Month: May 2025

Kyle Whittingham’s Utah program added a commitment at a position of need out of the transfer portal Friday.

Former LSU defensive tackle Dilan Battle announced his commitment to Utah early Friday morning.

Who is Dilan Battle?

Battle is a 6-foot-2, 313-pound defensive tackle out of Arlington, Texas, who played at Mansfield Timberview High.

He was rated a three-star prospect with an 87 grade in 247 Sports’ composite rankings as a member of the 2025 recruiting class, and the No. 76 defensive tackle recruit nationally.

Battle originally signed with LSU out of high school, picking the Tigers over an impressive list of offers that included Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Oregon and Texas A&M, among others, according to 247 Sports.

He spent the spring with LSU before hitting the transfer portal, and will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Battle was a high school teammate with Utah safety Nate Tilmon, a three-star recruit and another member of the Utes’ 2025 recruiting class.

How does Dilan Battle fit into Utah’s plans?

The Utes lost a pair of starters at defensive tackle this offseason, with Junior Tafuna exhausting his eligibility — he signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Houston Texans — and Keanu Tanuvasa transferring to BYU.

While sophomore Dallas Vakalahi and grad student Aliki Vimahi are back for Utah this season, the team needed to add depth and talent at the position.

The Utes’ 2025 class already included defensive tackles in Karson Kaufusi, who had a strong spring and stood out at the spring game, and Sione Motuapuaka; Battle adds another young prospect to the defensive tackles room.

He is the fourth transfer to commit to Utah since the spring transfer portal window opened, including cornerbacks JC Hart (formerly of Auburn) and Jaylen Moson (Furman) and wide receiver Larry Simmons (Southern Miss).

Joined by Michigan Rep. John James, Utah Sen. Mike Lee this week introduced a bill that would work to increase safety for children online.

The bill, titled the App Store Accountability Act, would require app stores to use privacy-protecting age verification and would link children’s accounts to their parent’s accounts, giving parents the final say on whether the minor can download or purchase apps.

It would also require app stores to annually certify a user’s age and prohibit the sale of age-related data collection.

In an opinion piece for The Hill, Lee and Michael Toscano wrote that the legislation “tackles the grave danger of apps systemically misleading parents with deceptive ratings, funneling millions of children toward dangerous and inappropriate content.”

“For too long, Big Tech has profited from app stores through which children in America and across the world access violent and sexual material while risking contact from online predators,” Lee said in the bill’s press release.

The senator promised this legislation would “bring age verification and accountability to the source of the problem.”

The bill follows Utah legislation passed in 2025

Under the same name, SB142 was signed into Utah law after the most recent legislative session, requiring app developers to verify a user’s age category and confirm that the user’s parent gave yearly consent to the app store.

Utah’s version also gives parents of harmed minors the right to sue developers if the app store violates the law’s provisions.

During a ceremonial signing by Gov. Spencer Cox on April 4, the bill sponsor, Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, described the need for this kind of legislation in Utah.

“Everyone in this room knows, and every first year law school student knows, that kids can’t enter contracts,” Weiler said.

However, for decades, app stores have allowed children to do so. Weiler explained, “Every time someone downloads an app or an app changes, and it pops up and says do you accept these terms and conditions, we’re allowing our 11-year-olds, our 13-year-olds and our 15-year-olds to enter into binding contracts.”

CNN reported that if Lee’s bill were to be signed into law, app stores would need to inform app developers of the user’s age, and Big Tech may see this as a win amid pressures to make the internet safer for children.

After Weiler’s bill was passed in Utah, Meta, X and Snap released a joint statement, saying, “Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it.”

Bill gains support from Utah organization

The Salt Lake City-based think tank the Sutherland Institute expressed support for Lee’s legislation in a press release Friday morning.

“We welcome the introduction of this common-sense measure to protect parents’ ability to help their children navigate online commerce,” Bill Duncan, constitutional law and religious freedom fellow, said, according to the institute.

“This bill provides an appropriate and constitutional way to empower parents who want to help their children avoid harmful apps and unfair service contracts,” he added.

A cat that fell alongside a couple into a 380-foot-high canyon was the only survivor of the incident at a national park in Utah, an animal sanctuary said Thursday.

The feline “was found in a black soft-sided carrier that was dirty and torn, but seemed to have weathered the fall fairly well,” the Best Friends Animal Society said.

Its staff estimated the cat is 12 years old. It was found next to two people, a couple that local authorities said had died after falling from a popular tourist spot within Bryce Canyon National Park earlier this week.

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday identified the deceased as Matthew Nannen, 45, and Bailee Crane, 58.

Tourists spotted the bodies Tuesday below Inspiration Point after the two fell late Monday or early Tuesday, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. How they fell was unknown, but they had crossed over safety railings, according to the statement.

Nannen and Crane were living in a U-Haul van and recently spent a significant amount of time in Arizona. Florida was their last state of permanent residence, according to the sheriff’s office.

The cat, now named Mirage, was rescued alive Tuesday night and taken to an animal facility.

Initially, the cat was taken to Pawz Dogs boarding facility in Panguitch on April 29, but the next day, Best Friends was contacted by the sheriff’s office and transported Mirage nearly 70 miles to their sanctuary in Kanab, CBS affiliate KUTV reported.

“She was matted and a bit sore, but friendly upon examination, as well as drinking and eating on her own,” the Best Friends Animal Society said.

It added that Mirage’s bloodwork showed no signs of abnormality but that staff was awaiting x-rays to determine whether there were any other injuries.

Bryce Canyon is a colorful maze of spires, cliffs and ravines eroded in soft rock and soil at the edge of a plateau. More than 2 million people visit the park every year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

By Allan Kokwon

The Utah Warriors grabbed their fourth Major League Rugby (MLR) game at Zions Bank Stadium after defeating the San Diego Legion 38–31 in a hard-fought game. With this win, the Warriors took the top spot in the MLR rankings and became the Western Conference’s leaders.

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Teams exchanged advantages with one another throughout the whole match, keeping the competition close. Just before the half, San Diego’s quick goal tied the score at 14–14, showcasing their unwavering determination and will to win. Vugakoto R. scored a try in the 68th minute to give Utah a commanding lead in the second half and lead them to victory.

Leuila D. completed the conversion after Utah’s Crowley L. scored a try in the 74th minute. After the pivotal try by Crowley L. proved to be the game-winning margin, the Warriors took control of the match, and San Diego was unable to score back in the remaining minutes.

The Warriors’ victory was historic because it was the first time they had ever defeated a top MLR squad at home. Throughout the game, every Warriors player displayed steady tactical execution, with key players making vital contributions in high-pressure circumstances.

The Warriors will aim to maintain their top-of-the-standings position going into the season. The Warriors’ ability to make it to the playoffs and win their first championship in MLR history will depend on their next games.

With a balanced addition of seasoned foreign players to complement up-and-coming domestic talent, the Warriors set themselves up for significant effects throughout the remainder of 2025. San Diego continues to be ranked lower than other teams.

Veteran ESPN sports commentator/ University of Utah alum Holly Rowe has interviewed most of sports’ heavyweights over the past three decades — from Micheal Jordan and LeBron James, to Kobe Bryant and Caitlin Clark.

The Bountiful, Utah, native has also been to the White House and won a national Emmy award. She’s even met Oprah.

But as Rowe told the University of Utah’s newest graduates on Thursday, the journey from her childhood years in Davis County to ultimately covering sports’ biggest events was not always certain and smooth.

“I had a lot of stops and starts,” she said during her keynote address at the 2025 University of Utah Commencement at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Thursday’s annual graduation event doubled as a celebration for the school’s 8,908 graduates. And for many, Thursday’s commencement exercises also marked the culmination of years of sacrifice, hard work and surely a few doubtful moments.

Rowe — a self-described “mediocre student” — can relate.

“I barely graduated,” she joked. “I was kind of nervous to speak today because I was on a payment plan for many years, post-college, for parking tickets that I received — so I’m freaking out because now they know where I am.”

Rowe remembered putting herself through college and scraping together just enough money for tuition. She performed a series of odd jobs — including working at the State Legislature, cleaning office buildings and donating plasma.

But young Holly Rowe drew upon a strict work ethic and her goals to imagine — and then create — the professional life she wanted: being a sportscaster.

Fueled by “irrational confidence,” Rowe said she volunteered for any “grunt job” that moved her closer to mastering her craft and realizing her sportscasting dream. She performed “a million internships” and did the work that others did not want to do.

But later, she was rewarded with opportunities. “I earned those — other people didn’t get those opportunities.”

Very few of today’s graduates, she added, will immediately be handed their “dream job.”

“But you guys can all get your dream jobs — it’s just going to take you a minute. And I want you to have some grace as you’re sitting here today, and as you leave here. Give yourselves a little grace to stay on that path for your dream job.”

Take time to envision the life that you want, she added, “and then create it.”

At the height of her professional career, Rowe was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic cancer. Her life, she said, has been spared by a “clinical trial and cutting-edge immunotherapy.”

But her ongoing cancer battle has served as a reminder of always remaining true to one’s priorities and dreams. She continues to live and create the life she had always wanted.

Rowe concluded by challenging her new fellow University of Utah alums to continue their pursuit of knowledge.

“Every single day, stretch yourself and grow. Seek others who are different from you. … Find people with diverse processes and ideas who can broaden your life view.

“Diversity is our greatest teacher — and I want you all to embrace it.”

Student speaker: The tools to thrive

Tracie Yellowman Tséyíníítso, a 2025 University of Utah graduate claiming a degree in community health education and promotion, was Thursday’s student speaker.

Tséyíníítso introduced herself as “a proud Dine (Navajo) woman from Utah’s Four Corners area.

“I stand before you today carrying the strength of my ancestors, a lineage of warriors, particularly Hastiin Kayeeli, my great grandfather many times over, whose resilience is instilled within me today and has given me the strength to survive and thrive in not only my everyday life, but in my educational journey,” she said.

“That spirit is alive within me and guides me in every step I take.”

Like many graduates, Tséyíníítso’s path to graduation was seldom easy.

“As a foster alumna, a mother, a pipe welder, and a student, there were days when the weight of my responsibilities felt insurmountable,” she said.

But she discovered strength in the belief and support of her family, friends and faith.

Tséyíníítso remembered being intimidated walking into her first classroom at the University of Utah. She felt out of place. She wondered if she belonged on campus and if she was doing the right thing enrolling in college.

“But I remembered something of my ancestors: We are equipped with the tools to endure and adapt, and with the courage to overcome. There, I adjusted my invisible quiver and bow, and I accepted that challenge.”

With each subsequent semester, Tséyíníítso found her rhythm and community. “My classmates, with their energy and intellect, inspired me every day. In my own quiet way, I honored each of them, wishing for their success as I navigated my own journey.”

Tséyíníítso said each member of the Class of 2025 has followed unique paths. But she reminded her classmates that they too are equipped with the tools needed to overcome challenges.

“As a proud University of Utah Ute, I know that each of us carry within us the spirit of perseverance, the ability to adapt, and the courage to lead.”

Near the conclusion of Thursday’s commencement ceremony, University of Utah President Taylor Randall reminded the Class of 2025 that they will never really leave “The U.” behind.

“You’re about to join the incredible ranks of 300,000 University of Utah alumni worldwide,” he said. “And speaking as a fellow alum, we’re thrilled to have you.”

A quartet of honorary degrees recipients

The University of Utah awarded honorary degrees to four recipients during Thursday’s commencement ceremony:

— I. King Jordan was awarded an honorary doctorate of education.

Jordan served as the first deaf president of Gallaudet University from 1988 to 2006.

His leadership, according to the university, heightened public awareness of the importance of Gallaudet’s educational contributions to the nation and the world.

Jordan served as Gallaudet’s president until 2006, boosting the institution’s national and international profile and serving as an advocate and spokesman for deaf and hard of hearing people around the world. Since leaving that post, he has continued to speak about and in support of the deaf community.

Over his tenure, he served as an international spokesperson and advocate for deaf and hearing impaired people

— Julie A. Lassonde was awarded an honorary doctorate of education.

Lassonde earned her undergraduate degree from Queen’s University (Canada) before embarking on a 20-year career in mining engineering and financial services.

She has perpetuated her family’s commitment to encouraging and mentoring women pursuing STEM degrees and careers.

Her parents, Claudette MacKay-Lassonde and Pierre Lassonde, created the Lassonde Family Foundation, based on three pillars — education, the arts, and community. After launching a New Venture Development Center at the University of Utah in 2002, a Lassonde family gift formed the foundation of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the university in 2006.

Now dedicated to managing the family’s philanthropic efforts along with her father, Lassonde returned to school for an executive-MBA and, most recently, a master’s degree in art history from Brown University.

Both degrees guide her philanthropic work.

— Dr. Cecil Samuelson was awarded an honorary doctorate of science.

A physician and a former faculty member and administrator at the University of Utah’s medical school, Samuelson also served as president of IHC Hospitals.

In 1994, Samuelson was called to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s First Quorum of the Seventy, a post he held for 17 years.

In 2003, he was named president of Brigham Young University.

He stayed in that job for 11 years, according to the university, “Building friendships with Utah presidents Bernie Machen and Michael Young. Together, the two schools’ leaders made a dedicated case for higher education, research and collegiate athletics in Utah.”

— Linda C. Smith was awarded an honorary doctorate of fine arts.

Smith has enjoyed an illustrious, lifelong connection to dance. In 1964, she was one of the first graduates of the University of Utah’s new fine arts-based dance program.

A few years later, Smith was one of eight recent graduates invited back to the University of Utah to realize Virginia Tanner’s dream of a professional Utah-based dance company, using seed grant funding from the Rockefeller Foundation.

The fledgling Repertory Dance Theater (RDT), the first of its kind, was based in an old barracks building on the school’s health sciences campus.

In 1983, the barracks was coming down and Smith, the company’s new artistic director, needed to find a home. She shared her vision with Salt Lake County leaders and Utah philanthropist Izzy Wagner, and a public-private partnership was developed to create the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, according to the university.

A small earthquake rattled parts of Utah Thursday morning. Just after midnight, the University of Utah seismograph stations reported a 3.9 magnitude earthquake.

The quake occurred about 5 kilometers west of Independence but could be felt across the Utah and Salt Lake Valleys, including Springville, Provo, Orem, and parts of Salt Lake City.

Read more at fox13now.com.

Related: This group is tasked with preparing Utah for the ‘Big One.’ Utah leaders voted to get rid of it.