Utah state government
Alexis Hilbelink, at her home in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced Thursday that a Unified police officer was legally justified in shooting Alexis's husband, Matthew Hilbelink, who was suicidal and who had pointed a gun at an officer. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
DA: Police shooting suicidal man justified, raises questions

By Jessica Miller May. 22, 2021 08:00 AM EDT

Lawmakers are shown in the House Chamber during a special session at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
Utah lawmakers pass school mask mandate prohibition

By Sophia Eppolito May. 19, 2021 07:36 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 10, 2021, file photo, parents and students protest students wearing masks to school during a rally in Farmington, Utah. Dozens of school districts around the country have eliminated requirements for students to wear masks, and many more are likely to ditch mask requirements before the next academic year. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Utah won't require masks for students last week of school

May. 13, 2021 05:10 PM EDT

Utah to end $300 federal pandemic unemployment benefit

May. 12, 2021 02:33 PM EDT
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah will terminate its participation in the federal government’s pandemic-related unemployment assistance program, Gov. Spencer Cox...

People protest students wearing masks to school during a rally on Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Farmington, Utah. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday, May 6, 2021, he has no plans to renew the state's mask order for K-12 schools next fall, following months of mounting pressure from parents calling for the mandate's end. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Governor says Utah won't mandate masks in schools next fall

By Sophia Eppolito And Lindsay Whitehurst May. 06, 2021 07:37 PM EDT

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, left, and Utah first lady Abby Cox greet first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at Salt Lake City International Airport's TAC Air terminal. Biden visited a local middle school to teachers for their diligence and hard work during the pandemic and ended her day visiting a local vaccination site. (Spenser Heaps/The Deseret News via AP)
Jill Biden visits Utah school as US moves toward reopening

By Lindsay Whitehurst And Sophia Eppolito May. 05, 2021 12:15 AM EDT

FILE - Rows of homes, are shown in suburban Salt Lake City, on April 13, 2019. Utah is one of two Western states known for rugged landscapes and wide-open spaces that are bucking the trend of sluggish U.S. population growth. The boom there and in Idaho are accompanied by healthy economic expansion, but also concern about strain on infrastructure and soaring housing prices. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Booms in Idaho, Utah buck the curve of slowing US growth

By Lindsay Whitehurst And Keith Ridler May. 01, 2021 09:57 AM EDT

Utah Republicans to choose party leadership at convention

Apr. 30, 2021 01:03 PM EDT
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Republicans will choose new party leadership at their annual state convention Saturday, the state's first major in-person political...

Data shows strong teacher retention in Utah despite pandemic

By Jon Reed Apr. 18, 2021 11:55 AM EDT
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Despite concerns that the pandemic would drive many teachers away and exacerbate a longstanding teacher shortage in the state, more Utah...

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a news conference before receiving his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Spanish Fork, Utah. Utah is on pace to remove all coronavirus-related restrictions by July if transmission rates keep dropping, but the situation could change, Cox said Thursday. He urged residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to remain cautious. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Governor fears ‘pause’ of J&J shots could increase hesitancy

Apr. 15, 2021 07:12 PM EDT

A sign requiring face masks is seen at Harmons Grocery store Monday, March 8, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Utah's statewide mask mandate will be lifted on April 10 under a measure that passed the full Legislature Friday, March 5, 2021. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox has said he plans to sign the bill. The bill lays out a new timeline for when Utah's COVID-19 restrictions applying to businesses, events, and schools would end. The mask mandate would still apply to gatherings of more than 50 people. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah to help people reentering workforce during pandemic

By Sophia Eppolito Apr. 01, 2021 03:21 PM EDT

Gov. Spencer Cox receives his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Spanish Fork, Utah. Utah is on pace to remove all coronavirus-related restrictions by July if transmission rates keep dropping, but the situation could change, Cox said Thursday. He urged residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to remain cautious. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Governor hopeful Utah may lift virus restrictions by July

By Sophia Eppolito Mar. 25, 2021 04:00 PM EDT

Auburn Thayer, 23, receives her Pfizer vaccination, Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Sandy, Utah. All adults in Utah aged 16 and older became eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations Wednesday. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah governor signs law to lift mask mandate April 10

By Sophia Eppolito Mar. 24, 2021 07:41 PM EDT

FILE - Garry Garff receives his Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination on March 10, 2021, in Sandy, Utah. Utah adults can begin signing up for a COVID-19 vaccine on March 24 — one week earlier that previously planned because the state has unallocated doses, Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Utah accelerates plan to get all adults COVID-19 vaccines

Mar. 18, 2021 02:48 PM EDT

FILE - The Utah House of Representatives work on the House floor on March 5, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Utah lawmakers have voted to require every cellphone and tablet sold there to automatically block pornography, the conservative state's most recent move targeting online porn and one that critics call a significant intrusion on free speech. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Utah campaign against porn marches on with phone filter plan

By Lindsay Whitehurst And Sophia Eppolito Mar. 16, 2021 02:51 PM EDT

Tax cuts could mean Utah has to return $100M in federal aid

Mar. 15, 2021 07:14 PM EDT
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah’s vote to cut taxes this year could mean it has to return $100 million in aid given under the federal pandemic relief bill. ...

Garry Garff receives his Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Sandy, Utah. All people in Utah age 18 and over will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine on April 1, the governor's office announced Wednesday, March 10, 2021. State officials expect to have 1.5 million doses by April 10, when Utah's statewide mask order will be lifted, said Jennifer Napier-Pearce, spokeswoman for Gov. Spencer Cox. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah governor: All adults will be vaccine eligible April 1

By Sophia Eppolito Mar. 10, 2021 01:11 PM EST

Republican Senate President Stuart Adams looks on from the Senate floor Friday night, March 5, 2021, in Salt Lake City. The Utah Legislature is wrapping up its business for the year Friday evening. Lawmakers have already tackled a number of issues this year during a session that was conducted partially remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Legislature wrapping up business for the year

By Lindsay Whitehurst And Sophia Eppolito Mar. 04, 2021 11:02 PM EST

Utah cancels vaccine appointments after registration error

Feb. 28, 2021 01:00 PM EST
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah is canceling about 7,200 coronavirus vaccine appointments after an error in the state health department's registration website...

Utah Gov.-elect Spencer Cox announces details related to the upcoming transition of leadership in the Gold Room at the Utah State Capitol on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Cox, who won the governor's race this week, said he is prepared to continue the fight against COVID-19 when he succeeds Herbert in January. He said he hopes to focus on ramping up testing, adding more contact tracers and implementing vaccine distribution. (Steve Griffin/Deseret News, via AP, Pool)
Utah governor predicts gatherings without masks by July 4

By Sophia Eppolito Feb. 25, 2021 03:51 PM EST