Utah News

The Utah Jazz are a team at an inflection point. They haven’t been good since the trades of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but before that this team was a fixture in the postseason race. This offseason for Utah was one that could’ve seen them make massive strides as a team. No one had better odds to win the NBA’s Draft Lottery. The team has several interesting young players who they could move, including Eurobasket star Lauri Markkannen. Instead, the Jazz fell all the way to 5^th in the lottery, where they took a potentially disgruntled Ace Bailey. However, the pickup of Walter Clayton is one that I do like quite a bit.

The Northwest Division is occupied by three title contenders, a borderline play-in team, and the Utah Jazz, who were in that top tier not too long ago. But an antsy front office and dedicated fan base probably expect to pull themselves out of the basement here before long. What does that mean for the team now, and how ready is Utah going to be to make deals and start winning again? Your guess is as good as mine.

Utah Jazz: Over/Under 18.5 wins (-114/-106)

Last season: 17-65

Additions: Ace Bailey (5^th pick), Walter Clayton (18^th pick), John Tonje (2^nd round) Georges Niang, whatever they get for Kevin Love in a trade

Losses: Jordan Clarkson (Knicks), John Collins (Clippers)

To use an analogy from the housing world, the Jazz have good bones but need a lot of work to be a finished product. They’re very well coached, as I am a firm believer in Will Hardy. Lauri Markkannen is a very good player who can be a championship level guy. If they can hit on Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton, they can be “fun bad” this year. But as patience starts to wear out in Salt Lake City, I wonder if they’ll feel compelled to make a move here before too long. Time will tell.

Prediction: Over 18.5 wins, but not by much

Odds via the Fanduel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Wager responsibly!

Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter is “not cooperating” with the investigators and has not confessed to the assassination of the notable US conservative influencer in Utah last week, Governor Spencer Cox said on Sunday.

The authorities were still piecing together information about the 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, and were not ready to discuss a motive at this time, Cox said. However, he noted that Robinson disliked Kirk and may have been “radicalised” online.

According to Cox, his family and friends who are cooperating with the investigation, said Robinson became more political in recent years and has spent large amounts of time scrolling the “dark corners of the internet.”

Cox said that the investigation so far showed Robinson was left-leaning. “There clearly was a leftist ideology,” Cox said for US TV channel NBC citing interviews with Robinson’s relatives and acquaintances.

“Friends have confirmed that there was kind of that deep, dark internet, the Reddit culture, and these other dark places of the internet where this person was going deep.”

He pointed to references found engraved on the ammunition used to kill Kirk, which included anti-fascist and meme-culture language. Court records show that one bullet casing had the message, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”.

Some have disputed that Robinson was left-wing, claiming that he hails from a conservative Utah background and could have instead possibly been a part of the Groyper movement, an extreme online faction of “involuntarily celibate” people or incels, who share alt-right, antisemitic and Christian nationalist beliefs led by activist Nick Fuentes.

Fuentes, who, with Kirk, is part of a key group of young conservative influencers supportive of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, distanced himself from the claims Robinson was a Groyper, calling them “pure evil”.

“My followers and I are currently being framed for the murder of Charlie Kirk by the mainstream media based on literally zero evidence,” he said on a post on X.

The governor said more information may come out once Robinson appears in court Tuesday.

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Another claim has emerged that the suspect’s partner was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as a sign Robinson was targeting Kirk for his anti-transgender views.

However, the authorities have not said whether it is relevant as they investigate Robinson’s motive, and media reports have been inconclusive as to whether this person was Robinson’s partner or one of his roommates.

“The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female,” Cox said. “I can say that … this partner has been very cooperative, had no idea that this was happening.”

A Republican who has called on all partisans to tone down their rhetoric following the attack, Cox said, “I really don’t have a dog in this fight.”

“If this was a radicalised MAGA person, I’d be saying that as well,” he ephasised.

Prestigious scholarship abandoned?

Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, Utah, about 390 kilometres southwest of Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot last Wednesday.

State records show Robinson is registered to vote but not affiliated with a political party and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not vote in the two most recent general elections. His parents are registered Republicans.

Robinson grew up around St George, in the southwestern corner of Utah, between Las Vegas and natural landmarks including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.

He became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church, at a young age, church spokesperson Doug Andersen said.

Online activity by Robinson’s mother reflects an active family that travelled widely. In one photo, a young Robinson can be seen smiling as he grips the handles of a .50-calibre heavy machine gun outside a military facility.

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A high school honours student who scored in the 99th percentile nationally on standardised tests, he was admitted to Utah State University in 2021 on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter that was posted to a family member’s social media account.

But he attended for only one semester, according to the university. He is currently enrolled as a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St George.

Hundreds gathered Sunday night in the Utah hometown of alleged gunman Tyler Robinson to honor Charlie Kirk, mourn with his family, and acknowledge the pain of Robinson’s relatives.

Organizer Jordan Hess told the crowd he was “deeply moved” by their attendance. 

“I’m grateful that everyone felt the desire and the need to be here in the spirit of community tonight,” he said, clearly emotional.

Hess said the event was organized to “celebrate who we are as Americans – and to mourn … We gather today not as Democrats or Republicans, not as left or right, not as different races or believers of different religions but as citizens of the greatest, most enduring experiment of self-government that the world has ever known.”

CHARLIE KIRK’S FRIEND URGES MOURNERS TO ‘GO BACK TO CHURCH’ FOLLOWING ACTIVIST’S KILLING

Community members gather in Washington City, Utah, on Sept. 14, 2025, for a vigil honoring Charlie Kirk. (Fox News Digital)

He noted the vigil was also about mourning Kirk’s life, mourning for his family, the family of the alleged shooter, the students who witnessed the tragedy, and “mourning what this moment threatens to say about the state of our union.”

Whether or not people agreed with Kirk’s beliefs, “one truth remains, he was an American, a citizen, a son, a husband and maybe most importantly a voice. He bravely used his voice to advocate for things he believed in: faith, family and freedom,” Hess said. 

He added that “political assassination is not just the taking of life, it is the attempted murder of dialogue,” imploring that people should be able to “disagree passionately without destroying one another.”

UTAH LEADERS URGE UNITY FOLLOWING CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION: ‘TURNING POINT FOR AMERICA’

Community members gather in Washington City, Utah, on Sept. 14, 2025, for a vigil honoring Charlie Kirk. (Fox News Digital)

Attendee Taylor Crosby told Fox News Digital that he decided to come to the vigil because the “recent attack on free speech is something that should motivate the entire country to come together because when we can’t speak our mind, that’s the death of democracy at that point. So, something needs to change and I want to be the change that we want to see in the world.”

Although he didn’t agree with Kirk on everything, Crosby said he respected his opinions and that he fought for what he believed in.

Crosby said he didn’t know the Robinson family but had heard he was involved in a socialist community in the area.

UTAH STUDENTS LIFT VOICES IN PRAYER AT VIGIL FOR CHARLIE KIRK’S CHRISTIAN LEGACY: ‘FELT CALLED BY GOD’

Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah, prior to the assassination. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

“And I’ve had friends that are part of that group, and a lot of them are just filled with hate and vitriol,” he said. “I’ve gotten blocked and removed as friends for having opinions as basic as having a border and not letting in unlimited numbers of migrants. So, there’s definitely a wide extreme of people in this area. Anywhere from people who will come to support free speech to people who will demonize you for having an opinion that 50% of the population believes in. So it’s tough.”

Jesse Wilkinson stood quietly in the crowd wearing a shirt emblazoned with the word “Freedom.” 

For Wilkinson, a part-time firefighter from St. George who now lives in Washington, Utah, showing up was about more than politics.

“I just wanted to support my community,” he said. “I know we’re going through a hard time with the alleged shooter being from here and everything. I grew up in St. George… I just wanted to be supportive and share my love and support for all those that are mourning, especially the Kirk family as well as the Robinson family. I know they’re going through a really hard time.”

Wilkinson said he became a firefighter out of a desire to serve, and Kirk’s death struck him deeply.

VIGILS HELD ACROSS US AFTER ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK: ‘WE MUST HEAL’

Charile Kirk and his wife, Erika Lane Frantzve and their two children at Christmas in December 2024. (Charlie Kirk via Facebook)

“I think he was an amazing, amazing man. He was having an amazing impact. I admire the man, and I know his voice will echo forever.”

He also framed the tragedy as an attack not just on Kirk but on the freedoms he stood for.

“If we’re silent, that’s what’s going to cause violence. We need to come together, we need to talk, and agree to disagree,” he said, echoing Kirk’s words about open debate.

Even his shirt carried meaning. The “freedom” design, a gift from his mother, was a subtle nod to Kirk’s style and the values he represented.

“We’re the greatest country on the face of the planet, and we have amazing freedoms,” Wilkinson said.

For him, the vigil was about honoring Kirk, standing with neighbors, and recommitting to the principles of dialogue and freedom.

Kevin Holyoak shared a similar message. He told Fox News Digital the evening was a time for reflection, adding that the country is going through tough times and urging people to respect differing beliefs.

CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING LEADS TO OUTPOURING FROM UTAH OFFICIALS, 2025 NOMS ON BOTH SIDES

Attendees listen as speakers call for unity during a vigil in Washington City, Utah, on Sept. 14, 2025. (Fox News Digital)

“It’s better to talk through things as opposed to taking measures into your own hands that harm somebody else,” he said, noting that violence runs against the values America was built on.

A fan of Kirk, Holyoak described him as “an inspiring young person that got it real early.” He admired how Kirk listened to opposing opinions, treated people with respect, and encouraged open conversation.

“I just think we all need to act that way,” he said.

For him, the vigil was about honoring Kirk’s legacy while urging the community – and the country – to return to dialogue over conflict.

Utah Tech University President Shane Smeed told mourners the vigil was a moment for unity and healing. Speaking personally and not in his official role, Smeed called the past week “an incredibly difficult, tragic week” and urged the community to lean on faith instead of fear.

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He reflected on the meaning of unity, describing it as harmony and oneness, and used the image of Canadian geese flying in formation to illustrate how individuals support one another — and what happens when one falls behind. True unity, he said, means ensuring no one is left alone. “To be peacemakers, we have to strive to remove contention and hate in our lives,” Smeed said.

He closed with a prayer for peace, reminding the community that healing would come only through choosing dialogue, compassion, and unity.

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LARAMIE, Wyo. (ABC4 Sports) – It was an extremely slow start for the Utah offense Saturay night at Wyoming. But the Utes got it in gear in the second half to run away with a dominating 31-6 win over Wyoming to improve to 3-0 for the third straight year.

Devon Dampier led four consecutive touchdown drives in the second half, and No. 20 Utah beat Wyoming in the rivals’ first meeting since 2010.

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Dampier completed eight straight passes on Utah’s third-quarter scoring drives, finishing 27 of 41 for 230 yards and two TDs while adding 86 yards rushing. The Utes (3-0) scored on every second-half possession and finished with 311 yards on the ground.

Utes prepare for first trip to Wyoming in 15 years

“I wanted to see what our offense is built of. For us to not have a touchdown and then be able to come out after halftime and go 100 percent is awesome to see,” Dampier said.

NaQuari Rogers ran for a 1-yard TD to cap a 10-play, 83-yard drive to begin the second half.

On the next possession, Dampier engineered a 19-play, 80-yard march. On the final play, he dropped the ball after his dropback, picked it up and then threw a 8-yard scoring strike to Larry Simmons with 0:23 left in the third quarter.

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After an interception by Jackson Bennee, Dampier connected with JJ Buchanan for a 14-yard TD to make it 24-0 with 8:35 remaining.

Terron Kellman rushed for a 15-yard TD on fourth-and-1 with 4:23 to play for Wyoming’s only score. Utah answered with Hunter Andrews’ 11-yard scoring rush.

“Devon Dampier is really good … and they won both sides of the line of scrimmage, particularly in the second half,” Wyoming coach Jay Sawvel said.

It was the 84th meeting between the schools but the first in 15 years. Wyoming (2-1) has only played Colorado State more than Utah.

Early on, the prolific Utah offense was stymied by key mistakes. Most costly was Nate Johnson’s fumble that was forced by Desman Hearns and recovered by Andrew Johnson at the Wyoming 3 with 2:02 left until halftime.

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So, what was the big halftime speech? “Finish drives!” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham told his team.

Utes trounce Cal Poly 63-9 to improve to 2-0

The Utes had six penalties for 68 yards in the first half and many wiped away big plays.

Utah’s Dillon Curtis made a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter but missed two others and had one blocked by Anees Vyas just before halftime.

“Kind of a weird game. We had very similar yardage in the first half and second half, but very different results,” Whittingham said.

Ryan Davis, who transferred from New Mexico to Utah with Dampier, had a career-high 10 receptions for 91 yards.

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On an unsettled day of wind and rain, it took a half for Dampier and the Utes to settle in. The Utes may rise in the rankings but they have plenty to work on before beginning Big 12 play against Texas Tech next week. Fortunately for the Utes, their defense was stingy, limiting Wyoming’s Kaden Anderson to 108 yards passing. John Henry Daley had two sacks, doubling his total on the year.

“We want to make sure people know that we can dominate in the trenches and also on the back end as well,” Daley said.

The Cowboys had given up just one touchdown all season and corralled Utah for a half until Dampier wore them down. Wyoming ran just 57 plays to Utah’s 86 and was outgained 541 yards to 229.

Utah next hosts No. 21 Texas Tech next Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

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