Utah
Third Utah fire task force deployed to Midwest
SALT LAKE — A third Utah fire task force has been deployed to help mitigate wildfires in the Midwest.
Two Utah fire task forces were sent to Texas on Wednesday last week due to dry conditions and gusty winds. Members of those task forces have already been put to work, protecting two communities by helping control a 6,300-acre fire in 60-70 mph winds.
After arriving in Texas last week, the task force out of Northern Utah assisted on a 6,300-acre fire. The crew reported that the wind was gusting 60-70 mph, which created erratic fire behavior. They helped stop the fire’s forward progression and protected two communities. pic.twitter.com/QA7WFkJLiL
— Utah FFSL (@UtahFFSL) March 17, 2025
Now, a third Utah fire task force is traveling to Kansas after the state sent out a call for help.
Utah has deployed a third task force to assist in Kansas on a severity assignment. (Credit: Utah Fire Info)
“With the high winds that they’re expecting and the above normal high temperatures, Kansas felt the need to request some additional resources and Utah was willing to respond to that request,” said Karl Hunt, public affairs officer with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.
Utah has deployed a third task force to assist in Kansas on a severity assignment. Red Flag Warnings have been issued today. The crew will be assigned to McPherson, KS. Safe travels and good luck! 🌟🚒 #WildfireResponse #Teamwork pic.twitter.com/lYFNOeB6rs
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) March 17, 2025
This group is being sent on a severity assignment, where they will supplement local resources.
Utah has deployed a third task force to assist in Kansas on a severity assignment. Red Flag Warnings The crew will be assigned to McPherson, KS. (Utah Fire Info)
“They are there to help assist and backfill some of the wildlife firefighting resources [in Kansas] because they know they’re going to be spread thin based on what the conditions are going to be,” said Hunt.
Utah still safe despite sharing task force resources
Sending three Utah fire task forces out of the state does reduce local resources. But not enough to become a problem.
“With the storm systems we’ve had coming in we were able to look at some of the northern Utah resources, and that’s why we decided, ‘you know what, we have the opportunity to send Kansas some help. So let’s do that,’” said Hunt. “We’re not going to send out resources and leave Utah vulnerable.”
Members of the Utah division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands always look at Utah’s resources, weather conditions, and fire risk before deploying a task force elsewhere.
However, Utah will help other states if possible.
“We’re always willing to help because these states also help when we’re in need,” Hunt said. “I view it as a way for us to show good Utah values. That when our neighbors are in need, we’re willing to send help to help them out.”
The Utah fire task force is expected to be deployed in Kansas for 14 days.
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Utah
Penalties to be enforced if Trump’s face covered on national park passes, reports say
SALT LAKE CITY — Those using a new national park pass who want to enjoy Utah’s “Mighty Five” better do so with President Donald Trump’s face perfectly intact, or you might pay a literal price.
The new annual park passes, which debuted on Jan. 1, feature Trump’s image alongside that of George Washington. At the same time as the release, the Department of the Interior reportedly updated its rules to ensure Trump’s face remains free and clear.
According to the Washington Post, the updated “Void if Altered” policy prohibits anyone from defacing the pass or covering up any images or information on the cards. Visitors found by rangers to have altered a pass by any means will be ordered to return it to its original condition or possibly be charged a regular entrance fee.
SFGate reported the policy originally prohibited any alteration of the signature portion of the pass, with the updated policy including the front of the card, with a warning that “writing on it or adding stickers or other coverings” is no longer allowed.
Anti-DEI mandates at national parks include Zion gift shop:
‘History deserves honesty,’ anti-DEI mandates at national parks include Zion gift shop
Many believe the updated policy is in direct response to the large pushback over the inclusion of Trump, leaving people to share creative ways to hide the president’s image from passes, including stickers and sleeves.
Along with the suggestions on how to hide Trump’s image, a nonprofit environmental group has filed a lawsuit claiming its design did not comply with legislation that requires public participation in the selection.
Utah
Two killed, six wounded in shooting outside Mormon church in Utah
Two people were killed, and at least six were wounded when gunfire erupted outside a funeral at a Mormon church in Utah on Wednesday night, according to authorities and reports.
Eight people were hit by gunfire when shots rang out outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Redwood Road in Salt Lake City around 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Police Department spokesperson Glen Mills told the Salt Lake City Tribune.
Two people were killed, and six people were injured in the shooting that occurred outside in the church’s parking lot as dozens were attending a funeral service inside.
Of the six wounded, three individuals are in critical condition, the Salt Lake City Police Department posted on X. All of the victims were adults.
There were no suspects in custody as of late Wednesday night, and it is not immediately clear if there were multiple gunmen involved. A motive was also unknown.
However, police said they have obtained solid leads in the investigation and are working to locate individuals involved in the shooting.
“We believe this was not a random incident,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd told reporters.
The shooting was not believed to be targeting a religion, Redd clarified.
Roughly 100 law enforcement vehicles swarmed the area in the aftermath of the gunfire as helicopters flew overhead.
The area around the Mormon church remained closed into the evening as authorities urged the public to stay clear of the still active scene.
“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall.
The Salt Lake City Police Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
The incident remains under investigation.
With Post wires.
Utah
Kevin Love Admits He Didn’t See Jazz Trade Coming
The Utah Jazz’s experiment to bring in 18-year league veteran Kevin Love thus far into the 2025-26 campaign has been a pretty solid success in the first two-plus months of the season.
Love has been a positive voice in the locker room as the most tenured NBA veteran on the roster, he’s been vocal about enjoying his time and role with the organization, and for his time on the floor throughout the first 30 or so games of the regular season, he’s nestled into a consistent rotational player as the Jazz’s backup center as Walker Kessler has been out with a shoulder injury.
But when he first arrived in Utah via a three-team trade from the Miami Heat, packed within the deal that sent John Collins to the LA Clippers, Love didn’t quite know what to expect out of his experience; he didn’t even anticipate being traded to the Jazz in the first place.
“I didn’t know what to expect when I got here, but I’ve been very pleasantly surprised from everything, from ownership, and Ryan Smith to the front office to the coaching staff, players all the way through,” Love said of the Jazz on The Old Man and the Three. “It’s been a blessing in my 18th year to be a part of this team and some place, I mean, you never know where you’re going to end up.”
“I did not expect to be traded but as far as a landing spot goes and just saying, yeah, so many people are saying ‘Oh what if it doesn’t work out? What if it doesn’t work out?’ I’m like ‘What if it does?’, right?And I think just adding value whether I’m playing or not is something that’s given me a lot of happiness and a lot of joy this late in my career. And I think that has allowed me to see a lot of the good and what this team has been able to bring and move forward.”
Kevin Love Settling in Nicely With Utah Jazz
Love’s value stretches both on and off the floor for the Jazz, which makes sense for why the veteran big man has been loving his time since being on the roster. The 2016 NBA champion was vocal before the season about his desire to be a value add for wherever that may be, including Utah, and he’s been able to carve out just the right role for himself at this point in his career.
During his 20 games played for the Jazz this season, Love has averaged 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and shooting 41.1% from the field in just over 17 minutes a night when he plays, and has proven he can still be a guy worthy of a few minutes down the rotation to fill out an NBA frontcourt, as he has for the year in Utah so far.
It remains to be seen just how long Love’s time in Utah will last. There’s not even a guarantee that the 37-year-old will finish the regular season on the roster, depending on how the next few weeks transpire around the trade deadline and as the buyout market begins to gain some traction. But, for the time that he is in Salt Lake City, he’s made it into a nice home for what’s now the fourth roster he’s been on through nearly two decades in the league.
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