In the News

• Deseret News Monday, Apr. 27, 2026

  Bobby Wagner's jersey will be retired by Utah State

  One of the greatest players in Utah State football history will have his jersey retired soon.

  On Monday, Utah State announced that it will be retiring linebacker Bobby Wagner’s number in a ceremony to be held in 2026 or 2027, depending on Wagner’s schedule.

  “Bobby exemplifies what it means to be an Aggie, and this honor is long overdue,” said Utah State athletic director Cameron Walker in a statement. “We are excited to recognize his achievements in a Utah State uniform and all he has accomplished in the NFL and in his community. Retiring his number and displaying it on the side of our press box for current and future Aggies to see is a well-deserved honor to celebrate an amazing football career and a remarkable person.”

• The Washington Post Monday, Apr. 27, 2026

  Why this state is betting on cloud-seeding drones to solve its water problem

  Scientists have been shooting particles into clouds since the 1940s, praying it will bring more rain and snow.

  While researchers agree that “cloud seeding” can work in a laboratory setting, many have doubted how much precipitation it can generate in the real world. But that hasn’t stopped Western states from blasting silver iodide into the sky for decades, hoping it will relieve harsh droughts.

• The Salt Lake Tribune Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026

  New USU building expands college access in Monument Valley

  A new Utah State University building in Monument Valley is expected to expand access to higher education in one of the most remote parts of Utah, replacing a deteriorating facility and bringing new programs closer to home for local students.

  University, state and tribal leaders gathered April 22 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the Monument Valley education building, a project years in the making aimed at improving opportunities in the region and across the Navajo Nation.

• Deseret News Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026

  New program designed to support dementia caregivers in Utah

  Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia requires immense time and effort, and the emotional toll can be high. Approximately 110,000 Utahns provide informal care for loved ones with dementia, according to Utah State University Extension. The constant demands of caring for such a loved one can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration and burnout.

  While memory care is an around-the-clock commitment, experts at Alzheimer’s.gov urge caregivers to prioritize their own well-being by taking breaks, eating a balanced diet or connecting with mental health professionals.

• The New York Times Saturday, Apr. 11, 2026

  Another Giant Leap Reminds Us How Small We Are

  In the beginning, Artemis II was about science. The mission, which ended on Friday with a clean splash into the Pacific Ocean, carried four astronauts who gathered data, took photographs and tested life support systems as they orbited the moon.

  But for the astronauts themselves, and millions of people who checked in on them from hundreds of thousands of miles away, the mission also elicited meditations on more profound matters.

• KSL Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

  Public could be exposed to toxic GSL dust through food consumption

  SALT LAKE CITY — The threat of toxic dust from the drying Great Salt Lake has been well-discussed and well-publicized.

  But new research from scientists at the University of Utah and Utah State University suggests the dust may pose broader health risks than previously understood.

  The study, published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, found that the public could potentially be exposed to toxic metals in the dust through food consumption.

  Specifically, the study showed leafy vegetables exposed to Great Salt Lake dust contained elevated levels of multiple toxic elements, including arsenic and uranium, even after thorough washing.

• The Herald Journal Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

  Aggie revenge tour capped off with another MW championship

  LAS VEGAS — It was a redemption tour of sorts when Utah State started the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

  The Aggie men’s basketball team would face three teams that had beaten them near the end of the regular season. Despite that, USU had won the regular season and the top seed for the tournement. But they came to Sin City with a bad taste in their mouth.

  On Saturday afternoon the Aggies capped off three wins in three days — all by double digits — and got to cut down a net for the second straight week. USU broke a tight game open late against second-seeded San Diego State to win the tournament, 73-62.

• KSL News Radio Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

  Researchers helping families of babies with hearing loss navigate next steps

  SALT LAKE CITY — About 95% of infants are tested for hearing loss, but only 25 % of those who test positive come back for a follow-up visit.

  Utah State University senior researcher Alyson Ward said there are many reasons not to make those appointments, from misinformation to a lack of transportation. She said for decades parents have been told their infant didn’t pass a test because there is likely fluid in their ears, but she says that is not true.

  The current protocol has health providers wait for at least a day after the baby is born to perform a hearing test, which is plenty of time for any fluid to drain.

• The Herald Journal Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

  USU hosts 2,000-plus at Utah FFA Convention

  Utah State University hosted the 98th Utah Future Farmers of America Convention Thursday and Friday, welcoming FFA members and guests from high schools from every nook and cranny of the Beehive State.

  With science fair-esque competitions, educational and agricultural tours, service projects and countless workshops, the convention also offered students an up-close look at the State of Utah’s land-grant university.

  Becki Lawver, a USU professor of agricultural education and the department head of its Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Department, spoke to her excitement of seeing so many high schoolers at USU.

• Utah Business Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

  Utah State parking deck celebrated in national engineering competition

  WASHINGTON — Reaveley Engineers of Salt Lake City has earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 59th annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA). The award comes for the Canyon View Terrace Parking Structure at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

  With student enrollment on the rise, the university required a new parking facility ready for the current academic year. The site presented unique challenges due to proximity of new student housing on all sides, an academic building under construction, a state highway, and an existing utility tunnel. High seismic risk and an aggressive 12-month schedule made a traditional concrete parking structure design impractical.

• ABC 4 News Monday, Mar. 02, 2026

  USU athletics receives $2.5 million pledge from anonymous donor

  LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) — An anonymous donor has pledged $2.5 million to Aggie athletics as the school enters its first season in the Pac-12 conference.

  Cameron Walker, Utah State University’s director of athletics, announced the sizeable gift Monday. The donation will be paid out over a five-year period.

  “I am deeply grateful for the generosity and the significant impact this gift will have on the future of Utah State Athletics,” Walker said.

  According to a university press release, the gift was motivated by the donor’s belief in the department’s vision and potential heading into a new conference.

• KSL Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

  Utah State University undergraduates showcase research at state Capitol

  SALT LAKE CITY — Water quality issues faced by Indigenous Bolivian communities, and the role decreased social connectedness plays in misogynistic thoughts and behaviors were among undergraduate research projects on display at the state Capitol on Thursday for the annual Research on Capitol Hill day.

  The event — hosted by the University of Utah, Utah State University and now in its 26th year — gives lawmakers the chance to interact and connect with the work of undergraduate researchers from the two large state universities.

  As Utah's two Research One institutions, both play a key role in shaping the state's future.

• The Herald Journal Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026

  USU president announces final approval of Reinvestment Plan

  Nearly a year after the Utah State Legislature passed H.B. 265, which required all higher education institutions to take a long, hard look in the mirror and realign their efforts with the state’s, Utah State University President Brad Mortensen announced Wednesday that USU will receive the remainder of its reinvestment funds.

  “At their meeting last night, the (Executive Appropriations Committee) unanimously approved the plan with no discussion, reflecting positively on USU’s response to the audit and successful revisions to the strategic reinvestment plan,” Mortensen wrote in an email to all USU employees. “I deeply appreciate the work and support across the university over the past several months that helped position us for this success.”

• The Salt Lake Tribune Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

  This USU student is trying to break a world record

  There are the world records you probably know about: The fastest runner (Usain Bolt) or the longest fingernails on a pair of hands (nearly 43 feet, on a Minnesota woman who hasn’t trimmed them since 1997).

  And there are the ones you might hope to someday break yourself, like being the oldest person to have ever lived (122 years and 164 days).

  Then there are the stranger ones: a record for the farthest distance walked barefoot on Lego bricks (a swear-worthy 5.5 miles) and the largest gathering of people wearing unicorn horns (334 almost-magical humans in West Virginia). A Utah man even carried the most bowling balls simultaneously (a striking 16 total).

• The Herald Journal Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026

  USU President makes some changes in leadership

  Having faced budget cuts and intense scrutiny over spending recently, Utah State University President Brad L. Mortensen is working to get the school back in the good graces of the state legislature and those that have been critical.

  The new president has been transparent in tackling the big issues. On Tuesday, he sent a message to all employees that was later posted on the university website Utah State Today.

  While he enjoyed himself Saturday at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, performing with the Aggiettes and the USU cheer squad, Mortensen knows that some changes need to be made.

• The Herald Journal Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

  USU shares mid-legislative-session update

  As the State of Utah’s 2026 Legislative Session continues to churn, Utah State University composed a mid-session update Thursday, providing an overview, detailing budget requests and announcing a post-session town hall on March 6.

• KSL Thursday, Feb. 05, 2026

  Bobby Wagner Named Walter Payton Man Of The Year

  Former Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner was named the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year at NFL Honors on Thursday.

  The ten-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection brought home the award on his fourth time being nominated by his team.

  The Walter Payton Man of the Year award “recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community.”

  For all three cities that have been lucky enough to host Wagner, his impact has been felt immensely.

• The Herald Journal Wednesday, Feb. 04, 2026

  USU tabs Bobby Wagner as 2026 commencement speaker

  Utah State University announced USU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and Super Bowl Champion Bobby Wagner as 2026’s commencement speaker Monday.

  The four-year Aggie starter and 14-year NFL veteran — primarily with the Seattle Seahawks but with stints with the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders — played for the Aggies from 2008-2011 and finished tied for the school record in career tackles with 446, as reported by Utah State Today.

  After leading the Aggies to their first bowl game in 14 years as a senior, the Seahawks selected Wagner with the 47th overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft.

• The Herald Journal Friday, Jan. 30, 2026

  USU launches initiative to build statewide dementia support network

  Utah State University is launching a three-year training program to create a network of Dementia Resource Ambassadors across the state, aiming to connect families affected by dementia with available support services.

  The program, led by USU’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Research Center and Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice, is a collaboration with the Utah chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

  About 10% of Utahns aged 65 or older have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, and an estimated 115,000 residents provide informal care for loved ones with dementia at home, often without training or support.

• The Herald Journal Monday, Jan. 26, 2026

  New USU endowment fund seeks donors for 'last-dollar' scholarship

  Originally announced by Utah State University President Brad L. Mortensen during his inauguration on Jan. 16, the university formally announced its new Utah State Promise Scholarship Endowment Monday.

  As reported by Utah State Today, the Utah State Promise Scholarship currently supports 1,307 students to the tune of $2.5 million, with increasing demand, “Expanding the opportunity to all eligible new and current students requires an additional $4 million in funding each year. This ongoing annual support would impact an estimated 2,800 students.”

  Acting as a “last-dollar” scholarship, which covers the remaining tuition and student body fees of eligible students, the scholarship is available to incoming, full-time, first-year or transfer undergraduate students who are Utah residents, Pell Grant eligible and are admitted for the upcoming summer or fall semesters.

• The Herald Journal Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026

  USU receives Carnegie Community Engagement Classification

  Utah State University has been reclassified with the highest recognition for community engagement a higher education institution can receive.

  The designation, awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, recognizes institutions that demonstrate sustained commitment to collaboration between universities and their communities for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources.

  USU first received the classification in 2020 and has now been recertified for a second consecutive cycle, joining 277 institutions nationwide that hold the designation.

• Fox 13 News Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

  New cloud seeding study over Wasatch Range the largest in state history

  SALT LAKE CITY — For decades, cloud seeding has been part of Utah’s strategy to stretch its water supply. This winter, scientists are taking a much closer look at whether the practice actually delivers measurable results.

  Cloud seeding involves pumping silver iodide into the atmosphere during a storm to generate a little more precipitation.

  Researchers from the University of Utah and Utah State University are leading the largest cloud seeding research effort ever conducted in the state, focusing on winter storms over the northern Wasatch Mountains. The goal is to better understand how cloud seeding affects snowfall and spring runoff.

• Deseret News Friday, Jan. 16, 2026

  Brad Mortensen inaugurated as Utah State University's 18th president

  Brad Mortensen was inaugurated Friday as Utah State University’s 18th president, the first alumnus to ascend to the presidency since 1968.

  “The landscape blooms with a calling to serve students wherever the sagebrush grows. Our university must transcend the familiar or risk becoming an echo of the past, rather than the propulsion for the future,” Mortensen said. “We stand together, the student in Logan and the student in Blanding, the long tenured professor and the newest extension agent, the donors, the legislators, the staff member who keeps our lights on.”

  Mortensen brings more than two decades of higher education leadership to the position, having served as president of Weber State University for the past nearly seven years.

  Mortensen led Weber State to multiple recognitions for outstanding return on investment for graduates, established the Miller Advanced Research and Solutions Center in partnership with the Utah Legislature, the U.S. Air Force and the aerospace and defense industry, oversaw the establishment of new graduate education programs, including the Doctor of Nursing Practice, and led the university’s dual enrollment program to become the largest in the U.S. among four-year institutions in 2024.

• The Herald Journal Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026

  USU initiative helps refugees learn farming skills

  Utah State University is partnering with the Utah Department of Agriculture to provide comprehensive farming training to refugees as a means to provide for themselves and support the state’s agriculture.

  The initiative, funded by the Vilcek Foundation, uses on-farm demonstrations, training videos and mentorship to teach participants how to raise livestock and poultry. Topics include farm safety, biosecurity and sustainable farming practices, as well as business management and market literacy.

  The program was started by Assistant Professors Joseph Okoh and Chad Page in USU’s Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences.