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Feb 28 2026POLITICS

Utah’s Water and Land Laws Shake Up in 2026

Utah lawmakers are busy reshaping how the state handles water, land and mining. While the Great Salt Lake gets most headlines, several new bills aim to protect farmers, miners and public lands. One proposal lets the state’s natural resources department pay for legal fights over Colorado River water

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Feb 27 2026EDUCATION

Oregon Plans Quicker Attendance Reports to Curb Chronic Absences

Oregon is set to change how it shares school attendance data, moving from an annual update to quarterly releases. The state’s Department of Education will begin publishing the figures each quarter, a move that lawmakers say could help spot and fix attendance problems faster. The change follows th

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Feb 23 2026OPINION

Rural Utah’s Green Money Boom

Utah’s western plains are turning sunshine, wind and heat into a real cash flow. A recent study shows that from 2007 to 2028, forty‑one large renewable projects—solar farms, wind turbines and geothermal plants—brought about $8. 4 billion into the state’s economy. The money didn’t just sit in a bank;

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Feb 16 2026OPINION

Utah's Energy Crossroads: Why Nuclear Power Deserves a Closer Look

Utah stands at a pivotal moment in its energy future. The state's leaders are weighing the pros and cons of nuclear power, a technology that has been powering societies for decades. Critics often dismiss nuclear energy as too costly, too dangerous, or too complex. However, these objections often ste

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Feb 16 2026WEATHER

Oregon Braces for a Snowy Week Ahead

Oregon is preparing for a snowy week, with the Cascades and Coast Range expected to receive the brunt of the storm. This is not just any snowfall; it's a much-needed relief for a year that has seen the lowest snowpack since 1981. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for

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Feb 15 2026POLITICS

Tax Cuts for Oregon Workers, Not the Rich

Oregon lawmakers are pushing a bill that would lower taxes for more than 200, 000 families and give a $25 million credit to local businesses that create good jobs. The proposal aims to fix the state’s budget gap created by federal tax cuts that largely benefited billionaires. If the current fede

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Feb 15 2026SPORTS

College Sports in a New Money Game

Washington State University is now part of a fast‑moving world where athletes can earn money and transfer schools at will. The old rules that kept players in one place for years have been replaced by a free‑market system. Players can now enter the transfer portal and move whenever they want, as long

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Feb 14 2026EDUCATION

Utah's SB268: Why Learning About Religion in U. S. History Matters

Utah has a new law, SB268. It lets teachers talk about religion in U. S. history. This is a big deal. For years, schools have been scared to teach this stuff. They thought they might get sued. But now, they can explain how religion shaped America. Think about the Pledge of Allegiance. Utah kids say

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Feb 10 2026SPORTS

Utah’s 2034 Olympic Plan: Lessons From Milan

Utah recently sent a team of observers to the Winter Games in Milan, Italy, where they got a firsthand look at how the Olympics run. They came from Utah, Los Angeles, the French Alps and Brisbane to learn from the International Olympic Committee. The trip gave them a chance to see how big events are

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Jan 28 2026POLITICS

Utah's Judges: Why Politics Should Stay Out of the Courts

Utah's lawmakers are cooking up some controversial ideas that could shake up the state's courts. They're thinking about letting the governor pick judges without going through the usual process. Right now, a panel of experts suggests names, and the governor picks from that list. But this new plan cou

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