This is your rundown of the daily news for Tuesday, July 23. In this edition:
- A new wildfire at Antelope Island required the visitor center to evacuate
- A federal judge dismissed part of a lawsuit against Utah's new social media laws
- A hydrothermal explosion temporarily shut down Biscuit Basin at Yellowstone National Park
- A vigil will be held for 12-year-old Gavin Peterson while his brother and stepmother face arraignment
- Two Layton adults and a child face charges after starting a house fire
- Daggett County has implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
- Utah's Days of '47 Rodeo will be donating to the the American Red Cross of Utah
- The BLM is considering raising user fees for camping and recreation sights for the Arizona Strip
Wildfire at Antelope Island requires evacuation of visitor center
4:05 p.m.
A new wildfire was sparked at Antelope Island Tuesday, prompting evacuations of the visitor center.
Utah Fire Info announced the fire at around 1 p.m. on social media but hasn’t released any other details.
Antelope Island State Park is currently under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, which means no open fires of any kind are allowed in the area, including barbecues or campfires.
Judge dismisses part of lawsuit against Utah’s social media laws
4:05 p.m.
A federal judge has dismissed part of a lawsuit filed against Utah over the state’s new social media laws.
The lawsuit from NetChoice, a coalition of tech and social media companies, came after Utah passed laws that require age verification and disable features like autoplay, scrolling, and push notifications, claiming it violated First Amendment rights.
They also claimed that disabling those features wrongfully treats companies as the publisher or speaker of the third-party content they show users.
In a new ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby, that claim was rejected. Shelby said the prohibitions focus only on the app or website’s use of design features, which don’t connect to third-party content.
The rest of the lawsuit will proceed, with a hearing schedule for mid-August.
Hydrothermal explosion temporarily shuts down part of Yellowstone National Park
4:05 p.m.
Biscuit Basin at Yellowstone National Park was shut down Tuesday morning after a hydrothermal explosion destroyed the nearby boardwalk.
Hydrothermal explosions happen when superheated water trapped below the surface rapidly turns from liquid to steam, a transformation that blows apart surrounding rocks and throws debris.
The explosion happened at about 10 a.m. near Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin, located just north of Old Faithful. No injuries were reported.
Park officials are still assessing the extent of the damage and will reopen the area once it's deemed safe.
Officials also noted the incident doesn’t reflect any change in the volcanic system at the national park, which reportedly remains at normal background levels of activity.
Vigil to be held for West Haven 12-year-old while brother and stepmother face arraignment
8:17 a.m.
Community members and neighbors of 12-year-old Gavin Peterson will hold a vigil tonight in West Haven. The vigil happens on the same day the boy’s brother and stepmom are expected to be arraigned after being charged with abuse and neglect for their roles in Gavin’s death.
The boy’s father, Shane Peterson, also accused in the death of his son, had his arraignment hearing Monday.
He remains in jail without bail. As Gavin Peterson’s father, brother, and stepmom remain in custody, questions arise about why, despite multiple reports to the state, Gavin was not removed from their West Haven home.
It’s known that school employees filed multiple complaints with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) before Gavin’s death.
Many West Haven community members say they want answers about what actions were taken to protect the 12-year-old.
Two Layton adults and a child face charges after staring house fire
8:17 a.m.
In Layton, two adults and a child are facing multiple charges after their illegal use of fireworks started a massive house fire on July 14.
Surveillance video from across the street shows the flames. There was also an explosion, when propane tanks were hit.
Both adults are facing several misdemeanor charges, with one of the adults also facing charges of failure to stop at command of an officer. The child is being referred to juvenile court.
Neighbors said the community is rallying behind the single mom and her two children who lost their home and the tow truck the mom uses for work.
Daggett County implements Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
8:17 a.m.
Areas in Utah’s Daggett County are at risk for forest and rangeland fires, according to county commissioners there.
To help protect Flaming Gorge and Ashley National Forest, State Forester Jamie Barnes has signed a proclamation implementing Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.
Barnes says current and forecasted weather conditions coupled with extremely dry vegetation conditions in northeastern Utah make it necessary to prohibit open fires outside of established public facilities.
The fire restriction order also prohibits the discharging of fireworks in all unincorporated private and all state lands in Daggett County. A violation of this state law is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. These restrictions will be enforced by Daggett County law enforcement.
Days of '47 Rodeo hosts donation for American Red Cross of Utah
8:17 a.m.
Organizers of the Utah Days of ‘47 Rodeo say the group will make a donation to help Utahns during times of crisis through the American Red Cross of Utah.
Rodeo organizers have pledged to donate $800 for every bull rider who successfully completes an 8-second ride during today's (Tuesday's) rodeo performance.
Funds will be used to provide immediate assistance to victims of home fires and other disasters according to Jeremiah Lafranca, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Utah Greater Salt Lake Chapter.
In 2024 local teams responded to over 250 home fires, helping more than 800 individuals. Red Cross staff and volunteers also installed over 500 free smoke alarms in Utah homes.
The Utah Days of ‘47 Rodeo is a longstanding tradition dating back to 1847. This event, along with other Days of ‘47 celebrations, commemorates the arrival of Utah pioneers in the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.
Arizona Strip to consider raising user fees for camping and recreation sights
8:17 a.m.
The Bureau of Land Management is gathering public input to determine whether user fees at camping and other recreation sights on the Arizona Strip should be increased.
While more people than ever are frequenting camping resources on the Arizona Strip, user fees have remained unchanged for over 25 years.
The Arizona Strip straddles the border of southern Utah and Arizona. The BLM Arizona Strip District Office in St. George manages it. The strip covers five wilderness areas, including the Paria Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area, the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, nine areas of critical environmental concern, and two river segments suitable for Wild and Scenic River designation.
Rachel Carnahan, BLM Arizona Strip public affairs specialist, told St. George News that many BLM Arizona recreation sites statewide require service and upgrades.
