Utah and National Updates

Elections, Politics, & Government

violent crime...
Bridger Beal-Cvetko and Daniel Woodruff, KSL

Republican, Democrat pitch plan for new fund to help solve violent crime in Utah

A bipartisan proposal to help police solve violent crimes was unveiled Tuesday at the Utah Legislature.
6 months ago
bottles of alcohol on a shelf...
Adam Small

Utah lawmaker aims to spend more state liquor tax money on school lunches

A Utah lawmaker wants to use more of the state's liquor tax money to give kids free lunch at school.
6 months ago
Konstantin Toropin and Courtney Bonnell, Associated Press

Trump administration’s defense strategy tells allies to handle their own security

The Pentagon has released a National Defense Strategy that chastises U.S. allies to take control of their own security and reasserts the Trump administration’s focus on dominance in the Western Hemisphere over a longtime goal of countering China.
6 months ago
Traffic flows through the two new roundabouts at the Jeremy Ranch exit on 1-80 in Summit County on ...
Becky Bruce and Devin Oldroyd, KSL

Utah lawmaker aims to change law requiring drivers to signal when entering or exiting roundabouts

A Utah lawmaker is hoping to keep you from breaking the law the next time you exit a roundabout.
6 months ago
Clintons...
Stephen Groves and Matt Brown, Associated Press

Republicans and some Democrats back contempt for the Clintons in House Epstein probe

A House committee has advanced resolutions to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The Clintons have said they had nothing to do with Epstein for decades and are seeking a resolution to the dispute.
6 months ago
President Donald Trump takes questions from members of the media during a meeting with oil and gas ...
Matthew Lee and David Klepper, Associated Press

Trump puts next steps on Gaza ceasefire plan at risk by antagonizing Europe over Greenland

President Donald Trump's next steps in his Gaza ceasefire plan and his attempt to expand the mandate of the Board of Peace to other global crises appear to be at risk.
6 months ago
Rep. John Arthur, a 6th-grade teacher and Utah's 2021 Teacher of the Year, poses for a portrait in ...
Mary Culbertson and Adam Small, KSL NewsRadio

Teacher-turned-lawmaker aims to ‘get politics out of education’ with nonpartisan push for Utah Board of Education

Utah's 2021 Teacher of the Year has proposed a reversal of partisanship for the Utah Board of Education in his new role as a lawmaker.
6 months ago
Utah Governor Spencer Cox shared what is being prioritized as Utah's 2026 legislative session gets ...
Kennedy Camarena

Utah’s housing, economy and more: What Gov. Spencer Cox said is a priority this legislative session

As Utah's 2026 legislative session began, Gov. Spencer Cox discussed how the 'Big Beautiful Bill' Act will impact the state, among other things.
6 months ago
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams spoke with Utah's Morning News on what will be prioritized durin...
Kennedy Camarena

‘Utah is the hope of America:’ What will be discussed during the 2026 legislative session

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams spoke with Utah's Morning News about what will be prioritized during the state's 2026 legislative session.
6 months ago
Wildlife Management Area...
Bryanna Willis

Under a revised bill, anyone can enter a wildlife management area, they will just need to watch a video

Lawmakers want to reopen wildlife management areas in Utah to the general public again, but only after teaching them about the importance of wildlife areas.
6 months ago
Rep. Kelly Morrison D-Minn., center, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., second from the right, and Rep. Angi...
Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press

Judge refuses to block new DHS policy limiting Congress members’ access to ICE facilities

A federal judge has refused to temporarily block the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy requiring members of Congress to give a week’s notice before they can visit immigration detention facilities.
6 months ago
A red light shows on a traffic signal in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025....
Britt Johnson

Red-light cameras could be coming to Utah

Lawmakers are taking another shot at introducing red-light cameras to intersections around the state.
6 months ago
Flags flap in the wind outside NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026....
Lorne Cook, Associated Press

As faith in the US fades a year into Trump 2.0, Europe tries to end a reliance on American security

European Union leaders are using strong language like “intimidation” and “blackmail” to describe U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of new tariffs over Greenland.
6 months ago
Uganda...
Rodney Muhumuza, Associated Press

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni secures 7th term as opposition rejects results

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has won his seventh term with 71.65% of the votes. His challenger, Bobi Wine, received 24.72% and rejected the results, calling for peaceful protests
6 months ago
Documents that were included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files...
Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister, Associated Press

Justice Department says members of Congress can’t intervene in release of Epstein files

Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor said Friday that a judge lacks the authority to appoint a neutral expert to oversee the public release of documents in the sex trafficking probe of financier Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.
6 months ago
Ryan Michael Gaines, speaking to officers on April 21, 2025 after he was caught on security footage...
Michael Houck, KSL

Utah man sentenced for damaging ICE vehicle while wearing only underwear and a mask

A Santa Clara man accused of ripping pieces from an ICE transit van while being half-naked was sentenced last week.
6 months ago
Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, left, and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmusse...
Emma Burrows, Claudia Ciobanu and Daniel Niemann, Associated Press

European troops arrive in Greenland as talks with US highlight ‘disagreement’ over island’s future

Before the talks began Wednesday, Denmark announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland.
6 months ago
legal responsibilities...
Isabella Sosa

Utah lawmakers want high school students to learn about their legal responsibilities

One Utah lawmaker wants to require schools to teach 10th graders about their legal responsibilities like voting rights, registering for the draft, jury duty and more.
6 months ago
Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021....
Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press

House GOP’s new Jan. 6 committee questions what happened that day

The House GOP’s new Select Committee on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack has held its first hearing, but it’s clear the trauma of that day still lingers.
6 months ago
Workers remove sign lettering at the Pentagon after President Donald Trump signed an executive orde...
Fatima Hussein and Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press

Renaming the Department of Defense the ‘Department of War’ could cost up to $125 million

A new Congressional Budget Office analysis says renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War could cost taxpayers up to $125 million.
6 months ago
Utah's legislative leadership participate in a panel previewing their priorities for the 2026 sessi...
Brian Carlson, KSL

Utah lawmakers reveal 2026 priorities during annual legislature preview breakfast

Utah lawmakers are giving everyone a small preview of the upcoming 2026 session for the state legislature.
6 months ago
transgender...
Mark Sherman, Associated Press

Supreme Court seems likely to uphold state bans on transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports

The Supreme Court seems likely to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams.
6 months ago
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a classified briefing with senators on the situation in ...
Konstantin Toropin and David Klepper, Associated Press

Pentagon is embracing Musk’s Grok AI chatbot as it draws global outcry

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok will join Google’s AI engine inside the Pentagon network.
6 months ago
Artist Josh Scheuerman works on a mural in honor civil and LGBT rights leader Harvey Milk at 265 E....
Carter Williams and Adam Small, KSL

Utah bill seeks to shift Salt Lake City street honor from LGBTQ politician to Charlie Kirk

It's unclear if HB196 has the support to move forward in the upcoming legislative session, which runs from Jan. 20 through March 6.
6 months ago