Latest news with #Utahns
Yahoo
4 hours ago
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Opinion: Utah deserves better than Washington's misguided budgets
Utahns value common sense, community and fiscal responsibility. We shouldn't be fooled by flashy names or lofty promises attached to federal budgets. A budget prioritizing political posturing over people isn't a blueprint for prosperity; it's a recipe for imbalance, burdening Utah families while benefiting the few. A 'big' or 'beautiful' label doesn't make a budget bright or fair for Utah. Here, genuine investment means safe neighborhoods, quality schools, accessible healthcare and robust infrastructure for our growing communities, from Logan to St. George. Too often, however, federal budgets inflate defense spending or questionable corporate tax cuts while underfunding essentials: affordable housing, education, water security, mental health services and public lands stewardship. Ask a West Valley City teacher about scarce resources or a rural Iron County family about accessing broadband or specialized medical care. Witness the affordable housing crisis along the Wasatch Front. These are Utah's fundamental challenges, demanding serious investment, not neglect hidden by grand rhetoric. Alarmingly, such budgets often threaten programs vital to Utahns. Proposed cuts to Medicaid, for instance, would be devastating for our state. Medicaid is a lifeline for nearly 400,000 Utahns — one in five children, neighbors with disabilities, low-income working parents, and seniors needing long-term care that would otherwise bankrupt their families. Slashing Medicaid wouldn't just 'strain hospitals'; it would jeopardize rural hospitals across Utah, many operating on thin margins and serving high numbers of Medicaid recipients. These facilities are often major employers and critical access points. Cuts could force service reductions, layoffs or closures, creating healthcare deserts. Urban hospitals, too, would face increased uncompensated care, shifting costs to other patients or forcing cuts to vital services like emergency and mental health care. Medicaid cuts also directly harm Utah's economy. Federal Medicaid dollars support jobs well beyond healthcare. Reducing this funding means fewer jobs, less economic activity and a greater burden on state and local taxpayers. Labeling such cuts 'fiscally responsible' is misleading; they merely shift costs and create greater long-term burdens. Reductions in SNAP would further squeeze Utah families battling inflation, increasing their reliance on food banks. In a state where our natural landscapes are central to our identity and economy, underinvesting in clean air, water, renewable energy and public lands is profoundly short-sighted. Utahns embrace fiscal conservatism that champions accountability and sustainable investment. A budget that balloons the deficit to appease special interests, not to uplift families or invest in innovation, isn't conservative — it's careless, saddling future Utahns with debt. Utahns deserve a federal budget reflecting our values: hard work, fairness, opportunity and community. We need real solutions, not empty slogans. A budget undermining healthcare, neglecting infrastructure and ignoring Utah's needs isn't 'big and beautiful.' It's bloated with misplaced priorities and blind to our realities. It's time to tell Washington: Utah expects better and demands a budget that truly invests in our people.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Engineers give Utah infrastructure a high grade, but say levees and canals need improvement
A canal flows through south-central Utah. (Getty Images) Utah has some of the best infrastructure in the country when compared to other states, although its canals and levees are in need of repair. That's according to the American Society of Civil Engineers' report card, released Thursday, which gives the Beehive State an overall C+ grade. That's tied with Georgia and Wisconsin for the highest score of all U.S. states and territories. 'A C+ means our infrastructure is meeting the needs of Utahns, but there's still room for improvement,' said Craig Friant, a civil engineer who worked on the report. 'This is a sign that we're doing things well here in Utah.' While the state has one of the highest grades, the rest of the country is not far behind. The national grade is C, and most states and territories received a C or C- grade — South Carolina and Louisiana each received a D+, West Virginia received a D and Puerto Rico received a D-, the lowest grade. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE, an A grade is defined as exceptional and fit for the future; B is good and adequate for now; C is mediocre, requiring attention; D is poor and at risk; and F is failing, requiring critical attention and unfit for purpose. The report lists 12 separate areas of infrastructure for each state. Consider Utah's report: Aviation: C+ Bridges: B Canals: D+ Dams: C+ Drinking water: B- Hazardous waste: C+ Levees: D- Roads: B+ Solid waste: B- Stormwater: C Transportation: B- Wastewater: C The majority of the state's levees and canals are old, according to the report — most levees are more than 60 years old, and many of the state's canals were built in the 19th century for irrigation purposes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The report also noted that data isn't readily available for levees and canals, which poses another risk. 'These are systems that protect households and businesses from flooding, yet we don't know their condition in many cases, which is a major public safety hazard,' said Friant, who pointed to outdated levees in Salt Lake County that protect residential areas from flooding during runoff or storms. These levees don't currently meet the Army Corps of Engineers standards, putting them at risk of being delisted — if that happens, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, could eventually reclassify the land surrounding the Salt Lake City International and Provo City airports as flood plains, according to the report. That could 'drastically' alter how the land is assessed and insured, engineers say. What can the state do to boost its grade? The report gives several recommendations, including more analysis and better funding when it comes to infrastructure. 'Specifically, detailed written plans are critical for the areas of water resources, canals, transportation, transit, and waste management,' the report reads. 'The state should be providing consistent financial support for project improvements, maintenance, resiliency, and risk reduction through reliable funding streams year after year that facilitate this planning.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Prioritizing funding for bridges is another recommendation. Even though Utah received a B, engineers say many of the state's bridges are nearing the end of their 'service lives.' The state should also increase funding for its Dam Safety Program. Utah currently has hundreds of dams considered 'high hazard,' which means if they fail, it would cause severe damage and loss of life. That includes the Panguitch Lake Dam, which showed signs of seepage last year after cracks appeared near the top, likely the result of ice pushing up against the concrete. The roughly 1,700 residents of Panguitch were put on notice to prepare for evacuation, but crews were able to break the ice away and stabilize the dam. Utah has a big, expensive and potentially dangerous dam problem To avoid a repeat scenario, the report recommends the state dump at least $10 million each year into the Dam Safety Program and try to rehabilitate all dams within 50 years. 'An increase to $20 million per year would allow faster repairs but could still require 25 years for all required repairs,' the report reads. Bolstering 'multi-modal' transportation options — like expanding bus or train networks —is another recommendation as the state deals with rapid population growth. And lastly, Utah should make sure the Great Salt Lake reaches and remains at healthy levels — replacing canals with pipelines will help reduce evaporation, and could ultimately result in more water flowing to the lake, according to the report.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Good roads cost less:' Utah infrastructure receives ‘C+' grade from engineers, above national average
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — The Utah section of the American Society of Civil Engineers released its 2025 Report Card for Utah's Infrastructure on Thursday, with grades released for 12 different categories that were measured. A spokesperson with the shared his thoughts on the report card. Overall, Utah earned a 'C+' grade, one of three states to receive this grade, along with Georgia and Wisconsin. The grade is also the highest the ASCE has given to any state and is just above the national average of 'C' in the , which was released in March. Police ramp up education for 100 Deadliest Days The state's aviation infrastructure was the only category to see a grade increase, while three categories saw decreases: bridges, stormwater and transit. All other categories remained the same from 2020. Here are the grades for each category measured: B+ — Roads B — Bridges B- — Drinking Water, Solid Waste, Transit C+ — Aviation, Dams, Hazardous Waste C — Stormwater, Wastewater D+ — Canals D- — Levees Craig Friant, Chair of the Report Card, said that state leaders have taken steps to ensure the reliability of infrastructure systems as more people move to the state, but he added that will also create problems with water supply. 'A growing population and more frequent droughts also mean our water supply faces ongoing threats,' Friant said in the report. 'While Utahns have drastically reduced their water usage, there are ongoing challenges, and leaders need to be proactive with their solutions.' The report cited that the investment in infrastructure from Utah leaders helped the state earn high grades for roads and bridges. It also cited state lawmakers' approval of $14 billion in funding for transportation in 2023, spread over six years, as another factor in the grade increase for roads. John Gleason, the public relations director with UDOT, shared his thoughts on the grades for roads and bridges, most of which are managed by the department. 'We put a lot of focus into maintaining our roads, keeping them in good shape. We have a saying that 'good roads cost less,' and what that means is if we can do these maintenance projects and keep them in shape… then that staves off the big capacity projects,' Gleason told ABC4. UDOT's bridge management program is very 'robust,' Gleason shared. He said that UDOT has a great understanding of the life cycle of bridges and what maintenance needs to be done to make them last. He said that funding for these projects is what helped roads and bridges receive these higher grades. 'We've had a lot of big capacity projects in the last few decades, you know, it was a different story before the Winter Olympics 2002, but over the years we've had a major commitment by our state leaders,' Gleason stated. 'They understand the importance of a good transportation system and what that means for the economy.' Gleason said that UDOT has been innovating with its construction of bridges. He stressed that this innovation helps them be wise with the taxpayer money that goes into these projects. 'We've been leaders in the way that we build bridges and the way that we maintain bridges for a long time,' he said. 'We don't say 'this is the way it's always been done in the past,' we always look for new innovative ways that are going to save time and money.' Double-tracking the frontrunner is a big project for UDOT, Gleason shared. He said that they have committed not only to moving vehicles, but moving people. UDOT is also working on improvements to walking and biking trails as well as connections to transit. 'It really speaks to the quality of life that we have here in Utah…' Gleason said. 'We want to make sure that we can maintain that and even make things better here in the future.' The full report is . Latest Headlines: Utah's House to elect new leadership. Here's who's running 'Good roads cost less:' Utah infrastructure receives 'C+' grade from engineers, above national average Salt Lake woman dies in crash after allegedly stealing a car, fleeing from police Syracuse police release photo of assault suspect, provide update Intermountain Health breaks ground on new St. George clinic Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox pushes local leaders for help with his starter home goal
During Gov. Spencer Cox's 'Built Here' housing summit Thursday, local officials were pressed to do more to help make his goal of building 35,000 starter homes in Utah by the end of 2028 a reality. But after the two-hour private discussion held in the stately Governor's Mansion, Cox said at a news conference that his message to the 48 mostly Wasatch Front area municipalities represented wasn't about taking them to task. 'It was a collaboration moment more than anything else. It really was about sharing the good ideas. I mean, we've had lots of 'woodshed' moments. It was about going over the numbers,' the governor said. 'I said at the end, 'All I'm asking is that you are all as passionate about this as I am, understanding that the very future of our state hangs in the balance here,'' Cox said, warning all of Utah's top rankings nationally 'go away if we don't solve this in the next five years.' So far, just over 5,000 starter homes have been built since his 'Utah First Homes' goal was announced in December 2023. Efforts are underway to allow 'starter condo' projects to tap into the $300 million in public funds set aside for loans to builders. A new statewide housing dashboard launched Thursday by the governor shows the percentage of Utahns who can't afford a median-priced home by county as well as how many new units have been permitted since January 2024 and other data, although some is not yet available. 'It is rough to talk housing. It is rough to look at a situation that you know is a problem and know needs to be addressed, and figure out a way to solve it,' Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd told reporters at the news conference. 'It can't just be solved overnight. This problem didn't just all of a sudden pop up,' Shepherd said, adding he did not believe any of the dozen or so mayors standing beside him disagreed with the need for more homes priced for first-time buyers. 'We recognize that we have a problem.' He said cities are making 'massive efforts' already to 'bring that housing to those that need it.' The mayor said that even though he'd been told that Clearfield was built out, in the last five years there have been more than 4,000 housing units either built or set to be soon. It takes time and can be costly, requiring local flexibility and technical assistance from the state, Shepherd said, adding many more housing units are expected in the reinvestment zones around transit stops created by state lawmakers several years ago. 'We've got cities doing everything they can to try to make this happen,' the mayor said, although some need to do more. 'We need them to stick shovels in the ground and really make an effort. But the vast majority of cities in this state are making huge strides in housing.' Spanish Fork Mayor Mike Mendenhall told reporters mayors across the state do share the governor's passion on the issue 'and if we can find a way for this problem not to be political but to be practical, I'm confident that we can solve' the home ownership dilemma. Part of the discussion Thursday was about how other states have mandated that local governments accept restrictions on their power to control issues like density, something that has failed to gain traction in the Utah Legislature. Cox, who served in local government himself, said he understood the political consequences for local leaders who support sometimes unpopular housing projects. Everyone wants more affordable housing, he said, but only where it can't be seen. 'There is always a tension between the state and local government,' the governor said, adding he has 'tremendous amount of respect, a tremendous amount of empathy for what they're going through' and that he 'pushed on them, and they pushed on me.' Cox's senior adviser for housing, Steve Waldrip, said the new dashboard tracking state housing data 'may be a carrot-shaped stick' to motivate local officials. He said when they were asked at the summit whether nothing needs to be done, 'not a single hand went up.'
