The first Kanab City Council meeting of 2026 marked the rota­tion of council seats following the election, beginning with a recog­nition of public service. Council members and city staff thanked Scott Colson for his service during his term. Colson received an honorary plaque and said he was “truly humbled by the people I’ve served with” and proud of decisions made to improve the city. The council then ad­ministered the oath of office following the election. Mayor Colten Johns

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox used his annual State of the State ad­dress on January 22, to urge lawmakers to focus on education, housing affordability and civic responsibility as the 2026 legislative session begins. Speaking to a joint session of the Utah Legislature at the State Capitol, Cox framed his remarks around the upcoming 250th anniversary of American indepen­dence, arguing that prosperity and freedom depend not only on policy choices but also on civic character and persona

Utah’s congressional delegation is consider­ing use of a rarely in­voked federal law that could overturn the cur­rent management plan for Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument, drawing attention from both supporters and critics of federal land manage­ment. The proposal has prompted questions locally about what, if anything, would ac­tually change at the monument. A landscape view within GSENM. The current congressional debate focuses on the monument’s management plan r

The Zion Discov­ery Center, a public learning center located along the highway just before Zion National Park’s east entrance, is making progress in its construction, with developers estimat­ing the facility’s main buildings will be com­pleted in July. The Zion Discovery center is set to complete construction in summer 2026. The courtyard and entry gazebos are intentionally placed back and away from the highway, emphasizing the natural approach to the Center. Photos by Ty Gan