Utah.gov

Todd E. Kiser was named commissioner of the Utah Insurance Department by Governor Gary Herbert on December 20, 2012. Kiser founded Kiser Insurance Agency in 1976 and has more than 35 years of insurance experience.

Join us January 24, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, for a job fair for veteran job seekers, active duty military members, Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses, in the Dixie Center, 1835 Convention Center Drive, St. George, UT. This event will be a one-of-a-kind FREE hiring fair for both employers and job seekers.

Join DEQ at the State Capitol on January 23rd to raise radon awareness.

The Department of Workforce Services, in partnership with The Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, will host a panel discussion on homelessness in Utah to help kick off the Pamela Atkinson homeless Trust Fund Tax Campaign.

An AH-64D Apache Longbow, 1-211 Aviation Brigade from West Jordan, Utah, slowly moves down the ramp of a C-17 Globemaster Ill Dec. 28 at Hill Air Force Base. The Apache returned home after spending 9 months in Afghanistan.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack designated 597 counties in 14 states as primary natural disaster areas due to drought and heat, making all qualified farm operators in the areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans. These are the first disaster designations made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2013.

During the past week, gasoline prices at some Utah stations have dropped as low as $2.56 a gallon. Use these links from fueleconomy.gov to compare prices across the state.

The Utah Health Data Committee is pleased to present the 2012 Health Plan Consumer Satisfaction Report. This report describes how satisfied each health plan’s own members are with the care they are receiving. These data come from an annual survey entitled the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Health Plan Survey. The purpose of the report is to give consumers and purchasers information they can use to make an informed decision when selecting a health plan.

Watch the inauguration live beginning at 11am on January 7th.

The scope of the HDC is expanding from data collection and dissemination to active participation in defining opportunities for the improvement of healthcare. Utah enjoys one of the best healthcare systems in the nation as well as an enviable economy and quality of life. Improving the healthcare system will be critical to our success in maintaining Utah as desirable place to live and work in the future.

More Americans die of lung cancer than any other cancer. Next to smoking, radon is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. To raise radon awareness and promote action, Governor Herbert has declared January 2013 as “Radon Action Month.”

Governor Herbert wants Utah state agencies to consider CNG and other alternative fuel vehicles when replacing their fleets. He recently asked each state agency to review their vehicle purchasing needs and plans for the coming year and to consider an expanded role for CNG vehicles in fleet operations.

Utahns tried and tried—for almost 50 years—to win statehood. The Utah area became a part of the United States in 1848--but it took until 1896 for Utah to become a state.

As the state’s economy continues to recover, health coverage through Medicaid is still vital for Utah’s low income families and individuals who are elderly or who have disabling conditions. In State Fiscal Year(SFY) 2012, Utah’s Medicaid program provided health care to approximately 398,000 Utahns.

For many in Utah, the use of fireworks has become a tradition. The beautifully colored sparks fly though the air in concert with thunderous reports. As exciting as this may seem, people often forget that they are playing with explosive materials, dangerous chemicals and combustibles that can destroy property, harm or cause death to unsuspecting victims

Utah small businesses may qualify for an incentive from the Utah Department of Workforce Services for adding new employees, DWS officials said in a news release. The Small Business Bridge Program offers incentives ranging from $3,000 to $4,000 to small businesses that create new jobs prior to June 30.

Utah’s nonfarm wage and salaried job count for November 2012, as generated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), expanded by 3.1 percent compared against the employment level for November 2011. This is a 12-month increase of 37,800 jobs and raises total wage and salary employment to 1,266,700.

A longer TC-40, an additional exemption for a dependent with a disability, and a new credit for hiring a recently deployed veteran are among the changes to Utah income tax in 2012.

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has, since 2006, taken this opportunity to highlight our environmental achievements of the past year in its annual State of the Environment Report. Each year the report updates the most current information on the amount of pollution released to Utah's environment, and it showcases our environmental achievements.

Starting in 2013 the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR) will discontinue issuing tags to be placed on underground petroleum storage tanks to show they are eligible to receive deliveries of fuel or other regulated substances. From now on, large red "delivery prohibition" tags will be placed on tanks that are NOT eligible to receive deliveries.

The Utah Hospital Comparison Report is released annually to improve transparency, help the public choose a hospital for various services, and ultimately improve the quality of health care.

Flu season is here, which may pose potential problems for moms-to-be. Pregnant women are at a higher risk for serious complications from influenza (flu), which may require medical treatment including hospitalizations.

The Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR) and the Utah Attorney General’s Office have filed a civil action against BP Amoco, alleging the company illegally received nearly $1.5 million from the state’s Petroleum Storage Tank Fund(PST Fund).

Join Governor Gary R. Herbert and other national energy leaders as they highlight energy priorities, hot topics, and emerging energy issues.

During the holidays, volunteer and donation centers see an influx of individuals and families looking for ways to give back to their communities. Sign up with the volunteer pledge drive.

State agency directors, members of Governor Gary Herbert’s office, and legislators continue their commitment to better health. The Governor’s Choose Health Challenge began September 25 and runs for 10 weeks, ending December 6, 2012.

The State Records Center will open its doors this Thursday, November 29th for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. with an Open House and tours of the facility following from 2:20 p.m. until 3:40 p.m. The State Records Center is usually closed to the public so this event provides a unique opportunity for state and local employees as well as the general public to tour the 80,000 square foot facility.

Alcohol use constitutes one of the most serious public health issues for young people in the United States, creating negative health, social, and economic consequences for adolescents, their families, communities, and the Nation as a whole.

The Division of Finance is responsible for the fair presentation of the financial statements of the State of Utah and for the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The contents of the CAFR present the State's financial position and results of operations, as well as certain demographic and statistical information to help the reader understand the financial condition of the State for the fiscal year ended June 30.

2006 was the last year with a notably elevated number of pertussis reports in Utah and the U.S. Pertussis tends to be cyclical, and reports have been increasing in Utah since 2009.

Governor Gary Herbert took the opportunity to thank Utah's farmers and ranchers for the abundance of safe and affordable food they produce during his traditional turkey pardon at Thanksgiving Point in Utah County.

FrontRunner train service from Salt Lake City to Provo starts on December 10th. A grand opening ceremony will be held on December 6th and UTA will offer a free ride day to the public on December 8th.

The Utah Division of Consumer Protection is releasing its annual list of shopping tips ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday events to keep consumers safe when buying this year’s hottest gifts.  

The Antiquities Section of State History invites Utahans of all ages to help promote the state’s exciting past by entering the Utah Archaeology Week Poster Contest.

For many Utahns, getting medical care means much more than just hopping in the car and driving 15 minutes to the nearest health facility. Many residents who live in rural areas must drive an hour or more to get care.

Utah has the 2nd lowest screening rates for breast cancer in the nation. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Cancer Control Program (UCCP) hosted the first-ever Utah Mammography Action Summit to directly address why women are not getting screened.

At 11:00 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012, the State of Utah will be honoring Veterans at an event celebrating Veteran’s Day. The event will be held in the Utah State Capitol Rotunda located on the 2nd floor of the Capitol Building. The program will include remarks from Don Gale (formerly of KSL and Deseret News) and a keynote speech delivered by Governor Gary R. Herbert.

UDOT announced today that all lanes on I-15 CORE are scheduled to open by Monday morning, Nov. 5. This includes two additional lanes from Lehi to Spanish Fork.

Construction on the Airport TRAX line is coming to a close. Substantial completion is expected by the end of the month and will be followed by testing. The Airport TRAX line will open for operation Sunday, April 14, 2013.