The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is used to herding a few stray elk, deer or cougars that have wandered into neighborhoods to check out the scenery, or more than likely grab a bite to eat because the snow is so deep in their own backyard.

But the state agency experienced the unique challenge of embarking on a three-hour operation Thursday to shoo some 60 or so buffet-hungry elk away from crowded roadways on I-80 in Parleys Canyon and nearby Foothill Boulevard.

Not like herding cats

It was an intricate operation to keep both man and beast safe, especially if you figure a full-grown bull elk stands 5 feet at the shoulder and can weigh 1,100 pounds.

The females are nothing to scoff at either, weighing as much as 600 pounds and reaching more than 4 feet at the shoulder.

Gov. Cox signs high-profile bills on transgender surgeries, school choice vouchers

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed two of the highest-profile bills from this year's legislative session into law on Saturday.

Cox gave his approval to SB16, a bill banning transgender surgeries for Utah children and teens, and HB215, which tied a $6,000 pay raise for school teachers to an $8,000 private school voucher program.

SB216 also places an indefinite moratorium on treatments including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Mike Kennedy, R-Alpine, a practicing family physician, and passed by the Utah Legislature on a final 20-8 vote by the Senate.

Read more here.

More in Politics:

• Utah Indian Child Welfare Act Bill held up in committee (Deseret News)
• Multiple organizations file Supreme Court briefs debating hold on Utah’s abortion law (Deseret News)
• FDA wants Congress to regulate CBD industry (Deseret News)

FROM OUR SPONSOR UTAH BUSINESS

30 Women to Watch: Submit Your Nomination Now

Utah Business magazine is honoring women who are on their way to truly amazing things. These are our state’s next legislators, CEOs, entrepreneurs, authors and arrivistes — and they’re all congregating in Spring 2023. Nominations close Feb. 10. Submit your nomination now.

Tech:

• Report: TikTok employees can control what goes viral — What are the implications? (Deseret News)
• German tech giant SAP looking to liquidate Qualtrics stake (Deseret News)

Family:

• Perspective: What we all have in common with Prince Harry (Deseret News) 

• Holocaust survivor is finally reunited with the family that saved his life (Fox News)

Health:

• Playing card games with friends can delay memory loss, study suggests (Deseret News)

• Dense breasts raise breast cancer risk, but many women aren't aware of that — here’s what to know (NBC News)

Entertainment: 

• The case for clean comedy (Deseret News)
• 15 movies from the ’90s your Gen Z kids will appreciate as much as you do (Deseret News)

Faith:

• Church commissioner: 5 ‘prophetic themes’ Latter-day Saint educators should instill in students (Deseret News)

Northern Utah:

• Weber State harnesses 3D-printing technology for aerospace support, research (KSL)

• Policing the homeless problem: Cities spent $8.6 million on police to deal with homeless shelter impacts (Standard Examiner)

Wasatch Front:

• Goshute leader, activist Rupert Steele dies at 69 (KSL)

• Former librarian accuses Orem of book, display censorship (Daily Herald)

Southern Utah:

• Zion National Park counted nearly 4.7 million visitors in 2022
  (The Spectrum)

The Nation:

• Protests take place in multiple U.S. cities after footage of police beating Tyre Nichols was released (Deseret News)

• The Museum Built on Native American Burial Mounds (Propublica)

The World:

• The world’s oldest mummy has been found. But don’t call him a mummy (Deseret News)

• A journey to Earth's most remote flower (BBC)

Grace McCallum is comfortable and having fun counting, much to Utah’s delight

Grace McCallum is getting into the groove as a NCAA athlete for the University of Utah. The young gymnast confidently showed off her wolf turns for the judges and the crowd at the Huntsman center.

In a throwback to her performance at the Best of Utah meet earlier this season, McCallum counted out three wolf turns for the judges, this time adding on an extra two for a fun routine on the balance beam.

After taking some time to mentally and physically rest after last season, she came back refreshed and on the path to being Utah's best all-around gymnast.

Read more about Grace McCallum.

New With The:

• BYU Cougars: Did BYU manage to pull a win against No. 22 Saint Mary’s? (Deseret News)
• Utah Jazz: Lauri Markkanen’s belated breakout for the Utah Jazz busts a myth about NBA development (The Salt Lake Tribune 🔒)
• Utah Utes: How did Utah fare against Oregon in Saturday night's match-up? (Deseret News)