By McKenzie Romero | Editor
When temperatures drop in the coming weeks, Utah’s “Code Blue” alert will warn of dangerous cold and open up additional shelter options to move Utahns experiencing homelessness off the streets.
But as record-breaking heat blazed down this summer, there was no policy in place — like a “Code Red” — to respond to risks for people living outside.
In today’s Dispatch we bring you researchers’ findings on what can be done about heat dangers for homeless Utahns, Rep. Burgess Owens’ plans as he leaves Congress and the search for answers about Great Salt Lake dust.
“They reported heat exhaustion, dehydration, sleep disruption, and emotional strain, with limited access to shade, water, and restrooms.” — A report from University of Utah researchers who tracked the experiences of homeless Utahns caught in the heat.
A person and a dog lay in the grass outside the City-County Building in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
By Katie McKellar
University of Utah researchers interviewed 24 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the Salt Lake Valley about how they navigate extremely hot temperatures in public spaces, along with how city and private business policies impact their ability to cope.
Eight people also used GPS-enabled smartphones and backpack-mounted weather monitors. According to the data collected by those monitors, they “routinely experienced hazardous conditions, including prolonged exposure” to moderate and high-risk heat thresholds (temperatures greater than 91 degrees Fahrenheit and 102.9 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively).
Utah Republican Rep. Burgess Owens speaks during an interview hosted by the Sutherland Institute on Oct. 6, 2026. (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch)
By Alixel Cabrera
As Utah Republican Rep. Burgess Owens prepares to turn off the lights and close the door to his career in public office, he finds himself ending on the same note that sparked his interest in government. And he says he’ll now pursue similar ventures in the private sector.
After retiring from the NFL in 1983, he said he wanted to focus on solutions for at-risk children and kids getting out of the juvenile justice system. As chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, he pushed efforts to expand school choice offerings at the federal level and sponsored a number of education bills.
Bryce Bird, director of the Utah Division of Air Quality, speaks during a panel discussion on Great Salt Lake dust at Zions Bank in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (Courtesy of the Great Salt Lake Alliance/Alex Travous)
GREAT SALT LAKE COLLABORATIVE
By Annie Knox
As the Great Salt Lake plunges back toward a historic low, key questions about the dust kicking up from the dry lake bed and its effects on human health remain unanswered.
At a forum focused on solutions for the dust, two researchers said they’re working toward providing more clarity. So did a state official, though he called it a “future issue.”
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