Utah Breaking News, Sports and Weather

Punxsutawney Phil is said to have seen his shadow, forecasting 6 more weeks of wintry weather

Mark Scolforo, Associated Press  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 9:48 a.m.  |  Save Story

The handlers of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil at Gobbler's Knob in western Pennsylvania announced that he saw his own shadow Monday morning, thereby predicting six more weeks of winter and not an early spring.

US House takes up deal to restore government funding, Tuesday vote expected

Doina Chiacu and Nolan McCaskill, Reuters  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 9:24 a.m.  |  Save Story

The House of Representatives takes up legislation on Monday that would lift ​a partial government shutdown that started over the weekend, with a final vote expected on Tuesday.

Trevi Fountain fee goes into effect as Rome seeks to manage tourist flow

Paolo Santalucia and Nicole Winfield, Associated Press  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 8:56 a.m.  |  Save Story

Tourists visiting Rome's Trevi Fountain now pay a $2.35 fee for close access. This new fee structure, which began Monday, aims to raise funds and manage crowds at the iconic site.

This veteran arts reporter on Sundance: 'I'm going to miss it'

Lee Benson, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 8:35 a.m.  |  Save Story

After covering 30 straight Sundance Film Festivals, longtime arts reporter Scott Iwasaki reflects on the chaos, magic and cultural impact of the event as it takes its final bow in Utah before moving to Boulder, Colorado.

Arizona authorities search for 'Today' show host Savannah Guthrie's missing 84-year-old mom

Associated Press  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 8:02 a.m.  |  Save Story

Authorities in Arizona are searching for the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, who was reported missing over the weekend.

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3 new studies show weight loss isn't all about diet and exercise

Health Utah  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 8:00 a.m.  |  Save Story

If your doctor tells you it only boils down to diet and exercise, seek another opinion.

Gaza's border crossing to Egypt reopens in a key step for truce

Samy Magdy and Josef Federman, Associated Press  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 7:40 a.m.  |  Save Story

Egyptian and Israeli security officials say Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt has reopened for limited traffic, a key step as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Utah's Hogle Zoo announces birth of giraffe calf

Kennedy Camarena, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 2 - 6:45 a.m.  |  Save Story

Utah's Hogle Zoo announced the healthy arrival of a giraffe calf on Saturday after the zoo's 8-year-old giraffe gave birth on January 26.

Utah lawmakers aim to make child care more accessible for all Utahns

Caitlin Keith, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 10:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

The Policy Project held a press conference with a bipartisan group of state lawmakers on Thursday to share what the legislators are working on to make raising a family more affordable.

Utah State stacking 'character wins' as final month approaches

Mark Greenwood for KSL  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 10:12 p.m.  |  Save Story

Utah State has played through some recent adversity and picked up some "character wins," as Jarrod Calhoun describes it.

We asked retired astronauts about their favorite space movies. This is what they shared with us

Lily Hautau, CNN  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 9:45 p.m.  |  Save Story

NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch as early as Feb. 6, putting human spaceflight to the moon back in the spotlight after a 50-plus year hiatus which may inspire future filmmakers to explore the possibilities of space travel in their own work.

'Simply discrimination': Utah attorney decries treatment of client by immigration officials

Tim Vandenack, KSL  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 9:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

A Utah attorney is crying foul after a client's appointment was canceled by immigration officials because her U.S. citizen husband is originally from Venezuela.

Here's why the governor and other Utah leaders are going to the Milan-Cortina Olympics

Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 8:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he's heading to the 2026 Winter Games that begin Feb. 6 in Milan-Cortina, Italy, so he can learn firsthand what its going to take to ready the state for the Olympic spotlight in eight years.

Russian drone strike kills 12 miners as Kyiv announces new talks

Dan Peleschuk, Reuters  |  Updated Feb. 1 - 7:45 p.m.  |  Save Story

A Russian drone strike on a bus carrying miners killed at least 12 people, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday, hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new ​peace talks.

'Cougar Pell Promise': BYU offers a 'top-off' tuition program for cash-stretched students

Jason Swensen, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 7:11 p.m.  |  Save Story

BYU's "Cougar Pell Promise" is a "last-dollar in commitment" program to cover — or top off — the member tuition amount after other free aid resources had been applied, according to BYU.

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The food pyramid was wrong: Here's what changed and why it matters

HLTH Code  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 7:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

The newly updated federal dietary guidance marks one of the most meaningful nutrition resets in modern history.

Utah could soon add another state holiday: Good Friday

Caitlin Keith, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 6:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

There are a number of states in the U.S. that recognize Good Friday as a legal holiday, but Utah is not one of them. That could soon change.

Museum of Idaho launches new exhibit exploring 'Life Before Dinosaurs'

Daniel V. Ramirez, EastIdahoNews.com  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 5:45 p.m.  |  Save Story

From looking into the future with artificial intelligence to learning about mummies of the past, the Museum of Idaho ventures further back in time, before dinosaurs existed.

How 2 sisters' BYU basketball attendance is bringing people together

Caitlin Keith, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 5:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Two elderly sisters and lifelong BYU fans, Dixie Grimmett and Penny Spresser, continue to attend Cougars basketball games with the help of family, fellow fans and a devoted usher, embodying community, loyalty and joy at the Marriott Center.

Punxsutawney Phil prepares to issue his Groundhog Day weather verdict from Gobbler's Knob

Mark Scolforo, Associated Press  |  Updated Feb. 1 - 4:05 p.m.  |  Save Story

The groundwork has been laid for the annual prediction of Punxsutawney Phil — either six more weeks of winter or an early spring — on Monday in Pennsylvania.

Have You Seen This? King Kong cat takes down flying saucer

Grant Olsen for KSL  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 3:30 p.m.  |  Save Story

Cats are natural swatters. Anything else that enters the swatting radius, whether it's a bird, a golf ball, a mouse or a pile of laundry, is gonna get struck down.

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Beyond the bump: 7 surprising reasons to get an ultrasound

Echo Ultrasound  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 3:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Most people associate medical ultrasounds with baby bumps, but that's just one of many reasons to consider getting an ultrasound.

What are the most bicycle-friendly cities in Utah?

Dennis Romboy, Deseret News  |  Posted Feb. 1 - 3:00 p.m.  |  Save Story

Another Utah city has joined the ranks as a top bicycle-friendly community, as determined by the oldest national bicycle organization in the United States.