Utah Breaking News, Sports and Weather

West Valley City uses Christmas trees to celebrate diversity, foster unity

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 5:04 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Trees of Diversity holiday exhibit at West Valley City's Cultural Celebration Center uses Christmas trees as a means of celebrating diversity and fostering unity.

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Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, family among 7 killed in North Carolina plane crash

Allen G. Breed and Gary D. Robertson, Associated Press  |  Updated Dec. 18 - 4:57 p.m.  |  Save Story

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, and their two children were among the seven people killed in a plane crash Thursday at Statesville Regional Airport, north of Charlotte, North Carolina.

'I'm in the transfer portal': Kyle Whittingham talks decision to step away as Utes head coach

Josh Furlong, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 4:57 p.m.  |  Save Story

Like much of his coaching career, Kyle Whittingham's back was against the wall Thursday afternoon.

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6 gift ideas guaranteed to be loved

Kathleen Clove, KSL Classifieds  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 4:53 p.m.  |  Save Story

Need a present for the person who has everything? The answer definitely isn't more stuff. Instead of holiday gifts, choose something that will really be appreciated: A gift of service.

Trump signs order to ease marijuana regulations, sparking industry hopes

Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve Holland, Reuters  |  Updated Dec. 18 - 4:33 p.m.  |  Save Story

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an order directing the loosening of federal regulations on marijuana, a move that could further reverse decades of tough-on-weed policy.

TikTok signs deal to sell US unit to American investor-led venture

Kritika Lamba, Reuters  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 4:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

ByteDance's TikTok has ​signed a deal to sell its U.S. ⁠entity to a joint venture ‌controlled by American ⁠investors, according to ‌a memo seen by ⁠Reuters.

Utah tweaks plan to discontinue public parking at Salt Lake courthouse

Carter Williams, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 1:54 p.m.  |  Save Story

Utah's court system is still planning to end public parking at one of its busiest courthouses in 2026, but officials are making a temporary exception.

How healthy, motivated will No. 12 BYU be for the bowl game against No. 22 Georgia Tech?

Sean Walker, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 1:27 p.m.  |  Save Story

Will BYU be motivated to play in an exhibition game, or is it simply that — and exhibition game?

Driver faces charges in fatal hit-and-run crash with pedestrian in Salt Lake City

Pat Reavy, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 12:49 p.m.  |  Save Story

Prosecutors say an unlicensed driver with a history of violations hit and killed a 62-year-old man earlier this month and then drove off.

US announces $11B arms package for Taiwan, largest ever

Ben Blanchard and Michael Martina, Reuters  |  Updated Dec. 18 - 12:03 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Trump administration announced on Wednesday $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest ever U.S. weapons package for the island which is under increasing ​military pressure from China.

Teacher, 64, killed after being hit by car in Price

Curtis Booker and Logan Stefanich, KSL  |  Updated Dec. 18 - 11:35 a.m.  |  Save Story

Police are investigating a Price crash that killed a fourth grade teacher.

Senate committee advances proposal to transfer Forest Service land to Utah ski resort

Cami Mondeaux, Deseret News  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 11:30 a.m.  |  Save Story

Brian Head could get a tiny bit bigger after a bill advanced transferring two dozen acres of federal land to be used for public purposes.

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Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert guest artists still in awe a year later

Lottie Elizabeth Johnson, Deseret News  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 11:07 a.m.  |  Save Story

Both Dennis Haysbert and Broadway star Ruthie Ann Miles got emotional several times as they reflected on taking part in last year's Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert that airs on BYUtv starting Thursday.

Jury awards $900K in malpractice case against Utah surgeon once charged in COVID scheme

Curtis Booker, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 11:00 a.m.  |  Save Story

Utah doctor previously accused of selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards was found at fault by jury in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

What Americans think about giving cash as holiday gifts, according to a new AP-NORC poll

Leanne Italie and Amelia Thomson-deveaux, Associated Press  |  Updated Dec. 18 - 10:26 a.m.  |  Save Story

Welcome to exhausted America 2025: Most adults are more than a little fine with doling out cash as gifts, and many plan to be asleep before midnight on New Year's Eve, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

Utah joins world's largest toy drive as over 16,000 Christmas gifts are donated

Eastin Hartzell, Deseret News  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 10:00 a.m.  |  Save Story

The world's largest toy drive is distributing hundreds of thousands of toys across multiple cities and made its big stop in Lehi on Wednesday.

Missteps leave West Valley woman stuck with $30K in fraudulent credit card charges

Matt Gephardt, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 9:30 a.m.  |  Save Story

A Utah woman owes tens of thousands of dollars for fraudulent credit charges she insists she didn't make. Here are key steps she missed that could have protected her.

Catch the Ursid meteor shower as it peaks just before Christmas

Adithi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press  |  Updated Dec. 18 - 9:01 a.m.  |  Save Story

The last major meteor shower of the year, known as the Ursids, peaks soon, bringing glowing streaks to nighttime and early morning skies. Compared to other meteor showers, it's more subdued.

Newborn Utah twins share birthday quirk

Andrew Adams, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 8:45 a.m.  |  Save Story

Twins Josie and Hallie Townsend were born only an hour apart, but due to the late hour, they have two different birthdays.

FBI deputy director Bongino says he will step down next month

Sarah N. Lynch, Reuters  |  Updated Dec. 18 - 8:26 a.m.  |  Save Story

FBI deputy director Dan Bongino will step down from his post next month, he said on Wednesday, ​ending a short and at times tumultuous tenure as the bureau's second highest-ranking official.

88 environmental groups oppose proposal to dispose of Canadian radioactive waste in Utah

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 8:03 a.m.  |  Save Story

A coalition of 88 environmental groups opposes EnergySolutions' plans to dispose of radioactive waste at a Utah site, focus of consideration at a meeting on Friday.

Drug debt may have led to weekend Salt Lake shooting death; 1 arrested

Pat Reavy, KSL  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 7:43 a.m.  |  Save Story

Salt Lake police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting early Sunday and say the incident may have been prompted by a drug debt.

Utah secures major wins in $900-billion defense bill

Cami Mondeaux, Deseret News  |  Posted Dec. 18 - 7:15 a.m.  |  Save Story

The $900 billion framework outlines priorities for the Pentagon in the 2026 fiscal year, authorizing what the Defense Department can do with its budget.