Utah Breaking News, Sports and Weather

Church of Jesus Christ announces financial, site and volunteer support for 2034 Winter Olympics

Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 3 - 4:01 a.m.  |  Save Story

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced its support Tuesday for the 2034 Winter Games, including "a significant financial donation" and other contributions.

Schmaltz's hat trick helps Mammoth cruise to 6-2 win over Canucks

Jaxon Wynder, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 11:42 p.m.  |  Save Story

Nick Schmaltz scored a hat trick and picked up another assist for a four-point night as Utah's offense exploded for six goals in a rout over the visiting Vancouver Canucks.

Babysitter sent to prison after admitting to killing 4-month-old in frustration

Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 10:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

Zachary Walton was sentenced to prison Monday for killing a 4-month-old baby he was babysitting. Prosecutors say he smashed the infant's head into an elevator corner.

Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment' fresco undergoes 3-month cleaning at Sistine Chapel

Associated Press  |  Updated Feb. 2 - 10:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment" is undergoing its first major restoration in three decades. The imposing fresco of heaven and hell dominates the Sistine Chapel.

SpaceX acquires xAI in record-setting deal as Musk looks to unify AI and space ambitions 

Echo Wang and Joey Roulette, Reuters  |  Updated Feb. 2 - 9:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

Elon Musk said on Monday that SpaceX has acquired his artificial-intelligence startup xAI in a record-setting ​deal that unifies Musk's AI and space ambitions by combining the rocket-and-satellite company with the maker of the Grok chatbot.

Salt Lake man charged with kidnapping, beating woman

Pat Reavy, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 9:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

A Salt Lake man who prosecutors say has a significant criminal history outside of Utah is now facing Utah felony charges accusing him of kidnapping and beating a woman.

Italian history gives the US a reality check

Deanie Wimmer, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 8:15 p.m.  |  Save Story

As America prepares to celebrate the country's 250th birthday, Italy provided a reality check on history. Milan's stunning Duomo was under construction in 1386.

Schultz wants to remove defense attorneys to remake 'broken' Sentencing Commission

Bridger Beal-Cvetko and Daniel Woodruff, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 7:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

A proposal championed by Utah's House speaker would significantly revamp the state's Sentencing Commission, removing defense attorneys and replacing them with prosecutors and police.

World's largest steam engine to return Utah as part of America 250 tour

Carter Williams, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 6:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

The world's largest steam engine is coming back to Utah this spring in the first leg of its first-ever coast-to-coast tour, Union Pacific announced.

Clintons agree to testify in House Epstein investigation, aide says

Reuters  |  Updated Feb. 2 - 6:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Former President Bill ​Clinton and former Secretary of State Hilary ⁠Clinton have agreed to testify ‌before the House Oversight ⁠Committee for its ‌investigation into ‍Jeffrey Epstein.

Saratoga Springs officer found not legally justified in shooting man driving away

Pat Reavy, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 5:31 p.m.  |  Save Story

A Saratoga Springs officer was not legally justified when he shot a man in the back as he was driving away in 2024, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has announced.

Lee urges House Republicans to block shutdown-ending bill unless border spending is added back

Cami Mondeaux, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 5:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Utah Sen. Mike Lee is urging his Republican colleagues in the House to reject the most recent spending deal to reopen the government unless it includes language funding the Department of Homeland Security.

Salt Lake City wants to close these streets for 2027 temple open house

Carter Williams, KSL  |  Updated Feb. 2 - 4:47 p.m.  |  Save Story

Salt Lake City is planning ahead as it prepares for the reopening of the historic Salt Lake Temple, which is projected to attract millions of visitors next year.

DHS chief says body cameras are being deployed to every field officer in Minneapolis

Kanishka Singh and Steve Holland, Reuters  |  Updated Feb. 2 - 4:35 p.m.  |  Save Story

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ​said on Monday her department was deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis effective immediately.

Judge denies second request to move Kouri Richins trial to Salt Lake County

Emily Ashcraft, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 4:10 p.m.  |  Save Story

The jury trial for Kouri Richins is scheduled to begin with jury selection next week in Summit County. A judge on Monday denied a second request to move the trial to Salt Lake County.

Have You Seen This? A hula star is born

Alex Tumalip, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 3:41 p.m.  |  Save Story

If the saying goes "teach them while they're young," 18-month-old Kuanao'o Burke is definitely an example of it after he was caught practicing with members of his family's hula halau.

BYU defensive staff taking shape under Poppinga, adds former Utes DB Lewis Walker

Sean Walker, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 2:43 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Cougars also promoted linebackers coach Justin Ena to special teams coordinated and defensive analyst Chad Kauha'aha'a to outside linebackers coach.

Pilot suffers critical injuries in southern Utah helicopter crash

Curtis Booker, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 2:19 p.m.  |  Save Story

A helicopter crash in southern Utah has left pilot hospitalized in critical condition.

Tyler Robinson denies seeking 'secret prosecution,' but doesn't want his arguments to be public

Pat Reavy, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 2:15 p.m.  |  Save Story

The defense team for Tyler Robinson has replied to the media's and the state's opposition to a proposal to keep cameras out of the courtroom during his capital murder trial.

Utah opens new state liquor store in Moab

Logan Stefanich, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 1:26 p.m.  |  Save Story

A new state liquor store in Moab opened its doors to customers for the first time Monday.

Justice Department takes down Epstein-related files that may have had victim information

Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister, Associated Press  |  Updated Feb. 2 - 12:49 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Justice Department says it has taken down thousands of documents and "media" that may have inadvertently included victim-identifying information related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi announces 2 more arrests in the St. Paul church protest

Steve Karnowski, Associated Press  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 12:31 p.m.  |  Save Story

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday announced two more arrests following a protest at a Minnesota church against the immigration crackdown, bringing the number of people arrested to nine.

PARTNER

A Utah man shaped an independent Federal Reserve. This BYU expert explains why it matters

Art Raymond, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 12:23 p.m.  |  Save Story

Today's debate issue is an echo from the U.S. central banks' early days — can it act in the economic interest of the nation if it's subject to political pressure?