A decades-old dispute. $60 million for the Great Salt Lake. And 22,000 acres protected as part of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. This settlement is a major win for the lake, its wetlands and wildlife, and the people who depend on it. Grateful to @POTUS, the Utah Legislature and everyone who helped get this across the finish line. We’re going to save the lake.

The Great Salt Lake needs more water, and Utah agriculture is doing its part to get it there. This Salt Lake Tribune article clears up a recurring misconception that Utah is exporting most of its alfalfa overseas. In fact, most alfalfa grown in Utah stays in the U.S., where it supports beef and dairy production. The most recent data shows about 9% of Utah’s alfalfa hay was exported internationally. Alfalfa also gives farmers options in dry years. They can reduce irrigation and take fewer cuttings while keeping the crop in place. That flexibility gives farmers another way to conserve water. It will take more than one approach to save the lake. We’ll keep investing in conservation and working with farmers and water users throughout Utah to get more water to the Great Salt Lake.

Utah spends a lot of time thinking about one question: How do we make sure AI works for people, not the other way around? It’s a question we regularly discuss with Utah’s Pro-Human AI Task Force, and it’s shaping how we approach new technology. We want to encourage innovation while learning in real time where thoughtful guardrails are needed. As @MeganBanta_1 reports, Utah's AI policy lab and regulatory sandbox are helping us do exactly that: giving companies room to test new technologies while giving policymakers better information before we write the rules. This work takes more than a set of principles. I’m grateful to the Utahns putting those principles into practice, and I look forward to continuing the conversation at the Utah AI Summit on Dec. 8.

Recovery is possible, and no one should have to walk that road alone. Today, we launched the Recovery Utah Initiative, a whole-of-government approach to strengthen how our state responds to addiction, homelessness, and serious mental illness. By bringing agencies and partners together, we can make it easier for Utahns to access treatment, stay connected to long-term support, and rebuild their lives. We’re grateful to White House Senior Advisor @KathrynBurgum and our federal partners with the Great American Recovery Initiative for partnering with us in this work, and especially to the Utahns with lived experience who are helping lead the way. As Moe Egan, a leading voice for recovery in our state says: we will meet you where you are, but we love you too much to leave you there.

It was an honor to welcome President Sadyr Zhaparov of the Kyrgyz Republic to Utah. Utah and Kyrgyzstan have strengthened ties through exchanges focused on business, education, and government. Our meeting offered an opportunity to continue that work and discuss how our state and the Kyrgyz Republic can work more closely together. President @sadyrzhaparovkg, welcome to Utah!

Twenty years ago, Larry H. Miller had the vision to build a world-class motorsports facility right here in Utah. Now, West Desert is carrying that legacy forward. With local ownership, a renewed vision and big plans for the future, this track will continue creating opportunities for the next generation of drivers and bringing some of the best racing in the world to Tooele County. Congratulations to the entire West Desert team. The track is back!