Utah

A Campaign to Counter Christian Nationalism in State Politics

At a time when many Republicans appear increasingly willing to blur the lines between church and state, the Freedom From Religion Foundation wants to convince politicians that secular voters constitute a large and growing bloc.

'Woke Bond Rating’? The Muni Finance Fight Over ESG Scores

Utah officials recently lashed out at a rating agency's use of environmental, social, governance rankings. Investors have an appetite for the metrics, but critics say they're too subjective.

The States and Counties Taking Russian Vodka Off Liquor Store Shelves

Removing Russian-made products from government-run stores “is just the right thing to do,” one official said.

The Strict Drunk Driving Law That Could Become a Model for Other States

A study found that Utah’s lower 0.05% blood alcohol level reduced traffic deaths but beverage industry critics say the law showed negligible results.

States With the Most and Least Student Loan Debt

Utah tops the list for states with the least student loan debt while West Virginia comes in last place, according to recent report.

In One State, Fish Populations Take Flight

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources drops thousands of fish from airplanes into lakes to maintain populations in high-altitude, hard-to-reach areas. Almost all of them survive.

How One State Used Technology and Data to Improve Traffic and Reduce Emissions

COMMENTARY | Hawaii’s DOT added artificial intelligence technology across major roads and intersections to reduce per day traffic by seven minutes per person and 140 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Are Plastic Driver's Licenses Headed For the Dumpster?

Utah is one of nearly two dozen states exploring digital driver’s licenses, stored on smartphones, that state officials say come with enhanced privacy and control.

Utah Poised to Block Porn on Smartphones

The bill, awaiting a signature from Gov. Spencer Cox, would require smartphones and tablets in the state to automatically enable filters for content deemed "harmful to minors."

State Lawmakers Split Over Need for Federal Aid

Despite dire budget projections earlier on in the pandemic, many states are now anticipating surpluses this year.

'A Virtual Scarlet Letter': State Bill Would Restrict Release of Mugshots

The Utah proposal would prohibit distributing the photos unless a person is convicted of a crime, a change proponents say is needed to protect privacy in the digital age.

Mysterious Steel Monolith Discovered In Utah Desert Mysteriously Disappears

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Supreme Court rejects New York restrictions on religious services … Trump administration denies key permit for Pebble Mine … Baltimore County schools still closed after ransomware attack.

One City Council Tried to Dissuade Protesters from Targeting the Governor's Private Home. (It Didn't Work.)

The city council in Orem, Utah, convened an emergency meeting to pass an ordinance restricting protests that target public officials' private homes. Two days later, protesters were back at Gov. Gary Herbert's house.

One Republican Governor Reversed Course on a Mask Mandate. Others Are Still Resisting.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert declared an indefinite statewide mask mandate on Sunday as coronavirus cases continue to spike around the country, but other governors—including those in states hit hardest by the virus—haven't budged.

In One Western State, Warnings of Strain on Hospitals as Virus Surges

“We cannot continue to argue that health care will do just fine regardless of the demand. That is not true,” says one doctor.

Bringing Artificial Intelligence to Everything from Cattle Branding to Cybersecurity

Utah simplifies the process of registering brands using image recognition technology, one of many projects that is part of the state’s AI plan.

Voting By Mail? You May Not Get a Sticker That Says So.

Whether you receive an "I Voted" sticker with your ballot depends entirely on where you live. Some election officials are cautioning against dispensing stickers in person out of fears of spreading the coronavirus.

States Let Law School Grads Work Without Taking the Bar Exam

Earlier this month, Louisiana cancelled the bar exam. This week the state became the fourth to enact "diploma privilege," allowing recent law school graduates to practice law without sitting for the three-day bar exam.

Politicians and Business Interests Pushed Health Officials Aside to Control Reopening. Then Cases Exploded.

Interviews and internal emails show that Utah prioritized the health of businesses over keeping coronavirus case counts down. As case counts rise, the state will now allow indoor gatherings of up to 3,000 people.

One State is Manufacturing Free Masks for Any Resident Who Wants One

Since April, the state of Utah and area manufacturers have supplied more than 1 million masks to state residents for free.