Lauren Bennett

UDOT testing program using AI to assess roads, pinpoint problems

UDOT testing program using AI to assess roads, pinpoint problems

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 27 - 9:02 a.m.

A Utah company says it has developed an artificial intelligence tool that collects data about bad road conditions and can detect fading paint lines, potholes, fallen signs and more.
Provo Missionary Training Center to reopen in late June, church announces

Provo Missionary Training Center to reopen in late June, church announces

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 24 - 9:27 a.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Monday that its missionary training centers across the world will begin reopening starting late next month.
Authorities recover climber's body from Mount Olympus

Authorities recover climber's body from Mount Olympus

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 22 - 8:01 p.m.

A rock climber died Saturday after falling from Mount Olympus, according to Unified police.
Utah man allegedly shoots and kills wife for leaving him, arrest documents say

Utah man allegedly shoots and kills wife for leaving him, arrest documents say

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 22 - 5:17 p.m.

A Utah man has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his wife after she told him her intentions to leave the marriage, according to a probable cause statement.
60-year-old motorcyclist killed after tree falls onto him in Cedar City

60-year-old motorcyclist killed after tree falls onto him in Cedar City

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 22 - 12:59 p.m.

A motorcyclist died Friday after a tree fell and struck him in the head while he was riding eastbound on state Route 14, according to UHP.
262 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death, 17K vaccinations reported Saturday in Utah

262 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death, 17K vaccinations reported Saturday in Utah

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 22 - 10:44 a.m.

262 new COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday.
This Utah man hopes to trade his way up — from a rock to a house

This Utah man hopes to trade his way up — from a rock to a house

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 21 - 1:25 p.m.

Utahn Matt Steggell once traded his way from AirPods to an airplane. Now, he's setting out to trade a rock all the way up to a house, and his latest trade left him with a truck.
Report: Number of business deals in Utah down during pandemic, but value hit new record of $26B

Report: Number of business deals in Utah down during pandemic, but value hit new record of $26B

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 20 - 2:33 p.m.

Even though there were fewer deals made in Utah overall in 2020, the value of those deals reached a new high of $26.4 billion, beating out 2019's $25 billion, according to a new report.
2 Latter-day Saint missionaries from Utah, Colorado killed in Texas car crash

2 Latter-day Saint missionaries from Utah, Colorado killed in Texas car crash

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 19 - 8:53 a.m.

Two Latter-day Saint missionaries were killed in a head-on crash in Denton, Texas.
Pokémon and sports trading cards can be worth thousands; here's what one Utah collector wants you to know

Pokémon and sports trading cards can be worth thousands; here's what one Utah collector wants you to know

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 18 - 7:58 p.m.

Remember those cards you, your siblings or maybe your friends traded as a kid? Now, they can be worth up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for just a single rare card. Collections can be worth millions.
Billion-dollar consulting firm expands operation to Salt Lake City

Billion-dollar consulting firm expands operation to Salt Lake City

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 17 - 8:01 p.m.

A multibillion-dollar consulting firm is expanding its operation to help Utah companies transition to a cloud-based model and help Utah State University launch a new consulting minor.
Several Utah companies rank on national list for best workplaces in 2021

Several Utah companies rank on national list for best workplaces in 2021

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 17 - 3:02 p.m.

The list of over 400 companies comes from Inc. Magazine, which has ranked the country's best places to work for the last six years. In Utah's Silicon Slopes, three companies made the list: Lehi-based Podium, Lehi-based MX and Draper-based Divvy.
Utah women report fewer career advancement opportunities amid COVID-19

Utah women report fewer career advancement opportunities amid COVID-19

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 5 - 9:11 a.m.

A total of 59% of the women said the pandemic negatively impacted their career advancement, a number that's left researchers concerned for the "longer-term implications on women's career advancement," the report notes.
Forbes: Utah fintech unicorn Divvy set to be acquired in multibillion-dollar deal

Forbes: Utah fintech unicorn Divvy set to be acquired in multibillion-dollar deal

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted May 4 - 2:33 p.m.

Utah-based tech giant Divvy, a financial technology company, is in talks to be acquired by Bill.com in what could be a multibillion-dollar deal, Forbes reported on Tuesday.
St. George tech companies donate $60K for local Make-A-Wish kids

St. George tech companies donate $60K for local Make-A-Wish kids

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 30 - 8:32 p.m.

A group of St. George tech companies has raised more than $60,000 to help grant wishes for local children battling illnesses.
How will Utah's arts sector recover from pandemic? Industry leaders say they're safely open for business

How will Utah's arts sector recover from pandemic? Industry leaders say they're safely open for business

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 30 - 5:13 p.m.

Most Utahns feel safe and comfortable going shopping or eating at restaurants by this point in the COVID-19 pandemic — but when it comes to entertainment and cultural events, there's more hesitation, according to a new survey from Y2 Analytics.
The race is on between COVID-19 variants and vaccines as Utah plateaus

The race is on between COVID-19 variants and vaccines as Utah plateaus

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 29 - 4:21 p.m.

As of Thursday, 30% of adults in America were fully vaccinated and 43% had gotten at least one dose. In Utah, 40.2% of the population has received at least one dose while 28.8% are fully vaccinated.
'COVID persists': Intermountain researchers help launch study on treatments for severely ill patients

'COVID persists': Intermountain researchers help launch study on treatments for severely ill patients

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 28 - 4:06 p.m.

Intermountain Healthcare announced Wednesday that its researchers are helping launch a new study with the National Institutes of Health to examine effective treatments for severe cases of COVID-19, known as acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS.
Pleasant Grove is getting UTOPIA fiber internet in $18 million deal

Pleasant Grove is getting UTOPIA fiber internet in $18 million deal

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 28 - 1:40 p.m.

Within two years, residents and businesses will have access to fiber internet. Construction is slated to begin in May.
Compassion important when talking to those hesitant about COVID-19 vaccine, Utah doctor advises

Compassion important when talking to those hesitant about COVID-19 vaccine, Utah doctor advises

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 27 - 7:02 p.m.

It's people who support immunizations but are on the fence about the vaccine that we need to focus on, according to Dr. Eddie Stenehjem.
7 more Latter-day Saint temples in Utah reopen for limited youth attendance

7 more Latter-day Saint temples in Utah reopen for limited youth attendance

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 26 - 1:03 p.m.

The temples have reopened to phase 2-B, meaning the baptistry will now be opened up to small groups with a special focus on those with limited-use temple recommends.
Tabernacle Choir cancels Pioneer Day concert but plans to resume auditions

Tabernacle Choir cancels Pioneer Day concert but plans to resume auditions

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 23 - 11:19 a.m.

Applications to audition for the 2022 season open June 1 and close on Aug. 15. To join the choir, applicants must be good-standing members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, between 25 and 55 years old, and live within 100 miles of the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.
Latter-day Saint missionaries encouraged to get COVID-19 vaccine; shots required for those going abroad

Latter-day Saint missionaries encouraged to get COVID-19 vaccine; shots required for those going abroad

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 23 - 9:53 a.m.

Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should protect themselves against COVID-19 by getting the vaccine, church officials advised on Friday.
Anti-Black violence increases poor mental health days for Black Americans, study finds

Anti-Black violence increases poor mental health days for Black Americans, study finds

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 22 - 7:37 p.m.

The study found that Black Americans suffered from a higher number of adverse mental health days in the aftermath of highly publicized acts of racial violence more so than their white counterparts, where the number of adverse mental health days did not change.
Taylorsville getting Google Fiber in 'game-changing partnership,' mayor announces

Taylorsville getting Google Fiber in 'game-changing partnership,' mayor announces

Lauren Bennett, KSL.com  |  Posted April 22 - 4:43 p.m.

Taylorsville will become the fifth city across the Wasatch Front to get the service and the first located on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley.