Utah's Economy: The skyline of the Wasatch Front shows growth and development everywhere. But much of the growth is among homogenous corporate retail chains, restaurants, and big-box stores. According to Val Hale, who is the President of Utah’s Office of Economic Development, AKA GoEd - the Governor's Office of Economic Development - Utah’s economy is booming. Just last … [Read more...]
Help Wanted: Utah’s Labor Shortage
Is America running out of workers? According to a December 13, 2018 report by The Conference Board—a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and addressing looming business issues—2019 may be a historically tight year in the labor market. This will be especially true in blue-collar industries like mining, manufacturing, maintenance, agriculture, and others … [Read more...]
Medical Cannabis in Utah: The Central Fill
If there were one poison pill in the “compromise bill” it is that the bill has already been written that will be passed instead of Proposition Two and includes the all new idea that there must be a state-operated “central fill". One massive facility will essentially serve the needs of all the medical cannabis pharmacies and all of the walk-up clinics that will participate in … [Read more...]
Medical Marijuana in Utah
This November Utahns have one major issue on the ballot that could dramatically alter our extreme-red, hyper-conservative state: the legalization of medical marijuana. The ballot initiative Proposition Two seeks to allow residents to utilize marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. Currently 66 percent of Utah voters support this initiative. This would also allow for … [Read more...]
The “Smart Home”?
The following story was written and reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah Stories. Life is going to be easy in your techno-fabulous Vivint Smart Home of the not too-distant future. Why? Because your smart home will act like a sophisticated security guard/nanny/third parent. You can come home, kick back, and check the stats on … [Read more...]
Operation Rio Grande And the impact on Utah’s Homeless
Did you know that in 2015 Utah Solved the Problem of Chronic Homelessness? In 2015, the national press (including NBC Nightly News, The Daily Show, The Washington Post, New Yorker Magazine and Ted Talks) were all celebrating how Salt Lake City had declared a victory over the war on homelessness. Apparently the homeless didn’t get the memo … or perhaps they … [Read more...]
Did A Daily Show Story Flood Salt Lake City with Homeless?
Salt Lake City declared a victory over chronic homelessness in 2015. The main-stream media loved the story and flooded the airwaves and papers with stories informing everyone that Salt Lake was a stellar example. A story by the Daily Show with John Stewart said, “The homeless know can have a second shot at life, all that they have to is live in Utah.” KSL TV then aired a … [Read more...]
University of Utah Protest Against Ben Shapiro Nearly Turns Violent
Editor's Note: YouTube apparently flagged the video we produced as "Not appropriate for all advertisers" -- which is odd because we haven't allowed advertising on our video. But the video is up and live on YouTube and can be watched here: https://youtu.be/U8BE75gDrMQ University of Utah campus—Conservative podcaster and commentator Ben Shapiro has … [Read more...]
Attack of the Developosaurus
Utah Stories was started ten years ago to offer an independent source of journalism, with a bent toward examining the harmful effects of crony capitalism. The abuse of power in municipalities runs rampant because the suburban cities have a record number of developers, land speculators, and real-estate brokers who also happen to be politicians. This power goes unchecked because … [Read more...]
What Are The Causes of Utah’s Opiate Addiction Epidemic?
Bill (name changed) was a bright and happy kid who loved his family and life. He grew up, got married, had a successful career and bought a house. He had two beautiful children. Then a few years ago he was in an accident that left him in pain. He was prescribed pain pills and became addicted. He lost his family and home as he came to care about the drug more than anything else … [Read more...]