Public Lands

“Until you get either some kind of congressional solution or a binding judicial opinion as to what the president's authority is, then we get the unfortunate result of having things bounce back and forth” with Bears Ears and Grand Staircase, said one public lands law expert.

Flanked by Utah’s delegation, Gov. Spencer Cox and Utah Speaker Mike Schultz, the president again reduced the boundaries and protections of the two monuments. Conservationists and tribal leaders worry it could undo years of work to protect these lands.

Traditional methods for tracking recreation numbers include trailhead surveys or vehicle counters. But those techniques don't capture all visitors, especially in less popular areas.

The only place to find the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle is in a tiny sliver of the southern Utah desert. So as climate change and recreation threaten its fragile habitat, it has nowhere else to go.

Senator Mike Lee’s push to fast-track rule changes for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument failed to pass before a key deadline. But the fight over the southern Utah monument is likely far from over.

In a debate focused on the concerns of rural Utah voters, Congresswoman Celeste Maloy and former state lawmaker Phil Lyman outlined competing visions for public lands, immigration enforcement and emerging technologies.

Pearce's past comments about selling public lands had drawn particular scrutiny since his nomination was announced. His position was secured as part of a large package vote that approved 49 Trump administration nominations at once.

The canceled rule allowed public property to be leased for restoration in the same way that oil companies lease land for drilling. It was a key part of efforts under former President Joe Biden to refocus the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management.

Park officials described the attack as a single event, with one or more bears involved, but did not specify if they were black bears or grizzlies. Yellowstone has populations of both species.

Utah installed more solar power in 2025 than in any year of the past decade. The Trump administration’s actions to slow down renewable energy projects threaten 40% of the state’s planned solar projects.

President Donald Trump is withdrawing his nomination of Socha to lead the National Park Service. Socha said in a statement that he was dropping out for personal reasons.

Search and rescue crew leaders from national parks across the West converged at Zion this week to share tips and tricks for how to keep people safe.