Ben Winslow

@benwinslow

Government, Great Salt Lake, vice and polygamy reporter for KSTU FOX 13 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Don’t yell at me for telling you the news, even when it sucks. Support your local news.

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Ben Winslow@benwinslow· 23d

ICYMI, hundreds turned out across the state to protest the shrinking of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· 23d

ICYMI, Gov. Cox will let cities decide whether they want to ban fireworks under his latest emergency fire order: www.fox13now.com/news/local-n... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· 25d

ICYMI, remember when Rocky Mountain Power proposed a 30% rate hike? Now they’re proposing a settlement for much less. I sat in the hearing before the Public Service Commission: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· 25d

ICYMI, one Utah community is going to keep its fireworks ban in place for Pioneer Day, even if Gov. Cox doesn’t extend a statewide ban: www.fox13now.com/news/utah-wi... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· 25d

ICYMI, President Trump once again has signed an executive order shrinking the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments’ boundaries: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· 27d

No fireworks on the Bonneville Salt Flats on Pioneer Day (the BLM allowed them for the Fourth of July)... #utpol #Utah

July 17, 2026
WENDOVER, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management West Desert District reminds the public that fireworks are not authorized on the Bonneville Salt Flats or surrounding BLM-managed lands on July 24.

Under Fire Prevention Order No. UTW002-2026-02, the West Desert District includes a single, narrow exemption allowing the public to use "Class C common state approved" fireworks on July 4 only. “Class C common state approved” fireworks are fireworks purchased at a retail store in the State of Utah for use by a consumer in Utah. No similar exemption exists for July 24 or any other date.

BLM Utah reminds the public to leave their fireworks at home if visiting BLM-managed lands, including the Bonneville Salt Flats Recreation Area, over the July 24 weekend. Please report any fireworks activity to local law enforcement or BLM officials.

Violating the fire prevention order can result in civil or criminal penalties, including fines of up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, and liability for any fire suppression and damage costs.

To see all fire prevention orders for the West Desert District and the BLM-managed lands in Utah, go www.blm.gov/utah/fire, or www.UtahFireIngo.gov.

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· 27d

From @utahstate.bsky.social, @arizonastateuni.bsky.social and @colorado.edu on the current state of the Colorado River... #utpol #Utah

A Significant Moment in the Colorado River Water Supply Crisis
Jack Schmidt,1 Anne Castle,2 John Fleck,3 Eric Kuhn,4 Kathryn Sorensen,5 Katherine Tara6
July 14, 2026
On Sunday, July 12, the surface of Lake Powell was 3524.32 feet above sea level, and
the surface of Lake Mead was at 1042.77 ft.7 These elevations equated to 5,505,869 and
7,169,640 acre feet (af), respectively, of live storage in the two reservoirs. The
combined total live storage of these reservoirs was 12,675,509 af. The last time the
combined total live storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead was this small was May 23,
1957, during construction of Glen Canyon Dam when the entire amount of 12,668,000
af was stored in Lake Mead (Fig. 1). It was not until March 1963 that the river diversion
tunnels at Glen Canyon Dam were closed, and Lake Powell began to fill.
Figure 1. Graph showing total combined live storage of Lake Powell and Lake Mead since January 1, 1957.
Lake Powell began to fill in March 1963.

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· 29d

Some good news to report out of the Babylon Fire, which is right now the nation’s largest wildfire at more than 106,000 acres. Crews are getting more containment, but nearby communities are preparing for floods: www.fox13now.com/news/utah-wi... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 13

But it’s a dry heat… 🥵 #utpol #Utah

Hottest temperature on record Salt Lake City 109 degrees smashing previous record of 107

A map of Utah and temperatures. Salt Lake City is 109 and St. George is 107

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 12

ICYMI, a Utah alfalfa farm’s big experiment is showing some promising signs of success: www.fox13now.com/news/great-s... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 12

ICYMI, the Utah State Forester confirmed to me she is evaluating things, but there is a likelihood another fireworks ban may be instituted for the Pioneer Day holiday because wildfire conditions remain extreme: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 12

ICYMI, in an about-face, Republican leaders in the Utah State Legislature have abandoned plans to put a proposed constitutional amendment to limit the powers of citizen ballot initiatives on the November ballot: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 12

ICYMI, a new study finds Utah’s lowest-in-the-nation .05 DUI level has led to a decline in alcohol-related crash fatalities (and suggests other states consider adopting it too): www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 12

ICYMI, Western governors met behind closed doors to discuss Colorado River negotiations: www.fox13now.com/news/colorad... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 10

No explosive diarrhea cases in Utah, per @utahdhhs.bsky.social. Their statement... #utpol #Utah

SALT LAKE CITY —There have not been any Cyclospora infections identified in Utah related to the outbreak that is occurring in other parts of the country. The map shown on the CDC’s website shows every case not associated with foreign travel reported since May 1, not just the ones connected to the current outbreak. It’s normal for Utah to see cases of this illness beginning in May.

A Utah resident who did not travel was diagnosed with a Cyclospora infection over a month ago, but there is no connection to the ongoing outbreak.

Our team continuously monitors data from across the state and there has not been an unusual increase in the number of people who seek care for gastrointestinal symptoms

Prevention
Cyclospora is transmitted through food or water that has been contaminated with feces. It is always a good idea to wash fresh produce with drinking water and peel or cook produce when possible to reduce risk of foodborne illness.

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 10

With extreme heat forecast this weekend, Salt Lake County has published an interactive map to show "cool zones" where people can go to escape the heat. Here's the map (and a link to it here: www.saltlakecounty.gov/mayor/cool-z... ) and who it's open to... #utpol #Utah

A map of Salt Lake County showing numerous places with "cool zones" open to the public.

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 9

The @fox13news.bsky.social camera on top of the Natural History Museum of Utah captured the dust storm blowing off the drying Great Salt Lake. I made it into a timelapse. @utah.edu's Dr. Kevin Perry wrote air quality reached "unhealthy" levels last night. #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 9

The moment when a fire broke out live on @fox13news.bsky.social. It's the Harrison Fire in Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood that threatened homes. Brush fire quickly extinguished, per SLC Fire. #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 7

INBOX: Paris Hilton statement on @utahdhhs.bsky.social revoking the license of Provo Canyon School's Springvilel campus... #utpol #Utah

"Today, the State of Utah revoked Provo Canyon School’s license for its Springville campus. For more than fifty years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma. Today, the state confirmed what survivors have known all along: Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care.

I was one of those children. I know what it feels like to cry for help and believe no one is coming. Today, children still inside that facility know someone is finally coming to protect them.

The little girl in me who was told she would never be believed feels so validated today. We were telling the truth. We always were. No institution is too powerful to be held accountable. When survivors refuse to stay silent, change is possible." - Paris Hilton

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 3

ICYMI, police plan extra patrols in fireworks free areas of Utah: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 2

ICYMI, a waterless data center? An experiment between a nuclear power startup and a major AI computing company is under way in rural Utah: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 1

ICYMI, governors from across the West are dealing with wildfires and also working on increasing energy demands: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 1

JUST IN: Utah Div. of Wildlife Resources bans target shooting in wildlife management areas in 16 counties due to fire danger. #utpol #Utah

Beaver
Box Elder
Cache
Carbon
Daggett
Duchesne
Emery
Iron
Juab
Millard
Morgan
Sanpete
Sevier
Summit
Uintah
Wasatch

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 1

CHECK IT OUT! New license plate designs are on sale here in Utah! I've posted them here: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jul 1

Sometimes it’s nice to know I’m a thirst trap on your local news… #utpol #Utah

I don't use social media so I can't post this on Ben Winslow's socials. But dayum that's a nice makeover/haircut you got. Just saw you on TV a min ago.

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jun 30

ICYMI, "Clinton did not defy the governor’s order," Mayor Marie Dougherty insisted to me. "We followed it." Why she decided to be less restrictive than other communities when it comes to fireworks: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jun 28

ICYMI, Utah’s fireworks ban is officially in effect: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jun 28

ICYMI, cities across Utah are scrambling to decide whether to accept an all-out ban or designate a “safe space” for fireworks after Gov. Cox’s executive order: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jun 28

ICYMI, it took some legal maneuvering, but Gov. Cox has issued an executive order that effectively bans fireworks in Utah: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah

Ben Winslow@benwinslow· Jun 28

ICYMI, meet the woman who unseated one of Utah’s most powerful political figures! Plus other primary election takeaways: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah