Utah Headlines

Political news

• Stuart Adams won't resign over claims he influenced new law to help granddaughter (KSL)
• Weber County immigrant arrest case provides insight into cooperative efforts with feds (KSL)
• Mike Lee writing new book against uniformity in Congress (Deseret News)
• Salt Lake County’s largest water provider just raised property taxes, renewing debate over how Utahns pay for water (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Utah officials consider selling underutilized government land to combat housing crisis (KSL Newsradio)

Municipal

• Salt Lake County considers new tech to monitor $16M in annual P-card purchases (KUTV)

Utah

• $55K raised for employees affected by Main Street fire, as some businesses begin to reopen (KSL)
• Are golf carts taking over your neighborhood? (Deseret News)
• How to prepare for wildfire evacuations and other emergencies (ABC4)
• Utah makes top 10 ‘best states to live in,’ according to WalletHub (ABC4)

Biz/Tech

• Amazon launches same-day fresh grocery delivery in 1,000 U.S. cities. The online retail giant plans 2,300-city service by year’s end in quest to compete with Walmart (Wall Street Journal)

Crime/Courts

• Editorial Board: Political narratives outweigh facts about crime (Deseret News)
• Is community intervention the key to reducing youth violence in Utah? (Deseret News)
• Ex-Logan police officer sent to jail for sexually abusing woman in squad car (KSL)
• Beyond the Menzies case, the justice system is ill-prepared for aging and dementia (KUER)

Culture/Community

• ‘This podcast got me a boyfriend,’ Taylor Swift says on ‘New Heights’ podcast (Deseret News)
• Kate, Princess of Wales, shares inspirational midsummer message on love and friendship (Deseret News)
• So is it ‘bussin’,’ ‘glazing’ — or simply ‘sus’? A back-to-school teen slang primer (Deseret News)
• Meet Utah's 9-year-old plant whisperer (KSL)

Economy

• Nearly 500K Utahns rely on 90-year-old Social Security program (KUTV)

Education

• Alpine School District’s first day of school ahead of 2027 district split (KSL Newsradio)
• Students go back to school in the Beehive State (ABC4)
• Utah schools face funding challenges as student enrollment plummets in some areas (KUTV)
• Faculty, families eager for new building as they begin final year in 1952 elementary school (Fox13)
• Teacher pay still a concern for Utah districts seeking tax increases this year (KUER)
• Experts share back-to-school tips for families with students on autism spectrum (St. George News)
• State’s higher education board approves strategic reinvestment plans for trio of schools: Utah, Utah State and Weber State (Deseret News)

Environment

• They may look creepy, but they are afraid of you, too. It is mating season for these big spiders (Deseret News)
• Tread lightly: Bear, mountain lion sightings in Southern Utah (ABC4)

Faith

• How a seawall construction project in Tonga is preserving lives, land and history (Deseret News)

Health

• Alcohol consumption in U.S. hits new low amid health concerns (Deseret News)

Housing

• Record homelessness in Utah renews clash between state and Salt Lake City officials (Deseret News)
• ‘Lack of forward momentum’: SLC mayor blasts lawmakers after homelessness in Utah worsens again (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Those in shelters not surprised about Utah's rising homeless numbers (Fox13)
• 18% rise in Utah homelessness should be ‘battle cry’ for lawmakers to do more, SLC mayor says (Utah News Dispatch)
• Here’s the must-haves for homebuyers — and where they’re willing to compromise for affordability (Deseret News)

National Headlines

General

• Rabbits with ‘horns’ in Colorado are being called ‘Frankenstein bunnies.’ Here’s why (AP)

Political news 

• Savannah Eccles Johnston: Why is citizenship so hard? (Deseret News)
• Jeffrey Epstein battle set to reignite in Congress (The Hill)
• Federal agents will be out 24/7 on patrol in Washington, the White House says (AP News)
• Can Trump take long-term control of Washington to fight the city's crime? (Reuters)
• Trump floats circumventing Congress to maintain control of DC police (Politico)
• District court rules against Trump’s religious conscience rule and Little Sisters of the Poor (Deseret News)
• Trump goes after Schiff over leaking allegations. It's part of their long-running feud (Deseret News)
• Trump says he’ll ask Congress for ‘small amount of money’ to make D.C. safer (Deseret News)
• ‘Outstanding people’: Trump announces 2025 Kennedy Center honorees, including KISS, George Strait and Sylvester Stallone (Deseret News)
• Failed Republican candidate jailed for 80 years over gun attacks on Democrats' homes (Reuters)
• With midterms more than a year away, a record number of lawmakers are eyeing the exits (NPR)
• Pentagon plan would create military ‘reaction force’ for civil unrest (Washington Post)

Immigration/deportation

• In fundraising pitch, NV GOP urges state to build its own ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ but coyote-themed (Utah News Dispatch)

Ukraine/Russia

• Trump threatens 'severe consequences' if Putin blocks Ukraine peace (Reuters)
• Zelenskyy in London as Ukraine braces for Trump-Putin meet (Reuters)
• Even before Alaska summit, Putin is redrawing global order to his liking (Washington Post)
• Why Putin thinks Russia has the upper hand (New York Times)

Middle East

• Israel pounds Gaza City, 123 dead in last 24 hours (Reuters)

World news

• Kabul Is Running Dry and Solutions Might Come Too Late (New York Times)
• Wildfires fanned by heatwave and strong winds rage across Europe (Reuters)
• Inside the mine that feeds the tech world - and funds Congo’s rebels (Reuters)

Number of the Day

News Releases

Utah consumers continue to spend despite fear of tariffs

The Salt Lake Chamber, in partnership with the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has released the July 2025 Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard to inform business leaders’ understanding of Utah’s economy. This tool prioritizes key data on the state’s economic outlook and actionable context for decision-makers.

“Strong job creation and resilient consumer spending are fueling Utah’s economic momentum,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “While inflation pressures do add some uncertainty, current trends point toward continued economic strength in the near term. Maintaining flexibility and foresight will help us weather potential headwinds, and we will continue to take proactive steps to address these challenges.”  (Read More)

Statement by Gov. Cox, President Adams and Speaker Schultz

Gov. Cox, President Adams and Speaker Schultz release the following statement: “Over the past five years, the state has made the largest investment in homeless services in our state’s history, spending more than $266 million on addressing homelessness. That includes setting aside $25 million to build a transformative campus. Across the country, addressing homelessness is primarily a city and county responsibility, but in Utah, the state has stepped up as a committed partner, working alongside local governments and the private sector to find real solutions. The state remains committed to enhancing public safety and maintaining order, but lasting solutions require collaboration and partnership from the city, county and private sector leaders.

“We’ve been encouraged by recent efforts made by Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd to improve public safety, but it’s frustrating to continuously take one step forward and two steps back with Salt Lake City. The city needs to stay focused on its core responsibility of protecting its citizens, keeping streets safe and clean and making our capital a place Utahns can be proud of and visitors want to experience. We urge Mayor Mendenhall to turn down the politics and keep working with us to find practical and lasting solutions to this complex issue. Our citizens expect results, not finger-pointing.”

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Aug 18 — Sutherland Institute Congressional Series with Rep. Blake Moore, 12 pm, Hinckley Institute of Politics & livestream
• Aug 18-20 — Interim Days
• Aug 21 —Sutherland Institute Congressional Series with Rep. Burgess Owens, 12 pm, Hinckley Institute of Politics & livestream
• Sept 11-12 — Women in the Money Conference, Sheraton Hotel and online, Register here
• Sept 15-17 — Interim Days
• Oct 6-8 — One Utah Summit, Cedar City, More information here
• Oct 13-15 — Interim Days
• Nov 4 — General election
• Nov 17-19 — Interim Days
• February 4-7, 2026 — Summit, with Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake

On This Day In History

• 1784 - Russians settle Alaska
• 1870 - David Farragut, American Admiral ("Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"), dies at 69
• 1899 - Caroline Ware is born. A history professor and pioneer in the “cultural approach to History,” she was also an expert on consumer affairs and the Chair of the American Association of University Women Committee on Social Studies
• 1911 - Ethel Payne is born. Called “The First Lady of the Black Press,” she was the first African American female radio and television commentator at a national news organization (CBS) in 1972.
• 1935 - The Social Security Act becomes law. The sweeping legislation created a pension program based on and supported by workers’ income.
• 1937 - After 10 years of work, the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine is completed. More than 2,000 miles of trails and paths entice hikers from all over the country.
• 1945 - V-J Day, Japan surrenders unconditionally to end WW II 
• 1986 - After a 43 year military career, Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper retires from active duty in the U.S. Navy. Known as the “grandmother of the computer age,” Hopper was a pioneer of computer language.
• 1997 - Convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh is formally sentenced to death by Oklahoma Court of Appeals
• 2018 - After a 2-yr investigation, a Pennsylvania grand jury alleges 300 "predator priests" abused over 1000 children over 30 years and Catholic leaders covered it up.
• 2019 - Iowa congressman Steve King says that without rape and incest "“Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?" in video for "The Des Moines Register"
• 2021 - It rains for the first time at Greenland ice sheets' highest point, at Summit Station research facility, above freezing conditions create some melting for 337,000 square miles of ice

Quote of the Day

“I fought all my life to bring about change, to correct the injustices and the inequities in the system.”

— Ethel Payne

On the Punny Side

Why did the two fours skip lunch?

They already eight.

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