Rural Utah

Even though Utah has resources, many people look to their neighbors when they need help with animal evacuations. Local rescues and the Utah State University extension can help with livestock and finding foster homes while locals wait to go back home.

“I've always thought the cowboys were tough, and they are, but they don't compare to a firefighter,” said Heidi Redd, who fought for over 50 years to preserve the Dugout Ranch.

Utah's largest wildfire has killed cattle, destroyed grazing land and left ranchers facing years of recovery. For one Piute County family, the damage extends far beyond the flames.

As the Cottonwood Fire burned across Beaver and Piute counties, residents of Junction and Circleville found themselves preparing for the possibility of evacuation. Their experiences offer a firsthand account of how two small communities responded as the nation's largest wildfire approached.

The Green River solar and battery project in Emery County is being hailed as the largest of its kind in Utah and the Mountain West. It shows a potential path for the region’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

The city set up rules for data centers months before Box Elder’s Stratos Project sparked outrage. Washington County also has a zoning update in the works.

Utah’s record warm, dry winter has created a recipe for bad summer wildfires. But Dammeron Valley residents have prepared for years for a drought-stricken season like this.

Utah’s sprawling 3rd Congressional District is a complex mix of urban growth, rural concerns and economic divides. In a lot of ways, running in the district is like "running for statewide office."

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.

“We will ensure that the development is done responsibly and in a manner that protects the best interest of the Box Elder County and its residents,” the county commission said in a statement.

Rising fuel and fertilizer costs tied to the Iran war are compounding agriculture’s challenges. Add Utah’s lowest recorded snowpack into the mix, and the 2026 growing season looks to be one of the toughest yet.

Sen. Derrin Owens wants to help the rural districts he represents. He hopes getting them a piece of Utah’s nuclear pie could boost their declining economies.