Utah news for October 18, 2026: No Kings marchers carry ballots to drop boxes in Salt Lake City; 'Neither party represents me': Republican voter...
No Kings marchers carry ballots to drop boxes in Salt Lake City
4 sourcesProtesters at Salt Lake City's fourth No Kings demonstration Saturday marched with their ballots to a downtown drop box outside the Salt Lake City Public Library, Utah News Dispatch reports, with the Utah Highway Patrol estimating 2,000 people at the Capitol grounds. In the Wasatch Back, the Pro-Active Alliance of Park City held a vote-early rally at the pedestrian bridge over Interstate 80 in Kimball Junction.
'Neither party represents me': Republican voter registration totals in Utah are falling while unaffiliated voters surge
2 sourcesRepublican voter registration totals in Utah are falling while the number of unaffiliated voters surges, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. The story profiles Utah voters who say neither party represents them, including a lifelong Utahn who first registered as a Republican at 18.
Fewer than 2,000 of 6,191 flagged Utah voters have proved citizenship
2 sourcesState election officials have notified at least 6,191 Utah voters that they need to prove citizenship under a new law, and fewer than 2,000 have responded, Utah News Dispatch reports.
As Utah pushes nuclear power, some environmental and tribal groups push back
1 sourceMore than a hundred people marched along Highway 191 on Saturday to protest the nation's only uranium processing mill, near White Mesa. Organizer Yolanda Badback, a White Mesa resident, said the demonstration is in its 10th year. Marchers walked to Energy Fuels' facility to raise concerns about plans to expand uranium mining and the impact on tribal communities in southeastern Utah.
Judge reopens lawsuits challenging cuts to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante
2 sourcesLegal challenges first filed almost a decade ago against President Trump's cuts to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments can move forward, Utah News Dispatch reports.
Stratos Project water application reveals new details on Box Elder County data center
1 sourceA water permit application filed Thursday with the Utah Division of Water Rights gives the most detailed look yet at the proposed Stratos Project data center in Box Elder County. The application, from a company associated with businessman Kevin O'Leary, seeks to change water use from irrigation to supply the project.
Leaders unveil multibillion-dollar downtown Salt Lake entertainment district
3 sourcesSmith Entertainment Group and Salt Lake leaders released a video showing a planned downtown makeover with a concert venue, restaurants, shopping, and pedestrian walkways. Nearby Japantown sees both opportunity and questions.
Uintah County Sheriff seeks people stopped at illegal checkpoint
1 sourceThe Uintah County Sheriff's Office is asking to talk to people who were stopped at what it calls an illegal checkpoint on Seep Ridge Road near Turkey Tracks, Gephardt Daily reports. The sheriff's office said it learned Friday that the checkpoint was being conducted by Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement and Ute Tribe Fish and Game officers, and deputies responded to it.
Most Utahns would pay more to help refill the Great Salt Lake
1 sourceA Salt Lake Tribune and Grist report finds most Utahns are willing to pay higher taxes or water bills to help refill the Great Salt Lake.
Salt Lake County voters to decide on $128 million parks and recreation bond
1 sourceOne question on the Nov. 3 Salt Lake County ballot asks voters whether to approve a $128 million bond for the county's parks and recreation. The money would go toward new construction and other projects.
08-18-2026 City of South Jordan City Council Meeting Minutes
1 source- Council Member Shelton and Council Member Johnson served as judges for the Grill Masters contest at the Daybreak Farmers Market. - Council Member Harris reported on recent events at the Senior Center and encouraged attendance at its activities. - The City received the full requested amount for two Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District grants, each in the amount of $86,000. - Resolution R2026-24 was approved, appointing Pearl Porritt to the Senior Advisory Committee. - Ordinance 2026-21 was approved, vacating the Rosary Way Right-of-Way.
09/29/2026 County Council Minutes
1 source- Council Member Stringham reported the Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District found about $500,000 in cost savings and will not need to raise fees this year or next. - Mayor Jennifer Wilson said the West Valley Library has temporarily closed so a new library can be built on the site, with Ballet West's westside studios integrated into the building. - The mayor said the Governor recommended 37 new federal Opportunity Zones in Utah, 11 of them in Salt Lake County near TRAX lines. The Treasury will certify the final list by December. - The council unanimously approved the tax relief and exemption letters and the September 15 minutes.
Utah adds 25,200 jobs over the past year, as unemployment holds steady at 3.5%
2 sourcesUtah added 25,200 jobs over the past year while its unemployment rate held steady at 3.5%, KSL News reports. ABC4 Utah also reported an employment boost in September.
Recursion prices $200M offering as Sanofi picks partnered drug candidate
1 sourceSanofi optioned the first development candidate from its collaboration with Salt Lake City's Recursion, triggering a $10 million milestone payment. The same morning Recursion priced an oversubscribed $200 million stock offering.
Southern Utah lands 90 high-paying aerospace and manufacturing jobs
2 sourcesThe state's economic development office has promised a Utah aerospace and manufacturing company tax credits to expand its southern Utah operations, so long as it adds 90 new high-paying jobs and meets other performance targets.
Salt Lake City nonprofit Advantage Services furloughs 110 employees
1 sourceAdvantage Services, a Salt Lake City nonprofit founded in 1992 that provides jobs for people facing barriers to employment, has furloughed 110 employees. It is struggling with a $1 million cut to its largest city contract and sharply rising insurance costs.
Intermountain opens specialty clinic and cancer center in Saratoga Springs
1 sourceIntermountain Health opened a 48,000-square-foot specialty clinic and cancer center Monday in Saratoga Springs, adding services for residents of the city, Eagle Mountain, West Lehi and nearby communities.
BYU School of Medicine earns preliminary accreditation
5 sourcesThe Liaison Committee on Medical Education granted BYU's medical school preliminary accreditation, letting it recruit and admit students. Its temporary and permanent buildings will sit on the former Provo High School property.
Utah higher ed chief: public universities can't be sanctuary campuses
1 sourceUtah's top higher education leader said it is 'impermissible' for any public college or university in the state to declare itself a sanctuary campus for immigrant students.
Utah's class of 2026 nudges ACT scores up
1 sourceUtah's graduating class of 2026 slightly improved its overall ACT performance, raising questions about whether schools are recovering from COVID.
New license plate targets Utah's nearly $4M school lunch debt
4 sourcesThe Utah Department of Motor Vehicles began selling the blue 'Feed Utah Kids' license plate on Oct. 6 to help pay down the nearly $4 million in Utah school lunch debt, which has grown every year, the Deseret News reports. Each plate costs $53.75.
Jordan School District Board Meeting Minutes -- June 9, 2026 Mountain Time - Study Session and Business Meeting
1 source- Discussion on changes to social studies graduation credits to comply with Utah legislation - Review of administrative policy AA417 on fundraising with recommendations for separation by school level - Monthly review of governance process and board policies GP113 through GP115 - Presentation and public comments regarding the 2026-27 budget - Approval of consent agenda items including board minutes and financial reports
BYU jumps to No. 2 in AP Top 25 after upsetting Notre Dame
7 sourcesBYU climbed six spots to No. 2 in Sunday's AP Top 25 after beating No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 in Provo, its highest ranking since its 1984 national championship season. Bear Bachmeier threw a go-ahead touchdown pass with 1:47 left and BYU stopped Notre Dame at the goal line to move to 6-0. The Big 12 later said its replay crew erred by not putting one second back on the clock. Utah moved to No. 10, giving the Big 12 three teams in the top 10.
No. 11 Utah holds off Colorado 27-24 to stay unbeaten
3 sourcesNo. 11 Utah beat Colorado 27-24 in Boulder on Saturday to improve to 6-0, surviving a late Colorado rally and a Hail Mary attempt. Dampier threw three touchdown passes, and Colorado had led 17-13 in the third quarter.
'College GameDay' comes to Salt Lake City for Utah-Houston
2 sourcesESPN's 'College GameDay' will broadcast live from the University of Utah ahead of the Utes' game against Houston, one week after the show was in Provo for BYU-Notre Dame, the Deseret News reports. Houston, ranked 20th last week, beat No. 18 Oklahoma State 35-32. It will be the seventh time the show has aired from Utah's campus.
Real Salt Lake tops Sporting Kansas City in playoff push
1 sourceReal Salt Lake beat Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, a step toward the MLS playoffs as the club faces a climb in the season's final stretch.
Utah Jazz reportedly bringing back center Tony Bradley
1 sourceESPN's Shams Charania reported Saturday that the Utah Jazz are claiming center Tony Bradley, the Deseret News says. The move comes as the Jazz finalize their roster before the 2026-27 season begins next Wednesday.