Utah
Falling boulders at popular waterfall in southern Utah prompt safety warning
GARFIELD COUNTY, Utah — Authorities in southern Utah are warning visitors after a viral video shows a near miss involving falling boulders at a popular attraction in a rugged area.
The terrifying moments were caught on camera when two people were seen playing in the water of the Lower Calf Creek Falls in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and multiple boulders came crashing down around them. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but this video has prompted a warning from a nearby sheriff’s office.
“We deal with those situations a lot — similar,” Administrative Lt. Alan Alldredge said to FOX 13 News on Saturday Saturday, commenting on the video in the popular Calf Creek Recreation area in neighboring Garfield County.
“We’ve seen a huge uptick in visitation here in Kane County over the last four or five years, especially since COVID,” Lt. Alldredge said, adding that they welcome the visitors but want them to know what they’re getting into — often wild, unpaved and rough and dangerous terrain.
“We’ve been really busy already this summer with the different hiking areas,” he added.
Like the surging popularity at Calf Creek Falls, their most popular attraction in Kanab is what’s called “The Wave,” a very remote destination.
“For us, it’s a four-and-a-half hour drive just to get to where the people are, so it’s a little bit of a challenge,” Alldredge said.
He advises travelers to always check the conditions and prepare for the extreme heat.
“It may be 100 degrees air temperature, but on that slickrock it’ll be more like 120 or 130 shining right back on your face,” he said.
Bringing more water than you think you may need is advised. Alldredge advises watching local weather reports and staying clear of slot canyons whenever there’s a threat of rain.
“Two or three years ago, we had three or four deaths in one year of people getting caught in these flash floods, and they’re just not survivable,” he said.
Alldredge urges recreators to go online and look at other people’s experiences and plan accordingly to make theirs a better one.
Last summer, a rock slide in Lake Powell was caught on camera. No one was injured in this case, but it’s another reminder of how quickly things can change when recreating in the great outdoors.
“A lot of people come to the Wave and think they’re going to have a Zion National Park experience with paved trails and rangers walking around to help them, and it’s much more primitive,” Lt. Alldredge said.
He said Garmin watches with SOS capabilities can help search and rescue crews if you ever find yourself in need of help, allowing them to quickly pinpoint your location in those emergency situations.
A Utah physician is warning that 21 data centers in various stages of development could significantly worsen air quality along the Wasatch Front.
Dr. Brian Moench, with Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, said the planned data centers are cause for alarm. Each facility is expected to generate its own electricity using natural gas power plants.
While natural gas is cleaner than coal, Moench said it still produces nitrogen oxide, which contributes significantly to ozone, particulate formation, and smog.
“There’s no safe level of air pollution. All of it is harmful, even at the very lowest doses,” Moench said.
Moench said health advocates have legitimate reasons to be concerned about what the facilities could mean for public health in the region.
“There is a real legitimate concern on the part of any health advocates about what this impact will mean to the Wasatch Front and public health if all these data centers are built or even if just a few of them are, and that’s not to address the impact on the Great Salt Lake shrinking up and becoming a toxic dust bowl. That’s the next leg of this argument,” he said.
Moench also raised concerns about electronic waste. As computer chips and equipment become obsolete and are replaced, he said the volume of e-waste produced is something no one has yet addressed.
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UTAH COUNTY, May 11, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Two males, ages 14 and 19, were transported to area hospitals Sunday after the side-by-side they were riding rolled down the side of a mountain.
Utah County Sheriff deputies and Santaquin police responded to the 6:07 p.m. call. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene, in the Pole Canyon area, as was a Department of Public Safety helicopter with a hoist in case it was needed, Sgt. Austin Edwards, Utah County Sheriff‘s Office, told Gephardt Daily.
“Eventually, rescue workers were able to make it to the spot on the hill where the vehicle had come to rest, and they were able to secure the victims, stabilize the victims, and get them back down the hill again to where the helicopters were waiting,” Edwards said.
“The 19-year-old male was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, and the 14 year old was transported to Primary Children’s in Lehi.”
Both were said to have critical injuries, which were not considered to be life threatening, Edwards said.
“The cause of the rollover is still under investigation, so we don’t have that information available just yet.”
Photos: Utah County Sheriff
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
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