ST. GEORGE — Tickets are now on sale for the biggest summer bash in Southern Utah. The 99.9 KONY Country 4th of July Celebration returns as thousands of people will gather at Greater Zion Stadium to celebrate America’s independence with a night of thrilling live entertainment. Audience members react near the front of the stage during the 99.9 KONY Country Fourth of July Celebration, St. George, Utah, July 4, 2023 | File photo by James Kreitzer, St. George News This year’s concert lineup features not one, not two, but three artists for the first time ever. Need another reason to get excited? Ti ..read more

CEDAR CITY — Five local businesses were recently awarded funding to support economic growth efforts in Iron County by the Iron County Small Business Grant Program, according to a recent media release. Locals can participate in community events such as paint nights at Yummy Tummy Sweets Bakery, located at 491 South Main Street in Cedar City, Utah, May 9, 2024 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George / Cedar City News The Iron County Economic Opportunity Board and the Cedar City Business and Innovation Center oversee the program with funding made available through the Governor’s Office of Economic Opp ..read more

FEATURE — In the quest to achieve financial stability and success, the role of lucid decision-making cannot be overstated. Often, individuals are in precarious financial situations due to a lack of strategic foresight and impulsive decision-making. Consider these strategies. Educate yourself. Knowledge is the cornerstone of lucid decision-making. Understanding the basics of personal finance, investment strategies, and market trends can empower individuals to make informed decisions. Regularly consuming financial literature, attending workshops, and consulting with financial advisors can provid ..read more

HURRICANE — Billed as an official State of the City address and grand opening for a new gymnasium in the recreation department, the April 29 gathering attracted hundreds of Hurricane Valley residents. Veterans were among those to hear the announcement for plans of a Veterans Memorial at a State of City address in Hurricane, Utah, April 29, 2024 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News They mingled with city leaders and their families, bounced on air-filled slides and waited patiently in long lines for ice cream. Construction challenges postponed gymnasium tours for one month due to ongoing buil ..read more

View our evening newscast for Thursday, May 9, in the video player above, then read the full stories below. Full story links: Local golfing legend Jay Don Blake to play in Black Desert Championship, his 500th PGA Tour event Police: Mother, baby unharmed in rollover crash on SR-56 in Cedar City TGIF Show: Your Mother’s Day weekend adventure guide brought to you by CasaBlanca Resort & Casino Here’s what parents, students should know about sex education in Washington County schools ‘It’s free to be nice’: Window washer scrubs up support for McDonald’s worker with 2-hour walk to work Copyrig ..read more

CEDAR CITY — A 48-year-old Salt Lake City man who pleaded guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and dealing in materials harmful to a minor has been sentenced to serve nine months in jail, followed by four years of probation. Sean Brandon Foard was sentenced on April 30 in Cedar City by 5th District Judge Jeffrey C. Wilcox, who ordered Foard to serve a total of 270 days in Iron County Jail, with credit given for the 182 days he’d already served. As previously reported, Foard was arrested and booked into jail on Nov. 1 following a sting operation conducted in mid-August by the stat ..read more

CEDAR CITY — The highways in Garfield and Kane counties are about to get a little smokier in an effort by the U.S. Forest Service to improve landscape health and reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service has planned prescribed buns in Garfield and Kane counties this spring and fall, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service, St. George News Dixie National Forest’s Cedar City Ranger District announced the Henry Knolls North and Ikes Valley Ponderosa Pine Understory Burn project in a news release on Tuesday. Impacted areas include the ..read more

FEATURE (THE CONVERSATION) — Many medical organizations have been recommending lung cancer screening for decades for those at high risk of developing the disease. But in 2022, less than 6% of people in the U.S. eligible for screening actually got screened. Compared with other common cancer screenings, lung cancer screening rates fall terribly behind. For comparison, the screening rate in 2021 for colon cancer was 72%, and the rate for breast cancer was 76%. Why are lung cancer screening rates so poor? I am a pulmonologist who specializes in screening and diagnosing lun ..read more

ST. GEORGE — The lacrosse team from Dixie High School just missed a shutout in their opening-round playoff game Tuesday night at Walt Brooks Field. Dixie senior Isaiah Bybee scores against Desert Hills in a Southern Utah Lacrosse League playoff game, St. George, Utah, May 7, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News But the Flyers were plenty happy with a 13-1 victory over Desert Hills, even if it wasn’t perfect. “Defense played really well in front of me. I could see the shots coming at me,” Dixie senior goalie Ben Hunt told St. George News. “And we scored a lot.” Hunt made 10 saves in ..read more

BRYCE – Utah Prairie Dog Day will return to Bryce Canyon National Park on Thursday, May 9, and feature ranger-led prairie dog viewing, family-friendly activity booths and a special keynote presentation by David Eads, an ecologist with the U.S. Geologic Survey. The event is free with park admission “Utah Prairie Dog Day is an opportunity to learn about an animal found in no other national park,” said park wildlife biologist Macie Monahan, in a news release. “It’s also a story of recovery and survival. The cooperative efforts between Bryce Canyon National Park, state, and federal public lands ag ..read more