Latest news with #BeehiveState
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: Utah experiences steady employment growth amid a national downturn
Utah's employment numbers continue to steadily grow despite national trend downward, according to the latest employment summary from the Department of Workforce Services. In May, the Beehive State reported a 2.5% increase in employment over the year, while the unemployment rate stood at 3.2%, according to the report. These numbers represented a net addition of 42,900 jobs since May 2024, accounting for both job gains and losses. Approximately 58,220 Utahns are unemployed, which is about 700 more than last month. 'While the unemployment rate saw a slight increase, the state's economy remains robust,' Ben Crabb, chief economist with the Utah Department of Workforce Services, said in the report. Utah's private sector employment increased by 2.3% from the previous year, with notable job gains in education and health services, construction and manufacturing. However, trade, transportation and utilities, along with other services, saw job losses. Eight of ten industry groups experienced net job growth. In comparison, the U.S. added 139,000 nonfarm jobs, just shy of two thousand from the most recent modest estimate for the current quarter, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. While the federal government experienced ongoing job losses, the health care, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance sectors continued to show upward employment trends. Down from the previous estimate of 145,000, and the previous 12 months average monthly gain of 149,000, the current job growth casts a dimmer outlook in the U.S. economy. On the other hand, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2%, the U.S. Labor report stated. Although forecasters surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said it could raise to 4.5% in the first quarter of 2026. Wednesday, the Federal Reserve left the federal funds rate unchanged, awaiting to see the impact that tariffs will have in the economy this year. 'Increases in tariffs this year are likely to push up prices and weigh on economic activity,' Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference, per AP news. 'This is something we know is coming, we just don't know the size of it.' Economic growth will slow down, according to these projections, which could translate into an increase in unemployment. Even though inflation has remained steady, the Federal Reserve still expects to cut rates twice this year, per AP news, to counter the projected effects of the higher inflation in the upcoming months. The state's labor market saw a 15% decrease in job openings over the year, according to Crabb. Despite the cooling trend, Crabb said there still are 1.3 jobs for every unemployed worker in the state. Crabb also noted there's a hesitance among workers to try switching jobs, which could be due to the time it takes to find suitable reemployment. With a median duration of 7.7 weeks currently, it takes job seekers about a week longer than the previous year. But Crabb remains optimistic. 'Going into the summer, the state's economy is exhibiting health and expansion across industries,' he said in his analysis of May's employment report.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ahead of protests, how police and organizers prepare for agitators
SALT LAKE CITY () — Plans for peaceful demonstrations are underway for this weekend across the country, with 18 here in the Beehive State. Police and organizers say ignoring and avoiding potential agitators is the best way to keep the peace. In Thursday night's protest in Salt Lake City, counter protestors agitated the crowd and instigated a brief moment of violence in the hours long demonstration that police described as 'mostly peaceful.' Sarah Burk, leader of Salt Lake Indivisible, said ignoring and avoiding is the best way to not give them what they want: attention. Man accused of assaulting victims during 'mostly peaceful' anti-ICE protest in Salt Lake City She explained, 'They want you to yell at them. They want you to lose your cool. And so just knowing that that is their goal is really helpful.' Burk retold encountering agitators in previous demonstrations saying they've come with airhorns, armor, and in some cases even weapons. She believes that only shows the fear they have and hopes the sheer number of demonstrators coming out this weekend will deter any trouble. She detailed, 'My people show up with passion and that's the armor they wear, that they care about our country and they don't want to see us lose the freedoms that we have.' Burk explained that if peace is disrupted, so is their protest's message about the current administration: 'Many of his actions are not actions of a president, and they're not actions that are that happen in a democracy. And people need to wake up to that.' Anti-ICE protest mostly peaceful; arrest made after fight breaks out Salt Lake City Police when asked about dealing with potential agitators sent the following statement: 'We are committed to protecting the First Amendment rights of everyone in our community. At the same time, we are equally committed to maintaining public safety. When people come to a peaceful demonstration with the intent to incite violence, destroy property, or threaten others, including our officers, they will need to be held accountable. We are incredibly proud of our officers. They have shown professionalism in very difficult situations, and their safety remains a top priority. We encourage event organizers and participants to help us maintain a safe and respectful environment by peacefully exercising their rights, staying aware of their surroundings, and promptly reporting any disruptive or threatening behavior to our officers. Public safety is a shared responsibility, and we never want anyone to put themselves at risk. That's why we ask community members to notify an officer or call 9-1-1 rather than intervening directly. Maintaining distance from people who are aggressive or attempting to agitate a crowd can go a long way in preventing unnecessary tension or escalation. Our goal is to ensure that safe, lawful demonstrations can take place without disruption – and to make sure those who seek to cause violence do not drown out the voices of those gathered in good faith. Salt Lake City police officers will continue doing everything they can to keep our city safe.' The first demonstration in Salt Lake City is set to take place Saturday at 10 a.m. at the J. Willard Marriott Library on the University of Utah Campus. Ahead of protests, how police and organizers prepare for agitators Wyoming Supreme Court rules that controversial Cody Temple construction can move forward Zion National Park celebrates 100 millionth shuttle boarding Keep your skin soft and healthy this summer with O'Keeffe's Good4Utah Road Tour: East Canyon State Park Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Pleasant temperatures with scattered afternoon showers, storms south of I-80 Friday afternoon
SALT LAKE CITY () — Happy Friday, Utah! Active weather conditions continue for areas of south & central Utah Friday afternoon, with scattered showers and storms developing once again. Northern areas will see a few more clouds, with a spotty downpour chance. The flood threat returns for areas south of I-70, especially near the dry washes and slot canyons. Highs will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s for the Wasatch Front, with highs in the 80s to lower 90s for SW Utah. A big ridge of high pressure will begin to build back across Utah later this week. This will usher in drier air and much warmer weather once again across the Beehive State, just in time for the upcoming weekend. Saturday will feature mostly sunny skies with highs in the upper 80s for the Wasatch Front and upper 90s for SW Utah. Look for highs to approach the triple digits for southern Utah on Sunday afternoon. Highs will be in the low to mid-90s for the Wasatch Front. We will stay on the very warm side through most of next week with highs rising in the 90s and 100s. Stay tuned, we'll keep you 4Warned on-air and online! Musk floats 'The American Party' after Trump tiff Myths VS Facts: What health officials want you to know about the MMR vaccine Good4Utah Road Tour: Willard Bay State Park Lori Vallow Daybell back in court, charged with conspiracy to murder ex nephew-in-law Man charged with assault for allegedly attacking and strangling neighbor Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Squeaky clean Utah shuns booze and drugs - but why are its residents addicted to 'dirty sodas'?
Utah is battling an addiction crisis - but it's nothing to do with booze, drugs, or fast food. Instead the Beehive State is hooked on soda. Now YouTuber Tyler Oliveira has delved deeper into why the sugary drinks have thousands in their grip, and what inspired the craze. In his film, one man named Steve Kinyon admits sometimes he guzzles more than 5 gallons of diet soda a day and he spends $300 a week on soda alone. Steve, a father-of-two with over 66,000 Instagram followers on his food-centric account, says even his young sons — ages four and two — love soda. His wife, Kephren, is 'concerned' about the habit. Tyler explains that the state's large Mormon population plays a central role. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are typically forbidden from drinking alcohol and hot caffeinated drinks like coffee or tea. But soda, especially cold caffeinated soda, falls into a gray area — one that many Utahns have embraced enthusiastically. Enter 'Dirty Sodas,' a wildly popular beverage trend in the state. These are essentially soda-based mocktails, with concoctions made using base sodas like Dr Pepper, Sprite, or Coca-Cola, spiked with flavored syrups, purees, creams, and fruit. 'These are basically cocktails without the alcohol,' one woman explains in Oliveira's documentary. A popular pick at the soda drive-thru chain Swig is the Mojito Mama, a tropical mix of lemonade, coconut puree, coconut cream, mint, and fresh lime. A 44oz cup can pack more than 600 calories — similar to a fast food meal. But while many in the community view their vice as much safer than drugs or alcohol, copious amounts of soda has its risks. Obesity, diabetes, increased blood pressure, and kidney disease are just some of the hazards. Meanwhile, caffeine in caffeinated soda drinks can cause anxiety, increased heart rate and higher blood pressure. Along with the health impact of drinking so much soda, there is also a financial repercussion. 'If he started going into debt for this, it would be divorce,' Kephren says in one scene, as Steve is seen unloading a haul of soda from the trunk of his car. When Oliveira visits several soda drive-thrus across Utah one morning, he finds long lines and loyal customers who say they rely on their daily fix. One woman reveals her boss drinks two 44oz sodas every day. Another says her workplace caters to the habit with built-in 'soda breaks.' She tells Tyler outside a drive-thru in the largely Mormon city of Provo: '[Soda is] literally people's entire world. 'I'm [working] at an office right over here. We shut down twice a day so that everybody can go get their dirty sodas.' Meanwhile, one man likens soda culture in Utah to coffee culture in other parts of the world, but he highlights that soda culture is even more unique as it is 'much more customizable'. 'There's nothing else like it,' he says. But while it may feel like a harmless cultural quirk, the habit could be taking years off people's lives. A University of Michigan study found that just two sugar-sweetened beverages per day could cost someone 24 minutes of life expectancy. Over time, that adds up. If someone starts drinking soda at age five and continues for 50 years, they could lose nearly a year off their life — about 304 days. Getting their hit: Many people reveal that they drink soda on a daily basis and one woman says that her boss drinks two 44oz servings a day According to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics, roughly half of Americans over the age of two drink two sugary beverages a day on average. The health risks are well documented: added sugars are linked to obesity, certain cancers, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease. And even artificial sweeteners may carry similar risks. Despite its booming soda craze, Utah's obesity rate is slightly lower than the national average. In 2023, the age-adjusted obesity rate in Utah adults was 31 per cent, while the prevalence for US adults was 33.1 per cent. Meanwhile, the American Diabetes Association reports that 191,658 people in Utah, or 7.9 per cent of the adult population, have diagnosed diabetes. This is also below the national average, which is currently just over 11 per cent. However, experts believe the number of people suffering with diabetes could be much higher with an additional 51,000 people in Utah going undiagnosed, 'greatly increasing their health risk.' Diagnosed diabetes costs an estimated $1.7 billion in Utah each year. Commenting on the University of Michigan findings, food safety expert Dr Darin Detwiler previously told 'This study reinforces that making small, consistent changes in beverage habits may add years to life expectancy and improve overall health.' He added: 'Taking this study literally, a healthy 20-year-old person — whose life expectancy may be 79 years — who starts drinking two sodas a day may, according to the study, lose three to four years of life due to the impacts of those drinks.' Still, Dr Detwiler emphasized that the study's findings are 'observational not scientific,' meaning they don't prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Even so, he urges the public to take the results seriously. 'Cutting out soda or reducing consumption might extend life expectancy,' he said. 'But one thing that is for sure, is that removing these sugary drinks will definitely improve your quality of life, including reducing risks of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.' He also points to better weight management and overall health as benefits of quitting soda, using a vivid analogy: 'Think of soft drink consumption as driving a car without regular maintenance. 'While it doesn't guarantee a breakdown, over time the likelihood of a serious problem increases - especially if combined with other unhealthy habits.' Dr Detwiler added that the findings could support new public health messaging: 'Perhaps this study could support public awareness campaigns about risks. 'I could also see this as a driving force behind policies to reduce soft drink availability in schools and workplaces.' For now, Utah's Dirty Soda craze shows no signs of slowing down. But with new health warnings and rising awareness of the long-term costs, the state's sugar-fueled habits may soon be put to the test.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Daiso, a popular Japanese store chain, is opening the first of 3 locations in Utah — What to know
MIDVALE, Utah () — It's official: The first store in Utah is set to have its grand opening on May 17 and May 18. Here's what you should know. The Beehive State's first Daiso store will be located in the Shops at Fort Union in Midvale (1110 E Fort Union Blvd) and will be holding a grand opening event from 9 a.m. on May 17 until 9 p.m. on May 18. The event is the chain's . The first 200 customers who make a $20 purchase on May 17 at the Midvale store will receive an exclusive tote bag. On Sunday, May 18, every $20 purchase will come with a 'special gift,' while supplies last. How to visit Utah's 'Mighty Five' national parks in one trip The store will be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Two other Daiso locations are set to open later this year, according to Daiso's : One in Park Plaza in Clinton/Clearfield (both cities are listed on Daiso's website) and one in Provo's Riverside Plaza, with both stores set to open later this summer. 'Daiso is a Japanese value store with unique, affordable products, from household goods to stationery, beauty, snacks, and more,' the company explains in the . The company is family-owned and operates more than 6,000 stores across the world — with more than 150 open in the United States, according to . The store boasts more than 100,000 products and offers 'quality merchandise at affordable prices.' The stores are known for their low prices — items without a price tag are a standard price of about $1.75, but prices may vary by location. The stores often have conversion charts for customers to see what the price in Yen (Japanese currency) would be in USD. According to one of the , products may range from under $2 to just over $15. However, low prices also mean no returns or exchanges — unless the item is and you have the receipt, the store says. To learn more about Daiso and its offerings, visit the Midvale store after it opens or look at its . Daiso, a popular Japanese store chain, is opening the first of 3 locations in Utah — What to know Crews investigating house fire in South Jordan How to visit Utah's 'Mighty Five' national parks in one trip Republicans unveil steep cuts to Medicaid in portion of Trump tax bill 8 injured in 2-car crash, Salt Lake intersection closed Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
