Utah News & Current Events | Public News Service

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 …

In 2022, more than 210 million turkeys were raised on about 2,500 farms across the United States, according to the National Turkey Federation. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates combat Utah factory farming ahead of holidays

Animal rights advocates are coming to Utah this week to sound the alarm about the living conditions and treatment of turkeys on large factory farms…

The LeRay McAllister Fund was created to safeguard Utah's agricultural landscapes and economy, according to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. (Adobe Stock)

Conservation easements in UT protect 5,500 acres of farm land

Utah's leaders are taking steps to protect the state's shrinking agricultural land by issuing conservation easements. The move will limit non-…

Due to provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, 1.9 million Medicare enrollees with the highest drug costs will save an average of $2,500 per year, according to the White House. (Adobe Stock)

Utahns are encouraged to explore health care options during open enrollment

The annual Medicare open enrollment period is now underway and older Utahns are being encouraged to consider their choices. Advisers said a good …

The auto industry remains male dominated. In 2019, 23.6% of workers employed by automotive manufacturers were women, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Weber State University preps auto techs for dynamic industry

The automotive industry is changing, and one Utah university is reimagining how to prepare new and current auto technicians to meet the demands of …

On this year's Utah ballots, Amendments B and C have passed legislative hearings unanimously, and neither has been challenged in court, according to the Utah Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: What UT voters should know about this year's amendments

Voting may be a bit more confusing than expected in Utah this year, as two of the four amendments on the ballot have now been voided. The Utah …

Utah has enacted Senate Bills 35 and 43 to help foreign-trained professionals obtain a license as qualified professionals with international training or education issued by the Utah Division of Professional Licensing and other state agencies, according to the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. (Adobe Stock)

UT initiative taps into immigrant population to improve economic vitality

Immigrants who arrive in the United States can face significant barriers in integrating and rebuilding their lives but one Utah initiative wants to he…

It can take up to 10 weeks for some people to have symptoms of listeriosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

UT food-safety expert: Food policy 'strong' but implementation could improve

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a widespread recall of Boar's Head deli meats for contamination of listeria earlier this year. The …

A five-year national evaluation revealed children referred to the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program are up to three times more likely to be adopted, according to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. (Adobe Stock)

Adoptive family in UT commemorates National Daughters Day

Today is National Daughters Day and for one Utah teenager, the title only seemed like a dream until recently. Lilyauna Coffey, 19, lives in Salt …

Utah voters with higher levels of education were more likely to prioritize air quality and the Great Salt Lake as more significant issues than crime and immigration, according to the Utah Foundation's 2024 Priorities Project. (Adobe Stock)

Research probes health effects of dust from Great Salt Lake

Utah's Great Salt Lake is shrinking, exposing more of its playa and lifting more potentially harmful dust particles into the air. A new study seeks …

A multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cows was first reported on March 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

As USDA announces field trials for bird flu, UT veterinarian expects long process

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved field trials for bird flu vaccines among cattle, but one Utah State veterinarian says to his …

Voters, particularly Democrats, unaffiliated voters and those who describe themselves as less religious think politicians ignore them, according to the Utah Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Utahns feel ignored by politicians. One Democratic Representative agrees

Politicians not listening to voters is a top concern for Utahns, and one Utah Democratic representative agrees with that sentiment. Rep. Jennifer …

The mental health advocacy organization Inseperable recommended there be one school psychologist for every 500 students. (Adobe Stock)

UT struggles with mental health; school-based services could help

School is back in session across Utah and mental health advocates want to ensure children and parents can access adequate school-based services…

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