Colorado River: The federal government released a new 10-year framework for managing Colorado River water, setting up recurring check-ins every two years and signaling steep cutbacks for Arizona, California and Nevada during drier periods. Utah Economy & Quality of Life: A new look at national “best states” rankings highlights Utah’s business strength alongside major gaps in primary care access, pollution exposure, and childcare availability. Federal School Choice: Thirty-one states have opted into the federal Education Freedom Scholarship Program ahead of a January 2027 deadline, while others raise concerns about oversight and accountability. Gender Transition Research: U.S. Sens. Mike Lee and Ted Cruz joined a bill aimed at blocking federal funding for gender transition research involving minors. Local Impact: In Washington City, the Salvation Army closed its center and paused its food pantry after rent hikes and lease issues, even as demand remains high. Utah Real Estate: Utah bought a $40M FranklinCovey campus in West Valley City to house the Department of Health and Human Services. Utah Tech/Education: Utah State’s ASPIRE EV Academy is giving high school students hands-on experience building electric vehicles and exploring electrified roadway tech. Sports & Community: A Utah native’s Mesa startup is launching a platform to help sports fans find watch parties, and Northern Utah event calendars spotlight the Weber County Fair and the Korn Ferry Tour Utah Championship.