Latest news with #Utahn
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The ultimate Utah bucket list: 10 experiences you can't miss
To consider yourself a true Utahn, there are certain things you need to learn about firsthand. In addition to trying fry sauce — that's a given. Complete all 10 of our Utah bucket list items and earn yourself the honorary title of Queen (or King) Bee of the Beehive State. Even if you aren't an outdoors enthusiast, you'll miss out on the best of Utah if you skip our national parks. Whether it's a scouting trip to Delicate Arch in Arches or getting sand in your shorts while hiking the Narrows at Zion, Utah offers unparalleled natural wonders. And you can get there within a few hours' drive of most of Utah, so you don't have any excuses. Still haven't made it to Cedar City for the Utah Shakespeare Festival? That's probably because you're thinking it's all stuffy, 17th-century dialogue and puffy knee shorts. While you can certainly see some of that, the annual summer-to-fall theater season also includes 20th-century plays and modern interpretations of the Bard's classics. It may be shrinking, but you'd still be hard pressed to find anything as big, or as briny, as Utah's Great Salt Lake. At 75 miles long and 35 miles wide, the salty oasis in our western desert covers about 1,600 square miles. While you can easily float in it — the salinity is about 12% — we highly recommend keeping your mouth firmly shut. Powder day? Groomer day? Even if you haven't lived in Utah your entire life, you know skiing becomes a bit of an obsession during the winter months. And who can blame us? The mountains are practically calling you out of English class. Are the slopes that are popular among the rich and famous, and several Olympians, better than the rest? You be the judge. Once fall arrives, this narrow, curvy, 20-mile drive takes you through some of the most brilliant color along the Wasatch Range. As it winds through American Fork and Provo canyons, you'll pass Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Sundance Resort. Open the windows and let in the crisp air. Hand surfing is optional. A Grammy-winning choir. Bronze statues galore — and one covered in gold leaf! Oh, and a 210-foot-tall neo-Gothic temple. Head to Temple Square to join thousands of other Utah families and youth church groups as an annual Christmas activity. Go during the other 11 months of the year to enjoy beautiful flowers, and maybe learn why the seagull is the state bird. Utah's largest amusement park is the home of some serious thrill rides. First, there was the clacking, wooden Roller Coaster. Next came Colossus, speeding you through dual loops at 55 mph. And then, the Cannibal, where you experience 4.2 g-forces as you travel over 2,735 feet of track at 70 mph. Did you just black out? Maybe. When you see the brown tower standing starkly against the blue sky, you'll know you've arrived. Of all the things to do in Utah during the summer, the hardest may be deciding which shop serves the best raspberry shake at Bear Lake. The easiest? Deciding you need a return visit to be sure you voted correctly. Grab a spoon and head to the beach. It's sunny out there. Held every spring at the Sri Sri Radha Krishan Temple in Spanish Fork, participants throw colored powder and water on each other as a symbol of good overcoming evil. Remember the clouds of powder when you pounded out school chalkboard erasers? Yeah, it's kinda like that. For those less inclined to getting dusty, there's also interactive dance, yoga, bands and food. Who needs regenerated dinosaurs from a certain fictional movie when you can see actual bones? At Dinosaur National Monument, about 13 miles southwest of Vernal, there's a wall with about 1,500 dinosaur bones on display. You can even touch some of the 150-million-year-old fossils. And it's much safer than riding around in a clear ball. So, are you a true Utahn? If you haven't experienced our full Utah bucket list yet, it's time to get busy. You know, like a bee. What else is a must-do? Share your favorite things to do in Utah in the comments below.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘It's important to remember': Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson joins annual Memorial Day service in Sandy
SANDY, Utah () — Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson joined Larkin Mortuary on Memorial Day to honor loved ones and military veterans who have passed. The annual service first started 26 years ago, and included a flag ceremony, patriotic speeches, music, including the anthems of each military branch and several speeches honoring those who have passed defending the country. Red Cross encourages Memorial Day blood donations to honor fallen military 'It's our ability to give back to the community,' said Rob Larkin, President of Larkin Mortuary. 'This is our 140th year and we've just been in the Utah communities serving and this is our way of giving back.' Larkin told the Memorial Day services started last Thursday with youth groups from local churches coming to the cemetery to place American flags in honor of the thousands of veterans buried at the cemetery. Lt. Gov. Henderson said roughly 3,000 servicemen and women from Utah have died while serving in the military, and it's important to remember what their sacrifice means. 'It's important for us to remember that what we enjoy – our freedoms, the blessings of liberty that we live with, day in and day out – those blessings were hard won,' said Henderson. 'It's important for us to remember that, to remember the people who fought for and died for our freedoms.' Henderson said over the years, Memorial Day has morphed to more than just remembering those who died while fighting for the country, but also honoring the veterans who have returned after their service and loved ones who may not have served but passed away. While she believes that is a good thing, she said it's important not to lose sight of the real point of Memorial Day and to honor those who fought and died while serving the country. She also said you don't have to don a uniform or serve in the military to serve. 'There are things that we, as individuals, can do day in and day out to preserve those freedoms. And it starts with remembering what's special about America, about what's special about being Utahn,' she said. 'Community, being kind to each other, doing our civic duty, remembering the big picture. It's the little things that we can do that people should remember today.' Suspects transporting over 100 pounds of marijuana arrested in Summit County Murders and mystery: The dark history behind Camp Floyd UVU to play Oregon in NCAA Tournament Prebiotic sodas becoming more popular, but health claims stir debate 'It's important to remember': Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson joins annual Memorial Day service in Sandy Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cox says he doesn't plan to call special session to address signature gathering
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he has no plans to convene a special session to overturn a law governing ballot access in the state after Sen. Mike Lee used his speech at Saturday's Republican convention to plead with the governor to do so. Attacks on the law — which allows candidates to collect signatures to appear on a party's primary ballot in addition to campaigning at the party convention — appeared to escalate Saturday with Lee's remarks and a statement from newly reelected GOP Chairman Rob Axson saying he believes there are votes to repeal it in at least one chamber of the Legislature. But asked if he plans to act on pressure from Lee and others to call lawmakers into a special session on SB54, Cox told simply: 'No.' Some GOP delegates have long hoped to see SB54 rolled back in favor of just the caucus-convention system. Also, a proposal to kick candidates who gathered signatures out of the Republican Party was brought up, but not considered, during the convention last week. After his speech, Lee doubled down on his call for state lawmakers to overturn SB54, writing on X that: 'No state should dictate to political parties the process by which they nominate candidates. Ever. It ends badly for everyone — especially for conservatives.' Axson told reporters after winning reelection as party chairman that he is 'not a fan of the signature path' and wants to build support for overturning SB54 through the Legislature. 'If we build an apparatus that every Utahn and every community feels that there's a value in that, well, they're going to come along with us,' he said. 'They're going to be supportive of what we're trying to do, and the Legislature is going to listen to that. I believe, again, building is far more productive and worthwhile than taking things apart.' He said he believes there are enough votes to repeal SB54 in the House but not in the Senate — though lawmakers in both chambers don't appear to have plans to address the issues this year. Axson urged party members to be civil in pushing to have SB54 overturned, saying 'it can't be a vitriolic conversation.' 'It has to be a conversation that's transparent and upfront and collaborative,' he said. 'If we can show the value of what the Republican Party is doing and trying to do and trying to grow and build additional capacity, we make it a lot easier on these elected officials to take the hard votes of repealing SB54. It's going to take some time. How long or how short that is, I don't know.' While some of the most die-hard supporters of the GOP in Utah want to see party delegates empowered to select who gets to run as a Republican in the general election, the 4,000 or so state delegates are not representative of GOP voters as a whole, and a new report shows they lean slightly more conservative ideologically. A recent poll commissioned by Count My Vote found that only 17% of Utah Republican voters think the state should do away with signature gathering altogether.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers hit with backlash after passing controversial crypto bill: 'A corporate giveaway, plain and simple'
Utah has passed legislation giving cryptocurrency mining operations unprecedented freedoms in a move that may harm the environment and raise utility costs for residents. The controversial HB230 bill establishes special rights for crypto companies with minimal local oversight, as John Weisheit, conservation director of Living Rivers-Colorado Riverkeeper, and Steve Erickson, board member at Great Basin Water Network, detailed for the Deseret News. HB230, officially titled "Blockchain and Digital Innovation Amendments," gives crypto mining companies the right to mine cryptocurrency, run blockchain nodes, and stake tokens with minimal interference or oversight in Utah. The bill shields these operations from local zoning laws, noise ordinances, and other regulations that normally govern businesses. It also waives requirements for digital operations to obtain money transmitter licenses, which typically involve financial audits. This legislation prioritizes crypto industry profits over environmental protection and community well-being. Proof-of-work cryptomining already consumes up to 2.3% of the entire U.S. electricity supply, according to the Energy Information Administration, more than many countries use. For Utah residents, this could mean higher electricity bills, increased strain on the power grid, and more pollution. The bill creates special "opportunity zones" for crypto miners while offering no provisions for managing water usage, an oversight for a drought-prone state like Utah, where water conservation is important. "Make no mistake — this is not innovation," wrote Weisheit and Erickson. "It will harm every Utahn who pays a power bill, who cares about clean air and water, or who believes public money should serve the public good." Cryptocurrency mining's energy demands have a large pollution footprint. These operations run 24/7 while consuming electricity sourced mainly from dirty fuels — although the industry has begun shifting toward cleaner energy sources. Despite these improvements, mining remains a highly energy-intensive process. Do you think gas stoves should be banned nationwide? No way Let each state decide I'm not sure Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Crypto mining facilities can consume as much water as 300,000 households yearly to prevent their machines from overheating, per Weisheit and Erickson. In a state like Utah that faces droughts, this water consumption pressures an already-strained resource. Noise pollution also impacts communities near mining operations. The constant sound of cooling fans has been compared to having a semitruck engine running outside your window constantly — and this has led to lawsuits in some jurisdictions. Under HB230, local governments can't regulate this noise even when it disrupts residents' sleep and quality of life. Arkansas passed similar legislation last year with disastrous results. The state quickly faced widespread noise complaints and utility cost increases, forcing lawmakers to reconsider. Some co-sponsors even admitted they had been misled about the bill's impacts. "Lawmakers and the crypto industry are celebrating the passage of this bill as a bipartisan win that will position the state to lead," said Weisheit and Erickson. "But it's a corporate giveaway, plain and simple." The National Coalition Against Cryptomining is now working in 18 states to combat this trend of deregulation. They're building a bipartisan movement of people concerned about corporations that negatively affect quality of life and receive special treatment from lawmakers. You can help by staying informed about crypto legislation in your area and contacting your representatives when similar bills are proposed. Supporting organizations fighting for appropriate regulation of this industry helps ensure our shared resources are not exploited at the public's expense. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Axios
21-05-2025
- General
- Axios
McKay and Quincy take the spot as the most "Utah" baby names of 2024
McKay and Quincy were the most distinctly Utah baby names of 2024 — and they're very Utahn. Why it matters: It turns out our reputation for unusual baby names is supported by the data. How it works: Axios analyzed the Social Security Administration's annual list of top baby names to find the most distinctive names in each state — that is, names that are far more popular in one state than the others. They may not be the most popular Utah names, but they are the most "Utah" names. By the numbers: In most states, the 10 most distinctive names are two or three times as popular as they are in the U.S. overall. Here it's a factor of at least five. Case in point: McKay was almost 53 times as popular in the Beehive State as it was nationally. In the 48 contiguous states, only Nebraska had a more state-distinctive name: Bergen. Zoom in: McKay was adapted as a given name from a surname that's been prominent in Utah since the mid-19th century in a variety of spellings. David O. McKay was the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 1951 to 1970. Meanwhile, Quincy — the most "Utah" girl name — was more than nine times as popular here as elsewhere. The origin of the name is less clear, but we envy all who get to write a capital letter "Q" on a regular basis. Caveat: We aren't the only state with unique names. Many of Hawaii's most distinctive names were 70 to 100 times as common there as in the rest of the country.
