Katie McKellar

Katie McKellar

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Katie McKellar is a senior reporter at the Utah News Dispatch. She is based in Salt Lake City. She has worked in journalism for 10 years, specializing in government and policy reporting. Before coming to Utah News Dispatch, she led state and local political coverage for the state’s oldest newspaper, the Deseret News. She has won multiple awards from the Utah chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for her work reporting on city and county councils, the governor, and the Utah Legislature, covering every legislative session since 2014. She has particular expertise in growth and housing issues, and she’s most passionate about keeping Utahns informed about decisions that impact their daily lives.

Is your car ready for ski season? UDOT has a new way to help drivers prepare for traction laws
Utah

Is your car ready for ski season? UDOT has a new way to help drivers prepare for traction laws

Nov 11, 2026
Katie McKellar
Ahead of the winter ski season, state transportation officials are urging drivers to make sure their vehicles are prepared to safely navigate winter canyon roads before heading to the slopes. The Utah Department of Transportation this week announced it has...
Utah Gov. Cox: Republicans ‘suffered a historic defeat.’ Now, he says they have to ‘listen’
Utah

Utah Gov. Cox: Republicans ‘suffered a historic defeat.’ Now, he says they have to ‘listen’

Nov 09, 2026
Katie McKellar
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Monday addressed the stunning blue wave from last week’s election that put Democrats on track to claim more than a dozen seats from Republicans in the GOP-controlled Utah Legislature. “Republicans suffered an historic defeat across...
Utah House Democrats’ wins come with mixed feelings over loss of some moderate Republicans
Utah

Utah House Democrats’ wins come with mixed feelings over loss of some moderate Republicans

Nov 09, 2026
Katie McKellar
After polls closed on election night, Ofa Matagi wasn’t able to join her fellow candidates at Utah Democrats’ watch party. Instead, she was at home with family under strict doctor’s orders to rest. She was caring for a days-old, newborn...
In a closed-door vote, Republicans pick Sen. Evan Vickers to be next Senate president
Utah

In a closed-door vote, Republicans pick Sen. Evan Vickers to be next Senate president

Nov 07, 2026
Katie McKellar
Sen. Evan Vickers, a longtime senator from southern Utah, will take outgoing Senate President Stuart Adams’ place as the Utah Senate’s top Republican. That’s what the Senate GOP caucus decided in a closed-door leadership election late Friday at the Utah...
Utah House Democrat gains slip slightly as 2 races flip, but GOP still pacing to lose 15 seats
Utah

Utah House Democrat gains slip slightly as 2 races flip, but GOP still pacing to lose 15 seats

Nov 05, 2026
Katie McKellar
As more votes are tallied in Utah’s legislative races, two House races have flipped, putting a few Republican candidates ahead of Democrats that were in the lead on election night. In the race for Summit and Wasatch counties’ House District...
‘Blue tsunami’ hits Utah: House Republicans on pace to lose 17 seats, breaking supermajority
Utah

‘Blue tsunami’ hits Utah: House Republicans on pace to lose 17 seats, breaking supermajority

Nov 04, 2026
Katie McKellar
By the time Utah’s election night results were posted at 9 p.m. Tuesday, it was already clear that Democrats were sweeping the nation in a scathing rebuke to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Though margins indicated Democrats here...
Utah Legislature 2026 election night results: Here’s who is on track to win and lose
Utah

Utah Legislature 2026 election night results: Here’s who is on track to win and lose

Nov 03, 2026
Katie McKellar
With a blue wave sweeping the nation, preliminary election night results in Utah show at least 15 Republican state lawmakers could be on track to lose reelection to Democrats and one unaffiliated candidate. If the results hold — election results...
Utah Supreme Court Justice Jill Pohlman on track to keep her place on the bench
Utah

Utah Supreme Court Justice Jill Pohlman on track to keep her place on the bench

Nov 03, 2026
Katie McKellar
Preliminary election night results show Utah Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Jill Pohlman got about 78% of the vote, putting her on track to keep her seat on the state’s highest court. Of the 51 judges up for retention this...
Utah Amendment B to set 60% bar for ballot initiatives that increase taxes on track to fail
Utah

Utah Amendment B to set 60% bar for ballot initiatives that increase taxes fails

Nov 03, 2026
Katie McKellar
Preliminary election night results show Utahns rejecting the Utah Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment that would have made it harder for ballot initiatives that come with tax increases to pass into law. Amendment B — which would require certain citizen-proposed laws...
Pamela Atkinson, Utah’s champion for the homeless, remembered as ‘larger than life’
Utah

Pamela Atkinson, Utah’s champion for the homeless, remembered as ‘larger than life’

Oct 30, 2026
Katie McKellar
In a church full of people who came to honor Pamela Atkinson’s memory at her funeral Friday — a crowd that included Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and other prominent dignitaries — Ed Snoddy said he had “many stories” from the...
Longtime homeless cleanup nonprofit shuts down, leaving 125 unemployed
Utah

Longtime homeless cleanup nonprofit shuts down, leaving 125 unemployed

Oct 30, 2026
Katie McKellar
Despite efforts to save about 125 jobs, most of which were held by people experiencing homelessness and other challenges, the longtime Utah social enterprise nonprofit Advantage Services is shutting down amid financial struggles . “With heavy hearts, we announce that...
Ex-Utah Supreme Court justice urges voters to retain judges amid push to unseat her former colleague
Utah

Ex-Utah Supreme Court justice urges voters to retain judges amid push to unseat her former colleague

Oct 28, 2026
Katie McKellar
Former Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen is speaking out on social media ahead of next week’s election, urging Utah voters to retain judges in order to preserve an “independent, non-political judiciary.” “Do you believe in the Utah Constitution’s promise...