Utah News & Current Events | Public News Service

The percentage of Utah children whose parents lack secure employment dropped from 19% in 2019 to 18% in 2023. (Irina K. / Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

UT ranks high in kids' well-being. Advocates still encourage action

Utah still ranks as one of the best states for children's overall well-being, according to a new national report but advocates are stressing the need …

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, believes much of Utah's public land should be transferred to the state so natural resources can better provide for the state's constituents and serve multi-use purposes. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Monday, June 9, 2025

UT Senator proposes public lands sell-off in big budget bill

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has announced plans to reintroduce a public lands sell-off amendment to the big budget reconciliation package in Congress…

A majority of students said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is difficult to

Survey: UT universities could do more to foster free speech on campus

A new survey revealed many college students believe free speech is increasingly under threat on college campuses. The nonpartisan nonprofit …

Currently, 10 Tesla vehicle models, including the Cybertruck, currently qualify for a $7,500 tax credit. (Adobe Stock)

Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' could end EV tax credits for Utahns

Utah is embracing electric vehicles but President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" could eliminate a $7,500 EV tax credit which helps buyers af…

Nationally, more than 23% of women of childbearing age in rural areas are covered by Medicaid, compared to 20.5% of women in metro areas. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid cuts could restrict access to rural Utah maternity care

Congressional leaders are looking at major cuts to Medicaid and health care advocates said the proposed changes would be keenly felt by rural Utahns w…

Congress considers the sale of public lands in UT, conservationists raise concerns

Hunters and anglers are voicing concerns about the possible sale of hundreds of thousands of acres of public land in Utah and Nevada. U.S. Rep…

The primary reasons for evictions in Utah are lease violations and nonpayment of rent, according to the Utah Housing Coalition. (Adobe Stock)

New Utah coalition aims to improve landlord-tenant relationships

Keeping more renters in their homes is one goal of a new Utah initiative. The Utah Housing Coalition has formed a Landlord and Community Partners …

More than three in four Utahns polled believe current oil and gas development fees on national public lands should not be reduced. (Adobe Stock)

House panel eyes boosting oil, gas drilling; most Utahns don't agree

This week, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee is considering overhauling Biden-era restrictions on oil and gas leasing which could affect …

Davis, Duchesne, Salt Lake, Tooele, Uintah, Utah and Weber counties all received a letter grade of

Multiple UT counties get 'F' in clean air report

Utah counties are struggling when it comes to clean air, according to a new report from the American Lung Association and advocates said Utahns will …

While people living in rural areas account for only 16 percent of the U.S. population, rural areas account for 88% of the area served by the Postal Service and 57% of post offices. (Adobe Stock)<br />

If Postal Service is privatized, which UT communities would pay the price?

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have proposed privatizing the United States Postal Service by selling it to a corporation such as FedEx or UPS…

UT conservationists say proposed EPA rule jeopardizes water quality

Water is scarce in Utah's dry climate, and a proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency could threaten the state's water resources. EPA …

Utah is meeting the nationally recommended standard for minimum number of school mental health staff, according to the mental health policy advocacy organization Inseparable. (Adobe Stock)

Report: UT fares well in offering school mental health resources

Utah has made investments in mental health resources for school-age children a priority and they appear to be working to help more kids in crisis…

Protect Utah Workers, a coalition of 19 labor groups, announced in March that it had gathered about 130,000 signatures. (Hailey Higgins / Protect Utah Workers)

UT public workers seek signatures to fight collective bargaining ban

Utah labor unions are working to repeal the state's recent ban on collective bargaining for public employees - and they're on a tight timeline…

LGBTQ+ youths are nearly four times more likely to be victimized, and are particularly vulnerable to experiencing unwanted sexual advances online. (Adobe Stock)

Research: One in seven Utah children is a victim of sexual abuse

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and new research at Utah State University finds one in seven Utah children experiences sexual abuse --…

American homeowners of single-family homes collectively paid an estimated $21 billion more in premiums in 2024 than in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah socked with high home insurance premiums

Insurance premiums have gone up substantially and according to a new report, Utah is the state where homeowners are being hit the hardest. The …

In a statewide survey, just over half of respondents agreed that growing energy needs pose a threat to Utah's natural environment. (Adobe Stock)

Utah groups protest Rocky Mountain Power plan, rate hike proposal

People gathered outside Rocky Mountain Power headquarters in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, calling out the company for what they describe as "a strategy …

Could an anti-Pride flag bill cost Utah the Sundance Film Festival?

The future of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah could depend on whether an anti-Pride bill is signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox. The governor has …

More than one in three older Americans who still owe debt from college live with a child or parent, according to New America. (Adobe Stock)

Dept. of Education cuts could spell trouble for UT's older student loan borrowers

Policy analysts have been sounding the alarm about the Department of Education's ability to reach and engage with low-income, disadvantaged and older …

More than one in 10 LGBTQ adults in the U.S. workforce are employed in the public sector, and nearly half are LGBTQ people of color, according to UCLA's Williams Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Utah lawmakers could do away with pride flags in schools, government buildings

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox could sign a bill that would ban LGBTQ+ pride flags from Utah's public schools and government buildings. The bill's …

UT clean-energy advocates call out PacifiCorp for backpedaling

The Sierra Club's Utah chapter said electric utility PacifiCorp's long-term plan to embrace renewable energy has changed and is now placing more relia…

Could USDA funding freeze, trade wars spell trouble for UT farmers?

Utah farmers and ranchers are feeling frustrated and concerned since the U.S. Department of Agriculture funding freeze has threatened some of their …

About one-quarter of all higher ed students in Utah, roughly 54,000, are international students or first or second-generation immigrants, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. (Adobe Stock)

Higher ed experts advise campuses on how to prepare for ICE

On President Donald Trump's second day in office, his Secretary of Homeland Security rescinded a Biden-era rule barring Immigration and Customs …

More than 69 million American women do not have a birth certificate with their married name, which would be needed to vote under the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, according to the nonprofit Stand Up America. (Bill Perry/Adobe Stock)

The 'SAVE' Act could mean barriers for UT voters

Congress will vote soon on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act and voting rights advocates said it could keep some Utahns from casting their …

Pollsters found 85% of Utahns prefer decisions about public lands, water and wildlife be made by career professionals such as rangers, scientists and firefighters rather than newly appointed officials who come from other industries. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Utahns value their public lands, want continued protections

As President Donald Trump starts dismantling agencies managing and protecting public lands, a new poll indicates it is unpopular in states across the …

Methane is a major contributor to Utah's status among the top 10 regions in the U.S. for levels of ozone, short-term particle pollution, and annual particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)

Methane mitigation industry battles climate change, creates UT jobs

New research found solving the $2 billion methane waste problem is creating economic opportunities for workers in Utah and other energy-producing stat…

Public employers will no longer be able to negotiate contracts with unions after 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Utah enacts controversial labor union law

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has signed House Bill 267 into law, a controversial measure that takes away the collective bargaining rights of public employee …

In the United States, as many as 64% of consumers demonstrate no familiarity at all with cultivated meat, while roughly 10% are very or extremely familiar with the concept. (Adobe Stock)

Utah bill wants more labeling transparency for cultivated meat products

A Utah legislator has introduced a bill to increase transparency for consumers in the Beehive State when purchasing cultivated meat products…

In the latest Conservation in the West poll, 70% of Utahns say they prefer leaders place more emphasis on protecting water, air, wildlife habitat and recreation areas over maximizing the amount of land available for drilling and mining. (Adobe Stock)

UT national monuments scrutinized under Trump's '15-day review'

The Trump administration has mandated a 15-day review of public lands and national monuments, including those in Utah. During his first term…

The most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture, from 2022, reported 79% of all farms in Utah are small and family owned, with annual incomes of less than $350,000. (Adobe Stock)

'Factory farming' and the true cost of a burger

The The New York Times and Washington Post are getting pushback for recent editorials defending large-scale factory farms. Some environmental groups …

Utah's overall rate of educational attainment has increased by 22.5 percentage points since 2009. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah sits well above national average for adults' degree attainment

Utah has made noteworthy progress in increasing the number of working-age adults who hold a degree or credential beyond high school. Credentials are …

About 56% of Democrats want affordable housing for low-income Utahns, compared with 22% of Republicans. About 44% of Republicans desire affordable housing for first-time home buyers, while only 22% of Democrats feel the same way. (Adobe Stock)

Cost of living, political dysfunction top concerns for Utahns

The Utah Legislature has been in session for almost two weeks and one nonprofit research organization contended in order for state lawmakers to be eff…

Of the more than 56,000 Utah students who have been diagnosed with major depression, mental-health advocates say almost half do not receive proper treatment. (Adobe Stock)

Utah could play stronger role in promoting student mental health

Advocates for mental health say Utah policymakers need to consider the important role schools can and should play in keeping at-risk students safe and…

UT drivers want to pay less at the pump, value fuel-efficient cars

Most drivers want to save as much money as they can at the gas pump, and that is exactly what Consumer Reports' latest survey found. Chris Harto…

Under the Agricultural Water Optimization Program, the maximum grant amount for irrigation/canal companies is $1,000,000, according to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. (Adobe Stock)

Utah program incentivizes farmers to optimize water use

A Utah grant program is aiming to incentivize farmers to optimize their water use. Historically, Utah agriculture has accounted for up to 80% of the …

Report: Medicaid a 'lifeline' for rural Utahns

Congressional leaders are considering what some call "highly consequential decisions" about the future of Medicaid - and Utah advocates are weighing i…

The Bureau of Land Management manages about 22.8 million acres in Utah. (Nathaniel Gonzales/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS rejects Utah's attempt to control public lands

The U.S. Supreme Court has opted not to hear a lawsuit brought by the State of Utah, which alleged the federal government's ownership of large parts …

Prior to serving in the previous Trump administration, Russell Vought spent more than 20 years working in Washington, D.C., with grassroots and public policy organizations, according to the White House. (Tia Dufour/Official White House Photo)

Advocate: Trump nominee could jeopardize environmental progress in UT

Russell Vought is one of the key architects behind the conservative, right-wing blueprint Project 2025, and President-elect Donald Trump has tapped …

Utah's economy and royalties from energy development on extensive state trust lands typically are the largest source of income for Utah's public school trust fund. (Adobe Stock)

Utah looks to diversify energy portfolio as AI gains momentum

Many contend Utah, like the greater United States, is facing an energy crisis, and the fast development and expansion of artificial intelligence …

From 2016 to 2023, an estimated 1.8 million toy-related injuries for all ages were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments, an average of 226,300 injuries per year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (Zarya Maxim/Adobe Stock)

Medical, legal experts warn parents about dangers of toys this holiday season

Utah trauma surgeons are wanting parents to be vigilant about the dangers toys with magnets or button batteries can pose, after they've seen several …

Since the passage of The Clean Energy Plan in 2022, Utah has seen more than 3,800 new jobs across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah lags on conservation policy

Among Western states, Utah could be doing more to support conservation policy, according to a new report by the Center for Western Priorities…

More than 390,000 children nationwide are in foster care, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

UT sees fewer foster families, less support for UT kids aging out of system

Nonprofits working with foster care kids want them to know services are available to help them navigate life once they are out of the system…

At least 1,579 Democratic women and 851 Republican women will serve in state legislatures in 2025, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. (Anton Gvozdikov / Adobe Stock)

Report: UT ranks low for number of women as legislators

More than 2,400 women will serve in state legislatures in 2025, a record, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers …

One in five purchases is expected to be made through Shein, Temu, TikTok, and other Chinese shopping apps this holiday season, according to a poll from the American Alliance for Manufacturing. (Adobe Stock)

Utah shoppers could struggle finding 'Made in America' gifts this season

Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, went after the popular and affordable Chinese e-commerce company called Temu earlier this year for its failure to comply …

During the 2024 election cycle, nearly $215 million in television advertisements targeting the transgender community flooded airwaves across the country, according to The Trevor Project. (Adobe Stock)

LGBTQ+ folks anxious about what a Trump presidency could bring

Members of the LGBTQ+ community in Utah and around the country are concerned about what a second Trump presidency could mean for their safety…

Gay teenager is set to become Utah's youngest elected official

Jackson Lewis, 19, is ready and eager to sit on the nonpartisan Canyons School Board in the south end of Salt Lake Valley. Lewis, who is gay…

Roughly two-thirds of registered voters said the threat of violence against political leaders and their families is a major problem, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Political violence remains a concern post Election Day

Conservative and traditionally "red" Utah is one of the states that helped elect former President Donald Trump last week but with Election Day behind …

UT electric provider taps into potential of 'virtual' power plants

By Robert Zullo for the Utah News Dispatch part of States Newsroom.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Utah News Connection reporting for the Solut…

On average, child care providers make less than people who walk dogs for a living, according to Care for Kids. (Adobe Stock)

Utah child care advocates demand change ahead of Election Day

Utah child care providers, parents and children's advocates say the state's child care crisis is getting worse and they hope voters will take the …

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