Behind The Headlines – KCPW

Rep. Chris Stewart confirms he is leaving Congress, citing his wife's health concerns. Bigger freeways don't cut traffic congestion, many studies show. What could Utah do with Interstate 15 instead? Utah LGBTQ activist Troy Williams aims to protect his community by breaking bread with GOP lawmakers. And Brigham Young's drag-performing son skirted traditional norms and now stirs speculation. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt…

This week in Utah news: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says a “60 Minutes” episode about its investment portfolio was based on “unfounded allegations.” LGBTQ+ students in Utah County walk out to protest the school board's silence on removing pride flags. And Kennecott's tailings may creep even closer to Magna homes. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune reporters…

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints permanently donates thousands of acre-feet of water to the Great Salt Lake. Zions Bank stock plummets in the wake of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, but the Utah bank's CEO says your money is safe. And lawmakers spend $500,000 to recruit out-of-state hunters for Utah's war on wolves. At 9 a.m. on…

The Environmental Protection Agency looks into the operations of a Sandy medical device maker after new data shows that its use of ethylene oxide gas can pose a cancer risk to neighbors. Embattled state Sen. Gene Davis announces he'll retire early after an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. And yet another battle over off-road vehicles looms as the Bureau of Land…

At the last minute, Republican Rep. Burgess Owens pulls out of a scheduled political debate, citing objections to the event's moderator: Salt Lake Tribune Executive Editor Lauren Gustus. Owens says the newspaper she leads is racist because of a political cartoon it published equating the congressman's own fear-stoking rhetoric about immigrants to that of the Ku […]

A candidate for Salt Lake County clerk walks back his assertions that the 2020 election was stolen. Drones begin delivering prescription drugs to some Utah homes. A Salt Lake City-raised poet, whose writing explores the Black history of the West, is long-listed for a National Book Award. And a columnist bemoans Utah Attorney General Sean […]

A GOP candidate for Salt Lake County clerk insists that the 2020 election was stolen and called Democrats “Commies” and “Marxists.” Salt Lake City deploys a rapid intervention team to try to prevent the establishment of large homeless encampments. And how a state plan to turn 28,500 acres covering Tabby Mountain into a public wildlife and hunting preserve got […]

A state audit faults the Utah Inland Port Authority for awarding no-bid contracts and for accountability issues. The Salt Lake City Council fast-tracks proposed changes to off-street parking rules, shared housing and tiny homes — in what it says is an effort to address affordability. And Utah guides work to combat sexual harassment on river trips. At 9 a.m. on Friday, […]

Girls are removed from a new offshoot of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after a federal raid. Critics decry the planned appearance of a controversial former sheriff at a Utah law enforcement conference. And time will tell if Salt Lake City's Ballpark neighborhood will lose its baseball field. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt […]

A mineral company applies to lengthen two of its canals on the Great Salt Lake, worrying environmentalists. Utah Democrats sue to force Joel Ferry, head of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, off the November ballot. New leadership at the Utah Inland Port Authority hits pause on big ticket spending. And a columnist says it's right and proper for a president […]

The Utah Department of Transportation says it prefers a gondola for Little Cottonwood Canyon — eventually. BYU continues investigating reports that racist slurs were yelled at a Duke volleyball player after video footage appeared to clear the fan originally blamed. We preview the University of Utah football season ahead of its opener against Florida in “The Swamp.” And the Utah Jazz unload Donovan Mitchell, […]

Utah sues over President Joe Biden's upsizing of national monuments downsized by former President Donald Trump. A lawsuit alleging that Utah's redistricting process amounted to an unconstitutional gerrymander moves forward. And a deep dive with the Associated Press journalist whose reporting showed that a sex abuse “help line” for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can divert abuse […]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says there were “egregious errors” in a recent Associated Press report on child sex abuse. The federal government says it is “starting the process” to significantly reduce water use in the Colorado River Basin. A judge grants access to police shooting records that West Jordan sought to keep secret. And […]

West-side Salt Lake City council members push for legal homeless encampments to clean up the area around the Jordan River. Dozens of Utah Democrats call for Gene Davis to be suspended following sexual misconduct allegations. And Salt Lake County Council member Dave Alvord faces a backlash after tweeting to Vice President Kamala Harris that fetuses aren't part of women's bodies. At […]

Saying that the current mayor “has totally failed,” Rocky Anderson says he's running for Salt Lake City Mayor again in 2023. A new lawsuit says Utah police intimidated animal-rights activists and violated their free speech rights. Bristlecone pines — the world's most long-lived organisms — are being killed by beetle infestations. And new subdivisions take the place of well established […]

A K-9 police officer accused of unnecessarily siccing his dog on arrestees sees one of two felony assault charges dismissed. A Utah man faces a second murder charge after random “purge” killings earlier this month. Minibottles move a step closer to returning to the state's liquor stores after a three-decade absence. And remembering Kitty Pappas, who ran […]

The University of Utah acknowledges that it failed to recognize student Zhifan Dong was in danger before she was killed. A Utah oil field spilled 400 barrels near Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument last fall — and it's still cleaning up the crude. And the only known photo of Mormon founder Joseph Smith is unearthed by one of […]

Abortion is still legal in Utah after a judge blocked the state's trigger law from taking effect. Utah doctors are trying to figure out why some kids get diabetesafter contracting COVID-19. Salt Lake City's widespread gentrification has all but wiped out affordable neighborhoods citywide. And the latest in Utah food and alcohol news — from […]

The Great Salt Lake hits a record low elevation — and it's not done shrinking. With the race between Sen. Mike Lee and Evan McMullin taking shape, a columnist digs into reader questions about the contest. And the Utah Jazz get a new coach and trade a star player. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake […]

A Utah law banning abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy takes effect after the state's trigger law gets put on hold. A Utah lawmaker aims to expand the available reporting options to provide rape victims legal access to abortion. The Utah Supreme Court sides with the Utah Inland Port. And congressional incumbents win easy victories in primary elections. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt […]

The Supreme Court strikes down Roe V. Wade. Local officials ask UDOT to start over with its transportation plan for Little Cottonwood Canyon, calling a proposed gondola a “boondoggle.” Some details emerge about the ritualistic sex abuse allegations the Utah County Sheriff's Office says it's investigating. And, during Congressional testimony, Arizona's House Speaker explains how his LDS faith impelled […]

The Utah Inland Port Authority is paying millions of dollars in rent for a transloading facility that has yet to be built. After a public outcry, the expansion of a trail system in the foothills above Salt Lake City will wait at least another year. And an effort is underway to draw attention to Utah's history of Black lynchings — by […]

During a C-SPAN appearance, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, embraces baseless claims about fraud in the 2020 election. A Brigham Young University ecologist countersues the backers of a plan to build islands in Utah Lake, saying their lawsuit is an attempt to silence him. The head of the NAACP of Utah asks the Department of Justice to investigate allegations of harassment […]

Utah County Attorney David Leavitt calls on Sheriff Mike Smith to resign, saying the top cop may have tried to implicate him in a “ritualistic” sex ring investigation. Hate crimes against Utah's LGBTQ community nearly doubled last year, with a big jump during Pride Month. And Iowa House, “an experiment in progress,” offers queer Utahns […]

In the wake of another mass shooting, where things stand in terms of school safety in Utah. A Utah doctor offers advice on talking to children about school shootings. And health care providers and others try to help Utah families find baby formula amid a national shortage. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune reporters Becky Jacobs and Courtney […]

Lawmakers ponder importing water from the Pacific Ocean to rescue the Great Salt Lake. Northern Utah sees its worst dust storms in a decade, but the drying up lake isn't to blame — yet. And new details emerge about the Utah Inland Port, including a snag for a major component of the project. At 9 […]

Tribal leaders say a landmark federal report on the legacy of Indigenous boarding schools is just a “starting point.” Paris Hilton, urging federal oversight, reveals she was sexually abused at a Utah teen treatment center. And with the Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says (and doesn't say) about abortion. […]

A trigger law banning elective abortions in Utah is slated to take effect if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Eighty-three women say a Provo OB-GYN sexually abused them over a span of 40 years. And, as Utah's drought persists, clean energy advocates say it's time to power down water-guzzling coal plants. At 9 […]

The Ute Tribe believes a Uinta Basin rancher is “misappropriating” its water, but federal courts aren't intervening. Almost 20 years after their parents were killed in Brazil, the Staheli siblings are still seeking justice. And remembering Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history and a “giant” on Utah's political stage. At 9 a.m. […]

Sen. Mike Lee dodges questions about text messages he sent that illustrate his role in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. A 13-year-old transgender girl speaks out about how a new Utah law has impacted her love of swimming. And state auditors say widespread issues persist at the University of Utah, […]

Housing caseworkers decry what they say is a “blacklist” of prospective renters maintained by a powerful Utah law firm. A newly released database shows that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fifth largest private landholder in the United States. And the Utah Jazz square off against the Dallas Mavericks in the first […]

The Salt Lake County Council bans new mines in the foothills and canyons of the Wasatch Mountains. A Utah congressional candidate brings controversial Republican adviser Roger Stone onto his campaign. And Sen. Mike Lee stays mum on former President Donald Trump's “Complete and Total Endorsement.” At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune reporters Brian Maffly and Bryan Schott, along […]

Some Democrats (and unaffiliated voters) are switching their registration to Republican to participate in the GOP primary elections. A Utah dancer comes forward with a story of online harassment by a local choreographer — prompting a flood of #MeToo responses. And activists say underlying issues in the state's beauty industry perpetuate hair discrimination for Black Utahns. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune […]

The Legislature reconvenes to try to override Gov. Spencer Cox's veto of a bill barring transgender girls from female school sports. The Outdoor Retailer trade show is headed back to Utah despite a boycott threat from some well-known brands. And an in-depth report examines how Utah boarding schools stripped Native American students of their culture. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt […]

This week, we revisit the stories that defined 2021: In its second year, a global pandemic continued to take a toll. Political reverberations from the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack still were felt in Utah. And water woes, driven by drought and climate change, led to calls for more aggressive conservation in a thirsty West. […]

A college student sues two universities in Utah, alleging they offered no assistance after she was raped by a football player. Staffing shortages delay the opening of winter overflow shelter space meant to keep people off the frigid streets. And the federal Surface Transportation Board grants final approval for a Uinta Basin oil railway. At […]

Newly released records reveal that it was “standard practice” for Brigham Young University police to help with Honor Code surveillance at the school — including sharing records held by the Provo Police Department. Utah State University's police chief resigns after a recording shows he made controversial comments to football players about sexual assault claims from Latter-day Saint women. Months […]

Utah lawmakers push for an election integrity audit — despite a lack of evidence of fraud. A project that aims to dredge Utah Lake to build and develop new islands gets wait-listed for financing by federal regulators. And a major limestone quarry is proposed for Parleys Canyon. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune reporters Brian Maffly and Bethany Rodgers, […]

Nine books are removed from libraries in one school district — prompting accusations of censorship. Scientists work to better understand the omicron variant of the coronavirus, and to better predict its impacts on the pandemic. And a look at how discriminatory housing practices from Utah's past carry through to the present day. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune […]

A “frustrated” Salt Lake City Council authorizes a winter overflow shelter for the homeless at a location on the west side. A legislative proposal seeks to require transgender girls to change their birth certificates before joining female high school sports. The University of Utah's ballet program vows reform after former students describe body shaming, racist comments and intimidation. And Utah expands […]

The death of a 10-year-old Black girl by suicide intensifies the spotlight on racism and bullying in Utah schools. State lawmakers approve controversial electoral maps, greenlight a name change for Dixie State University, work to counter a federal vaccine-or-testing requirement, and punish a Millard County power plant — apparently over a plan to convert from coal to natural gas. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt […]

Utah officials make plans to build a reservoir that would hold Bear River water to feed urban growth along the Wasatch Front. How the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined Pfizer's smaller-dose vaccine was safe and effective in children ages 5 to 11. And election results from Tuesday's municipal contests. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune reporters Andy Larsen and […]

Utah health care workers say they're tired of being on the receiving end of COVID-19 hostility. A pandemic data columnist offers an explainer on booster shots. Rep. Steve Christiansen announces his resignation from Utah Legislature. And the money eviction attorneys received from a pandemic relief fund meant to help renters. At 9 a.m. on Friday, […]

A conspiracy-fueled push for a 2020 election audit in Utah falls flat during a legislative committee meeting. With municipal elections underway across the state, an explainer on ranked-choice voting. A program that makes naloxone available in local libraries to try to save lives. And the Utah Jazz start their season strong against a lackluster foe. At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt […]

  Medical cannabis pharmacies in Utah sell products containing Delta-8 THC — despite federal warnings of serious health risks. The Utah Inland Port Authority creates a new entity to issue bonds — over objections from two of its own board members. Southwest Utah sees a surge in COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations as vaccination rates remain low. And the names of hundreds […]