Utah and National Updates

Elections, Politics, & Government

The Capitol is pictured in Salt Lake City...
Allessandra Harris Gurr

Firearm safety instruction would be required in public schools under new bill

A bill that would require schools to teach about firearm safety will be proposed during this year's legislative session.
30 minutes ago
a box of mail ballots...
Don Brinkerhoff

New bill aims to require voters opt-in to receive a mail-in ballot

A new bill that aims to create an opt-in requirement for voters who'd like to vote by mail will be discussed in Utah's 2025 legislative session.
2 hours ago
The Utah State Capitol is pictured in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Laura Seitz, Deser...
Adam Small

State lawmaker sponsoring bill to see if Utah could be more involved in outer space

A proposed bill would create a committee that would seek out a potential spot for a spaceport in Utah and possibly recommend it to lawmakers.
4 hours ago
gox spencer cox...
Alexandrea Bonilla

Gov. Cox outlines priorities for the 2025 legislative session

Gov. Spencer Cox says his priorities for the legislative session include housing, energy production and cutting the tax on Social Security.
7 hours ago
Workers continue with the finishing touches on the presidential reviewing stand on Pennsylvania out...
ZEKE MILLER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trump’s swearing-in will move inside the Capitol Rotunda because of intense cold

President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday.
9 hours ago
FILE - Electric Time Co. employee Walter Rodriguez cleans the face of an 84-inch Wegman clock at th...
Heather Peterson

Daylight saving time under fire again in Utah legislature

Every year when the clocks change, lawmakers are flooded with calls from their constituents asking for an end to daylight saving time.
1 day ago
A 1-day-old baby boy's heel is pricked for blood during a newborn screening in Washington state. A ...
Verl Johansen

Utah lawmaker wants to add PDCD test to newborn screening program

Sen. David Hinkins, R-Ferron, said he became interested in PDCD after a family reached out to him about their experience.
1 day ago
House Speaker Mike Schultz speaks during a press conference to announce state action for Utah publi...
Devin Oldroyd

Utah House speaker outlines his goals for Utah’s education ahead of 2025 legislative session

With the upcoming legislative session, Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz said Utah's education is a top priority. He has a few goals.
1 day ago
motorcyclist on i-15...
Bryanna Willis

Proposed bill will target aggressive motorcycle driving

A new bill targeting aggressive motorcycle driving will be introduced during the upcoming legislative session. 
1 day ago
FILE: Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City is pictured on Sept. 20, 2024. Salt Lake City is beginning...
Carter Williams, KSL.com

How will Smith’s Ballpark be used before it’s redeveloped?

The Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency will soon send a formal request for proposal for "interim activation" of the Smith's ballpark site.
1 day ago
A voter places a ballot in a drop box outside the Denver Elections Division headquarters Nov. 8, 20...
Heather Peterson

Survey explores what would boost Utah voter confidence

What policies would increase Utahns' voter confidence in the elections process? Here's what a new survey says...
2 days ago
attorney general nominee pam bondi in confirmation hearing with senate judiciary committee...
Becky Bruce

Utah Senator: Pam Bondi will be confirmed as attorney general

Utah Sen. Mike Lee questioned Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, during her confirmation hearing Wednesday.
2 days ago
FILE: The Utah State Capitol is pictured in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Gov. Spencer ...
Jessica Lowell

Gov. Cox orders state flags to fly at full staff on Inauguration Day

The order from Gov. Cox also directs U.S. flags on Utah state buildings to be lowered again on sunset, Jan. 20.
2 days ago
Generic image of signature counting. The man hired by Bruce Hough's campaign to gather signatures f...
Verl Johansen

Utah lawmaker proposal would lower signature requirements for political office

Legislation from Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, would reduce the signature requirement for a state-wide position by 96%.
3 days ago
FILE: Braidyn Page picks up a trash and roadside debris along eastbound I-215 between Redwood Road ...
Heather Peterson

Olympics in mind, Utah lawmaker proposes more littering fines

HB53 would modify existing fines and penalties for littering in Utah, and impose a landfill fee for driving with an unsecured load.
4 days ago
Law enforcement officials investigate after a fatal road rage shooting on SR-201 EB near 900 West i...
Eric Cabrera

Lawmakers say Utah’s road rage problem is bigger than they anticipated

One of the sponsors behind 2024's road rage amendments bill in Utah said the law may need to be revisited.
4 days ago
Members of the newly created DNR Division of Law Enforcement salute during the posting of the color...
Don Brinkerhoff

Gov. Cox swears in a new type of law enforcement officer

One hundred and forty new law enforcement officers were sworn in on Monday, they'll be working with a new state law enforcement division. 
4 days ago
Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump...
ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

Appeals court denies bid to block public release of special counsel’s report on Trump Jan. 6 probe

A federal appeals court on Thursday denied a bid to block the public release of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on President-elect Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.
8 days ago
president elect trump...
Associated Press

Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to delay sentencing in his New York hush money case

A divided Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s bid to delay his sentencing in his hush money case in New York.
8 days ago
The Utah State Capitol is pictured in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Laura Seitz, Deser...
Diana Jones

Utah Legislature has elected new leadership teams, here are their 2025 priorities

Utah Legislature leadership teams released their priorities for the upcoming 2025 legislative session.
8 days ago
Derek Brown...
Michelle Lee

Meet newly inaugurated Utah Attorney General Derek Brown

Utah's new Attorney General Derek Brown has taken the oath of office. Here's how he defines some of his priorities.
8 days ago
Gov. Spencer Cox holds his hand on a Bible held by his wife, first lady Abby Cox, as he takes the o...
Heather Kelly

People make Utah great, not government, says Gov. Cox at inauguration

During his 2nd inauguration, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox touted Utah's successes and thanked those who helped him become governor.
9 days ago
The Salt Lake City Water Reclamation Facility in Salt Lake City is pictured on Wednesday, April 6, ...
Tammy Kikuchi

Should there be fluoride in Utah’s water? Proposed bill says no

Lawmakers plan to debate a bill about fluoride in our water in the upcoming legislative session. What would this mean for Utah's water supply?
9 days ago
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City on March 1, 2024. Cox will be s...
Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL.com

‘Faith, family and community’: Gov. Cox reflects on what makes Utah special in inaugural address

Gov. Spenser Cox gave his inaugural address on Wednesday, Jan. 8
9 days ago