SALT LAKE CITY — The judge overseeing the lawsuit over Utah’s redistricting process is expected to issue a ruling before Christmas on whether to grant the legislature’s request to close the case, sending it to the Utah Supreme Court.

Lawyers for the Utah State Legislature have urged 3rd District Court Judge Dianna Gibson to issue a final ruling, clearing their path for an appeal. They argued that the case effectively wrapped up once the judge issued a series of rulings on the legality of Proposition 4 and chose a new map for Utah’s congressional districts.

The League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government basically got what they wanted, argued Frank Chang, an attorney for the Utah State Legislature.

“What if I told you I disagree?” Judge Gibson said to him in the midst of arguments, asking for case law that even allows a case to be closed so abruptly.

During a hastily called hearing on Monday, lawyers for the League and MWEG urged the judge to reject the request. They argued that the case is far from over with claims yet to be addressed and the legislature failed to seek the proper interlocutory appeals when the time was appropriate. The injunctions she entered on Prop. 4 and the new map are preliminary, they argued, and the legislature passed new bills rewriting some of the rules of redistricting, which keeps the case alive.

When Judge Gibson asked if the legislature was essentially right that the case is basically over with the 2026 election? The plaintiffs suggested lawmakers might still bypass the courts and pass a new map in the upcoming legislative session.

“That is sort of a question mark I have in light of some statements, the public statements that have been made by certain legislators,” said Mark Gaber, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “Sen. Weiler, on his podcast, suggested the legislature could pass a new map for the 2026 election if a permanent injunction had been entered. That’s a question I have: if it’s intended by the legislature. If that’s the case? Remedial proceedings could certainly not be done as there would need to be a proceeding as to that new map.”

When Judge Gibson asked Chang about it, he said it was what “one member said in a podcast.”

“If this court is seeking to find out what the intent of the legislature is, it’s the act of the legislature. The most recent one here was what the legislature did in the special session,” he said.

In that special session, lawmakers voted to move the deadline for congressional candidate filings to March and pass a resolution condemning Judge Gibson’s ruling.

As the court hearing as going on, FOX 13 News texted Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, about his remarks. Sen. Weiler (who is an attorney in his day job), replied that he was explaining to listeners the difference between interlocutory and final appeals and just stating “hypotheticals” in response to any stay issued by the Utah Supreme Court.

“But I’m not aware of any plans to do that,” he wrote.

In 2018, voters approved Prop. 4, which created an independent redistricting commission to draw lines for boundaries in congress, legislature and state school board. When the legislature overrode the citizen ballot initiative and passed its own maps, the League and MWEG sued arguing that the people have a right to alter and reform their government. In particular, they alleged the congressional map that the Utah State Legislature approved was gerrymandered to favor Republicans.

The court sided with them, ruling that Prop. 4 is law and throwing out the congressional map. She ordered lawmakers to redraw a new one. They did, under protest, but she rejected their map for not meeting Prop. 4’s neutral redistricting criteria. Instead, she chose a map submitted by the plaintiffs that she declared met the tenets of Prop. 4. It has resulted in a Salt Lake County-centric district that Democratic candidates have rushed to enter, viewing it as more competitive for them.

The Utah State Legislature has argued that it has the sole constitutional right to draw boundaries in redistricting, setting up a legal showdown that will go to the Utah Supreme Court and potentially the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge Gibson said she planned to issue a ruling before Christmas on whether to finalize the case.

A statewide grant program supporting childcare providers drew 90 applications in just two rounds of funding earlier this year. For the Wyoming Interagency Working Group on Childcare, which launched the initiative, the response affirmed that the program is addressing a significant community need. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has more.

In 2025, the Wyoming Interagency Working Group on Childcare worked collaboratively to award $183,537 to 24 providers. In an effort to build on that success, the grant program will reopen January 2 with applications closing March 1, 2026. Administered by the Wyoming Community Foundation, grants of up to $20,000 per applicant will be awarded with a renewed focus on communities with the greatest childcare shortages.

Grant awards will be prioritized based on requests from high-needs communities as will be outlined in the application and on the Wyoming Community Foundation’s website, along with plans to increase the number of children and families being cared for and engagement or planned engagement with business support services through the Small Business Development Center. Funding for this round of grantmaking includes the Wyoming Maternal and Child Health Unit, Wyoming Department of Family Services, the Wyoming Community Foundation, and the Business Studio at LCCC.  To apply for a grant or if you have questions about the application process, you can click here.

The California Department of Education (CDE) has stood by its demand that the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) switch sports associations to a league that allows biological male trans athletes to compete in girls sports. 

The switch would require the school to embark on much longer and more treacherous road trips to competing schools, and critics say that will cause distress and safety concerns among students and parents. 

Students would have to travel through California’s Donner Pass, a 7,056-foot mountain pass. During winter, the pass is known for being dangerous due to extreme weather conditions like heavy snowfall, strong winds and icy roads. 

The high elevation and frequent storms contribute to treacherous travel conditions, including the potential for avalanches. 

At a school board meeting this week, residents expressed their opposition to the CDE’s mandate for the TTUSD to switch from the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

Truckee High School girls track and field athlete Ava Cockrum spoke about the danger the commute would present for her and other students. 

“It’s dangerous,” Cockrum said. “It just doesn’t seem safe at all. … You’re going to be prone to danger.” 

Cockrum also protested the notion of girls having to compete against males. 

“I don’t see how it would be fair for female athletes to compete against a biological male because they’re stronger, they’re taller, they’re faster. … It’s just not fair,” Cockrum added. 

The teen received applause from residents in attendance. 

The TTUSD has historically competed in the NIAA due to its proximity to Nevada schools. However, after the NIAA changed its policy to only allow biological females to compete in girls sports earlier this year, the CDE demanded TTUSD switch to the CIF. 

TTUSD requested to delay the move, it announced in a memo last week, “due to significant logistical challenges.” But the district claims the state is not showing any leniency and that defying the order could result in financial and legal penalties.

“Last week, TTUSD received a mandatory order from the California Department of Education (CDE) ordering our athletic programs to move to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) beginning in the 2026-2027 school year due to a formal complaint filed against TTUSD,” the announcement said. 

“The decision is no longer within the TTUSD’s local control. We are legally required to follow this CDE order. … If we do not comply, TTUSD will be violating state law, which could result in severe financial penalties and legal action against the District.”

The CDE provided a statement addressing the situation to ABC 10.

CALIFORNIA GIRL OPENS UP ON FIGHTING LEGAL AND POLITICAL BATTLE OVER TRANS ATHLETES AFTER LIFE-CHANGING PAIN

“California law requires that students be permitted to participate on the sports team that corresponds with their gender identity. California local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to follow California law regardless of which state’s athletic association they join,” the statement said. 

The situation has drawn the scrutiny of several California politicians. 

“This is a new low. California is forcing Tahoe Truckee Unified to compete in CA instead of Nevada, despite this being impractical and unsafe for athletes whose seasons will move from Spring to Winter in a snowy area. The reason: Nevada doesn’t allow males in female sports,” Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., wrote on X. 

“For 40 years, Tahoe Truckee Unified has chosen to compete in Nevada because sports like soccer and tennis are played in the spring there. In California, these are winter sports, which is impractical in snowy areas like Tahoe and presents travel safety concerns. 

“Yet the state has overridden this local decision for no other reason than to preserve the ability for biological males at the district’s schools to compete in the female division. This will decimate several sports, and schools in the district may not even be able to field teams.”

Nevada Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony also condemned the move in an X post.

“California is forcing schools to exit Nevada, despite decades of successfully competing in our state. We are taking a commonsense approach with female athletes. Since my Task Force on Protecting Women’s Sports, there has not been an incident with men playing in women’s sports,” Anthony wrote. 

CIF is one of many high school sports conferences located in blue states to defy President Donald Trump’s executive order since it was signed Feb. 5. 

The CIF is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for its defiance of the order, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon has warned Gov. Gavin Newsom his state could be subject to federal funding freezes if it continues to defy the order. 

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