Latest news with #Utahns
The Hill
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Hill
Utah governor warns wildfires are worse than last year — and most are human-caused
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) warned this week that his state is enduring one of the most active fire seasons in recent memory — and that humans have been responsible for most of the blazes. 'We're seeing exactly the kind of extreme fire behavior we hoped that we would not but warned was very likely,' Cox said during his monthly news conference, aired Thursday on PBS Utah. The governor expressed distress at the fact that 72 percent of the multiple wildfires raging across Utah this season have been caused by humans. The fires, fueled by strong winds and hot, dry weather, have scorched thousands of acres statewide, he noted. For example, Cox described a 'firenado' that was 'strong enough to flip heavy equipment, rip roofs off and spread flames unpredictably' stemming from the 15,000-acre Deer Creek Fire south of Moab. He also detailed similarly catastrophic blazes in Sevier County in Central Utah, near St. George in the southwestern corner of the state and an almost 35,000-acre incident near Bryce Canyon National Park. While acknowledging that the total number of wildfires this year is similar to those last year — 571 versus 576 — Cox stressed that 'conditions on the ground are worse, and fires are behaving very differently.' Last year, he explained, the soil contained much more moisture, creating a buffer that helped moderate fire activity. Two consecutive winters of robust snowpack also amplified the growth of grasses and brush that are now fueling the fires, the governor added. 'The tinder-dry landscape means every spark has a greater chance of becoming a large and fast-moving wildfire,' he said. Cox appealed to fellow Utahns to use common sense and avoid activities like abandoning campfires or going target shooting in dry brush. He also emphasized the importance of cutting back brush around forest cabins, to create a defensible space. The governor recognized a history of both mismanagement and lack of management on some forest lands, while noting that 'bad decisions' over the past few decades are not solely responsible for the crises that have occurred. 'Climate change is part of that, for sure,' Cox said. 'But whether you believe the climate is changing because it's human caused or not, it is changing, and we've got to adapt to that.' One of the major ways Utah and other states across the U.S. West are adapting, he explained is by treating forests with prescribed burns — a process that has led to a noticeable reduction in fuels a decrease in damage done. 'The good news is that we are doing more, and I want to give credit to both the Trump administration and the Biden administration, who realized years ago that that we needed to do more,' Cox said. Yet as wildfires continue to wreak havoc across the state, the governor noted 'an uptick in water use' and that reservoir levels plunged 10 percent during June — five times more than average for this time of year. Although reservoirs are at 77 percent capacity, slightly above normal at this point, these storage sites 'are being depleted at an above average rate,' he warned. 'It's OK to have yellow lawns this year,' Cox said. 'We give you permission not to keep them up and keep them green.' Recognizing a June declaration he had made for a statewide day of prayer and fasting for rain, the governor — a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — emphasized that prayer alone would not be enough. 'While we need faith and prayers, we also need people to cut back on their usage,' Cox added.
Axios
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
Salt Lake City drivers report crashes about every 9 years, data shows
Salt Lake City drivers go an average of 9.2 years between reported collisions, according to Allstate claims data. Why it matters: The findings put a little quantitative weight behind some people's strongly held beliefs about the quality — or lack thereof — of their neighbors' driving skills. By the numbers: Nationally, drivers go 10.6 years between crashes. The big picture: Salt Lakers' lag behind the national average is surprising when you consider that Utahns consistently rank among the worst and most aggressive drivers in the U.S. How it works: Allstate's report is based on 2022-2023 claims data and defines collisions as incidents resulting in property or collision damage claims. That means minor fender benders that go unreported — as common in city driving as potholes and work zones — aren't captured here. The findings are based on where drivers live, not necessarily where incidents happen.
Boston Globe
15-07-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
Great Salt Lake is disappearing. New Englanders should be concerned.
For years, Great Salt Lake has been This is not just a Advertisement Great Salt Lake is the foundation of northern Utah's ecosystem. Its water evaporates and may fall as rain or snow, helping to sustain life nearby, including in Salt Lake City. Precipitation, and mountain snowmelt in particular, return water to the lake. Now, the cycle is faltering. Thanks to warming temperatures, snowpack is turning to water vapor, reducing the amount that flows into Utah's rivers and, eventually, the lake. Population growth means more and more water is diverted from the lake's tributaries. None of this is good news: No other Advertisement If the lake disappears, it would not only wreck ecosystems but also poison the Salt Lake Valley. Industrial waste dumped into the lake has contributed to dangerous amounts of heavy metals. As water levels drop, windstorms blow over stretches of exposed lakebed and carry 'I've got lung problems from the dust coming from the lake,' says Steve Clyde, a lawyer who has spent decades working on Utah water issues. My own family has been affected, too: When an unexpected storm blew dust into Salt Lake City while my mom was mountain biking, she inhaled it and passed out on a cliffside. A desiccated lake could harm more than just Utahns. Particulate matter from its dry lakebed, such as Dust clouds have even been known to travel between continents. Just last month, dust blown from the Ben Abbott, an ecology professor at Brigham Young University, says dust from Great Salt Lake could wreak havoc over thousands of miles. At similar lakes, such Mar Chiquita Lake in Argentina or the dried-up Owens Lake in California, he's seen dust plumes 'affect soil health and public health at a very large scale.' Great Salt Lake is larger than either of those, so its consequences could be worse. Advertisement New Englanders are familiar with air quality problems originating far away: In recent years, dangerous particulate matter from To save it, more water must reach the lake — about New Englanders concerned about potential impacts on air quality can consider asking their congressional representatives to get involved. Brian Steed, Utah's governor-appointed Great Salt Lake commissioner, says his state would 'absolutely welcome any assistance' from leaders here. In 2024, the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed the Advertisement Flying over what's left of the lake, childhood memories cycled through my mind. Growing up, it was always there — just as the White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee are fixtures of life here. The fact that it could disappear felt absurd. But there it was, vanishing in real time. 'Oftentimes, people think of Great Salt Lake as a Utah problem,' Steed says. 'In reality, it's an international one.' He's right. Because if the lake vanishes, the impact would be felt not only by Utahns, but people building lives and memories wherever they are. Adelaide Parker can be reached at Follow her on X Adelaide Parker can be reached at
Axios
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Sundance Film Festival unveils plans for 2026 sendoff
Utah's final Sundance Film Festival is scheduled to kick off Jan. 22, 2026, organizers announced Monday, ending a four-decade run. Why it matters: The Utah-born independent film festival — set to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027 — will show appreciation for the Utah community, honor cofounder Robert Redford and feature archival screenings and special events. What to expect: Next year's event will showcase more than 90 feature films and over 50 shorts. The lineup will be released later this year. Park City's Main Street will again become pedestrian-only. At-home screenings will be available Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2026. What they're saying: "This year will mean so much for so many reasons," Eugene Hernandez, director of the festival and public programming, said in a letter. "Our focus is making the 2026 festival ... one to remember, a celebration full of gratitude and joy." Between the lines: Venues in Park City include: the Eccles Theatre, Holiday Village Cinemas, Library Center Theatre, the Ray Theatre, Redstone Cinemas and the Yarrow Theatre. Salt Lake City venues are Broadway Centre Cinemas and Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. The intrigue: Park City's iconic Egyptian Theatre, an emblematic venue for the festival, will not host screening this year. Catch up quick: Sundance announced it was moving to Colorado in March after launching a competitive bidding process last year for a new host city. News of the resettlement disappointed local and state leaders, including and Gov. Spencer Cox and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, who accused the festival of "using politics" as a "convenient excuse" for its move in a Los Angeles Times op-ed. Festival leaders have maintained that the state's conservative politics did not drive them away. By the numbers: Out-of-state visitors spent $106.4 million during this year's festival, drawing over 72,000 in-person attendees, per an economic impact report. The event's total economic impact was estimated to be $132 million and produced about 1,730 jobs for Utahns. Flashback: As the festival departs for neighboring Colorado, here's a list of influential movies that premiered at Sundance over the years:
Axios
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Thousands of Utahns could lose food assistance under Trump's megabill
Around 12,000 Utahns are at risk of losing at least some food assistance due to President Trump's newly signed " big, beautiful bill," per estimates from the left-leaning Center on Policy and Budget Priorities. Why it matters: It's a historic cut to the social safety net, which Republicans claim will weed out waste, fraud and abuse. But experts warn the move could leave more people hungry and uninsured. The big picture: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often called food stamps, helps low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities buy groceries. By the numbers: Nearly 179,000 Utahns — more than 5% of the state — were enrolled in SNAP as of March 2025, per federal data. More than half of Utah's SNAP households have children, Feeding America figures show. Zoom in: Utah's entire congressional delegation backed Trump's bill, including the SNAP cuts. How it works: Trump's law doesn't just slash funding — it rewrites the rules. Parents of children 14 and older must now work at least 20 hours a week to keep benefits. The new policy also bumps the work requirement age up to 64. It was 54. What they're saying: The work requirements "help transition people from welfare dependence to financial independence," Utah's four representatives — all Republicans — wrote in the Deseret News. "We're also requiring states to share more of the SNAP benefit costs, creating better accountability," they wrote. The other side: Anti-hunger advocates criticized the new work requirements, especially for homeless people, veterans and young adults who recently were in foster care — groups that previously were exempt.
