Caroline Ballard
carolineballard.bsky.social
Caroline Ballard
@carolineballard.bsky.social
Assistant news director at KUER in Salt Lake City, UT. Big fan of democracy, good journalism and my dog.
Hi Utah! Are you or anyone you know considering gifting a kid a smartphone this Christmas? KUER would love to talk to you! Send me an email at cballard@kuer.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Utah National Guard asks for volunteers to support Homeland Security and ICE

www.kuer.org/politics-gov...
Utah National Guard asks for volunteers to support Homeland Security and ICE
The details of the mission are still to come, but the guard would support local agencies through administrative roles such as transportation, fingerprinting and data entry.
www.kuer.org
August 22, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Utah collective bargaining news: the ban will NOT go into effect tomorrow.

www.kuer.org/politics-gov...
Utah’s collective bargaining ban will not go into effect as originally scheduled
The ban was supposed to start May 7. But Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson put the law on hold while signatures for a likely referendum challenge are being counted.
www.kuer.org
May 6, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Reposted by Caroline Ballard
Mia Love, the first Black woman elected to Congress as a Republican in 2014, died at age 49.

(via @kuer.org)
Mia Love, a former Utah congresswoman of many firsts, dies at 49
Love, whose political career included serving Saratoga Springs and Utah’s 4th Congressional District, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer, in 2022.
www.kuer.org
March 24, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Chime in: What are the best resources, trainings and tips you've found and used an editor?
February 4, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The last few days kind of feels like living the first hour of this movie.
February 1, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Reposted by Caroline Ballard
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock one second closer to catastrophe, citing the threat of climate change, nuclear war and the misuse of artificial intelligence.
Doomsday Clock Moves One Second Closer to Catastrophe
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists shifted the hands of the symbolic clock to 89 seconds to midnight, citing the threat of climate change, nuclear war and the misuse of artificial intelligence.
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Reposted by Caroline Ballard
A proposal to rename a scenic road after Trump in southern Utah failed on a 2-1 vote of Garfield County Commissioners today.

Read my story for @kuer.org with insights from a historian on what makes efforts like this different from typical commemorations ⤵️
www.kuer.org/politics-gov...
Southern Utah’s Burr Trail keeps its historic name after bid to add Trump fails
The proposal drew pushback from Garfield County residents, who valued the historic name for the trail road going through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
www.kuer.org
January 28, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Reposted by Caroline Ballard
Today, "Like a Love Story" by Abdi Nazemian was added to the list of books banned in all Utah public schools.

This book was reported by the Davis, Jordan and Washington Co. school districts.
Utah has banned its 15th book from all public schools in the state.

"Damsel" by Elana K. Arnold was added to the list after being reported by Davis, Park City and Washington Co. school districts.

Here is the full list of banned titles: usbe-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/g/person...
January 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Reposted by Caroline Ballard
The updated guidelines from the Utah State Board of Ed are based on its interpretation of the “sensitive materials” law. Schools and districts are left to decide how to handle disciplinary action.
Utah students can no longer bring personal copies of banned books to school
Updated guidance from Utah State Board of Education staff clarifies that students can’t bring to school their personal copies of books deemed “sensitive material.”
buff.ly
January 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Caroline Ballard
While banned books are now prohibited on school grounds, the guidance is less clear what happens to a student who brings one. That's up to the schools or districts.
Utah students can no longer bring personal copies of banned books to school
Updated guidance from Utah State Board of Education staff clarifies that students can’t bring to school their personal copies of books deemed “sensitive material.”
buff.ly
January 21, 2025 at 10:33 PM
The news is moving fast right now, but if you have 25 min, I highly recommend listening to the latest State Street from @kuer.org. We had the newest members of the #utleg interview each other about what it means to serve & Pacific Islander representation.

www.kuer.org/statestreet/...
New year, new legislative session, new faces
The 2025 Utah legislative session (which opens Jan. 21) will have more than a few fresh faces — 22 to be exact. We talk to two of them.
www.kuer.org
January 21, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Reposted by Caroline Ballard
Climate change has hit some bird populations hard, particularly by disrupting migratory patterns.
After 125 years, the Christmas Bird Count still offers vital data on Utah ecosystems
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the nationwide Christmas Bird Count. The data volunteers gather in Utah helps scientists understand how climate change and other factors threaten bird…
buff.ly
December 23, 2024 at 9:33 PM
A pitch for NYC/VA reporters:

For years, my brother & mom have worked to pair NYC's up&coming musical theater composers w/University of Lynchburg theater students to write & perform new songs. In January, the group known as "Curtain Call" will perform in a cabaret at 54 Below in NYC.

THE TWIST...
December 13, 2024 at 11:09 PM
I LOVED the construction of this story from a writer's perspective. Holiday bickering among the kids? Genius stuff from Alex Hager.
kuer.org KUER @kuer.org · Dec 3
“The kids are fighting and it’s really sad to watch,” said one policy watcher of the Colorado River states.

Will this week's conference in Vegas get the kids to calm down?
Colorado River states hold an uncomfortable reunion this week in Vegas
As the Colorado River Water Users Association gathers, the seven river states are like kids coming home to a family reunion.
buff.ly
December 4, 2024 at 1:44 AM
Every time I start a new social media account I feel like I'm respawning in a video game. Fingers crossed I've gained extra health and lives this time around 🤞
December 2, 2024 at 9:54 PM