SALT LAKE CITY — Ne­gotiations over the future of the Colorado River remain unresolved, but western states recently introduced a new short-term proposal aimed at stabilizing the river system while larger disputes continue. The Colorado River sup­plies water to roughly 40 million people across seven western states and parts of Mexico. In Utah, the river system plays an important role in agriculture, rec­reation, hydropower and long-term water planning, including the Lake Powel

KANE COUNTY — Southern Utah’s tourism season be­gins shifting into high gear over the next several weeks, with a mix of outdoor recre­ation events, western heritage activities, arts programming and community gatherings filling the calendar across Kane County. A rider competes during a past Kanab rodeo event as Kane County prepares for another busy summer tourism season filled with rodeos, outdoor recreation events, heritage celebrations and community gatherings across the reg

APPLE VALLEY — One person died and several others were injured following a major multi-vehicle crash Friday morning on State Route 59 between Hurricane and Apple Valley, according to preliminary information released by authorities and regional media reports. A stretch of State Route 59 near Apple Valley. A multivehicle crash Friday near milepost 14 left one person dead and several others injured, according to regional reports. The crash occurred May 1 near milepost 14 on SR-5

KANAB — Chef Shon Foster of Sego Restaurant has been recognized with a Golden Spoon Award from the Utah Res­taurant Association, marking a notable statewide honor for the Kanab restaurant. Shon Foster, chef/owner of Sego in Kanab, and his wife Elizabeth pose with his Golden Spoon Award from the Utah Restaurant Association. The Golden Spoon awards highlight top restaurants and cu­linary professionals across Utah, with rec­ognition typically go­ing to larger metro ar­eas such a

Drawing visitors from across the nation, a free public festival celebrating national and state parks, for­ests, monuments and public lands marks its 20th consecutive year in Kanab, May 7-10, 2026. The nonprofit organization Amazing Earthfest produces the festival each year with a small team of local or­ganizers. Twenty-eight scheduled experiential learning activities dis­tinguish the commu­nity festival this year. Several luminaries hailing from Utah and Colorado are travelin

SPRINGDALE — A 43-year-old California man died after a fall in the Spry Canyon area of Zion National Park on Wednes­day, April 22, marking the second fatal fall reported in the park within a week. According to regional reports, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was asked to assist Zion National Park after reports that a person had fallen in the canyon area. Deputies responded and met with park officials at the scene, where the man was found deceased. The sheriff’s office

ST. GEORGE — A bat found in Washington Coun­ty has tested positive for rabies, marking Utah’s first confirmed rabid bat of 2026, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The department issued the notice this week and urged residents across Southern Utah to avoid direct contact with bats and other wild animals. Rabies is rare in Utah, but bats are the most common source when cases are iden­tified. The virus attacks the nervous system and is considered nea