Your Daily Guide

Utah Republicans will still control the state Legislature, but last Tuesday’s election delivered some major surprises. Democrats are gaining ground, powerful lawmakers are on their way out, and new leadership is taking shape.

• Democrats gain leverage. Democrats have flipped several Republican-held seats and are still on track to break the GOP’s Supermajority in the Utah House for the first time since 1993. That could give them more influence over legislation requiring a two-thirds vote. [Utah News Dispatch]
• A new Senate president: After longtime Senate President Stuart Adams lost his Republican primary in June amid controversy over the Box Elder County data center, Cedar City Republican Evan Vickers is now positioned to take over. He’ll be the first Senate president from southern Utah in almost 70 years, and has an interesting record. [City Cast Salt Lake]
• Senate Democrats expelled Sen. Kathleen Riebe from their caucus after an independent investigation found she harassed a staffer and made discriminatory comments about race and sexual orientation. Riebe disputes the findings and refuses to resign. [Salt Lake Tribune]
• Elections within elections: In press releases shared with City Cast Salt Lake, we learned that Speaker Mike Schultz will keep his job managing Republicans’ agenda in the House of Representatives, while Senate Democrats picked Luz Escamilla to lead their caucus. House Democrats will elect their leadership on Monday, Nov. 16.

SLC Airport Gets Festive

Salt Lake City International Airport is getting into the holiday spirit, and taking full advantage of their $60,000 annual holiday decorating budget. Crews are rolling out thousands of ornaments, more than 100 wreaths, and a massive 40-foot Christmas tree with 22,000 lights. [Axios Salt Lake City]

Flooding Amid Drought Relief

Recent storms have improved Utah’s drought conditions, leaving some areas in southern, central, and eastern Utah drought-free for the first time since June 2025. But the heavy rainfall has also brought devastating flooding. Gov. Spencer Cox declared a 30-day state of emergency in San Juan and Washington counties. [KSL, FOX 13]

What Lies Beneath Pineview Reservoir

Pineview Reservoir’s extremely low water levels have revealed century-old artesian wells, some of which are still flowing. The wells date back to the early 1900s, when crews drilled them to help supply drinking water to Ogden. [FOX 13]

A Sugar House Divided

Sugar House businesses could not agree on funding neighborhood improvements with a mini tax. Now, one business owner is surveying us to figure out the future of an SLC neighborhood that has been through a lot lately! [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

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