Utah Legislature
Deseret News blog: Legislature 2012
Observations and highlights from our reporters covering Utah's political landscape.
Gov. Gary Herbert is asking Utah legislators to address six issues, including liquor licenses, during a special session.
Lawmakers will consider increasing the state's quota for restaurant liquor licenses in special session Wednesday.
Medicaid's inspector general recouped millions in first year
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's Medicaid inspector general has recouped millions in his first year at the helm of an office charged with uncovering wasted funds and suspected fraud. Lee Wyckoff told lawmakers in the Health and Human... Read more »
Special session to increase liquor licenses may just be a start
Gov. Gary Herbert is asking Utah legislators to address six issues, including an increase in available liquor licenses, during a special session Wednesday. Read more »
Utah moves ahead with federal health reform mandates
Utah is taking action on federal health care reform regardless of an upcoming decision expected from the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more »
Audit: Medicaid errors result in $1 million loss
SALT LAKE CITY — An audit of Medicaid cases presented to the Utah Legislature Tuesday found that while Medicaid eligibility is well-managed, errors cost the program $1 million last year, with room for another million in savings... Read more »
Utah lawmakers to consider increasing restaurant liquor licenses in special session
SALT LAKE CITY — Lawmakers will consider increasing the state's quota for restaurant liquor licenses Wednesday to make up for a shortfall that has stymied business growth in some areas.... Read more »
Gov. Herbert calls special legislative session for Wednesday, liquor licenses on agenda
Utah lawmakers are reportedly about to be summoned back to Capitol Hill. Read more »
Rebuilding all or some of prison at current spot is another option for committee
Another option emerged Friday in the debate over relocating the Utah State Prison from Point of the Mountain — building a new facility on just part of the property to free up the rest for... Read more »
Utah adds 28,800 jobs during May
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says Utah is on the right track after a Bureau of Labor statistics report shows Utah added 28,800 jobs during May. Read more »
Prison relocation group has yet to request proposals for developing Point of the Mountain
A group formed by the 2011 Legislature to draft a request for proposals to relocate the state prison from Point of the Mountain has yet to start writing. Read more »
Early voting in June 26 primary begins today
Early voting in the June 26 primary election began today and will continue through June 22. Read more »
VP Biden coming to Utah to raise money
Vice President Joe Biden will make a fundraising stop in Utah next month, state Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis said Monday. Read more »
DEA withdraws request to install license plate readers
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has withdrawn its request to install stationary license plate readers on I-15 in Beaver and Washington counties, Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, said Monday. Read more »
Audit hits Springdale for past practice of collecting cash fines from traffic violators
State Auditor Auston Johnson on Monday issued another audit highlighting past problems of a local entity, this time about Springdale police collecting traffic fines in cash from foreign tourists, a... Read more »
UTA built trains on the backs of big-money lobbyists, but can the system be sustained?
Questions persist about whether UTA has the money to maintain the miles of new track it is putting down on the Wasatch Front. Read more »
Mitt Romney raising money in Utah Friday
SALT LAKE CITY — Mitt Romney will be in Utah Friday to raise money for his general election campaign against President Barack Obama and to give a hand to a fellow Republican. Romeny will appear with, Sen. Orrin Hatch Friday... Read more »
Carl Wimmer back in Utah after Nevada GOP debacle
The saga surrounding Carl Wimmer's announcement that he was the new political director of the Nevada GOP has come to a close with his return home just days later. Read more »
Who owns $10 million of paintings? Investigation seeks answers
A small painting by Douglas Snow sits in the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, but no one knows who the painting belongs to, the state or is it part of a private collection? Read more »
Wimmer's Nevada GOP future remains 'confusing'
Nevada GOP officials were expected to meet Wednesday night to discuss personnel issues, but several members of the group said it wasn't clear the meeting would be held. Read more »
Governor Gary Herbert endorses Orrin Hatch in Senate primary
Gov. Gary Herbert finally made an endorsement in the Republican U.S. Senate primary Wednesday, choosing Sen. Orrin Hatch over former state lawmaker Dan Liljenquist. Read more »
AG candidate Swallow says he wants consumer protection under his control
Deputy Attorney General John Swallow, a GOP candidate for attorney general, told a telemarketer who has had run-ins with the state Division of Consumer Protection that he wants to move the agency... Read more »
Herbert signs executive order reducing idling for state fleet
Gov. Gary Herbert is putting the brakes on idling by signing the Reduction of Automotive Idling Executive Order, requiring all state vehicles to shut down whenever they’re idling for more... Read more »
Poll shows Utahns think Legislature's land grab lawsuit is not worth the tax dollars
A new poll commissioned by Republican environmentalists shows 63 percent of Utahns believe the Legislature's lawsuit demanding the federal government turn over control of 30 million acres... Read more »
Huntsman endorses Winder in Salt Lake County mayor's race
Former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. endorsed West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder for Salt Lake County mayor Tuesday. Read more »
Uintah Basin has 'exceptional' need for judges, state court administrator says
The Utah Judicial Council heard from county commissioners, attorneys and judges Tuesday in Vernal about the dire need for more jurists in the Uintah Basin. Read more »
Eagle Gate Tower renamed World Trade Center at City Creek
SALT LAKE CITY — The Eagle Gate Tower has been renamed World Trade Center at City Creek. The building is located at 60 E. South Temple in downtown Salt Lake City. “The renaming of Eagle Gate Tower to World Trade... Read more »
Older stories can be found in the story archives
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- On the frontier: How BYU-Idaho is pushing the boundaries of higher education
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- Romney says Rubio being 'thoroughly vetted'
