Labor Rights

In other news, swimming is prohibited in parts of Utah Lake because of harmful algal blooms. And, a new fire in Tooele County grew to 4,000 acres over the weekend.

The new chapter will cover about 650 workers at park sites or offices in states like Utah, New Mexico, and Montana. They're not the first to unionize after cuts to the federal workforce.

An advocacy group anonymously surveyed more than 800 wildland firefighters. Staffing woes and health worries were among the top issues.

When wildland firefighters are on prescribed fires, they're breathing the same smoke and facing many of the same hazards found on wildfires — but currently, they don't get the same hazard pay.

In other news, Utah's air quality has improved in the last two decades, even with its population doubling. And, tracking vehicles without consent is illegal in Utah — but what about people?

County clerks are using “a very, very manual process” to ensure the signatures submitted by pro-labor union groups are valid.

Despite opposition to House Bill 267, which bars collective bargaining for public sector workers, Cox says the Legislature has no plans to revisit the bill.

In other news, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium's clouded leopard has died. And, the first woman appointed as United States Attorney for the District of Utah has left her role.

And, a bill would allow 18- to 20-year-olds to carry loaded guns in public without a concealed carry permit.

In the face of a controversial bill, first responders and public employees warn that limiting collective bargaining could jeopardize safety and weaken essential services.