The Utah House of Representatives rejected a motion today by Representative Stephen Sandstrom to create a bill that would suspend the business license of Utah companies that don’t use E-Verify.

The oil and gas-rich Uinta Basin in eastern Utahis the focus of a new air quality study, one that’s being called the most comprehensive air quality study ever in the state. It’s bringing together Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, and oil and gas producers to figure out the region’s wintertime ozone pollution is so bad. KCPW’s Jeff Robinson spoke with Bryce Bird, Director of the Utah Division of Air Quality.

A vote by a Senate committee Tuesday may be a sign that looser restrictions are coming for Utah’s billboard companies. One senator wants cities and counties to have less control over billboard regulations, including electronic billboards. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports on what this means for Salt Lake City, which is looking to pass billboard restrictions of its own.

One state lawmaker’s attempt to bring Utah’s residential building codes up to date hasn’t been assigned a committee hearing, despite widespread support from local governments, businesses and residents. Republican Representative Fred Cox says adopting the latest building codes for new homes is important for public safety and energy cost savings, but as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, at least one organization is fighting the change, saying it would cost homeowners too much.

The Utah House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill today that would allow a person on the state’s sex offender registry to petition for removal after five years.