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Texas National Guard soldiers headed to Chicago on Monday as Illinois joined Oregon and California in challenging the Trump administration for federalizing state militias to protect immigration agents.

The Democratic-led states filed a litany of lawsuits against the White House over the weekend, alleging that President Donald Trump had taken unprecedented steps to exert military authority against U.S. civilians.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said on Monday that federal officials had not coordinated with him before launching what the Democratic governor called the “unconstitutional invasion of Illinois by the federal government.”

Hours earlier, the Democratic mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, announced an executive order that would establish “ICE-free zones,” prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement from operating on city-owned property.

In a post on X, Utah Sen. Mike Lee questioned whether Johnson had ever read the “Supremacy Clause” of the U.S. Constitution, which makes federal statute the “supreme law of the land,” overriding state or local policies.

Johnson’s order came after Chicago residents appeared to violently interfere with federal operations on Saturday when ICE officials were “boxed in” by vehicles and a crowd, resulting in several arrests and the shooting of one woman.

In an emergency hearing held on Monday, a federal judge did not immediately block National Guardsmen from entering the city, postponing a hearing on the issue until Thursday, according to the New York Times.

Did Trump act constitutionally?

Trump has characterized blue-state opposition to federal operations as an effort to shelter dangerous criminals. Critics, including a Trump-appointed judge, argue that the National Guard deployment exceeds constitutional limits.

The former head of the Utah National Guard, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jefferson Burton, told the Deseret News that Trump’s mobilization of the National Guard falls under Title 10 authorities, permitting him to make the National Guard part of federal forces during national emergencies.

“It’s not breaking statutes currently in place, but it does test the norms to some degree because in most cases presidents don’t do this without a governor requesting those troops,” Burton said. “And so I’m not surprised that courts are saying, ‘Wait, slow down.’”

Burton, who also serves as a state lawmaker from Salem, said the administration’s legal confrontation represents a fundamental disagreement on a “sensitives states’ rights issue” about the National Guard’s role in helping enforce federal initiatives.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has previously been outspoken about federal overreach related to National Guard units. In August, Cox said he supported the Utah National Guard aiding ICE as long as it did not include participating in arrests.

Trump’s June 7 order to federalize National Guard troops, even against a state’s wishes, is “unprecedented,” said ACLU National Security Project Director Hina Shamsi in response to a question from the Deseret News.

The statutes Trump invoked only apply during true emergencies as determined in “good faith and honest judgement” — and the situations in Portland and Chicago do not meet that threshold, according to Shamsi.

“In Portland, and I would say it’s the same elsewhere, there is no ‘good faith-honest judgment’ basis for deploying federalized National Guard troops over the objections of governors,” Shamsi said.

On Sept. 29, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered 200 Oregon National Guard soldiers to be deployed to Portland to protect federal immigration facilities, where protests had consistently taken place since June.

On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, put the move on hold, ruling that the troops were not needed to enforce laws, suppress an insurrection or repel an invasion.

Immergut expanded her original restraining order during an emergency hearing on Sunday to include the National Guard of any state sent to Oregon after the Trump administration attempted to deploy troops from California and Texas.

Can the National Guard fight city crime?

The lawsuit did not directly impact Trump’s order sending the National Guard to Chicago, where the president has promised to quell persistent gang violence, in addition to providing protection for federal immigration agents.

Those who claim Trump’s efforts are tantamount to turning the U.S. military against Americans are escalating an already tense political moment, according to Rafael Mangual, a senior fellow in criminal justice policy at the Manhattan Institute.

“It’s irresponsible to ratchet up the rhetoric to suggest that this is some kind of attack on American citizens within these cities,” Mangual said.

It is clear from the multiple assaults on ICE officers in recent weeks that “they need help,” according to Mangual. But it is essential to distinguish between the two different justifications for deploying the guard.

While the National Guard is not prepared to fulfill local law enforcement duties, it is equipped to support ICE agents during protests and to maintain order around facilities — especially where there is a perceived lack of help from local law enforcement, Mangual said.

It is unclear whether efforts to decrease crime using the National Guard in Washington, D.C., have been effective, Mangual said. And if Trump tried to use troops outside of the capital to fight local crime then it would create legal uncertainties about the National Guard’s jurisdiction.

“What I would like to see is a world in which … Portland and Chicago come to realize the error of their ways, come to understand that they do have a serious crime and disorder problem, and authorize their police to do the things that those police have trained to do,” Mangual said.

Along with Utah, Arizona State was off this past weekend.

But both coaching staffs weren’t exactly enjoying a relaxing and rejuvenating week away from football as they prepared for each other.

Saturday’s after-dark showdown with an 8:15 p.m. MT kickoff underneath the lights at Rice-Eccles Stadium could be huge in the Big 12 title race.

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The defending conference champion Sun Devils arrive in Salt Lake City with a 4-1 regular-season record, their only loss coming in nonconference play at Mississippi State. Arizona State is 2-0 in Big 12 play thanks to two last-minute kicks by Jesus Gomez to lift the Sun Devils to a pair of 27-24 victories over Baylor and TCU.

Utah also has a 4-1 record, its lone loss coming against now-No. 9 Texas Tech in the two schools’ Big 12 opener.

“Utah’s not undefeated, but their one loss was basically a unbelievably tight game versus Tech. I mean unbelievably tight game the entire time. In the first quarter they throw a touchdown and there’s an illegal man downfield that was really irrelevant to the play, calls it back and the game’s tied in the fourth quarter. If not for that one play with eight, nine minutes left, whole different football game,” Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said.

The Utes picked up their first Big 12 win with a 48-14 thrashing of West Virginia in Morgantown and can’t afford another loss, much less two, if it wants to be playing on Dec. 6 in the Big 12 championship game, making Saturday’s matchup extremely important.

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With three other undefeated teams in conference play (Texas Tech, BYU and Cincinnati), Arizona State has a chance to get not only the biggest statement victory of its season, but perhaps cement itself as one of the favorites to make the Big 12 championship game.

The Sun Devils haven’t been without their flaws — especially in the red zone, where they are ranked No. 117 nationally, scoring touchdowns just 50% of the game — and haven’t been as dominant as they were in 2024 without running back Cam Skattebo.

ASU ranks No. 47 in total offense (423.2 yards per game) and No. 42 in total defense (321 yards per game), but have one of the best receivers in Jordyn Tyson, who is averaging 96.6 receiving yards per game.

Utah opened as a five-point favorite at home, and ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Utes a 69.6% chance of winning.

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Thus far, Utah has taken care of business against teams that it was supposed to beat — UCLA, Cal Poly, Wyoming and West Virginia. In its only real test of the season, the Utes lost 34-10 to Texas Tech, but kept it close until midway through the fourth quarter despite the Utes’ defense not having support from their offense.

The Utes were unranked in Sunday’s latest AP Top 25 poll, but Dillingham feels like Utah is a Top 25 team.

“I think Utah should 100% be in the Top 25. I mean their one loss is to a Texas Tech team that could be a top-five team in the country. So I mean I think that we’re about to face a team that’s definitely a top 25 opponent in my opinion,” Dillingham said.

Utah’s offense has been shut down only once this season against a defense that is one of the best in the conference. The Utes’ offense ranks No. 18 in the country in yardage (469.2 per game) and their defense ranks No. 25 in yardage allowed (300.4).

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ASU will be the Utes’ second-toughest test thus far, and a chance to prove to the Big 12 that they’re a contender.

Quarterback Devon Dampier has passed for 1,027 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions at a 72.5% completion rate, while adding 258 yards and two scores on the ground.

“Obviously they’re way more of a triple option, I would say. They kind of went back to the Alex Smith era in that era of Utah football, which is when you can run the ball and you have the O-line like they do,” Dillingham said.

“Dampier has played awesome this year and he’s athletic, he can throw the ball down field. It creates a plus-one run. And when you’re already good upfront and then you add a plus one, it makes you better. So different play with tempo this year.

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“So it’s not as much ball control, which is a little different from that perspective. But they definitely put you in hard, hard spots schematically with what they do with the plus one runs and the zone read game and the boots and the shots and the screens and the funny formations. You don’t have a chance to prepare for everything they do.”

Powering the offense is an offensive line that has mostly been as advertised, though Texas Tech’s defensive front got the better of them. Aside from that game, Utah has been able to run the at will, led by offensive tackles Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano.

“They’re both first-round draft picks. That’s a pretty big challenge. They play offensive tackle and they’re good blockers. You usually don’t want to go vs. that,” Dillingham said, per Justin LaCertosa.

Dillingham recounted how he recruited both Fano and Lomu — Fano while he was the offensive coordinator at Oregon and Lomu, who is from Arizona, while he was at Arizona State.

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“They’re both really good players, both really good families, both really good people, so I kind of wish we got them both,” Dillingham said.

Dillingham, 35, has long shared his admiration for Utah’s program and its coach, Kyle Whittingham, saying in 2023 that he felt like Utah was the “gold standard” for what he could do at ASU.

Almost immediately, Dillingham proved that he’s up there with the best coaches in the sport right now, turning around a reeling program and winning the Big 12 championship in 2024.

Now, Dillingham and the Devils are trying for a repeat of the conference championship and a second win in a row over the Utes.

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“Obviously you guys know how I feel about Coach Whittingham. I think he’s one of the best coaches in this generation. His ability to continually win and adapt and change. It’s really incredible what he’s accomplished there and hopefully we’re getting closer and closer and closer to creating a program similar to theirs,” Dillingham said.

BOULDER, Utah (ABC4) — The victim of a fatal motorcycle crash near Boulder, Utah, on Thursday has been identified, according to the Dept. of Public Safety (DPS).

The victim is identified as Leslie Powers, 75, of Draper, Utah.

On Oct. 2, at around 12:15 p.m., Powers was riding a motorcycle northbound on SR-12 near milepost 101. A witness observed the motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed as it entered a curve in the road to the left.

Powers failed to negotiate the curve and went off the road to the right, according to DPS. The motorcycle struck a delineator post before going off the shoulder and into a rocky and wooded area.

Powers was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered fatal injuries, according to DPS.

No further information is available at this time.

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Clayton Keller poised to lead Utah Mammoth into first full season with new identity originally appeared on The Sporting News

Utah Mammoth’s first full season has arrived with new identity, and with it comes a new era of NHL hockey in Salt Lake City, one led by star forward Clayton Keller. The team unveiled its complete 2025–26 regular season schedule, with the campaign set to open October 9 on the road in Colorado before Utah makes its highly anticipated home debut October 15 against the Calgary Flames at Delta Center.

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This season represents more than just a name change. It is the beginning of the Mammoth era, a chance for Utah to carve its own place in the NHL landscape. At the center of it all stands Keller, a proven All-Star whose skill, leadership, and consistency have quickly made him the face of hockey in Utah.

A fresh start for a growing franchise

Following a successful debut season that captured the attention of fans across the state, the Mammoth are officially stepping into their identity as Utah’s team. The franchise enters the 2025–26 campaign with momentum, renewed energy, and a fan base that has already filled the Delta Center with playoff-level passion.

The schedule is packed with highlights, including four matchups against the Central Division rival Colorado Avalanche, a budding regional showdown that is already bringing a competitive edge to the Mountain West. Utah’s home opener versus Calgary on October 15 will mark the start of a four-game homestand that also includes visits from San Jose, Boston, and Colorado.

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Keller takes center stage

Clayton Keller is expected to be the centerpiece of the Mammoth’s offense again this season. Coming off another strong campaign, the veteran winger continues to elevate his game, balancing scoring prowess with leadership for a young and energetic roster.

Keller’s presence has been transformative both on and off the ice. His commitment to the Utah market has helped solidify the team’s new identity, while his creativity and patience with the puck make him one of the most dangerous forwards in the Western Conference.

Building rivalries, building roots

The Mammoth’s 82-game schedule features big matchups that will test the team early and often. Beyond their divisional showdowns, Utah will host all six Original Six teams at Delta Center, including visits from the Boston Bruins (Oct. 19), Detroit Red Wings (Feb. 4), and Toronto Maple Leafs (Jan. 13).

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A seven-game homestand in January and a playoff-potential closing stretch in April will provide Keller and company with prime opportunities to make noise in the Western Conference standings. The season wraps up at home April 16 against St. Louis, with what could be the biggest crowd in Utah hockey history expected.

MORE: Elias Pettersson leads the charge as Canucks aim to light up Rogers Arena in 2025–26

A Team, a City, a New Legacy

As the Mammoth enter their first full season under their permanent name and colors, the feeling in Utah is one of pride and anticipation. Hockey has found a home here, and with stars like Clayton Keller leading the way, the foundation for something special is already in place.

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The 2025–26 season will not only define the Utah Mammoth but also the next generation of hockey in the West. From the electric energy of the Delta Center to the emerging rivalries taking shape, this is the moment Utah hockey becomes something bigger than anyone imagined.

For Keller, it is a chance to lay his legacy as the leader of a franchise and a fan base that is still writing its story.

MORE NHL News:

On a stormy October day in Utah, there were two notable downpours in the area.

The first was outside, as Salt Lake City was drenched in rain and blanketed by gray clouds. The second? That was inside the Delta Center, where the Utah Mammoth poured on goals in a 6–4 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks.

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Both teams had stretches of dominance, starting with Utah, which scored four straight goals in the first period to build a 4–1 lead.

It was a fire sale for Utah, as four different players — Mikhail Sergachev, Dylan Guenther, Kailer Yamamoto, and Andrew Agozzino — each found the back of the net. The offense was moving and was a true team effort.

But the big lead Utah built in the first period quickly evaporated, as San Jose responded with three unanswered goals in the second.

Utah Mammoth Has Traded Connor Ingram to the Edmonton Oilers Its official Utah Mammoth fans, Connor Ingram will have a new home up North in Edmonton. 

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With the game tied 4–4 entering the third, it felt like whoever grabbed momentum first would take control.

Luckily for Mammoth fans, it was Utah that struck first. An early San Jose elbowing penalty gave the Mammoth a chance to regain possession and settle into the offensive zone.

Although Utah couldn’t convert on the power play, the team looked back in control — and it showed just minutes later when Clayton Keller scored Utah’s fifth goal, giving the Mammoth the lead for good.

All it took was a quick swing from Sean Durzi before Clayton Keller ripped a one-timer that hit teammate Jack McBain in the face and went into the net, giving Utah the lead once again.

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“We’ve gotten better each game and each day,” said Keller. “We had a lot of guys banged up so we had some different line combinations. But I think the last two games and getting most of our roster together, trying to get that chemistry to get your wind. I thought we did a good job tonight.”

A few minutes later, Branden Tanev extended the lead to 6–4, and San Jose couldn’t mount a second comeback, even after pulling its goalie with more than three minutes remaining.

“I obviously was really happy about the way we played for most of the game. I did not like the second period,” said coach André Tourigny. “I think it’s a good opportunity for us to learn. We were not as fast in the second period. We were not on our toes, and that cost us. I think we learned from there, and I really like the way we respond in the third.”

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Though this was still just a preseason game, Utah has to be happy with its best offensive performance coming in a matchup that featured most of its starting roster, albeit without Logan Cooley, Alexander Kerfoot, and Barrett Hayton.

Now all Utah Mammoth has left to do is to figure out who will be ready to go and who the team needs to keep on its active roster for its season opener against the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 9.

Even though Utah’s first game is still a little ways off, the NHL season officially begins on Oct. 7 with a tripleheader that includes the LA Kings facing the Colorado Avalanche — a perfect matchup for Mammoth fans to watch, with Utah set to play Colorado soon after.

Utah Mammoth Can Now Say Its Officially Undefeated at the Newly Renovated Delta Center Technically, Utah didn’t play its first home game of the preseason tonight— its preseason loss to Los Angeles in Boise was considered a home game after all.