SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has repealed a collective bargaining ban passed earlier this year that prevented labor unions serving teachers, firefighters, police and other public employees from negotiating on behalf of their workers.

Republican Gov. Spencer Cox on Thursday approved the repeal of a policy that experts had called one of the most restrictive labor laws in the country.

The state’s Republican-controlled Legislature originally approved the policy in February, saying it was needed to allow employers to engage directly with all employees, instead of communicating through a union representative. Thousands of union members from the public and private sector rallied outside Cox’s office for a week, urging him to veto the bill, which he decided to sign.

Pushback continued in the months after it became law, with the Legislature ultimately deciding on a reversal during a special session this month.

Republican state Rep. Jordan Teuscher, the original House sponsor, said the repeal “allows us to step back, to lower the temperature and to create space for a clearer and more constructive conversation.”

He maintained that it was a “good policy” that has been “overshadowed by misinformation and unnecessary division.”

The decision comes as Utah Republicans are preparing to defend their four U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections under a new congressional map that creates a heavily Democratic-leaning district in the Salt Lake City area.

A repeal helps Republicans appease the many police officers and firefighters — groups that often lean conservative — who were frustrated by the ban.

State employees were still allowed to join unions under the law, but the unions could not formally negotiate on their behalf for better wages and working conditions.

Many public educators, the state’s most frequent users of collective bargaining, viewed the policy as way for Republicans to weaken teachers unions and clear a path for their own education agenda.

Teachers unions have been outspoken opponents of Republican policies in Utah and other states where lawmakers have sought to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, expand school choice vouchers and restrict transgender bathroom use and sports participation in schools.

Union leaders celebrated the repeal and the work of their members who rallied opposition to the law.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Brad Asay, the Utah chapter leader, called the repeal “a historic step in the right direction to return respect and dignity to the workers of Utah.”

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Utah has been hit with the largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years.

The Utah State Epidemiologist stated that it’s the most contagious disease scientists know of.

As of this month, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported 115 confirmed cases.

MORE | Measles

“It’s a little surprising to see an uptick in measles, but it’s not surprising to hear that Utah County is one of the places where we have seen more of those cases,” said Elsie, a Utah County resident with several children in local schools. “I think because there’s kind of been a movement towards anti-vaccination.”

Samantha Marberger, who also lives in Utah County and has a young child, said measles wasn’t something she thought was here.

“I’ve heard of big outbreaks like that in Texas and a few other places, but it wasn’t something that I thought was as local,” she said.

Utah State Epidemiologist Leisha Nolen called the outbreak “extreme” and “really concerning.”

“Why does the health department believe this is happening now? Is this like a delayed reaction of previous low vaccination rates?” 2News asked her.

“Yeah, I think unfortunately our vaccine rates have gone down over time, and we do now have a number of people who are vulnerable to this infection, and they haven’t been protected,” Nolen said. “There also has been cases in neighboring states, and so it was easy to introduce here in Utah.”

The DHHS stated that roughly 90% of the population is vaccinated, but those rates vary from area to area and aren’t enough to reach herd immunity for measles.

“Measles is highly contagious. It’s the most contagious infection we know of,” Nolen said. “The data historically says that if you have 20 people in a room and somebody with measles comes in, 18 of those people are going to get measles.”

She said that since the outbreak started, the health department has given 30% more vaccines than they did last year at this time. She said most infections can be traced back to southwestern Utah and appear to be from in-state travel.

“It’s likely in Utah, many hundreds of Utahns who are vaccinated have been exposed to this virus, and they did not know it, and their bodies fought it off as it should,” Nolen said.

The second largest outbreak in Utah is in Utah County, with 10 confirmed cases.

The state is asking people to cooperate with the health department’s contact tracers if they call.

If you suspect measles in yourself or a loved one, they urge you not to go to a clinic waiting room but call ahead for the next steps to stop the spread.

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EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — Nannette Wride-Zeeman says her late husband, Utah County Sheriff’s Sergeant Cory Wride, is still very much a part of her life nearly 12 years after he was ambushed and killed in Eagle Mountain.

On Tuesday, Wride-Zeeman did something that might surprise many people: She testified in favor of parole for Meagan Grunwald, the young woman who was an accomplice in her husband’s murder.

Wride’s killer lost his life in a shootout with police the same day as the ambush. But Grunwald, who was with the shooter, has been serving time for her role in the crime.

Before the parole hearing, Wride-Zeeman met Grunwald face to face on Monday for the first time since the tragedy.

“She was in the other room, hyperventilating and sobbing. And she was so afraid to come and meet me. And I can’t even tell you. The days and probably weeks of sleepless nights I had, being afraid to meet her, and what do I say, and how do I, how do I do this, and am I making a mistake, and like all these things that it felt in my heart, just this calm feeling like it was the right thing to do,” Wride-Zeeman said.

“She was so afraid that I was going to be angry with her, and those angry days have long passed,” she said.

When Grunwald entered the room, the emotion was overwhelming for both women.

“And she came walking in, she had her hands over her face, and she was still sobbing and she was shaking. And I just saw this little girl that was just terrified,” Wride-Zeeman said.

“And she’s sitting across from me, and she, her hands or her face are in her hands, and she’s just sobbing, and she keeps repeating, I’m so afraid, I’m so afraid. I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so afraid, just back and forth. And when she got done, I said, Megan, you don’t have anything to be afraid of. I said, Look at me, and she looks up at me, and I see her blue eyes and all the tears,” she said.

What happened next was a moment of healing that lasted three hours.

“So I walked over to her, and I went like this to her, and she stood up, and we embraced for the first time, and she just sobbed and sobbed. And I just held her and I said, do not be afraid of me. We’re here to heal. And it opened up 3 hours of healing,” Wride-Zeeman said.

The widow says she has completely forgiven Grunwald and wants to be part of her life when she’s released.

“I said, you can’t live with me, but I want to be a part of your life when you get out, and I want us to stay in touch. I am your biggest cheerleader, and I want to see you find your happy like I did, because I never thought I’d be happy, and here I am happier than I’ve ever been in my life, and I want her to find that. And we talked about what her dreams are, what her passions are, how she wants to give back to the community, to people, across the board, including veterans and first responders,” Wride-Zeeman said.

Wride-Zeeman says 100 percent she has forgiven Grunwald and wants nothing but the brightest of futures for her.