Utah News & Current Events | Public News Service

House Bill 241 would prohibit a public employer from compensating a public employee for union activities. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Utah Bill Would Mean Stricter Regulations for Union Workers

A Utah lawmaker has proposed a bill which could impose stricter restrictions and regulations for public employees. Passage of House Bill 241…

According to the research, about 23%, or 60.7 million people, formally volunteered with organizations between September 2020 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

UT Leads with Formal Volunteering Efforts in AmeriCorps' Latest Research

According to AmeriCorps' latest research, Utah was the state with the highest number of residents volunteering with nonprofits in their communities …

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall was one of many mayors in attendance at the conference who lead cities with a population of 30,000 or more. (Adobe Stock)

UT Mayor Aims to Lead by Example Following Mayors' Conference

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the prime opportunity for local leaders to connect with colleagues about shared challenges they face, but also …

According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the state's Wildlife Migration Initiative has tracked almost 10,000 animals. (Utah DWR)

UT Pitches In to Help with Wildlife Migration

Two state agencies have teamed up to make safer wildlife migration a priority in Utah. The Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative relies heavily on GPS …

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is more than 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, with methane from human sources driving roughly a third of current global warming. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Group Calls EPA Methane Rule Crucial for State's Overall Wellbeing

A Utah group was one of many who voiced its support during last week's Environmental Protection Agency public hearing on a proposed rule to reduce oil…

According to Tabron, The National Day of Racial Healing is centered around experiences in truth-telling. (Adobe Stock)

UT Events Highlight National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day in which many across the country celebrate the revolutionary words and thoughts of the civil rights …

The Utah Food Bank says updating its infrastructure will enhance its ability to establish a delivery baseline for the top 15

UT Food Bank Receives $100K for Culturally Responsive Foods

Utah Food Bank has received funding for distributing what it calls more "culturally responsive" foods. The $100,000 dollar grant from KeyBank will …

The State of Utah used some of its COVID-19 pandemic relief funding to build the internet infrastructure needed for the higher-ed program in its juvenile justice facilities. (Adobe Stock)

College Courses Show Benefits for Incarcerated Youth in UT

Utah is one of a few states where juveniles behind bars can earn college credit. Utah's Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth program lets young …

All projects being funded by the grant program and valued over $150,000 must include a minimum local contribution of at least 30%. (Adobe Stock)

$15 Million Allocated to Utah Wastewater Reuse Projects

The state of Utah has allocated a total of $15 million to wastewater re-use projects in Southern Utah. The Southern Utah Reuse ARPA Grant Program …

According to the report from Utah's Department of Workforce Services, Utah's unemployment rate currently sits at 2.2% which means about 38,200 Utahns are currently without work. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Economy Sees Tight Labor Market Heading into 2023

Utah's economy is starting to slow down, according to data from the state. Last month, Utah saw an increase of 2.6% in nonfarm payroll jobs…

When Congress elected to let the Child Tax Credit expire, child poverty rose by 40%, according to the Coalition on Human Needs. (Adobe Stock)

Utahns Call on Congress to Expand Child Tax Credit

Utahns are calling on Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit and say it should be a priority in a year-end tax package. The debate comes as …

According to the Forest Service, wildfires alone cause about 80% of reforestation needs on national forest lands. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Trees Help Forest Service Meet Challenging Reforestation Efforts

Seeds from trees located within Utah's national forests are helping repopulate forests with similar makeups that may have been impacted by climate cha…

According to the Bureau of Land Management, Grand Staircase-Escalante spans across 1.87 million acres of America's public lands in Southern Utah. (Adobe Stock)

Protection of Utah National Monuments Under Attack

Conservation groups are pushing to keep federal protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah. Boundaries of …

According to the EPA, stronger standards would reduce harmful emissions and energy waste from covered sources by 87% below 2005 levels. (Adobe Stock)

UT Group Backs New EPA Proposal to Reduce Methane Emissions

One Utah group is pleased with the Environmental Protection Agency's latest proposal to further reduce methane pollution from oil and gas drilling…

More than 200 children participated in the annual Kids Cafe Thanksgiving meal at nine of Utah Food Bank's cafe sites. (Utah Food Bank)

Utah Food Bank Braces for Challenging Holiday Season

The Utah Food Bank is responding to what it calls record levels of need for food assistance across the state. Lingering economic effects of COVID-19 …

Since the 2020 winter season, the cost of home energy has increased 36%, reflecting the highest prices in the last 10 years, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association. (Adobe Stock)

As Utah Temps Drop and Energy Costs Rise, Help is Available

As temperatures drop across the state of Utah and energy costs continue to rise, Utahns may be eligible for heat utility assistance to stay warm as …

Mark Wintch, a fifth-generation Beaver County rancher in Utah's Wah Wah Valley fears his ranch would be rendered inoperable if the Pine Valley Water Supply Project moves forward. (Kim Raff/Deep Indigo Collective)

UT Landowners, Tribes Fight Plan to Pump Rural Water to Cedar City

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for the Utah News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Coll…

The CDC says infected birds can shed and transmit the avian flu virus through saliva, mucous or feces. (Adobe Stock) The CDC says infected birds will shed and transmit the bird flu virus through saliva, mucous or feces. (Adobe Stock)

Avian Flu Takes Big Toll on UT Turkey Farms

About 700,000 turkeys across 18 Utah farms have to be euthanized following an outbreak of the avian flu. Bailee Woolstenhulme, public information …

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Land Management, the majority of wild horses in the U.S. are found in Nevada, followed by California and Wyoming. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Group Pushes to Protect Wild Horses from Intentional Shootings

At least 16 wild horses have been shot dead in Utah's rural San Juan County since the beginning of the year, and one group working to protect them …

Officials in Scottsdale, Arizona say for every square foot of grass removed and replaced with native desert plants, the city saves 57 gallons of water. (Katy/Adobe Stock)

Utah to Offer Cash for Replacing Lush Lawns with Desert-Tolerant Landscapes

Starting this week, the state is taking applications for a program to pay up to $1 dollar a square foot of turf to replace water-guzzling grass with …

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,…

The National Bureau of Economic Research estimates the benefits of a restored Child Tax Credit to low-income children would outweigh the program's costs by a factor of 10-to-1. (Jenko Ataman/Adobe Stock)

UT Group Urges Congress to Reinstate Child Tax Credit Payments

When families began receiving expanded Child Tax Credit payments during the pandemic, the extra family income lifted almost four-million children out …

The Indian Child Welfare Act establishes a preference for native children removed from their families to be placed with extended family members or in native foster homes to preserve their culture and heritage. (PxHere)

SCOTUS to Hear Constitutional Challenge to Indian Child Welfare Act

A case before the U.S. Supreme Court has Native Americans in Utah and other states concerned the outcome could revive the centuries-old practice of …

Analyses show that the fossil-fuel fields currently producing, if fully developed, would push global temperatures past the Paris Climate Accords target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. (WildEarth Guardians)

BLM Halts Uinta Basin Oil-and-Gas Project Over Climate Concerns

The Biden administration has set aside a massive oil and gas drilling project in the Uinta Basin due to its potential effect on the climate and greenh…

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics, almost one-third of Americans over age 65 are participating in the workforce. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit Job Training, Placement Program Puts Utah Seniors to Work

A nonprofit program is helping older adults in Utah and other states to develop new skills, polish their resumes and find work. After a lifetime of …

Utah is one of only eight states where registered voters receive a mail-in ballot for all elections, with more limited mail-in options available in 33 other states. (Laura Images/Adobe Stock)

Mail-In Ballots Remain Popular Among Utah Voters

Election Day is November 8, and Utah elections officials say it isn't too early for voters to start making a plan for casting their ballots. For many…

Salt Lake City had a 24.6% increase in rental costs between 2019 and 2022, the third-highest in the country, according to real estate data firm Stessa. (DoubletreeStudios/Adobe Stock)

Study: Skyrocketing Housing Costs Putting the Squeeze on Utah Renters

The average cost of keeping a roof over your head in Utah's metro areas is a lot more than it used to be - if you're renting. A recent University …

Fans of solitude say the route density in Labyrinth Canyon can make it difficult to escape the noise of motorized vehicles. (Bureau of Land Management)

Groups Urge BLM to Keep Off-Road Vehicles Out of Labyrinth Canyon

Conservation groups say more needs to be done to protect the natural and cultural resources of Utah's Labyrinth Canyon from off-road vehicles…

A mountain peak near Provo is now Kweeyahgut Peak, one of 50 sites in Utah being renamed by the U.S. Department of the Interior. (Wikimedia Commons)

Interior Dept. Orders Changes to 650 Place Names to Remove Indigenous Slurs

The U.S. Interior Department has ordered name changes for nearly 650 sites on federal lands, in Utah and across the country, containing words …

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 …

Northern Utah'a air quality ranks among the worst on the planet, according to IQAir, a website that monitors pollution levels around the world. (Salil/Adobe Stock)

High-Pollution Days Bring Free Rides on Wasatch Range Transit System

Salt Lake City is notorious for its bad air days this time of year, but there is a silver lining to the brown cloud. The Free Fare for Clean Air …

Survey Ranks Utah Last Among States for Women's Equality

In the 1960s, women were told in ad campaigns, "You've come a long way, baby." But in Utah, that may not be the case. Women's Equality Day is this …

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument was named for the multicolored layers of sedimentary rock that look like a stairway across southern Utah. (Dean Pennala/Adobe Stock)

BLM Seeking Comments on Grand Staircase-Escalante Management Plan

The Bureau of Land Management is kicking off its planning process for managing Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument with several public hearing…

In a recent survey on children's well-being, Utah ranked highest among the states in the Four Corners region. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Ranks 4th Among States in Survey on Children's Well-Being

An annual report on children's well-being rates Utah among the best in the country, but advocates warn it also pointed to a growing mental-health …

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act passed the House of Representatives in June and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. (mramsdell1967/Adobestock)

Conservation Union Places Western Monarch Butterflies on Threatened List

The iconic orange and black migratory monarch butterfly has just made the Red List of Threatened Species, designated by the International Union of …

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 …

Even before the pandemic, Utah hospitals and clinics treated about 70 people per day for self-inflicted injuries, many of which were suicide attempts. (etenwanich/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: New 988 Suicide Prevention Line Will Save Utahns' Lives

Mental-health advocates say the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline could save the lives of many Utahns and others facing mental-health crises…

Studies show that 40% of college students in Utah and across the country say food insecurity is affecting their academic performance. (prostock/Adobe Stock)

Study: Food Insecurity a Major Problem for Utah College Students

There may be some truth to the expression about the "starving college student" struggling to earn a degree. A survey of students enrolled in Utah …

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, a network of 500,000 electric-vehicle charging stations will be built over the next decade. (trekandphoto/Adobe Stock))

Groups to Build EV Charging Stations Across Rural Utah, Western States

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an economical and environmentally friendly way to get from Point A to Point B, but the lack of charging stations often …

A report from The Sentencing Project found that calls for a return to get-tough youth justice policies are misguided and based on a false narrative rather that data. (BillionPhotos/Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile-Justice Reforms Show Progress in UT, US Systems

New research finds reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but also are fueling calls for stricter punishments. A Sentencing …

Utah officials advise voters to double-check their ballot location after state redistricting officials changed several precinct boundaries earlier this year. (New China/Adobe Stock)

Senior Vote is Critical for Tuesday's Utah Primaries

Democrats, Republicans and other political parties in Utah hold primary elections Tuesday, and advocates for older voters are promoting the …

Salt Lake City and its surrounding region are among the Top 10 worst in the country for toxic ozone pollution/ (salil/Adobe stock)

Salt Lake City, Others Sue EPA for Stronger Ozone Protections

A group of health and environmental advocates has sued the Environmental Protection Agency over its failure to enforce air-pollution protections in 30…

Studies show that there is more than <a href=

one gun for each of 330 million Americans, and 110 people are killed every day due to gun violence. (Artfully-79/Adobe Stock)">

Utah Nonprofit to Turn Surrendered Firearms into Garden Tools

Gun violence has become an epidemic across America, leaving many people frightened and wondering what can be done about it. A Utah group is taking …

Utah school officials say almost 30,000 girls competed in high school sports in 2021. (spark/Adobe Stock)

Utah Families Sue State Over Law Excluding Transgender Girls from Sports

Two families are suing the State of Utah over a controversial law that allows schools to exclude transgender students from competing in girls' sports…

It took scientists a little more than a year to develop a viable vaccine against the coronavirus, but researchers are only in the early stages of studying

Study Seeks UT Volunteers to Unravel Mysteries of 'Long COVID'

The National Institutes of Health has begun a nationwide research project to better understand how to prevent and treat what's become known as "long" …

A program by the Utah Division of Water Services is showing residents how to save water by digging up thirsty plants on park strips and lawns and replacing them with drought-resistant species. (alexin21/adobe Stock)

FlipBlitz Program Converts Grassy Utah Landscapes to Curb Water Use

After two decades of drought and with no relief in sight, many Utahns are looking for ways to conserve water, and for many residents, part of the …

Since the National Association of Letter Carriers began participating in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, they have collected an estimated 1.8 billion pounds of food for families in need. (Andrii/Adobe stock)

UT Letter Carriers Help 'Stamp Out Hunger' with Food Collections

Utahns can expect their mail to be delivered as usual this Saturday but with a catch. Your letter carrier will be asking for something in return - a …

White cliffs along the shore of Lake Powell show how much lower levels in the lake have become over the past decade. (Prochasson/Adobe Stock)

Lake Powell Cutbacks Signal Need for Long-Term Water-Supply Solutions

Federal officials ordered limits this week on how much water is released by Glen Canyon Dam, in order to maintain sufficient levels to generate …

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