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Andrew Christiansen

Moab Times-Independent

(Grand County Sheriff’s Office) Grand County Sheriff Jamison Wiggins discusses the Sept. 21 federal immigration enforcement operation in Moab in a video posted by his office.

ICE arrested 4 people in Moab. The sheriff says he learned of the operation only after it began.

By Andrew Christiansen | September 24, 2026, 6:26 p.m.

(Andrew Christiansen | The Times-Independent) Federal, state and Grand County officials and other project partners pose for a photo Sept. 8 at Panorama Point in Arches National Park during a ceremony celebrating the Moab-Arches shuttle pilot. The free service began carrying passengers Sept. 1 and officially launched Sept. 9.

Moab-Arches shuttle officially launches as agencies begin measuring its impact

By Andrew Christiansen | September 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Andrew Christiansen | The Times-Independent) A Moab-Arches shuttle is parked at The Windows in Arches National Park on Sept. 1, the first day of the system’s public soft launch. The free service connects Moab with the Arches Visitor Center, Delicate Arch and The Windows.

The controversial Moab-Arches shuttle is running. Here’s how to use it — for free.

By Andrew Christiansen | September 3, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Utah Division of Wildlife Resources) Black bears have been showing up in Utah cities in numbers never seen before. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has responded to 168 bear calls already in 2026, compared to 83 through all of 2025

Far more bears are wandering into Utah cities this year — and getting euthanized. Here’s what’s driving the surge.

By Julie Jag | Andrew Christiansen | August 28, 2026, 11:20 p.m.

(U.S. Forest Service) A soil specialist examines ground conditions within the Babylon Fire burn scar while field-verifying soil burn severity in July.

The Babylon Fire left flood and erosion risks that could last for years. Here’s how forest managers can reduce those risks.

By Andrew Christiansen | August 17, 2026, 9:35 p.m.

(Warner Bros. Pictures) Dennis, a wolf, howls at a square moon in Overworld, in a scene from "A Minecraft Movie."

Is the ‘Minecraft’ sequel filming in Utah? Here’s what we know.

By Andrew Christiansen | August 17, 2026, 5:19 p.m.

(Grand County Sheriff’s Office) A 15-year-old female black bear sits in a tree in Spanish Valley on Aug. 11 before being tranquilized by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. DWR later euthanized the bear rather than relocating it.

DWR euthanized a black bear they said could not be safely relocated. Utah’s terrible drought is partly to blame.

By Andrew Christiansen | August 14, 2026, 2:41 p.m.

(Utah Fire Info) An aerial view shows the lightning-caused Dodge Fire, which grew to an estimated 30 to 40 acres and threatened structures about 10 miles southeast of Monticello on Monday.

Dodge Fire threatens structures in southeast Utah

By Andrew Christiansen | August 4, 2026, 6:43 p.m.

(BYU faculty) A student receives a dental assessment through a school-based oral health program at Helen M. Knight Elementary School in October 2025. Since the program began in March 2024, students have received 1,237 visual dental assessments, with about 41% identifying oral-health concerns requiring timely treatment.

Some Moab families now have to drive an hour or more for routine dental care after state program changes

By Andrew Christiansen | August 3, 2026, 8:51 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hundreds gather in front of the Governor's Mansion to protest the shrinking of two national monuments, in Salt Lake City on Monday, July 20, 2026.

‘Motivated by love’: Utahns find strength in numbers during protest of Trump’s monument slashing

By Addy Baird | Brooke Larsen | Dylan Eubank | Andrew Christiansen | July 21, 2026, 2:50 p.m.

(U.S. Forest Service) The Babylon Fire began June 26 and was caused by lightning, investigators determined. The 107,173-acre wildfire reached 62% containment Friday.

Babylon Fire caused by lightning, investigators determine

By Andrew Christiansen | July 17, 2026, 11:09 p.m.

(U.S. Forest Service) A pocket of dense timber burns within the Babylon Fire perimeter on July 10. The wildfire reached 50% containment Monday after firefighters made significant progress over the weekend while continuing to strengthen fire lines around Monticello.

Babylon Fire reaches 50% containment after weekend gains

By Andrew Christiansen | July 13, 2026, 8:37 p.m.

(Andrew Christiansen | The Times-Independent) Grand County Planning and Zoning Director Andrew Jackson speaks to the Grand County Commission on July 7 before commissioners unanimously approved a 180-day temporary land use regulation pausing new data center applications while the county develops permanent data center standards.

Grand County pauses data center applications to develop new land-use rules

By Andrew Christiansen | July 10, 2026, 8:00 p.m.

(U.S. Forest Service) Smoke from the Babylon Fire rises behind the U.S. Forest Service office in Monticello on July 6. The wildfire has burned more than 101,000 acres and reached 11% containment Wednesday.

Babylon Fire reaches first containment after burning more than 100,000 acres

By Andrew Christiansen | July 8, 2026, 7:26 p.m.

(U.S. Forest Service) Smoke from the Babylon Fire fills the sky at sunset on Monday, July 6, 2026. More than 1,200 personnel were assigned to the wildfire Tuesday as firefighters continued reinforcing containment features and protecting homes around Monticello.

Babylon Fire — the nation’s largest — surpasses 100,000 acres, remains 0% contained

By Andrew Christiansen | July 7, 2026, 7:26 p.m.

(Tamy Jaramillo/InciWeb) The Babylon Fire is seen from northwest of Blanding. The wildfire had grown to more than 96,500 acres and remained 0% contained Monday.

Parts of San Juan County prepare to evacuate as Babylon Fire becomes nation’s largest active blaze

By Andrew Christiansen | July 6, 2026, 10:28 p.m.

(Travis Spake | National Park Service) Smoke from the Babylon Fire is visible from the Canyonlands National Park Needles District on the evening of June 30.

Babylon Fire grows past 70,000 acres in Bears Ears National Monument, remains 0% contained

By Andrew Christiansen | July 3, 2026, 5:18 p.m.

(U.S. Forest Service) Smoke rises from the Babylon Fire near Blanding on June 27. The wildfire has grown to more than 48,000 acres, destroyed multiple structures and prompted widespread public land closures in San Juan County.

Babylon Fire nears 50,000 acres, destroys 4 buildings in San Juan County

By Andrew Christiansen | July 3, 2026, 5:02 p.m.

(Photo courtesy of rPlus Energies) An aerial view shows the Green River Energy Center in Emery County. The $1.1 billion facility includes nearly 1 million solar panels and a 400-megawatt battery storage system, making it Utah’s largest solar and battery storage project.

Utah’s largest solar-storage project comes online in Emery County after nearly a decade

By Andrew Christiansen | June 25, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Andrew Christiansen | The Times-Independent) The Green River is pictured earlier this year. Project representatives say a revived proposal to develop a nuclear power plant north of Green River could begin operating in the early 2030s, though years of licensing, financing and development work remain ahead.

Green River nuclear project gets new life, but major questions remain

By Andrew Christiansen | June 17, 2026, 3:57 p.m.