Utah

• US measles cases climbed to 1,671 as of April 6, 2026, with 96 new infections reported in the past week, the vast majority in Utah according to the CDC weekly update. • All but 10 cases are linked to 32 states and New York City, with 94% associated with 17 outbreaks including one new outbreak of three or more related cases. • The number of affected states increased by one this week, highlighting ongoing transmission risks amid declining vaccination rates.

New legislation comes amid push from big oil, as critics warn polluters’ profits prioritized over Americans’ healthUtah has made it nearly impossible for residents to hold fossil fuel companies legally accountable for climate damages in a move one advocacy group described as putting “profits for the biggest polluters over communities”, with other states expected to follow suit.The new state legislation comes as part of a push from big oil and its political allies – including groups tied to rightwing impresario Leonard Leo – for legal immunity in red statehouses and Congress, with a goal of winning state and federal legal immunity similar to the liability waiver granted to the firearms industry in 2005. Continue reading...

• The US measles caseload climbed to 1,671 infections with nearly 100 new cases reported in the past week, according to the CDC's weekly update, with the vast majority occurring in Utah. • Utah recorded 73 new measles cases this week and 142 new cases over the past three weeks, bringing the state's 2026 total to 362 cases compared with 197 for all of 2025. • The outbreak spans 32 states and New York City, with 94% of confirmed cases linked to one of 17 outbreaks; Arizona has 71 total cases, Florida has 129, and Texas has 175 cases.

• Jerome Adams, former Surgeon General, discussed on CBS's Face the Nation a surge of more than 1,500 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. since January 2026, per CDC data. • A notable spike is occurring in Utah, contributing to the national increase in this highly contagious disease. • The outbreak highlights ongoing vaccination challenges and public health risks in under-immunized communities.

• Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed eight of nine AI-related bills passed by the legislature this year, advancing state-level AI governance. • Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed four of five AI bills post March 12 adjournment, including measures on AI safety and implementation. • These laws address AI in advertising, children's safety, and administrative use, signaling growing state regulation of AI technologies.

• University of Utah geophysicists used electromagnetic data from airborne surveys to identify a newly discovered freshwater reservoir under the Great Salt Lake's Farmington Bay, marking a first-of-its-kind breakthrough. • The reservoir, located in a key area of the lake, could potentially alleviate Utah's ongoing water scarcity issues amid prolonged drought conditions. • This finding matters as it reveals untapped groundwater resources critical for the western U.S., where the Great Salt Lake has shrunk by nearly 50% since 1980 due to overuse and climate change.

Utah Royals FC travels to Kansas City Current at 4 p.m. ET on ION, as the NWSL regular season progresses with multiple U.S. matchups. This game follows Gotham FC at Boston on ABC, highlighting league expansion and talent depth. Subsequent fixtures include Denver at Bay FC and Houston at San Diego. NWSL aims to build on growing fan interest.