Leia Larsen - The Salt Lake Tribune

(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) The Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in 2023.

Trump officials eye expanded oil and gas leasing beneath a Utah wildlife refuge. Critics call it ‘wildly irresponsible.’

By Leia Larsen | September 8, 2026, 3:43 p.m.

(Fervo Energy) | The Cape Station plant outside Milford, constructed in 2023.

Google inks massive Utah geothermal deal to power potential data center

By Leia Larsen | September 2, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Courtesy Lief Anderson, the University of Utah) The Timpanogos Rock Glacier contains ancient ice up to 150 feet thick, shielded by a layer of rock.

Utah’s mountains may be hiding a billion tons of ice

By Leia Larsen | August 27, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pineview Reservoir, being drastically drawn down for repairs and making it the lowest it’s been since at least the 1970s, is pictured on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.

A popular Utah reservoir hits its lowest point in 50 years. It’s about to drop even lower.

By Leia Larsen | August 23, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A fast-moving skiff navigates the main channel of Lake Powell on April 26, 2026. Law enforcement officials removed a body from the man-made lake last Friday.

Lake Powell houseboat group finds human remains in shrinking reservoir

By Leia Larsen | August 21, 2026, 6:26 p.m.

(National Park Service) Charles Hall Ferry.

Lake Powell’s falling water levels could sink Utah’s ferry service for good

By Leia Larsen | August 20, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Trevor Christensen | The Salt Lake Tribune) The White Mesa Mill on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. The mill opened in 1980 and is the last conventional uranium mill in the United States.

A mining CEO bought 74,000 shares days before Trump shrank Bears Ears. House Democrats want answers.

By Leia Larsen | August 17, 2026, 7:16 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Smoke from the Widemouth 2 Fire is seen from Fillmore on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026.

Fate of 2 firefighters unknown after helicopter crashes while battling Utah’s massive Widemouth 2 Fire

By Samantha Moilanen | Leia Larsen | August 8, 2026, 12:12 a.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Monday, Aug. 3, 2026.

Utah’s wildfires are moving faster than firefighters can stop them. Here’s why.

By Leia Larsen | Courtney Tanner | August 6, 2026, 6:09 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Salt Lake City skyline glows in the setting sun on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.

This isn’t Utah’s hottest summer. So why does it feel like it?

By Leia Larsen | August 5, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Solar panels on the Kesler ranch in Holden, on March 26, 2026. In May 2026, for the first time, Utah produced more power from solar than any other source.

Utah produced more power from solar than any other source in May, marking a new first

By Leia Larsen | August 4, 2026, 5:46 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and Gov. Spencer Cox are joined by other state state leaders in north central Tooele County to announce plans to advance nuclear energy development in the county, on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Utah is a finalist to build a massive federal nuclear hub. What’s next?

By Emily Anderson Stern | Leia Larsen | July 29, 2026, 10:51 p.m.

(Utah Department of Environmental Quality) Dozens of Utahns attend a public hearing hosted by the Division of Water Quality to oppose a water discharge permit for the Tooele Valley inland port and data center project on July 27, 2026.

Utahns speak out as yet another data center is planned near the Great Salt Lake

By Leia Larsen | July 28, 2026, 11:36 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A tour of Eagle Point Resort, one of the smallest ski and snowboard areas in Utah, reveals what remains for one of the first areas to fall victim to the Cottonwood Fire in late June, pictured Thursday, July 9, 2026.

‘We’re losing our ability to manage forest fires’ as West becomes hotter and drier, researcher says

By Leia Larsen | July 28, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Indian Creek area of Bears Ears National Monument near Monticello on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.

Were Trump’s national monument cuts what Utahns wanted? Here’s what polls have said.

By Leia Larsen | July 20, 2026, 2:50 p.m.

(Trevor Christensen | The Salt Lake Tribune) Construction equipment gathers radioactive mill tailings at the Utah Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.

The 480-acre site was once the home of a uranium mill that processed 1,400 tons of uranium ore per day.

One of Utah’s biggest environmental cleanups is nearly finished

By Leia Larsen | July 16, 2026, 5:22 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a news conference at the annual meeting of the Western Governors' Association in Park City on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. From left are Gov. Brad Little, ID, Gov. Mark Gordon, WY, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, NM, Cox, Gov. Josh Green, HI, Gov. Jared Polis, CO, and Gov. Joe Lombardo, NV.

As Utah fires worsen, U.S. Forest Service chief calls for more active forest management

By Leia Larsen | July 1, 2026, 12:01 p.m.

(Leia Larsen | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Salton Sea on June 14, 2026.

What Utah can learn from California’s Salton Sea

By Leia Larsen | June 28, 2026, 2:58 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Samantha Moyes paddles on Pineview Reservoir with her dog Tim on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Popular northern Utah reservoir to be drained amid dire drought conditions

By Leia Larsen | June 27, 2026, 3:13 p.m.

(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) People protest the Stratos data center project at the Capitol in Salt Lake City, Thursday, May 14, 2026.

MIDA hires new director following Box Elder data center backlash

By Leia Larsen | June 26, 2026, 7:23 p.m.