NPR Utah: News, local stories + RadioWest & State Street. On your 📻 at 90.1 and in your ❤️ at www.kuer.org Get the Daily Morning Brief: www.kuer.org/newslettershttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mz43kr76pk2kWhat are the midterm vibes outside of the major-party binary? “The trouble for me is that there's not enough authenticity in either party,” said an unaffiliated Magna voter. #utpol https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-29/utah-midterms-utah-voters-third-parties-republican-democrat-binary30 Oct 2026 15:23 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mz43kr76pk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myzldpcgd22k“I daren’t use the word liberal, right — but it is kind of more open and gives more exceptions than you have in almost any other conservative religion,” said Margaret Toscano, a University of Utah professor. https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-28/lds-church-2026-midterms-idaho-nevada-abortion-propositions29 Oct 2026 15:28 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myzldpcgd22khttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myxpf3clcc2kGoing unaffiliated may not change individual votes since “A person might register as an independent but be a reliably Republican voter,” said a poli scientist — but it does speak to the voter vibes in the room. #utpol https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-27/election-2026-utah-rising-unaffiliated-voter-numbers-midterms28 Oct 2026 21:35 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myxpf3clcc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myx4p7f6dk2512 federal monitors are coming to Salt Lake County. Lt. Gov. Hederson says, “They'll be in pairs of two, and they'll visit 6 or 7 polling locations.” #utpol https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-28/salt-lake-county-justice-department-election-watchers28 Oct 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myx4p7f6dk25https://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myvboalix22hSo. 👏 Much. 👏 Rain. 👏 The strong El Niño has really shown #Utah what it can do this month. https://www.kuer.org/science-environment/2026-10-27/super-el-nino-utah-october-rain-southwest-precipitation27 Oct 2026 22:24 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myvboalix22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myufn7d6gc2hIn Utah's huge 3rd District, a politician has "to be a jack-of-all-trades, and you have to have knowledge about every single issue — rural and suburban and urban-adjacent." So we asked voters about it. Reported in partnership w/ @utahnewsdispatch.com #utpol #utah https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-27/3rd-congressional-district-voters-utah-largest-district27 Oct 2026 14:02 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myufn7d6gc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mypiznhwv22hA ghost story either helps us "put our troubled past to bed" or reminds us that the "past is actually never really past" — especially when you look at #Utah history. https://www.kuer.org/race-religion-social-justice/2026-10-23/latter-day-saint-pioneer-history-ghost-stories25 Oct 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mypiznhwv22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mymv4yrdb22hIn the brave new world where AI starts to make more of our decisions, “All eyes are on Utah right now,” said a Stanford researcher. But are we watching out for the machines or the people? https://www.kuer.org/health/2026-10-22/utah-ai-prescription-pilot-doctronics24 Oct 2026 14:18 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mymv4yrdb22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mylhsfd4jc2h“My intent was to issue a ruling today,” Judge Graf told the courtroom before explaining that both parties had raised too many issues he hadn’t considered. https://www.kuer.org/news/2026-10-23/charlie-kirk-murder-case-tyler-robinson-trial-date-delay24 Oct 2026 00:47 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mylhsfd4jc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mykoriotss2v“We've all felt it. We've all experienced it” in Utah's 4 congressional districts. The state’s rising thermometer, however, doesn’t seem to be moving the political needle. #utpol https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-23/utah-congressional-districts-climate-warming-midterm-election23 Oct 2026 17:19 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mykoriotss2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myii6l56k22vUPDATE: Salt Lake County has been notified it will be monitored by DOJ observers. “I want to make sure voters are calm and know that things are going to be OK,” says @lghendersonutah.bsky.social. #utpol [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Oct 2026 20:16 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myii6l56k22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myi46b5uns2vJust in: Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson announced this morning that DOJ monitors would be headed to the state. There's "no indication of where or how many," she says. https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-22/justice-department-utah-election-monitors-deidre-henderson22 Oct 2026 16:41 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myi46b5uns2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myhsbftctc2vHard feelings persist about promises made for the massive system that moves #ColoradoRiver water to Utah's thirsty Wasatch Front. “The state just robbed us of both our land and water,” said a member of the Ute Indian Tribe. https://www.kuer.org/science-environment/2026-10-22/colorado-river-water-diversions-eastern-utah-unfulfilled-promises22 Oct 2026 13:44 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myhsbftctc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myfwnfdp3c2vPointing to what happens to Shady Acres mobile home park, Councilor Rachel Whipple lamented that “there are some people who always have to carry the burden of progress for others.” https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2026-10-20/provo-approves-major-mall-makeover-displacing-the-mobile-home-park-next-door21 Oct 2026 19:57 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myfwnfdp3c2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mydgfutnks2vUPDATE: Responding to Utah's suit, Kalshi says it “answers to federal law, and no single state should have a veto over it.” https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-20/utah-sues-prediction-market-kalshi-gambling-ban20 Oct 2026 20:01 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mydgfutnks2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mycyqinqs22vJust in: Utah is suing prediction market site Kalshi because “Utah law makes gambling illegal,” said AG Derek Brown. “It's very clear.” Utah wants Kalshi to stop operating in the state, give up its profits and pay restitution. https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-20/utah-sues-prediction-market-kalshi-gambling-ban20 Oct 2026 15:56 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mycyqinqs22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myct6n3jsc2vIt's a literal "series of tubes." Come with us as @davidcondos.bsky.social & @jbrookelarsen.bsky.social go underground with the #coloradoriver and follow the #water to Utah's Wasatch Front. https://www.kuer.org/science-environment/2026-10-20/utah-wasatch-front-colorado-river-transbasin-diversions20 Oct 2026 14:17 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myct6n3jsc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3myakkabufc2vThe Moab Arches Shuttle occupies a strange space. It replaces a canceled congestion program, yet at the same time, “there's a reason we haven't had one before,” said a former city manager. https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2026-10-19/moab-arches-national-park-shuttle-timed-entry-replacement19 Oct 2026 16:37 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3myakkabufc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3my3esnprkc2vStax the hawk had one wild summer (he's a rather posh bird, actually). Fortunately, HawkWatch International got him back before winter set in. https://www.kuer.org/science-environment/2026-10-16/hawkwatch-international-escaped-hawk-salt-lake-city17 Oct 2026 15:11 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3my3esnprkc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mxzr726wns2vThis Saturday, Oct. 17, marks the 10th anniversary of the annual White Mesa spiritual walk in #Utah — but that right to protest isn't shared by every country where the mill's owners operate. https://www.kuer.org/race-religion-social-justice/2026-10-16/10th-annual-white-mesa-spiritual-walk-utah-uranium-mining-protest16 Oct 2026 23:47 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxzr726wns2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mxx52d75ok2v"...seeing it in #Utah is crazy, right? Because you never expect to see a bird that rarely comes to land, let alone 800-900 miles from the ocean." https://www.kuer.org/science-environment/2026-10-15/tropical-storm-rachel-utah-lake-birds-storm-petrels15 Oct 2026 22:41 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxx52d75ok2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kuer.org/post/3mxul3jwams2v"While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remains neutral toward political candidates, it actively addresses ballot initiatives it believes carry significant moral consequences," a spokesperson said in a statement. https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2026-10-14/lds-church-donates-1-million-to-fight-idaho-abortion-initiative14 Oct 2026 22:14 +0000at://did:plc:qhkusjlqo7pjdlbo2kr5kmoj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxul3jwams2v