Robert Gehrke, Salt Lake Tribune

Robert Gehrke

Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake City, UT, United States

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Recent:
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Past:
  • Salt Lake Tribune

Past articles by Robert:

Do Utahns support school vouchers? Robert Gehrke has an easy way to find out.

This year vouchers received support from 34 more Representatives than it did last time it was voted on. Robert Gehrke looks at where those votes came from and questions if the Legislature is really representing what Utahns want. → Read More

Taxes, school vouchers and the culture war. Robert Gehrke’s look at the Utah Legislature 2023 priorities.

Utah's annual lawmaking effort will be gaveled into session on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The state lawmakers will have 45 days to create and pass legislation that will benefit Utahns in the year ahead. Robert Gehrke writes that this is an opportunity to do a lot of good for the Beehive State, but divisive political issues and the culture war appear to be at the top of lawmakers' minds. → Read More

Understanding the ‘why’ to bring you better journalism

In the 25-plus years that I’ve been reporting on this state, it’s the simple question — Why? — that I’ve always felt gets below the surface and tells us the most. → Read More

Are Donald Trump NFTs being sold from Park City? Robert Gehrke tries to uncover the ‘major announcement.’

Robert Gehrke writes about what appears to be a shell company behind the new NFTs being advertised by former President Donald Trump. → Read More

Trick or treat: Robert Gehrke’s dispatch from a candy-fueled Halloween bash of Utah politicos

A Star Wars character? The Invisible Man? Gayle Ruzicka? Here's what costumes Gehrke thinks makes the most sense for Utah politicians. → Read More

Quest to gain citizenship for American Samoans reaches unfortunate end. Robert Gehrke explains how we got here.

Woods Cross resident John Fitisemanu had hoped his lawsuit would extend U.S. citizenship to anyone born on American soil, including in Samoa. The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case brought the effort to an unfortunate end, but Fitisemanu says he plans to keep fighting. → Read More

Who is Linda Paulson, the rapping GOP grandma whose Utah Senate campaign ad went viral? Robert Gehrke finds out.

Linda Paulson, the 80-year-old grandmother and great-grandmother running for Utah Senate District 12, has gone viral with an awkward, surreal rap espousing her GOP platform. Her campaign video, "Linda Paulson for Utah Senate Rap (District 12)", has more than 120,000 views and was discussed by comedian and late-night host Stephen Colbert. → Read More

Is Utah smothering rooftop solar? Robert Gehrke argues there are benefits beyond electrical power.

Installation of new rooftop solar has dropped sharply since Utah regulators slashed the amount homeowners can get for selling excess electricity back to the gird. Robert Gehrke argues that we should be considered the actual costs plus all the benefits of clean solar power. → Read More

Did the Legislature gerrymander away Utahns’ votes? We deserve an answer from the courts, Robert Gehrke argues.

Lawyers defending the state's redistricting are asking a judge to delay hearing the lawsuit challenging the Legislature's congressional gerrymander. But any delay will postpone resolving the dispute and harm voters who might not get fair maps until the 2026 election. → Read More

Utah approaches 1 millionth confirmed COVID case as 7,819 test positive, 22 deaths reported

The state is likely to surpass 1 million cases sometime in the next week. → Read More

Robert Gehrke: Utahns support red flag laws for guns. They should have the power to make them happen.

Data shows red flag laws work and the public wants them. So why can't Utah have one? → Read More

Robert Gehrke: Sen. Mike Lee and Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers share a faith, but not values

Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers are members of the same party and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both believe the Constitution is divinely inspired. Both swore an oath to protect it. Only one violated that oath and their values to try to keep Donald Trump in office. → Read More

Robert Gehrke sorts out the calculated political hit happening in the Utah County attorney race

The wild allegations of cannibalism and ritualistic sex abuse have made the Utah County Attorney's race a political circus and voters deserve better. → Read More

President Biden should cancel some college loan debt, but not for everyone. Robert Gehrke explains why.

President Joe Biden is reportedly preparing to make a decision on canceling student loan debt or not. Robert Gehrke explains how forgiving some student debt could help those who need it most, but the relief should be for everyone. → Read More

Utah’s regulatory ‘sandbox’ is more like a black box, Robert Gehrke writes

Utah garnered national headlines for establishing the nation's first "Regulatory Sandbox," but so far there is no way for the public to know which companies are asking to be exempted from state rules. → Read More

What Phil Lyman got right and other things lawmakers didn’t screw up. Robert Gehrke looks back at Week 2 on Capitol hill.

Robert Gehrke takes a look back at a couple of the lows and highs from Week 2 of the 2022 legislative session. → Read More

Utah’s omicron response is a failure with plenty of blame to go around, Robert Gehrke writes

Utah, like other states before it, is crushing records for hospitalizations due to omicron and deaths may not be far behind. Utah's supposed leaders, meanwhile, have failed to offer any response → Read More

Breaking election news: Utah and Salt Lake County voter turnout expected to be low, clerks say

The Salt Lake Tribune is following and reporting on statewide elections across Utah. The latest and breaking Nov. 2 Election Day news can be found on this blog throughout Election Day. → Read More

Lee should tell the political attack dogs to stay out of Utah, but he won’t, Robert Gehrke says

Before Ally Isom even got into the race against Sen. Mike Lee, she was already under attack by ultra-conservative outside groups. Utahns deserve elections based on issues, not dark money. → Read More

Cox is eager for a nuclear future. Utahns should tell him why we’re not, says Robert Gehrke

Gov. Cox's cheerleading for a new nuke plant in Wyoming fails to capture nagging issues regarding the cost and safety of nuclear power → Read More