ST. GEORGE, Utah (KUTV) — Gov. Spencer Cox’s executive order imposing a temporary statewide ban on fireworks has expired, leaving state officials to decide what restrictions, if any, will be in place for Pioneer Day on July 24.

The statewide ban expired July 5. State and unincorporated county areas remain under Type 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit fireworks and open flames. Cities are responsible for setting their own restrictions.

“I think going into Pioneer Day, the restrictions are going to have to be what they were for the Fourth of July,” said Jason Bradley, director of emergency management for Washington County. “Nothing’s changing. The fuels are still what they are. Everything is super dry.”

Bradley said the fireworks restrictions were “very successful” in Washington County, with no significant wildfires started. However, he said there were still violations that caused house fires and property damage.

MORE | Fireworks

“There were plenty of violations. I saw dozens and dozens of calls throughout the night,” he said. “Our dispatch was inundated with people calling saying, ‘Hey, people are starting fireworks in my neighborhood.’ There’s only a few areas where that was allowed.”

Bradley said it is a “very tough political call” to tighten restrictions for cities and the state.

“Those leaderships have a lot at stake. There’s a lot of commerce that’s at stake. Your political folks understand the financial ramifications for vendors of fireworks, and they understand our desires as really the citizens of America that we want to do that,” he said. “But there are other safer ways to celebrate this year. The problem is so bad right now that I see the leadership, the political leadership, needing to do something like that again for the 24th.”

Bradley said officials are exploring alternatives for Pioneer Day, including a designated area where people could legally use fireworks.

“We’re hoping that we could come up with a location for the county for unincorporated areas that we might be able to allow those people to come do fireworks. It’s in the works. We just want to try to have somewhere for folks to do it besides just a few parks here in St. George,” he said. “But again, we’re pretty dry. Those efforts could fall through. We’re going to see if we can’t come up with something.”

Bradley added that even a single fire can divert resources needed to patrol for fireworks violations, making enforcement difficult. He said anyone who causes a fire can be held criminally, civilly and financially liable for the damage.

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Photo Credit: Gretchen Schneider/Chicago Stars FC

The Chicago Stars earned just their fourth win of the season Sunday, defeating Utah Royals 3-2 to end the visitors’ franchise-record 10-game unbeaten streak. Chicago got two goals from striker Jordyn Huitema and a stunning solo effort from centerback Sam Staab to earn the victory.

Huitema, who was acquired in a preseason trade with the Reign, got the scoring started in the 20th minute, sliding in to finish off a cross from Brianna Pinto. Another Canadian, Cloé Lacasse, leveled the score for Utah just before halftime. Cece Delzer (nee Kizer) gave the Royals the lead from the penalty spot in the 54th minute. The penalty was awarded after a VAR review.

Staab evened the game up again with a brilliant direct free kick goal in the 59th minute. It was just the second direct free kick goal in club history, the first also coming from Staab.

Huitema would then secure her first brace as a Star, scoring the game-winner from a corner kick in the 86th minute. The win moves Chicago into 14th place with 12 points, five points out of playoff contention. Utah still sits among the top teams with 24 points.

A Jordyn Huitema brace! First goals of the season for Utah’s Cece Delzer and Chicago’s Sam Staab plus a banger by Cloé Lacasse! Chicago comes out 3-2 after a barnburner at home.

Chicago Stars vs. Utah Royals highlights presented by @Nationwide. pic.twitter.com/CTPAx5arPX

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 5, 2026

MURRAY, Utah — People with ties to Venezuela gathered in Murray on Sunday, sharing stories from families who lost loved ones and from those whose relatives are on the ground delivering resources to communities impacted by the disaster.

On June 24, Venezuela experienced two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, which have killed thousands of people since then.

The gathering was hosted by an organization called Alianza Venezolana Utah.

People in the community sang and shared moments of silence for parents, cousins and siblings in Venezuela at Murray Park. One of those people was South Jordan resident Ludmila Ruiz.

Ruiz said her younger brother met up with friends at his home in La Guaira to watch the World Cup when tragedy struck. She shared videos of his building where he lived, now destroyed.

She said they still have not found his body.

“When I feel sad, I think of my brother and that he would want me to help others right now,” Ruiz said. “My brother was a special man.”

Eighteen-year-old Leander Guevara said he was on a routine call with his mom back home that day.

“Randomly, everything starts shaking and the signal goes off and all I hear is screaming,” Guevara explained.

He said their home in Caracas is safe. He says his mom runs a church in Venezuela and that she and others are handing out food and clothes to people who need it.

“They made arepas, they’re offering clothes, they actually used the church as a sleeping shelter,” Guevara said.

Still, he says rebuilding will take time.

“It’s actually pretty hard right now to rebuild everything in Venezuela,” he said. “It’s going to stay like this a long while. This is not just right now — next months, this is going to be hard. This is only the beginning.”

Ruiz said that while her brother is gone, he would have wanted her to carry his spirit forward by helping their loved ones back home.

“We know our community needs food, medicine,” she said. “I’ll use that energy, that emotion, and work for my community.”