Tony Semerad

5 days ago | sltrib.com | Tony Semerad

With a federal judge shutting down the latest legal challenge to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over its handling of billions of dollars in sacred donations from its members, where does that leave the larger story of tithing and transparency in light of the faith's vast wealth?

6 days ago | fox13now.com | Tony Semerad

A federal judge in Utah on Thursday tossed out a brewing class-action lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that accused the global faith and its investment company of fraud over the religious practice of tithing. Without delving into issues related to church autonomy and the First Amendment, Judge Robert Shelby concluded the suit brought by nine current and former Latter-day Saints in six states should be dismissed because it was poorly argued and filed too late.

2 weeks ago | sltrib.com | Tony Semerad

Republican lawmakers congratulated one another Thursday over a slew of new laws aimed at improving public safety and toughening statutes on sex crimes, gang activity and trafficking in the synthetic opioid fentanyl. With elected leaders from Salt Lake City notably absent, Utah Gov. Spencer presided over a ceremonial bill signing in front of the Rio Grande Depot a block from Pioneer Park, with a phalanx of Utah Highway Patrol officers and a police dog as his backdrop.

3 weeks ago | sltrib.com | Tony Semerad |Chris Samuels |Rick Egan

As with the budding trees and the mallard ducks skimming onto the Jordan River in front of his hovel, here was another sign of seasons changing for Johnny Bravo. That's the name the 47-year-old homeless man gave, roused from inside his trash-strewn encampment on the edge of a spit of land in Salt Lake City known as "The Thumb."Here came another cycle, Johnny Bravo said.

3 weeks ago | sltrib.com | Tony Semerad

Saying residents no longer feel safe, Salt Lake City moved Tuesday to close a portion of the Jordan River Trail to revitalize its public spaces and clamp down on drug trafficking and other crime.