Utah

Inmates create first‑of‑its‑kind documentary inside Utah State prison – KSLTV.com

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

Inmates create first‑of‑its‑kind documentary inside Utah State prison – KSLTV.com

SALT LAKE CITY — A groundbreaking documentary — conceived, filmed, and produced entirely by inmates at the Utah State Prison—is giving the public an unprecedented look at life behind bars.

The film, Breaking Chains, follows six incarcerated men and women as they confront their pasts, reflect on their choices, and work toward rebuilding their lives.

The Utah Department of Corrections collaborated with the One Kind Act a Day initiative to secure funding and equipment for the inmates. The result is a raw, emotional film that highlights a little‑known educational program operating inside the prison.

The documentary opens with a stark confession from participant Casey Vanderhoef.

“When I was incarcerated in 2021, I had no more answers,” Vanderhoef says in the film. “I knew I was broken in a way I couldn’t fix.”

Vanderhoef, now living in a halfway house as he completes his sentence, says revisiting his past on camera wasn’t easy.

“There are certainly regretful decisions—and sometimes embarrassing ones—that are definitely part of my story,” he explains.

The project was coordinated from outside the prison by filmmaker and educator Bo Landin, who says the decision to have inmates interview one another created a level of honesty he didn’t expect.

“It’s authentic. It’s raw. It’s emotional,” Landin says. He admits he became emotional himself while transcribing the conversations. “I think it’s important because it is their voice. They are telling us a story.”

The program began with roughly 18 to 20 students learning the fundamentals of filmmaking, storytelling, and production.

The One Kind Act a Day initiative—created by philanthropist Khosrow Semnani—donated the professional equipment used to make the documentary. The Semnani Family Foundation will now support an ongoing media program integrated into the prison’s career‑training and productive‑time initiatives. Semnani hopes the effort encourages compassion in a place where it can be hard to find.

“Human nature is born with kindness,” Semnani says. “But in prison, it’s not there.”

For Vanderhoef, the experience has been transformative.

“As I look back at the mistakes that were made, I have some regret and embarrassment,” he says. “But I have a lot more gratitude.”

Semnani says he recently spoke with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi about expanding the program nationally, potentially bringing similar opportunities to prisons across the country.

Breaking Chains debuted at the Utah International Film Festival and won the Audience Choice Award. Landin now hopes to promote it at film festivals worldwide in hopes of getting it in theaters for the public to see.

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Utah

Oklahoma State visits Utah after Dawes’ 23-point outing

Published

10 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma State visits Utah after Dawes’ 23-point outing

Oklahoma State Cowboys (14-6, 2-5 Big 12) at Utah Utes (9-11, 1-6 Big 12)

Salt Lake City; Saturday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Utah takes on Oklahoma State after Keanu Dawes scored 23 points in Utah’s 91-78 loss to the BYU Cougars.

The Utes are 8-3 on their home court. Utah is 2-5 in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Cowboys have gone 2-5 against Big 12 opponents. Oklahoma State scores 86.2 points and has outscored opponents by 5.8 points per game.

Utah makes 46.6% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than Oklahoma State has allowed to its opponents (44.1%). Oklahoma State averages 86.2 points per game, 4.7 more than the 81.5 Utah allows.

The Utes and Cowboys face off Saturday for the first time in conference play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Terrence Brown is scoring 22.2 points per game with 2.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Utes. Don McHenry is averaging 18.5 points over the last 10 games.

Kanye Clary is averaging 9.6 points and 4.9 assists for the Cowboys. Anthony Roy is averaging 18.3 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Utes: 2-8, averaging 78.7 points, 28.5 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 5.7 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.3 points per game.

Cowboys: 5-5, averaging 82.5 points, 32.1 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 8.3 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 83.5 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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New Utah County school districts officially name inaugural superintendents

Published

22 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

New Utah County school districts officially name inaugural superintendents

PROVO, Utah (KUTV) — Superintendents for the three new Utah County school districts have officially been selected by their respective school boards.

Dr. Joel Perkins was sworn in as the superintendent for Aspen Peaks School District, Dr. Vicki Carter was named the superintendent for the Lake Mountain School District, and Dr. Joseph N. Jensen was selected as the superintendent for Timpanogos School District.

The three school districts will officially begin operating in July 2027 after voters approved breaking the existing school district – The Alpine School District – into three new ones in 2024.

The Aspen Peaks School District will oversee schools in Lehi, American Fork, Highland, Cedar Hills and Alpine. Lake Mountain covers schools in Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Cedar Valley, Cedar Fort and Fairfield. The Timpanogos School District will be made up of schools in Lindon, Pleasant Grove, Orem and Vineyard.

MORE | Alpine School District

Eye On Education (Graphic: KUTV)

Dr. Perkins, who serves as the current associate superintendent in the Alpine School District, will continue to serve in his role until June 30 of this year. Aspen Peaks officials said Perkins will then work with the school board to hire staff, determine funding, and consider school boundaries.

“This is my community. I have lived here and worked here for the last 27 years. My family and I have invested our hearts and souls into the schools in this area,” said Perkins. “I love the students, families, and employees here. It is the honor of a lifetime to partner with this community to build the new Aspen Peaks School District.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Vicki Carter was named as the inaugural superintendent for Lake Mountain after an “exhaustive search” with over 20 applicants. The Lake Mountain school board described Dr. Carter as a veteran educator with 35 years of experience who is dedicated to building trust, respect and academic excellence.

The Lake Mountain School Board also named Dr. Amanda Bollinger, who has 25 years in Utah education, as deputy superintendent.

“We are proud to launch our district with such a distinguished team,” said Lake Mountain Board President Julie King. “They are seamlessly aligned with our vision for innovation and student success.”

In the Timpanogos School District, the school board said Dr. Joseph Jensen brings decades of educational leadership experience that was “deeply rooted” in the school district’s communities. His career has seen him serving students and families in Oak Canyon, Orem High, Orem Junior High and Timpanogos High, most recently as the Alpine School District’s Director of Administrative Development.

“I love the people in these communities. I lived in Pleasant Grove for ten years and spent my entire administrative career serving students, teachers, and families in Orem, Vineyard and Lindon,” said Dr. Jensen. “I have countless memories of exceptional teachers, coaches, and support staff who work tirelessly to develop young people – in classrooms, extracurricular activities, and programs.”

The Timpanogos School District said Jensen intends to visit all 29 schools in the district to “listen, learn, and connect with staff, parents and administrators.”

The three school districts now move on to the next step ahead of their 2027 launch, including filling additional roles such as business administrators.

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Curry helps Golden State bury Utah 140-124 behind a flurry of 3-pointers

Published

1 day ago

January 29, 2026

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Curry helps Golden State bury Utah 140-124 behind a flurry of 3-pointers

By John Coon, The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — Stephen Curry scored 27 points, Moses Moody had 26 and the Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 140-124 on Wednesday night.

Gui Santos had 16 points off the bench for the Warriors. Golden State made 23 3-pointers and never trailed over the final three quarters. Moody led the way with five 3s.

The 140 points scored by the Warriors was their season high.

Brice Sensabaugh scored 22 points off the bench for Utah. Keyonte George had 19 points and seven assists. Ace Bailey also scored 19 points for the Jazz and Lauri Markkanen had 18.

Utah trimmed a 22-point deficit to single digits entering the fourth quarter. The Jazz drew to 108-100 on a pair of free throws from Isaiah Collier with 9:52 left. Curry made back-to-back baskets to restore a double-digit lead.

Golden State used a 20-2 run to go up 136-109 with 3:29 left.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center, has the ball knocked away by Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski, right, as he was driving to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Golden State made it rain from the perimeter early, going 15 of 31 from long distance before halftime. Eight different players made an outside basket for the Warriors in the first half. Buddy Hield and Moody accounted for three apiece before halftime.

Hield buried back-to-back 3s a minute into the second quarter to cap a 19-8 run that gave Golden State a 40-24 lead. The Warriors built a 16-point lead three other times in the second quarter — the final time when Quinten Post made a 3-pointer to make it 64-48.

Golden State expanded its lead to 22 points in the third quarter, going up 91-69 on a pair of free throws from Curry.