Saige Miller

I’m going to miss the hell out of covering this quirky state. It’s been such an honor.

Now I get to cover the White House?! How cool! And I’ll still get to be on the radio just nationally?! How cool!

Dreams do come true, y’all.

I wrote hundreds of articles. Hosted an award-winning podcast. Made such valuable connections with Utahns. I’m so thrilled of the work I’ve accomplished at a small and mighty station.

I wouldn’t have made it to NPR without KUER.

It’s bittersweet leaving a job I loved at KUER. I loved covering local Utah politics. I loved spending time at the Capitol. I loved learning the ins and outs of this state. I loved my editors. My coworkers. Fellow journalists.

✨ Some professional news ✨

After three years as a Utah politics reporter, Friday was my last day
@KUER
.

I’m now an associate producer on the White House desk with NPR!!!

This is a dream job and I’m so proud of reaching such a milestone.

Get ready to pay more for street parking in downtown Salt Lake City Starting July 1, parking meter rates will jump by more than 55%. The city is also getting rid of free two-hour parking on Saturdays.

Parking in downtown SLC is going to cost you $3.50 an hour. And you'll have to pay on Saturdays, too.

www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

Referendum to repeal Utah’s collective bargaining ban heads to 2026 ballot Gov. Spencer Cox let a June 21 deadline to call a special election pass and instead sent the referendum to the November 2026 general election.

New 2026 ballot question just dropped:

Utahns will decide whether or not to repeal the state's ban on collective bargaining for public sector unions during the 2026 midterm elections.

www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

Three dead, two injured in shooting at WestFest in West Valley City A 41-year-old and an 8-month-old baby were among the people killed during WestFest, an annual festival hosted by West Valley City to commemorate its founding.

Three people are dead, including an 8-month-old infant, after a juvenile gunman opened fire during the final night of WestFest in West Valley City.

The incident comes one day after a man was killed during the "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City.

www.kuer.org/news/2025-06...

Bystander shot during Salt Lake City No Kings protest dies at the hospital Salt Lake City Police confirmed the death Sunday. The suspect being held in custody has been identified as Arturo Gamboa.

www.kuer.org/news/2025-06...

Bystander shot during Salt Lake City No Kings protest dies at the hospital Salt Lake City Police confirmed the death Sunday. The suspect being held in custody has been identified as Arturo Gamboa.

An innocent bystander was fatally shot during the "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City last night.

One person, who did not strike the bystander, has been booked into jail and charged with murder.

www.kuer.org/news/2025-06...

Shots fired at Salt Lake City ‘No Kings’ protest, suspect in custody Salt Lake City Police have confirmed that one individual has been critically injured in the shooting.

Here is what we know about the shots fired during Salt Lake City’s “No Kings” rally.

Prior to this, the event was incredibly peaceful.

www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

We are waiting for law enforcement to come talk to media.

This is what SLCPD said. One critically injured.

From SLCPD. A shooting is confirmed.

People started to run, claiming there was an active shooter. THAT IS NOT CONFIRMED.

But cops did approach the crowd, saying there was man with a gun, dressed in all black and asking where he was.

Fire truck is present and cops started triggering their sirens.

People are also spilling out of restaurants and perching outside of their balconies in support of the protest.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Mark Episcopal rang its church bells as the swarm of protesters passed the brick building. The crowd reputed in cheers once the bells started.

Made it to the court house. I think that’s halfway there? I also haven’t seen much uniformed law enforcement. I’ve seen police cars blocking off roads.

Protest organizers and volunteers are disbursed within the crowd to keep everything moving and to make sure everyone is being safe.

Cars are honking, people are chanting and thousands (don’t know an exact estimate yet) are marching. The demonstrators are taking up the entire extra wide Utah roads.

Ok, demonstrators are starting to walk up 400S toward the federal building. People are chanting “Fu*ck Donald Trump” and “Fu*k Mike Lee” and “No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA”

Johnson (who is a public defender) also promised to help defend protesters if the event they are arrested.

He encouraged everyone to not fight the cops if they are arrested.

He’s explaining why some people are covered head to toe in black (they don’t want to be identified), telling everyone to disband their biometrics on their phone and to put a pin and not Face ID, tells no one to give the cops their phone, etc.

Organizers asked protesters again to not engage with agitators.

Jiro Johnson, the new SLCo member, is speaking. He’s warning that protesters might still be arrested even though this is supposed to be peaceful. He’s giving safety tips.

So. Many. People. And much more expected to funnel in.

Organizers are reiterating that this is a peaceful demonstration. They’re encouraging protesters to not interact with counter protesters.

So far, I don’t see any.

People will be speaking for the next hour or so about why people are gathered today. It’s a laundry list of grievances with the Trump admin, including immigration policies, LGBTQ+ issues, the Israel/Palestinian conflict and the economy.

I’m back for the second “No Kings” protest at Pioneer Park. Massive crowd. Can’t see the speakers. Can’t see to the other side of the park.

The crowd will start marching toward the federal building in an hour.

What we saw at the morning ‘No Kings’ anti-Trump rally in Salt Lake City The protests in Utah, 10 were planned across the state, coincided with a national day of protests taking place on the same day as a planned military parade in Washington, D.C.

3 to 5,000 people showed up to the peaceful “No Kings” protest this morning in SLC.

Another demonstration is taking place tonight at 6pm and is expected to be much bigger.

www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

Ok! I’m heading home to write a story.

I’ll be back out at Pioneer Park around 6 pm when part II of the rally is taking place. Protesters will be marching then.

I’ve also tried finding the end of the crowd. People are scattered everywhere.

I spoke with a university of Utah officer who is estimating 3-5k people present. That’s close to what he expected.

Something that has stuck out to me during the rally is the amount of American flags being waved. It’s not something I’ve traditionally seen during my time covering such events.

Here’s a compilation: