Brooke Larsen
@jbrookelarsen.bsky.social
Reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune and The Southern Utah Tribune.
Formerly at High Country News.
Views my own.
Tips: [email protected] or DM for signal.
jbrookelarsen.com
Formerly at High Country News.
Views my own.
Tips: [email protected] or DM for signal.
jbrookelarsen.com
Utah state and county officials shared their "wish list" for national park management with Interior Department leadership in a closed-door meeting on Monday. Here's what we know about the meeting:
Utah leaders presented federal officials with a ‘wish list’ of national park changes. Here’s what was on it.
State and county leaders pushed for increased access and visitation at national parks in a closed-door meeting with the federal government on Monday.
www.sltrib.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Utah state and county officials shared their "wish list" for national park management with Interior Department leadership in a closed-door meeting on Monday. Here's what we know about the meeting:
“[The Colorado River] matters to the economic integrity of the United States,” said Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University. “It matters to the well being of a significant amount of people.”
How Colorado River talks will affect Utahns and millions more across the Southwest
With less water flowing through the Colorado River, Utah may have to cut back its consumption. That could affect farmers, tribes and cities across the state.
www.sltrib.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:02 PM
“[The Colorado River] matters to the economic integrity of the United States,” said Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University. “It matters to the well being of a significant amount of people.”
The clock is ticking on Colorado River negotiations. If the seven basin states don't reach an agreement by Tuesday, the feds may step in and make a plan for them. I dive into what's holding up the talks in my latest for @sltrib.com.
Deadline looms for Utah, other Colorado River states to hash out a new plan. Here’s what’s at stake.
After months of tense negotiations, Utah and six other western states are running up against the clock to broker a deal over the drought-stricken Colorado River.
www.sltrib.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The clock is ticking on Colorado River negotiations. If the seven basin states don't reach an agreement by Tuesday, the feds may step in and make a plan for them. I dive into what's holding up the talks in my latest for @sltrib.com.
Reposted by Brooke Larsen
Brooke Larsen recently joined The Salt Lake Tribune and explains what she covers and why.
Why I joined The Tribune: To tell the stories in an undercovered corner of my home state
Brooke Larsen recently joined The Salt Lake Tribune and explains what she covers and why.
www.sltrib.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Brooke Larsen recently joined The Salt Lake Tribune and explains what she covers and why.
The first edition of The Southern Utah Tribune was delivered to 40,000 homes across southwest Utah for free last week. I'm excited to be part of it. For this first paper, I dove into the state of swimming pools in arid Washington County and potential new regulations: www.sltrib.com/news/environ...
October 13, 2025 at 11:03 PM
The first edition of The Southern Utah Tribune was delivered to 40,000 homes across southwest Utah for free last week. I'm excited to be part of it. For this first paper, I dove into the state of swimming pools in arid Washington County and potential new regulations: www.sltrib.com/news/environ...
The feds are once again considering the Northern Corridor, a highway through desert tortoise habitat in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.
Feds put polarizing southern Utah highway proposal back on the table, months after Biden administration rejected it
The Bureau of Land Management is reassessing the controversial Northern Corridor highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.
www.sltrib.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The feds are once again considering the Northern Corridor, a highway through desert tortoise habitat in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.
Zion National Park has been considering a timed entry system to better handle the boom in visitors. Some Utah officials don't want a reservation system, though. Washington County passed a resolution in opposition to the park's anticipated draft visitor use management plan.
Zion National Park is considering a reservation system. Utah leaders don’t want it.
Utah leaders speak out against a proposed reservation system at Zion National Park as they anticipate the release of a draft visitor use management plan.
www.sltrib.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Zion National Park has been considering a timed entry system to better handle the boom in visitors. Some Utah officials don't want a reservation system, though. Washington County passed a resolution in opposition to the park's anticipated draft visitor use management plan.
Reposted by Brooke Larsen
Buckle up for an in-depth overview about who controls our food (& you wondered why it was so expensive) w/amazing of #infographic by @jbrookelarsen.bsky.social & Nick Underwood for @highcountrynews.org www.hcn.org/issues/57-9/...
Who controls food in the West? - High Country News
Consolidation, shifting politics, water rights and the myth of the cowboy all play into the region’s ability to feed itself.
www.hcn.org
September 4, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Buckle up for an in-depth overview about who controls our food (& you wondered why it was so expensive) w/amazing of #infographic by @jbrookelarsen.bsky.social & Nick Underwood for @highcountrynews.org www.hcn.org/issues/57-9/...
Reposted by Brooke Larsen
Read the full story, which is part of “Food and Power in the West,” a FERN special issue produced in partnership with High Country News, at thefern.org/2025/09/food...
@highcountrynews.org @jbrookelarsen.bsky.social
@highcountrynews.org @jbrookelarsen.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Read the full story, which is part of “Food and Power in the West,” a FERN special issue produced in partnership with High Country News, at thefern.org/2025/09/food...
@highcountrynews.org @jbrookelarsen.bsky.social
@highcountrynews.org @jbrookelarsen.bsky.social
The volunteer Pine Valley firefighters defended their community from the ferocious Forsyth Fire. Now they're processing the emotional toll and helping their community recover. “This was traumatic,” said Pine Valley Fire Chief Robert Hardy. “The whole department felt it.”
After defending their community, Pine Valley firefighters reckon with Forsyth Fire’s toll
Pine Valley firefighters are processing their trauma from the Forsyth Fire as they help their community recover from the blaze.
www.sltrib.com
August 27, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The volunteer Pine Valley firefighters defended their community from the ferocious Forsyth Fire. Now they're processing the emotional toll and helping their community recover. “This was traumatic,” said Pine Valley Fire Chief Robert Hardy. “The whole department felt it.”
The Trump administration is making it easier and cheaper to lease public lands for oil and gas drilling. Here's how that may impact federal lands in Utah:
Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is rolling back major oil and gas reforms. Here’s what that means for Utah’s public lands.
Trump's "beautiful" bill is "driving us back to a future where the oil and gas industry wields immense power over the future of the nation’s public lands," said Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance attor...
www.sltrib.com
August 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The Trump administration is making it easier and cheaper to lease public lands for oil and gas drilling. Here's how that may impact federal lands in Utah:
The Monroe Canyon Fire has exploded to over 55,000 acres, damaging power poles and destroying homes. This is Utah's largest wildfire so far this year.
‘This is a big one’: Monroe Canyon Fire damages power poles and structures as it grows to over 55,000 acres
Firefighters lost ground on the Monroe Canyon Fire near Richfield on Friday, as it went from 11% contained to 7% and jumped over state Route 24. The road has since reopened, but officials expect more ...
www.sltrib.com
August 1, 2025 at 10:10 PM
The Monroe Canyon Fire has exploded to over 55,000 acres, damaging power poles and destroying homes. This is Utah's largest wildfire so far this year.
A small town in southwest Utah has been dealing with dirty drinking water for over 15 years. Now, thanks to a new water pipeline, residents have clean water.
This southern Utah community has dealt with contaminated water for years. Now the taps run clean.
A new water pipeline will deliver clean drinking water to an Apple Valley neighborhood in southern Utah.
www.sltrib.com
July 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A small town in southwest Utah has been dealing with dirty drinking water for over 15 years. Now, thanks to a new water pipeline, residents have clean water.
House Republicans are seeking to slash funding for the management of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, limiting the BLM’s ability to protect roughly 900,000 acres of land within the current 1.9 million-acre monument.
House Republicans move to slash funding for this southern Utah national monument
U.S. House Republicans are seeking to slash funding for the management of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
According to a proposed funding bill for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of ...
www.sltrib.com
July 24, 2025 at 1:41 AM
House Republicans are seeking to slash funding for the management of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, limiting the BLM’s ability to protect roughly 900,000 acres of land within the current 1.9 million-acre monument.
Reposted by Brooke Larsen
NEW: On March 15, President Donald Trump’s administration sent more than 230 Venezuelan immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.
Last week, the men were released as suddenly as they’d been taken away.
These are their stories.
Last week, the men were released as suddenly as they’d been taken away.
These are their stories.
The Men Trump Deported to a Salvadoran Prison
On March 15, President Donald Trump’s administration sent more than 230 Venezuelan immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Last week, the men were released as suddenly as they’d been t...
www.propublica.org
July 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
NEW: On March 15, President Donald Trump’s administration sent more than 230 Venezuelan immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.
Last week, the men were released as suddenly as they’d been taken away.
These are their stories.
Last week, the men were released as suddenly as they’d been taken away.
These are their stories.
Last month, the BLM gave Peak Minerals the go ahead to start extracting potash from the Sevier Dry Lake. @leialarsen.bsky.social and I dug into what that could mean for Utah's dust pollution:
A mine is coming to Sevier Dry Lake. Here’s what it could mean for Utah’s dust pollution.
Dust from Sevier Dry Lake in southern Utah blows particulate as far north as Salt Lake City, but it also holds a vital mineral for growing high-value crops.
www.sltrib.com
July 7, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Last month, the BLM gave Peak Minerals the go ahead to start extracting potash from the Sevier Dry Lake. @leialarsen.bsky.social and I dug into what that could mean for Utah's dust pollution:
Reposted by Brooke Larsen
The Bureau of Land Management approved the expansion of an oil transloading facility in Carbon County Thursday evening after an expedited review under President Trump’s “national energy emergency” declaration.
Trump administration fast-tracks oil transport expansion in eastern Utah
The Bureau of Land Management approved the expansion of an oil transloading facility in Carbon County Thursday evening after an expedited review under President Trump’s “national energy emergency” declaration.
www.sltrib.com
July 7, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The Bureau of Land Management approved the expansion of an oil transloading facility in Carbon County Thursday evening after an expedited review under President Trump’s “national energy emergency” declaration.
The BLM approved the expansion of an oil transport facility in eastern Utah Thursday evening after a 16-day review. This will increase the amount of waxy crude oil producers can truck out of the Uinta Basin and transfer onto rails cars that travel for over 100 miles along the Colorado River.
Trump administration fast-tracks oil transport expansion in eastern Utah
The Bureau of Land Management approved the expansion of an oil transloading facility in Carbon County Thursday evening after an expedited review under President Trump’s “national energy emergency” dec...
www.sltrib.com
July 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The BLM approved the expansion of an oil transport facility in eastern Utah Thursday evening after a 16-day review. This will increase the amount of waxy crude oil producers can truck out of the Uinta Basin and transfer onto rails cars that travel for over 100 miles along the Colorado River.
The Trump administration plans to rescind the roadless rule and open up nearly 59 million acres of national forest land to logging and road building. I spoke with fire ecologists to learn what that may mean for wildfires in Utah and the West.
Trump admin plans to rescind ‘roadless rule.’ Here’s what that means for millions of acres of forest across Utah.
As wildfires rage across southern Utah, the Trump administration is looking to remove decades-old protections for millions of acres of forests in a move it says will help prevent such blazes.
www.sltrib.com
June 30, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The Trump administration plans to rescind the roadless rule and open up nearly 59 million acres of national forest land to logging and road building. I spoke with fire ecologists to learn what that may mean for wildfires in Utah and the West.
UPDATE: Forsyth Fire destroys 12 structures, including primary and secondary homes in Pine Valley.
Wildfires are growing across Southern Utah. Last night, the Forsyth Fire started north of St. George. The France Canyon Fire near Bryce Canyon has spread to more than 9,000 acres, and the Bridge Creek Fire on Navajo Mountain near Lake Powell is now over 1,000 acres. Critical fire weather persists.
Forsyth Fire in Washington County forces mandatory evacuations, as other fires across southern Utah grow
The Forsyth Fire prompted mandatory evacuations in the Pine Valley community, forcing 400 to 500 people from their homes. There are approximately 450 homes in the area, with half of those inhabited by...
www.sltrib.com
June 21, 2025 at 12:19 AM
UPDATE: Forsyth Fire destroys 12 structures, including primary and secondary homes in Pine Valley.
Wildfires are growing across Southern Utah. Last night, the Forsyth Fire started north of St. George. The France Canyon Fire near Bryce Canyon has spread to more than 9,000 acres, and the Bridge Creek Fire on Navajo Mountain near Lake Powell is now over 1,000 acres. Critical fire weather persists.
Forsyth Fire in Washington County forces mandatory evacuations, as other fires across southern Utah grow
The Forsyth Fire prompted mandatory evacuations in the Pine Valley community, forcing 400 to 500 people from their homes. There are approximately 450 homes in the area, with half of those inhabited by...
www.sltrib.com
June 20, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Wildfires are growing across Southern Utah. Last night, the Forsyth Fire started north of St. George. The France Canyon Fire near Bryce Canyon has spread to more than 9,000 acres, and the Bridge Creek Fire on Navajo Mountain near Lake Powell is now over 1,000 acres. Critical fire weather persists.
A fire near Bryce Canyon National Park has doubled in size since yesterday. Hot, windy conditions are expected to pick up tomorrow.
A wildfire near Bryce Canyon doubles in size, as high winds, rough terrain hinder containment efforts
Hot, dry and windy conditions are putting much of Southern Utah at risk for wildfires. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the region through Monday evening, and the France Cany...
www.sltrib.com
June 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
A fire near Bryce Canyon National Park has doubled in size since yesterday. Hot, windy conditions are expected to pick up tomorrow.
I'm excited to share I started a new position this week as Southwestern Utah Reporter with @sltrib.com. Here's my first quick story on the reconstruction of the Emerald Pools Bridge in Zion National Park. Send me tips on all things Southwest Utah at [email protected].
Zion National Park reopens bridge to popular trails after more than 2 years
Zion National Park on Tuesday reopened a bridge connecting Zion Lodge to the popular Emerald Pools hiking trails that weave through ephemeral waterfalls and essential water bodies for wildlife.
www.sltrib.com
June 11, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I'm excited to share I started a new position this week as Southwestern Utah Reporter with @sltrib.com. Here's my first quick story on the reconstruction of the Emerald Pools Bridge in Zion National Park. Send me tips on all things Southwest Utah at [email protected].
Reposted by Brooke Larsen
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
March 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Reposted by Brooke Larsen
“We don’t know what’s happened to these four dozen New Mexicans. They’ve effectively disappeared. They’re gone,” said Becca Sheff, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.
ICE has ‘disappeared’ 48 New Mexico residents, attorneys say • Source New Mexico
“We don’t know what’s happened to these four dozen New Mexicans. They’ve effectively disappeared. They’re gone,” an ACLU attorney said.
buff.ly
March 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
“We don’t know what’s happened to these four dozen New Mexicans. They’ve effectively disappeared. They’re gone,” said Becca Sheff, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.