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Personalized Utah license plates at the center of proposed bill

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Personalized Utah license plates at the center of proposed bill


SALT LAKE CITY — For anyone thinking about putting some choice language on their personalized Utah license plates, a Utah lawmaker’s proposal could take that option away.

Rep. Norman Thurston, R-Provo, proposed legislation that would prohibit the Utah Tax Commission from issuing license plates if the request included inappropriate language.

The bill wouldn’t allow swear words, slurs, sexually explicit messages, or references to drugs, gangs or other illegal activity.

Thurston proposed similar legislation in past sessions.

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In a previous bill, he proposed a moratorium for the personalized license plate program as a whole. That legislation did not make it to the governor’s desk before that legislative session ended.

When speaking to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Friday, Thurston said he previously pursued this issue with the goal of defending the state from free speech lawsuits.

“In some cases, this still may open us to a constitutional challenge. It’s the very best we can do to balance free speech rights with things that are appropriate to be on a license plate that says Utah.”

With this year’s bill, Thurston is taking a more direct approach.

“If somebody says they want the n-word on their license plate and we say ‘no you can’t have that,’ and if they challenge us in court, we’re willing to make that fight.”

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At least one other state has faced a lawsuit over denying a personalized plate.

The bill passed through the Utah House, but the committee voted to hold the bill or table it for later. One lawmaker said they’d want to hear more from the Utah Tax Commission directly.

The bill would need approval from that committee, the Senate and Gov. Spencer Cox by March 1 to become law.

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Utah

New NBA Draft Intel: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Utah

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New NBA Draft Intel: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Utah


On the Sean O’Connell Show, Krysten Peek joined the show to talk about all things NBA Draft, and she brought some incredible insight and intel. If you haven’t listened, make sure you do here:

If you don’t have a chance to listen, here are the different insights she brought:



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Utah suicide rates twice national average, Summit County Health Department says

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Utah suicide rates twice national average, Summit County Health Department says


Summit County Health Director Phil Bondurant said the early 2026 survey found men are suffering with significant mental and behavioral health challenges between the ages of 10 and 44. In the U.S., Bondurant said, suicide is the second leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury.

“It’s the eighth leading cause of death nationally across all ages of men,” he said on KPCW’s “Local News Hour” June 8. “When we look at this in Utah, we are two times the national average in suicides, and when you look at men, three of the four suicides in the state of Utah are men.”

He said that’s disproportionate to women. Roughly 31 out of 100,000 suicide deaths in Utah are men while less than 9 deaths per 100,000 are women.

FULL INTERIVEW: Summit County Health Department Phil Bondurant

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Bondurant said those statistics are related to men feeling isolated, experiencing depression and uncertainty about the future. But, he said the health department has worked to develop programs to break the stigma around men’s mental health and help people access care.

“It’s important that we remember that connection, conversation, help and support, just like our physical health, when we’re not feeling well or we break a bone, we go to the doctor, and they do what they do to help us get better and help our bodies mend,” he said. “Our mental health is the same way, we need to take care of it.”

He said uninsured residents that need help can call the health department and speak with the behavioral health team.

There is also a 24-hour 988 crisis hotline for people who need help or know someone who needs help. Utahns can also download the SafeUT app to speak with licensed counselors, submit safety tips and confidential help.

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Adventure travel draws families to Moab, Utah, as Americans stay closer to home

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Adventure travel draws families to Moab, Utah, as Americans stay closer to home


Family adventure travel bookings are up 106% annually from 2025, says Explore Worldwide. Domestic travel remains strong, so much so that Expedia calls this the “Stay Home Summer” as searches for cities near national parks and domestic beaches jump meaningfully….



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