- Utah had record drug overdoses in 2024 while most of the country saw an overall decrease.
- The amount of fentanyl seized by Utah law enforcement each year has increased 95-fold since 2020.
- Gov. Cox said sports betting will lead to more homelessness across the nation.
Utah
Gov. Cox: Real compassion requires a crackdown on homelessness, fentanyl and sports gambling
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Wednesday that only compassion can reverse the state’s drug use and homelessness emergencies — but not the kind that has made these problems worse over the past decade.
“We fall into this compassion trap that is not compassionate at all,” Cox said. “It’s a compassion that kills.”
Last year, Utah was one of only five states that saw a jump in overdose deaths, recording its highest number of overdoses ever.
The fatalities follow from a steady increase in drug trafficking in the state.
Fentanyl seized by law enforcement spiked in Utah from 50,000 doses in 2020 to 4.7 million in 2024.
On Tuesday, federal authorities announced a record-breaking operation in five states including Utah that confiscated three million fentanyl pills.
Fentanyl pouring into the state has been accompanied by a jump in chronic homelessness which nearly doubled between 2019 and 2023.
According to Cox, for too long policymakers have neglected half of the solution: accountability that leads to treatment.
Speaking at the Solutions Utah annual conference in Salt Lake City, Cox called for a view of compassion that prioritizes recovery with the goal of enhancing public safety.
Cox was joined by Sam Quinones, the New York Times best-selling author of “The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth.”
The two agreed that a new generation of ultra-psychoactive, ultra-plentiful and ultra-potent drugs demands a reimagining of what police and prison time are for.
“Law enforcement has a central role of getting people off the street,” Quinones said. “You need to rethink jail into a place of recovery, but then, of course, also connected with places once that person is released.”
The state’s broader criminal justice and public health systems need a major overhaul to accommodate longer detox detentions and more cohesive communication between service providers, Cox said.
How to “reclaim” Utah’s capital city
New Salt Lake City police chief Brian Redd told the room of over 300 community activists, lawmakers and state agency heads that they share the goal of making the city safer and helping individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
Redd cited multiple experiences he said showed that new synthetic drugs can remove individuals’ capacity to reason and often require mandatory treatment.
Victor Siebeneck, Redd’s deputy chief overseeing investigations, told the Deseret News that increased enforcement actions have made significant changes in high-crime areas like the Jordan River Trail and public parks since Redd was sworn in two months ago.
The governor noted these changes and said anyone who claims that strict law enforcement must come at the expense of compassion is presenting a “false choice.”
“I refuse to believe that we have to allow our capital city to be a place where families can’t go to our parks together and where we just let people die on the streets,” Cox said. “We cease to function as a society if we’re going to accept that.”
The alternative means more arrests, Cox said; drug use, and its frequent corollary, homelessness, won’t decrease unless more “friction” is created to deter them.
But it can’t stop there. Reform must also mean more resources focused on sobriety, long-term care and reintegration, Cox said.
Ken Curtis, whose son died of an overdose on the streets of Salt Lake City last year, told the Deseret News that local law enforcement refused to detain his son or enforce court orders, making it impossible to get him clean.
In addition to taking a more hands on approach, the state must also ensure that the public safety-public health “system” functions as a system, according to Curtis.
“There was never anybody crossing intelligence,” Curtis said. “The police wouldn’t talk to medical, medical wouldn’t talk to mental health.”
Will sports betting increase homelessness?
Ultimately, states must take a harder look at the factors causing and perpetuating homelessness, Cox and Quinones said, which includes the supply of fentanyl and what Cox called “fentanyl in phone form.”
“I‘m just telling you right now, we’re going to have a lot of homeless people because of DraftKings,” Cox said. “Gambling apps are going to destroy our country.”
Since the federal legalization of sports betting seven years ago, the industry has grown to $13.7 billion in revenue even as it produces measurable harm to mental health, personal wealth and family relationships, as the Deseret News previously reported.
A Kellogg Insight report released in December found that households involved in sports gambling spent an average of $1,100 each year on online bets. Sports betting remains illegal in Utah.
But sports betting and substance abuse are just symptoms of a much larger trend that points to a “God-shaped hole in our hearts,” Cox said.
Utah’s governor believes that now is the time for leaders to promote a vision of American values that extends beyond “cheap dopamine” and “freedom to do anything we want.”
And if there’s anywhere this shift in policy and public opinion can take hold, it’s here, he said, pointing to the Beehive State’s No. 1 rankings in volunteerism, charitable giving and religious activity.
“If it can be done anywhere in this country, anywhere in this world, it is right here in Utah,” Cox said. “We have all the ingredients we need to do this the right way.”
It’s on nights like these that I’m reminded of the ravine that divides the NBA from all other levels of basketball. This Summer League tilt was sloppy on both sides, and not many fringe players earned an NBA contract tonight, by the looks of it.
This matchup has always been about the number-one pick AJ Dybantsa and the number-two pick Darryn Peterson. Rivals since high school, these two are in an eternal struggle for the designation of being “number-one”. They wanted to be the best in their high school class. They wanted to be the first off the board in the NBA Draft. Rest assured, these two will be battling for Rookie of the Year honors by the season’s end.
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Both stars were fully aware of the magnitude of this game, and both wanted to be the first to strike in the Thomas and Mack Center.
Dybantsa took his first touch all the way to the basket and forced up an off-kilter shot that missed everything.
Peterson took the ball the other way and forced up a top-of-the-key three-pointer that missed badly.
Dybantsa quickly picked up the slack, flipping an under-and-around lay-in and following that up with a good leading bounce pass through traffic to find a cutting teammate.
From there, the 1-2 combo settled in and let the game flow around them.
For the first time in a Utah Jazz uniform, Darryn Peterson walked among mortal men as a commoner. He had a very slow start in his Las Vegas debut, opening the night 0-for-3 from the floor and even whiffing on his first all-or-nothing foul shot. His steps were hurried, and he stood unstable before his first trip to the bench. Not quite so infallible outside of the mountain air in Salt Lake City.
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AJ claimed the first quarter, dicing up the defense with fadeaways, dribble chains, and this vicious, inhumane slam that will dominate your social media feed for the next day or so.
Washington set the tone for some — should we say physical — defense out on the perimeter, and the officials gave the Wizards liberty to reside in Peterson’s chest for the majority of the game. The number-two pick couldn’t get himself into a rhythm as he’d step out of bounds, dribble off his foot, and sputter under the heat of the Wizards’ aggressive double-team scheme.
They were incredibly handsy from end to end, frustrating Jazz ball handlers as the whistles piled up at the other end.
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AJ Dybantsa lives at the foul stripe — that’s his superpower — and he has since his days at BYU, where he led the nation in foul shots taken per game. Perfectly within his idiom, Dybantsa was 6-of-7 from the foul stripe — keeping in mind the experimental do-or-die free throw rule. Considering how much more physical the Wizards played at the defensive end, it’s a mystery how the Wizards managed to reside in the comfort of the bonus for the entire first half.
Neither player was efficient from the floor, but Dybantsa won the first half of this marquee matchup.
Dybantsa finished the first half with 19 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Peterson lagged behind with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting and a pair of dimes.
The lead shrank to single digits, and what appeared to be a blowout in the first half — Washington led by as much as 20 — rapidly drew tighter in the second half. It had become a two-possession game before the clock hit 0:00 in the third quarter.
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Both stars lived up to the bill in this one, clearly displaying their individual talents despite their efficiency not leaping off the box score.
Peterson’s tendency to cough up possession has to get straightened out. He’ll be a target for his whole career, so learning to handle and exploit on-ball pressure will be critical to maximize his effectiveness and keep his teammates involved.
Cody Williams stole the show a bit for the Jazz, despite a rocky opening to the night. Though he struggled to stop Dybantsa on the defensive end, he notched 16 points on great efficiency (6-11, 2-3 3PT) plus 5 rebounds. He’s not a ball-handler, despite the Jazz’s wishes, but thrived on a newly added stepback mid-range jumper tonight.
Dybantsa had a strong night, finishing with 27 points on 7-for-18 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.
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The Wizards ultimately won this game behind the strength of their NBA guys, Tre Johnson and Will Reily, who combined for 41 to pair with Dybantsa’s 27. They also strongly benefited from Jamir Watkins, Darryn Peterson’s assignment fouling a grand total of 9 times (not a typo).
Peterson likewise fouled 9 times in this one, an ugly blemish on what was an unsteady night for the rookie. He finished with 24 points on 6-18 shooting and 2-7 from three-point land (thanks to a bank-shot heave at the final horn). Dybantsa will be crowned the winner of this head-to-head with Peterson thanks to better highlights and the team win, but neither player dominated, despite what X will likely tell you.
Washington defeats Utah with a final score of 92-88.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The man arrested for murder in the 2006 death of his wife at a Utah national park left behind a suicide note in his Las Vegas jail cell, according to a police report.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police released a public report on the death of David Vander Meer, 49, who was in custody on an out-of-state warrant.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office said in an affidavit that Vander Meer, a former youth pastor, was a suspect in the death of his then-wife, 28-year-old Bernadette Vander Meer, 20 years ago.
Bernadette fell to her death at Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Prosecutors said in their affidavit that they received new information implicating David, alleing that he began having a close relationship with a young girl when she was 14 and he was her youth pastor.
A fugitive task force took Vander Meer into custody in Summerlin, according to an arrest report, and he was booked into Clark County Detention Center on June 22.
In the report on his death, LVMPD said a corrections officer was conducting visual checks at about 9:30 p.m. June 24 when he noticed Vander Meer lying face down on the ground and unresponsive.
Several sections are redacted, but police wrote that the officer performed chest compressions until medical personnel arrived. Vander Meer was taken to UMC, where he was pronounced dead just after 2:36 a.m. June 25.
Investigators wrote that because of “the nature of his case,” Vander Meer was placed into protective custody. He was seen sitting upright and awake at 9 p.m., and he had no known medical conditions. He also did not mention being suicidal during a mental health screening.
Inside the cell, police wrote that Vander Meer “left a hand written suicide letter and a hand written will in his cell which has been photographed and impounded.” The following paragraph of the report was redacted, and no further details on Vander Meer’s death were disclosed.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office has not yet released its official rulings on his cause and manner of death.
Bernadette’s parents, Richard and Laura Gudenkauf, told News 3 they long suspected Vander Meer played a role in her death.
“Because of the girlfriend,” said Laura. “I found insurance policies months later that he had, lots of them.”
It has been a long time since the Jazz last played a meaningful game I desperately wanted them to win, and it is unhealthy how excited I am for this matchup. After a solid three games in the SLC Summer League, the Jazz head south to Las Vegas, and as hot as the desert sun is sure to be outside, on the court, the Thursday night primetime game featuring the top two picks in the draft will be much hotter.
How to Watch the Las Vegas Summer League?
Who: Utah Jazz vs Washington Wizards
When: Thursday, July 9, 2026 | 7:00 MT
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
How to watch: ESPN, Jazz+
Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa
Summer league games do not matter in the record books, but this game is a statement-making opportunity for both AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. Given the historical nature of this draft class, especially at the top, there is some real juice to this game that is atypical of most Summer League games. AJ has the chance to silence the noise that has swelled after Darryn’s remarkable performances in the SLC Summer League. Meanwhile, Darryn has the chance to ratchet up the noise and take the NBA world by storm with another solid performance against the Wizards. Can you imagine the narratives if Darryn were to come out and dominate AJ as he has through high school and college? In the words of the great Charles Barkley, I have two words for you… Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, must-see TV.
Ace Bailey looked really impressive in his 2.5 quarters of play in Salt Lake before missing games with back spasms. It is unknown whether or not he will be ready to go for the Vegas opener, but if he is available, he will probably be the one checking AJ Dybantsa on defense. His combination of length and athleticism could not only make things difficult for AJ on the defensive end but also expose his lackadaisical defense on the offensive end. If Ace is able to go, he will be looking to show the Jazz and the NBA that he is ready to take a leap in year two.
Which Jazz Big Man Will Stand Out?
Which big man will step up this game? In Game 1, we saw a lot of Kylor Kelley, who was a little less than impressive. Against Memphis, Jaxon Kohler, the Utah native, showed up and showed out against Cam Boozer. In game three, although the number of NBA-level players was few and far between, Jonas Aidoo stole the show with his rebounding and ability to play his role. Will we see one of those same three guys seize their opportunity, or will another guy like Micah Handlogten or Eric Dixon steal the show? We saw how vital a big that can roll and catch passes is for Darryn Peterson as a lead guard, playmaking-wise. It will be interesting to see who steps up to the plate to relieve pressure when he is blitzed and double-teamed.
SIDE NOTE: Adam Silver is LAME
No one should ASPIRE to be as boring as Adam Silver. After much excitement was made about Keyonte George making his unofficial coaching debut on Thursday night, according to Sarah Todd, the league has nixed that excitement and won’t allow Keyonte to be coaching on the sideline because who knows why…? I guess they were worried about the Jazz circumventing the salary cap to pay Keyonte or something. Anyways, I guess Will Hardy’s coaching TREE will have to wait for more branches to grow. Adam Silver remains evil in my book.
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