The Utah Legislature’s 45-day general session ended shortly after 9:40 p.m., well before the clock struck midnight for the first time in recent memory.

Legislators hashed out essentially all of the headlining issues and finalized the state’s record $29 billion budget with hours to spare before its deadline.

The 2023 session was largely dominated by debates over complex and generational issues facing the state, including:

• What Utah should do about the record drought gripping the West and threatening the Great Salt Lake.
• How to tackle the state’s housing affordability crisis.
• How to fund other big budget priorities, including education.

More in Politics:

• Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Will Utahns back Trump for a third time — and how will Trump react if they don’t? (Deseret News)
• Utah voters will decide whether to remove restrictions on income tax, which primarily funds public education (Deseret News) 🐝

Two weeks before Michael Haight killed his family, DCFS was in his home investigating allegations of threats and abuse

A caseworker with the Utah Division of Child and Family Services visited the Haight family home in Enoch two weeks before Michael Haight killed his family. The purpose of the visit was to discuss an incident involving Michael Haight and his 7-year-old son, Ammon.

A few days before, Ammon had been sick and received permission from his mother to not get ready for school. Michael Haight didn't believe his son and allegedly threw him to the floor.

By the time the caseworker entered the Haights’ home, interviews had already been conducted with Tausha, the couple’s oldest daughter Macie, and a person familiar with the family.

But Michael was never interviewed.

Read more about the investigation here.

FROM UTAH BUSINESS

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Utah Business recognizes members of the C-suite who are changing the way we do business for the better.

Are you acquainted with a C-suite executive who makes the hard decisions that impact daily operations as well as the long-term vision of their company? Submit a nomination before March 10.

Health:

• Will half the world be overweight by 2035 — and what will that mean for health and its cost? (Deseret News) 
• First came a multiday worship service. Health experts fear a measles outbreak might be next (Deseret News)
• Perspective: How we can move beyond the depressing story about depression (Deseret News)

Family:

• How did this couple rekindle their love 60 years later? (Deseret News)
• With Storied, family history comes to life (Utah Business)

Entertainment:

• Is ‘The Mandalorian’ family friendly? (Deseret News)
• A multiverse of 'Everything Everywhere' props are auctioned, raising $555K for charity (NPR)

Faith:

• This Jesus-focused ad campaign isn’t done with sports (Deseret News)
• Colorado hired coach Deion Sanders. Religious freedom conflict followed (Deseret News)

Wasatch Front:

• Utah lawmakers agree to create halogen emissions 'reduction plan' for Wasatch Front (KSL) 🐝
• Family of man shot by officers in Farmington says police are 'stonewalling' them (KSL) 

Southern Utah:

• Southern Utah LGBTQ support groups laud passage of conversion therapy ban (St. George News) 🐝
• Hurricane City breaks ground on Rotary Club All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs (St. George News) 

The West:

• Should Idaho’s borders expand to include parts of Oregon?(Deseret News)
• 58 feet of snow? Try that on for a wet mountain range in California (Deseret News)

The Nation:

• 5 key revelations from the Alex Murdaugh trial (Deseret News)
• AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress reading ‘Tax The Rich’
  (BBC)

The World:

• New dispatch audio suggests human error in Greece train collision (Deseret News)
• Why this Nobel Peace Prize winner is in prison again (Deseret News)
• Colombia protests: Seventy-nine police officers taken hostage (BBC)

How Utah ties Noah Sewell, Siaki Ika performed in NFL combine drills

Former Utah high school football players Noah Sewell and Siaki Ika participated in Thursday's NFL combine drills for linebackers and defensive linemen. 

Sewell, a former Orem High linebacker, had the second-most bench press reps among linebackers at this year's combine. He said he's met with Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs while in Indianapolis, per The Oregonian. 

Ika has been projected as a potential first round pick but received criticism for his 40-yard dash time of 5.39 seconds.

BYU's Jaren Hall and Puka Nacua will participate in drills today. 

Read more about Utah ties at the combine here.

New With The:

• BYU Cougars: Lauren Gustin ties WCC tournament rebounding record in win over Pepperdine (Deseret News)
• BYU Cougars: ‘We didn’t roll over’: How BYU flipped the script in the second half to knock Portland out of the WCC tournament (Deseret News)
• Utah Jazz: Analysis: In loss to Thunder, it was clear that the Jazz need a point guard. That could be what they look for in the draft (Deseret News)
• Utah State Aggies: Where the Aggies fall on the NCAA Tournament bubble (KSL)
• Utah Utes: Runnin’ Utes searching for more shooting success ahead of regular-season finale at Colorado Saturday (Deseret News)