Two linked studies in JAMA Network Open, led by Alistair Thorpe at the University of Utah, surveyed over 1,000 US adults and found more than a quarter admitted lying to clinicians to get antibiotics for themselves or a child. Most fabricated or exaggerated cold-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat—conditions caused by viruses that antibiotics don't treat. The tactic worked often: 77% of adult patients and 87% of caregivers said their deception resulted in a prescription.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-30
Utah's Attorney General Derek Brown filed 14 criminal charges against Kalshi co-founders Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, alleging the company promoted illegal gambling disguised as prediction markets. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission responded by suing Utah, asserting it holds exclusive federal jurisdiction over CFTC-registered prediction markets like Kalshi.
yro.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-29
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has sued Utah to block the state from enforcing its gambling ban against Kalshi, marking the tenth state the agency has sued on the platform's behalf. The move follows Utah's own lawsuit seeking to bar Kalshi from offering bets on sports, elections and politics, after Utah previously won a related federal case against Kalshi.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-28
A report finds that air pollution from gas-fired power plants planned to supply Utah's Stratos data center could travel well beyond the state, reaching as far as Illinois. The Kevin O'Leary-backed project is projected to eventually consume 9 gigawatts of power, more than twice Utah's total annual electricity use, with that power largely generated by onsite gas combustion.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-28
Utah officials allege prediction-market operator Kalshi ran an unlicensed gambling operation in the state, estimating the company collected as much as $61.2 million in fees from wagers placed by Utah users. The state is pursuing financial penalties tied to those allegedly illegal transactions.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-10-21
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of Utah's SB 73, which required adult websites to detect users' physical locations and block or age-verify anyone using a VPN. The court found the law likely violates the Constitution's restrictions on states burdening people and businesses outside their borders, since it would force sites to verify every visitor worldwide. EFF, which opposed the law, called the ruling a win for digital privacy rights.
yro.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-17
Ten states—including Utah, Virginia, Colorado, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey and California—have passed legislation legalizing plug-in or 'backyard' solar systems, with effective dates ranging from 2025 through 2027. These systems typically include solar panels, an inverter and a battery that plug into a standard 120-volt outlet to power nearby appliances. Roughly two dozen additional states reportedly have related legislation stalled or in progress.
zdnet.com
· 2026-10-17
The IEEE Computer Society and the Association for Computing Machinery named Daniel Reed, PhD, as the recipient of the 2026 Ken Kennedy Award. Reed is a Presidential Professor in Computational Science (emeritus) at the University of Utah and previously served as Corporate Vice President of Technology Policy at Microsoft.
wpcms.computer.org
· 2026-10-15
Fervo Energy has started commercial operations at its Cape Station project in Utah, turning on an initial 33-megawatt unit that will supply carbon-free electricity to Shell Energy in California. The $2 billion project uses drilling techniques adapted from oil and gas to create artificial geothermal reservoirs in hot, dry rock, and is designed to eventually reach 500 megawatts, with additional capacity backed by an agreement with Google.
spectrum.ieee.org
· 2026-10-12
Nolla Health, a Utah-based healthcare startup, has initiated a one-year pilot program where an AI system analyzes facial scans and medical histories to prescribe acne medication. Initially, prescriptions are reviewed by physicians, with plans to expand AI autonomy if successful. The program operates without formal approval from the Utah Medical Association, though oversight from the Office of AI Policy is involved.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-08
Starting this week, Utah residents can get acne prescriptions through an app from telehealth startup Nolla Health without a doctor visit, according to Bloomberg. Users photograph their face in the app, which scores acne severity and selects from eight approved topical treatments, costing about $5 monthly plus roughly $50 for medication.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-10-06
Utah has initiated a pioneering healthcare program where an AI system conducts patient examinations and prescribes medication without direct human oversight. The pilot, limited to acne treatment for now, involves a subscription app that analyzes facial scans and medical data to recommend treatments, with initial prescriptions reviewed by doctors before dispensing. Future phases aim for full automation with minimal physician review.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-06
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