Better Utah Institute

10/08/2025

Now that Utah lawmakers have voted on which map to send to the court, and the plaintiffs have submitted their map, there are three maps for the judge to choose from.

We created a bite-sized version of our analysis of these maps for this platform, for the full report, hit the link in our bio, or sign up for our email list!

07/31/2025

💧Data centers threaten water security, advocates warn

A new report from Western Resource Advocates warns that massive data centers cropping up across the West could overwhelm local water supplies—especially in drought-prone places like Utah. Policymakers need to start treating water like the scarce resource it is, not a tech industry afterthought. https://buff.ly/8fvAsUe

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Data centers are the hot ticket and the wave of the future when it comes to computing needs. Yet, is the arid West up for the challenge?

07/30/2025

💸 Utah’s rental crisis laid bare in new housing report

The annual “Out of Reach” report is out—and it’s brutal for Utah. A person earning minimum wage ($7.25/hour) would need to work 134 hours per week to afford a modest one-bedroom at fair market rent. It’s yet another reminder that housing in Utah is unaffordable by design, and change isn’t coming fast enough. https://buff.ly/Rh8FA7Y

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shows how difficult it is for renters to find affordable housing. Find out how much a renter must earn to afford a modest home at https://nlihc.org/oor

07/29/2025

🌾 USDA bringing regional hub to Salt Lake

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving operations into five new regional hubs, and Salt Lake City made the list. The relocation is part of a broader effort to decentralize federal services—and could bring new jobs and resources to the state, if state leaders are smart enough to embrace them. https://buff.ly/w8cFSZn

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Salt Lake City has been selected as one of five regional hubs where the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be relocating operations.

07/28/2025

📨 Utah County slows down on “Fast Cast”

The Republican clerk behind Utah County’s controversial “Fast Cast” voting method is hitting pause. After months of promoting the system—which critics say was designed to sow distrust in vote-by-mail—the clerk says he’s reevaluating.

Good. Utahns deserve secure and accessible elections, not flashy stunts. https://buff.ly/NmP2j9z

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The Utah County clerk is pressing the brakes on his controversial “Fast Cast" voting method meant to discourage casting a ballot through the mail, his office announced Wednesday.

07/26/2025

💰 $53 Million Boost for Great Salt Lake Projects

The Great Salt Lake is set to receive a much-needed cash infusion: $53 million for conservation, water delivery, and habitat restoration. That total includes $50 million that the Trump administration initially froze, raising questions about its commitment to Western water issues. The funding is vital—but the lake’s survival still depends on aggressive water conservation and climate action.

🔗 FOX 13 : https://buff.ly/0G9AqTj

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In an area on the edge of wetlands next to the Great Salt Lake, construction crews are working to replace a crucial piece of infrastructure.

07/25/2025

🗳️ Utah Lawmakers Show Rare Bipartisanship on Referendum Reform

In a surprising moment of cross-party consensus, state lawmakers unanimously voted Tuesday to begin drafting reforms to Utah’s referendum laws. This comes after a controversial decision by the Summit County clerk to reject hundreds of petition signatures, effectively killing a citizen-led referendum effort.

Progressives have long pointed out that Utah’s referendum process is riddled with hurdles designed to block direct democracy. This move is a welcome step—but the devil will be in the details.

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'It seems like what we have here is specific people who didn’t like what was proposed and didn’t want to see the signatures go through. It is ridiculous to throw out packets because of how they were bound—it’s almost malicious.' - House Representative Trevor Lee

07/24/2025

In an alarming development, Utah’s water reservoir storage levels dropped by 10% over the past month—five times the usual decline. The Department of Natural Resources is calling on residents to cut back on outdoor water use immediately.

This is yet another wake-up call about how climate change and overdevelopment are stressing our water systems. Meanwhile, the Legislature continues to greenlight massive sprawl and refuses to adopt meaningful water conservation mandates. Utah can’t just “pray for rain”—we need bold climate policy and serious water planning now. https://buff.ly/tGxXoB3

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Utah's Department of Natural Resources is urging people to cut back on their outdoor water use to help preserve the state's drinking water supply for the rest of this year and future years.

07/23/2025

According to new projections from the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, Utah is on track to gain an additional U.S. House seat following the 2030 Census, growing its representation from four to five congressional districts.

While population growth brings new opportunities, progressives should keep a close eye on what this could mean for redistricting. Utah’s history of gerrymandering—particularly the surgical splitting of Salt Lake County—has diluted the power of urban and progressive voters. We should demand a truly independent redistricting process this time around, not more maps drawn in back rooms by political insiders. https://buff.ly/Tvr8l5n

Get Utah’s top headlines distilled for you with The Beehive Briefing, a near daily newsletter with bite size versions of big stories: https://buff.ly/Ehm3DAi

07/22/2025

🚨 Emails Reveal UHP Warned Protest Group Against “Private Security”—But Only on Capitol Grounds

Newly uncovered emails show the Utah Highway Patrol warned organizers with “Utah 50501” not to use so-called “private security” at Capitol rallies. However, those restrictions didn’t apply to the “No Kings” protest held in Pioneer Park and through downtown SLC—where an armed marcher fatally shot another. https://buff.ly/XLng1Tc

Emails obtained by KSL.com through a public records request show what the state told the Utah 50501 group before the No Kings protest where a participant was shot and killed.

07/22/2025

🚀 Spaceport in Utah? Legislators Think So.

A new state committee will explore whether Utah could support a commercial spaceport, with a recommendation due in 2026. It’s a big swing—one with potential for economic growth, sure, but also plenty of room for taxpayer-funded fantasy projects. Before we shoot for the stars, let’s make sure we’re funding schools, water infrastructure, and public health back on Earth. https://buff.ly/UPteLcX

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Utah lost out to Florida 50 years ago but has gone all in on the aerospace industry.

07/21/2025

🌄 Utah’s Public Lands Still Under Siege

Despite decades of failure and growing public backlash, Utah politicians say they’ll keep trying to wrest control of federal public lands. The ultimate goal? Privatize them, sell them off, and keep extractive industries happy. It’s a losing strategy for our environment, our outdoor economy, and future generations. Utahns overwhelmingly love our wild places—our leaders should listen. http://bit.ly/3TRABtW

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Utah’s political leadership is regrouping after three failed attempts to wrest public lands from the federal government this year.