Utah
Already California, Indiana, Montana, South Carolina (overriding a governor's veto), Tennessee, and Utah* have raised gas taxes this year, while last year was a drought—only New Jersey increased its gas tax.
The Council of State Governments
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, in an early decision to come of a nationwide review of national monument designations, recommends that President Trump reduce the size of Bears Ears National Monument.
The Wall Street Journal
The hot new wheels of choice for little ones to learn how to ride bikes are called balance bikes. "Welcome to the Tour de France of Toddler Racing," says the Wall Street Journal.
The Wall Street Journal
The fate of 26 national monuments hangs in the balance, as the Interior Department holds a review process. Public comment is open until July 10.
CNBC
The Executive Order does not roll back the Antiquities Act nor rescind any designations made by presidents Clinton, George W. Bush, or Obama, but does call for their review if over 100,000 acres. President Trump feels that the act has been misused.
The Washington Post
A district judge has thrown out a lawsuit challenging local authority to approve an under-construction bus rapid transit project in Utah.
The Salt Lake Tribune
A bill introduced in the Utah State Legislature would curtail the UTA's ability to partner in new transit oriented development projects.
The Salt Lake Tribune
But that's no reason not to try, figures Republican Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah, chair of the powerful House Natural Resources Committee, who has his sights on the Bears Ears National Monument, barely a month old.
NPR
Facing backlash from hunting and angling groups, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz withdrew legislation that would have transferred millions of acres of federal lands to state governments in the West. But news wasn't good for other environmental bills.
The Washington Post
A 20-year, voluntary, bottom-up, large-scale, long-term planning effort in Utah has managed to bridge the divide between Mormons and non-Mormons, environmentalists and mining interests, farmers and city-dwellers.
Politico Magazine
Before this week, President Obama added more acreage to national monuments than any previous president. The final 1.35 million acres, designated this week, are a controversial final flourish.
The Washington Post
Texas and Utah were the leaders in growth for the 2015-2016 fiscal year; Illinois lost more residents than any other state.
U.S. Census Bureau
A new study from Quote Wizard finds Utah and Rhode Island have the worst and best drivers, respectively.
Quote Wizard
With an estimated housing gap of 7,500 units and an apartment vacancy rate of 2 percent, Salt Lake City needs to do more to address an affordable housing shortage, advocates say.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Surprisingly, legislators are rewarded for supporting new gas taxes: they get reelected, according to a new analysis by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. What's more, they overwhelmingly hail from red states.
The Hill
The reservoir on the Colorado located above the Grand Canyon is dropping fast. A new study proposes a contingency plan to reduce the risk of catastrophe.
Arizona Daily Star
Plans drawn up for a new, futuristic 20,000-person community in Sharon, Vermont, based on town plans originally conceived by Church of Latter Day Saints founder Joseph Smith, have hit a roadblock with locals and the church itself.
Inverse
Some are calling it the summer of Algae—from Utah to Florida to Australia, the world is encountering massive amounts of the stinky, dangerous sludge.
Grist
As climate changes in the Rockies and the southwest, Lake Powell is gradually shrinking. The debate over Glen Canyon Dam is on again, and this time environmentalists aren't the only ones against it.
Pacific Standard
Beginning with the first U.S. planned urban development, St. Augustine, Fla., and ending with one of Portland's newest neighborhoods, the Pearl District, host Geoffrey Baer takes us through ten developments that left their mark, for better or worse.
PBS
