“REPUBLICANS DON’T RAISE TAXES.” But this year, Utah lawmakers did — passing a tax meant to rein in Big Tech and targeted digital advertising they say is harmful. The tax faced an opposition campaign, with messaging like the above. Now, Utah's taxpayers association is arguing the tax is illegal

In rare move, Utah lawmakers decided to tax large tech companies. A new lawsuit argues it’s illegal.

The new tax is meant to target ads “intentionally designed to addict our minors,” a lawmaker said. In a new lawsuit, the Utah Taxpayers Association says it violates federal law.

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Fun fact: In the course of this reporting I learned that there are 813,909,323,331,759,027,911,655,544 flavor combination options at Swig

Swig wants to be the Starbucks of dirty soda. Does the ‘quirky Utah’ drink have national appeal? Here’s what its CEO said.

“I think people thought dirty soda was a fad,” he told The Salt Lake Tribune.

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Utah has the fewest nurses per capita of any state in the nation — an undesirable distinction it’s held for two years in a row. Now, a new nursing school is set to open in this major Salt Lake City suburb, hoping to change that statistic. www.sltrib.com/news/educati...

Feeling unnecessarily destabilized by the Gilmore Girls leaving Netflix news

Wherein I dig into the fascinating world of fiber to better understand why Utah has more recently become so attractive to data center developers. It begins with a decision state leaders made decades ago to increase connectivity on Utah's roadways ahead of the winter Olympics:

There’s a key reason data center developers are increasingly drawn to Utah — and it lies underground

Utah’s vast fiber network dates back to the 2002 Olympics. Now, it’s luring in developers looking to cash in on the insatiable demand for more computing power.

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A vegan coffee shop in downtown Salt Lake City that was once a full-service plant-based restaurant will remain closed, after shutting down in October.

‘The end of an era’: Salt Lake City vegan coffee shop, once a restaurant, to remain closed

A vegan coffee shop in downtown Salt Lake City that was once a full-service plant-based restaurant will remain closed, after shutting down in October.

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Much of the pushback against the Stratos data center campus has pointed to potential environmental impacts on such a rural, arid area near the Great Salt Lake. But proponents say data centers are necessary to satisfy the U.S.’s ever-increasing desire for compute. Could the answer be in the sky?

As Utah debates data centers on Earth, these companies are looking to space

Companies including Blue Origin are exploring orbital data centers they say could someday complement computing facilities on Earth, like the one proposed in Box Elder County — and perhaps replace them...

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The drones will be able to deliver orders within about 30 minutes, Walmart says, using a tether to "gently lower packages directly to a customer’s yard or driveway."

In Salt Lake City, you can soon get your groceries delivered by drone, Walmart announces

The drones will be able to deliver orders within about 30 minutes, Walmart says, using a tether to "gently lower packages directly to a customer’s yard or driveway."

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Companies including Blue Origin are exploring orbital data centers they say could someday complement computing facilities on Earth, like the one proposed in Box Elder County — and perhaps replace them.

As Utah debates data centers on Earth, these companies are looking to space

Companies including Blue Origin are exploring orbital data centers they say could someday complement computing facilities on Earth, like the one proposed in Box Elder County — and perhaps replace them.

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DEAR UTAHNS: Do you use any loyalty/rewards programs for local(ish) restaurants? What are your favorites?

Did you hear the good news? @sltrib.com is now FREE. If cost ever stopped you, give us another try. Plenty of great stuff to read today and everyday, but I'm partial to this profile on a local drone prodigy as he starts a new chapter at 28 — building attack drones to fight in this new era of war

This Utah ‘boy wonder’ is now a prominent defense-tech founder, making attack drones by the thousands in a Bluffdale warehouse

George Matus was in high school when he created his first drone company. Now, amid a lawsuit and rising global conflict, he's received millions in government money to build low-cost, expendable drones...

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Big things happening soon 👀

The Salt Lake Tribune@sltrib.com · 3mo ago

Thursday.

A bill suggesting a new process splitting Salt Lake County into two passed the Legislature — but was voted on too late. How realistic would the split have been under HB212? I built a tool to play around with. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/04/30/salt-lake-county-split/

A Utah landscaping firm is asking a federal judge to sanction a prosecutor, alleging investigators used false or misleading evidence in a failed human trafficking case that cost the company millions and damaged its reputation.

Did investigators mislead judges? Utah company pushes for sanctions after human-trafficking case collapses

A Utah landscaping firm is asking a federal judge to sanction a prosecutor, alleging investigators used false or misleading evidence in a failed human trafficking case that cost the company millions and damaged its reputation.

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In Nov. 2023, as OUR founder Tim Ballard was facing allegations of sexual assault/misconduct, then-Utah A.G. Sean Reyes — who was close with Ballard — announced a big human trafficking case against a local landscaping firm. That case has fallen apart. Here's what happened since that announcement:

Did investigators mislead judges? Utah company pushes for sanctions after human-trafficking case collapses

A Utah landscaping firm is asking a federal judge to sanction a prosecutor, alleging investigators used false or misleading evidence in a failed human trafficking case that cost the company millions a...

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Imagining a not-so-distant future where me and my adopted tortoise are roaming the Mojave à la Fallout: New Vegas. I've attached a laser to its head. Diet Cokes are currency now.

Utah wants you to adopt a Mojave desert tortoise, as long as you don’t live in this county

If you’re looking for a lifelong best friend, Utah has a solution for you.

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On am whim, just now, I exited all my tabs/windows and cleared my taskbar of 1,000 PDFs and I have never felt more alive

After more than two years of stalled contract negotiations, ProPublica journalists went on strike Wednesday. At the heart of the dispute: How much of ProPublica’s work can be off-loaded to AI.

ProPublica journalists go on strike partly over use of AI

Newsrooms around the country have struggled to set rules for AI. At ProPublica, which specializes in investigative journalism, the issue is especially fraught.

washingtonpost.com

Recent ICE moves in/around Salt Lake City: • January: Enters into a $10.4M contract w GEO Transport to transport detainees in SLC-area • March 11: Spent $145.4M on huge warehouse to convert into a detention facility to hold 7,500 people • March 30: Filed RFI for office space in West Valley City

ICE is now looking for office space in West Valley City. Here’s what we know.

After purchasing a large Salt Lake City warehouse to convert into a detention center, ICE is considering leasing coworking space in West Valley City.

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Soon after news broke that ICE bought a huge SLC warehouse to convert into a detention center, the agency touted its economic benefits: 9,893 jobs, $1.1 billion to GDP and $238.7M in tax revenue. I asked how they arrived at those figures. ICE never responded. Here, I tried to check their math:

ICE says its SLC detention center would be an economic boon. They won’t show their math — but we tried to check it anyway.

ICE says its planned SLC detention center will bring in 9,893 jobs and add $1.1 billion to Utah’s GDP. But the agency won’t show how it calculated those figures, and local leaders and experts are skep...

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Very interesting pitch this morning. I thought every month was stress awareness month????

For six generations, the Daynes name has adorned Utah’s only Steinway piano shop. The family of England-born LDS converts arrived in Utah in 1862 with a small organ they hauled across the plains in a covered wagon. They’ve been sharing music with Utahns ever since. That all ends soon. Here's why:

This beloved Utah company was founded before statehood. It’s closing in a few weeks.

After six generations and more than 160 years, Daynes Music — Utah’s longtime Steinway dealer and a hub for pianists across the state — is closing its doors. The family business helped shape Utah’s mu...

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Gasoline prices in Utah have risen about 45 cents per gallon since last week, and diesel jumped more than 65 cents. www.sltrib.com/news/2026/03...

Utah’s gasoline prices surge 16%, and that may spill over into inflation elsewhere

If gasoline and diesel costs stay high, analysts say, Utah consumers may see prices increase for many more goods.

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Measles cases continue to climb across Utah, with more than 350 infections reported since June. Health officials say many underestimate how severe the virus can be.

‘It’s not a mild virus, it’s a severe illness,’ Utah health officials warn as measles cases keep climbing

Measles cases continue to climb across Utah, with more than 350 infections reported since June. Health officials say many underestimate how severe the virus can be.

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To retain their rights, unmarried fathers must sign up on Utah's Putative Father Registry. How many men would you guess appeared on the registry last year?

Paighten Harkins@paighten.bsky.social · 5mo ago

A sweeping reform bill is sailing through #utleg right now and would significantly change Utah's adoption laws to thwart unethical cases of "adoption tourism" — which critics say Utah has become a haven for bc of its lax laws. The bill, however, doesn't address unmarried fathers' rights. Read more:

A sweeping reform bill is sailing through #utleg right now and would significantly change Utah's adoption laws to thwart unethical cases of "adoption tourism" — which critics say Utah has become a haven for bc of its lax laws. The bill, however, doesn't address unmarried fathers' rights. Read more:

‘Your kid is gone’: How Utah adoption laws can cost fathers their parental rights

He planned to be at the hospital when his daughter was born. Instead, he got an email saying she had been placed for adoption. His case sheds light on Utah’s strict — and largely unknown — putative fa...

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WILDEST finish to Prop 4 repeal! GOP-led repeal group has met the statewide mark & qualified in 25 of 26 required Senate districts. But they're 8 sigs shy in SD7. Davis clerk says he has THREE packets left and "a pretty good bunch" of removal forms. www.sltrib.com/news/politic...

8 signatures shy: Push to repeal Prop 4 appears in peril as final signatures are counted

The Republican push to repeal Prop 4 and restore the Legislature's power to gerrymander political districts is on thin ice, but signature counting continues.

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Brighter Adoptions closed today, as #utleg seems poised to pass a reform bill that would significantly alter Utah's adoption laws to curb "adoption tourism." The director told families waiting for adoptions to go through: "I am truly sorry for the stress and financial impact this may cause you."

‘I am truly sorry’: A Utah adoption agency closes suddenly

A 10-year-old adoption agency has closed down, as Utah legislators appear inclined to approve a bill that would rein in some of the industry's most-criticized practices.

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The 50-year-old Utah man, Robert "Bobby" Edwards, who co-founded Squatty Potty, has been indicted on a federal charge of receiving images depicting child sexual abuse.

Squatty Potty creator arrested in Utah on charge of buying child sexual abuse material

The 50-year-old Utah man, Robert "Bobby" Edwards, who co-founded Squatty Potty, has been indicted on a federal charge of receiving images depicting child sexual abuse.

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For 50 years, Intermountain Health has sponsored pension plans, which provide retirees a guaranteed payout. That's an outlier in this (relatively) new world where 401(k)s have proliferated. After this year though, Intermountain's pensions are going away for good. I tried to explain why this matters:

Utah’s largest employer is freezing pension contributions for more than 22,000 workers

Intermountain Health will freeze its pension plan in 2026 and shift fully to 401(k)s, affecting more than 22,000 Utah caregivers.

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