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Utah Supreme Court decided constitutional right to reform government in response to gerrymandering

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Utah Supreme Court decided constitutional right to reform government in response to gerrymandering


In a unanimous decision, the Utah Supreme Court decided Thursday that Utah citizens have a constitutional right to reform their government in response to past redistricting efforts to divide Salt Lake City into four congressional districts, resulting in Republicans winning by a large margin.

The Utah League of Women Voters alleged that the majority party in the Salt Lake City Legislature has a history of “cracking” the districts. This means that voters for other parties are divided among multiple districts, so they cannot achieve a majority vote in any of the area districts.

The Utah League of Womens Voters cite the upset of Democratic Representative Jim Matheson in 2000 and 2010, when the map of the Salt Lake City district was redrawn into three areas that were combined with rural Utah voters, instead of allowing Salt Lake City it’s own single district.

The redistricting reform was achieved by invoking Article 1, section 2 of the Utah Constitution to return voting power to the people of Utah, which states the people have the right to reform their government as the public welfare may require.

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Under The Citizen Initiative to Reform Redistricting and Prohibit Partisan Gerrymandering, which the Utah League of Women’s Voters passed in 2018, they sought to minimize the division of counties in Legislative districts, create districts that reflect geography and neighborhoods, and maximize agreement of boundaries between districts. They also made the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission draw the districts and recommend them to the Legislature, which would enact them without amendment or reject them with an explanation of the rationale.

In 2021, the Legislature created the Legislature Redistricting Committee that ignored the findings of the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission, primarily because under S.B. 200, the Citizen Initiative to Reform Redistricting and Prohibit Partisan Gerrymandering was repealed. The Commission’s role was weakened due to the loss of the Legislature’s voting mechanism, the ban on gerrymandering was weakened, the right to appeal the district maps was weakened, and there was little transparency for rejections of the maps.

The Utah Supreme Court held that Utah residents’ ability to alter and reform their government needs to be free from undue government burden, regardless of the Legislature’s ability to repeal any statute.

The Utah League of Women Voters lawsuit to challenge the right to gerrymandering will proceed in District Court.

 

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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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Penalties to be enforced if Trump’s face covered on national park passes, reports say

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Penalties to be enforced if Trump’s face covered on national park passes, reports say


SALT LAKE CITY — Those using a new national park pass who want to enjoy Utah’s “Mighty Five” better do so with President Donald Trump’s face perfectly intact, or you might pay a literal price.

The new annual park passes, which debuted on Jan. 1, feature Trump’s image alongside that of George Washington. At the same time as the release, the Department of the Interior reportedly updated its rules to ensure Trump’s face remains free and clear.

According to the Washington Post, the updated “Void if Altered” policy prohibits anyone from defacing the pass or covering up any images or information on the cards. Visitors found by rangers to have altered a pass by any means will be ordered to return it to its original condition or possibly be charged a regular entrance fee.

SFGate reported the policy originally prohibited any alteration of the signature portion of the pass, with the updated policy including the front of the card, with a warning that “writing on it or adding stickers or other coverings” is no longer allowed.

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Many believe the updated policy is in direct response to the large pushback over the inclusion of Trump, leaving people to share creative ways to hide the president’s image from passes, including stickers and sleeves.

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Along with the suggestions on how to hide Trump’s image, a nonprofit environmental group has filed a lawsuit claiming its design did not comply with legislation that requires public participation in the selection.





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Two killed, six wounded in shooting outside Mormon church in Utah

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Two killed, six wounded in shooting outside Mormon church in Utah


Two people were killed, and at least six were wounded when gunfire erupted outside a funeral at a Mormon church in Utah on Wednesday night, according to authorities and reports.

Eight people were hit by gunfire when shots rang out outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Redwood Road in Salt Lake City around 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Police Department spokesperson Glen Mills told the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Two people were killed, and six people were injured in the shooting that occurred outside in the church’s parking lot as dozens were attending a funeral service inside.

Of the six wounded, three individuals are in critical condition, the Salt Lake City Police Department posted on X. All of the victims were adults.

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Police stand outside the Salt Lake City church where at least eight people were shot, including two fatally on Jan. 7, 2026. AP
People hug outside the church after the shooting in Salt Lake City, Utah. AP

There were no suspects in custody as of late Wednesday night, and it is not immediately clear if there were multiple gunmen involved. A motive was also unknown.

However, police said they have obtained solid leads in the investigation and are working to locate individuals involved in the shooting.

“We believe this was not a random incident,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd told reporters. 

The shooting was not believed to be targeting a religion, Redd clarified. 

Roughly 100 law enforcement vehicles swarmed the area in the aftermath of the gunfire as helicopters flew overhead. 

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The area around the Mormon church remained closed into the evening as authorities urged the public to stay clear of the still active scene.

Funeral attendees walk out of the meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Jan. 7, 2026. AP

“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall.

The Salt Lake City Police Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

The incident remains under investigation.

With Post wires.

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