By Eric S. Peterson and K. Sophie Will The following story was funded by The Alicia Patterson Foundation and The Fund for Investigative Journalism and was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune. Carla feels like she’s “on a roller coaster” with her boyfriend, Jake. He’s dragged her...
Category: News
Utah County doesn’t provide methadone to jail inmates. That may be about to change.
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with the Daily Herald. Many incarcerated Utahns still have a hard time getting their hands on addiction medication, even during the opioid epidemic. “It’s a feeling that is, I think, indescribable to most people who’ve not experienced (withdrawal). It feels like the...
How Utah lawmakers disclose–or don’t disclose– conflicts of interest
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Salt Lake City Weekly. The Utah Legislature is made up of part-timers whose day jobs shape their approach to lawmaking. In many cases, their expertise as doctors, educators, business owners and more offers insight into a myriad of issues affecting Utahns....
Stressed rural domestic violence shelters are turning people away
The following story was supported by funding from the Alicia Patterson Foundation and the Fund for Investigative Journalism and was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune. On a typical afternoon in 2021, Kait Sorensen answered the phone at a rural Utah domestic violence shelter — and had...
Critics say bill prioritizes hunting access over money for schools
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Utah News Dispatch. Hunting interests could take precedence over the interests of Utah students and private parties like the Ute Indian Tribe, say critics. HB262 gives the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) preferential treatment during the sale of large blocks...
Tax break program for Utah seniors could disappear for lack of use
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with the Daily Herald and the Standard Examiner. SALT LAKE CITY — A four-decades-old property tax relief program that helps some of Utah’s most vulnerable seniors is now itself at risk of fading away due to sheer legislative neglect. The Circuit Breaker...
Judge blasts the office of Attorney General Sean Reyes for ‘haphazard’ record keeping
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune. As controversy engulfed his predecessor, who was accused of doing favors for wealthy supporters and friends and receiving improper gifts, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes was swept into office. Reyes now faces his own audit — for...
One of Utah’s best-known police chiefs has had a decadeslong side career defending police misconduct
This story was reported by the Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with the Invisible Institute and Salt Lake City Weekly Ken Wallentine is one of Utah policing’s most high-profile figures. He frequently gives testimony to legislative committees considering bills affecting the criminal justice system, and served as president of the Utah Chiefs of Police...
Free webinar on following the 2024 legislative session & campaign finances
Learn how to track campaign spending and donations and follow the 2024 legislative session by attending our free webinar on Jan. 10, 2024, 12-1 pm The 2024 legislature is just around the corner. It’s 45 furious days of sausage-grinding from full days of committee hearings to backroom deals and last minute bills. This year why not get...
Rep. Burgess Owens’ campaign has paid his daughter more than $150,000
The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with KUER. Congressman Burgess Owens’ congressional biography page lists “faith, family, free markets and education” as his guiding principles. But family is more than just a campaign platform for the 4th District representative. Since he first ran for office in 2020, he...









