fewer than in 2010. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation…

Cottonwood Heights, Utah, became a city in 2005. (Adobe Stock)

UT Mayor Talks Housing, Infrastructure Challenges at National Conference

Mike Weichers, mayor of Cottonwood Heights, is one of the Utah city leaders at The National League of Cities' Congressional City Conference being …

ABLE Accounts, savings accounts for people with disabilities, are currently offered in 46 states. (Adobe Stock)

More Utahns Will be Eligible for State-Based ABLE Accounts

More people living with disabilities will be eligible to open state-based savings accounts known as ABLE accounts. They're part of the "Achieving a …

The survey demonstrates that despite inflationary pressures and interest-rate hikes, small businesses expect to create jobs in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: 70% of Small Businesses Give Government Programs Grade of 'C' or Below

A Goldman Sachs survey finds that 70% of small business owners give the federal government a grade of "C or below" for the effectiveness of programs…

In 2022, almost 260,000 Utah residents purchased their health coverage online through the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchange. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Utah Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1 for Health Coverage

Open-enrollment season for health insurance is upon us, and Utahns who want to get the right kinds of coverage have a lot to consider. More than 300,…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, food pantries provided more than 60 million Americans with nutritious food. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Brings Higher Demand, Fewer Supplies for Utah Food Pantries

During the pandemic, food pantries were a lifeline for thousands of Utah families experiencing hard times. Rising inflation, however, is making it …

Studies show Utah has some of the best public schools in the country, but poor funding and a high student-to-teacher ratio keep them from being top-notch. (Grorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Study: UT Public Schools, Students High Achievers Despite Low State Funding

A new survey of public school systems around the country found Utah continues to rank among the top tier of states for its education system, but many …

Food banks and pantries across Utah saw double the normal number of families in need during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Utah Food Bank)

UT Lawmakers Ponder Permanent Working Group on Hunger Issues

Statistics showed during the pandemic, the number of Utah families experiencing food insecurity grew, and advocates argued the state needs to take a …

Thousands of qualified caretakers are needed to provide services for Utahns with developmental and intellectual disabilities. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Provider Shortage Triggers Access-to-Care Crisis for Disabled Utahns

Advocates say Utah has a shortage of qualified workers to deliver home and community-based services to people with developmental and intellectual disa…

A new federal law prevents surprise medical bills, also called balance billing, that show up when a patient sees an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility. (antonioguillen/Adobe Stock)

New Federal Law Blocks Doctors From Sending 'Surprise' Medical Bills

A new federal law, which took effect on New Year's Day, the No Surprises Act, expands protections already in place in Utah and across the U.S…

The continuing pandemic and poor economic conditions in rural communities are keeping demand high at Utah's food banks. (Elena Shi/Adobe Stock)

Groups Scour 2022 Utah Budget for Funds to Fight Hunger

Advocates in the battle against food insecurity are urging lawmakers to find room in the upcoming Utah state budget to increase aid to food banks and …

Grand Staircase-Escalante in southern Utah is one of dozens of national monuments that could be fully protected under the 30x30 Conservation Plan. (Andrushko/Adobe Stock)

Conservationists See 2022 as Critical Year for 30x30 Initiative

Conservationists say significant progress was made in 2021 toward the goals of the 30x30 Initiative, to have 30% of the world's land and oceans …

The Build Back Better Act contains provisions that would bolster coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and Medicaid. (Arlette/Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates: Build Back Better 'Crucial' for UT Kids' Health

SALT LAKE CITY -- Health-care reform advocates in Utah are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act. They say it would improve …

Research shows low-income families spend a much higher percentage of their income on food than families with a higher income. (Adobe Stock)

Ogden Legislator Leads Push to Eliminate Utah's Food Tax

OGDEN, Utah - Utah is one of only a handful of states that taxes food, but one state legislator says taxing groceries should become a thing of the …

More than 300,000 Utahns have graduated from college with significant amounts of debt, but many in careers considered public service could have their loans forgiven. (kimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Student-Loan Forgiveness Could Help Thousands of Utah Grads

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Major changes are coming to the U.S. Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that could have a big …

Coal mining and coal-fueled electricity generation provides direct employment to about 2,500 Utahns, and millions of dollars in royalties to state and local governments. (agnormark/Adobe Stock)

Biden Could Face Uphill Battle in Utah Over Clean-Energy Plan

SALT LAKE CITY - President Joe Biden's $150 billion clean-energy plan aims to rid almost half the power grid of carbon-based fuels by 2035, but …

Utah housing advocates recommend that tenants who face possible eviction or are negotiating back rent with a landlord should contact an attorney to help protect their rights. (Vitali Votelaskyi/Adobe Stock)

End of Federal Eviction Moratorium Puts Pressure on Utah Renters

SALT LAKE CITY -- Since the end of the federal eviction moratorium in August, renters in Utah who are behind on their payments may be forced to …

The outlook for children's well-being in Utah is good, but a new report says 173,000 kids live in households where parents don't have stable employment. (diego serva/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Among Top 5 States for Children's Well-Being

SALT LAKE CITY -- Families with children in Utah and other states remained mostly steady over the past year in an annual report on children's wellbein…

A plan by the Biden administration would give eligible families money to provide meals for their children during summer break in the school year. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

American Families Plan Would Boost Summer Nutrition for UT Kids

LOGAN, Utah -- Food insecurity among rural Utah children, already a problem prior to the pandemic, has grown worse in the past 15 months. Children's …

Gov. Spencer Cox announced an early end last week to Utah's participation in the $300-a-week federal unemployment stimulus program, claiming workers were making too much money in jobless benefits to return to their jobs. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Utah Governor Ends $300 Federal Jobless Benefit Early to Boost Employment

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Utah officials are cutting back on jobless benefits, claiming without evidence federal "bonus" payments are keeping thousands …

Of just over 49,000 subsidized rental-housing units for low-income Utahns, only about 16% were rented to senior citizens in 2019, according to a new report on preserving affordable senior housing. (Konstantine_L/Adobe Stock)

Utah Seniors Warned of Worsening Affordable-Housing Crisis

SALT LAKE CITY - A new report warns that thousands of Utah seniors could lose their housing unless federal and state officials act to preserve existin…

Under President Joe Biden's infrastructure program, thousands of new workers would be needed to improve bridges and roadways, repair water and wastewater systems and build a clean-energy economy. (denklim/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Biden Climate Summit Could Bring Jobs, Infrastructure to Utah, U.S.

SALT LAKE CITY -- When President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit on Earth Day, he's not only seeking to engage world powers on environmental issues…

Parents without access to paid leave must often decide between staying home with a sick child or going to work and getting paid. (pixel-shot/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Plan to Include Paid Family Leave for Utah, U.S.

SALT LAKE CITY - President Joe Biden says he will include a federal paid leave program as part of his multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan to reb…

Migrating wildlife is at risk for collisions with vehicles when crossing highways, but land bridges can allow them to safely cross roads and rail lines. (Adobe Stock)

New Funding Could Be Key to Wildlife Migration Programs

OGDEN, Utah -- Wildlife migrations are a part of the American West's lore and history, but many of those centuries-old passages are now obstructed by …

About 38-million acres of onshore and offshore public lands are under lease, but critics say organizational, financial and environmental problems abound. (Jeffery/Adobe Stock)

Feds to Review Public-Lands Oil & Gas Lease Program

GREEN RIVER, Utah - The Biden administration has ordered the U.S. Department of the Interior to conduct a review of the federal government's oil-and-…

Many Utahns have lost their health insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic, but subsidized coverage is now available through the Affordable Care Act. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofits Help Utahns Find 'Bidencare' Coverage in Health Marketplace

OGDEN, Utah -- You may know it as "Obamacare." But nowadays, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has a new moniker, "Bidencare," because President Joe …

Thousands of Utah families who have lost jobs during the pandemic depend on SNAP benefits to buy enough groceries each month to stave off hunger. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Ending Hunger in Utah, U.S. Should be Biden’s Top Priority

SALT LAKE CITY -- In his first week in office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order extending a temporary increase in SNAP benefits during …

Restoring EPA regulations on vehicle emissions standards could help the Wasatch Front/Salt Lake City region roll back its annual brown cloud, which appears each winter. (Utah Dept. of Health)

For Utah, Biden Climate-Change Plan Could Mean Cleaner Air, New Jobs

SALT LAKE CITY -- President Joe Biden released a package of executive orders this week designed to fight climate change, curb pollution, conserve …

The COVID-19 pandemic is severely disrupting the lives of Utah's children, according to a new study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Philip Steury/Adobe Stock)

COVID Pandemic Brings Stress, Health Issues to Utah Kids, Families

PROVO, Utah -- The COVID-19 pandemic and its side-effects - job loss, poverty, hunger and the threat of homelessness - have hit Americans hard in 2020…

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Nov. 10 on whether to overturn the Affordable Care Act. The ruling is likely to be announced in June 2021. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Report: 260,000 Utahns Lose Health Insurance if SCOTUS Repeals ACA

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- If a lawsuit before the Supreme Court to repeal the Affordable Care Act succeeds, some 260,000 Utahns would lose their …

Research shows children who grow up with health insurance have fewer health problems, higher academic achievement and greater economic security throughout their life. (Rawpixel Ltd./Adobe Stock)

Utah Sees More Children Without Health Insurance

SALT LAKE CITY -- After a decade or more of steady improvement, a new report shows fewer Utah children are being enrolled in health insurance plans…

Utah public health officials have found by tracking the COVID-19 virus through sewage flows into water-treatment plants, they can reliably predict where major outbreaks are likely to occur. (Utah Dept. of Environmental Quality)

Utah Officials Track COVID-19 Through Sewage Flows

PROVO, Utah - Utah public health officials are tracking COVID-19 by monitoring sewage flows into treatment plants across the state. And by analyzing …

Utah's food banks are among the state's nonprofit organizations that are struggling to provide services due to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Utah Food Bank)

COVID Crisis Could Force Closures, Job Losses at Utah Nonprofits

SALT LAKE CITY -- During the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Utahns and millions of Americans have turned to nonprofit …

Many small Utah businesses rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their wares. However, the agency is being hampered by debt, service cutbacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. (MelissaMN/Adobe Stock)

Postal Service Slowdowns Hobble Utah Small Businesses

SALT LAKE CITY -- Mail delays are putting pressure on small-business owners in Utah, who rely on the U.S. Postal Service for shipping products to …

The Uinta Basin Railway was designed to transport crude oil from production fields across rural Utah to refineries in nearby states. (alexhiotrov/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups Sue UT Agency for Funding Private Oil/Gas Railway

MOAB, Utah - Conservation groups have sued a Utah state agency, claiming illegal use of public money to construct a private oil-and-gas rail line…

School bus drivers say it's difficult for them to prevent close contact between themselves and their students on their daily routes. (pyzata/Adobe Stock)

Utah School Workers: Safety Measures Needed to Reopen

SALT LAKE CITY -- As Utah school districts work to meet an August 1 deadline to develop plans to reopen this fall, teachers and support staff say …

When Utah students return to public schools next fall, social distancing is expected to be a major part of the curriculum. (Kzenon/Adobe Stock)<br />

Utah Lawmakers Increase Funding to Reopen Schools in Fall

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah educators, initially concerned about possible cuts in next year's school budget, got a surprise last week from the normally …

The 2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks Utah fourth in the nation for the overall well-being of its children, with 2% fewer living in poverty (16%) than the national average (18%). (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Kids Rank 4th for Overall Well-Being in New Report

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah is among the best states in the nation for children's overall well-being, according to a new national report. The 2020 KIDS …

The energy industry, including the coal mining, oil, and gas sectors, is a diminishing but still important contributor to Utah's overall economy. (Maxim/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Workers Must be Protected in Fossil Fuels Phaseout

SALT LAKE CITY - As Utah's energy sector continues to struggle in the new coronavirus pandemic, a new report outlines how policymakers can diversify …

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UT: Budget Policy & Priorities