Utah
Utah's state liquor stores make a lot of money. Should some of that go to help fund affordable housing?
A new bill that would divert a quarter of the money the state makes from selling alcohol into a longtime affordable housing fund, is struggling to find support.
HB286, sponsored by Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, has already been heard twice by the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee. Both times, the committee voted to hold the bill rather than send it to the full House.
Moss said at a Friday news conference in the Capitol that she’s not giving up.
“We hear about the need for housing all the time,” she said, for people at all income levels. Meanwhile, Moss said revenues from state-controlled liquor sales should grow, driven by tourism that’s expected to get a boost from the 2034 Winter Games.
Her bill would send 25% of the money made from state alcohol sales to the the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund, named for Utah’s first woman governor. The fund was established in 1987 to provide low-interest loans and grants for affordable housing.
“The revenue stream we’re asking for is not taking away money from school kids or anyone else,” she said, since state-controlled sales are already bringing in much more than the revenue used for school lunches, underage drinking prevention and public safety.
“Many of the people that end up without homes are people that have suffered from alcohol abuse and so it seems like kind of a good match,” Moss said. She said she believes there is still an opportunity to advance the bill this session.
The fund, which has received a $2.2 million annual allocation from the Utah Legislature in recent years, at times runs out of money to loan, longtime housing advocate Steve Erickson said. The bill would add just over $28 million a year to the fund in the new budget year that begins July 1.
Information provided about the bill showed that money could help bring in as much as $453.75 million in other funding, including from private sources, for an estimated 1,375 affordable housing units.
Moss said the size of the earmark, intended to provide a reliable funding source for affordable housing, could be scaled back. The bill is backed by the Utah Housing Coalition, Habitat for Humanity organizations in Utah and a long list of other groups.
During the bill’s second hearing last week, Rep. Troy Shelley, R-Ephraim, pushed back after Moss said the private sector is hindering rather than helping efforts to provide more affordable housing for Utah.
“I probably am opposed to the position that the free market is not fulfilling the need and therefore there is a need for government to come in. My perception is the need for the government to get out of the way is probably the better answer,” Shelley said.
He also appeared to take issue with only 40% of the fund going towards assisting with the purchase of single family homes and the rest used for building multifamily housing that’s typically rented.
“The American dream is to be able to own a home and not always be paying rent,” he said, proposing that the fund look at ways rent assistance could be used towards a down payment on a home, giving participants in the program “a goal to strive for.”
Shelley, who also gave examples of constituents who had been unable to connect with the fund, suggesting that lawmakers look at ways it could be made more efficient during interim meetings before the 2026 Legislature meets.
Another member of the committee, House Majority Leader Jefferson Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, endorsed putting off any action this session so lawmakers could take more time to consider how the funding would impact other efforts to make housing more affordable.
“I think we need to be very aggressively looking at this area. But there are just so many different things that are coming. We’re hearing creative sources (of funding) here or there,” the majority leader said.
He said his biggest concern is bringing together all of the groups working on the issue “and having those conversations, and making sure that we are doing this in a more holistic manner rather than just trying to find piecemeal ways to get around things.”
GOP senators didn’t seem too excited about Moss’ bill, either.
On Friday, Senate Majority Assistant Whip Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, pointed to his bill raising the state’s markup on liquor and wine from 88.5% to 89% to fund prison education as an alternative, saying there’s not enough money from liquor revenues to fix Utah’s housing issues.
Contributing: Brigham Tomco
Utah
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
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.
Utah
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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‘History deserves honesty,’ anti-DEI mandates at national parks include Zion gift shop
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.
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.
Utah
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.
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.
The area around the Mormon church remained closed into the evening as authorities urged the public to stay clear of the still active scene.
“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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