Latest news with #UtahCapitol
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘One-of-a-kind' stained glass dome unveiled atop new Utah Capitol north building
Reporters are given a behind-the-scenes tour of a new stained glass laylight that was recently installed in the Utah Capitol's new north building as construction nears completion at the Utah Capitol's complex in Salt Lake City on May 19, 2025. (Courtesy of the Utah House) Rainbow refractions — cascading through a collection of crystals embedded at the peak of the dome above — danced across Dana Jones' face as she showed off a one-of-a-kind work of art meant to make the Utah Capitol's newest building something special. 'We had a vision that we wanted Utahns to connect with this building in a way that if they were going to go on a road trip through Utah, they would be able to see the different landscapes (and its) symbols,' said Jones, executive director of Utah Capitol Preservation Board. A group of Utah reporters from various outlets, including Utah News Dispatch, were invited to the Utah Capitol on Monday for the public's first look at the stained glass dome that's been installed atop the new building that's currently under construction to replace what was once known as the State Office Building at the Utah Capitol's complex in Salt Lake City. The dome will act as a laylight for the north building's atrium — and Jones lauded it as one of at least several special works of art state officials will unveil as the north building nears completion. She said it's expected to be done by the beginning of next year, in time for the Utah Legislature's 2026 session in January. To capture a behind-the-scenes and up-close look at the stained glass masterpiece, reporters were invited to step atop scaffolding more than 200 feet in the air. As construction finishes, the scaffolding will be dismantled — and to most, the dome will only be viewable from hundreds of feet below. But Jones said state officials wanted to show off its vivid colors, textures, hidden symbols and intricate details before the platform came down. Glowing with sunlight, hues of blue, red, orange, yellow, green and every color in between poured through its glass. The 25-foot by 25-foot dome featured 89 panels of stained glass made up of 14,000 individual glass pieces. Its panes contain at least 34 depictions of Utah landmarks and symbols — some easier to spot than others. A flaming orange Rainbow Bridge arches over a seagull, Utah's state bird. Honeybees (the official state insect) buzz around blooming sego lilies (the state flower). The Colorado River flows through Bryce Canyon and Goblin Valley, two of several Utah state parks featured in the mural. A Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (the state fish) bursts through a creek flowing near a golden grove of quaking aspens, representing the famed Pando Aspen Clone — the world's largest collective root system found in Fishlake National Forest. You may have to squint, but hidden in the stained glass lead lines are symbols including a Utahraptor skull, a cougar, a dragonfly, a hummingbird, a lizard, a hopi kokopelli and anasazi symbol of the sun deity, and even an outline of the Great Salt Lake. The stained glass mural was designed by lead artist Dallin Orr at the Lehi-based stained glass studio Holdman Studios, selected through a competitive bidding process. Orr told reporters his goal was to capture 'harmony' by balancing all of Utah's 'chaotic and diverse biomes,' from the snowy mountain peaks to the deserts — all anchored around the dome's center point, the sun. Karen Ferguson, the building's architect, said the dome's shape — its double curve, transitioning from a square frame to a circle that rounds into a dome — makes it unique. Her favorite part? The bristlecone pine — made with sand collected from all of Utah's 29 counties. 'That has every county in the state, right there,' she said. 'And it's just so iconic of Utah.' Before walking reporters up to the top of the building to see the dome, Jones said the project has been 'near and dear to my heart,' and that she hopes others will experience a 'wow moment' like she did when she first saw it. 'We want this to connect with Utah,' she said, adding that the stained glass artwork is special because it's now 'part of the historic fabric' of the Utah Capitol complex. 'That is pretty special. We have built this to be long lasting, with the 100-plus year context of this building.' Jones said when she first saw the completed dome, 'it legitimately took my breath away.' 'At the risk of sounding cheesy, it was an emotional thing for me,' she said. 'When you pour your heart and everything into a project. … I mean, this is part of history.' Jones said for her, the elk seen trudging through the snow from behind a pine tree evoked memories of her dad — who she said died in the '90s while elk hunting after he suffered from a heart attack. 'He died doing what he loved,' she said. Like her, Jones said she hopes Utahns looking up at the mural will find something special they can 'connect' with 'in their own way.' The dome cost $1.6 million to complete, according to Jones — a price tag that she said was well worth it to create an iconic piece of art that will become 'the historic fabric of this building.' 'It deserves to have the presence that it has,' she said. 'Especially when it represents all things Utah.' The dome is just one piece of a larger construction project that's been underway at the Utah Capitol complex since 2022. At its groundbreaking, state officials estimated the building would cost about $165 million, but since then its price tag has hit about $208 million, with state officials blaming construction inflation for the price increases, the Deseret News reported. When combined with another $73 million for renovations to the Utah Capitol complex's central plaza fountain and an underground parking structure for lawmakers and state employees, the entire construction project has totaled about $281 million, according to state officials. The new north building will replace the old State Office Building, which was built in the 1960s. For years, state leaders had eyed replacing the building, which was not only aging and in need of upgrades, but didn't fit with the rest of the Utah Capitol complex. Now, the new north building will not only match the white stone and marble styling of the rest of the Utah Capitol's buildings, but it will be more than just an office space for state employees. It will also be the new home for the 'Museum of Utah,' as well as offer conference rooms, and other spaces for the public. The entire construction project, along with redoing the outdoor plaza and the underground parking lot, is all meant to create more space and help better connect Utahns with their Capitol. 'We're doing all this,' Jones said, 'to make coming to the people's house easier.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
High schooler faces terrorism charge after playing ‘Senior Assassination' game in hospital
WEST JORDAN, Utah () — An 18-year-old high school student was arrested Wednesday on a felony threat of terrorism charge after he allegedly ran into a hospital carrying a Nerf gun as part of a 'Senior Assassination' game. On April 30, two young males allegedly entered Jordan Valley Hospital with what appeared to be a gun and 'asked if it was a hospital,' according to court documents. Witnesses said they then took off running. Santaquin officer honored at Utah Capitol on first anniversary of his death Police responded to the hospital and surrounded the building as detectives and security guards weighed whether they should lockdown the building. 'Several hospital visitors approached the officers, asking if it was safe to enter the hospital, as they were frightened,' an officer said in their report. Police found the suspect with the perceived weapon. He told them that 'he was playing a game called 'Senior Assassination' with a Nerf gun. He said he was chasing his friend, which led them to the hospital. The high schooler is facing a threat of terrorism charge, a third-degree felony, as officers claim this 'interrupted the occupation of the Jordan Valley Hospital' and scared members of the public. Utah police urge parents to talk with kids about 'Senior Assassin' game amidst rise in 911 calls 'The suspect action caused a West Jordan PD to deal with emergencies to take action due to the actor's conduct posing a serious and substantial risk to the general public,' documents read. ABC4 did not include the suspect's name as he is reportedly in high school. The arrest comes one year after about the game due to a rise in 911 calls. The game is known as 'Senior Assassin,' and it's played across the country with the rules varying by school. Kaysville police said high school seniors in their area sign up and pay a fee to play and are randomly assigned another player to target. The players then attempt to 'assassinate' the target, often through tagging them with water. The last player standing wins. Last year, Kaysville Police warned students of the potential consequences of trespassing on property with what appears to be a gun. They said community members may not realize they are playing a game. 'We have to treat every call with a serious and professional matter and urge those who play this game to remember many do not know what they're doing,' Kaysville police said. Mix, mingle, and raise awareness for sexual violence Trump taps Mike Waltz as UN ambassador, names Rubio as national security adviser Trump's HHS casts doubt on evidence supporting gender-affirming care for youth GOP senators express disappointment over reported Waltz resignation High schooler faces terrorism charge after playing 'Senior Assassination' game in hospital Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
For 18th year, Utah ranks No. 1 for best economic outlook. What could threaten its top spot?
The Utah Capitol and its North Building construction is pictured in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Utah's top-ranking state Republicans called a news conference in front of the governor's mansion on Tuesday to celebrate yet another year of Utah ranking No. 1 for its economic outlook, according to a new report released by the pro 'limited government' think tank American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). To Gov. Spencer Cox, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate President Stuart Adams, Utah taking the report's top spot for 18 years in a row validates how Utah's GOP-controlled Legislature has been managing the state, not just decades into the past, but also to this day. By nurturing a business-friendly climate with low personal and corporate tax rates along with 'family friendly' policies, they said Utah is continuing its nearly two-decade streak of setting an example for other states to follow. Alongside its No. 1 economic outlook ranking, Utah also ranked No. 3 in the nation in the ALEC report for 'economic performance' based on its gross domestic product growth, domestic migration and non-farm payroll employment growth. It's a ranking not all Utah leaders agree with, however, as some Democrats point to working class Utahns' struggle to afford to live in the state. Utah tops ALEC's list of states with the best economic outlook, again To Cox, Utah's secret sauce is state leaders' 'forward-thinking nature' on economic, business and tax policy that fosters growth over decades — work that he said isn't easy or 'sexy' in today's polarized political landscape. And it's work that takes years, sometimes decades, to have an impact. 'As I talk to my colleagues around the country, this is really rare,' Cox said. 'It's very unique. The incentive structure around elections is to only look forward maybe two years or four years at most in our state. And that is true of most states.' The governor said there's a 'pull' to focus today's legislation in reaction to national hot-button issues. Without naming names, he said he spoke with a fellow governor from 'a state that is very close to ours' who said 'the biggest problem I have with my Legislature right now is they only care about right now.' 'One of the reasons that a lot of states aren't doing the policy work that our Legislature is doing is because it's hard and it's boring,' he said. 'There are not a lot of great social media memes about policy work that was done 40 years ago, (like) truth and taxation stuff. This stuff isn't sexy. It's not fun. You don't see immediate results the next year, it's just not made for today.' Utah isn't immune to that 'pull,' Cox acknowledged. Political 'toxicity' is among the concerns he named that could threaten Utah's economic ranking, which he said could 'turn us into every other state, where we just focus on the stuff that really doesn't matter but gets the most attention.' 'I will just tell you, there are a lot of new legislators who came in not interested in this stuff,' Cox said. '(They're) really interested in a lot of other stuff that gets a lot of attention. And we have to be intentional about passing that on and making sure that every generation (of leaders), they realize that this is who we are. This stuff matters and we have to keep going.' He also named the state's stubbornly high housing costs and energy challenges as other issues that could spell trouble — but he also expressed optimism that the Utah Legislature is working to tackle those problems, not shy away. Cox didn't point to specific issues or legislators, but in recent years some of Utah's most attention-grabbing and controversial bills stem from national hot-button issues. Last year, the Legislature approved transgender bathroom restrictions and anti-DEI measures in higher education and public entities. This year, Utah became the first state in the nation to enact a broad flag ban in schools and government-owned buildings and the first to ban adding fluoride to public water. Cox supported and signed the fluoride ban, but allowed the flag ban to become law without his signature. An ALEC-backed bill, however, was among the most controversial to win approval from the 2025 Utah Legislature: HB267 which bans public sector unions from collective bargaining. In a Feb. 19 post, ALEC deemed the bill's sponsors 'policy champions' for their effort to 'increase government accountability to state taxpayers.' But a referendum effort is underway to overturn the law. Wednesday, the Protect Utah Workers Coalition is expected to deliver its signatures in its bid to put the referendum on the ballot. For its annual 'Rich States, Poor States' rankings, ALEC — a nonprofit that convenes state legislators and corporations to draft model legislation that is 'dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism,' according to its site — said its economic outlook rankings are a forecast based on state standings in 15 policy variables. 'Generally speaking, states that spend less — especially on income transfer programs — and states that tax less — particularly on productive activities such as working or investing — experience higher growth rates than states that tax and spend more,' the 2025 report says. Utah ranked high for its lack of an estate or inheritance tax, a low state minimum wage of $7.25, its status as a right-to-work state, and average workers' compensation costs of $0.86. It also won points for 'recently legislated tax changes' (lawmakers this year cut taxes for a fifth year in a row, totaling $1.4 billion over time), its flat corporate and income rate of 4.55%, and a relatively low property tax burden of $23.54 per $1,000 of personal income, among other policies. Utah Legislature OKs another round of tax cuts, totaling $1.4 billion in 5 years Adams, the state's Senate president, also pointed to a newly published report by the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute that shows Utah's median household income of $98,336 ranked the state highest in the U.S. when adjusted for price parity. 'I mean, how can you get better than being the No. 1 economy with the best personal income?' Adams, R-Layton said. 'You have families making a lot of money. And that is way cool. They can send their kids to college.' Though critics often point to Utah's bottom-of-the-nation rankings when it comes to per-pupil education spending, Adams said the state has been increasing public education spending, including a boost to teacher pay this year that legislative leaders say put Utah among the top states in the Mountain West with the highest starting salaries for teachers. 'We're cutting taxes and paying teachers more. How do you do that without a strong economy? … Not many states can do both,' Adams said. 'It's a great day, not only for the state of Utah, but it is a really good day for those that want to have personal wealth and be able to take care of their families.' Not everyone agrees that ALEC's rankings are a holistic indicator of Utah's performance as a state. One of the state's top Democrats, House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, issued a statement on Tuesday arguing that ALEC's report 'provides a concerningly biased evaluation of economic success in our state.' 'Rather than accounting for factors that affect regular working people and families, the index praises Utah for its low minimum wage and tax cuts in favor of corporations,' she said. That's problematic given that wages have not kept pace with cost of living, Romero said. She added that economic uncertainty under President Donald Trump's second administration could bring more stress for businesses and working-class families. 'Rising housing costs, increasing prices on basic necessities, and stagnant wages have left countless Utahns struggling to make ends meet in the very communities they've called home for generations,' she said. 'On top of that, federal layoffs and our current economic uncertainty have forced businesses to make difficult decisions, resulting in even more financial stress for working families across the state. All of this compounds a growing sense of fear and frustration.' Romero added that 'although we celebrate these rankings, we must not allow them to cloud over our shortfalls.' 'Utah has consistently ranked among the lowest states for women's equality, and is regularly listed among the ten worst states for workers, with particularly poor outcomes in wages, collective bargaining rights, and labor protections,' she said. 'As a state, we must protect the economic outlook for all Utahns, not only a select few.' For years, though, Utah's conservative leadership has applauded ALEC's rankings as a gold standard. Schultz, the House speaker, said ALEC's ranking shows Utah's success is 'rooted in the principles that work: low taxes, reasonable spending, and a business-friendly but most importantly a family-friendly environment that fosters innovation and upward mobility.' 'It's capitalism, it's competition,' Adams said. 'It's trying to make things better. I have 16 grandkids. Talk about vision. I want those 16 grandkids to have better upward mobility, to have a better life than I have. … That's what we do in Utah. Competition is a great thing, and I look forward to other states pushing us.' In that spirit of competition, Cox, Adams and Schultz chuckled when Jonathan Williams, ALEC president and co-author of the report, noted that one state is on the rise and could be giving Utah a run for its money in coming years: Tennessee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'We saw Tennessee this year move from No. 12 to No. 2, and now is nipping at the heels of Utah,' he said. Tennessee ranked high for its lack of a personal income tax, no estate tax, its low property tax burden, and 'personal income tax progressivity,' which the report defined as the difference between average tax liability per $1,000 at incomes of $50,000 and $150,000.' Utah leaders have repeatedly said they want Utah to get rid of its income tax — but that would require a major tax overhaul legislators have not yet tackled, and a drastic change to how the state funds public education, which is required under the Utah Constitution to be funded through income tax revenue. In the meantime, though, lawmakers continue to gradually cut the income tax rate. Speaking about Utah's competition with other states, though, Cox said he's happy to see Tennessee surface as a healthy competitor. 'They deserve it. I love what they're doing out there.' He added that the state is 'copying many things that are happening in Utah, and I couldn't be more proud.' He added Utah leaders 'reject the zero-sum mindset. We do not believe that our economy is a zero-sum game, that if someone else wins, we lose. That's not how we look at it.' Still, the governor indicated Utah will continue to look for ways to keep its No. 1 ALEC ranking. He half-jokingly said at the end of Tuesday's news conference, 'We're going to take care of Tennessee. Don't worry.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah Capitol paychecks: Why top government staffers make more than big state counterparts
The top government employees at the Utah Capitol earn more than their counterparts in some of the country's most populous states, according to publicly available salary information. The chiefs of staff for the Utah Governor's Office, Utah Senate and Utah House all made over $300,000 in 2024, with each position receiving a 40% raise over the previous two or three years, according to data that is accessible through the Utah state auditor's Transparent Utah website. Legislative leadership said the salaries and raises are justified because Utah's part-time Legislature and its relatively small number of legislative staff require the people in full-time positions to cover a variety of responsibilities, making the jobs demanding and difficult to fill in the state's tight labor market. Jon Pierpont, who Gov. Spencer Cox brought on as chief of staff in 2021, received a salary of nearly $338,000 in 2024, not including benefits, which add nearly $123,600 to last year's total. Cox earned just over $182,200 that same year, with an additional $62,800 in benefits. It is not unusual for a governor's chief of staff to make more than a governor. This was the case in most of the states reviewed by the Deseret News. Similar chief-of-staff positions for governors in other states with easily accessible government employee data all made less: Utah: $337,986 (2024) Texas: $335,710 (2025) Connecticut: $240,710 (2025) Indiana: $220,000 (2024) New York: $214,322 (2023) Ohio: $212,991 (2024) Florida: $205,486 (2025) Idaho: $189,509 (2025)* Massachusetts: $185,285 (2024) *Estimate based on hourly rate. Of these states, Utah has one of the smallest populations, at 3.5 million, compared to 31.3 million in Texas, 23.4 million in Florida, 19.9 million in New York, 11.9 million in Ohio, 7.1 million in Massachusetts, 6.9 million in Indiana, 3.7 million in Connecticut and 2 million in Idaho. 'The context matters: He not only leads the Governor's Office as Chief of Staff, but also serves as Chief Operating Officer over 20 state agencies and 22,000 employees — overseeing a budget and workforce larger than those managed by most tech CEOs,' said Rob Carroll, senior adviser for communications to Cox, in a statement. Utah state executive offices are each headed by a director, a commissioner or board members who report to Pierpont. Most of these leaders belong to Cox's Cabinet and earn between $200,000-250,000 a year. Before joining the Governor's Office, Pierpont, who attended the University of Utah, worked as the executive director of Utah's Department of Workforce Services for eight years under former Gov. Gary Herbert. Pierpont's annual salary doubled during his first year as chief of staff from $120,574 in 2021 to $242,572 in 2022, before increasing by $50,000 in 2023 and $40,000 in 2024, constituting a nearly 40% raise over those two years. The chiefs of staff in Utah's state House and Senate have also seen regular salary increases. While the Legislature appropriates funding for government agencies, each office determines employee salaries. The Senate president and House speaker determine the salary of their respective chief of staff. Senate chief of staff Mark Thomas' salary has increased from just under $148,000 in 2019 to more than $314,200 in 2024, including a 20.5% raise from 2023 to 2024. These totals do not include benefits which made up another $117,300 in 2024. Here's how that salary compares to similar positions in other states: Texas: $335,000 (2024) Utah: $314,226 (2024) Indiana: $235,242 (2024) Connecticut: $226,425 (2025) Florida: $213,216 (2025) Ohio: $211,312 (2024) Massachusetts: $187,537 (2024) New York: $175,994 (2023) Idaho: $101,234 (2025)* *Estimate based on hourly rate. Utah's Senate chief of staff oversees all Senate employees and works with legislative leadership to 'manage the day-to-day operations of the Senate' and to coordinate with the House and Governor's Office, according to a statement from the state Senate majority. Thomas, who studied political science at the University of Utah, came to his Senate position from the Lieutenant Governor's Office, where he served as the state's elections director under then-Lt. Gov. Cox. Likewise, over the past four years, House chief of staff Abby Osborne's salary has increased from around $183,800 in 2020 to nearly $315,200 in 2024, with a 15% raise from the previous year. This does not include the $104,800 she also received in benefits. Here's how that salary compares to similar positions in other states: Utah: $315,194 (2024) Texas: $250,000 (2025) Connecticut: $219,115 (2025) Florida: $205,008 (2025) Ohio: $193,059 (2024) New York: $184,886 (2023) Indiana: $183,534 (2024) Massachusetts: $174,983 (2024) Idaho: $103,896 (2025)* *Estimate based on hourly rate. Osborne, who studied business management at Montana Technological University, previously worked as the senior vice president of public policy and government relations for the Salt Lake Chamber. While it comes out near the top in terms of chief of staff salaries, Utah has a shorter legislative session than any of the other states. In 2025, Utah's first-in-the-nation session was 45 days long. Meanwhile, Florida's will be 60 days, Idaho's will be 95 days, Indiana's will be 112, Texas' will be 140, Connecticut's will be 148 days and Ohio's, Massachusetts' and New York's are year-round. As a part-time citizen legislature, Utah employs fewer full-time staff than most states, potentially putting more responsibility on the chiefs of staff to handle a greater variety of jobs and to manage some of the workload of the Senate president and House speaker during the interim. Here are the nine states considered above, ranked by the number of full-time legislative staff in 2021, with the number of part-time employees hired during the session in parenthesis: New York: 2,850 (88) Texas: 1,619 (299) Florida: 1,448 (103) Massachusetts: 791 (0) Ohio: 436 (0) Connecticut: 427 (70) Indiana: 270 (38) Utah: 165 (74) Idaho: 89 (124) For fiscal year 2021, Utah spent less on legislative branch expenditures than 41 other states, ranking fifth in the country when comparing legislative costs to Utah's overall budget, according to a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures. Since 2004, Utah's population has increased by 45% but the number of state employees has increased by just 7%, according to the Governor's Office. A joint statement from Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, and House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said that as one of the fastest-growing and best-run states in the nation, Utah requires 'the hard work, expertise and dedication of highly qualified public servants.' 'Staff who manage operations, advise decision-makers and oversee a wide range of urgent, sensitive and complex issues are indispensable,' the statement said. 'Utah's part-time legislature is backed by a full-time staff, creating an efficient structure that enables lawmakers to concentrate on serving the public while relying on a dedicated team to provide ongoing support. This requires long hours and high levels of dedication. That's why it's not just important but essential to have the right people in key positions.' Utah's citizen Legislature pays part-time lawmakers $293.55 per day for all authorized legislative days, for a total of $13,200 delivered as a lump sum payment before the beginning of the session, according to a 2024 report. Lawmakers may receive reimbursements for travel, meals and lodging and are also entitled to retirement benefits and a health care insurance package. Legislative leadership also receive a bonus of $3,000-5,000 a session depending on their position, with the average legislator making nearly $37,200 a session. Schultz and Adams in their statement said that the compensation appropriated for their top aides is 'comparable with wages for city, county and state level executive employees.' 'We deeply value the contributions of all our state employees, and we believe that investing in top-tier talent is critical to safeguarding Utah's long-term success and ensuring the sustainability of our government,' the statement said. In the upcoming year, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall is estimated to make just under $189,300, while her chief of staff, Rachel Otto, will make over $231,000, not including benefits. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson made just over $191,600 in 2024, while her chief of staff, Andrew Roberts, made over $151,400. Meanwhile, Provo City Mayor Michelle Kaufusi made $145,000 and her deputy, Isaac Paxman, made just over $149,300. Last month, Senate Budget Chairman Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, said that lawmakers approve higher salaries for their staff 'to keep everyone up into what we call 'market.'' Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, defended the salaries Utah pays. Top legislative aides are 'very unique positions,' she said. Adams said it comes down to supply and demand. It is hard to hire qualified attorneys in Utah's tight labor market, Adams said, suggesting that salary surveys had showed a need for raises. 'We've either got to pay our people competitively or we're not going to have people. And that's probably the bottom line,' Adams said. In several analyses, Utah ranks around the middle of the pack in terms of cost of living, with Forbes naming it the 20th most expensive place to live in the country, U.S News & World Report naming it No. 25 and World Population Review putting it at No. 17. On housing affordability, however, Utah ranks among the very worst. World Population Review places the state sixth highest on a scale of median home value, and ATTOM data puts it at No. 7, with a median home price of over $550,000. Utah is tied in seventh place for lowest unemployment rate in the country.
