LEHI, Utah (Amazing America) — Featuring over one million blooming flowers, including about 400,000 tulips imported from Holland, the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival is one of the largest, most popular springtime events in the U.S., held each year at Ashton Gardens in Lehi, Utah.

The festival runs for about six weeks, usually from early April until mid-May. This year’s celebration concludes on May 16, so there’s still time to see the beautiful blooms.

Throughout the course of the festival, new flowers are always blossoming — and not just tulips. Visitors can admire daffodils, poppies, hyacinths and more.

Each year, tens of thousands of people flock to the festival from all over. What really sets Thanksgiving Point apart is that every October, the team redesigns bloom patterns and plants new bulbs, making for a completely fresh experience for visitors each year.

The Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival is filled to the brim with the sights, scents and sounds of spring. It’s a must-visit for all flower enthusiasts, but there’s really something for everyone to enjoy, including sweet and savory treats, live music on select days, interactive classes and tours, and plenty of unique photo opportunities.

Timed entry tickets are required, and prices range from $17 to $29. Children two and under enter for free. The festival is typically open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Sunday. For more information, click here.

We know there are plenty of other stories of unique landmarks and cultural experiences in all corners of the USA, and we’re making it our mission to find and highlight them. If you know of one, we’d love to hear about it. Send a DM to @amazingamericatv on Instagram!

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SALT LAKE CITY — Insurance fraud costs Americans over $300 billion every year — and it’s growing.

In Utah, state investigators said half of their insurance fraud cases involve automobiles. These scams not only slow down legitimate claims, but they also jack up the premiums we pay for insurance.

“We’ve seen a steady increase over the years,” said Armand Glick, who oversees the Utah Insurance Department’s Fraud Division. “Since 2022, we’ve had an 80% increase in our referrals to our division for investigation.”

While staged accidents where criminals crash into unsuspecting drivers to make false claims do happen in Utah, Glick said most of the fraud is staged on paper in the form of false reports.

“They swerved to avoid a deer or an animal and struck a guard rail, or a hit and run in a grocery store parking lot,” Glick said of two common schemes his investigators hear.

But the biggest scheme they see, he says, is “crash and buy.” That’s where uninsured drivers buy a policy just after a crash.

“They’ll file the claim and they’ll represent that they were involved in the accident after they were insured,” said Glick.

Another common scheme involves drivers trying to lower their rates by lying about where the car is located, whether it’s used for ridesharing, or who regularly drives it. And one of the biggest increases they’ve seen lately is windshield fraud. That’s where people get insurance to cover a windshield that was already broken.

“Windshields no longer cost $300,” he said, “but they’re closer to $1,200 to $1,500.”

Whether it’s windshield fraud, a “crash and buy” or a staged collision, gaming the system causes everyone’s rates to go up.

“We pay $700 to $1,000 a year due to insurance fraud,” said Glick.

While staged accidents aren’t as common in Utah as others, it’s still possible to get caught up in one. Glick says if the other driver doesn’t want police called and insists on settling in cash that is a huge red flag.

Call police, take pics of everything. That includes photos of passengers of the car. Fraudsters like to add passengers in their claim.

Other reading: More from Matt Gephardt and the KSL Investigators

In a victory at the Utah Democratic Party Convention, Dr. Kent Stewart Udell has secured the Democratic nomination for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District. His message, he said, centered on integrity, science, practical solutions and bridging political divides.

Udell will spend the coming months meeting with voters across the district via listening sessions, town halls and community service projects. He will be in Park City Monday, and his first road tour will be in Southern Utah May 8-18.

“I’m both honored and humbled by the faith the delegates have placed in my candidacy” said Udell. “Our goal is to run a creative, energetic campaign that excites Democratic voters, engages new voters, and offers a place for disillusioned Independents, Libertarians, and Republicans to land. I entered this race because I feel what so many Americans are feeling right now — the grief and frustration of watching too many leaders lose sight of their commitments to the Constitution, the rule of law, and to a nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We deserve better. We need a representative who honors those commitments and stands up for truth, integrity, competence, and compassion.”

Udell, an engineer, scientist and educator with a history of working on water and land remediation problems, will now shift his campaign to the general election. He said he is focused on addressing the issues that matter most to Utah families, including cost of living, water security, protecting public lands and restoring accountability in Washington.

With data centers moving front and center in Utah politics including in CD3, Udell said he is calling for an immediate moratorium:

“Utah cannot afford data centers, especially without transparency and public input. In a desert state, water is life. It belongs to our communities, our farms, our families and our future, not to the highest bidder. Putting profit over people cannot continue to be the ‘Utah way.’ At some point, it will devour all of us.”

As the general election season begins, Udell emphasized his commitment to earning the support of all voters, regardless of party.

“You don’t have to agree with me on everything to know that I’ll show up, listen and work hard for you,” Udell added. “Utah deserves a representative who is accountable to the people here, not to political parties or special interests.”

Udell has promised not to accept donations from corporations or corporate PACS.

“When you take money from corporations you inevitably owe them favors and special backroom deals,” said Udell’s campaign manager, Cherise Udell. “Our campaign is powered by the people for the people, and they are the ones Kent will represent. This should be the case for all elected officials.”

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