Utah News

In the race for Utah Attorney General, John Swallow has jumped way ahead of Democratic rival Dee Smith in fundraising.

Swallow, the current Deputy Attorney General, has raised $1.23 million since shortly before he won the GOP nomination in June. In contrast, Weber County attorney Dee Smith has raised about $47,000 since mid-June.

Utah finds itself near the bottom of the list when it comes to the proportion of citizens who register to vote and the proportion of registered voters who take the opportunity to cast their ballot. A few decades ago, the state was near the top when it came to voter registration and participation in elections. While experts consider why this change has occurred, the obvious remedy is to take action. 

September is National Honey Month - and Utah beekeepers say it's been a year full of challenges, both for professionals and hobbyists.

The hot, dry weather has meant fewer and less healthy crops and flowers in some areas, which are necessary for the pollination process and as food the bees use to make honey. Steve Stoddard of Delta transports his bee colonies from California to South Dakota to pollinate crops. He says almost everywhere they went was drier than normal, and his home turf of west central Utah was the exception.

State wildlife officials will continue their efforts to get hunters in southern Utah to switch to non-lead ammunition with a demonstration Saturday in Kanab. The goal is to reduce lead poisoning in the endangered California Condor, which feeds on animal carcasses.

But Conservation Outreach Manager Lynn Chamberlain notes there have been challenges: