The Utah Ledger: Utah news, sports, outdoors and events
Utah today
Today in Utah · Saturday, October 17
- Today 5:30 PM
No. 8 BYU football vs No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Today 6:30 PM
Real Salt Lake at Sporting Kansas City - Today 8:00 PM
Utah Mammoth vs Edmonton Oilers - Today 8:15 PM
No. 11 Utah football at Colorado Buffaloes
'College GameDay' visits BYU for the first time in 17 years before Notre Dame game
Host Pat McAfee read from the Book of Mormon and picked BYU, as did Steve Young, while Desmond Howard and Nick Saban picked Notre Dame.
- BYU freshman Carter Smith kicks field goal on 'College GameDay' to win $3 million
Smith, from Honey Creek, Iowa, made a 33-yard kick on his second attempt after the crowd urged host Pat McAfee to allow another try.
- Latter-day Saint presiding bishop says convert baptisms are up 20% this year
W. Christopher Waddell said the pace could mean 450,000 to 500,000 convert baptisms in 2026, compared with a record 385,490 in 2025.
- Utah adds 25,200 jobs over the year as unemployment holds at 3.5%
Nonfarm payroll employment rose 1.4% in the 12 months through September, led by education and health services, the state's monthly report shows.
- Unsealed warrants show police sought drone and cell data in Saratoga Springs killings
The warrants were filed in October 2025 and recently unsealed, ABC4 reported.
- Salt Lake County voters to decide $128 million parks and recreation bond
County officials say the bond would replace an expiring 2016 bond on property tax bills.
- Ski Utah CEO Nathan Rafferty inducted into Utah Tourism Hall of Fame
Rafferty, who started at Ski Utah as an intern in 1994, has led the group since 2005.
From the records
Continuing investigations from public documents
- Continuing story
Auditing American Fork
The Ledger's review of American Fork's budgets, audits, redevelopment money, contracts and officials' disclosures.
- Continuing story
Auditing Ogden
The Ledger's review of Ogden's budgets, audits, debt, redevelopment money and officials' disclosures.
Deep dives
Long reads from our Deep Dive section
UTOPIA’s growing fiber network and the debt its cities still carry
Utah’s open-access fiber system has added customers and its financing partner has improved. The original agency’s obligations to bondholders and cities remain a separate part of the recovery story.
How Salt Lake paid for the 2002 Olympics
Utah’s early tax funding, Olympic sponsorships and government services helped stage the Games. The organizers’ surplus financed a lasting sports legacy, but it was only one part of the public bill.
Latest news
Southern Utah man celebrates 80th birthday by water skiing 80 miles on Lake Powell
Lew Wheelwright finished the run in two hours and 27 minutes on Friday.
Park City Outliers beat Casper Warbirds 4-1 at home to improve to 6-1
Goalie Will Zinnen stopped 23 of 24 shots Friday at the Black Rock Mountain Event Center.
Logan police seek suspect in vehicle burglary and debit card use
Police say the man used stolen debit cards at a Dollar Tree and a Walmart.
St. George's new City Hall Plaza draws more than 4,000 visitors on weekend days
The downtown space off Main Street includes fire pits, a zen garden, public art and two metal slides off a parking structure.
Salt Lake City Fire Department posts tribute to firefighter Gabe Reilly
Reilly, 27, died Sept. 27 in a BASE jumping accident in Cache County, and his family held a private memorial.
Dough Lady cinnamon roll shop opens second location in Lehi
Owners Amy and Eric Lund opened the shop in September, after launching their first storefront in Millcreek in December 2024.
Jodi Picoult to headline first Salt Lake Book Festival after Utah school ban on her novel
Utah removed her novel "Nineteen Minutes" from all public schools under the state's sensitive materials law, and the free festival is at The Gateway on Saturday.
Utah's two-quarterback system with Dampier and Ficklin helps Utes start 5-0
Coach Morgan Scalley said both quarterbacks can run, catch and throw, and that backup Byrd Ficklin's willingness to play different roles has worked for the Utes.
North Logan's Pumpkin Walk returns to Elk Ridge Park with 'All-American Pumpkins' theme
The free event, started 43 years ago by a local family, draws more than 25,000 people a year, according to the city.
Salt Lake police seek shooting victim after witnesses report shots in downtown fight
Officers found evidence of a possible shooting near 600 S 600 W but have not located the victim.
Park City High senior builds Spanish-language voting guide for midterms
Alix Finkel, a member of the Utah Attorney General's Student Advisory Council, created the nonpartisan guide as her legacy project.
Jazz close preseason with 119-116 win at Phoenix
Lauri Markkanen scored 19 points as six Utah players reached double figures before Wednesday's season opener at Memphis.
Ogden's free Halloween event returns Saturday with a focus on mental health
Organizer Mark Ryan said this year's event honors his son Cayden and promotes suicide awareness and men's mental health.
Utah women's soccer ties Arizona 0-0 at Ute Field
Goalkeeper Anna Solomon recorded her fifth clean sheet of the season.
BYU swim teams sweep UC Santa Barbara in Friday dual meet
The men won 170-54 and the women won 122-102 in Thousand Oaks, California.
BYU athletic director says relationships led to Notre Dame series
Brian Santiago told the Deseret News the home-and-home games came together after he and Pete Bevacqua connected through a mutual friend.
BYU and Baylor presidents discuss student faith formation at Salt Lake City forum
Shane Reese and Linda Livingstone spoke Friday night at the G20 Interfaith Forum.
Utah forecast calls for sunny weekend and rain starting Tuesday
KUTV reports the best chance of rain along the Wasatch Front comes Thursday and Friday.
Grand County Commission candidates debate housing, tourism spending and jobs
Six candidates spoke at a Moab Chamber of Commerce debate Oct. 15 ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
St. George man raises money for his new charity with free Halloween display
James Mays says his eighth annual display now supports Pancakes & Love, a nonprofit he started this year.
Kane County sheriff says search and rescue calls nearly doubled this year
Kane and Iron county officials say rescues in remote areas have become expensive as visitation grows.
Salt Lake City nonprofit furloughs 110 workers amid contract cut and insurance costs
Advantage Services CEO Robert Ferris said the nonprofit needs about $500,000 to operate through the end of the year.
Judge dismisses lawsuit over man's death in plane engine at Salt Lake City airport
Judge Heather Brereton ruled the family's complaint did not establish a special relationship between the city and Kyler Efinger.
Fruit Heights man paints over graffiti in tunnel and installs cameras
Gary Larsen says the city now supplies the paint he uses to maintain the tunnel.
Three injured when pickup rear-ends semi on I-15 north of Cedar City
A 13-year-old passenger was flown to St. George Regional Hospital with injuries the Utah Highway Patrol described as severe.
Park City police say handler followed protocol before K9 Bruno jumped from overpass
An independent review requested by the department found the dog was deployed in line with standard tactics, and PETA has urged his retirement.
Two juveniles booked after man found dead in Holladay
Unified Police said a man's body was found after a report of a gunshot Thursday night.
Family to sell 18,000 comics Saturday to honor West Valley City man
Greg Jonas died while scuba diving at Bear Lake in June, and proceeds will support his family.
Side-by-side driver killed in crash with semi on US 6 near Spring Glen
The Utah Highway Patrol said the passenger was taken to a hospital and the highway was affected between Helper and Price.
White Mesa residents to hold 10th annual rally and walk against uranium mill
Organizers call for closure and cleanup of the Energy Fuels mill, while the company says it operates responsibly under regulatory oversight.