Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — 2024 was a big year for Utah.
It was the year when Salt Lake City was awarded its second Winter Olympics and Paralympics — scheduled for 2034 — and when Utah received its second "big four" sports franchise. The Utah Hockey Club debuted on Oct. 8.
Both of those topped another sports-heavy year for the state, leading to what Salt Lake City leaders called a "catalytic" year for the capital city. The same could be said for the rest of the state, which returned to the Top 5 in population growth in 2024.
This year was also a major year for politics inside and outside of Utah, anchored by a presidential election, as well as several major seats in the state.
Former President Donald Trump won back the presidency, likely impacting Utah politics beginning next year.
While that unfolded, Utah's leadership in Washington also underwent some changes. Utah Rep. John Curtis won the election to replace retiring Sen. Mitt Romney; and former state Sen. Mike Kennedy won the race to replace Curtis in the House of Representatives.
Most other state leaders, including Gov. Spencer Cox, won their races, but there were some shakeups in the Utah Legislature for 2025.
Some of these led to the articles you, the KSL.com reader, clicked on the most this past year. However, other daily news stories — and even some out-of-state oddities — also garnered interest this year.
After compiling the data, we found these to be KSL.com's 10 most-read articles in 2024:
1. Semi driver fled, then turned around and hit, killed Santaquin officer, police say
- Date published: May 5
- Short recap: A Santaquin police officer was struck and killed by a semitruck while attempting to make a traffic stop on I-15. The officer was later identified as Sgt. Bill Hooser, 50, who police and family described as an "incredible hero." The driver of the semitruck was charged with murder in a case that is ongoing in the court system.
2. Assailant who opened fire at the Trump rally was a 20-year-old man, authorities say
- Date published: July 13
- Short recap: In a moment that stunned the nation, a 20-year-old man opened fire at a rally held by now-President-elect Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Trump was grazed by a bullet, while one attendee was killed. The shooter was killed by Secret Service agents.
3. Woman, 3 children found dead in vehicle in West Haven
- Date published: Sept. 4
- Short recap: A 32-year-old woman and three children were found dead inside a vehicle in Weber County. Police later determined the woman killed her three children before taking her own life in what officers described as a "tragic incident."
4. Utah company mourns loss of CEO, his daughter in fatal Ogden crash
- Date published: July 7
- Short recap: Richard David Hendrickson, CEO and president of Lifetime Products, and his daughter, Sally, were killed when their vehicle was struck by a bulldozer that was being towed by another vehicle in Ogden Canyon. The driver of the other vehicle was charged with manslaughter in October after prosecutors alleged he improperly secured the bulldozer.
5. Woman blames Star Trek license plates for tens of thousands of dollars in accidental tickets
- Date published: Dec. 5
- Short recap: A New York woman kept receiving fines from all over the country because her custom plates — a nod to the same number as the Starship Enterprise from "Star Trek" — were also being used by people who purchased novelty plates online.
6. 'I was just numb': Utah forced to move hotels after racial hate crimes during NCAA Tournament
- Date published: March 26
- Short recap: The University of Utah women's basketball team changed hotel rooms during the NCAA tournament in Idaho after an incident where someone yelled the N-word toward the team before speeding off. Idaho police later confirmed the slur was said but declined to press charges against an 18-year-old man because they couldn't prove he was threatening physical harm.
7. Unremorseful woman brutally killed southern Utah parents, tried to kill brother, police say
- Date published: June 19
- Short recap: A 28-year-old was arrested and later charged with killing her two parents and attempting to kill her brother.
8. UHP identifies 5 killed in crash on US 6 near Price
- Date published: Sept. 26 (Updated on Sept. 27)
- Short recap: Four people from Minnesota traveling through Utah with their church group were killed along with an ATV driver from Helper in a multivehicle crash near Price. Utah Highway Patrol troopers say a semitruck driver lost control of their vehicle while trying to avoid an SUV that had moved into their traveling lane, leading to the crash.
9. Officials identify man killed in Monday road rage confrontation
- Date published: Oct. 7 (Updated on Oct. 9)
- Short recap: Police say a minor traffic offense escalated to a road rage homicide on state Route 201 in West Valley City. A 44-year-old man was arrested and later charged with murder in the case that left a 50-year-old man dead.
10. Teacher says pleas for better ventilation were ignored, then he was diagnosed with lung disease
- Date published: April 27
- Short recap: A former Monticello High School agriculture and shop teacher said his career ended early because his shop and classroom weren't adequately ventilated, leading to a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis. The school issued a statement saying its maintenance team "works tirelessly" to make sure the building is safe.
