Utah Breaking News, Sports and Weather

A century-old family mystery — and 2 shipwrecks — inspired this Utah author's debut novel

Valorie Jones, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 1:02 p.m.  |  Save Story

Since she was a child, Claire Carusillo has been haunted by a piece of her family history: Not just one, but two of her ancestors were involved in shipwrecks.

Are mortgage rates heading down?

Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 5:04 p.m.  |  Save Story

Mortgage rates edged lower after five consecutive weeks of increases, with the average 30-year fixed rate falling to 6.67% as mortgage applications picked up.

Lala is again a tropical storm, sending drenching rain and high winds across the Hawaiian islands

Alexa St. John and Ed White, Associated Press  |  Updated Aug. 16 - 4:39 p.m.  |  Save Story

Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm Sunday after skirting Hawaii without making landfall, but it wasn't done punishing the Big Island with hurricane-force gusts.

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1 dead, 4 hospitalized after single-vehicle crash in Tooele County

Kennedy Camarena, KSL  |  Updated Aug. 16 - 4:15 p.m.  |  Save Story

One person died and four others were hospitalized after the vehicle they were in crashed on Interstate 80 near Aragonite on Saturday night.

Father-son duo from Monticello visiting Mexican restaurants in each of Utah's 29 counties

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 3:01 p.m.  |  Save Story

Jake Palma and son Carson are on a whirlwind trip around Utah, trying Mexican food in each of the state's 29 counties.

Homicides dropped 18.1% in 2025 to the lowest rate since 1956, FBI says

Claudia Lauer, Associated Press  |  Updated Aug. 16 - 2:21 p.m.  |  Save Story

The homicide rate in the United States dropped to the lowest it's been in 75 years, according to an FBI report on 2025 crime statistics released Friday, which also showed overall violent crime dropped 9.3% last year.

Touring a home for sale? The sellers may be listening in

Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 1:48 p.m.  |  Save Story

Fans would say the highlight of every episode of HGTV's popular series, "House Hunters," is the reaction of would-be buyers as they tour a potential purchase, often a mixture of delight and disgust.

A century-old family mystery — and 2 shipwrecks — inspired this Utah author's debut novel

Valorie Jones, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 1:02 p.m.  |  Save Story

Since she was a child, Claire Carusillo has been haunted by a piece of her family history: Not just one, but two of her ancestors were involved in shipwrecks.

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New poll: Trump approval still underwater in Utah, but his 'heirs apparent' rated better

Lauren Irwin, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 11:58 a.m.  |  Save Story

A new survey finds President Trump's approval continues to sink in Utah, but Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are viewed favorably.

'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star Whitney Leavitt announces her return to Broadway

Caitlin Keith, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 11:27 a.m.  |  Save Story

Whitney Leavitt has already starred in "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," competed on "Dancing with the Stars," filmed a holiday romance movie and made her Broadway debut — and now, her resume continues to get longer.

Josh Furlong's AP Top 25: A look at the preseason favorites ahead of the 2026 season

Josh Furlong, KSL  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 11:09 a.m.  |  Save Story

Welcome back to another season of college football. The long wait is almost over, but that doesn't stop us from trying to predict the best teams in the country before anything is really known about them.

'Uncharted territory': Second-largest reservoir in US plunges to a record low

Laura Paddison, CNN  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 10:49 a.m.  |  Save Story

Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the United States, provides water and electricity to millions in the West. It has now shrunk to its lowest level on record, in the latest sign of the alarming crisis unfolding on the drought-stricken Colorado River.

What local college football team gets the most love in Utah?

Dennis Romboy, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 10:03 a.m.  |  Save Story

Is Utah a red state or a blue state? We're not talking politics here, though it does enter the picture to a degree. We're talking football — college football to be specific.

Afghanistan marks 5 years under the Taliban with safer streets but pleas for jobs and education

Abdul Qahar Afghan and Suzan Fraser, Associated Press  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 9:32 a.m.  |  Save Story

As Afghanistan's Taliban rulers mark five years since sweeping back to power, some Kabul residents say they feel safer after decades of conflict and upheaval.

Utah-made Regency miniseries renewed for 2 more seasons

Ashley Imlay, KSL  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 9:02 a.m.  |  Save Story

A Utah-grown Regency miniseries that captured the hearts of many period drama fans has been renewed for two additional seasons, its author announced on social media.

Teen receives birthday blessing from Pope Leo XIV in Rome

Emma Burch, KOCO via CNN  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 8:32 a.m.  |  Save Story

Warm winter pushes Bear Lake marina project ahead of schedule

Mike Anderson, KSL  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 8:15 a.m.  |  Save Story

Construction on the new Bear Lake marina is more than 80% excavated and ahead of schedule, bringing expanded boat access, parking and slips to one of Utah's busiest lakes.

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The most popular baby names in Utah and nationally by year and/or decade

Siegfried & Jensen  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 8:00 a.m.  |  Save Story

While Utah has a reputation for unusual baby names, many parents opt for more traditional, popular names, for their babies. Here's a look at the top baby names throughout the years.

Popular podcaster's book says America has seen, and defeated, a lot worse

Lee Benson, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 16 - 7:15 a.m.  |  Save Story

Professor Greg Jackson, Utah's very own podcast superstar, has something to say about all the rancor, divisiveness, partisanship, arguing, debating, hating and lying.

Latter-day Saint young adults define their biggest challenges, biggest hope

Amy Ortiz, Deseret News  |  Posted Aug. 15 - 10:29 p.m.  |  Save Story

The largest annual gathering for Latter-day Saint young single adults in Utah is concluding today with a clear emphasis on connection and growing together in Christ.

Mailbox explosion caught on camera raises safety concerns in Smithfield

Garna Mejia, KSL  |  Posted Aug. 15 - 9:54 p.m.  |  Save Story

A mailbox explosion caught on surveillance video has Smithfield business owners concerned about public safety as they report a pattern of similar incidents over the past two years.

Lala strengthens into a hurricane and bears down on Hawaii's Big Island with heavy rain, winds

Alexa St. John and Ed White, Associated Press  |  Updated Aug. 15 - 9:33 p.m.  |  Save Story

Hurricane Lala formed Saturday on a path to make landfall on Hawaii's Big Island, the National Hurricane Center said.

Davis County leaders OK accord on use of license plate readers as debate flares on the topic

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted Aug. 15 - 9:11 p.m.  |  Save Story

Davis County leaders this week approved an accord on use of license plate readers in a split vote as debate flares on the controversial technology.