Utah News & Current Events | Public News Service

Geothermal energy is produced by drilling deep into the earth's bedrock, pumping in water, and using the resulting steam to generate power. (Utah FORGE)<br /><br /> — Geothermal energy is produced by drilling deep into the earth's bedrock, pumping in water, and using the resulting steam to generate power. (Utah FORGE)

Friday, September 24, 2021

Geothermal Has a Role in Utah's Clean-Energy Plan

SALT LAKE CITY -- A researcher at the University of Utah said plans for generating renewable energy should include a power source right under our feet…

Coal mining and coal-fueled electricity generation provides direct employment to about 2,500 Utahns, and millions of dollars in royalties to state and local governments. (agnormark/Adobe Stock)

Biden Could Face Uphill Battle in Utah Over Clean-Energy Plan

SALT LAKE CITY - President Joe Biden's $150 billion clean-energy plan aims to rid almost half the power grid of carbon-based fuels by 2035, but …

Utah housing advocates recommend that tenants who face possible eviction or are negotiating back rent with a landlord should contact an attorney to help protect their rights. (Vitali Votelaskyi/Adobe Stock)

End of Federal Eviction Moratorium Puts Pressure on Utah Renters

SALT LAKE CITY -- Since the end of the federal eviction moratorium in August, renters in Utah who are behind on their payments may be forced to …

Thousands of Utah school children lose access to their daily school lunch and breakfast meals during the summer and other school breaks. (Anatoly/Adobe Stock)

'Stop Child Hunger Act' Aims to Fill Gaps in School Meal Programs

SALT LAKE CITY - Many Utah students, particularly those in rural areas, often are left without access to their school's meal program during breaks in …

U.S. officials are using large military transports, such as C-17 Globemasters, to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies from the Kabul airport. (rebius/Adobe Stock)

Utah Agencies, NGOs Prepare to Resettle Afghan Refugees

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah officials and private agencies are preparing to assist refugees from Afghanistan when they arrive in the Beehive State…

Using data from the 2020 Census, Utah will draw new legislative districts for the 2022 midterm elections and the rest of the decade. (WScottMcGill/Adobe Stock)

Two Panels to Produce Maps for Utah Redistricting Process

SALT LAKE CITY -- Now that the Census figures are out, the once-a-decade redistricting process begins in earnest in Utah. It will be different this …

Despite concerns of Utah parents that school-age children could be vulnerable to COVID-19 when they return to class, the state bars school districts from requiring face masks. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Utah Officials Urged to Approve K-12 Mask Mandates

SALT LAKE CITY -- As the Delta variant drives a growing number COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in Utah, particularly among young adults and …

Children enrolling is Utah public schools must show evidence of receiving six different vaccines to protect themselves, and their classmates, from infectious diseases. (IPC-PROD/Adobe Stock)

Doctors Urge Parents to Get Kids' 'Back-to-School' Exams, Shots

SALT LAKE CITY -- It is getting to be "back-to-school" time in Utah, and pediatricians say a visit to the doctor is as important as new pencils or …

Across the United States, 46 states have laws allowing for harsher punishment for crimes based on bias. (Ludk/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Could Improve Its Hate-Crime Laws

SALT LAKE CITY - With rising numbers of people targeted in hate crimes and related violence, a new report analyzes the hate-crime laws in each state…

While most electricity in Utah is generated by gas or coal-powered plants, one regional utility is considering the nuclear option. (brianguest/Adobe Stock)

Utah Watchdogs Voice Concerns Over 'High-Tech' Nukes

SALT LAKE CITY -- In the push toward carbon-free energy production, some cities in Utah and nearby states are considering a new type of nuclear …

A symbolic 5,000-pound totem pole, hand-carved by Jewell James of the Lummi Nation in Washington state, will be at a blessing ceremony Saturday at Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. (#RedRoadtoDC)

Totem Pole Journey to Support Bears Ears Restoration This Weekend

MONTICELLO, Utah -- The movement to restore the Bears Ears National Monument in southeast Utah gets a major boost this weekend when a hand-carved …

Utah relies on the U.S. Postal Service for many reasons, including voting, as is one of the states that sent ballots to all registered voters pre-COVID. (Evgenia Parajnian/Adobe Stock)

Coalition Urges Lawmakers to Pass Bipartisan USPS Reform

SALT LAKE CITY -- Supporters of the U.S. Postal Service are pressing for passage of a bill to shore up the troubled agency. Twin versions of the …

Many voting-rights advocates believe Utah's election system works well in terms of efficiency and fairness, but they're also concerned recent court rulings could prompt changes. (Popov/Adobe Stock)

Utahns Concerned Over High Court Ruling on AZ Election Laws

SALT LAKE CITY -- In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a pair of Arizona "election security" laws that many experts believe will …

The outlook for children's well-being in Utah is good, but a new report says 173,000 kids live in households where parents don't have stable employment. (diego serva/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Among Top 5 States for Children's Well-Being

SALT LAKE CITY -- Families with children in Utah and other states remained mostly steady over the past year in an annual report on children's wellbein…

A report prepared for the Utah Legislature points out that the state's power grid may not have the reserve capacity to withstand an extreme heat wave without blackouts. (naufalmq/Adobe Stock)

Heat Wave Generates Concerns Over Viability of Utah Power Grid

SALT LAKE CITY -- Extreme drought has brought abnormally high temperatures across the Western states this week, and normally temperate Utah has not …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SALT LAKE CITY -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

A plan by the Biden administration would give eligible families money to provide meals for their children during summer break in the school year. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

American Families Plan Would Boost Summer Nutrition for UT Kids

LOGAN, Utah -- Food insecurity among rural Utah children, already a problem prior to the pandemic, has grown worse in the past 15 months. Children's …

Advocates say a video which went viral of a boy cutting down a Pride flag in front of his school sends a negative message to Utah's transgender and LGBTQ students. (Adobe Stock)

Group Rallies to Counter Messages Aimed at UT Transgender Students

SALT LAKE CITY -- As the issues surrounding transgender and LGBTQ students become increasingly politicized in Utah, one group is providing support …

The Biden administration's 30x30 Plan to fight climate change by preserving public lands, such as the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, may not be possible without congressional action. (Laurens/Adobe Stock)

30x30 Plan Fights Climate Change by Protecting Public Lands, Waters

MONTICELLO, Utah - The 30 by 30 Plan, also called the "the "America the Beautiful" campaign" campaign, aims to preserve 30% of the nation's public …

Gov. Spencer Cox announced an early end last week to Utah's participation in the $300-a-week federal unemployment stimulus program, claiming workers were making too much money in jobless benefits to return to their jobs. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Utah Governor Ends $300 Federal Jobless Benefit Early to Boost Employment

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Utah officials are cutting back on jobless benefits, claiming without evidence federal "bonus" payments are keeping thousands …

President Joe Biden has nominated longtime environmentalist Tracy Stone-Manning to serve as director of the Bureau of Land Management. (NWF Photo)

Conservationists Laud Choice of Stone-Manning to Head BLM

MOAB, Utah -- Conservationists in Utah and across the West are praising the Biden administration's nomination of Tracy Stone-Manning, a longtime …

Many oil and gas producers vent or "flare" methane as a byproduct, but environmentalists say it is a much more dangerous greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide and other emissions. (Leonid Ikan/Adobe Stock)

Conservationists Back Congressional Effort to Restore Methane Controls

MOAB, Utah -- Conservationists and others are optimistic key climate-change regulations on methane leaks rolled back during the Trump administration …

Of just over 49,000 subsidized rental-housing units for low-income Utahns, only about 16% were rented to senior citizens in 2019, according to a new report on preserving affordable senior housing. (Konstantine_L/Adobe Stock)

Utah Seniors Warned of Worsening Affordable-Housing Crisis

SALT LAKE CITY - A new report warns that thousands of Utah seniors could lose their housing unless federal and state officials act to preserve existin…

Under President Joe Biden's infrastructure program, thousands of new workers would be needed to improve bridges and roadways, repair water and wastewater systems and build a clean-energy economy. (denklim/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /> — Under President Joe Biden's infrastructure program, thousands of new workers would be needed to improve bridges and roadways, repair water and wastewater systems and build a clean-energy economy. (denklim/Adobe Stock)

Biden Climate Summit Could Bring Jobs, Infrastructure to Utah, U.S.

SALT LAKE CITY -- When President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit on Earth Day, he's not only seeking to engage world powers on environmental issues…

Experts are concerned that many parents haven't been equipped in the pandemic to cope with the stress of working at home while their children are learning from home. (Rafael Ben-Ari/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Poverty, Pandemic Could Bring Increase in Child Abuse Cases

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah families need more resources to counter concerns of a slumping economy and the pandemic, which could subject more children to …

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission say they're prepared to enforce penalties against landlords who expel tenants despite the current federal ban on evictions, which is in effect until June 30. (Joaquin Corbalan/Adobe Stock)

Agencies Vow to Penalize Landlords Who Violate Eviction Ban

SALT LAKE CITY - Landlords in Utah, and across the country, who wrongly evict renters protected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's …

Parents without access to paid leave must often decide between staying home with a sick child or going to work and getting paid. (pixel-shot/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Plan to Include Paid Family Leave for Utah, U.S.

SALT LAKE CITY - President Joe Biden says he will include a federal paid leave program as part of his multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan to reb…

Migrating wildlife is at risk for collisions with vehicles when crossing highways, but land bridges can allow them to safely cross roads and rail lines. (Adobe Stock)

New Funding Could Be Key to Wildlife Migration Programs

OGDEN, Utah -- Wildlife migrations are a part of the American West's lore and history, but many of those centuries-old passages are now obstructed by …

College students who are eligible for financial assistance are now also eligible for SNAP benefits under a new, temporary extension of the government nutrition program. (Brastock/Adobe Stock)

SNAP Benefit Extension: A Lifeline for Some in UT Colleges

SALT LAKE CITY -- For many students, money is scarce and getting a college education means making sacrifices, but it shouldn't mean going hungry…

About 38-million acres of onshore and offshore public lands are under lease, but critics say organizational, financial and environmental problems abound. (Jeffery/Adobe Stock)

Feds to Review Public-Lands Oil & Gas Lease Program

GREEN RIVER, Utah - The Biden administration has ordered the U.S. Department of the Interior to conduct a review of the federal government's oil-and-…

The COVID-19 virus has disrupted millions of lives across Utah, but some state legislators are proposing a law that would allow them to determine when the pandemic is over. (Thaut Images/Adobe Stock)

Are We Done Yet? UT Lawmakers Ponder Bill to End Pandemic

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah legislators are working on a bill that would allow them to decide when the COVID-19 pandemic is officially over - or at least…

The School Breakfast Scorecard recently ranked Utah 51st for the number of students receiving breakfast on a daily basis. A new program, Smart Start, aims to improve participation. (Wavebreaknedia/Adobe Stock)

Utah Seeks to Improve Participation in School Breakfast Program

SALT LAKE CITY -- As Utah students head back to the classroom soon, research shows providing breakfast will be a critical factor in helping kids who …

Many Utahns have lost their health insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic, but subsidized coverage is now available through the Affordable Care Act. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofits Help Utahns Find 'Bidencare' Coverage in Health Marketplace

OGDEN, Utah -- You may know it as "Obamacare." But nowadays, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has a new moniker, "Bidencare," because President Joe …

U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., could be the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary if she is confirmed to lead the Department of the Interior. (Wikimedia Commons)

Haaland on Track to be First Native American Cabinet Secretary

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Biden administration's nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., to head the U.S. Interior Department is seen as a momentous …

Thousands of Utah families who have lost jobs during the pandemic depend on SNAP benefits to buy enough groceries each month to stave off hunger. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Ending Hunger in Utah, U.S. Should be Biden’s Top Priority

SALT LAKE CITY -- In his first week in office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order extending a temporary increase in SNAP benefits during …

Restoring EPA regulations on vehicle emissions standards could help the Wasatch Front/Salt Lake City region roll back its annual brown cloud, which appears each winter. (Utah Dept. of Health)

For Utah, Biden Climate-Change Plan Could Mean Cleaner Air, New Jobs

SALT LAKE CITY -- President Joe Biden released a package of executive orders this week designed to fight climate change, curb pollution, conserve …

About 2,000 rare Mojave Desert tortoises are left in southern Utah's Red Cliff Desert Reserve. The reptiles are considered "threatened" but were removed from the federal Endangered Species List in 1996. (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)

Conservationists Expand Utah Preserve to Save Mojave Desert Tortoise

ST. GEORGE, Utah -- A public-private partnership has obtained a parcel of Utah wilderness to protect the critical habitat of the threatened Mojave …

Utah has about a 35,000-unit housing deficit, after years of population growth has outpaced development of apartments and small to mid-size houses. (utah.gov)

Utah Legislature Urged to Prioritize Affordable Housing

SALT LAKE CITY -- Religious leaders, local nonprofits and lawmakers are urging the Utah Legislature to restore funding for affordable housing to pre-…

Utah lawmakers will see a slew of bills this session addressing police behavior, including one that would prevent officers from using additional force against someone who's been subdued. (Adobe Stock)

Police Reform On Docket in Utah Legislature

SALT LAKE CITY -- Police reform will be a top priority when the Utah Legislature opens next Tuesday, and groups are pressing lawmakers to pass more …

The Trump administration gutted protections for migratory birds by weakening a law that protects more than 1,000 species, including the bald eagle. (Adobe Stock)

Concerns About Bird Populations at Center of New Trump Rule

SALT LAKE CITY -- In the coming weeks, bird viewers will spread to various pointed in Utah to catch glimpses of bald eagles as they temporarily …

Thousands of Utahns affected by the pandemic turned to food banks for the first time to put meals on the table, pushing the state's network of assistance agencies to their limit. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Utah Families Need Continued Support to Recover from Crisis

OGDEN, Utah - While the $900 billion pandemic-relief package should be a welcome assist for struggling Utah families, a coalition that works to fight …

The Jacob Hamblin Arch is part of the former Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that Utah conservationists hope will be restored by the incoming Biden administration. (kojihirano/Adobe Stock) <br /><br /> — The Jacob Hamblin Arch is part of the former Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that Utah conservationists hope will be restored by the incoming Biden administration. (kojihirano/Adobe Stock)

Groups Look to Biden Administration to Save Utah Wildlands

MOAB, Utah -- Utah conservation groups, battered by four years of Trump administration rollbacks of public-land protections, say they're looking for …

The COVID-19 pandemic is severely disrupting the lives of Utah's children, according to a new study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Philip Steury/Adobe Stock)

COVID Pandemic Brings Stress, Health Issues to Utah Kids, Families

PROVO, Utah -- The COVID-19 pandemic and its side-effects - job loss, poverty, hunger and the threat of homelessness - have hit Americans hard in 2020…

Since the start of the pandemic, it's estimated Utah renters are collectively $120 million in arrears because of illness and/or unemployment. (pixelrobot/Adobe Stiock)

Without New Stimulus, Thousands of Utah Renters Face Eviction

SALT LAKE CITY -- Thousands of Utah renters who lost jobs or suffered cutbacks because of COVID-19 face possible eviction beginning in the first week …

Public health officials in Utah and elsewhere are discouraging large gatherings to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, to avoid the spread of COVID-19. (deagreez/Adobe Stock)

Online Tool Helps Assess COVID Risk at Holiday Gatherings

SALT LAKE CITY - Public health officials continue to discourage large gatherings for this Thanksgiving, but it's hard to tell how big is too big…

The Ashley National Forest in northeastern Utah is part of more than 8 million acres of woodlands in the state managed by the U.S. Forest Service. (Jeff/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups Cry Foul Over Forest-Service Rule Change

OGDEN, Utah -- The U.S. Forest Service has issued a controversial rule green-lighting activities such as logging and road-building in national …

Utah educators are asking state health officials to mandate online classes in public secondary schools to keep students and teachers safe during the current COVID-19 spike. (as-artmedia/Adobe Stock)

Educators: Governor's COVID Order Puts Utah Teachers at Risk

MURRAY, Utah -- Utah leaders have declared a public health emergency in the wake of rising COVID-19 rates, but the state's public school teachers say …

County elections officials across Utah must wait to begin counting mail-in ballots until Election Day, but the final vote tally may not be available for a week or two. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Utah Officials: Don't Expect Complete Vote Counts on Election Night

SALT LAKE CITY - While they expect voting to go smoothly on Tuesday, Utah elections officials don't expect to see complete results on Election Night -…

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