Benjamin Wood

Government reporter

Benjamin joined The Tribune in the fall of 2014 as an education reporter. He currently covers Utah state government and hosts "Trib Talk," the Tribune's weekly general news podcast. Benjamin is a native Utahn and an alumnus of Utah State University.

(Patrick Semansky | AP file photo) Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., departs Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, after the Senate passed a second coronavirus response bill.

Bernie Sanders is awarded 16 of Utah’s 29 Democratic delegates

By Benjamin Wood | March 26, 2020, 3:03 a.m.

(Courtesy photo) State Auditor John Dougall on Tuesday became the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Aimee Winder Newton.

Aimee Winder Newton picks Utah Auditor John Dougall as her running mate in the governor’s race

By Benjamin Wood | March 24, 2020, 10:22 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hope Preston welcomes home her brother Elder Kaleb Preston, from his mission in the Philippines, at the Salt Lake City International Airport. The Prestons are from Kaysville, Sunday, March 22, 2020.

Coronavirus brings hundreds of LDS missionaries back to Utah

By Benjamin Wood | David Noyce | March 24, 2020, 2:24 a.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Department of Health state epidemiologist Angela Dunn announces the first death in Utah attributed to the coronavirus, during a news conference at the Utah Health Department, Sunday, March 22, 2020.

Utah’s first coronavirus death was a Davis County man over age 60

By Benjamin Wood | March 23, 2020, 1:49 a.m.

(Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) Former Utah Attorney General John Swallow, charged with public corruption, at a pre-trial hearing in Salt Lake City, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017.

Ex-A.G. John Swallow says his corruption trial will make him a better attorney general

By Benjamin Wood | March 20, 2020, 10:53 p.m.

(Chris Detrick | Tribune file photo) In this March 2, 2017 photo, former Utah Attorney General John Swallow talks to members of the media after his trial in Salt Lake City. Swallow was acquitted of criminal charges and his legal fees were paid by the state.

Former Utah Attorney General John Swallow, ousted by scandal, wants his old post back

By Benjamin Wood | March 20, 2020, 3:29 p.m.

(Rick Egan | Tribune file photo) Doug Owens chats with Leroy Tharp as he campaigns in a shopping center in West Jordan, Monday, November 3, 2014

Familiar faces join the 2020 race for the Utah Legislature

By Benjamin Wood | March 20, 2020, 3:49 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sen. Deidre Henderson, R-Spanish Fork, speaks after being announced as Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox's running mate in the campaign for governor, in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 19, 2020.

Spencer Cox picks his running mate in Utah’s race for governor — state Sen. Deidre Henderson

By Bethany Rodgers | Benjamin Wood | March 20, 2020, 7:01 p.m.

$(Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) Sen. Deidre Henderson, R-Spanish Fork, listens to comment at the first public hearing for SB102, which would make polygamy between consenting adults an infraction (punishable by a ticket but no arrest or jail time) instead of a felony, on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. At right speaking in favor of the bill is Jessica Christensen of Hope After Polygamy and at left, preparing to speak against the bill, is Tonia Tewell of Holding Out Help.$

Utah lawmaker who led abortion walkout won’t seek reelection

By Benjamin Wood | March 19, 2020, 12:14 a.m.

(Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo) In this Nov. 22, 2016, file photo, Jack Jones, left, culinary arts instructor at the Weber Basin Job Core in Ogden, helps Alondra Medina, Alejandro Pereez, Alan Hurtado and Seth Carroll who are students in the Utah Restaurant Association's ProStart Culinary training program, as they prepare Thanksgiving dinner for more than 1,000 families. For the past several years, the Restaurant Association has collaborated with the Salvation Army and Chartwell's Dining Services to provide the holiday meal. The Union Building Kitchen on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City.

State auditor dings teen chef education program over ‘dummy’ checks

By Benjamin Wood | March 17, 2020, 10:12 p.m.