Plus, Provo releases Stadium of Fire fireworks incident report
🌨️ 29 – 39° Logan | 🌨️ 33 – 42° Salt Lake
🌨️ 28 – 39° Manti | ⛅ 31 – 53° Moab
⛅ 26 – 48° Cedar City | ☀️ 36 – 62° St. George
Good morning! Sports gambling is at the heart of a growing health crisis, according to a recent study. Will this finding affect legislation in Utah? One bill in the Utah Senate would make pari-mutuel horse racing and wagering legal in Utah. The bill, SB156, barely passed out of the Senate Business and Labor Committee last week and is headed for the Senate floor. The Deseret News Editorial Board opines that the bill deserves to be soundly defeated. Read more about legal gambling and its associated health risks. Also on our minds: Why Canadians are booing the American anthem at hockey games UVU President Astrid Tuminez is taking a brief sabbatical after her husband’s unexpected death With all the recent plane crashes, is it still safe to fly? |
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| Utah leaders respond to Trump calling Zelenskyy a 'dictator' |
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President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” in a social media post on Wednesday.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and state Senate President Stuart Adams did not directly address Trump’s comments, but both expressed support for Ukraine and a desire for the war to end.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming support Utahns have shown for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and pray for the president’s efforts to negotiate a lasting peace,” Cox told the Deseret News in a statement Wednesday.
Since Russia’s invasion, Utahns have led out in providing economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine, fostering a positive relationship. Zelenskyy took the stage at the National Governor’s Association conference in Salt Lake City in July 2024 to thank the Beehive State for helping his home.
Read more about what Trump’s comments mean for Utah’s unique support for Ukraine. More on this: Sen. John Curtis, other Republicans distance themselves after Trump calls Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ (Deseret News)
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| The annual Freedom Festival’s Stadium of Fire Independence Day event is known for fun music and flashy fireworks, but the 2024 event was marred by a malfunction that left 26 people injured. The cause of the mishap was revealed on Wednesday in an official report from Provo Fire & Rescue. According to fire marshal Lynn Schofield, the incident “occurred as a result of an uncontrolled deflagration of whistle composition in two successive tubes in a 36-shot kick.”
Emma Pitts reports, “This means that of the fireworks’ 36 tubes — placed in 6x6 rows — connected by a string fuse, two of the tubes likely pulled apart, causing the device to disperse and launch explosives into the crowd.”
Read more about what happened at the Stadium of Fire this past July. More in Utah UVU President Astrid Tuminez taking brief sabbatical following husband’s unexpected death (Deseret News) Here’s why a group of Paris 2024 Games athletes were honored by the Utah Legislature (Deseret News) What big shows are coming to Utah this year? Here’s the latest (Deseret News) Incoming storm will give Utah's snowpack a boost, cause possible travel headaches (KSL) |
FROM UTAH BUSINESS Utah Business 2025 30 Women To Watch Know a woman who should be celebrated for accomplishing amazing things in Utah? Nominate today! |
Utah Politics Is Utah too lenient on human trafficking crimes? (Deseret News) Renae Cowley & Frank Pignanelli: Does Utah need its own version of DOGE? (Deseret News) Utah lawmakers turn focus on products put in food (Deseret News) Robert Babcock: There’s got to be a better way on immigration — An appeal from an original signer of the Utah Compact (Deseret News) The U.S. Trump administration orders halt to NYC toll meant to fight traffic and fund mass transit (The Associated Press) Arizona plane crash: At least 2 dead in collision at Marana Airport — here’s what we know (Forbes) Trump targets U.S. Institute of Peace and other federal boards (Axios) The World Hamas set to release more hostages, including the bodies of 2 children under the age of 5 (Deseret News) 'Help us': Hundreds deported from US held in Panama hotel (BBC) Sports What to make of the unranked BYU Cougars after Tuesday’s virtuoso performance against Kansas? (Deseret News) Why Canadians are booing the American anthem at hockey games (Deseret News) Will Hardy dishes on NBA routines, handshakes and attention to detail (Deseret News) How a salad ended an MLB pitcher’s 2024 season (Deseret News) Faith The battle between Catholic bishops and the Trump administration just entered a new phase (Deseret News) ‘Relatives at RootsTech,’ a theme song and Family Tree app updates as RootsTech 2025 approaches (Church News) Health Another plane crashed on Monday. Is it safe to fly? (Deseret News) Genes vs. lifestyle: What drives aging well, premature death risk? (Deseret News) Trump administration yanks CDC flu vaccine campaign (NPR) |
🗓️ Events Calendar We put together a list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah in February. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything! Here are some highlights for events in Utah today: Feb. 20 — Weber State men’s basketball vs. Sacramento State | 7 p.m. Feb. 20 — Utah Tech women’s tennis vs. New Mexico State | 2 p.m. Feb. 20 — Utah Tech softball vs. Boise State | 3 p.m. Feb. 20 — Utah Tech men’s basketball vs. UVU | 7 p.m. Feb. 19-28 — “Anastasia” | Snow College Performing Arts, Ephraim |
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Check your inbox tomorrow morning for more news from the Beehive State and beyond! And reply to this email or email newsletters@deseretnews.com to tell us what you think of Utah Today. Thanks for reading! — Ariel |
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