Utah

Utah officials preparing for another winter with an increasing homeless population

Published

2 months ago

November 20, 2024

Utah officials preparing for another winter with an increasing homeless population

When it comes to housing costs, the U.S. government uses a simple ratio to determine the ideal price: A house should cost the same as three years of salary, 3:1.

In Utah, three years will not even get you a living room and kitchen. Most recent data shows you need an average of 6.2 years of salary to purchase a home in the Beehive State, which has the third highest housing prices in the nation, behind Hawaii and California.

Wages across the country, Utah included, are not increasing at the same rate as housing costs, leading not only to trouble paying for housing — if you have it — but trouble keeping homelessness at bay. As Steve Waldrip, Gov. Spencer Cox’s senior adviser on housing strategy and innovation, states, the data above and more information from the Utah Office of Homelessness Services shows that ability to own a home is a key to preventing homelessness.

“Last year, we had 5,000 new homeless individuals in Salt Lake County,” he said. “With elevated pricing comes increasing pressure and we see more homelessness. But the most protected, or the most sure way to have housing stability is to have home ownership … and we’re seeing more and more people frozen out the housing market.”

On Tuesday, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget hosted a virtual discussion on housing and homelessness in the state. Participants received updated data and information about what appears to be working.

The message is being sent that homelessness and housing are issues to address now, given that without solutions, what will happen to Utah’s young people and children? Current data demonstrates that while Utah continues to grow, mostly from the movement of people from other Western states to Utah, young Utahns are moving out of state to the South and Midwest, places where they can afford a home.

There is not enough housing in the state, one of the many reasons for the increase in housing costs. Waldrip did note that the state does plan to build 35,000 starter homes over the next four years, but that does not answer the need for housing to prevent homelessness today.

Tricia Davis Winter, the assistant director of the Utah Office of Homelessness Services, notes the state has tried a variety of programs and solutions to get and keep those living in homelessness off the streets and into homes. In 2004, under Lloyd Pendleton, the “housing first” model was used, in which those living in homelessness were given places to live first and services later.

Utah now practices a services-first model, with hopes of getting people living in homelessness into homes as soon as possible once they have received the services they need.

But without any new affordable housing units, as well as an ever-increasing price of housing and rents, it is logical that — as much as advocates, nonprofit leaders and state officials may want to solve homelessness in Utah — there is no easy fix. That’s especially true this time of year.

“For the last many, many years … we have had to scramble — for lack of a better word — on finding additional emergency shelter,” Winter said. “The need we identified is for an additional 900 emergency shelter beds for the winter period.”

Despite the increases in everything but wages, progress is taking place, state leaders said.

Under HB548, passed during the last legislative session, consumers who purchase anything at Utah state liquor stores will have the opportunity to “round up” their purchase to the next whole dollar amount. The amount rounded up will be deposited in the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account. These new funds will go directly to homelessness services and prevention. The program began this week.

A pilot micro-shelter program, which was examined last year, will continue for the time being. What has been described by Winter as a “wildly successful” project, the program targets people who are not in any of the area shelters but still need services.

Local officials say the state is discussing the topic of homelessness more and more each day. Long gone are the days when homelessness was a topic that only affected one group of people. Long gone are the days when programs were created only to be closed before results could be seen.

“We’ve had our ups and downs when it comes to homelessness and how we deliver services,” said Tara Rollins from the Utah Housing Coalition. “Sometimes we take five steps back and one step forward, but I think the things we’re doing are really starting to take shape in a very good way.”

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Utah

Utah State Running Back Transfer Commits To South Carolina Over Florida State

Published

4 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Utah State Running Back Transfer Commits To South Carolina Over Florida State

Florida State came up short in its pursuit of a top running back transfer.

On Tuesday, Utah State running back transfer Rahsul Faison announced he was committing to South Carolina. Faison chose the Gamecocks over FSU, Alabama, North Carolina, UCLA, and UCF.

The Seminoles hosted Faison for a visit last weekend but he continued to take trips elsewhere. Florida State could very well kick the tires on another transfer during the spring window.

Faison spent two seasons with the Aggies and had a career year in 2024 where he rushed 198 times for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 22 passes for 99 yards. He had five games of 100+ rushing yards, including a season-high 20 carries for 191 yards and a touchdown in a 55-10 victory against Hawaii on November 16. He was named second-team All-Mountain West for his performance last fall.

During his first season at Utah State, Faison rushed 118 times for 736 yards and five touchdowns. In total, he appeared in 25 games, making 13 starts, and totaled 316 carries for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns. Faison also caught 33 passes for 151 yards.

The Pennsylvania native signed with Marshall as a two-star prospect in 2019. He ultimately spent that season at the junior college level at Lackawanna College and was with the Thundering Herd in 2020. Faison didn’t appear in a game with either program and elected to go back to the JUCO level with Snow College. He rushed 88 times for 355 yards and six touchdowns prior to transferring to Utah State.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back has at least one season of eligibility remaining due to the new junior college ruling.

READ MORE: Elite FSU Quarterback Commitment Gets First Chance To Meet New OC Gus Malzahn

Florida State has six scholarship running backs eligible to return in 2025; redshirt senior Roydell Williams, redshirt senior Caziah Holmes, redshirt junior Jaylin Lucas, redshirt sophomore Samuel Singleton Jr., sophomore Kam Davis, and redshirt freshman Micahi Danzy.

The Seminoles signed four-star Ousmane Kromah during the Early Signing Period.

READ MORE: Standout Utah State Running Back Transfer Lists Florida State In Top-Six

Stick with NoleGameday for more FREE coverage of Florida State Football throughout the offseason

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• Florida State Adds FCS Quarterbacks Coach To Off-Field Staff

• Florida State Lands Explosive Tennessee Wide Receiver Transfer Squirrel White

• Florida State Secures Veteran Memphis Linebacker Transfer Elijah Herring

• Former FSU Defensive End, Seminole Legacy Transferring To Third School In Three Years

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Utah

Utah junior high teacher arrested for alleged possession of child porn

Published

12 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Utah junior high teacher arrested for alleged possession of child porn

PROVO, Utah — A teacher within the Alpine School District is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor after allegedly uploading child porn to the internet. Travis Adamson, 49, is currently being held without bail.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 13 News, investigators were first notified of the potential crime at the end of April 2023. Adobe Inc. reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via CyberTip that a user had uploaded files containing depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on their account.

The CyberTip also included account information regarding the suspect user, including an IP address and email address that belonged to a teacher within the Alpine School District. Detectives used geo-location to trace the suspect’s IP address and found it was located within or near the city limits of Provo.

The school district confirmed to investigators that Adamson was still an employee within the district.

On Monday, detectives interviewed Adamson at the school where he confirmed that he was the sole user of the Adobe account and admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material.

Adamson also told detectives that he had downloaded several thousand images and videos onto his hard drive which is located at his home. He denied ever photographing or doing anything sexual or inappropriate with his students or other kids.

Detectives are now working to get access to Adamson’s hard drive and more charges could be coming.

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Utah

Utah cracks AP Top 25 Women’s Basketball poll before key matchups

Published

20 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Utah cracks AP Top 25 Women’s Basketball poll before key matchups

The Utah Utes have made headlines by cracking the AP Top 25 at No. 22 for the first time this season, following a hard-fought 75-67 win over Iowa State. This marks Utah’s third consecutive season being ranked, despite an unexpected coaching change early in the season. Head coach Lynne Roberts departed for the WNBA, leaving longtime assistant Gavin Petersen to step in. Under Petersen’s leadership, Utah has thrived, demonstrating resilience and cohesion.

Petersen credited the team’s ability to stay focused and overcome adversity. “Our resilient crew has stepped up and faced the adversity that’s in front of them,” Petersen said. Utah’s win over Notre Dame during a Thanksgiving tournament was a pivotal moment that signaled their strength and potential.

Utah has ‘big money’ problem with a billionaire calling NIL shots for rival

The competition for dominance in women’s college basketball continues to intensify as the Big Ten and SEC assert themselves as the sport’s premier leagues. This week’s Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll highlights the strength of both conferences, with each boasting seven ranked teams, including four in the top 10.

The Big Ten’s recent expansion with the addition of No. 1 UCLA and No. 4 USC has bolstered its claim as the top league. UCLA’s consistent performances, including a victory over South Carolina, solidify their place at the top of the rankings, earning 30 of 32 first-place votes. Meanwhile, the SEC has also grown stronger with No. 5 Texas and No. 10 Oklahoma joining the conference. South Carolina, a perennial powerhouse, remains No. 2 and will face Texas in a highly anticipated showdown.

This week, the Utes prepare for a marquee matchup, hosting No. 12 Kansas State at the Huntsman Center. This game not only pits two top-25 teams against each other but also serves as a litmus test for Utah’s aspirations in the Big 12.

As Utah continues its unbeaten run in conference play, upcoming matchups against No. 11 TCU and No. 17 West Virginia will provide further opportunities to climb the rankings and solidify their standing among the nation’s elite.

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