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When President Trump decimated Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, he left behind a patchwork of protected designations whose rules for recreation vary — and aren't always well-known.

Why it matters: Some critics and supporters of Trump's cuts have inaccurately characterized the removed lands as a free-for-all, where four-wheelers may roam at will and mine shafts will soon pock the landscape.

• That discourse could lead visitors to unwittingly violate rules that still apply at many of the most popular sites that once were within the monuments' boundaries.

How it works: Monument boundaries have long overlapped with places known as Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.

• Those designations come with their own rules — some more restrictive than monuments' rules.

Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) account for most of the remaining protections on the former monument lands.

1. WSAs are wild places where federal wilderness rules apply until Congress decides whether to make them permanent.

• Motorized and mechanized devices, including cars, ATVs, bikes and drones, are forbidden. So are roads, structures and commercial activity like mining and drilling.

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern protect specific resources including endangered species habitat or archeological sites.

• The rules vary depending on the location. At Valley of the Gods, for example, a road allows for cars and ATVs, and camping without fires is OK.
• At Lavender Mesa, by contrast, land managers are authorized to close the area to all recreation that threatens the native plant ecosystem set aside there for scientific research.

The intrigue: In his declarations shrinking the monuments, Trump argued the other federal designations made monument protections redundant.

• Yes, but: His administration had already launched a review of WSAs in June, potentially changing protections on about half of the former Grand Staircase-Escalante footprint and more than a quarter of the former Bears Ears.

Between the lines: Now opponents of the monuments are also asking Trump to open WSAs to be "managed for multiple use."

The latest: Public comment ended Friday.

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The Los Angeles Lakers' $12.5 billion valuation is raising fresh questions about how much the Utah Jazz are worth since the team was last purchased almost six years ago.

The big picture: Although a Jazz sale is unlikely in the near future, the Lakers' new price tag could lift the value of other NBA teams, Forbes reports

• The 10 most lucrative sales of a professional sports team have all occurred since 2022, according to Forbes.

Driving the news: Venture capitalist Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger are seeking a majority stake in the Lakers for $2.5 billion more than what it was purchased for last year. The deal is awaiting NBA approval.

By the numbers: Qualtrics co-founder Ryan Smith reportedly paid $1.66 billion in 2020 to the Miller family for a majority stake of the Utah Jazz. The deal also included Vivint Arena — now called the Delta Center.

• As of October 2025, the team's valuation had jumped to $4.1 billion, according to Forbes' estimates.
• That represented a 15% year-over-year increase and a nearly 150% jump since 2020, ranking the team 24th among the NBA's 30 teams, per Forbes.
• The average NBA team was worth $5.51 billion in 2025, according to Sportico.

What we're watching: How the completion of the planned sports, entertainment, culture and convention district in downtown Salt Lake City could impact the Jazz's valuation.

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🚐 UTA is expanding its popular on-demand service in multiple Utah County cities, like American Fork, Eagle Mountain and Lehi, starting this week. (KSL)

🐐 State wildlife officials are urging hikers to stay at least 150 feet away from mountain goats encountered outdoors. The goats are currently nursing their young and can become territorial. (Utah News Dispatch)

🎸 The Jonas Brothers are performing at the Delta Center Dec. 7 as part of their "Burning It Up" tour. (FOX 13)

Drought is increasingly driving Utah's black bears into neighborhoods as their usual forage withers in the mountain, KUTV reports.

The latest: State wildlife officials tranquilized and killed a bear they suspected had become habituated to people after sightings in and around Logan, Paradise and Nibley last week.

• Its body temperature had reached a dangerously high 107° when it was captured.

Catch up quick: At least six other bears have been spotted this month in populated areas of Utah County, KUTV tallied.

Wildlife officials are warning residents to keep a close eye on kids and pets and call 911 if they spot a bear.

I may have found one of my new favorite breakfast sandwiches in Salt Lake City after mourning Frankie & Essl's all-too-brief run.

State of play: I visited Grumpy Dough, a food truck serving up Filipino-inspired breakfast sandwiches, at the Wheeler Farm Farmer's Market last Sunday, and I'm a convert.

• The business is owned by Leo and Nelly Jamoralin, who hail from the Philippines.

What I ordered: "The Grumpy," stuffed with scrambled eggs, chives, cheese, caramelized onions, avocado, and spicy mayo, served on a toasted brioche bun. I added a sweet pork patty.

• The food truck also serves traditional American-style breakfast sandwiches, but its best offerings are the fusion ones made with rib-eye bulgogi and sweet pork, also known as longganisa.
• The hefty sandwiches run between $12-$18.

Zoom in: You can find the food truck outside Roots Coffee (774 S. 300 West) Wednesday-Friday; at the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturdays; and at Wheeler Farm on Sundays.

Before you go: Prepare for a long line. I promise it's worth the wait.

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🎶 Kim is going to the Thee Sacred Souls x LA LOM concert tonight.

🍎 Erin hopes her daughter has a wonderful first day of school today.

This newsletter was edited by Astrid Galván.