McKenzie Romero

Breaking news from @kmckellar.bsky.social and @utahnewsdispatch.com, Utah's congressional maps are back in play #utpol

Reporter, Utah News Dispatch • States Newsroom Join the Utah News Dispatch and give readers hard-hitting government coverage that connects state policy to the people who live it.

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and @statesnewsroom.com are hiring a reporter! #journalismjobs

two men are sitting next to each other and one of them is saying " teamwork " . ALT: two men are sitting next to each other and one of them is saying " teamwork " .

It's always good to share the work of my @greatsaltlakenews.bsky.social colleagues. I did a broadcast version of the USU study for TV and @fox13news.bsky.social also used the written word of @utahnewsdispatch.com and @kmckellar.bsky.social! Collaborative journalism FTW! #utpol #Utah

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In honor of the 4th of July holiday weekend, I'm highlighting the @statesnewsroom.com and its family of sites in this thread.

Main States Newsroom site: statesnewsroom.com

📌 this feed for more

Just want to highlight here how States Newsroom outlets are providing high-quality, valuable coverage of the biggest news stories in the country the week after doing a great job covering No Kings protests and the murder of a state official. 🧵

We are, thank you for following our reporting

Strong reporting from @kmckellar.bsky.social. What we know, and what we don’t, about the “peacekeepers” at the SLC protest.

Man dies after being shot in chaotic scene at Salt Lake City’s ‘No Kings’ protest • Utah News Dispatch A man marching in Salt Lake City's "No Kings" protest was shot and killed when peacekeepers fired at a man with a gun, police said.

A tragic update to the shooting at yesterday's "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City.

Police say Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a 39-year-old Utahn marching in the protest, was hit when a member of a peacekeeping team fired shots trying to contain a man pointing a rifle at demonstrators.

2 people shot during ‘No Kings’ protest in SLC, Utah; police urge protesters to disperse • Utah News Dispatch Salt Lake City police are investigating a shooting that occurred during a "No Kings" protest Saturday night in Salt Lake City, Utah.

@slcpd.bsky.social updated reporters tonight on the shooting during SLC’s No Kings march. Here’s what we know:
utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/06/14/g...

Gunshots break out in SLC, Utah during ‘No Kings’ protest; police urge protesters to disperse • Utah News Dispatch Salt Lake City police are investigating a shooting that occurred during a "No Kings" protest Saturday night in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Breaking report on a shooting at the Salt Lake City No Kings march. @kmckellar.bsky.social is helping round up details as I collect what information I can at the scene. Photos by Spenser Heaps.

utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/06/14/g...

Salt Lake City police officer just told the crowd there is a male in all black with a gun and ask where he is

The crowd is scattering, a lot of people afraid, not clear what has happened

The crowd has turned off State Street. As they pass Cathedral Church of St. Mark Episcopal church, the bells ring out and the marchers cheer.

Chants as the No Kings march walks through SLC:

“Whose streets? Our streets”
“Trump is a felon”
“This is what democracy looks like”
“No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here”
And a few unflattering shoutouts to Utah officials

Final speaker is a transgender BYU graduate who gives a passionate speech quoting Book of Mormon examples of righteous people standing up to kings and dictators.

Retired Army colonel says voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, but says Trump crossed his “red line.” He lists examples of treatment of immigrants, threats to invade other countries, and health disinformation as actions that went too far for him.

Several calls for nonviolence, not engaging with agitators. Lots of applause. The Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association now offering first-time protesters instructions on protecting their anonymity, what to do if arrested.

Singer introduces himself as a veteran named Leo, says he didn’t swear an oath to a king, but to the United States. His offering is an imperfect but appreciated performance of “Uprising” by Muse

SLC’s second No Kings protest of the day is underway, a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd is filling up Pioneer Park

In advance of the planned public protests Saturday across the U.S., our States Newsroom reporters have already been reporting on how protesters, local officials and law enforcement are preparing. Find out what to expect in your state.

Region 9 Mark of Excellence Awards 2024 winners announced Society of Professional Journalists, improving and protecting journalism since 1909

Congratulations to the talented students in SPJ Region 9 — covering Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming — for your Mark of Excellence awards! Winners now advance to the national competition. 🏆 @spj-posts.bsky.social

It has been a pleasure to read and republish skillful reporting by @mattvas.bsky.social over the last year, just a small piece of his time at @stateline.org.

From Utah, thank you and best wishes!

Utah Lt. Gov. Henderson to Trump: Restore women on Arlington website • Utah News Dispatch Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson urged the Trump administration to restore pages about women to Arlington National Cemetery's website.

"They shouldn’t be deleted simply because they are women," Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson urges after links for Black, Hispanic and women military members and notable Americans were scrubbed from Arlington National Cemetery site as part of anti-DEI efforts. #utpol #utleg

Nuclear energy bill hangs on a single word as cities and counties fight for a say • Utah News Dispatch A nuclear energy bill is one of Gov. SpencerCox's priorities. Disagreements between the House, Senate and local governments have delayed it.

May or shall? Debate over a bill directing Utah’s nuclear energy roadmap is stuck on one word dictating whether collaboration between the state and municipalities is required for nuclear projects, or optional. #utpol

Coalition of public employees will try to overturn controversial union bill through referendum • Utah News Dispatch A group of Utah teachers, police officers and other public employees want to overturn the Utah Legislature's union bill through a referendum.

Utahns may get a chance to vote on the controversial bill banning collective bargaining for unions representing teachers, firefighters, police and municipal workers, as a new coalition launches a referendum campaign to get it on the ballot. #utpol

More from @utahnewsdispatch.com

Feds pause $50 million Biden-era investment in Great Salt Lake • Utah News Dispatch The federal government has paused $50 million in funding meant for habitat restoration and securing more water to flow to Great Salt Lake.

Two months ago, Utah celebrated news of the largest ever federal investment in the Great Salt Lake. Now, that $50 million meant to support habitat restoration and getting more water to the lake has been put on pause, without a clear timeline of when it could be unfrozen. #utpol

Go, Idaho, go! 👏🏻

Legislature sets steep bar to recoup court fees in records cases, moves to replace records committee • Utah News Dispatch A Utah bill would replace the citizen-led State Records Committee with a governor-appointed attorney who would hear GRAMA appeals.

You've seen me post a few things about access to public records in Utah lately. Here's how it's going. #utpol #grama

Sunshine versus secrecy: The ongoing struggle for government transparency in Utah Beehive State has one of the most robust public records laws in the country but state lawmakers chipped away at access over the years.

This in-depth piece from my former colleagues at @deseret.com.web.brid.gy is an important read about what's happening to Utah's once lauded open records law.

Learn more about the bills gutting GRAMA that are rocketing through the Legislature. #utpol