Utah and National Updates

Elections, Politics, & Government

The House on Fire ruins are pictured in the Shash Jaa Unit of Bears Ears National Monument in San J...
Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Deseret News

Interior secretary orders review of public lands withdrawals

Review of public lands withdrawals could mean a hard look at national monuments, including Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase
2 years ago
Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini speaks with KSL TV in an interview on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2024. (KS...
Garna Mejia and Mary Culbertson, KSL TV

‘That’s thuggery’; Millcreek mayor demands investigation into ICE agents after traffic stop

After a controversial traffic stop made by ICE agents, Millcreek's city mayor is demanding action.
2 years ago
A new bill sponsored by Rep. Sahara Hayes seeks to add restrictions to political advertisements, sp...
Michelle Lee

Utah lawmaker seeks to make changes to political advertisement restrictions

A new bill sponsored by Rep. Sahara Hayes seeks to add restrictions to political advertisements, specifically the ones on social media.
2 years ago
students watch chemistry demonstration...
Clayre Scott

STARBASE Hill program shuts down due to lack of government funding

The STARBASE Hill program has been shut down due to a lack of funding. This means the end to STEAM, a program that gave students hands on learning in STEM fields.
2 years ago
referee utah...
Adam Small

Bill seeks to protect referees from violence

A committee of Utah lawmakers supported a bill this week aimed at protecting referees from violence at sporting events in the state.
2 years ago
transgender rights rally utah capitol...
Heather Peterson & Devin Oldroyd

Trump signs executive order banning transgender women from women’s sports

President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would keep transgender females out of women's sports in federally funded schools.
2 years ago
Child care provider Holly Kingston holds her daughter Haisley and talks with Ilse Wilson in the Rot...
Sydney Jezik, Deseret News

Watering Utah’s child care ‘deserts’

Child care in Utah is getting a break this year — and it’s coming from both sides of the political spectrum.
2 years ago
stephanie pitcher, spouse medical debt bill sponsor...
Adam Small

Bill seeks to clear Utahns of their spouses’ medical debts after they die

A lawmaker is sponsoring a bill that would absolve Utahns of their spouses' medical debt after their spouse dies.
2 years ago
utah house of representatives. Utah lawmakers are considering multiple amendments to the Utah Const...
Simone Seikaly

On the Hill: Utah Constitutional amendment “secures” Utah electoral votes

Inside Sources hosts Rusty Cannon and Taylor Morgan speak with Rep. Jason Kyle about a proposal to amend the Utah Constitution.
2 years ago
Good Landlord Program...
Randall Jeppesen

Rent bill sputters out in Utah Legislature

The Utah Rental Housing Association opposed the bill, saying the sponsor hadn't taken their concerns into account.
2 years ago
A Granite School District bus is pictured outside of the Capitol in Salt Lake City, on Tuesday, Feb...
Heather Peterson

Some student absences in Utah likely due to federal immigration policies

Student absences in the Granite School District were up on Monday according to the district. But an official reason wasn't known.
2 years ago
utah capitol. A local representative wants Utahns to know more about how their government works bef...
Adam Small

Bill would allow Utah’s governor to enter Beehive state into interstate fire agreement

SB 30, if passed, would give Utah's governor the authority to enter Utah into the Great Plains Interstate Fire Compact.
2 years ago
Governor candidate Phil Lyman makes a statement with Layne Bangerter at the 3rd District Court in W...
KSL.com

Judge dismisses Phil Lyman’s lawsuit against write-in candidates Richard, Carol Lyman

A Utah judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by former write-in gubernatorial candidate Phil Lyman, who accused two candidates with the same last name of taking a payment from Gov. Spencer Cox's campaign to run for office.
2 years ago
Best Friends Animal Society has offered a program to neuter the stray cats of Provo, but the city h...
Eric Cabrera

City officials have denied program to neuter the stray cats of Provo

Best Friends Animal Society has offered a program to neuter the stray cats of Provo, but the city has decided against it.
2 years ago
Utah firefighters listening in on the Senate discussion about HB267...
Daniel Woodruff, KSL TV

Sponsor says changes coming to public labor union bill in Utah Legislature

A bill banning collective bargaining for public unions in Utah advanced again on Capitol Hill.
2 years ago
UN resolution vote...
Simone Seikaly

Sen. Curtis: Trump cuts are in line with what Americans want

Utah Sen. John Curtis said he understands President Trump's motives, but that he expects Trump to act within the law.
2 years ago
FILE - Bitcoin logos are displayed at the Inside Bitcoins conference and trade show on April 7, 201...
Daniel Woodruff, KSL TV

Will Utah soon invest in cryptocurrency?

A bill that would allow the Utah state treasurer to invest public money in cryptocurrency has cleared its first hurdle on Capitol Hill.
2 years ago
Jacob Freeman

‘Fork in the road’: Federal employees offered pay if they quit

Millions of federal employees got an email with the subject line, "Fork in the road." The content: President Trump extended an offer to employees to take eight months' pay in exchange for leaving their jobs.
2 years ago
Top lawmakers in Utah, like Senate President Stuart Adams pictured here in June 2024, appeared reli...
Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL.com

‘Wake up call’: Top Utah leaders respond to Trump’s memo rescinding federal funding freeze

Top lawmakers in Utah appeared relieved after the White House rescinded a memo to freeze federal funding Wednesday afternoon, calling the original freeze a "wake-up call" for the state.
2 years ago
FILE – Cars drive along a Utah highway, pictured 2015. (Stuart Johnson, Deseret News)...
Adam Small

Bill alters when non-family members can accompany new teen drivers

In a matter of months, your newly licensed teenage driver might not have to wait six months to drive alone with a friend in the car.
2 years ago
Medical marijuana grows at Tryke Companies Utah's medical cannabis cultivation facility in Tooele o...
Bryanna Willis

New bill seeks to make medical marijuana more accessible and affordable for Utahns

A proposed bill would streamline Utah's medical marijuana regulations and make it more accessible to those who need it.
2 years ago
transgender rights rally utah capitol...
Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL.com and Daniel Woodruff, KSL-TV

Utah House approves bill limiting transgender access to college dorm rooms

HB 269 gives provisions regarding sex-designated privacy spaces in education and government facilities.
2 years ago
Students work on coursework at Crescent Elementary School in Sandy on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. A prop...
Britt Johnson

Utah students could earn money for good attendance

The chronic absenteeism pilot program would give students up to $400 dollars for a 90% or better attendance record.
2 years ago
Students eat lunch on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. On Thursday, the latest version of a bill that gives fr...
Sam Herrera

New bill would provide qualifying students with free school meals

A new bill hopes to improve current programs that provide free and reduced school meals to children in Utah.
2 years ago