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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah leaders are reacting to the U.S. capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.

The United States carried out a lightning military strike on Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and spiriting them out of the country. American officials say the pair will face narco-terrorism charges in U.S. courts.

The overnight operation left Venezuela reeling, with its leadership uncertain and details of casualties and the impact on its military still to emerge. Countries across the region and the wider world were absorbing the destabilizing implications of the apparently unilateral U.S. action.

Sen. Mike Lee was among the first to comment.

Sen. Lee first reacted to the news early Saturday morning, stating, “I look forward to learning what, if anything, might constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force” on X.

Within a couple hours, Lee said that he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“Just got off the phone with @SecRubio,” Lee posted on X. “He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack.”

Lee added that Rubio anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody.

Utah Sen. John Curtis also spoke on the matter.

“I’ve stood on the border between Venezuela and Colombia and witnessed the level of human suffering inflicted by the Maduro regime. I’ve seen the human cost of failed authoritarian socialism made even worse by the ties to drug cartels, terrorist groups, Russia, and Iran which threaten Americans in our own hemisphere,” Sen. Curtis posted on X. “As Chair of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, I expect a full and timely briefing on the nature, scope, and impact of these actions.”

Utah Rep. Burgess Owens also commented, praising Trump’s decision and the “courage, discipline, and precision” of American military forces.

“American forces acted with courage, discipline, and precision to apprehend Nicolás Maduro, a narco-terrorist responsible for the deaths of over 300,000 innocent Americans. Indicted and criminally charged in U.S. federal court in 2020 he was never a legitimate head of Venezuela,” Owens posted on X. “I am deeply grateful to those who executed this action and thankful that no American lives were lost. I am praying for the full recovery of those injured. Justice is finally being served, and Venezuela now has a real chance at a future free from criminal rule and rooted in law, stability, and freedom. God bless America and the Venezuelan people.”

Rep. Mike Kennedy said he is “closely monitoring” the situation in Venezuela.

“The Nicolás Maduro regime has long operated as narco-terrorists and a serious driver of drug cartel activity in the United States,” Rep. Kennedy said on X. “I await President Trump’s further clarity regarding the scope and strategic intent of these actions.”

Sen. Nate Blouin denounced the attack, calling for Trump’s impeachment.

“We cannot let this happen. Trump is dragging us into another conflict and Congress is enabling him. Stop playing along,” Blouin posted on X.

After President Trump’s press conference, Blouin posted again on X saying, “Trump just made clear this attack was not about democracy, but about oil. He will be handing the Venezuelan oil industry to American oligarchs who support corporate-backed politicians on both sides of the aisle.”

He went on to say, “It will be abundantly clear who was serious when they called for an end to American imperialism and who was merely bowing to Trump. I am committed to opposing unchecked US military interventions, whether in Gaza or in Caracas.”

Salt Lake City Councilman, Carlos Moreno posted his statement on X stating, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the calls, texts, and messages from hundreds of friends today. My family and I are deeply moved by the outpouring of love we’ve received regarding the fall of the Venezuelan regime. This moment is incredibly personal to me. Just a few years ago, I was a political asylee who had lost his country and today, I share this statement as a Salt Lake County Councilman and a proud American citizen. America is not a dream; America is a miracle!”

Other Utah leaders are expected to react to the news of Maduro’s capture on Saturday.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.

It’s Game Day!

The top-ranked Arizona Wildcats begin Big 12 Conference play with a visit to the Utah Utes.

Here’s all the info you need to watch, listen to or follow the game online:

Arizona-Utah game time, details:

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

• Time: 2 p.m. MT

• Location: Huntsman Center; Salt Lake City, Utah

• Line: According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Arizona is a 17.5-point favorite and the over/under is 161.5. KenPom.com gives the UA a 94 percent chance of winning.

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How can I watch Arizona-Utah?

Arizona-Utah will be shown on Peacock. James Westling (play-by-play) and Matt Muehlebach (analyst) will be calling the game.

How can I stream Arizona-Utah online?

The stream of Arizona-Utah can be viewed on Peaccock.

How can I listen to Arizona-Utah on the radio?

You can listen to Arizona-Utah on Wildcats Sports Radio 1290 AM.

How can I follow Arizona-Utah?

By following us on Twitter (X) at @AZDesertSwarm and our editor Brian Pedersen (@realBJP) or the team account (@ArizonaMBB).

Arizona-Utah pregame coverage:

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – Morgan Scalley didn’t have to go far to find his new defensive coordinator.

Linebackers coach Colton Swan has been promoted to become the Utes new defensive coordinator, a role Scalley fulfilled the last ten years before becoming head coach last week. Swan will continue to coach the linebackers.

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Swan has been on the Utah staff since 2019, spending the last seven seasons tutoring a linebackers group that has earned seven First Team All-Conference nods.

“Colton is the personification of the RSNB culture we’ve established here at Utah and he will thrive in his new role as defensive coordinator,” Scalley said in a statement. “He is as good of a teacher as you will find in the game and his love for his players is unmatched. I’m confident in the continued success of this defense under Coach Swan’s leadership.”

Jason Beck leaving Utah to join Whittingham at Michigan

Swan has coached five linebackers that have that reached the NFL ranks, including Devin Lloyd—who became the highest-drafted linebacker in Utah history after being selected 27th overall by Jacksonville in the 2022 NFL Draft. Francis Bernard, Mohamoud Diabate, Karene Reid and Nephi Sewell also made NFL rosters after playing for Swan at Utah.

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“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Utah defense this upcoming season,” Swan said. “As I enter my eighth year alongside Coach Scalley, Utah has truly become home for my family and I’m eager to continue building on the strong culture that has been established here. Our defense will reflect what this program always stood for – smart, tough and relentless football – values instilled over the years by Coach Scalley and Coach Whittingham. We embrace championship expectations in 2026, and I’m looking forward to getting to work with our players.”

Prior to the Utes, Swan coached 15 seasons under five head coaches at Weber State. He worked with the linebackers for seven years—the last two seasons as inside linebackers coach (2017-18). He served as the Wildcats’ co-defensive coordinator for three seasons from 2009-11 and was the special teams coordinator for the final five years (co-coordinator in 2014). Swan also coached the safeties (2006-08) and tight ends (2014-16).

Morgan Scalley era begins with Las Vegas Bowl romp

Swan coached eight All-Americans at Weber State while his players racked up 15 first-team All-Big Sky honors during his time at the school.

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Scalley’s next task is to find a new offensive coordinator to replace Jason Beck, who left to join Kyle Whittingham at Michigan.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — For over 40 years, the Sundance Film Festival has highlighted independent filmmaking and showcased heartfelt stories and talented directors.

2026 is the final year that Sundance Film Festival will be held in Utah. The festival will run from Jan. 22, 2026, through Feb. 1, 2026, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with the at-home program available online from Jan. 29 through Feb. 1, 2026.

2026 Sundance Film Festival lineup revealed

Single film tickets for in-person and online screenings go on sale Jan. 14 and limited quantities of select passes and packages remain on sale.

However, if you wish to celebrate the festival’s rich history, here are some of the top films to stream for your personal greatest-hits Sundance.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

“Reservoir Dogs”, the first film Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed, premiered at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival. The film was picked up by Miramax for a wide release in Oct. of the same year.

The film, which follows a group of diamond thieves whose heist of a jewelry store goes terribly wrong, established Tarantino’s signature tone and satirical style, and became the standard for what is known as “Tarantino-esque.”

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

27 years ago, “The Blair Witch Project” left a lasting legacy on the horror genre. The mockumentary premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and left viewers wondering if the found footage they just watched was truly fictional.

The horror film tells the story of three film students who traveled to a small Maryland town to collect documentary footage about the Blair Witch. It also screened at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival and won the ‘Award of the Youth.’

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Following Napoleon, a quirky high schooler with a unique personality and eccentric family, “Napoleon Dynamite” premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and quickly gained a cult following.

The indie film has strong ties to Utah. The production team consisted almost entirely of Brigham Young University students and alumni, and the film was sold to Fox Searchlight Studios for $4.75 million.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

At the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, audiences followed a quirky family on a road trip to California so their young daughter could compete in a beauty pageant. The dramedy was sold to Fox Searchlight Pictures and went on to become a beloved film.

The film was a box office success, earning approximately $100 million. The cast and crew won multiple awards, including two Academy Awards and two BAFTAs.

Whiplash (2014)

A survey of more than 500 filmmakers, critics, and industry professionals named “Whiplash” the top Sundance film of all time. The psychological drama, centered on an ambitious music student, was first released as a short film and later expanded into a feature.

“Whiplash” won the Sundance Short Film Jury Prize and grossed nearly $50 million. It also earned three Oscars in 2015: Best Supporting Actor, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.

Get Out (2017)

“Get Out” marked Jordan Peele’s debut as a director and premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Universal Pictures picked up the film, releasing it in the same year. It received 154 awards.

The horror thriller follows a young African American man visiting his white girlfriend’s family for an unsettling weekend and grossed approximately $259 million worldwide.

CODA (2022)

“CODA,” a story about a girl caught between following her dreams and fearing to leave her deaf parents, debuted at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, earning the Grand Juror Prize.

This heartfelt film won three Oscars, including Best Motion Picture, along with 66 other awards, and was nominated for 149.

A Real Pain (2024)

Directed by Jesse Eisenberg and featuring Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain” achieved significant success after its premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

The movie has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and follows mismatched cousins who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their grandmother.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.

The Utah Utes have a new defensive coordinator for the first time since 2016.

With former defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley taking over as head coach, the Ute defense will be run by Colton Swan.

“Colton is the personification of the RSNB culture we’ve established here at Utah and he will thrive in his new role as defensive coordinator,” Scalley said in a press release. “He is as good of a teacher as you will find in the game and his love for his players is unmatched. I’m confident in the continued success of this defense under Coach Swan’s leadership.”

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Swan has coached the linebackers at Utah since 2019, and since he took over, the position has been a strength more often than not for the Utes.

Most notably, Swan coached Devin Lloyd, who was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 27th pick of the 2022 NFL draft. He also developed Francis Bernard, Mohamoud Diabate, Karene Reid and Nephi Sewell, all of whom got a shot in the NFL.

Given that Swan has been a part of Scalley’s defensive staff for seven years, he has immense knowledge of the scheme Utah’s new head coach has run.

Additionally, he has been mentored by Kyle Whittingham, Scalley and Jay Hill, the latter of whom left BYU on Thursday to become Whittingham’s defensive coordinator at Michigan.

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“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Utah defense this upcoming season,” Swan said in a press release.

“As I enter my eighth year alongside Coach Scalley, Utah has truly become home for my family and I’m eager to continue building on the strong culture that has been established here. Our defense will reflect what this program always stood for — smart, tough and relentless football — values instilled over the years by Coach Scalley and Coach Whittingham. We embrace championship expectations in 2026, and I’m looking forward to getting to work with our players.”

Prior to Utah, Swan coached at Weber State for 15 years, with five of those seasons coming under Hill (2014-18).

It’s not Swan’s first rodeo as defensive coordinator. He was co-defensive coordinator with Jake Cookus from 2009-11 while former Ute head coach Ron McBride was at the helm at Weber State.

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In 2009, Swan’s and Cookus’ defense allowed 21.7 points per game (best in the nine-team Big Sky) and 375.8 yards per game (third in the Big Sky).

In 2010 and 2011, Weber State allowed 31.1 points (sixth in Big Sky) and 32.2 points (seventh in Big Sky) per game, though the total numbers are skewed a bit from the overmatched Wildcats playing FBS teams in both of those years.

This time around, Swan, who has risen up the coaching ranks over his career, will be the sole defensive coordinator and have much, much better defensive talent than he did in Ogden.

Scalley, and Utah’s players, believe Swan is the right person to take over the defense as the Utes head into the first year of the Scalley era.

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“We love Coach Scalley and he brings an energy to this team that is completely different. I’m personally super excited about him being the head coach and coach Swan being the DC. We’re super excited about that,” linebacker Trey Reynolds said on the ESPN 700 postgame show after the Las Vegas Bowl.

With Swan in place, the next move will be to finalize a few positions on his defensive staff.

Utah will need a new defensive ends coach after Lewis Powell left to join Whittingham’s staff at Michigan, and with Scalley taking over as head coach, the Utes will also need a new safeties coach.

Swan will still coach the linebackers, while Luther Elliss (defensive tackles) and Sharieff Shah (cornerbacks/special teams) have remained on Utah’s staff.

Nebraska limped to the finish line of the 2025 season with what was supposed to be the much-vaunted Year 3 of the Matt Rhule era. Instead, blowout losses to Iowa, Penn State, and most recently Utah stripped away any remaining illusions about where this roster truly stands. Those games didn’t just sting — they exposed. And nowhere was that more evident than in the Utah beatdown, which laid bare the reality of Nebraska’s portal needs heading into January 2.

The Huskers were woefully overmatched in the trenches on both sides of the ball. That alone should dominate the transfer portal conversation. But while offensive and defensive linemen are clearly the headline requirement, the film from those losses also highlighted other position groups that are thinner — and less impactful — than many wanted to believe.

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Trenches first, but not trenches only

There’s no sugarcoating it: Nebraska cannot compete at the top of the Big Ten without immediate help along both lines of scrimmage. Against elite competition, the Huskers were pushed around, plain and simple. That has to be the first call, the biggest spend, and the most aggressive pursuit when the portal opens.

But once you get past the obvious, the Utah game in particular exposed secondary issues that will continue to hold Nebraska back if left unaddressed.

Tight end: a missing multiplier

If the College Football Playoff has shown us anything, it’s how vital a reliable tight end can be — both as a blocker and as a consistent option in the passing game. Nebraska simply doesn’t have that right now.

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The Heinrich Haarberg experiment was a great story and an admirable effort from a native son, but sentiment doesn’t win Big Ten games. The reality is he’s not at the level required to be a difference-maker at tight end. Carter Nelson, despite the hype surrounding his recruitment, was a non-factor this season, and Mack Markway’s injury robbed the staff of seeing what he could become.

Nebraska needs a proven tight end who can live in the middle of the field, help the quarterback on third down, and actually threaten defenses enough to loosen boxes in the run game. Right now, that piece simply doesn’t exist.

Linebacker: thin and too quiet

Linebacker was one of the biggest disappointments of the season. Yes, it’s fair to point out that a lack of dominant defensive linemen makes life harder at the second level. Still, the production — and impact — just wasn’t there.

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Vincent Shavers flashed at times, but flashes aren’t enough. Marques Watson-Trent, despite being undersized, was expected to factor in and simply didn’t. What the Big Ten consistently shows is that you need linebackers who can create havoc — guys who fill gaps decisively, erase explosive runs before they develop, and turn solid defensive plays into momentum-shifting ones.

Nebraska doesn’t have enough of that right now, and it showed repeatedly against physical opponents.

Wide receiver: upgrades, but not answers

Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter were clear upgrades over previous portal additions. That much is true. But they also highlighted an uncomfortable truth: upgrades alone won’t get Nebraska where it wants to go.

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The best teams have receivers who consistently get separation and win contested catches. Those players make quarterbacks look better than they are and punish defenses for stacking the box. Nebraska’s receiver room still lacks that true difference-maker — the kind of player defensive coordinators have to game-plan around every single week.

Finding that guy is easier said than done, but landing one would take enormous pressure off whoever takes the first snap against Ohio State on September 5.

Time to spend big

The time for caution is officially over.

Matt Rhule doesn’t need developmental pieces anymore — he needs difference-makers, and he needs them now. This is not the offseason to count pennies. GM Pat Stewart has to be ready to splash the cash and secure day-one starters at key positions.

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It’s impossible not to remember Rhule’s earlier comment about desperate teams setting the market, made when Kentucky overspent on Dante Dowdell. Well, here we are. On Day 1 of the portal window, Nebraska is the desperate team — and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The Utah loss wasn’t just another blowout. It was a mirror. And what it reflected was a program that can no longer afford half-measures in the portal. If Nebraska wants Year 4 to look any different, the response has to be immediate, aggressive, and unapologetically expensive.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller is headed to Italy.

The 27-year-old forward was named to Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

While this is Keller’s first Olympic selection, he has been part of USA hockey success before. He won gold medals at the Under-18 Worlds in 2015, the World Juniors in 2017 and he captained Team USA to a Worlds title last year. It was the United States’ first gold medal in that competition in 92 years.

Utah’s captain leads the Mammoth with 13 goals and 23 assists this season.

The 2026 Olympic Games will run Feb. 6-22.

Team USA roster

Where to watch Utah gymnastics today: Channel, live stream, time, TV schedule for meet vs. Minnesota, Iowa originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Utah may just be the most dangerous college gymnastics team. The Red Rocks begin their season now with a tri-meet against Minnesota and Iowa on January 2.

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Utah has plenty of returning talent in Makenna Smith, Ella Zirbes and Avery Neff, who earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and became a 4x All-American in her freshman season despite missing time with injury. While ranked No. 5 in the WCGA Poll, the Red Rocks only care about how they finish.

Last season, the Red Rocks finished fourth in the NCAA Championship, their 49th straight appearance. Utah has a title on its mind, and it starts at home against Minnesota and Iowa.

Here’s how to watch the Utah tri-meet with TV channel and live stream information.

Where to watch Utah gymnastics today

• TV channel: N/A

Utah vs. Minnesota and Iowa gymnastics will not be broadcast. Fans can tune into the meet by streaming ESPN+.

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Utah gymnastics vs. Minnesota, Iowa start time

• Date: Friday, Jan. 2

• Time: 9 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. MT

Utah’s opening meet against Minnesota and Iowa will take place Friday, Jan. 2. The meet will begin at 9 p.m.. ET (7 p.m. MT) from the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT.

Utah gymnastics 2026 schedule

Below is a look at a schedule of the  Red Rocks’ 2026 season.

The Utah Jazz, doing everything they could to not win this game, nearly won this game. The headlines for this one will talk about Kawhi Leonard and his 45 points, but this was an absolutely pathetic performance from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Coming into this one, the Utah Jazz rested their most important players, including Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic, and Kevin Love. Oh, and Ace Bailey was also out due to injury. All that, and Utah was leading in the fourth quarter. To actually win this game, the Clippers needed every single point from Kawhi Leonard. The dictionary, Wikipedia, and the internet in general should replace whatever is there for fool’s gold with this Clipper team. They are horrible to watch and absolutely should be relegated to the G League.

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For the Utah Jazz, they got some nice performances from a few of their young guys. Isaiah Collier was very nice in this one with 16 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds. He shot 6/9 from the field, including going 1/3 from three. We also saw a career night for Cody Williams, who scored 18 points. It’s nights like these, where the Jazz are working towards a better draft pick, that you find out if your young prospects can develop into rotation players. To see Cody Williams shoot 6/10 from the field and 2/5 from three is a great sign. He’s also driving to the basket with a lot of aggression, something he wasn’t doing well before this season. If Williams can continue to improve, he’s going to prove to be a nice pick. He can definitely become a nice 3-and-D option for the Jazz down the road.

There were a few players who didn’t shine in this one. Kyle Filipowski had the worst game of his career tonight, scoring just 4 points on 2/13 shooting and going 0/5 from three. Combine that with his subpar defense, and it is definitely something to worry about. We also had a pretty tough night for Brice Sensabaugh, who is looking like he’s completely lost his outside shot. Tonight, Sensabaugh shot 0/5 from three and is now shooting 32.4% from three.

The fact is, it was important for the Jazz to lose this game, making tonight a considerable success. On top of losing the game, it helps the Clippers improve their standing, which can help push the Jazz lower in the standings to improve their pick. This is going to be a lot of what we see for the rest of the season. We can only hope that come lottery night, which is not too far away, the Jazz get lucky in a way that they haven’t in the past.