Utah News

The Utah Legislature sent a message on Monday.

After begrudgingly following a judge’s orders to redraw Utah congressional maps, Republican lawmakers promised the state’s redistricting saga was far from over.

Members of the GOP majority doubled down on plans to appeal a lawsuit challenging their reforms to a 2018 ballot initiative all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Their response highlights an escalating conflict between the branches of Utah’s government: Who should have the final authority to translate voters’ preferences into law — legislators, or the courts?

“It is a fundamental disagreement as to how our republic form of government functions,” said state Sen. Brady Brammer in an interview with the Deseret News.

Democrats have accused their colleagues in the majority of ignoring the will of the people by finding workarounds to Proposition 4, or the Better Boundaries initiative.

Republicans, meanwhile, have framed a series of unfavorable rulings as acts of judicial activism exerting improper authority over elected representatives.

In 2024, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature cannot transform or toss out ballot initiatives that aim to alter the structure of government.

Last month, 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson said the Legislature had done just that, and ordered lawmakers to create new congressional maps on a truncated timeline.

Lawmakers lambasted the judgment while doing their best to comply. Gibson now has until Nov. 10 to green-light the Legislature’s proposals or pick an alternative.

If Gibson goes with another map not approved by the Legislature, Republican lawmakers have signaled they would treat it as a clear violation of the state constitution.

But regardless of Gibson’s decision, lawmakers intend to ask Utah’s Supreme Court to change its mind, or they will settle the debate at the highest court in the land.

“What we’re seeing right now is a unique, and probably a historic, tug-of-war between two different branches of government,” Sen. Stephanie Pitcher told the Deseret News.

Did the courts overreach?

The loudest message heard during Monday’s special legislative session was Republican lawmakers exclaiming that they should not have to be there in the first place.

Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, called the court-ordered process a “joke.” House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said it was something “all citizens should be concerned about.”

At the center of the controversy is the belief that the Utah Constitution gives exclusive authority over redistricting to the Legislature, according to Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove.

By creating a new category of “super laws” related to some ballot initiatives, the Utah Supreme Court increased judicial interference in the legislative process, Brammer said.

This tips the scale of checks-and-balances in the court’s favor, Brammer said, exemplified by Gibson’s “order” for the Legislature to “enact” a new congressional plan.

The judge later replaced this language, in a Saturday morning amendment, saying her court “failed to recognize the separation of powers” and “overstepped its authority.”

Bill Duncan, the Law & Religious Freedom Fellow at Sutherland Institute, said Republican legislators are right to protest the court leveraging its influence this way.

“I think it’s clear that the court can’t have authority to enforce the intent of voters, which is really going to be an entirely subjective question,” Duncan told the Deseret News.

Duncan expects before the 2026 midterm elections that lawmakers will bring the Prop 4 lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court — which has a precedent of leaving redistricting decisions up to the legislative branch.

State Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, said the details of legislation should be left to elected officials, not nonprofit groups claiming to speak on behalf of the people.

In 2020, and again in 2025, the Legislature did its best to incorporate feedback from constituents and Democratic colleagues to compose new maps, Pierucci said.

On Monday, the Legislature passed a bill specifying three tests to be used to ensure nonpartisan redistricting, which contained two filters proposed by Democratic lawmakers.

All redistricting processes, including an independent commission, are political, so Brammer’s bill demonstrates the Legislature’s desire to remove as much subjectivity as possible, Pierucci said.

Did lawmakers dismiss voters?

When Utah Democrats are presented with these arguments, they mostly hear sour grapes — conservative lawmakers offended by any check on their power.

Utah’s GOP-led Legislature should stop accusing the courts of malfeasance, Pitcher said, and should start reflecting on whether overhauling the 2018 initiative that Utah voters passed actually overstepped their authority.

The actions of her colleagues in recent days showed they are still uninterested in honoring the spirit of Prop 4, which discourages purposefully dividing the Democratic vote in Salt Lake County, according to Pitcher, D-Millcreek.

Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek, called the special session “a partisan exercise” because he thought his colleagues ignored the best tests of partisan fairness which usually produced a map with one competitive district.

Owens, who also served on the redistricting committee, clarified he was not pushing for a pick-up opportunity for Democrats, but he said that “a neutral process inevitably yields that.”

The map approved by the Legislature on Monday solidified two seats — District 1 and District 4 — as deeply Republican, while making Districts 2 and 3 more competitive.

Elizabeth Rasmussen, the executive director of Better Boundaries, told the Deseret News the Legislature’s actions on Monday “locked in some of the worst measures of fairness to be used in a state like ours.”

The approved map continues to disproportionately benefit Republicans — evidenced by the fact it was endorsed by the state GOP — and once again ignores the signal voters sent by passing Prop 4, Rasmussen said.

Courts are not attempting to take away the Legislature’s authority, according to Rasmussen, they are trying to ensure the Legislature “follows the law” as found in Prop 4, which will allow for “a representative Utah.”

“I don’t think any sole organization or person should have power,” Rasmussen said. “But as we have checks and balances to ensure it doesn’t become a political process, I think we can come to a great middle ground here.”

Should ballot initiatives be left alone?

At the bottom of Utah’s redistricting debate is whether ballot initiatives should be treated as untouchable when they change government structure, or whether they always require the guiding hand of legislators.

In this case, Pitcher said, a ballot initiative was the last resort for voters who wanted a check on lawmakers who could potentially “game the system” in Utah by making legislative boundaries less competitive.

Letting voters make policy when they feel ignored is “one of the fundamental tenets of democracy,” Pitcher said, adding that it is doubly offensive for the Legislature to then use taxpayer dollars to fight successful initiatives.

Pitcher and Owens agreed that recent rhetoric on judges, and a bill passed Monday allowing the governor to appoint the chief justice, threaten to distract judges from their job of interpreting the constitution.

But Brammer said this is exactly the problem: some judges appear to have gotten away from simply stating what the law is, and have begun stretching their interpretations to the point where they are making policy from the bench.

One reason the Legislature must remain free to alter ballot initiatives, Brammer said, is that all legislation requires multiple drafts, legal tests and future amendments, which might not be allowed under the new legal regime.

The worry, according to Duncan, is that if some ballot initiatives have protected status, then special interest groups will be able to co-opt the initiative process and create laws that courts can enforce however they please.

“It’s not that the initiative process itself is ineffective,” Duncan said, “but that the use of initiatives by the courts undermines a more foundational principle, which is the principle of separation of powers.”

On this date two years ago, Salt Lake City having an NHL team was nothing but a pipe dream. On this date last year, the Utah Hockey Club played its first regular-season game.

The team only had a few months to get the plane off the ground in the first place — and it didn’t slow down when the puck dropped.

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Here’s what the Mammoth, as an organization, has accomplished so far.

What did the Utah Mammoth accomplish in their first year?

Sold out every game

The limited-view seats at the Delta Center aren’t counted as part of the official capacity. With that qualification, the team sold out every game in Year 1 — 11,131 seats each night.

Of course, some of that is due to the “shiny new toy” factor, but the sellouts seemed to continue in their two preseason games in Salt Lake City (most teams don’t even come close to selling out in the preseason).

Named the team

It became clear to the public over the past year why Smith Entertainment Group opted not to name the team off the bat (or should I say off the faceoff?).

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The trademark process seemed to be anything but smooth sailing. Even now that they own the “Utah Mammoth” trademark, legal issues are ongoing. They simply didn’t have enough time to figure that out completely before beginning their first season, which was why they used the “Utah Hockey Club” moniker temporarily.

While asking for fan input wasn’t a unique way to name the team, the technology they utilized was. It certainly helps when the owner is the founder of a survey company.

Released new jerseys (twice)

When the first Utah Hockey Club jerseys became available, Utah broke the NHL record for most in-arena, single-day sales.

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After naming the team, they dropped another set of jerseys. The team hasn’t released stats regarding any records this time, but there was a line forming outside the Delta Center at about 4 a.m. the day they went on sale, so you know they moved a lot of product.

Constructed a state-of-the-art practice facility

It took SEG 13 months to turn a Macy’s store into a two-rink NHL practice facility.

The building is still not completely finished, but certainly meets NHL standards — and exceeds them in many ways. Several players have called it the nicest facility in the league, including Nate Schmidt, who comes to the team from another team in the running, the Florida Panthers.

Retrofitted the Delta Center for hockey

An NHL-size rink is more than three-and-a-half times the size of an NBA court. Squeezing ice into the basketball-suited Delta Center was always going to be a challenge, but SEG has been innovative enough to find a permanent solution.

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Of course, the renovation is still a work in progress. Much of the upper bowl still has limited-view seats, but that will be solved over the next two offseasons.

This summer, they essentially turned two walls into more than 1,100 seats. Every seat in the lower bowl now has full views, and they accomplished it in five months.

Cultivated a loyal fan base

Hockey fans existed in the state of Utah long before the NHL arrived, but they were much fewer than they are now.

Lots of the credit certainly belongs to the people. Ryan Smith loves to say “Utah shows up,” and in this context, he was right.

Credit is also due to SEG. It has integrated the team into the community through seemingly weekly events, including many grassroots hockey programs and public availabilities with the players.

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Stayed in the playoff race until the end of the season

The team’s goal for last year was to play meaningful games in the final months of the regular season. Whether they made the playoffs or not was secondary.

They did exactly that, being officially eliminated a few games before the season ended. The idea was to get the young guys some experience playing in high-pressure situations so that when they do eventually make it, they’ll be used to it.

What’s left for the Utah Mammoth to accomplish?

Make the playoffs (and eventually win the Stanley Cup)

On the ice, there’s still a lot to be done. Making the playoffs is the organization’s stated goal this season. In future years, the bar will be even higher.

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No matter how good a team is, it’s never guaranteed to win the Stanley Cup — but the Mammoth have put themselves in a good position to achieve it in the future. If things work out the way they’d like, they’ll have a solid five to 10 years of Cup contention.

Reveal a mascot?

Jazz Bear served as “Hockey Bear” last season, but most fans are hoping to see an updated mascot now that there’s a team name.

In an announcement made on Wednesday, the Mammoth told fans to be in their seats early for the Oct. 15 home opener “to witness a special surprise moment and pregame entertainment.” Could that include a mascot reveal?

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Sustain success over a long period of time

It’s still early in the franchise’s existence. Having all this success within the community is a great first step, but it doesn’t mean much if it wanes over the next decade or two, causing them the same fate as the Arizona Coyotes and the first iteration of the Winnipeg Jets.

Things are going in the right direction. People are taking a liking to hockey, and young kids are a central focus for the team. It’s not unlikely that Utah could eventually become like its neighbor, Colorado, which has enjoyed decades of success and produced many NHL players.

You probably wouldn’t expect to run into the makers of off-road wheelchairs, air leak testers and premium barbecue in one place but a new competition has rounded up those companies, and over a dozen more, to answer one question: What is the coolest thing made in Utah?

Working from a list of nominations, the Utah Manufacturers Association has pared the selections to 16 products manufactured in the state and is inviting Utahns and people around the world to cast their vote for the “Coolest Thing Made In Utah” competition.

Hosted by the UMA and presented by DBD Investment Bank, the competition is designed to celebrate Utah’s dynamic manufacturing industry, which includes over 3,000 companies that employ more than 150,000 Utahns, according to the organizers.

Voting for the top products is open now through 11:59 p.m. MDT Thursday, Oct. 9. UMA marketing and communications manager Jenn Sparks said supporters can cast their votes for their favorite product at manufacturingutah.com.

Sparks said the effort is a fun way to highlight the state’s manufacturing community and raise awareness of the wide variety of products that are “native Utahns.”

“A lot of people will be surprised by what’s being made right here in their own backyards,” Sparks said.

The tournament will run, over successive rounds, throughout October until only two companies are left standing. The 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Utah winner will be announced on Nov. 7 at the UMA Annual Awards Gala, where finalists will also be invited to celebrate.

The sweet sixteen

These Utah manufacturers and their products are the final 16 contenders:

• Made-in-America ladders — Little Giant Ladder Systems

• Insulated panel — Nucor Insulated Panel Group

• Zaxis air leak testers — Zaxis

• Huggies Snug & Dry diapers — Kimberly Clark

• Smith Imprint 3D collection — Smith Optics

• Xodine iodine — Cedar Bear Naturales, Inc.

• Oxtail Softball — Les BBQ

• Barnes Reserve — Barnes Bullets

• Silencers/suppressors for firearms — SilencerCo

• SAE high accuracy wing de-fastening robots for the F-16 fighter jet — SAE Inc

• Extreme Motus off-road wheelchair — Extreme Motus

• AI camera manufacturing station — MomentTrack

• High-performance premium carbon fiber bikes and components — ENVE

• Pre-engineered metal buildings — CO Building Systems

• Nova Spin — TORUS

• Pyrite chandelier — HAMMERTON

The Utah Manufacturers Association has been advocating on behalf of the state’s manufacturing sector since 1905. The organization currently has over 1,200 members statewide. According to its charter, the UMA works to bring businesses, educators, government, and community leaders together to champion the growth and success of Utah’s manufacturing sector.

Outdoor Retailer is leaving Salt Lake City once again, but for another outdoorsy state this time around.

Organizers of North America’s largest outdoor gear show announced late last week that they’ll hold their next show in Minneapolis, ending a three-year stint in Salt Lake City that began in 2023 after the show moved to Denver in 2018 over politics.

Next year’s show, planned for Aug. 19-21, 2026, will feature a new “Leadership Village” that will “guide an inspired team of brand leaders, designers, sustainability experts, athletes and emerging voices to shape the next chapter of the show,” according to Emerald Expositions’ Sports and Outdoor Division, which oversees the annual event.

“Moving Outdoor Retailer to Minnesota creates a fresh stage for collaboration, creativity and the outdoor community to thrive together,” said Randolph Briley, director of Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership, in a statement. “This step underscores the strength of our outdoor economy, driving billions in impact, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and inspiring people to get outside.”

It wasn’t immediately clear why Outdoor Retailer pulled out of Utah again, but the two sides were nearing the end of an agreement reached in 2022. Leaders of Outdoor Retailer and Visit Salt Lake — Salt Lake County’s tourism wing — confirmed to KSL.com in June that they were negotiating over a potential extension in Utah, but nothing was set in stone at the time.

Both sides were hopeful despite uncertainty with the Salt Palace Convention Center looming. Utah lawmakers approved a $1.8 billion funding mechanism for a rebuild of the convention center earlier this year, adding to plans of a “sports, entertainment, culture and convention district” in and around the Delta Center that Smith Entertainment Group unveiled in 2024 as it brought the NHL to Utah.

Salt Lake County officials announced last month that they had secured a pair of firms to oversee the redesign of the building, as well as a pair of construction management and consulting firms to assist with other logistics. Partial demolition of the Salt Palace’s massive exhibit hall is expected to begin as early as 2027, following the county’s sale of 6.5 acres of land to Smith Entertainment Group for a little more than $55 million in April.

In a statement to KSL.com, Visit Salt Lake president and CEO Kaitlin Eskelson said she wishes Outdoor Retailer “continued success in their next chapter” as the county prepares for the Salt Palace’s next chapter.

“While Outdoor Retailer has evolved post-pandemic, Salt Lake remains focused on opportunities that align with our strengths and vision for the future,” she said. “Our significant investments in the downtown convention district, including a transformational reimagining of the Salt Palace Convention Center, will create new opportunities and ensure Salt Lake is positioned to host world-class events for decades to come. We are excited to write the next chapter in the global convention and tourism economy.”

Outdoor Retailer first moved to Salt Lake City in the 1990s, blossoming in Utah’s capital city before its tumultuous departure. Officials announced in 2017 that they’d move the show out of Utah after meeting with then-Gov. Gary Herbert and various companies over concerns the companies had with Utah’s stance on public lands, such as a push to shrink Bears Ears National Monument.

The show ultimately ended up in Denver but returned to Utah after five years. While state and local officials called its return a “huge win” at the time, it never attracted the same numbers it once did. Approximately 300 brands from dozens of countries attended the show this summer, as compared to the 1,600 exhibitors who came to Utah’s capital city in 2015.

Some of that was tied to big-name brands like Patagonia, REI and The North Face following through on threats to boycott the show if it returned to the Beehive State. Budget uncertainties tied to tariffs and lagging numbers in trade shows since the COVID-19 pandemic may have also factored into the fewer participants, Sean Smith, director of Outdoor Retailer, said in June.

Salt Lake City is “disappointed” by Outdoor Retailer’s decision to relocate again, but its “commitment to outdoor recreation and public lands will remain,” said Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesman for the city. Like Eskelson, he said the city is focused on major renovations to its convention district, which could draw Outdoor Retailer or related events back to Utah in the future.

“As work begins on our new sports, entertainment, culture and convention district, we know the convention landscape will continue to evolve,” he said. “However, these changes are setting the stage for even more opportunity, and we look forward to working with Emerald Expositions on future events.”

Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is the No. 33 highest-paid coach in college football, according to USA TODAY’s 2025 compensation survey. The Utes coach is set to earn a total of $6,925,000, not including bonuses, which ranks No. 4 in the Big 12 Conference.

USA TODAY’s available data does not include total pay figures for Big 12 member BYU.

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Amounts for coaches at private schools or Pittsburgh are based on the schools’ most recently available financial records, which cover the 2023 calendar year and include all forms of pay from the school, including bonuses.

Here’s everything you need to know about Whittingham’s contract with Utah in 2025.

View the entire 2025 college football coach salary database here

How much does Utah pay Kyle Whittingham in 2025?

Utah is scheduled to pay Whittingham $6,925,000 for the 2025 season. But that number could go up based on potential bonuses. Bonuses Paid based on contract amendment the parties signed in October 2023 under which Whittingham agreed that for the 2023 season only, his bonus for the team’s bowl appearance would be $100,000 less than otherwise called for under the contract.

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How much is Kyle Whittingham’s buyout at Utah in 2025?

As of Dec. 1, 2025, if the school fires Whittingham without cause, he would be set to receive $8,333,333, which ranks as the No. 52 most expensive buyout out of the 105 USA TODAY’s could review and No. 11 in the Big 12 Conference.

USA TODAY’s available data does not include buyout figures for Big 12 members TCU, Baylor and BYU.

All buyout figures are calculated using the same hypothetical date of a coach’s separation with their school. Many of buyout clauses reviewed by USA TODAY are expressly subject to coach’s duty to make good-faith efforts to find another job, with income from that employment offsetting the amount owed. If mitigation and offset are not addressed in contract, the coach may still have an obligation to make efforts in that regard. The amount listed may be owed to coach over an extended period of time, rather than as a lump sum at termination. Amount may not take into account per-day pro-rating for a partial contract year.

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How much can Kyle Whittingham earn in bonuses in 2025?

The most Whittingham can earn in bonuses from Utah for the 2025-26 season and school year is $1,800,000, which ranks as tied for 18th greatest possible total out of the 111 that USA TODAY could review. Whittingham’s maximum bonus ranks No. 5 in the Big 12 Conference.

USA TODAY’s available data does not include maximum bonus figures for Big 12 members TCU, Baylor and BYU.

To see the methodology behind these data, click here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham 2025 contract details: Salary, buyout and more

A proper “Dodransbicentennial” calls for a party, right?

The University of Utah is inviting the public to celebrate its 175th anniversary — aka, its Dodransbicentennial — for a free campus celebration.

The school’s 175th Celebration Bash is slated for Thursday, Oct. 16, at the A. Ray Olpin Student Union. Festivities start at 5 p.m., with a drone and light show starting at 7:30 p.m.

“From Day 1, the ‘U’ dared to dream bigger and climb higher, and we are thrilled to commemorate nearly two centuries of achievements alongside the campus community, students, friends and alums who’ve helped make it all possible,” according to a university release.

All are invited. Families are welcome — and all events and refreshments are free. Highlights will include dancing, a live band, games, caricature artists and desserts from the university kitchen.

Free parking will be available in several locations around the celebration, with shuttle service running from the Central Garage and the Rice-Eccles Stadium.

1850: Founding a ‘glorious institution … where knowledge may be disseminated’

The Oct. 16 175th Celebration Bash formally concludes a historic year at Utah’s flagship university — which was founded on Feb. 28, 1850, under the direction of Latter-day Saint prophet Brigham Young.

Originally named the University of Deseret, the University of Utah was the first university west of the Missouri River.

While founding regent Williams Ivans Appleby likely never envisioned today’s sprawling, hyper-modern 1,500-plus acres campus on the base of the Wasatch Mountains, his words — recorded in 1850 — have proven prescient:

“We wish … (to) lay the foundation of a glorious institution …, where knowledge may be disseminated in all its various branches, where literature, arts and sciences can be taught in all their present perfection and improved thereon.”

The work of Appleby and other founders, said University of Utah president Taylor Randall, “is the bedrock for the student-focused teaching, innovative research, world-class health care and thoughtful service performed every day by our campus community.”

Humble beginnings — 175 years ago

The University of Deseret was opened in 1850 in the John Pack home in downtown Salt Lake City and chartered 25 students who paid $8 for a quarter’s tuition. For adjusted inflation, that amount equates to about $330 today.

Economics forced the shuttering of the University of Deseret in 1853. But Brigham Young reopened the school in 1869, appointing John R. Park as the school’s first official president.

A bit of President Park trivia: The forward-thinking leader established branches in areas across the state, including one in Provo — the Timpanogos Branch — that would later become Brigham Young Academy and, eventually, Brigham Young University.

In 1892, the school was formally renamed the University of Utah — and the Utah Territorial Legislature petitioned Congress for 60 acres to be utilized for a new campus. That request was granted in 1894, landing the university on the east bench of the Salt Lake Valley where it operates today.

In its effort to secure statehood, territory leaders separated its public education system from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the institution became a secular school.

Utah became a state in 1896.

Looking ahead: Conjuring ‘College Town Magic’

Even while celebrating its 175 year history, campus leaders are crafting a future for the arts and sciences that founding regent Appleby would likely approve.

Major physical developments are underway at the University of Utah — signaling a transition from what’s traditionally been a commuter campus into a “destination campus” with significant increases in campus residential housing.

The future University of Utah is expected to be divided into distinct “districts” — anchored by a district dubbed “College Town Magic” that’s being designed to enhance the university experience with housing, dining, integrated arts and cultural space, retail, recreation spaces and plazas.

And last year, the University of Utah and the U.S. Army Reserve announced a historic land transfer and relocation agreement.

Using more than $100 million appropriated by the Utah Legislature, the University of Utah is building a headquarters for the Army Reserve at Camp Williams, clearing the way for the military to vacate the remaining 50.9 acres it occupies just east of the university campus.

Following the relocation of the Army Reserve, the historic Fort Douglas property will be transferred to the University of Utah for future campus development.

Sadie Dahl didn’t have to sing much at all to get the attention of a coach on “The Voice.”

Within just a few seconds of her blind audition, the 19-year-old singer from Draper, Utah, had former One Direction member Niall Horan and Michael Buble turning around in their red swivel chairs for a chance to get her on their teams.

Country star Reba McEntire soon followed, and by the minute mark of Dahl’s performance — a rendition of Black Pumas’ “Colors” — Snoop Dogg joined to make it an impressive four-chair turn.

The teenager received an enthusiastic standing ovation from Horan, and a bold declaration from McEntire: “You could definitely win this thing.”

Here’s what the “Voice” coaches told Dahl during her audition — and who the budding singer ended up selecting to be her coach.

Utah singer Sadie Dahl auditions for ‘The Voice’

The “Voice” coaches were visibly shocked when Dahl revealed she was only 19 years old.

“Nineteen years old and singing like that,” Snoop Dogg said, praising her ability to incorporate multiple genres like pop, soul and R&B in her performance. “As I listen to your vocals, I hear so many different ranges of tone and delivery, and how you’re so professional and strong on stage.

“If you choose me as your coach, I think we would make great music, and I think you would have a great career after this show.”

Horan was so passionate about getting Dahl on his team that he used his one and only block to prevent Buble — the coach who has won the last two seasons of “The Voice” — from having a chance.

“I love how you never wavered,” Horan said of her performance. “It actually got better.”

McEntire offered up some of the highest praise, telling the teenager she has a shot at making it all the way to the Season 28 finale.

“Wow,” the three-time Grammy winner said. “You can definitely win this thing. I’m not kidding. That was mesmerizing. It’s so different what you do, so way to go. I would love to have you on my team, but wherever you land, I’m just very proud for ‘The Voice’ that you’re on ‘The Voice.’”

Although Buble wasn’t in the running to be Dahl’s coach, he said that having the singer on Season 28 was a win for “The Voice.”

“As deeply disappointed and devastated for myself as I am, I’m also as or more happy for you,” he said. “I’m going to cheer for you the whole time.”

After some deliberation, Dahl chose Snoop Dogg to be her coach. This season marks the rapper’s second run as a coach on the show, while the other three coaches are in their third season coaching. Snoop Dogg is also the only coach this season who doesn’t have a win under his belt.

But he believes Dahl can change that.

“Sadie was a great win,” he said following her audition. “I love her style, her voice, her uniqueness. I feel like she could win this show.”

Shortly after her audition aired, Dahl shared her excitement on social media.

“How is my life real?? 4 CHAIRS, a BLOCK, AND joining TEAM SNOOP?! I will NEVER believe this,“ she shared on Instagram. ”God is so good.”

Dahl will next appear in the Battle round of “The Voice,” which premieres Monday, Oct. 13.

Who is Sadie Dahl?

As Dahl auditioned for “The Voice,” her mom and her grandmother, Linda, cheered her on from the side of the stage.

Dahl’s 71-year-old grandmother — who the teenager said is “the biggest fan of ‘The Voice’” — was visibly emotional as her granddaughter performed for “The Voice” coaches.

She’s also a nurse and two-time cancer survivor, and has been a source of inspiration for Dahl.

“Through all of that, she’s still coming to any gigs I have,” Dahl said on “The Voice.” “That teaches me a lot about how I should be pursuing my music, and to keep at it.”

Going into the audition, Dahl’s grandmother told her granddaughter “to sing from her heart, because the coaches turn when they feel emotion.”

Dahl shared with “Voice” producers that she graduated from high school about a year ago and currently manages a sensory deprivation spa.

She began classical violin training when she was 4, but didn’t discover her love for singing until she was 12, when her mom overheard her quietly singing in her room, per information “The Voice” shared with the Deseret News. Since then, Dahl has won local competitions, performed in bands and written original music.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — “With its focus on families,” a line from the Utah State Song, residents would hope that the Beehive State is a safe place to live. An annual study says that Utah has maintained its spot among the safest places in the U.S.

According to a recent study from WalletHub, the Beehive State is the fifth-safest place to live in the U.S. This study looked at dimensions like residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety, and statewide emergency preparedness.

Below are the ten safest states to live in, based on the study:

2. Massachusetts

3. New Hampshire

6. Connecticut

9. Rhode Island

2024: Utah ranks in the top five safest states in America, study shows

Why was Utah ranked fifth?

Utah was also ranked fifth last year, meaning that the Beehive State has maintained its status compared to other states. Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts were all above Utah last year, as well.

Across the five key dimensions in the study, Utah consistently ranked high, only landing a below-average spot in one dimension: personal and residential safety rank.

The Beehive State was 28th based on personal and residential safety. That dimension was based on metrics like crimes per capita, suicide rate, law enforcement employees per capita, hate crime incidents per capita, and more. Utah likely landed so low due to the state’s elevated suicide rate.

In the next dimension, financial safety, Utah was put in 18th place. The financial safety rank was developed using metrics such as the unemployment rate, job security, personal bankruptcy filings per capita, foreclosure rate, and other financial statistics. While the Beehive State didn’t rank particularly low, it also wasn’t very high.

When it comes to road safety, Utah was the sixth-safest state in the U.S. While many residents may be wondering how the 100 Deadliest Days factors into this, Utah actually has the fourth-lowest amount of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, according to WalletHub. Other states also have a higher rate of DUI fatalities.

Workplace safety ranks were determined by just four metrics: fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, injuries and illnesses per 100,000 full-time workers, median days lost to occupational injuries and illnesses, and the presence of occupational safety and health act plans. The Beehive State took home fifth place in this category; however, it was in first place last year.

The final dimension, emergency preparedness, was based on the number of disasters and the amount lost from climate disasters that caused $1 billion or more in damages between 1980 and 2024. According to the study, Utah is the third-safest state based on emergency preparedness. The Beehive State also had the second-lowest loss amount from climate disasters per capita, likely resulting in the high rank.

For more information on the study’s methodology and to see how other states compared, visit WalletHub’s website.

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According to Bobby Marks, the Utah Jazz are a team to watch in potential three-team deals.

From Marks:

The Hornets, Jazz and Wizards are teams to watch either in a three-team trade or a deal taking back salary. Charlotte and Washington each has its $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception to use in a trade. Utah has an $18.4 million trade exception.

The rumor focusing on the Jazz taking on more salary is interesting. Marks mentions the Jazz’s $18.4 million trade exception as the way Utah makes a trade happen. Clearly, the Jazz would like to bring on more draft capital as well as a player that another team is looking to shed. Based on the moves Utah has made this offseason, the type of player they want isn’t necessarily someone who improves the roster, but rather one who comes with an expiring contract and picks. Here’s a list of players who have a contract around that $18.4M range and are also on an expiring contract:

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• Rui Hachimura – $18.25M – Lakers

• Zach Collins – $18.08M – Bulls

• Kevin Huerter – $17.99M – Bulls

• Daniel Gafford – $14.38M – Mavericks

• PJ Washington – $14.15M – Mavericks

There’s more out there that the Jazz could go after with long-term contracts, but these types of contracts could be interesting for Utah in a three-team trade. This type of deal might not be something the Jazz initiate, but if a team needs a third partner in a deal, Utah will be ready. A perfect example was the Luka Doncic trade, where Utah joined in and was able to acquire an asset even though they weren’t directly involved.

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah’s Republican-led Legislature approved a revised congressional map Monday that could give Democrats an improved chance at flipping a seat as the party fights to topple the GOP’s slim majority in the U.S. House. But in a state overwhelmingly dominated by Republicans, it remains a long-shot that Democrats could win a district next year.