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** Letter from Gov. Cox: Thank you, Utah
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As we close out the year, I want to pause and simply say thank you.
Thank you to Utah’s public servants who kept critical systems running when no one was watching. Thank you to the families and caregivers who carried extra weight at home. And thank you to the Utahns who showed up for one another in ways both big and small. This year asked a lot of people, and it reminded me just how much we rely on each other.
Recently, I sat down with former Governors Mike Leavitt and Gary Herbert at the University of Utah. We talked about what truly makes our state work: our people. Over generations, Utahns have built a culture that rewards problem-solving and makes room for constructive disagreement. That kind of culture is precious. It can be damaged quickly, and it takes time and care to rebuild.
That’s why I’m asking for your help in protecting what makes Utah special. We’ve all felt it — the country is hungry for the Utah way. And it rests on a simple truth: doing the right thing matters, and doing it the right way matters just as much.
From my family to yours, I wish you a peaceful holiday season and a hopeful new year.
** Utah DPS promotions
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Utah Department of Public Safety and Utah Highway Patrol gathered at the Utah State Capitol to recognize the people who choose the hard work of public safety, and the families and loved ones who stand behind them every day.
Gov. Cox helped honor ([link removed]) those earning promotions and joined in the pinning tradition that puts family at the center of the moment. The ceremony also marked a leadership transition for the Utah Department of Public Safety, with Gov. Cox administering the Oath of Office to Commissioner Beau Mason and welcoming the new Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners as they step up to lead with accountability and excellence.
** Return Utah helps Utahns reenter the workforce
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Congratulations to the 53 participants in this year’s Return Utah cohort. Return Utah supports workforce reentry for individuals who have taken a career pause — whether for caregiving, education, military service, or other reasons — by offering skills training, mentoring, and professional networking. Returners quickly become valued members of agency teams, and state agencies hire 94% of participants.
** State agency updates
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The Utah Historical Society, a division of the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement, recognizes January as Utah History Month — beginning with Statehood Day on Jan. 4. After nearly 50 years as a territory, Utah earned its place as the 45th state. Learn more about Utah’s journey to statehood More here > ([link removed])
Collecting shed antlers from deer, elk, and moose is a popular Utah pastime. Before you head out, you must complete the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ free Antler Gathering Ethics course ([link removed]) . It’s required to legally gather shed antlers statewide Jan. 1 through May 31.
The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Utah Office for Victims of Crime are proud to have three staff elected by national peers to serve on key boards: Dale Oyler (National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards), Melissa Wayment (National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators), and Bri Talbot (Association of VAWA Administrators). It’s the first time Utah has held seats on all three at once.
Through the Leroy McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food partners with landowners to conserve working farms and ranches across Utah. The program supports voluntary conservation easements that keep land in agriculture, protect open space, and strengthen rural communities for generations. Spring 2026 applications are now open and due March 31. More here > ([link removed])
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The Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity announced that after a year of operational restructuring, its Utah Small Business Credit Initiative (USBCI) program has transitioned from at-risk to an award-winning driver of economic growth, securing more than 1,300 jobs in Utah and establishing a national blueprint for fraud prevention for similar programs. More here > ([link removed])
“The Pen is Mightier: Writing a Revolution,” an America250 Utah exhibition led by the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement, explores how communication shaped history and fueled change. The exhibition opens at the Utah State Capitol on Jan. 20. One highlight is a rare 1776 copy of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.” More here > ([link removed])
The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole and the Utah Department of Corrections unveiled the first parole condition revisions in a decade. Developed with agent input, the update simplifies language and modernizes conditions. Effective Dec. 10, 2025, the changes support public safety through clearer expectations and more consistent enforcement. More here > ([link removed])
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In National Review ([link removed]) , Gov. Cox and leaders from the Utah Department of Commerce and the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity outline Utah’s “Pro-Human AI” posture. The approach welcomes rapid technological advances while emphasizing practical guardrails that protect families and support public agencies.
A new episode of the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement’s State Historic Preservation Office podcast, “Beyond the 50-Year Rule,” focuses on one of Utah’s most iconic historic assets: the Tabernacle Organ. Learn about restoration of the 150-year-old instrument and its more than 11,000 pipes. Listen now > ([link removed])
In the latest Wild podcast episode, ([link removed]) Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists explain when and how they respond when wildlife ends up on a freeway or in your backyard, and what Utahns can do to help keep people and animals safe.
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Utah’s “culture of connection” is a real economic edge. Intentional gathering turns isolation into collaboration, helping trust form faster and partnerships hold, so ideas move from conversation to coordinated action. Learn more ([link removed]) from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.
Learn about the Domínguez–Escalante expedition of 1776, led by Franciscan friars who documented the landscape and their interactions with Native residents. Join the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement’s Utah Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office on Jan. 8 for a panel on its lasting impact. More here > ([link removed])
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The Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity collaborated with medical technology leader Stryker on a performance-based tax incentive that will help the firm invest more than $615 million and create 862 high-paying jobs in Utah over the next two decades, reinforcing the state's position as a premier hub for life sciences innovation. More here > ([link removed])
🪨 Trove of critical minerals uncovered in the Utah desert. Read more > ([link removed])
🌾 Utah farms generated $2.3B in a year. Learn more > ([link removed])
🏠 Utah First Homes Award recognizes local governments and builders making homeownership more attainable. Learn more > ([link removed])
💸 $332,606 saved in FY26 by consolidating recruiting operations at the Utah Department of Corrections. See more > ([link removed])
🤝 Gov. Cox meets with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner. See more > ([link removed])
⚛️ Utah’s advances in nuclear, geothermal, and other technologies in 2025. Read more > ([link removed])
✈️ SLC International airport leads the nation for on-time holiday departures. Discover more > ([link removed])
🛣️ UDOT Trails cuts redesign costs by confirming right-of-way interest early. Learn more > ([link removed])
🎒First Lady Abby Cox visits Franklin Elementary School. See more > ([link removed])
🔔The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole saved $20,250 by reducing victim notification time. Learn more > ([link removed])
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