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Utah poised to pass transgender rule on dorms

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Utah poised to pass transgender rule on dorms


For the fourth year in a row, the Utah Legislature appears about to pass another bill that targets the transgender community. 

A bill that would require transgender students at public universities to live in dorms corresponding with their sex at birth, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, passed Senate on Thursday. It faces just one more vote in the House before receiving final legislative approval. 

Opponents blasted HB269 for targeting the transgender community, creating potential litigation and legal concerns, and as government overreach. The bill easily passed the Senate 22-7 in a near party-line vote. 

During Wednesday’s debate of the bill, Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights, criticized the Legislature for using a single case that “blew up on social media” to create new policy. 

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Riebe was referring to a viral social media post from the mother of a Utah State University student who complained to the school because her daughter was sharing a common space with a transgender resident assistant, who had been randomly assigned to live in the dorm.

“We hear one case blowing up social media, and we’re creating a law — a heavy-handed law — to change policy that’s worked for generations. If we don’t believe social media should be guiding our actions, then this is a bill that shouldn’t be guiding our actions,” Riebe said. “Our universities have done a fantastic job working to make sure every student’s as safe as they can, and I believe that this is overreach, and we should allow our universities to rectify these situations.” 

Republican Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, told lawmakers he was concerned that there were no protections for students who live in private housing when it acts as an extension of the universities.

“My concern is that there isn’t a remedy for those individuals that have that (random roommate) assignment,” he said. “Even though it’s private property … I would say 90% to 95% or more of those students all are university-based or at a state entity, and so, having no protections in there makes me a little bit concerned.”

Democrats bring up legal concerns

Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, brought up constitutional concerns surrounding the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which requires states to treat people equally under the law.

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Escamilla questioned a provision in the bill that would still restrict a transgender person from living in a dorm of their choosing even if they have a birth certificate that has a changed gender marker and undergone surgery.

“If that person had already an amended birth certificate and has gone through that transition of surgery, how is that not an equal protection violation when that person does not match where you’re going to send them?”

Utah House passes bill changing university housing policies for transgender students

Sen. Brady Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove, answered and said he didn’t know if it was appropriate to do a legal analysis on the bill.

“I would say that it is overall from a legislative standpoint, it is not an equal protection violation, because the designation between male and female has been upheld in court in almost every circumstance, and it is not tied to the genitalia of the person, it is tied to their genetic makeup at the time of birth,” Brammer said.

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Escamilla said when someone has gone through the defined legal process of fully transitioning, including surgery and changing the gender marker on their birth certificate, the genetic piece is not clear.

“The impact is so big,” she said. “I do believe there may be an equal protection piece because otherwise, you’re looking at these individuals who have gone through transition … why wouldn’t they not be then seen as that complete person that they are under that new place?”

Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, was the only Republican to vote against the bill alongside Democrats. He cited a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states gender necessarily includes gender identity, and therefore any infringement that would be prohibited on gender is also prohibited on gender identity.

In a 6-3 decision in 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that firing people for their sexual orientation or gender identity is sex discrimination, which is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“It is my belief that just like many of the other bills that we have passed that infringed on gender identity, this will also be unconstitutional,” Thatcher said. “But the damage isn’t necessarily the bills that we pass. It’s the messages that we send, and sometimes we pass bills because they are messages.”

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Brammer, in his summation, addressed Thatcher’s concern.

“That was a very narrow decision that was limited only to Title VII employment situations,” he said. “I’ve read the case. It’s not applicable to these situations in any way, and (the justices) were very careful to make sure that it was not, and to a large extent, that’s why the Supreme Court has taken up very similar cases in the sense of transgender surgeries that they’ll be deciding in June.”

The Supreme Court is expected to rule this summer on United States v. Skrmetti, a case about medical treatment for transgender children. Utah banned gender-affirming care for minors in 2023.

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As the bill was discussed again on Thursday, Sen. Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, said the last several years of legislation targeted toward transgender individuals have made that community feel isolated.

“It does break my heart on some degree, that every year for the last four years, we have had very targeted legislation toward them,” she said. “They will never be legislated out of existence. They will be adored, loved and treasured by some of us for the rest of all of our lives.”

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Utah Highway Patrol urges caution after woman dies helping crashed car in Weber Canyon

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Utah Highway Patrol urges caution after woman dies helping crashed car in Weber Canyon


WEBER COUNTY, Utah — She was a good Samaritan, stopping to help when she saw a crashed car, but tragically, that decision ended her life.

According to the Utah Highway Patrol, just before 6 a.m. on Friday, a man and woman were traveling along I-84 in Weber Canyon when they saw a crashed car on the side of the road.

They got out to help, but then they saw another car coming with its brakes locked up.

“The two individuals that were standing outside of the vehicle ran to avoid being hit. One went one direction, the other went towards the side of the barrier, jumped over the barrier, thinking it was solid on the other side, and fell in between the two bridge structures below,” said Corporal Eric Prescott with Utah Highway Patrol.

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Woman dies after falling over I-84 barrier while assisting accident in Weber Canyon

Woman dies after falling over I-84 barrier while assisting accident in Weber Canyon

Prescott said they were from out of town and didn’t know the area very well, and unfortunately, he’s seen this happen before.

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“About 15 years ago. I had another crash that occurred. Had 29 cars that were involved in a similar situation,” he said. “he stepped out to help, and he slipped on the barrier and fell.”

FOX 13 News asked if something could be fixed.

“We love that people want to help, but you also need to consider your safety also. So, it’s a pitch-black situation, you need to be cognizant and aware of like, hey, is this risk worth it of a vehicle that’s in the dark around the corner, no one’s going to be able to see you, and so you just have to weigh that risk,” Prescott said.

No other injuries were reported.

Prescott said they also have trauma resources available for the other drivers on the scene.

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“They didn’t do anything wrong, they were involved in a crash, the bridge was icy. Didn’t contribute anything to the death of this individual, but there’s still going to be those feelings that are going to be involved in it,” Prescott said. “We were able to give some information, these resources, to kind of help give them some closure, to help them to know that, hey, this wasn’t your fault.”

FOX 13 News visited gas stations and rest stops around the area, and while no one wanted to be on camera, each person said even after hearing the story, they would still want to get out and help someone in their time of need.

UHP stated that it takes them 24 hours to notify the next of kin, but they’re hoping to release the identification and other information about the investigation in the coming days.





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How to watch No. 9 BYU face rival Utah

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How to watch No. 9 BYU face rival Utah


No. 9 BYU (14-1, 2-0) vs. Utah (8-7, 0-2)

  • Tip: Saturday, 8 p.m. MST
  • Venue: Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City
  • TV: ESPN
  • Streaming: espn.com/live
  • BYU radio broadcast: 102.7 FM/1160 AM/Sirius XM 143
  • Utah radio broadcast: 92.1 FM/700 AM
  • Series: Utah leads, 79-72 since 1949 (most recent meeting: 2025)

The trends

  • For BYU: 14-1 on the season, No. 10 in KenPom, averaging 88.2 points scored and 66.7 points allowed per game
  • For Utah: 8-7 on the season, No. 131 in KenPom, averaging 80.3 points scored and 80.1 points allowed per game

Players to watch

  • For BYU: Forward AJ Dybantsa, guard Richie Saunders, guard Robert Wright III
  • For Utah: Guard Terrance Brown, guard Don McHenry, forward Keanu Dawes
Utah forward Keanu Dawes (8) dunks the ball during a game against the Arizona Wildcats held at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News



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Large police presence responds to the area of Crestwood Drive in South Ogden

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Large police presence responds to the area of Crestwood Drive in South Ogden


SOUTH OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — There is a heavy police presence in the area of Harrison Blvd in South Ogden. ABC4 is working to learn more.

While police have not confirmed any information, ABC4 has acquired footage from a bystander that shows law enforcement detaining one individual. The individual can be seen handcuffed and without a shirt.

Several residents have also reported seeing over a dozen police vehicles heading to the area and reported hearing gunshots on social media.

Courtesy: Kade Garner // KTVX

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Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, including Davis County SWAT, Weber County Sheriff’s Department, and Morgan County Sheriff’s Department. Officers from Riverton Police Department, Roy Police Department, Clinton Police Department, and Layton police Department all responded to the scene.

Law enforcement also used several drones and several armored vehicles responded to the scene. Additionally, it appears at least one person was transported from the scene by ambulance

Courtesy: Randy Ferrin

At this time, law enforcement has not confirmed any details regarding this incident. However, they appeared to have cleared from the scene.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.

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