Utah and National Updates

Elections, Politics, & Government

A 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E charges, March 8, 2024, at an electric vehicle charging station in Londo...
Alexa St. John & Isabella O'Malley, Associated Press

Trump is trying to halt the EV charger buildout. Experts say it’s not that easy

DETROIT (AP) — Experts are questioning President Donald Trump’s latest effort to slow the electric vehicle charging buildout in the U.S. Learn more about EV charging in Utah: In a letter Thursday night, the Trump administration directed states to stop spending money for EV charging infrastructure, funds they were allocated under former President Joe Biden. […]
2 years ago
A name on the Utah ballot, now arriving in mailboxes across the state, has caused concern and anger...
Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL.com

Utah to limit candidate nicknames on ballot after Lucifer ‘Justin Case’ Everylove qualified last year

SB54 requires candidates to jump through some extra hoops if they, like Everylove, want to use a middle name or a nickname on a ballot.
2 years ago
FILE: The United States Bullion Depository stands on Fort Knox on Thursday, February 27, 2014 in Fo...
REBECCA REYNOLDS The Associated Press

What to know about Fort Knox’s gold depository

President Trump wants to make sure that American gold reserves are still in Fort Knox. The Treasury Secretary said they are.
2 years ago
Utah Capitol building....
Adam Small

Utah lawmakers advance bill dealing with mining precious underground resources

A Utah House committee voted unanimously to advance a bill focused on brine mining in its first hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday.
2 years ago
FILE: Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Invest...
ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

Kash Patel narrowly confirmed as FBI director by the Senate

The 51-49 confirmation puts Patel atop the nation's premier federal law enforcement agency despite Democrats' doubts about his qualifications.
2 years ago
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown pictured in his home in Cottonwood Heights on Wednesday, Oct. 16,...
Daniel Woodruff, KSL TV

Utah, 16 other states tell judge: We never meant to say Section 504 is unconstitutional

After public pushback, Utah and 16 other states say they do not want a judge to declare a key part of a federal disability law unconstitutional.
2 years ago
Bruce Schreiner, Associated Press

Sen. Mitch McConnell won’t seek reelection in 2026, ending long tenure as Republican power broker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell is announcing on Thursday that he won’t seek reelection next year, ending a decadeslong tenure as a power broker who championed conservative causes but ultimately ceded ground to the fierce GOP populism of President Donald Trump. McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, chose his 83rd birthday to share […]
2 years ago
Sen. Mike McKell, R-Salem, prepares for his presentation in the Senate Government Operations and Po...
Simone Seikaly

On the Hill: Open records management and access in Utah

SB277 has been revised and will be heard by the full Utah Senate. Inside Sources discusses the issues involved in this public records debate.
2 years ago
Local federal employee worries for the future of veteran care, following layoffs at Veteran Affairs...
Clayre Scott

VA layoffs leave former employee worried about the future of veteran care

One federal employee who was let go from VA Salt Lake City Health Care said he's concerned for what these layoffs could mean for the future of veteran care in Utah.
2 years ago
Becky Bruce

Utah’s Safe Haven Law could be expanded to accept newborns up to 90 days old

The Utah Safe Haven Law could be expanded to include newborns up to 90 days old under a measure before the state Legislature.
2 years ago
FILE: A ballot is dropped off at West Valley City Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. Utah lawmakers ar...
Don Brinkerhoff

Utah lawmaker would replace state Columbus Day with an Election Day holiday

Rep. Ryan Wilcox proposed a new bill that would replace the state Columbus Day holiday with an Election Day holiday.
2 years ago
FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

New Social Security chief contradicts Trump, Musk claims about payouts

The acting Social Security commissioner said improper payments have been made, but not the quantity cited by Trump and Musk.
2 years ago
Utah daylight savings time bill...
DANIEL WOODRUFF, KSL TV & BRIDGER BEAL-CVETKO, KSL.COM

Senators pump the brakes on bill to eliminate daylight saving time in Utah

A proposed bill on eliminating Utah daylight savings time has stalled in committee.
2 years ago
a child raises their hand...
Heather Peterson

Lawmaker proposes task force to look at AI integration in schools

A Utah lawmaker is proposing a task force that would create a framework for AI in schools across the state.
2 years ago
Sen. Mike McKell,...
Don Brinkerhoff

New bill seeks to replace decades-old GRAMA process

A new bill seeks to replace the decades-old GRAMA request process for accessing government records.
2 years ago
utah capitol building...
Adam Small

Utah lawmakers advance bill mandating jail time for some immigrants after making big changes to initial legislation

A committee has approved a bill that would mandate jail time for some immigrants who are in the country illegally and are found guilty of committing certain crimes.
2 years ago
Attendees listen as the Utah House of Representatives hold their first session of the year in their...
Brigham Tomco, Deseret News

Crime, banning cellphones, tax cuts: What to expect in the second half of Utah’s legislative session

A little more than halfway through the 2025 legislative session, what's coming next for the state of Utah?
2 years ago
People protested at Utah's capitol against some of President Trump's policies on Monday in the "Not...
Heather Peterson

‘Not My President’ protest draws about 1,000 to state Capitol

The "Not My President" protest at the Utah Capitol on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 featured homemade signs, chants, and an estimated 1,000 people.
2 years ago
meat section at Reams...
Alexandrea Bonilla

Lawmakers seek more transparency on meat labels

Lawmakers in Utah want meat labels to clearly state where the meat came from and how it was grown.
2 years ago
Cars for sale are stored in the old Sears parking lot in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 13, 2021. ...
Sam Herrera

New bill would refund drivers for unused car registrations

A new bill would allow Utah drivers to get a car registration refund if they sell their car before the registration is up.
2 years ago
FILE: Union members attend a rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. The p...
Verl Johansen

Unions react to Utah bill signed into law, preventing collective bargaining for public employees

More unions are expressing disappointment after Utah's governor signed HB267 into law, getting rid of collective bargaining for public employees.
2 years ago
utah capitol building...
Adam Small

Proposed bill would change how schools get property tax money

A bill that looks to change how schools get property tax dollars has cleared yet another Legislative hurdle.
2 years ago
Utah ballot initiatives that affect taxes would require a higher threshold to pass under a proposed...
Allessandra Harris Gurr

Utah bill would help reduce foreign influence moving forward

A newly proposed bill would work to reduce foreign influence from state ballots and elections.
2 years ago
Protesters rally outside the Ogden Municipal Building on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025....
DARBY SPARKS, KSL TV

Anti-Trump protestors speak in small Ogden rally Saturday

At the Ogden Municipal Building downtown, a little over 50 people gathered to protest the current Trump Administration on the building’s front steps.
2 years ago