Utah Foundation report: Utahns’ focus now on low-income, first-time homebuyers

September 09, 2024 (Salt Lake Business Journal) - The Utah Foundation has released the first of “numerous” briefs in its Utah Priorities Project and housing affordability is a “most important” issue to Utah voters in 2024, the new brief says, The Utah Foundation’s first brief shows that Utah voters who responded to the 2024 Utah Priorities Project survey are somewhat divided regarding how to address housing affordability. Over one third of voters (35 percent) are most concerned about “low-income Utahns” and “first-time homebuyers” … Continued

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Shawn Teigen is interviewed by Rod Arquette about Utah Priorities

September 05, 2024 (iheart Radio) - Coming up at 4 pm today on the Rod and Greg Show on Talk Radio 105.9 KNRS, Representative Marsha Judkins joins the program to discuss why she, and several other Republican legislators, are taking issue with the ballot language for the constitutional amendment on ballot initiatives.  Plus, Shawn Teigen, President of the Utah Foundation, joins Rod and Greg to discuss the results of a recent survey that shows Utah voters agree across party lines on many … Continued

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What issues unite and divide Utah voters? Where does housing affordability rank?

September 05, 2024 (Deseret News) - In its latest report, released Thursday, the Utah Foundation asked Utahns what they believed were the state’s most significant issues. Housing, adolescent education and water usage turned out to be predominantly bipartisan issues, whereas matters regarding women’s issues and transgender rights were more skewed. However, all were listed in the top 17 priorities of Utahns. To identify these concerns, the Utah Foundation conducted two surveys, according to Utah Foundation President Shawn Teigen. The initial survey, … Continued

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‘Deceptive’ and ‘misleading’: Ballot language to limit voters’ initiative power thrashed by critics — including Republicans

September 04, 2024 (Salt Lake Tribune) - Groups opposing a constitutional amendment that will ensure the Utah Legislature can repeal or amend any future ballot initiative are outraged by the way the issue will be presented on voters’ ballots in November, calling the language a deceptive “lie” intended to “trick voters” into surrendering their constitutional rights. As it was written by Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schutlz, the question put before voters is whether or not to “strengthen … Continued

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Democrats, Republicans agree on several key Utah issues, Utah Foundation finds

September 04, 2024 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — While there is certainly a partisan divide in Utah, what are the issues that matter most to voters, regardless of political affiliation? A new report from the Utah Foundation examined this question and determined that there are in fact issues which Utahns generally agree upon across party lines. The big ones, according to the report, are the importance of K-12 education, water stewardship, curbing government overreach and access to affordable housing. “There are, of course, some nuances … Continued

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Report: Despite partisan politics, Utahns agree on several priorities

September 04, 2024 (KSL) - SALT LAKE CITY — While there is certainly a partisan divide in Utah, what are the issues that matter most to voters, regardless of political affiliation? A new report from the Utah Foundation examined this question and determined that there are in fact issues which Utahns generally agree upon across party lines. The big ones, according to the report, are the importance of K-12 education, water stewardship, curbing government overreach and access to affordable housing. “There are, of course, some nuances … Continued - Utahns aren’t immune from partisan politics and the divisions it can lead to, but a new report shines a light on the issues voters in the Beehive State agree are critical to address across party lines. The Utah Foundation’s latest report found that if policymakers are able to better address issues such as K-12 education, water stewardship, decreasing government overreach and improving access to affordable housing, they could please a larger swath of voters. Shawn … Continued

Report: Despite partisan politics, Utahns agree on several priorities

September 08, 2024 (Kiowa County Press) - Utahns aren’t immune from partisan politics and the divisions it can lead to, but a new report shines a light on the issues voters in the Beehive State agree are critical to address across party lines. The Utah Foundation’s latest report found that if policymakers are able to better address issues such as K-12 education, water stewardship, decreasing government overreach and improving access to affordable housing, they could please a larger swath of voters. Shawn … Continued

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Housing worries: Republicans more concerned for first-time homebuyers than low-income Utahns

August 30, 2024 (Utah News Dispatch) - A new report takes a deeper dive into the nuances of Utahns’ worries for the state’s housing affordability crisis — which this year ranked the No. 1 concern among voters. In April the independent research nonprofit Utah Foundation published results of a statewide survey gauging Utah voters’ top issues of concern. In that report, titled “Priced Out and Fed Up,” housing affordability ranked at the top, just ahead of politicians “ignoring voters.” Wednesday, the Utah Foundation … Continued

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Housing worries: Republicans more concerned for first-time homebuyers than low-income Utahns

August 29, 2024 (Yahoo News) - A new report takes a deeper dive into the nuances of Utahns’ worries for the state’s housing affordability crisis — which this year ranked the No. 1 concern among voters. In April the independent research nonprofit Utah Foundation published results of a statewide survey gauging Utah voters’ top issues of concern. In that report, titled “Priced Out and Fed Up,” housing affordability ranked at the top, just ahead of politicians “ignoring voters.” Wednesday, the Utah Foundation … Continued

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Welcome to Weber

August 29, 2024 (Yahoo News) - A new report takes a deeper dive into the nuances of Utahns’ worries for the state’s housing affordability crisis — which this year ranked the No. 1 concern among voters. In April the independent research nonprofit Utah Foundation published results of a statewide survey gauging Utah voters’ top issues of concern. In that report, titled “Priced Out and Fed Up,” housing affordability ranked at the top, just ahead of politicians “ignoring voters.” Wednesday, the Utah Foundation … Continued - As I begin my third year at Weber State University, I think back to my first year as a freshman. Starting college can be scary. You are no longer surrounded by the people who you attended school with your entire life, many no longer live with their parents, and most of us experience our first taste of adulthood. Though starting college is scary, it’s also the beginning of something great. Regardless of what you’re studying, college … Continued

GOP supermajority votes for more power over ballot initiatives, sends it to Utah voters

August 21, 2024 (KUER- Fresh Air) - Utah voters will see a new constitutional amendment on the November ballot, and not all Republicans are happy about it. Nine joined with all Democrats in voting against giving lawmakers the power to revise or repeal citizen-led ballot initiatives. The vote in the Senate was 20-8, and the House cleared the resolution 54-21. The majority of Republicans that voted no are in competitive districts within Salt Lake County — the bluest area in Utah. “I feel like this … Continued

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Democrat Julie Monahan runs for Utah House District 59

August 08, 2024 (The Park Record) - Julie Monahan, the Democratic candidate running for Utah House District 59, has never held an elected office before. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t garnered years of experience working with local, state and federal government agencies, and it certainly doesn’t mean she lacks knowledge about District 59’s constituents and its issues. For almost three decades, she’s lived in the Wasatch Back. She first came to Utah from Michigan in 1979 to pursue an MBA from the … Continued

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Utah’s local officials point to community opposition as main barrier to affordable housing

August 07, 2024 (KSL.com) - SALT LAKE CITY — Despite housing being one of the top issues for Utah voters, state municipal officials overwhelmingly point to community opposition as the most significant obstacle to increasing affordable housing in a new report. The Utah Foundation, a nonpartisan research organization, surveyed over 600 elected officials and housing-oriented municipal staff across the state to understand the perspectives of local government regarding housing diversity and affordability. The survey garnered about 100 responses from representatives of 65 cities … Continued

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Report outlines ‘perceived barriers’ to Utah affordable housing

August 03, 2024 (Kiowa County Press) - (Utah News Connection) The Utah Foundation polled municipal officials across the state to gain their insights into affordable housing. The report found many officials feel they face barriers when attempting to introduce more affordable housing into their communities – and they say those barriers often come from residents. Shawn Teigen, president of the Utah Foundation, said anxieties people may have around affordable housing may not be accurate. “When we think about affordable housing, we think about more … Continued

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Is community pushback preventing Utah from building more affordable housing?

August 03, 2024 (The Salt Lake Tribune) - Twenty-somethings aren’t leaving the nest. Full-time workers are doubling and tripling up in apartment rentals, and grandparents are lamenting kids who had to leave the state to start families of their own. Utahns are struggling with the soaring cost of housing, and state and elected leaders are echoing their concerns. So what, exactly, is holding up the construction of more affordable housing? Some city officials fear that “community opposition” is now among the biggest obstacles, according … Continued

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Audio newscast referencing the latest Utah Foundation housing report

August 01, 2024 (Kiowa County Press) - A new report outlines ‘perceived barriers’ to Utah affordable housing The Utah Foundation polled municipal workers across the state to gain their insights into affordable housing. The report found many officials face barriers when attempting to introduce more affordable housing into their communities. And they say those barriers often come from residents. Sean Teigen, who heads the Utah Foundation, says anxieties people may have around affordable housing may not be accurate. When we think about … Continued

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Report outlines ‘perceived barriers’ to UT affordable housing

August 01, 2024 (Public News Service) - The Utah Foundation polled municipal officials across the state to gain their insights into affordable housing. The report found many officials feel they face barriers when attempting to introduce more affordable housing into their communities – and they say those barriers often come from residents. Shawn Teigen, president of the Utah Foundation, said anxieties people may have around affordable housing may not be accurate. “When we think about affordable housing, we think about more density. And … Continued

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Opinion: Why Utah might be well-positioned to counter hyperpartisanship

July 26, 2024 (Deseret News) - I was initially an Olympics naysayer, routinely asking, “What is the point in spending so much on sports?” During the leadup and throughout the 2002 Games, I realized that maybe I’d sold short the Olympics’ upsides. To me, it became transformational, as the sense of community I’d felt was unlike any I’d seen since moving to the state. Now, I’m a Utah Hockey Club naysayer and cannot wait to be proven wrong again. In my … Continued

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WGU Launches Online Undergrad in Health Science

July 10, 2024 (Global News Wire) - SALT LAKE CITY, July 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Western Governors University’s (WGU) Michael O. Leavitt School of Health (LSH) recently launched the Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree program to enable students to embark on a career in the healthcare industry. The fully online program provides a strong science foundation, preparing students to pursue competitive degree programs in healthcare or join the field of health sciences. “We’ve launched this program to support students … Continued

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Solutions to Utah affordable housing market crisis? New report lists ideas, some controversial

June 24, 2024 (Standard Examiner) - A new report lists a slew of policy ideas to help solve Utah’s housing affordability crisis, from ways to address “not in my backyard” attitudes, to tax policies (including perhaps vacancy taxes) to increase the supply of ownable and rentable housing. The report released last week from the independent research nonprofit, the Utah Foundation, explores a variety of solutions, but many of them are focused on increasing the availability and supply of housing, including encouraging more density and … Continued

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Opinion: Utah housing is at a tipping point. Free-market solutions can save the American dream

June 20, 2024 (Deseret News) - Utah’s affordable housing crisis is a dire threat to the American dream for countless hardworking families in our state. This crisis doesn’t just hurt Utah families — if we don’t fix it soon, it could seriously stunt our state’s population growth and economic potential. The Beehive State’s recent ranking as the third-least-affordable place to buy a home in the entire country, behind only Hawaii and California, is an alarming indictment of our current policies. Salt Lake City … Continued

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Solutions to Utah affordable housing market crisis? New report lists ideas, some controversial

June 20, 2024 (Utah News Dispatch) - A new report lists a slew of policy ideas to help solve Utah’s housing affordability crisis, from ways to address “not in my backyard” attitudes, to tax policies (including perhaps vacancy taxes) to increase the supply of ownable and rentable housing. The report released this week from the independent research nonprofit, the Utah Foundation, explores a variety of solutions, but many of them are focused on increasing the availability and supply of housing, including encouraging more density and … Continued

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Solutions to Utah affordable housing market crisis? New report lists ideas, some controversial

June 20, 2024 (News From The States) - A new report lists a slew of policy ideas to help solve Utah’s housing affordability crisis, from ways to address “not in my backyard” attitudes, to tax policies (including perhaps vacancy taxes) to increase the supply of ownable and rentable housing. The report released this week from the independent research nonprofit, the Utah Foundation, explores a variety of solutions, but many of them are focused on increasing the availability and supply of housing, including encouraging more density and … Continued

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Are parking lots holding back affordable housing?

June 15, 2024 (The Salt lake Tribune) - Salt Lake City Council member Eva Lopez Chavez recently called up a real estate agent in the hopes of buying a home in the district she represents. Despite the boom in construction in Salt Lake City’s core, the 28-year-old who represents a downtown district found that there simply weren’t many homes available. The dearth of homeownership opportunities is “a huge vulnerability point,” Lopez Chavez said during a roundtable discussion Thursday afternoon. Lopez Chavez joined Steve … Continued

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WGU Launches Online Undergrad Degree in Psychology

June 14, 2024 (Morningstar) - SALT LAKE CITY, June 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Western Governors University’s (WGU) Michael O. Leavitt School of Health (LSH) recently launched an undergraduate degree program in psychology. The all-online program is backed with research and experiential learning, and trains students in evidence-based strategies that address various psychosocial issues. “We’ve launched the Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree to educate students in multiple areas of the field and build a strong foundation that promotes further … Continued

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