Your Daily Guide

Utah is taking a mixed-bag approach to the Trump administration’s deportation agenda. Voters broadly support more legal pathways for migrant workers, while state lawmakers rejected several tougher enforcement measures this year. But that doesn’t mean Utah is insulated from the federal crackdown: ICE arrests are up and Utah taxpayers could be helping foot the bill.

• Um, what? Utah taxpayers could contribute nearly $2.3 billion toward the Trump administration's mass deportation effort. That’s about $2,100 per person according to an analysis by the progressive think tank Economic Policy Institute. [Axios Salt Lake City]
• On Capitol Hill, Utah lawmakers rejected some hardline immigration proposals this year including expanding E-Verify, restricting public benefits for undocumented immigrants, and eliminating driving privilege cards. Gov. Spencer Cox is now leading a bipartisan group of governors calling for more state control over migrant work permits, while Sen. John Curtis is backing a similar state-led visa program. [Axios Salt Lake City, KSL]
• And Utahns want better policy: Nearly two-thirds of Utah voters support letting states run temporary migrant worker visa programs. That includes 60% of Republicans, 61% of Independents, and 74% of Democrats. Nearly seven in 10 also support citizenship pathways for immigrants working in industries facing labor shortages. [Deseret News]
• But federal enforcement is a different story: DHS may have scrapped plans for a massive Salt Lake City detention center, but ICE activity in Utah hasn’t slowed. ICE arrested 613 people here in June and 548 in July, while one immigration attorney says calls about detained clients have tripled. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧, Utah News Dispatch]

Kirk Case Heads to Trial

A judge ruled Tuesday evening that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last September, will stand trial in the case. Fourth District Judge Tony Graf found there was enough evidence to bring multiple charges against Robinson, including aggravated murder, for which the state is seeking the death penalty. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to all charges. [KSL]

Upgrade Your Toilet

Utah is winding down its toilet replacement rebate program after helping homeowners swap out nearly 6,000 older, water-guzzling toilets since 2019. The program ends Nov. 1, with the state shifting more of its conservation funding toward outdoor water use. Submit your applications by Oct. 31. [Utah Water Savers]

Freeze Cancels Apple Picking

Wasatch Mountain State Park has canceled its annual apple-picking event at Huber Grove after a warm winter followed by spring freezes wiped out nearly the entire crop. Only a handful of the orchard’s roughly 80 trees produced apples this year, part of widespread fruit losses across Utah. [KSL]

Pitch Your City Project

Salt Lake City residents can pitch their own ideas for major improvements to parks, streets, sidewalks, and other public spaces through the city’s annual Capital Improvement Program. The proposals will be considered alongside city department projects. Applications close Sept. 30. [Salt Lake City]

AMA: We Went to Monte

Reservations at Utah’s first MICHELIN-starred restaurant, Monte, are booked through Dec. 31. But we went, and got the scoop! [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]