One of the most significant achievements is the tensioning of vertical strands inside columns that now extend from the tops of the temple’s northeast towers down through the newly built foundations. These cables, when tensioned, will compress the tower and wall stones of the temple to further reinforce them. This work marks the final phase of the temple’s seismic upgrade — the largest part of the renovation.

Work on the north addition is also moving forward. This includes detailed stonework to finish the planters on the top level. In the sealing wing, large stones are being carefully placed. Some of these resemble cornerstones, symbolizing the sacred ordinances performed in these rooms where families are joined for eternity.

Sealing rooms are receiving their finishing touches with elegant doors and chandeliers. Skilled artisans are working to cut and shape the doors to fit perfectly.

Other work is moving forward on installing the east and west baptismal fonts, removing varnish from the circular staircases, and landscaping the grounds.

— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announces first known CSAM cryptocurrency-involved arrest in Utah

The Utah Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force made Utah’s first known arrest involving the use of cryptocurrency to purchase Child Sex Abuse Material last week.

The Office of the Utah Attorney General charged Christopher Merritt, a 39-year-old Utah resident, with 10 felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor following an investigation led by our ICAC Task Force.

Merritt allegedly used cryptocurrency in the form of Bitcoin and Ethereum to acquire CSAM from darknet websites. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a nonprofit organization that works to protect children from exploitation, received a tip from Robinhood, a financial technology company, reporting suspicious transactions.

The Office of the Attorney General is committed to finding and prosecuting individuals who exploit children online, regardless of the digital methods used to avoid detection.

— Utah Office of the Attorney General

Gov. Cox establishes council to help Utah plan for the future and protect quality of life

Gov. Spencer Cox signed an executive order on Wednesday launching the BUILD Coordinating Council, a proactive step to ensure Utah’s future is as dynamic and strong as its past.

The new council will bring state agencies together to streamline efforts, align long-range planning, and make the most of shared opportunities. By working collaboratively, Utah will be better positioned to meet growing demands for housing, transportation, water, energy, open space, recreation and air quality, while preserving the exceptional quality of life Utahns value.

“As Utah evolves, everything from water use to transportation is affected,” said Gov. Cox. “This council will help us combine efforts and make better decisions to maintain the quality of life that makes Utah exceptional.”

The BUILD Coordinating Council builds on the intent of HCR 11, passed by the Utah Legislature in 2024, which encourages state agencies to account for cross-issue growth impacts in funding, policy and program development. The council will convene quarterly to identify statewide goals, review demographic and economic trends, resolve planning conflicts and enhance coordination across agencies and regions.

— State of Utah Office of the Governor

Senators Lee and Coons applaud U.S. Sentencing Commission’s amendment on supervised release

U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), along with Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), released the following statement to applaud the United States Sentencing Commission’s unanimously finalized recent amendment to the United States Sentencing Guidelines regarding federal supervised release:

“This is an important step by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. This amendment regarding federal supervised release better aligns our system with parts of our Safer Supervision Act. It is a meaningful move to restore federal supervision to the system that Congress originally intended and focus supervision on those who need it most. This is an illustration of how we can work together to improve our justice system by promoting rehabilitation, fairness, and public safety. We look forward to continuing this effort and ensuring that the entire Safer Supervision Act becomes law.”

Federal supervised release is a form of supervision after incarceration that was originally designed to be used “for those, and only those, who [need] it,” according to the U.S. Supreme Court. Currently, however, supervised release is imposed in nearly every case, resulting in an overburdened system with more than 110,000 people in supervision at any moment, and nearly 50,000 people cycling into it each year. The result is a system that does not provide appropriate supervision to the high-risk individuals who most need it while creating counterproductive burdens on low-risk individuals that inhibit their ability to reintegrate.

— Office of Sen. Mike Lee