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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah Democrats to choose between seasoned legislator and young campaigner as new leader
Campaigner Ben Peck and former Rep. Brian King are the two major candidates seeking to lead the Utah Democratic Party. (Photos courtesy of Ben Peck and Brian King) Utah Democratic Party officials expect between 800 to 1,000 people to attend their organizing convention in person this year, one of the largest headcounts for a non-election year gathering the party has seen in recent years. Diane Lewis, who has chaired the party's Utah chapter for the last four years, didn't throw her hat in the ring for another term in her role. But, with four other candidates eager to pick up where she left off, she's hopeful for the future of organized Democrats in deep red Utah. 'I have never seen as much excitement and turnout at our conventions. I would say that our turnouts probably have doubled (in different Democratic events across the state),' Lewis said on Thursday. 'New people, young people, people wanting to get involved, run for office.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX There are two major candidates for chair this year — former Rep. Brian King, a widely-known face in state politics for about 16 years who left his spot at the Utah House to compete in last year's gubernatorial elections with no success, and newcomer Ben Peck, who has been behind campaigns that have flipped some red offices to blue. Jonathan Lopez, an IT technician who has been behind other Democratic campaigns and is also running for chair, didn't answer an interview request, and the fourth candidate, Archie A Williams III, didn't list his information on the party's website prior to the convention. Committing to such a role didn't come easy for King, he said on Thursday. But, after seeing President Donald Trump's election and bracing to witness another legislative session with a Republican supermajority, this time from the sidelines, he couldn't stand the idea of sitting on his hands. He sees that ubiquitous red presence in Utah politics as a monopoly that needs to be of lower intensity with more competition. Strategizing before election, Utah Democrats plead 'come back home' 'People may not realize how damaging it is to have a monopoly of political power, like we do in Utah,' King said. 'The Republicans have a supermajority in the legislature. They control the executive branch with the governor. They control the great majority of counties here in the state, and it's not good for Utahns to not have more healthy competition.' Most Democratic elected officers represent areas along the Wasatch Front. However, King believes that Utahns in rural counties are ready for a change of policies to tackle issues they deal with daily. 'When you're in the supermajority for long enough, like the Republicans are, you get complacent. You think that you don't have to address people's problems, you don't have to work hard,' he said. During his campaign, he has also seen more engagement from affiliates who, since Trump took office, have felt the need to step up, he said, 'and push back against government overreach at the state level and the federal level.' While King has been around for longer and has an extensive list of flashy endorsements, including Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County mayors, among other prominent Utah Democrats, Peck said he's 'cautiously optimistic' about his chances on Saturday. 'My message seems to really be resonating with people,' Peck said. 'I know it's going to be an uphill battle. Brian has a long history here in the state and in the party, but I think that people are ready for a change, ready to try something new.' He knows what it takes to win in Utah, he said, highlighting the successful campaigns he ran that elected Natalie Pinkney in a tight race for a Salt Lake County Council seat, and Sheila Srivastava, the first woman elected to serve as Salt Lake County treasurer. At 25 years old, he also believes the party needs representation from younger people, as support appears to be slipping in that group and the state Legislature keeps its Republican supermajority. 'It's hard for people who have been involved in politics for decades to credibly tell people 'I'm going to fix it. Things are going to change now,' because people rightly come back with, 'well, why haven't you done it yet?'' Peck said. The day will start and end early at Ogden High School, with delegates convening in smaller caucuses to discuss issues like approaches to health care, education and labor, among others, and to elect new leadership, including the party's vice chair, secretary and treasurer. Delegates will also vote on a party platform highlighting Utah Democrats' belief in economic security, equality of opportunity and investing in the common good for all. Additionally, they'll make their choice on two resolutions, one relating to veterans, and the other to take an official stand against presidents running for three terms. While Lewis is looking forward to her retirement, she is also excited about seeing where the party goes now. 'We have amazing leaders in each county party, and they're willing to work. I hope that the new leadership of the state party sees that whole thing, and that they continue to build from where we are now,' Lewis said. 'Because the only place we can go is up.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Can the 2034 Winter Games help preserve Utah's quality of life? Here's what a former governor says
Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt has a long list of ways the 2002 Winter Games moved Utah forward, including the rapid rebuilding of I-15, and wants to see the same from the next Olympics. At an Envision Utah breakfast Wednesday in the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium tower, Leavitt recalled a moment from the finale of the 2002 Closing Ceremonies held there that made it clear the efforts were appreciated. 'The fireworks are going. The music is playing. There's smoke in the air and it was just fabulous,' he said, describing how a man in front of him suddenly started chanting, 'Utah, Utah, Utah,' before turning around and recognizing the governor. 'He was embarrassed,' Leavitt said, but then explained he no longer feared the impact of the Olympics. 'He said, 'Governor, I was against this. And I was wrong.' That's really worth remembering. There was a lot of opposition on the same basis. But they were wrong.' Hosting the 2034 Olympics and the Paralympics that follow for athletes with disabilities, and possibly more in the future, provides a way for Utahns to maintain their quality of life as the state grows, he said. 'We won't have the quality of life we want without the Games. We can have it using the Games as a catalyst to preserve it,' said Leavitt, who was elected governor three times before serving in former President George W. Bush's administration. In 2002, that meant creating an 'internal brand' for a state then associated overseas with John Wayne but little else, said Leavitt, now president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. The branding intended to put Utah on the map was part of a larger agenda, to make the state both a winter sports and a technology capital. Using the deadline of the Olympics, Leavitt said the state was able to make major transportation and other improvements. Hosting the 2034 Winter Games offers a chance to do even more, organizing committee CEO Brad Wilson, a former Utah House speaker, assured the audience of community and business leaders. 'I would argue that the 2034 Games, if we do this right, may be the biggest opportunity in Utah's history,' Wilson declared. 'This time we have more runway and we have the ability to engage the entire state.' The International Olympic Committee voted to give Utah a second Winter Games last year under a new bidding process. That gives organizers, who already have the necessary venues in place, two years more than they had to get ready for 2002. Wilson said unlike many prior Olympic hosts that have abandoned costly competition venues, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation has been a 'much better steward' of the taxpayer dollars initially invested in the sliding track, ski jumps and speedskating oval. While those and other Olympic venues will need to be 'spruced up' before 2034, he said the Games can serve as a motivator to get Utahns to 'do the right thing' when it comes to issues such as saving the Great Salt Lake and improving air quality. 'There are some risks we need to lean into and be willing to take,' Wilson said, adding that Utahns should be able to look back at the lead-up to 2034 and say the community involvement 'paid off big time.' Last week, organizers began a 'listening tour' to find out what that involvement should look like. The private meetings, which started in Ogden, are expected to eventually be held throughout the state. Wilson said the job of the organizing committee is 'executing the Games and doing it flawlessly,' something that will require 25,000 volunteers. They're set to be selected in 2033, he said, with preference given to those who've shown 'a commitment to making our community better.' Envision Utah interim CEO Jason Brown said the nonprofit organization focused on planning for the state's growth can play a role in a second 'era of transformation,' helping to determine what progress can be made on priorities like housing, transportation, water and education. Growing up, he said having an Olympics in Utah made him feel like he lived in 'the coolest place in the world.' When the Olympics return in 2034, 'it's going to be a great time. I'm really excited for the Games themselves,' Brown said. 'But what I really hope we don't miss is this opportunity, this excuse, this chance and reason to make Utah everything that we really hope that Utah can be.'
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
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The lake is dying, and so are we: Utah's inaction is poisoning our future
Autumn Featherstone, 19, and friends wore gas masks and bright T-shirts listing their demands of how the Utah Legislature should help the Great Salt Lake as they sat the Utah House gallery in a protest on Feb. 24, 2025. They were quickly removed. (Courtesy of Autumn Featherstone) On Feb. 24, 2025, my friends and I were kicked out of the Utah House of Representatives gallery. Why? Because after House Speaker Mike Schultz ignored multiple phone calls and emails, we tried to deliver a petition to him directly. When our petition was refused once again, we donned gas masks and bright T-shirts inscribed with our demands and walked silently into the House gallery. Within minutes, we were removed by security. We wrote our petition in response to Schultz's call for a 'pause' on Great Salt Lake-related water legislation for the 2025 session, and the announcement that Utah would be hosting the 2034 Olympics. We demanded the following actions to protect and restore the Great Salt Lake by 2034: No new water diversions or developments that would further deplete the Great Salt Lake. Increase water flow to the Great Salt Lake by 1 million acre-feet per year, restoring the lake to a minimum elevation of 4,198 feet. Commit to continuous assessment of water policy, ensuring that solutions are adaptive and responsive to the evolving crisis. Nearly 250 Utahns signed this petition, but it still hasn't reached the legislator's desk. I have lived my entire life less than an hour from the Great Salt Lake. Yet, like it was for many residents of Utah, the lake was simply an afterthought. It was only when I heard about the serious risks tied to its drying up that I started to pay attention. The Great Salt Lake is a breathtaking, unique ecosystem that is a vital stopover for millions of birds during migration. It is also a thin blanket that protects millions of people from decades of buildup of toxic metals in the lakebed. Currently, over 900 square miles of lakebed are exposed, and 2.8 million Utahns breathe the pollution downwind — including me. The lake is essential to my survival and future as a young person. I am 19 years old and I want to spend the rest of my life here in this beautiful state, but if our legislators continue to ignore this ongoing crisis, I will have to leave my home behind. I am inheriting a world that has been discarded by legislators who make decisions about my future while shutting out my voice. They are silencing youth and refusing to take action on the issues that matter to us, while putting their energy towards legislation that actively harms us. Despite the massive impacts of the lake drying up, Mike Schultz placed a moratorium on major water bills, citing the need for 'a break.' But the legislature seemed to have plenty of energy for legislation that harms youth rather than helping us. This legislative session, Utah became the first state to ban pride flags in all school and government buildings, making it harder for queer youth to find safe spaces in their schools. Lawmakers also passed legislation barring transgender students from living in dorms that align with their gender identity, and approved another bill that restricts comprehensive health education in schools. They're also trying to end collective bargaining rights for the upcoming generation of public sector workers. These issues on education, workers' rights, public health, LGBTQ+ rights, and lack of adequate environmental policy all stem from the same crisis: a government that ignores science, dismisses the voices of young people and other marginalized communities, and targets the most vulnerable instead of protecting us. By spending so much time and resources actively infringing on our human rights, they are passively infringing on our right to a healthy environment. Air pollution shortens our lives by two years — queer people, educators, and unions do not. But instead of addressing existential issues head-on, legislators are 'rearranging deck chairs' on a sinking ship. They need to get their priorities straight. Utah claims to be the country's most 'family-friendly' state, yet its policies are anything but. The Utah legislature is ignoring the issues that matter most to young people while spending all their time pushing bills that disproportionately harm us. Despite the legislature's best efforts, youth are still fighting. Even though our emails, calls, text messages, and in-person requests to deliver the petition were ignored, we are not giving up. We are continuing to demand that the state take the necessary steps to protect the Great Salt Lake and our future.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah House Majority leader resigns to take new role in Governor's Office
SALT LAKE CITY () — Utah House Majority Leader Rep. Jefferson Moss (R-Saratoga Springs) will be stepping away from the House of Representatives and his role as House Majority Leader at the end of the month. The announcement comes as Gov. Spencer Cox tapped Moss to serve in his office as the Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). He will officially step down from his role in the House on May 30 and begin work in the GOEO on June 2 as an interim until his role can be confirmed by the Utah Senate. Moss's new role will see him oversee statewide efforts to promote business development, innovation, and economic strategy. Moss, who has served in the Utah House of Representatives since 2017 and in Majority Leadership since 2019, said he was incredibly proud of the work he accomplished while representing the Saratoga Springs district. 8 Utah bills going into effect on May 7 you should know about 'It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of House District 51 and the state of Utah,' said Moss in a statement. 'I look forward to continuing my work in a new capacity, helping lead Utah's economic future.' Throughout his career, Moss has held a variety of positions, including the Utah State Board of Education, the Saratoga Springs City Council and Planning Commission, and leadership positions at Utah Valley University. Aside from serving as the House Majority Leader, Moss also serves as the Associate Commissioner of Innovation, Commercialization and Economic Development for the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) and as the managing director of the Utah Innovation Fund. According to a media release, Moss will continue serving in the USHE in addition to leading GOEO. 'Jefferson Moss brings a rare combination of public service, private sector experience, and a deep understanding of innovation and education,' said Gov. Spencer Cox. 'He's been a driving force behind many of Utah's most forward-thinking initiatives, and I'm confident he'll lead the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity with the same vision, energy, and commitment to our state's future that have defined his career.' In the coming weeks, the House Majority Caucus will hold a special leadership election to elect a new House Majority Leader. Republican delegates in Utah County will also meet to select a new representative to serve District 51. Lindsay Aerts contributed to this report. Utah House Majority leader resigns to take new role in Governor's Office Trump taps Martin for DOJ pardon attorney, 'weaponization' role Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter dies at 85 More older Americans not confident Social Security will be there for them: Survey Sunshine and warm temperatures ring in Mother's Day weekend Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
