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Situational Analysis | July 17th, 2026
It’s Friday and National Peach Ice Cream Day!
What you need to know
President Donald Trump on Thursday evening expressed concern about vulnerabilities in the United States’ voting systems, contradicting US intelligence findings. He used his 25-minute speech to reiterate a call for lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act, and said broadcast networks ABC and NBC that chose not to air his speech live should lose their licenses. Trump’s speech presented allegations of interference and influence but did not produce evidence that votes had been manipulated or that the election outcome had been altered, notes the Wall Street Journal and others. The Pres. focused on China but glossed over Russia, a country that intelligence officials have said favored Trump in 2016 and 2020. China slams Trump's 2020 election interference claims as 'entirely fabricated.’ Election security experts say America’s decentralized voting system, with the power over elections residing with the states instead of the federal government, is a strength.
Rapid relevance
Utah roads buckling under extreme heat as UDOT crews respond to surge in cases; flash flooding threat likely once again Friday
Discover how nuclear energy will impact Utahns like you.
Nuclear reactors generate energy without burning fuel, resulting in cleaner air for workers, residents, and wildlife. Even when every step of the process is accounted for (from mining to construction, operation, and more), nuclear is one of the cleanest resources on us U.S. power grid! Tap to learn more about nuclear near you.
Utah Headlines
Political News
Curtis renews insider trading crackdown after White House teleprompter operator profits from Trump speeches (Deseret News)
Utah awaits governor's decision on possible Pioneer Day fireworks ban (KUTV)
Trump’s Utah monument cuts put a century-old law under the microscope (Deseret News)
Hunting and fishing group blasts ‘blatant misinformation’ in monument debate (Utah News Dispatch)
He criticized the Grand County sheriff — his boss — while running against him for the job. Then he was disciplined. (Salt Lake Tribune)
Ken Paxton owns 5 properties at luxury resorts in Utah (Salt Lake Tribune)
Editorial Board: Utah politicians should be backing Henderson — and our national monuments — not sucking up to Trump (Salt Lake Tribune)
Wildfires
2026 Utah wildfire update: 526 fires, 378,199 acres burned, 333 human-caused (Utah Fire Info)
Eyes on skies as thunderstorm, flash flood threat looms over Beaver (KSL)
Train crew in Canada surrounded by intense flames (AP)
Canada wildfire smoke blankets US Midwest, Northeast with hazardous air (Reuters)
GOP senator to introduce bill to sanction Canada over wildfire smoke (The Hill)
Utah
Biz/Tech/AI
The Tour de France leader is riding on wheels made in Utah (Salt Lake Tribune)
Xi pitches China as leader of new global AI order, challenging US dominance (Reuters)
World Cup
Why the largest sporting event in the world occurs in the afternoon for Americans. Did it affect the ratings? (Deseret News)
Crime/Courts
Former elementary teacher accused of lewdness in front of children at Cache County pool (KSL)
Man with history of starting fires arrested in connection with Timp Fire (KSL Newsradio)
Utah immigration attorney says vehicle stops by ICE are 'one of the most used tools' (KUTV)
Syracuse Police increase presence amid social media ‘teen takeover’ plan (ABC4)
A social media post. Thousands of teens. Then chaos (Deseret News)
Culture/Community
Real Salt Lake founder Dave Checketts returned to Utah with a surprising pitch for fans (Deseret News)
Utah leaders donate care packages to deployed troops' families (KSL)
Downtown Salt Lake City visitation took mammoth leap last year, but challenges loom (KSL)
Women's Disc Golf Championship tees off in Utah (KSL)
Voucher instead of cash refund for Utah grandpa after mysterious hotel room cancellation (KSL)
Education
Review of UVU Police, security effort unfinished 10 months after Charlie Kirk killing (KUTV)
Stephen King reacts to “Different Seasons” collection being removed from school libraries (Deseret News)
2,000 sandbags filled, barriers installed to prepare for potential flooding near U of U (KSL)
Environment/Energy
Salt Lake City set a record high of 109 degrees. Then came the conspiracy theories. (Salt Lake Tribune)
PHOTOS: National Weather Service issues Flash Flood Warnings across central, southern Utah (KUTV)
Why you may be seeing more bears in Utah this summer (KSL)
The Colorado River’s 2 biggest reservoirs just hit a new record low (Salt Lake Tribune)
Faith
New mural recognizes first single sister missionaries, inspires current missionaries (Deseret News)
Family
5 key legal documents every young American adult needs (Reuters)
‘Throw it all out’: I inherited my parents’ stuff — and a painful decision (Washington Post)
Anne Hathaway calls pregnancy with third child ‘a blessing’ (Deseret News)
Health
Utah’s air pollution cocktail linked to preterm birth, study says (Utah News Dispatch)
Going to museums and movies may slow aging (Deseret News)
What to know about Cyclospora, the tiny parasite behind massive U.S. outbreak (Deseret News)
Lettuce at Taco Bell in 5 states confirmed as source of a diarrhea-causing parasite outbreak (AP)
7 things a morning headache can reveal about your health (Washington Post)
Housing
What’s happening to mortgage rates as the Iran war escalates (Deseret News)
U.S. pending home sales fell in June (Wall Street Journal)
Boomers were supposed to downsize. They are buying bigger homes instead. (Wall Street Journal)
National Headlines
General
Trump’s teleprompter operator on unpaid leave for alleged prediction market bets on Trump speeches (AP)
A year later, South Texas experiences flooding again (Deseret News)
Jay Evensen: Forget permanent daylight saving time; the U.S. already tried it (Deseret News)
Political News
US House Republicans take ‘first step’ toward dismantling Department of Education (Utah News Dispatch)
What’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doing to deep-six low testosterone levels in the ranks? (Deseret News)
Trump’s approval ratings are down, so why does he keep saying they’re great? (Deseret News)
Tillis goes scorched-earth on SAVE America Act, threatening to stall it (The Hill)
Wyden alleges RFK Jr. broke the law in calls urging Libertarians to quit Iowa races (AP)
Immigration
World
What JD Vance told Joe Rogan about the Iran war (Deseret News)
US expands its airstrike campaign against Iran by hitting more bridges (AP)
Ousted defence minister lays bare rift at heart of Ukraine's war effort (Reuters)
Opinion: Recent summit in Turkey reaffirms the importance of NATO (Deseret News)
Number of the Day
News Release
Utah Board of Higher Education announces Jon Anderson as the final candidate for Utah Valley University President
The Utah Board of Higher Education will consider the appointment of Jon Anderson, PhD, as the next president of Utah Valley University at its public meeting today. The vote on Anderson’s presidential appointment will take place during the board meeting that begins at 10 a.m. in the Nu Skin Recital Hall of the Noorda Center for the Performing Arts on UVU’s campus. (Read More)
Tweet of the Day
Upcoming
Aug 4-6 — One Utah Summit, SUU America First Event Center, Register here
Aug 13 — Titan of Public Service Gala with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, 7:00 pm, Grand America, Get tickets here
Aug 18-20 — August Interim
Nov 3 — General election
On This Day in History
1762 - Catherine II becomes Tsarina of Russia following the murder of Peter III. She will later be known as Catherine the Great.
1763 - John Jacob Astor is born in Germany. He made a fortune in furs in the American West, becoming the US’s first multi-millionaire after immigrating in 1793.
1790 - Adam Smith, Scottish economist (Wealth of Nations) and moral philosopher, dies at 67
1867 - 1st US dental school, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, established
1887 - Dorothea Dix, American pioneering nurse and social activist who created the first American mental asylums, dies at 85
1902 - Engineer and inventor, Willis Carrier designs the first modern air conditioner. It should be a national holiday.
1948 - US Air Force pilot Gail Halvorsen encounters children at Templehof Airport in Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, giving him the idea to drop candy in 'Operation Little Vittles'
1955 - Disneyland opens.
2009 - Walter Cronkite, American broadcast journalist and news anchor (CBS Evening News 1962-81), dies at 92
2020 - Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis dies of pancreatic cancer at age 80.
I hope that, somewhere, Mom and Dad are proud that little Walter is performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
On the Punny Side
What do you call a deer with no eyes?
No eye deer!
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