What's new: The U.S. departments of Interior and Agriculture will use federal funding to address 277 high-priority polluting oil and gas wells, including 14 wells in the Moab area.

Why it matters: The Department of Interior says thousands of Utah residents live within a mile of abandoned or “orphaned” oil and gas wells left unplugged by the extraction industry. These wells jeopardize public health and safety by contaminating groundwater, seeping toxic chemicals, emitting harmful pollutants including methane, and harming wildlife.

The gunman at Texas elementary was 18. Now a Utah lawmaker wants to raise gun purchase age limit to 21

What's new: Sen. Derek Kitchen, D-Salt Lake City, announced a bill that would raise the age of eligibility for purchasing a firearm from 18 to 21. 

Why: On Tuesday, an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, using a semi-automatic rifle he bought days prior. Kitchen noted that of the 27 school shootings that have happened in 2022, at least 21 were perpetrated by assailants under the age of 21. 

"This bill is simple," Kitchen said in a statement. "If you are not able to consume alcohol, why would you be able to buy a gun?"

Read more about how Utah's gun laws have changed recently.

More in Politics

• Russian blacklist of Americans includes, and excludes, several Utahns (Deseret News)
• What Mitt Romney says about gun laws in wake of Texas school shooting (Deseret News)
• Opinion: Texas politicians are yelling about gun violence — but what are their solutions? (Deseret News)

FROM OUR SPONSOR CHRIS STEWART FOR CONGRESS

Congressman Chris Stewart is the clear choice for current issues

Representative Chris Stewart is working to preserve our constitutional rights, protect religious liberty, combat unnecessary surveilling of the American people and support mental health through legislation. Learn more about how Chris Stewart is the conservative voice for Utah.

Crime

• Eagle Mountain man arrested, charged in connection with Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot (KSL.com)
• FanX co-founder arrested in Hawaii, accused of making bomb threats to Utah buildings (KSL.com)

Faith

• The time President Gordon B. Hinckley had the National Press Club laughing out loud (Deseret News)
• Read Elder Bednar’s blessing upon the Saints in Guam in the dedicatory prayer of the Yigo temple (Church News)

Food

• 10 hidden food treasures along your Western road trip (Deseret News)

Health

• Why — and how — parents should manage their anxiety after school shootings (Deseret News)
• Two Utah children may be part of mysterious global hepatitis outbreak (Deseret News)
  
• CDC confirms two Salt Lake County monkeypox cases, officials say (Deseret News)
• What did an FDA official tell Congress about the baby formula shortage? (Deseret News)
  
• 'We're ready for this': 1st of free period product dispensers installed at Utah schools (KSL.com)

The Nation

• Faith leaders and politicians ask for prayers for Texas shooting victims (Deseret News)
• U.S. had sharp increase in active shooter incidents last year, according to FBI report (Deseret News)
• President Biden signs executive policing order, says ‘Second Amendment is not absolute’ (Deseret News)
  
• Experts predict that gas won’t get any cheaper in the near future (Deseret News)

The World

• What New Zealand’s Prime Minister said about the Texas school shooting (Deseret News)
• It’s been 3 months since the Russian invasion started. Here’s what the situation looks like right now (Deseret News)
• Perspective: It’s time for the ‘Hotel Rwanda’ manager to go free (Deseret News)

Sports

• Will former Aggie Justin Bean be an NBA Draft pick? Here’s what he’s doing to make it happen (Deseret News)
• Commentary: Proximity of fans and team benches to NBA courts is a problem, but one with an easy fix (Deseret News)