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Utah reserves firing squad option as doubts rise over lethal injection

If Tennessee's botched execution ends lethal injection, Utah law spells out the state's backup plan.

News

Tennessee&#x27;s failed attempt to execute Christa Pike is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="renewing scrutiny" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/01/christa-pike-lethal-injections-drugs-pentobarbital" data-vars-content-id="672fa963-6b42-43b9-9802-ba1790df637c" data-vars-headline="Utah reserves firing squad option as doubts rise over lethal injection" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/01/christa-pike-lethal-injections-drugs-pentobarbital" target="_self">renewing scrutiny</a> of lethal injection — but Utah law still reserves the firing squad as a backup plan.Why it matters: Lethal injection is Utah&#x27;s primary <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="execution" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/07/09/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-death-penalty-gary-gilmore-ron-lafferty" data-vars-content-id="672fa963-6b42-43b9-9802-ba1790df637c" data-vars-headline="Utah reserves firing squad option as doubts rise over lethal injection" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/07/09/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-death-penalty-gary-gilmore-ron-lafferty" target="_self">execution</a> method, used for five of the state&#x27;s eight executions since the U.S. Supreme Court approved the death penalty 50 years ago.

Utah is about to enter its bagel era

Jeff's Bagel Run is betting big on the Beehive State, with plans to open 15 stores in northern Utah.

Culture

Utah&#x27;s emerging bagel scene is about to get bigger with the arrival of two national chains.The big picture: Utah has long been known for being a bagel desert, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Salt Lake City" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city" data-vars-content-id="c3aad4fa-7431-4843-89a3-2c6dc9a5db2f" data-vars-headline="Utah is about to enter its bagel era" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city" target="_self">Salt Lake City</a> shops like the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Bagel Project" data-vars-click-url="https://bagelproject.com/" data-vars-content-id="c3aad4fa-7431-4843-89a3-2c6dc9a5db2f" data-vars-headline="Utah is about to enter its bagel era" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bagelproject.com/" target="_blank">The Bagel Project</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Baby&#x27;s Bagels" data-vars-click-url="https://www.babysbagels.com/" data-vars-content-id="c3aad4fa-7431-4843-89a3-2c6dc9a5db2f" data-vars-headline="Utah is about to enter its bagel era" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.babysbagels.com/" target="_blank">Baby&#x27;s Bagels</a> have helped change that with their New York-style varieties.

Salt Lake City to celebrate the 9th & 9th whale's new look

The new mural by local artist Jiyoun Lee-Lodge is inspired by the Great Salt Lake and Utah's open skies.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="9th &amp; 9th whale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/02/the-slc-whale-new-mural" data-vars-content-id="008cead4-6d96-4324-8d6a-d731152909ab" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City to celebrate the 9th &amp; 9th whale&#x27;s new look" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/02/the-slc-whale-new-mural" target="_self">9th &amp; 9th whale</a> is making a splash with a new look.State of play: Salt Lake City is holding <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Whale Fest" data-vars-click-url="https://publicart.slc.gov/whale-fest-2026/" data-vars-content-id="008cead4-6d96-4324-8d6a-d731152909ab" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City to celebrate the 9th &amp; 9th whale&#x27;s new look" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://publicart.slc.gov/whale-fest-2026/" target="_blank">Whale Fest</a> from 2-7pm Saturday to celebrate the landlocked whale&#x27;s new mural.

Utah voters to weigh 60% threshold for some citizen initiatives

Amendment B would require 60% voter approval for ballot initiatives that raise taxes.

A Republican-backed constitutional amendment on the November ballot could make it harder to pass <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="citizen-led ballot initiatives" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/04/28/utah-ballot-referendum-signatures-difficult" data-vars-content-id="6da121a9-c4c9-46da-8ac2-4a9900256f44" data-vars-headline="Utah voters to weigh 60% threshold for some citizen initiatives" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/04/28/utah-ballot-referendum-signatures-difficult" target="_self">citizen-led ballot initiatives</a> that raise taxes.Why it matters: Critics say Amendment B would dilute Utahns&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="voting power" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/09/16/utah-mail-elections-2026-changes" data-vars-content-id="6da121a9-c4c9-46da-8ac2-4a9900256f44" data-vars-headline="Utah voters to weigh 60% threshold for some citizen initiatives" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/09/16/utah-mail-elections-2026-changes" target="_self">voting power</a>.

Remade state Supreme Court looks less like Utah than ever

State Supreme Court benches often don't reflect the communities they serve.

Two state Supreme Court justices were confirmed this week, bringing the body to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="seven members" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/06/19/utah-democrats-supreme-court-expansion-confirmations" data-vars-content-id="222ada8d-524e-406c-a98c-5385af7a25e3" data-vars-headline="Remade state Supreme Court looks less like Utah than ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/06/19/utah-democrats-supreme-court-expansion-confirmations" target="_self">seven members</a> for the first time — and its makeup doesn&#x27;t reflect the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state&#x27;s increasingly diverse population" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/06/03/utah-diverse-population-inequality-education" data-vars-content-id="222ada8d-524e-406c-a98c-5385af7a25e3" data-vars-headline="Remade state Supreme Court looks less like Utah than ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/06/03/utah-diverse-population-inequality-education" target="_self">state&#x27;s increasingly diverse population</a>.Why it matters: State high courts shape major decisions on voting, abortion, civil rights and criminal justice, yet their benches often don&#x27;t mirror the communities they serve, Axios&#x27; Brad Jennings <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/11/state-supreme-court-justices-representation" data-vars-content-id="222ada8d-524e-406c-a98c-5385af7a25e3" data-vars-headline="Remade state Supreme Court looks less like Utah than ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/11/state-supreme-court-justices-representation" target="_self">reports</a>.

Here's where Utah's universal by-mail elections stand

Here's what's new this year, and what to expect in future elections.

Utah&#x27;s midterm elections will take place by mail as usual, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected President Trump&#x27;s last-minute effort to restrict mail ballots.Why it matters: Voting by mail is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildly popular" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2026/08/18/most-utahns-rely-vote-by-mail/" data-vars-content-id="476535a0-a7ed-4a3a-b8d0-44b7d5330f84" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s where Utah&#x27;s universal by-mail elections stand" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2026/08/18/most-utahns-rely-vote-by-mail/" target="_blank">wildly popular</a> in Utah, but a series of legal challenges and state policy debates have repeatedly put its future into question.

Equality Utah's GOP endorsements are under fire

Critics say the group should have put queer candidates ahead of "bridge-building."

Equality Utah&#x27;s midterm endorsements have drawn criticism over their support for GOP candidates rather than LGBTQ+ Democrats.Why it matters: It&#x27;s the latest in what critics describe as a pattern of capitulation by the most visible LGBTQ+ rights group in the state.

A year after Charlie Kirk's killing, where key figures stand now

The assassination of Charlie Kirk transformed the lives of several people caught in its orbit.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/10/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-valley-university" data-vars-content-id="2e86ba6a-1e00-49ca-987a-75c57cc2abfa" data-vars-headline="A year after Charlie Kirk&#x27;s killing, where key figures stand now" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/10/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-valley-university" target="_self">assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk</a> upended the lives of several Utah figures, some of whom are still grappling through the aftermath a year after the fatal shooting.The big picture: The 31-year-old&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="killing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/11/charlie-kirk-killing-trump-political-violence" data-vars-content-id="2e86ba6a-1e00-49ca-987a-75c57cc2abfa" data-vars-headline="A year after Charlie Kirk&#x27;s killing, where key figures stand now" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/11/charlie-kirk-killing-trump-political-violence" target="_self">killing</a> on Sept. 10, 2025, in a quiet college town <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dubbed" data-vars-click-url="https://orem.gov/" data-vars-content-id="2e86ba6a-1e00-49ca-987a-75c57cc2abfa" data-vars-headline="A year after Charlie Kirk&#x27;s killing, where key figures stand now" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://orem.gov/" target="_blank">dubbed</a> &quot;Family City USA&quot; sent shockwaves across the nation.

Jon Stewart pushes back on Gov. Cox's civility campaign

Cox says contempt will destroy America. Stewart warns responsibility for that isn't symmetrical.

Utah Gov. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Spencer Cox" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/06/26/cox-disagree-better-campaign-pollock-gop-environmentalists-terrorists" data-vars-content-id="ddbfcb48-c623-4f4c-9622-e37a8a0c8592" data-vars-headline="Jon Stewart pushes back on Gov. Cox&#x27;s civility campaign" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/06/26/cox-disagree-better-campaign-pollock-gop-environmentalists-terrorists" target="_self">Spencer Cox</a> appeared on &quot;The Daily Show&quot; Tuesday to promote his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new book, &quot;Off Ramp,&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/09/08/utah-governor-spencer-cox-off-ramp-book-political-polarization" data-vars-content-id="ddbfcb48-c623-4f4c-9622-e37a8a0c8592" data-vars-headline="Jon Stewart pushes back on Gov. Cox&#x27;s civility campaign" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/09/08/utah-governor-spencer-cox-off-ramp-book-political-polarization" target="_self">new book, &quot;Off Ramp,&quot;</a> which he wrote <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="after Charlie Kirk&#x27;s death" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/09/12/trump-charlie-kirk-shooting-spencer-cox-utah" data-vars-content-id="ddbfcb48-c623-4f4c-9622-e37a8a0c8592" data-vars-headline="Jon Stewart pushes back on Gov. Cox&#x27;s civility campaign" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/09/12/trump-charlie-kirk-shooting-spencer-cox-utah" target="_self">after Charlie Kirk&#x27;s death</a> to call for &quot;peacemaking&quot; amid political acrimony. The intrigue: Host Jon Stewart — who frequently platforms guests that don&#x27;t neatly fit under ideological labels — pushed back against Cox&#x27;s blanket condemnation of &quot;contempt.&quot;

4 takeaways from Gov. Spencer Cox's new book, "Off Ramp"

The book focuses on ending political polarization.

Gov. Spencer Cox&#x27;s new book, &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/827061/off-ramp-by-spencer-cox-foreword-by-jonathan-haidt/" data-vars-content-id="116bcbdc-f799-47f3-95a7-8a2d032a7736" data-vars-headline="4 takeaways from Gov. Spencer Cox&#x27;s new book, &quot;Off Ramp&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/827061/off-ramp-by-spencer-cox-foreword-by-jonathan-haidt/" target="_blank">Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt</a>,&quot; hits bookshelves Tuesday — just two days before the one-year anniversary of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Charlie Kirk&#x27;s killing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/10/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-valley-university" data-vars-content-id="116bcbdc-f799-47f3-95a7-8a2d032a7736" data-vars-headline="4 takeaways from Gov. Spencer Cox&#x27;s new book, &quot;Off Ramp&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/10/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-valley-university" target="_self">Charlie Kirk&#x27;s killing</a> at a Utah college campus.Why it matters: The Republican governor <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="became a national figure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/09/12/trump-charlie-kirk-shooting-spencer-cox-utah" data-vars-content-id="116bcbdc-f799-47f3-95a7-8a2d032a7736" data-vars-headline="4 takeaways from Gov. Spencer Cox&#x27;s new book, &quot;Off Ramp&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/09/12/trump-charlie-kirk-shooting-spencer-cox-utah" target="_self">became a national figure</a> last year for his measured response to Kirk&#x27;s death, calling for an end to political polarization in the U.S. — sharply contrasting President Trump.

Utah's "DataRepublican" launches socialist tracker 

Pentagon's "DataRepublican" launches socialist tracker

The rightwing personality says it's a "personal project." Critics say it's a tool to spy on citizens.

A Utah software engineer who was recently hired by the Pentagon is under fire after unveiling a database she built to track people with ties to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democratic Socialists of America" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/30/socialists-fight-aoc-2028" data-vars-content-id="0f8c674d-9cf7-439a-84ff-dba0e18130d0" data-vars-headline="Utah&#x27;s &quot;DataRepublican&quot; launches socialist tracker " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/30/socialists-fight-aoc-2028" target="_self">Democratic Socialists of America</a> (DSA).Why it matters: Critics <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="say" data-vars-click-url="https://newrepublic.com/post/214897/defense-department-refuses-identify-staffer-tracking-democratic-socialists" data-vars-content-id="0f8c674d-9cf7-439a-84ff-dba0e18130d0" data-vars-headline="Utah&#x27;s &quot;DataRepublican&quot; launches socialist tracker " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newrepublic.com/post/214897/defense-department-refuses-identify-staffer-tracking-democratic-socialists" target="_blank">say</a> the &quot;DSA Explorer&quot; is an inappropriate use of sensitive political information by a federal employee at best — and amounts to government spying on U.S. citizens at worst.

Rogan podcast doesn't paint the full picture of homelessness in SLC

Comedian Shane Gillis said he chased down by "ten homeless guys" when he was starting out in SLC's comedy scene.

Politics

Despite the viral Joe Rogan clip zeroing in on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Salt Lake City&#x27;s homelessness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/07/utah-homelessness-falls-chronic-mental-illness" data-vars-content-id="510bddcf-803b-4079-be61-e92c12b8a880" data-vars-headline="Rogan podcast doesn&#x27;t paint the full picture of homelessness in SLC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/07/utah-homelessness-falls-chronic-mental-illness" target="_self">Salt Lake City&#x27;s homelessness</a>, new data shows it&#x27;s actually declining.Why it matters: Homelessness is down in Utah for the first time in six years, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="barriers to affordable housing" data-vars-click-url="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/07/21/home-prices-salt-lake-county-break-record/" data-vars-content-id="510bddcf-803b-4079-be61-e92c12b8a880" data-vars-headline="Rogan podcast doesn&#x27;t paint the full picture of homelessness in SLC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/07/21/home-prices-salt-lake-county-break-record/" target="_blank">barriers to affordable housing</a> remain.

ICE drops plans to turn SLC warehouse into detention center

It's a sharp reversal from DHS's accelerated plans to have the warehouses operational before the end of the year.

The Department of Homeland Security is abandoning <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/03/13/ice-buys-warehouse-salt-lake-city-detention-facility-utah" data-vars-content-id="49ce9394-c032-40da-a001-1e998ce93b4b" data-vars-headline="ICE drops plans to turn SLC warehouse into detention center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/03/13/ice-buys-warehouse-salt-lake-city-detention-facility-utah" target="_self">plans</a> to convert an empty Salt Lake City warehouse into an ICE detention center, according to a new court filing.Why it matters: The proposed facility would have marked Utah&#x27;s first immigration detention center, holding between 7,500 to 10,000 people, despite staunch opposition from local leaders.

Politics 🇺🇸

Utah voters to weigh 60% threshold for some citizen initiatives

Remade state Supreme Court looks less like Utah than ever

Here's where Utah's universal by-mail elections stand

Equality Utah's GOP endorsements are under fire

A year after Charlie Kirk's killing, where key figures stand now