Utah Headlines

Political news

• Voices: Utah legislators should change unfair laws — even when it affects their family and friends (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Utah school board member defends comments amid criticism of faith, Unabomber references (KUTV)

Municipal

• Commission recommends 7-story Delta Center parking garage, but expresses concerns (KSL)
• South Salt Lake City Council approves ‘moderate income housing’ plan (KSL Newsradio) 
• Facing 225 percent property tax hike, Utah city and residents hunt for solutions (Fox13)
• With most primary votes tallied, challengers take lead in both Ogden City Council races (Standard-Examiner)

Utah

• Are Utahns still spending money amid growing inflation? (Deseret News)
• Incoming patients, ambulances diverted after power goes out at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray (KSL TV)
• Intermountain Medical Center had to transport NICU babies, laboring mothers during power outage, official says (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Low water levels force closure of Lake Powell boat ramps (Fox13)
• Venues secured, hotels booked, $150M raised — and still 8+ years until 2034 Olympics (Fox13)
• Lawmakers hear from Olympic organizers for the first time since Utah got the 2034 Winter Games (Deseret News)

Crime/Courts

• Utah Homeland Security agent who sold illegal drugs sought mercy, citing his 23-year career. Here’s what a judge decided. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Culture/Community

• Shawn Teigen: Why social capital matters to Utah (Deseret News)
• Community steps in to feed, fuel firefighters taking on North Ogden fire (Fox13)

Economy

• How Utahns’ feelings about the economy have changed since Donald Trump’s election (Salt Lake Tribune)
• US producer inflation heats up as goods, services prices soar (Reuters)

Education

• Box Elder School District adopts 37.2% property tax increase (KSL)
• This Salt Lake City high school could close — and a K-8 campus could see major changes (Salt Lake Tribune)
• How Utah families conquer back-to-school nerves with delicious traditions (Fox13)
• Utah Tech reports 4% retention gain, explores innovative learning models at fall convocation (St. George News)

Environment

• Environmental, Indigenous groups join in calls against Blanding uranium mill (KSL)
• A wildly popular Utah lake faces an enemy it likely can’t beat (UPR)

Faith

• Church making changes to save half a billion gallons of water (Deseret News)

Family

• The two reasons Americans aren’t having babies, according to data (Washington Post)

Health

• Health officials warn of West Nile virus threat amid Utah's first case in 2025 (Deseret News) 
• What to know about the new 'Stratus' COVID variant (Deseret News)

Housing

• Here's the must-haves for homebuyers — and where they're willing to compromise for affordability (KSL)
• Mortgage Rates Slip to Lowest Level of 2025 (Wall Street Journal)
• A major tool in Utah’s fight against homelessness is expanding (Salt Lake Tribune)

National Headlines

General

• National Navajo Code Talker Day: Remembering the impact Code Talkers had in World War II (Deseret News)
• Kellogg says it will remove artificial dyes from cereals by the end of 2027 (AP)
• Sexual violence in conflicts worldwide increased by 25% last year, UN says (AP)

Political news

• Newsom moves forward with plans to redraw California map to counter Texas changes (Deseret News)
• Texas Democrats signal they are poised to end redistricting walkout (Politico)
• Mayors of Democratic cities respond to Trump's threats they could be next after D.C. (NPR)
• Pam Bondi fires man accused of throwing sandwich at federal agent during Trump DC intervention (AP News)
• Court ruling allows Trump administration to continue cutting foreign aid (Deseret News)
• Hegseth supports women's right to vote, Pentagon says, despite his having reposted video (Reuters)
• DC’s homeless pack up as sweeps are expected. What we know about Trump’s plan to clear encampments (AP)
• Bondi orders D.C. mayor to recognize DEA head as ‘emergency police commissioner’ (Washington Post)
• Bowser, D.C. attorney general reject push by Bondi to name emergency police commissioner (Washington Post)
• Trump claims credit for fixing Social Security as it barrels to insolvency (Washington Post)
• The ‘kingmaker’: Trump relishes his diplomacy as he jockeys for Nobel prize (Politico)
• Federal judge declares Education Department’s attempt to bar diversity programs unlawful (Politico)

Artificial Intelligence

• Meta’s flirty AI chatbot invited a retiree to New York. He never made it home. (Reuters)
• Meta’s AI rules have let bots hold ‘sensual’ chats with kids, offer false medical info (Reuters)

Immigration/deportation

• D.C. police can notify ICE about immigrants not in custody under new executive order (Deseret News)
• Activists in Tucson work behind the scenes to help migrants (Deseret News)

Ukraine/Russia

• The human cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine (Deseret News)
• Trump says Putin ready to make deal on Ukraine, US hopes to include Zelenskiy (Reuters)
• Putin praises Trump’s efforts to end Ukraine war ahead of Friday summit in Alaska (AP)
• Ukraine brings back 84 POWs including dozens of civilians (Reuters)
• Alaska’s Ukrainian Refugees Brace for Putin’s Arrival in Their Safe Harbor (New York Times)

Middle East

• Malnourished kids arrive daily at a Gaza hospital as Netanyahu denies hunger (AP News)
• Israel's Smotrich launches settlement plan to 'bury' idea of Palestinian state (Reuters)

World news

• Sudden, heavy rain in Indian Kashmir leaves 46 dead, more than 200 missing (Reuters)
• Top South Korean court listens to ‘Baby Shark,’ rejects copyright suit (Washington Post)

Number of the Day

News Releases

Sutherland releases new report on construction workforce shortages

Today, Sutherland Institute released a new research publication on the state of the construction workforce shortage and how policymakers, industry leaders, and educators can work together to address it. Publication findings include data that Utah’s overall workforce shortage is greater than the national average, with only about 72 workers per 100 available jobs as of May 2025, and this shortage acutely impacts construction and the skilled trades. (Read More)

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

• 1057 - The real Macbeth, King of Scots, slain in battle by the son of King Duncan who was slain by Macbeth 17 years previously
• 1876 - US law removes Indians from Black Hills after gold is found
• 1890 - Elizabeth Bolden is born. When Lizzie Bolden died at the age of 116 years and 118 days, she had lived through 21 U.S. Presidents. At the age of 30, the passage of the 19th Amendment would provide Bolden with her first opportunity to vote in a Presidential election. The supercentenarian was the oldest living person in the world at the time of her death.
• 1909 - Cathedral of the Madeleine is dedicated in Salt Lake City.
• 1914 - The Panama Canal opens

• 1947 - India gained independence after nearly 200 years of British rule.

• 1961 - The Berlin Wall is built
• 1969 - Woodstock begins
• 1971 - US President Richard Nixon announces a 90-day freeze on wages, prices & rents
• 2021 - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flees the country as Taliban forces enter the capital Kabul and take control

Quote of the Day

"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
—William James

On the Punny Side

Dad: "How are your grades, son?"
Son: "They're underwater, Dad."
Dad: "What do you mean, underwater?"
Son: "They're below C level"

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