(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Crews search for hot spots after a fire in Cedar Fort on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020., displacing thousands of people and , Utah’s forester told lawmakers this week that the Beehive State is experiencing one of its worst fire years on record.During the 2020 fire season, the state has seen nearly 1,300 wildfires statewide, state forester Brian Cottam told lawmakers earlier this week during an interim committee meeting.“That’s well above normal,” he said. “On average, we have about 1,100 to 1,200 wildfires, so [we’re] already at 1,300 and we have weeks to...…(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Crews search for hot spots after a fire in Cedar Fort on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020., displacing thousands of people and , Utah’s forester told lawmakers this week that the Beehive State is experiencing one of its worst fire years on record.During the 2020 fire season, the state has seen nearly 1,300 wildfires statewide, state forester Brian Cottam told lawmakers earlier this week during an interim committee meeting.“That’s well above normal,” he said. “On average, we have about 1,100 to 1,200 wildfires, so [we’re] already at 1,300 and we have weeks to...WW…

(Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) Euro Treasures Antiques places "we give up, store closing," signs in downtown Salt Lake City as the COVID-19 pandemic takes its toll on businesses on Wednesday, April 29, 2020., shuttered Utah restaurants, gyms and malls can now operate without fear of lawsuits brought forward by people exposed to the coronavirus on their property.Gov. Gary Herbert signed legislation Monday .Sen. Kirk Cullimore, the bill’s sponsor, posited the measure as a way to help kick-start the economy by easing fear for business owners of facing a “frivolous” negligence...…(Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) Euro Treasures Antiques places "we give up, store closing," signs in downtown Salt Lake City as the COVID-19 pandemic takes its toll on businesses on Wednesday, April 29, 2020., shuttered Utah restaurants, gyms and malls can now operate without fear of lawsuits brought forward by people exposed to the coronavirus on their property.Gov. Gary Herbert signed legislation Monday .Sen. Kirk Cullimore, the bill’s sponsor, posited the measure as a way to help kick-start the economy by easing fear for business owners of facing a “frivolous” negligence...WW…

The Utah Division of Consumer Protection filed a citation this week against a Nevada-based company it says price gouged two Utah law enforcement agencies that bought personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus outbreak.Monday’s citation alleges that , sold South Jordan 500 N95 masks and 2,000 three-ply masks last month for a cost more than $2,000 greater than allowed under the state’s price gouging statute.A few weeks later, the company sold the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office 2,000 three-ply masks, 180 disposable medical gowns and 1,000 N95 masks for $2,300 extra, the citation...…The Utah Division of Consumer Protection filed a citation this week against a Nevada-based company it says price gouged two Utah law enforcement agencies that bought personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus outbreak.Monday’s citation alleges that , sold South Jordan 500 N95 masks and 2,000 three-ply masks last month for a cost more than $2,000 greater than allowed under the state’s price gouging statute.A few weeks later, the company sold the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office 2,000 three-ply masks, 180 disposable medical gowns and 1,000 N95 masks for $2,300 extra, the citation...WW…

(Rick Bowmer | AP file photo) In this June 20, 2020 file photo, Burgess Owens, center, looks on during a "Blue Rally" to support men and women of law enforcement in Salt Lake City. It appears that Owens has built up an all-but insurmountable lead in his challenge of Utah's only Democrat in Congress, Rep. Ben McAdams, the former mayor of Salt Lake County.Republican Burgess Owens, who ran a Trump-style campaign for Utah’s 4th Congressional District, appears to be headed to Congress.His over Rep. Ben McAdams, the only Democrat in Utah’s federal delegation, looked to be insurmountable on...…(Rick Bowmer | AP file photo) In this June 20, 2020 file photo, Burgess Owens, center, looks on during a "Blue Rally" to support men and women of law enforcement in Salt Lake City. It appears that Owens has built up an all-but insurmountable lead in his challenge of Utah's only Democrat in Congress, Rep. Ben McAdams, the former mayor of Salt Lake County.Republican Burgess Owens, who ran a Trump-style campaign for Utah’s 4th Congressional District, appears to be headed to Congress.His over Rep. Ben McAdams, the only Democrat in Utah’s federal delegation, looked to be insurmountable on...WW…

(Spenser Heaps | Deseret News, pool) Gov. Gary Herbert speaks during his monthly news conference at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020.A new public health order next week no longer will require Utahns to limit social gatherings to people in their households, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday.But while the governor said that “what you do in the confines of your own home is going to be up to you,” he and other state leaders are still urging caution ahead of Thanksgiving next week.“We know that the more people who gather together in an interaction, the closer you have...…(Spenser Heaps | Deseret News, pool) Gov. Gary Herbert speaks during his monthly news conference at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020.A new public health order next week no longer will require Utahns to limit social gatherings to people in their households, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday.But while the governor said that “what you do in the confines of your own home is going to be up to you,” he and other state leaders are still urging caution ahead of Thanksgiving next week.“We know that the more people who gather together in an interaction, the closer you have...WW…

(Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo) A student takes notes while studying a math lesson from his laptop at Kaysville charter school Career Path High.When Kaysville City began as a “necessity of the 21st century” akin to roads, power lines and water pipes, the coronavirus hadn’t yet Now, a vote on the 30-year, $22 million bond that would be necessary to create the network will come after months of Zoom meetings, and — conditions proponents hope will help their neighbors see the value of the proposal and give it an extra boost at the ballot box next month.“I personally had residents who...…(Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo) A student takes notes while studying a math lesson from his laptop at Kaysville charter school Career Path High.When Kaysville City began as a “necessity of the 21st century” akin to roads, power lines and water pipes, the coronavirus hadn’t yet Now, a vote on the 30-year, $22 million bond that would be necessary to create the network will come after months of Zoom meetings, and — conditions proponents hope will help their neighbors see the value of the proposal and give it an extra boost at the ballot box next month.“I personally had residents who...WW…

(Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) Gov. Gary Herbert speaks at a news conference in Salt Lake City, May 28, 2020. At his monthly news conference Thursday at KUER, Herbert is supposed to talk about COVID and new restrictions in Utah County.As Utah’s coronavirus cases continue to spike — — Gov. Gary Herbert praised the state’s “balanced” approach to addressing the health effects of the pandemic while also protecting the economy.“On balance, we’ve done a pretty good job,” he said at his televised monthly news conference with PBS Utah.Nearly , and the case rate spiked to 1,198 on Thursday. But...…(Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) Gov. Gary Herbert speaks at a news conference in Salt Lake City, May 28, 2020. At his monthly news conference Thursday at KUER, Herbert is supposed to talk about COVID and new restrictions in Utah County.As Utah’s coronavirus cases continue to spike — — Gov. Gary Herbert praised the state’s “balanced” approach to addressing the health effects of the pandemic while also protecting the economy.“On balance, we’ve done a pretty good job,” he said at his televised monthly news conference with PBS Utah.Nearly , and the case rate spiked to 1,198 on Thursday. But...WW…

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) COVID-19 testing at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem on Friday, June 12, 2020.Following a judge’s ruling on Monday, Utah County will be required to release information to the public identifying .The judgment, issued virtually from the bench in 4th District Court, comes after KSL-TV over its refusal to provide the names of those businesses, arguing that there was no legal merit for withholding them.Judge Christine Johnson agreed on Monday and ordered the county to release the records within 48 hours.The public has a “significant and weighty interest...…(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) COVID-19 testing at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem on Friday, June 12, 2020.Following a judge’s ruling on Monday, Utah County will be required to release information to the public identifying .The judgment, issued virtually from the bench in 4th District Court, comes after KSL-TV over its refusal to provide the names of those businesses, arguing that there was no legal merit for withholding them.Judge Christine Johnson agreed on Monday and ordered the county to release the records within 48 hours.The public has a “significant and weighty interest...WW…

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Employee entrance to the Built Bar, in American Fork, Thursday, May 14, 2020. On April 8, Juana Victoria Flores emailed a human resources official at Built Bar, an American Fork based company that manufactures and distributes nutritional supplements.She was concerned about the number of people who had fallen ill on the production lines where she worked amid rumors that some employees there had contracted the coronavirus. And she wanted a professional company brought in to clean up or fumigate the building.“I am really concerned,” Flores wrote.The next...…(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Employee entrance to the Built Bar, in American Fork, Thursday, May 14, 2020. On April 8, Juana Victoria Flores emailed a human resources official at Built Bar, an American Fork based company that manufactures and distributes nutritional supplements.She was concerned about the number of people who had fallen ill on the production lines where she worked amid rumors that some employees there had contracted the coronavirus. And she wanted a professional company brought in to clean up or fumigate the building.“I am really concerned,” Flores wrote.The next...WW…

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Spencer Cox and first lady Abby Cox meet with Morgan Elementary students Colette Skoglund, 7, left, and Kennedy Webb, 6, on April 14, which marked the first 100 days of his administration.Utah Gov. Spencer Cox jokes that his first 100 days have felt, at times, more like “100 years.” But on other days, “it feels like it’s been 100 minutes,” he said in a recent interview with The Salt Lake Tribune., Cox has taken the helm of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, , issued and signed hundreds of bills — all while managing the ongoing pandemic.Cox began...…(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Spencer Cox and first lady Abby Cox meet with Morgan Elementary students Colette Skoglund, 7, left, and Kennedy Webb, 6, on April 14, which marked the first 100 days of his administration.Utah Gov. Spencer Cox jokes that his first 100 days have felt, at times, more like “100 years.” But on other days, “it feels like it’s been 100 minutes,” he said in a recent interview with The Salt Lake Tribune., Cox has taken the helm of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, , issued and signed hundreds of bills — all while managing the ongoing pandemic.Cox began...WW…