The Salt Lake Tribune

Timeline: How the Kevin O’Leary data center plan came to be, and what’s happened since

Sean P. Means — Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Few people in Utah initially knew about plans to build a massive data center campus in Box Elder County — though Gov. Spencer Cox and other state leaders met with celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary in January, and rumors about the proposals started spreading in February.

BYU football linebacker charged with a DUI. His status is ‘under evaluation’ by the LDS school.

Jason Batacao — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:59:02 +0000

A 20-year-old BYU football player has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence. The LDS Church's flagship school, which has an Honor Code forbidding alcohol consumption, is reviewing his status.

‘How could God take almost an entire family?’: Funeral honors 5 family members killed in Utah flash flood

Courtney Tanner — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:17:39 +0000

Lydia Vernon, Katrina Long’s sole surviving child, was not with her mom, stepdad and three brothers when they were killed by a flash flood. During their funeral Wednesday, she said a soft and short prayer, saying the tragedy has been “hard to understand."

Utah is a finalist to build a massive federal nuclear hub. What’s next?

Emily Anderson Stern, Leia Larsen — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 23:17:46 +0000

Utah is among a handful of states that are finalists for a massive federal campus that would take on a range of nuclear work — from creating fuel to later recyling it and storing radioactive waste, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Tuesday.

Designing the Box Elder County data center is ‘full steam ahead,’ Kevin O’Leary says, while MIDA is on ‘pause’

Megan Banta — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:29:54 +0000

The economic development agency that originally greenlit the proposed Box Elder County data center says it has paused action, but its celebrity financial backer said his company’s work on the project is still in full swing.

She was set to get married. The night before, she used a tampon to set fire to the Utah church, police say.

Addy Baird — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:25:05 +0000

A woman was arrested and accused of setting fire to a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kaysville this month while setting up her own wedding.

A Colorado River deal is expected this week. How will it impact Utah?

Addy Baird — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Three of the seven states who rely on the Colorado River for water are expected to announce a key deal this week to reduce usage, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Utah prosecutors now say they know why Charlie Kirk was targeted

Jessica Schreifels — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:13:00 +0000

A new court filing argues Tyler Robinson’s personal life stood in “stark contrast” to Charlie Kirk’s views — and that it motivated the fatal shooting.

Vernal child dies after allegedly being left in hot car for over 2 hours; man arrested

Michael Martin | FOX 13 — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:56:51 +0000

Vernal • A Vernal man was arrested and faces reckless child abuse homicide charges, after a child died earlier this week after being inside a vehicle alone for more than two hours.

Evacuation orders issued near Kanosh as Widemouth 2 Fire jumps to 5,000 acres

Spencer Burt | FOX 13 — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:31:26 +0000

Evacuation orders have been issued for parts of Millard County as the Widemouth 2 Fire continues to grow in the area of Fishlake National Forest south of Kanosh.

This Utah business is putting an immersive new spin on the classic dinner and a movie concept

Palak Jayswal — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Syracuse • On some nights, a warehouse here transforms into the swamps from “Shrek,” the aromatic Parisian kitchen from “Ratatouille,” or even the dense, mist-soaked forests of Forks, Washington, from the world of Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series.

With Colorado River ruling just days away, Joel Ferry set to leave Cox’s Cabinet

Robert Gehrke — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:42:24 +0000

Joel Ferry is stepping down as commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, just ahead of an anticipated announcement on Utah’s future share of Colorado River water and as the state grapples with plunging water levels in both the Great Salt Lake and Lake Powell.

‘Mormon Land’: Finance childcare? Put all kids in one ward? Return to 3-hour church? Let locals decide.

David Noyce, Peggy Fletcher Stack — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Salt Lake Tribune guest columnist Natalie Brown, author of “After Happiness: Living with Faith in a Time of Crisis,” discusses how to help Latter-day Saints amid today’s challenging economic and polarizing climate.

What’s going on at the old Sears site in Salt Lake City?

Jose Davila IV — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Cleanup is underway at the long-empty, and contaminated, former Sears site in Salt Lake City.

Voices: I know how the Forest Service fights wildfire. It’s time to rethink the strategy.

Brett Roper | For The Salt Lake Tribune — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:05:00 +0000

“The best chances of protecting private lands and structures from wildland fires are heavy handed vegetation and timber treatments,” Brett Roper writes in an op-ed.

What’s causing Utah’s record-hot low temperatures?

Andy Larsen — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Why are the lows so high in Utah? Here's what's happening this summer.

Bagley Cartoon: Quagmire

Pat Bagley — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Thanks for reading this story from The Tribune. As CEO & Executive Editor, I am proud to lead our team of journalists as they tell the stories others can’t – or won’t.

Letter: It’s time to reform special water districts before Utah taxpayers decide they’ve had enough

Ben Nielson | The Public Forum — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

As our nation celebrates 250 years of independence this year, Utahns are rightfully reflecting on the founding principles of 1776. We honor the colonial patriots who drew a line in the sand against forced government-backed monopolies, administrative overreach and taxation without representation.

Opinion: The good news and the bad news about the new housing law

Jared Bernstein and Jim Parrott | The Public Forum — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the first major housing package to become law in decades — and passed with impressive bipartisan support — has the potential to put a real dent in the nation’s affordable housing shortage.

Letter: Whether or not a leader deserves respect comes down to character. Allow me to illustrate.

Daniel Herbert-Voss | The Public Forum — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

The character of the politicians that represent us should be important, so here is a comparison of two current political leaders.

Opinion: ‘You aren’t going to like what comes after America’

Chrystia Freeland | For The New York Times — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Blaming Canada used to be such a fantastical idea that it was a joke. A couple of decades ago, “South Park” imagined a campaign against Canada for fabricated offenses (in this case, children who swear) as a satirical device whose obvious impossibility was meant to underscore the pathetic human tendency to point fingers at someone — anyone — else for our own failings.

How a Utah Republican’s quiet battle for hunting access undercut the Ute Indian Tribe’s Land Back hopes

Roque Planas | Public Domain — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Note to readers • This story was first published in High Country News.

Could this Utah suburb become a hub for youth sports? A pitch for a massive indoor athletic complex is on the table.

Jose Davila IV — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

It can be a struggle for Utah's youth sports teams to find space for practices and games. One suburb is weighing a proposal that could alleviate the crunch.

Utahns speak out as yet another data center is planned near the Great Salt Lake

Leia Larsen — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:19:56 +0000

Note to readers • This story is made possible through a partnership between The Salt Lake Tribune and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

Man dies of injuries suffered in Washington Terrace fire, son says

Jeff Tavss | Fox 13 News — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:46:05 +0000

One of two people injured in the wildfire that burned near several Washington Terrace homes on Monday has died, a family member said.

Utah production is part of the never-ending life of ‘Les Misérables’

Elisabeth Vincentelli | The New York Times — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Those highly emotional, belt-loving French denizens of “Les Misérables” never stay silent for long. In fact, they're performing in Utah right now.

The Utah Utes’ Big Ten dreams could be in jeopardy. This is why.

Jason Batacao — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:24:45 +0000

When Utah entered the Big 12 two years ago, many fans hoped it would be a short-term layover before the Utes would move on to greener pastures.

About the Utah firefighter and his family killed in a flash flood

Dylan Eubank — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Utah firefighter Spencer Long, who died in a flash flood along with his wife and three sons, seemed destined to be a brave rescuer and dedicated first responder, says his brother.

Una ruta principal al aeropuerto de Salt Lake City cerrará por el resto del verano. Así puede evitarla.

Jordan Miller — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:10:43 +0000

The original English version of this story is available here.

Inside Provo’s exploding thrift-booth economy, where young women get help turning their closets into cash

Sydney Jezik — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Provo • On any given Saturday, a few dozen young women arrive early at Indy Clover in Provo, carrying garbage bags and plastic bins.

PHOTOS: Utah firefighters line I-15 as family members killed in flash flood are taken to funeral home

Sydney Jezik, Dylan Eubank — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:15:00 +0000

Firefighters from multiple agencies across Utah volunteered their time Tuesday to line up along Interstate 15 and pay their respects to a Provo fire captain and his four family members killed in a recent Utah flash flood.

A main route to the Salt Lake City airport will close for the rest of the summer. Here’s how to get around it.

Jordan Miller — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Lee este artículo en español aquí.

You think U.S. politics have never been worse? They have, says this Utah professor and podcaster.

Robert Gehrke — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Between rabid partisanship, fake news, election doubts and insurrectionist mobs, America’s political climate is so toxic — the refrain goes — that it has never been worse.

Bagley Cartoon: Not Just a River in Egypt

Pat Bagley — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:17:54 +0000

Thanks for reading this story from The Tribune. As CEO & Executive Editor, I am proud to lead our team of journalists as they tell the stories others can’t – or won’t.

Letter: The Pioneer Day drone show was something fireworks can never be

Brenda Goodwin | The Public Forum — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Letter: The Pioneer Day drone show blended the icons that have defined Salt Lake for generations with quirky moments that happened just this year. It felt fresh, affectionate and unmistakably local.

Voices: SLC can be one of America’s great cities — if we can finish what we started

Derek Kitchen | For The Salt Lake Tribune — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:05:00 +0000

For more than a century, railroad tracks have cut through the heart of our capital city. They interrupt streets, separate neighborhoods and keep downtown and the west side from ever really being one place. We’ve lived with them so long they feel like the weather — just a condition of living here.

Letter: Will we choose population growth over stability and risk damaging the foundations for all life on Earth?

David Hart | The Public Forum — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

In a recent The New York Times op-ed picked up by The Salt Lake Tribune, Lyman Stone predicts that “The U.S. population bust is coming sooner than anyone is prepared for.” Stone contends that depopulation is a serious economic, social and political issue that will cause great damage to the U.S. and the world. He notes that population growth is slowing because individuals all over the world are choosing to have fewer children; however, Stone disagrees with most projections that it will be about 2080 before population “might” start to decline. He thinks that it might start by the 2050s.

‘We’re losing our ability to manage forest fires’ as West becomes hotter and drier, researcher says

Leia Larsen — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Note to readers • This story is made possible through a partnership between The Salt Lake Tribune and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

Opinion: Immigration detention has a transparency problem. Private companies will make it worse.

Lauren-Brooke Eisen | For The New York Times — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

In deep red Hanover County, Virginia, just north of Richmond, Donald Trump won 62 percent of the vote in 2024. It might have followed that the voters there supported his administration’s immigration agenda. And yet, in January, Hanover County’s board of supervisors opposed the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to purchase and retrofit a local 550,000-square-foot warehouse as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Protest was so vociferous that the Vancouver-based developer Jim Pattison Developments announced the sale would “not be proceeding.”

What’s your favorite restaurant in Utah right now?

The Salt Lake Tribune — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Whether you’re a foodie in search of Michelin-caliber cuisine or someone who prefers a hole-in-the-wall, the state offers something for everyone.

Even in Utah, land of ‘Big Love,’ families are getting smaller

Sabrina Tavernise and Jeff Adelson | The New York Times — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Utah has long been famous for its large families. From the Osmond singers to “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” the picture has been one of young people marrying and having a lot of babies.

Buzz of the Week: How are you feeling about America’s future?

The Salt Lake Tribune — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Feeling like American politics has never been this bad? A UVU historian says we’ve been here before (and we got through it). How are you feeling about America’s future?

Mike Lee’s threats to nix August recess are infuriating his colleagues

Al Weaver | NOTUS — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Senate Republican leaders are used to headaches from Utah Sen. Mike Lee, but the battle is reaching an apex as Lee attempts to derail the August recess and force another vote on President Donald Trump’s priority voting bill.

Opinion: This is the way out of our ultraprocessed dystopia

Julia Belluz | For The New York Times — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

When Bryce Martinez started feeling an aching around his heart, he thought it might be an asthma attack. But at the school nurse’s office, his blood pressure was found to be so high that he was rushed to the emergency room. There, doctors diagnosed him with Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.

Map: See where measles is hitting Utah the hardest

Sean P. Means — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Utah state health officials have so far confirmed 514 measles cases this year, including dozens from a spike in spring.

Salt Lake County plans to buy historic downtown building as convention center prepares for major transformation

Jordan Miller — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

The building will have a role in the downtown sports, entertainment, convention and culture district.

Way-too-early NBA Rookie of the Year predictions: AJ Dybantsa? Darryn Peterson?

The Athletic NBA Staff | The New York Times — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

With NBA Summer League now in the rearview mirror, a promising 2026 NBA Draft class can officially begin eyeing the regular season.

Utah wants $2.4 billion for a FrontRunner expansion. The Trump administration isn’t approving any projects.

Emily Badger and Alicia Parlapiano | The New York Times — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

For decades, the federal government has funneled big-ticket grants to local communities to help them take on ambitious construction projects to expand public transit. The grants, sometimes in the billions of dollars, have funded new railroad tracks, train stations and roads rebuilt for modern bus service. Today, they are funding extensions of the Second Avenue Subway in New York and the Red Line in Chicago, as well as the Gateway Tunnel under the Hudson River and bus infrastructure in Indianapolis and San Antonio.

A resigning Utah judge says the pressure to decide more cases faster ‘should concern every citizen’

Robert Gehrke — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:01 +0000

Utah judges are "dealing with emotionally and intellectually taxing issues" while managing heavy caseloads over long hours, 4th District Judge Kasey Wright wrote. “This is not sustainable!”

We toured the land around the Box Elder data center project. Here’s what we saw.

Megan Banta — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

From Lone Rock to Locomotive Springs to the Hansel Valley, here's a look at the area around the proposed Box Elder County data center – including an interactive map.

A Utah wildfire suddenly destroyed their wedding venue. Here’s how — in just 72 hours — they still managed to create magic.

Courtney Tanner — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

As Blake Hogge reached for his mom’s hand to walk down the aisle on his wedding day, he noticed something strange.

A resident in a Utah support home died after staff waited for a manager’s approval to call 911, licensors say

Jessica Schreifels — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Utah officials say a residential support home for people with disabilities required its staff to get management approval before calling 911 — a policy that licensors say delayed emergency help last month for a resident who later died.