Utah

A jury has found Kouri Richins, a Utah mother and author, guilty of fatally poisoning her husband with fentanyl. The verdict concludes a case that drew national attention, as Richins had written a children's book about grief after her husband's 2022 death. Prosecutors argued she deliberately administered the lethal dose. She now faces sentencing following the conviction.

A Utah judge has ruled that the man accused of murdering someone in a shooting at a Salt Lake City LDS church can present a self-defense argument at trial. The decision means jurors will weigh whether the defendant believed he was in danger, a notable ruling given the fatal shooting occurred on religious grounds. The case continues to draw attention in Utah.

Utah officials say the state will not use a voter database promoted by Donald Trump to purge its voter rolls, even after a Supreme Court ruling on voter-list maintenance. The decision means Utah election administrators will continue relying on their own verification processes rather than the outside data, keeping the state out of a widening national fight over who gets removed from registration lists.

Researchers are calling on organisers of the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, to use the Games as a catalyst for improving the region's air quality. Utah's valleys regularly suffer from pollution-trapping inversions, and scientists argue the Olympic spotlight should be leveraged to push for lasting clean-air policies rather than short-term measures.

The Utah Wildlife Board has approved a package of changes covering fishing regulations, elk hunting rules, and conservation permits. The decisions will shape how anglers and hunters operate across the state in upcoming seasons. Coverage so far is limited to regional reporting, and the specific details of the approved changes have not yet been widely detailed.

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry is visiting Utah, a trip that US Olympic and Paralympic leaders view as significant given Salt Lake City's role as host of the 2034 Winter Games. The visit is being read as a signal of the IOC's engagement with local organizers as planning for the Games moves forward, and Utah officials are highlighting the state's Olympic legacy and readiness.

Rain has closed the grass parking lots around Jack Trice Stadium in Ames ahead of Iowa State's football game against Utah. Fans planning to tailgate or park on grass lots are being told to make other arrangements, with attendance still expected to be high for the Big 12 matchup. People are discussing the game and how the wet conditions will affect the tailgating experience.

A group of Utah students enrolled in Chinese language immersion programs traveled to Washington during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit. The trip gives young American learners a chance to see US-China diplomacy firsthand. Local coverage highlighted the connection between the state's investment in Chinese language education and the high-profile visit.

Forward KJ Martin has found a new NBA opportunity, according to Yahoo Sports, but it will not come with the Utah Jazz. The report gives no further details on the team involved or the terms of the deal. Martin, previously with Utah, now moves on to another franchise, drawing attention from fans following the latest roster moves.

A new study concludes that the proposed Clark Ranch development near Park City, Utah, would permanently displace some wildlife in the area. The finding adds an environmental dimension to local debate over the project, as residents and officials weigh the development's housing and economic benefits against its lasting impact on animal habitats in the region.