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Politics
About 8.3% of Utah voters had ballots processed as of Friday, Henderson says
Rich County has collected ballots from nearly a quarter of its registered voters, while Salt Lake County turnout is 9.9%.
American Fork council to weigh two annexations at Oct. 27 meeting
A rezoning for a veterinary clinic is among the items on the Oct. 27 agenda.
Federal judge dismisses Justice Department suit over Utah's voter data
Judge David Barlow ruled the federal law cited does not reach the statewide voter list, and dismissed the case with prejudice.

Forest Service move to Salt Lake City still on despite court block, secretary says
A federal judge halted the reorganization on Oct. 13 while a lawsuit proceeds, and the administration is appealing.
Poll finds 76% of Utah voters confident in election as DOJ monitors are sent
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said she welcomes the scrutiny and that at least one monitor is expected in Salt Lake County.
Weber County judge stays on ballot despite panel's recommendation he be removed
All 13 members of the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission found he did not meet standards.

Utah mail-in ballots without postage will still be delivered, USPS says
Six counties ask voters to pay return postage this year, while Cache, Grand and Salt Lake counties prepay it.
Ogden bodycam video shows an officer holding a man's arms during an ICE arrest
Ogden police said the department is investigating the incident, and the man's immigration case is ongoing.
Utah County deputies' removal of woman at data center meeting draws calls for review
The sheriff's office says the woman struck a deputy, while she denies it and says she suffered a concussion and bruises.
What Utah's mail-voting study found, and what ID checks at drop boxes would cost
The $100,000 study lawmakers ordered in HB 311 found neither voting method is inherently more secure, and priced three ways to add an ID check at ballot drop boxes.
Three local tax questions on Utah's Nov. 3 ballot, explained
Snyderville Basin voters decide up to $71 million in recreation bonds, San Juan County votes on a 1% ambulance sales tax, and Washington City votes on a fire and emergency services sales tax. Here is what each measure does, what it would cost and what is not on the ballot.
Justice Department to send election monitors to Utah for Nov. 3 midterms
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said the monitors must follow state poll watcher law and cannot interfere with voting.
Annette McRae and Ronald Winterton are running for Utah Senate District 20
McRae, of the Forward Party, answered Utah Public Radio's survey, while Republican incumbent Winterton did not respond.

Utah County auditor and clerk races each have two candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot
Gina Tanner and Hans V. Andersen are running for auditor, and Corey K. Astill and Russ J. Rampton for clerk.
Natassja Grossman and Val Peterson are on the Nov. 3 ballot for Utah House District 56
Grossman, a Democrat, did not respond to the American Fork Citizen's profile request, while Peterson, a Republican, answered its questionnaire.
Logan residents dispute city right-of-way claim on Canyon Road at council meeting
Residents challenged the city's claim to a 99-foot right-of-way on the street at the Oct. 20 meeting, and the council chair said unused land would later be deeded back.
Salt Lake City council orders review of emergency response after Poplar Grove flood
Families affected by the Aug. 16 water main break say help has been uneven and communication slow, two months after 15 homes flooded.
Utah lawmakers weigh stricter limits on license plate reader data
Proposed bills would limit access to the data, speed up deletion and give people ways to challenge misuse.

Legislature-commissioned study finds no widespread fraud in Utah elections
Utah Valley University researchers told lawmakers that staffing drop boxes to check voter ID would cost about $8 million a year.
Lehi council to weigh budget changes, a zone change and an annexation Oct. 27
Public hearings are set on the budget amendment and annexation, and a concept plan for four townhomes is on the agenda.
Wasatch County sheriff takes paid leave after refusing to resign
Sheriff Jared Rigby told county officials he is going on voluntary paid leave and will address the felony charge in court.
San Juan County voters will decide on a 1% sales tax for ambulance and EMS service
Proposition 7 would raise just over $1 million a year, with groceries, fuel and prescription medicine exempt, and county leaders expect tourists to pay much of it.

Utah voters can check judges' performance ratings before the Nov. 3 retention vote
The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission rates conduct and judicial qualities rather than case outcomes, and the results are searchable by county online.
Audit: none of five Utah municipal power systems had cyber incident response plans
Auditors called Rocky Mountain Power's cybersecurity tools mature but said state oversight of the utility is limited.
Utah Supreme Court Justice Menssen signed Prop 4 repeal petition before joining court
Alliance for a Better Utah has called on him to step aside from redistricting cases, while the state courts say recusal standards were followed.
Salt Lake County mayor proposes 13.53% property tax increase to fund Metro Jail overhaul
The increase would add about $70 a year for an average home, with a hearing set for Dec. 8.
Wasatch County Council to vote on resolution urging indicted sheriff to resign
Sheriff Jared Rigby, who has pleaded not guilty, has lost access to a statewide law enforcement database.
Davis County lets voters watch ballot processing through viewing windows
Clerk Brian McKenzie says the county expects about 60% turnout among more than 200,000 active voters.
Elizabeth Smart backs three-digit number for abuse survivors and trafficking victims
A bill that stalled in the 2026 Legislature is expected to be refiled in 2027, with Sen. Heidi Balderree as sponsor.
Ogden plans to put $2 million in wildfire reimbursements into its fire department
The City Council was set to consider a $3.6 million budget amendment that includes the money.
Salt Lake County investigates ballots missing from Millcreek mailboxes
County Clerk Lannie Chapman said the missing ballots have been canceled and replacements will be issued.
Lehi City Council to vote Oct. 21 on Thanksgiving Point housing transit zone agreement
The council meets at 4 p.m. with one regular agenda item, an interlocal agreement with the Lehi Redevelopment Agency.
Lehi City Council to hold public hearing Oct. 27 on fiscal 2026-27 budget amendment
The hearing begins at 7 p.m. in the Lehi City Council Chambers.
Two candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot for Utah House District 55
Democrat Travis Hysell and Republican Jon Hawkins answered the same questionnaire from the American Fork Citizen.
Three candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot for Utah County Commission Seat B
Democrat J. Allen, Republican David M. Spencer and Forward Party candidate David Hinckley answered the same questionnaire.
Three candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot for Utah County Commission Seat A
Democrat Jeanne Marie Bowen, Republican Michelle Kaufusi and independent Jacob Oaks answered the same questionnaire.
Lehi officials say they will update disclosure forms with missing or outdated details
Mayor Paul Binns and the five City Council members all responded to the Lehi Free Press, which found incomplete or dated entries but no indication of wrongdoing.
Wilson proposes Oxbow closure and $575 million jail bond
The Salt Lake County budget proposal would expand Metro Jail and still needs council approval.

Utah sues Kalshi over alleged illegal event contracts
The state seeks an injunction, restitution and recovery of profits from specified Utah wagers.

Henderson says postal inspector intercepted suspicious letter headed to her office
The envelope was handed to the FBI before delivery, the lieutenant governor said.

Salt Lake City stops proposed Sugar House assessment district
The city ended the process after the neighborhood chamber withdrew its request, closing the protest period early.
Utah parole board announces weekly informational texts for families
The service explains hearings and parole decisions, with signups available through the board's family-resource page.

Salt Lake City council questions proposed Emigration Canyon pipeline route
Council members raised watershed and safety concerns at an informational session where no vote was taken.
Unaffiliated voter rolls grow as Utah Republican registration declines
A Tribune analysis found gains for unaffiliated voters and Democrats this year.
Uintah County GOP picks K. Mark Caldwell to fill county treasurer vacancy
The county commission has seven days from receiving the nomination to appoint him.
Hundreds rally at Utah Capitol and march ballots to Salt Lake City library
Organizers said the 'No Kings: Vote Early' event was one of 12 in Utah and aimed to encourage early voting.
Park City High senior builds Spanish-language voting guide for midterms
Alix Finkel, a member of the Utah Attorney General's Student Advisory Council, created the nonpartisan guide as her legacy project.
Salt Lake County voters to decide $128 million parks and recreation bond
County officials say the bond would replace an expiring 2016 bond on property tax bills.
Interlaken proposes ending its public works manager role after a state review found improper procurement
The state auditor found the Wasatch County town renewed contracts without bidding and hired the manager’s excavation company for repairs the contract did not cover. An Oct. 5 proposal would end the role and bid contracts in 2027. The Ledger has not confirmed what the council decided on Oct. 6.
Lawmakers to take up UTA’s new commission, commercial licenses and lane filtering Oct. 21
The Transportation Interim Committee meets Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Its agenda includes a draft bill to end Utah’s non-domiciled commercial driver license program and a draft on the lane filtering sunset review, both open to public comment.