The following story was reported by the Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with KSL.com. SALT LAKE CITY — When a city decides to issue a bond and increase property taxes or other fees on residents, it’s a big deal in Utah. Notices go out, articles are written and people line up at microphones to...
Author: Eric Peterson (Eric Peterson)
Hidden developers’ tax is zapping Utah homebuyers for billions
The following story was reported by the Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with KSL.com. SALT LAKE CITY — When Don Brown and his wife bought a studio apartment at the exclusive Black Desert resort community outside St. George, they were excited for a smaller place to live that was big on amenities: fine restaurants,...
DOGE killed a potentially life-saving Utah air quality project. Could the Legislature step in?
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah News Dispatch. In 2024 clean air advocates had high hopes that a $1 million EPA grant could help communities understand how toxic the air in their neighborhoods can be and would install life-saving radon systems in at-risk homes across the...
Who got the better end of a multi-million US 89 land deal: Stuart Adams or UDOT?
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with KUER. On June 30, 2023, a beaming Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, joined a handful of local politicians to celebrate the completion of the U.S. 89 highway expansion. For years, Davis County commuters had negotiated orange traffic cones while the project...
SLC’s airport has chemical spill safeguards. It’s still a risk for Great Salt Lake
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with KUER. The Salt Lake City airport covers more than 8,000 acres and serves tens of millions of passengers a year. Most of them come and go without thinking much about the airport itself or the land around it, including sensitive wetlands and a...
Hunting guide, who counts Trump Jr. as a client, behaved badly for years, Utah says
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with KUER. In July 2024, renowned hunting guide Wade Lemon pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor and an infraction for illegal “canned hunts” in 2020 and 2021. He had cornered mountain lions and tricked his hunting clients into thinking the quarry was...
Family left without answers after disabled daughter allegedly assaulted at St. George hospital
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with St. George News. Kristy Woodhouse says raising her developmentally disabled daughter “Elizabeth” has been a wonderful challenge. “She’s so sweet, if you give her money to go buy something at the store, she’s buying something for you instead,” Woodhouse said. Though...
A gay Latter-day Saint was murdered in Salt Lake City in 1991. Why has his case never been solved?
By Eric S. Peterson, Josi Hinds, Katie Bennett, Stevie Shaughnessey, Kenzie Olson, Joey Greenblatt, Cam Elliott, Justin Phipps, Jacob Done, Emma Ratkovic, Ellis Beacom, Elijah Murray, Malcolm Swope, Brooke Hale and Minki Seo. The following story was developed by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project and the University of Utah’s “Cold Case” class investigating unsolved murders...
Who is Valar Atomics?
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah News Dispatch. When police in Moscow, Idaho, rolled up to the scene of the structure fire on Oct. 23, 2021, the home was a fireball. The officers quickly took control of the scene and checked on the victims. One man, Elijah...
Affordable housing plan falls flat in Salt Lake City
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah Stories. Since April 30, 2024, Salt Lake City has offered incentives to developers to provide much needed affordable housing in the city. The Affordable Housing Incentive offers a variety of perks to developers who add affordable units, like allowing them...









