The 1990s-era settlements from big tobacco continue to benefit states, with Utah set to see another $57 million that will go toward public health programs.  That’s according to Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who announced Thursday that the state will get $30 million for 2023 and $27 million for 2024. The payments are part of […] The post Almost $60 million from ’90s-era tobacco settlement headed to Utah appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

(CN) — Conservationists lost an appeal to the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday as they attempted to force the federal government to reconsider climate change studies in managing the Glen Canyon Dam and Colorado River. Save the Colorado, Living River and the Center for Biological Diversity initially asked the U.S. Department of the Interior to consider […] The post In blow to green groups, Ninth Circuit upholds federal plan for Colorado River dam appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

Utah Republicans now know who they will see on their ballots for the state’s June 25 primary. In the race for governor, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will face Rep. Phil Lyman, who got the Utah Republican Party’s convention nomination.  For outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney’s seat, there will be a four-way Republican contest between hardcore former […] The post Utah’s primary election stage is set: Lyman vs. Cox, the race for Romney’s seat and more appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

Across various news channels and outlets, a visceral fear of some property owners — that an unwanted guest could move into their vacant home, refuse to leave, and then claim ownership — has been a trending story. These squatter horror stories have reached a fever pitch in the past month after a migrant TikTok influencer, […] The post Anxiety over squatters, fueled by TikTok, inspires a wave of legislation appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

As cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza spread across U.S. cattle, Idaho officials say their biggest concern is the virus’ impact on Idaho’s economy. The illness, also coined the bird flu, has sickened cattle across at least eight states, with the first case detected in Texas cattle in late March, according to the U.S. Department […] The post Idaho officials worry about financial impact after bird flu cases detected in cattle in the state appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

After the Environmental Protection Agency released stricter standards for existing coal power plants and new gas facilities’ carbon pollution, their wastewater, coal ash residuals, and mercury and air toxics on Thursday, a lawsuit may be on the horizon to keep Utah’s four coal plants running past the 2032 deadline. Under the EPA’s changes, power plants […] The post Utah may join lawsuit against EPA coal plant rules with the help of new legislation appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

A Utah woman recorded in a viral video showing an ID badge and saying she’s a state employee after tugging down a young woman’s skirt that she said was too short is now facing criminal charges. Ida Ann Lorenzo, 48, of Santa Clara, was charged Thursday with sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor, after calling […] The post Saying she’s a state employee, woman tugs down another’s skirt at restaurant; charges filed appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

Tens of millions of dollars in campaign finance money is flowing in Utah as the 2024 election heats up.  In the race for Utah’s open U.S. Senate seat alone — left up for grabs by outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney — over $13 million in campaign financing has so far been reported by seven candidates.  Candidates […] The post Detailing the tens of millions flowing in Utah’s hotly contested 2024 races appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday released a sweeping set of rules aimed at cutting air, water and land pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants. Environmental and clean energy groups celebrated the announcement as long overdue, particularly for coal-burning power plants, which have saddled hundreds of communities across the country with dirty air and […] The post New EPA rules will force fossil fuel power plants to cut pollution appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

From the White House to almost every city, the housing crisis has come to the forefront of political discussions. It is a clear fact that we simply lack enough housing for our entire population. And, as with many issues in our society, the lack of housing disproportionately affects the poor and minorities. With that in mind, many different […] The post The market can’t solve housing by itself appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

Environmental groups are suing the U.S. Forest Service over a project that would remove trees in the Ashley National Forest, which includes a large section of the Uinta Mountain range and Flaming Gorge reservoir in northeastern Utah.  Filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for Utah’s Central Division, the Center for Biological Diversity, Yellowstone to Uintas […] The post Lawsuit looks to stop U.S. Forest Service project in Utah’s Uinta Mountains appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Thursday of former President Donald Trump’s argument he is immune from criminal charges that he tried to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. But conservatives who dominate the court appeared open to returning key questions to a trial court, possibly delaying Trump’s prosecution beyond the November […] The post U.S. Supreme Court floats return to trial court for Trump in presidential immunity case  appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

State party delegates have the opportunity on Saturday to decide which candidates do or don’t make it to the June primary and the November general election.  Depending on whether candidates also opted to secure their place on the primary ballot by gathering signatures — which provides an alternative path, besides the party nomination — delegates’ […] The post Utah’s state Republican, Democratic party nominating conventions are coming Saturday appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor Tuesday announced a final rule that means millions of salaried workers who are employed in the executive, administrative or professional industries will become eligible for overtime pay. The rule will affect roughly 4 million workers in the first year of implementation and will be broken into two checkpoints. […] The post Millions of salaried workers to become eligible for overtime under new Biden rule appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

Hundreds of Utah kids, most of them part of youth hockey teams, ditched school on Wednesday morning and headed to the airport instead. They waited for the arrival of the former Arizona Coyotes, who are poised to become Utah’s future National Hockey League team. Though the name of the team is yet to be determined, […] The post Thousands of Utahns welcome new NHL team at the arena that will host them appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

In 2020, 5,520 Utahns in families were experiencing homelessness, including 2,953 children under the age of 18.  In 2023, that number increased by a striking 27% — up 2,309 individuals to 7,033, including 3,748 children. That’s according to a January report issued by the Utah Office of Homeless Services depicting the successes and challenges the […] The post Family homelessness is a growing problem in Utah. What should be done? appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

U.S. Supreme Court justices spent two hours Wednesday morning debating whether a federal law about emergency treatment encompasses abortion care even in states with strict abortion bans, with no clear indication of how they may ultimately rule. A decision could come as soon as the end of June whether Idaho’s near-total abortion ban means doctors […] The post Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

Spring runoff flowing into the Great Salt Lake has officials cautiously optimistic, although a dry and warm April is slowing some of that momentum, and a recent report from the National Weather Service is pointing to a hot and dry summer.  “One of the reasons we haven’t seen more gains on the Great Salt Lake […] The post Forecasts predict a hot and dry summer. What does that mean for the Great Salt Lake? appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

The U.S. government moved closer to banning the video social media app TikTok on Apr. 24, 2024 after President Joe Biden signed into law a $95 billion foreign aid bill. The law includes a provision to force ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to either sell its American holdings to a U.S. company or […] The post TikTok fears point to larger problem: Poor media literacy in the social media age appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.

The summer after Muskan Walia graduated from Bountiful High School, she abruptly learned what it meant to have a refinery almost at her doorstep.  Her mom, who liked to garden outside their home, developed a pervasive cough that led her to her doctor’s office. She was later diagnosed with a lung disease, a fact that […] The post This young environmental advocate’s message to decision-makers: Let teens lead the way appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.