Utah

We watched all of last week as prosecutors in Utah presented what they said was overwhelming evidence against Tyler Robinson. He is the man accused of killing Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk last year. Robinson’s attorneys worked to create doubt about DNA analysts’ findings. LiveNOW’s Shawna Khalafi is speaking with Court TV anchor Vinnie Politan after a number of high-profile guests made their way to court, including Donald Trump Jr. and Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican. 

We are learning more this Monday as President Donald Trump signs executive orders that work to shrink the size of two national monuments in Utah. According to Deseret News, the move targets a combined 5,094 square miles of land. President Trump’s action will reportedly reduce the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. U.S. Senators from Utah, Republicans Mike Lee and John Curtis, joined Trump inside the Oval Office for the announcement. 

We are watching this week as the Utah man charged in the shooting death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk is back in court for the third day of his week-long preliminary hearing. On Wednesday, prosecutors continued presenting the evidence they have against Tyler Robinson, including DNA evidence. LiveNOW’s Alexandra Goldberg is speaking with defense attorney Nicole Deborde as prosecutors revealed key evidence surrounding last year’s incident at Utah Valley University. 

We are watching this week after reports indicate that Charlie Kirk's parents and his widow Erika Kirk will attend Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing in Utah. Robinson, 22, is accused of fatally shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. According to reports, the family of Charlie Kirk is not expected to speak publicly this week. LiveNOW’s Andy Mac is speaking with defense attorney Dwane Cates to understand what options Robinson has as prosecutors continue to argue their case. 

We are learning more this week after a wildfire burning near the Colorado-Utah border claimed the lives of three firefighters and injured two others who had huddled inside emergency shelters to escape the blaze. The firefighters were reportedly battling the Snyder Fire in Mesa County, Colorado, on Saturday when they were caught in a burnover incident. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the names of the firefighters have not yet been released, pending notification of their families. 

We are learning more after The Associated Press called Utah’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary for former Rep. Ben McAdams on Tuesday. This comes after Utah adopted a new map that keeps most of heavily Democratic Salt Lake County within a single district. LiveNOW’s Alexandra Goldberg is speaking with Emily Anderson Stern from the Salt Lake Tribune as we begin to understand the impact that redistricting has had on Utah politics. 

We are learning more as Republicans work to rearrange electoral boundaries around the United States. According to Deseret News, Utah is starting its own battle over district boundaries. Utah’s Republican Gov. Spencer Cox was recently asked whether he should have stopped his party from pushing through a new map. LiveNOW’s Alex Goldberg is speaking with Brigham Tomco who covers Utah politics and the conservative movement for Deseret News as lawmakers in the state begin their redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterms. 

We are watching reactions from inside the courtroom as Kouri Richins, the woman who was found guilty of murder in the death of her husband, spoke before hearing her sentence. After speaking to the court and reportedly addressing her sons, Richins found out that she will spend the rest of her life in prison. This comes as she is sentenced for aggravated murder. Richins also received five years to life for attempted aggravated murder, 1-15 years each for two counts of insurance fraud, and up to five years for forgery, according to local reports.