By McKenzie Romero | Editor
Seeing the terrifying doorbell camera footage of fast-moving flames racing up on cabins, consuming everything in sight until the recording abruptly ends, it’s not hard to believe that the inferno burning near Beaver could end up being Utah’s most destructive wildfire on record.
In just two days the Cottonwood Fire has consumed 70,000 acres, as much as other major wildfires have burned over multiple weeks, and the state’s fire crews are already stretched thin trying to fight it.
In today’s Dispatch we lay out the challenges fueling the massive fire in southwest Utah, the primary election upset sending shockwaves through the Legislature, and President Donald Trump’s order that could keep Utahns from getting ballots in the mail this November.
“Honestly, in real time, it kind of feels like end-of-days-type movies. Some of the images that we’ve seen and what we’ve seen with our own eyes, it’s crazy.” — Beaver City Mayor Matt Robinson describing the destruction being done by the Cottonwood Fire.
The fast-growing Cottonwood Fire in southwestern Utah is one of several burning across the state in a furious start to wildfire season. (Utah Wildfire Info)
By Annie Knox
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said crews have not been able to assess the extent of the damage that the Cottonwood Fire has done so far, but cabin owners and operators of the Eagle Point ski resort are “all kind of expecting the worst, and that’s very likely to be the case.” He said there are hundreds of homes and condos on the mountain.
Firefighters can’t work right at the fire’s edge in what’s called “direct attack” because wind is sending embers flying and igniting tinder-dry brush nearby, threatening to trap crews between multiple large fires. Forecasters predict winds will pick up to speeds of 40 mph later in the week.
Voters cast ballots on primary Election Day at the Salt Lake County Government Center on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)
By Katie McKellar
When political consultant Taylor Morgan saw longtime Senate President Stuart Adams was trailing one of his Republican challengers by more than 8 percentage points in election night results Tuesday night, he said he was “blown away.” Within hours, Adams conceded, and Morgan began preparing to dive into what happened.
But one thing that’s already clear is the controversy that sparked just as the primary election season was heating up — widespread outcry over a massive data center proposed by celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary in Box Elder County — was likely a major factor leading to Adams’ downfall.
Voters drop off ballots on primary Election Day at the Salt Lake County Government Center on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)
By Jonathan Shorman
The U.S. Postal Service won’t deliver mail ballots in states that refuse to turn over lists of voters under a proposed rule, Postmaster General David Steiner said. If the rule takes effect and Democratic-led states don’t comply, the requirements would effectively limit mail voting to Republican-led states during November midterm elections to decide control of Congress.
Every state would have to provide the names of residents expected to vote by mail. Additionally, eight states (including Utah) and Washington, D.C., conduct elections by mailing all voters a ballot, meaning election officials would have to provide information on every voter.
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