Roads to Understanding: Salt Lake City’s west side

October 02, 2024 (KSL ) - SALT LAKE CITY — The neighborhoods of Glendale, Rose Park, Hyde Park, Poplar Grove, and others make up Salt Lake City’s west side. This community has historically been underserved, but residents hope that’s starting to change through city investment and new housing stock. “This is a historically redlined neighborhood. So when you look at the old red line maps of Salt Lake City, Glendale, Poplar Grove, where we’re viewed as less desirable, the entire West Side … Continued

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Meet the candidate: Rob Latham, running for Utah Governor

October 02, 2024 (KSL News) - Rob Latham is running in the race for Utah governor. Latham represents the Libertarian Party. He is an attorney and according to his website is currently a roster attorney contracting with the Utah Indigent Defense Commission. Latham has served as town attorney for Big Water, Utah in Kane County, and has represented youth and families in Washington County’s criminal courts. He spoke with KSL At Night hosts Leah Murray and Adam Gardiner on Sept. 18, 2024. A … Continued

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Utah residents want better air quality, but not at higher prices

October 01, 2024 (The Deseret News) - Although a Utah Foundation statewide poll in 2023 showed nearly 60% of those surveyed supported stronger environmental regulations and more than 75% indicated protecting the environment is more important than economic growth, new findings cast a somewhat dismal portrayal on taking action if it hits people in the pocketbook by paying 5% more via taxes or products. A new Utah Priorities Project released by the foundation Monday details that even the 5% chipped away at … Continued

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The economy’s numbers are good, but Utah voters aren’t feeling the vibes

October 01, 2024 (KUER) - Paying for essentials like groceries and health care is on the minds of many voters in the Beehive State. That’s what Utahns told the nonpartisan Utah Foundation in its 2024 priorities survey. When asked where price increases hit their budgets the most, 70% pointed to grocery costs in the foundation’s September brief. Although Utah inflation has held steady since June 2023 after last summer’s spike, that sting has lingered. “You add to that an election year where both sides are … Continued

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Report outlines ‘perceived barriers’ to Utah affordable housing

September 29, 2024 (St. George News) - The Utah Foundation polled municipal officials across the state to gain their insights into affordable housing. The report found that many officials feel they face barriers when attempting to introduce more affordable housing into their communities, and they say those barriers often come from residents. Shawn Teigen, president of the Utah Foundation, said anxieties people may have around affordable housing may not be accurate. “When we think about affordable housing, we think about more density. … Continued

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Research probes health effects of dust from Great Salt Lake

September 23, 2024 (Public News Service) - Utah’s Great Salt Lake is shrinking, exposing more of its playa and lifting more potentially harmful dust particles into the air. A new study seeks to understand the air quality and health impacts of the dust from the drying lake. Kerry Kelly, associate professor of chemical engineering at Utah State University and the study’s co-author, whose team took samples from the Great Salt Lake to assess what’s known as the “oxidative potential” of dust particles, explained it … Continued

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Most Utahns say politicians ‘ignore the will of voters,’ survey finds

September 12, 2024 (Utah Public Radio) - A new brief by the Utah Foundation found that 71% of Utah voters feel state politicians ignore the will of the people in favor of special interests. Every year, the Utah Foundation surveys Utah voters on what issues are most important to them through the Utah Priorities Project. This year, politicians listening to voters was the second-highest concern behind housing affordability. In a follow-up brief released on Wednesday, the project asked whether Utah voters feel listened to, looking for differences … Continued

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Majority of Utah voters agree politicians ‘ignore the will of the people,’ survey finds

September 12, 2024 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — It’s an age-old question: Do politicians actually listen to their constituents? A majority of registered voters in Utah don’t think so. Over 70% agree that Utah politicians “are too beholden to business, religious or other special interests and ignore the will of the people,” according to a new survey from the Utah Foundation. Digging a bit deeper, Democrats and politically unaffiliated populations are more likely to agree with the statement and Republicans are … Continued

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Utah Democrats claim victory in gubernatorial debate for candidate Brian King

September 12, 2024 (Cache Valley Daily) -   Sa SALT LAKE CITY – Echoing their rosy appraisal of Vice President Kamala Harris’ debate performance on Tuesday, the Utah Democratic Party was quick to declare victory on Sept. 11 for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian King in his face-off with Gov. Spencer Cox. “Unlike Cox, Brian King supports real solutions, not political division,” according to UDP executive director Thom DeSirant, in a prepared statement released while the debate featuring Cox, King and libertarian candidate … Continued

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Utahns feel ignored by politicians. One Democratic Representative agrees

September 12, 2024 (Public News Service) - Politicians not listening to voters is a top concern for Utahns, and one Utah Democratic representative agrees with that sentiment. Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, said while many of the issues politicians deal with are nuanced and not as black and white as they might seem, the Utah state Legislature “has continued to grow its own power relative to the other branches of government.” “Putting things on the ballot like the gutting of the ballot … Continued

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What to expect from tonight’s gubernatorial debate

September 11, 2024 (ABC4 News) - SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Three gubernatorial candidates will face off in a debate at Salt Lake Community College tonight. Here’s what you can expect. The debate is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and feature incumbent Gov. Spencer Cox, who is the Republican candidate; Brian Smith King, who is the Democratic candidate; and J. Robert Latham, who is the Libertarian candidate. Utah Debate Commission announces debate schedule, locations for 2024 general election ABC4.com reached … Continued

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Hits and Misses

September 11, 2024 (Salt Lake City Weekly) - Miss: In Private The people who quietly admitted to a death wish for public education are well on their way in Utah. The Utah Fits All Scholarship has a waiting list of parents salivating at money to teach their kids just what they want. We say that because there is still no academic accountability. Utah is one of 13 states that don’t require testing for private and home schools, so it’s difficult to know how … Continued

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What to expect from tonight’s gubernatorial debate

September 11, 2024 (MSN) - Three gubernatorial candidates will face off in a debate at Salt Lake Community College tonight. Here’s what you can expect. The debate is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and feature incumbent Gov. Spencer Cox, who is the Republican candidate; Brian Smith King, who is the Democratic candidate; and J. Robert Latham, who is the Libertarian candidate. Utah Debate Commission announces debate schedule, locations for 2024 general election ABC4.com reached out to the campaigns for … Continued

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Utah Foundation report: Utahns’ focus now on low-income, first-time homebuyers

September 09, 2024 (Salt Lake Business Journal) - The Utah Foundation has released the first of “numerous” briefs in its Utah Priorities Project and housing affordability is a “most important” issue to Utah voters in 2024, the new brief says, The Utah Foundation’s first brief shows that Utah voters who responded to the 2024 Utah Priorities Project survey are somewhat divided regarding how to address housing affordability. Over one third of voters (35 percent) are most concerned about “low-income Utahns” and “first-time homebuyers” … Continued

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Shawn Teigen is interviewed by Rod Arquette about Utah Priorities

September 05, 2024 (iheart Radio) - Coming up at 4 pm today on the Rod and Greg Show on Talk Radio 105.9 KNRS, Representative Marsha Judkins joins the program to discuss why she, and several other Republican legislators, are taking issue with the ballot language for the constitutional amendment on ballot initiatives.  Plus, Shawn Teigen, President of the Utah Foundation, joins Rod and Greg to discuss the results of a recent survey that shows Utah voters agree across party lines on many … Continued

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What issues unite and divide Utah voters? Where does housing affordability rank?

September 05, 2024 (Deseret News) - In its latest report, released Thursday, the Utah Foundation asked Utahns what they believed were the state’s most significant issues. Housing, adolescent education and water usage turned out to be predominantly bipartisan issues, whereas matters regarding women’s issues and transgender rights were more skewed. However, all were listed in the top 17 priorities of Utahns. To identify these concerns, the Utah Foundation conducted two surveys, according to Utah Foundation President Shawn Teigen. The initial survey, … Continued

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‘Deceptive’ and ‘misleading’: Ballot language to limit voters’ initiative power thrashed by critics — including Republicans

September 04, 2024 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Groups opposing a constitutional amendment that will ensure the Utah Legislature can repeal or amend any future ballot initiative are outraged by the way the issue will be presented on voters’ ballots in November, calling the language a deceptive “lie” intended to “trick voters” into surrendering their constitutional rights. As it was written by Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schutlz, the question put before voters is whether or not to “strengthen … Continued

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Democrats, Republicans agree on several key Utah issues, Utah Foundation finds

September 04, 2024 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — While there is certainly a partisan divide in Utah, what are the issues that matter most to voters, regardless of political affiliation? A new report from the Utah Foundation examined this question and determined that there are in fact issues which Utahns generally agree upon across party lines. The big ones, according to the report, are the importance of K-12 education, water stewardship, curbing government overreach and access to affordable housing. “There are, of course, some nuances … Continued

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Report: Despite partisan politics, Utahns agree on several priorities

September 04, 2024 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — While there is certainly a partisan divide in Utah, what are the issues that matter most to voters, regardless of political affiliation? A new report from the Utah Foundation examined this question and determined that there are in fact issues which Utahns generally agree upon across party lines. The big ones, according to the report, are the importance of K-12 education, water stewardship, curbing government overreach and access to affordable housing. “There are, of course, some nuances … Continued - Utahns aren’t immune from partisan politics and the divisions it can lead to, but a new report shines a light on the issues voters in the Beehive State agree are critical to address across party lines. The Utah Foundation’s latest report found that if policymakers are able to better address issues such as K-12 education, water stewardship, decreasing government overreach and improving access to affordable housing, they could please a larger swath of voters. Shawn … Continued

Report: Despite partisan politics, Utahns agree on several priorities

September 08, 2024 (Kiowa County Press) - Utahns aren’t immune from partisan politics and the divisions it can lead to, but a new report shines a light on the issues voters in the Beehive State agree are critical to address across party lines. The Utah Foundation’s latest report found that if policymakers are able to better address issues such as K-12 education, water stewardship, decreasing government overreach and improving access to affordable housing, they could please a larger swath of voters. Shawn … Continued

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Housing worries: Republicans more concerned for first-time homebuyers than low-income Utahns

August 30, 2024 (Utah News Dispatch) - A new report takes a deeper dive into the nuances of Utahns’ worries for the state’s housing affordability crisis — which this year ranked the No. 1 concern among voters. In April the independent research nonprofit Utah Foundation published results of a statewide survey gauging Utah voters’ top issues of concern. In that report, titled “Priced Out and Fed Up,” housing affordability ranked at the top, just ahead of politicians “ignoring voters.” Wednesday, the Utah Foundation … Continued

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Housing worries: Republicans more concerned for first-time homebuyers than low-income Utahns

August 29, 2024 (Yahoo News) - A new report takes a deeper dive into the nuances of Utahns’ worries for the state’s housing affordability crisis — which this year ranked the No. 1 concern among voters. In April the independent research nonprofit Utah Foundation published results of a statewide survey gauging Utah voters’ top issues of concern. In that report, titled “Priced Out and Fed Up,” housing affordability ranked at the top, just ahead of politicians “ignoring voters.” Wednesday, the Utah Foundation … Continued

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Welcome to Weber

August 29, 2024 (Yahoo News) - A new report takes a deeper dive into the nuances of Utahns’ worries for the state’s housing affordability crisis — which this year ranked the No. 1 concern among voters. In April the independent research nonprofit Utah Foundation published results of a statewide survey gauging Utah voters’ top issues of concern. In that report, titled “Priced Out and Fed Up,” housing affordability ranked at the top, just ahead of politicians “ignoring voters.” Wednesday, the Utah Foundation … Continued - As I begin my third year at Weber State University, I think back to my first year as a freshman. Starting college can be scary. You are no longer surrounded by the people who you attended school with your entire life, many no longer live with their parents, and most of us experience our first taste of adulthood. Though starting college is scary, it’s also the beginning of something great. Regardless of what you’re studying, college … Continued

GOP supermajority votes for more power over ballot initiatives, sends it to Utah voters

August 21, 2024 (KUER- Fresh Air) - Utah voters will see a new constitutional amendment on the November ballot, and not all Republicans are happy about it. Nine joined with all Democrats in voting against giving lawmakers the power to revise or repeal citizen-led ballot initiatives. The vote in the Senate was 20-8, and the House cleared the resolution 54-21. The majority of Republicans that voted no are in competitive districts within Salt Lake County — the bluest area in Utah. “I feel like this … Continued

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Democrat Julie Monahan runs for Utah House District 59

August 08, 2024 (The Park Record) - Julie Monahan, the Democratic candidate running for Utah House District 59, has never held an elected office before. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t garnered years of experience working with local, state and federal government agencies, and it certainly doesn’t mean she lacks knowledge about District 59’s constituents and its issues. For almost three decades, she’s lived in the Wasatch Back. She first came to Utah from Michigan in 1979 to pursue an MBA from the … Continued

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