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ICE watchdogs chortle as MAGA Sen. Mike Lee deletes post linking masks to cartels

"Cartel hitmen wear masks," Lee said of footage of veiled attackers. "Leftists aren't complaining."

News

In a now-deleted X post on Sunday, Sen. Mike Lee appeared to compare masks worn by ICE agents to those worn by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cartels setting fire to a gas station in Mexico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-drug-lord-killed" data-vars-content-id="8b6b1b86-e7bc-4d31-8227-fc3bf48f76ba" data-vars-headline="ICE watchdogs chortle as MAGA Sen. Mike Lee deletes post linking masks to cartels" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-drug-lord-killed" target="_self">cartels setting fire to a gas station in Mexico</a>.The intrigue: The comparison directly — if temporarily — contradicted the Trump administration&#x27;s defense of immigration agents&#x27; concealment of their identities during raids, arrests and other public actions.

Utah measles cases rise as new exposures reported

Almost 60 new cases were reported in the past three weeks.

Health

As measles case counts increase, Utah health officials are warning of new possible exposure incidents across the state.By the numbers: The state health department has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="confirmed" data-vars-click-url="https://files.epi.utah.gov/Utah%20measles%20dashboard.html" data-vars-content-id="df761057-f3e9-4acc-8bf5-d45c8afbd45b" data-vars-headline="Utah measles cases rise as new exposures reported" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://files.epi.utah.gov/Utah%20measles%20dashboard.html" target="_blank">confirmed</a> 300 measles cases in Utah during the outbreaks that began in 2025.

Colorado River cuts loom after states miss deal

The seven Colorado River Basin states missed a key federal deadline to reach a new water usage agreement.

The seven Colorado River Basin states missed a key <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal deadline to reach a new water usage agreement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/03/katie-hobbs-colorado-river-agreement-upper-basin-burgum-meeting" data-vars-content-id="4baac60f-b299-46a1-96f6-8b56471c417e" data-vars-headline="Colorado River cuts loom after states miss deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/03/katie-hobbs-colorado-river-agreement-upper-basin-burgum-meeting" target="_self">federal deadline to reach a new water usage agreement</a>, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is now likely to impose a solution of its own.Why it matters: The Colorado River is a vital source of municipal water for residents living along the Wasatch Front, and beyond and federal intervention could mean forcing mandatory cuts.

Most Utahns don't support Christian nationalism

Christian nationalism is deeply entrenched inside today's Republican Party, according to the survey.

Less than one-third of Utahns <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hold Christian nationalist beliefs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/03/11/utah-republican-christian-nationalism-view-politics" data-vars-content-id="5158a0e6-9106-40b5-811a-a886eb215a81" data-vars-headline="Most Utahns don&#x27;t support Christian nationalism" 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/2024/03/11/utah-republican-christian-nationalism-view-politics" target="_self">hold Christian nationalist beliefs</a>, according to a sweeping 50-state survey by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute.Why it matters: The once-fringe ideology holds that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation and should be governed according to strict fundamentalist Christian values, even as the country becomes <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="less religious" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/26/great-unchurching-america-religiously-unaffiliated" data-vars-content-id="5158a0e6-9106-40b5-811a-a886eb215a81" data-vars-headline="Most Utahns don&#x27;t support Christian nationalism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/26/great-unchurching-america-religiously-unaffiliated" target="_self">less religious</a>.

Salt Lake City landlords flood the market with concessions

Buildings are trying to lure renters after thousands of new units hit the market in recent years.

Salt Lake City&#x27;s rental market is in concession mode as a wave of new apartments hits the city after an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unprecedented building boom" data-vars-click-url="https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/State-Of-State-Housing-Jul2025.pdf" data-vars-content-id="63469909-5e18-4ae8-8f9c-00723118b512" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City landlords flood the market with concessions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/State-Of-State-Housing-Jul2025.pdf" target="_blank">unprecedented building boom</a>.Why it matters: With landlords and property managers competing for tenants, renters are in a strong position to take advantage of one-time incentives that could shave off thousands of dollars from their housing costs.

Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City homeowners pay 33% more than renters.

Real Estate

Renting is cheaper than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="owning a home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" data-vars-content-id="127d4c58-95d6-4d77-83f0-5ca5ce36cd6d" data-vars-headline="Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" target="_self">owning a home</a> in Salt Lake City, according to a LendingTree <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/comparing-rent-vs-owning-a-home-in-nations-largest-metros/" data-vars-content-id="127d4c58-95d6-4d77-83f0-5ca5ce36cd6d" data-vars-headline="Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/comparing-rent-vs-owning-a-home-in-nations-largest-metros/" target="_blank">analysis</a>.Why it matters: The same holds true for all 100 of the largest U.S. metro areas as housing costs have soared nationwide, with stubbornly high home prices and mortgage rates weighing on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="would-be buyers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" data-vars-content-id="127d4c58-95d6-4d77-83f0-5ca5ce36cd6d" data-vars-headline="Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" target="_self">would-be buyers</a>.<ul><li>Nationally, homeowners with a mortgage now pay around 37% more per month than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="renters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/06/apartment-rent-prices" data-vars-content-id="127d4c58-95d6-4d77-83f0-5ca5ce36cd6d" data-vars-headline="Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/06/apartment-rent-prices" target="_self">renters</a>, researchers found.</li></ul>

Housing is Utah voters' top issue. The numbers show why

A number of Utah lawmakers are pushing measures to boost construction and affordability.

More than 80% of Salt Lake City metro homes on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" data-vars-content-id="72ebca60-f62d-4fbc-b03e-3b96b56c913d" data-vars-headline="Housing is Utah voters&#x27; top issue. The numbers show why" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" target="_self">market</a> are unaffordable to the typical household, according to a Bankrate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/american-dream-of-homeownership-turning-into-luxury/" data-vars-content-id="72ebca60-f62d-4fbc-b03e-3b96b56c913d" data-vars-headline="Housing is Utah voters&#x27; top issue. The numbers show why" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/american-dream-of-homeownership-turning-into-luxury/" target="_blank">analysis</a>.Why it matters: That&#x27;s higher than the national rate of 75%, reflecting the reality of a state where housing affordability is Utah voters&#x27; No. 1 priority for state lawmakers to tackle.

Home values in the West are cratering — but not in Salt Lake

Nearly 85% of homes lost value in one Utah city — but the rest are more stable than the region.

Nearly half of Salt Lake homes <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lost value" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/home-value-loss-map" data-vars-content-id="3a08cb4e-17e3-4526-ab08-a70718576b0f" data-vars-headline="Home values in the West are cratering — but not in Salt Lake" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/home-value-loss-map" target="_self">lost value</a> in the past year, according to Zillow.Why it matters: The figure — 46.5% — may startle prospective home buyers who are shopping in a<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" persistently pricey market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/12/08/salt-lake-housing-market-2026-forecast" data-vars-content-id="3a08cb4e-17e3-4526-ab08-a70718576b0f" data-vars-headline="Home values in the West are cratering — but not in Salt Lake" 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/2025/12/08/salt-lake-housing-market-2026-forecast" target="_self"> persistently pricey market</a>.

What to expect from Salt Lake's housing market in 2026

Salt Lake's housing market is expected to stabilize in 2026, with more inventory and easing mortgage rates.

The Salt Lake metro <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2023/11/02/affordable-home-slc-house-mortgage-prices" data-vars-content-id="9764c2ba-1215-4f36-9594-6c9a95179d08" data-vars-headline="What to expect from Salt Lake&#x27;s housing market in 2026" 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/2023/11/02/affordable-home-slc-house-mortgage-prices" target="_self">housing market</a> is expected to stabilize next year as more homes come on the market, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Realtor.com forecast" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/2026-national-housing-forecast/" data-vars-content-id="9764c2ba-1215-4f36-9594-6c9a95179d08" data-vars-headline="What to expect from Salt Lake&#x27;s housing market in 2026" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/2026-national-housing-forecast/" target="_blank">Realtor.com forecast</a>.Why it matters: Utah — the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ninth-most-expensive state to buy a home" data-vars-click-url="https://gardner.utah.edu/news/utah-ranked-as-the-9th-most-expensive-housing-market-in-the-country-in-2024/" data-vars-content-id="9764c2ba-1215-4f36-9594-6c9a95179d08" data-vars-headline="What to expect from Salt Lake&#x27;s housing market in 2026" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gardner.utah.edu/news/utah-ranked-as-the-9th-most-expensive-housing-market-in-the-country-in-2024/" target="_blank">ninth-most-expensive state to buy a home</a> last year — saw housing prices surge during the pandemic, straining affordability for prospective homebuyers.

Here's how many out-of-staters are moving to Utah

It turns out Utah isn't an abnormally powerful magnet for transplants.

Utah is drawing fewer out-of-state movers than most other states, a new analysis finds.The big picture: Of those who moved into a Utah home in 2024, just over 1 in 5 — about 95,000 — were from another state, according to an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.point2homes.com/news/research/us-mobility-rates-reach-historical-low.html" data-vars-content-id="edc148d0-5d79-4200-b7fd-9e2141fa9939" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how many out-of-staters are moving to Utah" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.point2homes.com/news/research/us-mobility-rates-reach-historical-low.html" target="_blank">analysis</a> of census data by rental listing site Point2Homes.

Fewer homes are paid off in Utah amid rising housing costs

Utah ranks fourth-lowest in the U.S. for homes owned outright.

Utah ranks <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fourth-lowest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/11/13/mortgage-free-homes-utah-owned-outright" data-vars-content-id="95b7d6a9-f65b-4d11-b8b6-3bf7e2532b38" data-vars-headline="Fewer homes are paid off in Utah amid rising housing costs" 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/2024/11/13/mortgage-free-homes-utah-owned-outright" target="_self">fourth-lowest</a> in the U.S. for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homes owned outright" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/16/mortgage-free-homes-map" data-vars-content-id="95b7d6a9-f65b-4d11-b8b6-3bf7e2532b38" data-vars-headline="Fewer homes are paid off in Utah amid rising housing costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/16/mortgage-free-homes-map" target="_self">homes owned outright</a>, according to new Census Bureau data.Why it matters: The numbers underscore how <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rising housing costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/05/30/utah-housing-cost-climbing-metro-home-prices" data-vars-content-id="95b7d6a9-f65b-4d11-b8b6-3bf7e2532b38" data-vars-headline="Fewer homes are paid off in Utah amid rising housing costs" 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/2024/05/30/utah-housing-cost-climbing-metro-home-prices" target="_self">rising housing costs</a> and rapid population growth are keeping many Utahns — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="especially younger homeowners" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/11/21/utah-homeowners-among-america-youngest" data-vars-content-id="95b7d6a9-f65b-4d11-b8b6-3bf7e2532b38" data-vars-headline="Fewer homes are paid off in Utah amid rising housing costs" 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/2024/11/21/utah-homeowners-among-america-youngest" target="_self">especially younger homeowners</a> — from fully owning their homes, contributing to higher debt loads and financial strain.

Even fixer-uppers are pricey on Salt Lake's housing market

Even fixer-uppers can be out of reach for many Salt Lake homebuyers.

People looking to buy a home in the Salt Lake metro area can expect about a 21% discount for a fixer-upper, according to a Realtor.com <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/fixer-uppers-2025/" data-vars-content-id="02b5a7b9-1315-4472-a36c-123f00d8b6ef" data-vars-headline="Even fixer-uppers are pricey on Salt Lake&#x27;s housing market" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/fixer-uppers-2025/" target="_blank">report</a> released last month.Why it matters: Smaller, older homes in need of work have long offered first-time buyers a more affordable path to homeownership.

Planners set to weigh 7-story hotel near Sugar House Park

Some residents say the hotel could block Wasatch Mountain views, worsen traffic and erode the park's open feel.

Salt Lake City planners are poised to back a seven-story hotel beside Sugar House Park during a vote on Wednesday — a proposal that&#x27;s stirred strong opinions from residents.Why it matters: The recommendation could help shape the future of one of Salt Lake City&#x27;s most beloved green spaces.

Utahns with low credit take a bath on home insurance

Credit scores aren't necessarily indicative of somebody's ability to pay their bills, though.

Utahns with low <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="credit scores" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/23/fico-credit-scores-bnpl-buy-now-pay-later" data-vars-content-id="97941734-e9cc-41db-b588-e82d92cfb5d9" data-vars-headline="Utahns with low credit take a bath on home insurance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/23/fico-credit-scores-bnpl-buy-now-pay-later" target="_self">credit scores</a> can expect to pay nearly $1,500 more annually on average for home insurance compared to those with high scores, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Credit scores" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/01/average-credit-score-county-childhood" data-vars-content-id="97941734-e9cc-41db-b588-e82d92cfb5d9" data-vars-headline="Utahns with low credit take a bath on home insurance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/01/average-credit-score-county-childhood" target="_self">Credit scores</a> aren&#x27;t necessarily indicative of somebody&#x27;s ability to pay their bills — and tying them to insurance prices can disadvantage low-income and minority homeowners, among others.

Real Estate 🏠

Salt Lake City landlords flood the market with concessions

Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Salt Lake City

Housing is Utah voters' top issue. The numbers show why

Home values in the West are cratering — but not in Salt Lake

What to expect from Salt Lake's housing market in 2026