{"id":2600587,"date":"2026-05-08T21:39:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T01:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmaker-slaps-phone-out-of-reporters-hand-during-skirmish-over-data-center-story\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T21:40:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T01:40:37","slug":"lawmaker-slaps-phone-out-of-reporters-hand-during-skirmish-over-data-center-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmaker-slaps-phone-out-of-reporters-hand-during-skirmish-over-data-center-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmaker Slaps Phone Out of Reporter&#8217;s Hand During Skirmish Over Data Center Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flawmaker-slaps-phone-out-of-reporters-hand-during-skirmish-over-data-center-story%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2600587&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Utah state senator, Republican Jerry Stevenson, allegedly slapped a phone out of a journalist\u2019s hand during a confrontation at a parking lot outside a business he founded, J&#038;J Nursery and Garden Centre in Layton. The incident occurred while ABC4 reporter Bayan Wang was covering public backlash and harassment tied to a controversial Box Elder County data-center project that Stevenson helps oversee thru the Military Installation Development Authority.<\/p>\n<p>Police were called,recorded an incident in an official report,and later left without making an arrest.Officers reportedly told the journalists that Stevenson was apologetic,but they also issued a trespassing notice. The episode sparked mixed reactions online: some criticized Stevenson as abusing power,while others argued the journalists had arrived during a tense situation around ongoing threats and boycotts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>If a Utah lawmaker was looking to keep a story out of the headlines, he picked a bad way to do it.<\/p>\n<p>Veteran Republican state Sen. Jerry Stevenson, one of the most powerful figures in the Beehive State\u2019s legislature, slapped a phone out of the hand of a journalist on Wednesday during a heated moment in the parking lot of the business Stevenson founded.<\/p>\n<p>Police were called to the scene, but there were no arrests.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Police?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Police<\/a> investigating confrontation between Sen. Jerry Stevenson senator and ABC4 journalists. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zycHzDdfRW\">https:\/\/t.co\/zycHzDdfRW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kakaty (@TigerSharkLover) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TigerSharkLover\/status\/2052797462633398312?\">May 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc4.com\/news\/northern-utah\/box-elder-county-data-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KTVX-TV<\/a> in Salt Lake City, the incident arose when KTVX reporter and anchor Bayan Wang was covering the aftermath of votes Monday by the county commission in Box Elder County on resolutions to approve a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-the-ai-boom-could-boost-energy-use-and-carbon-emissions\/\" title=\"AI boom may increase energy consumption and carbon emissions\">large data center<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/quickfacts\/fact\/table\/boxeldercountyutah\/PST045224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sparsely populated county<\/a> in Utah\u2019s northwest corner.<\/p>\n<p>The facility is being created in partnership with the Military Installation Development Authority \u2014 a state agency that Stevenson helps oversee as a member of its board, KTVX reported.<\/p>\n<p>Data center construction, spurred by expanding use of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >artificial intelligence computer programs<\/a>, has been a flashpoint of controversy around the country, with opponents blaming the centers for everything from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/near-data-center-prepare-blackouts-winter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">power shortages<\/a> to health problems among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meditation-increases-healthy-intestinal-bacteria-and-reduces-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-study\/\" title=\"Meditation Increases Healthy Intestinal Bacteria and Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Study\">residents living nearby<\/a>. And elected officials have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/voters-oust-half-missouri-city-council-greenlighting-6000000000-ai-data-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">felt the heat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Box Elder County project faces outspoken opposition, KVTX reported, that includes calls to boycott Stevenson\u2019s business, J&#038;J Nursery and Garden Center in Layton, Utah, a city in Davis County, south of the planned data center.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">A Layton plant nursery is facing calls for boycott becasue it\u2019s owner, state Sen. Jerry Stevenson, sits on the board that first approved the Box Elder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-to-announce-new-curbs-on-tech-exports-to-china-this-week-sources\/\" title=\"U.S.to announce new curbs on tech exports to China this week -sources\">data center project<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ittfYO72xR\">https:\/\/t.co\/ittfYO72xR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sltrib\/status\/2052070651125530979?\">May 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Harassment of the company\u2019s employees has grown so bad, according to KTVX, that J&#038;J Nursery published a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/JjNurseryAndGardenCenter\/photos\/dear-jj-customerswe-understand-that-recent-public-decisions-have-prompted-strong\/1727123025512160\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">request on Facebook<\/a> for the public to treat its staff with respect.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile our owner is connected to a public role, we kindly ask that all interactions with our team remain respectful and considerate,\u201d the statement said. \u201cOur employees are dedicated individuals who are here to serve you, and they deserve to be treated with courtesy at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wang\u2019s coverage of the backlash, according to KTVX, was \u201ctrying to shed light on the harassment employees at the nursery were facing, even though they had no direct relation to the data center project.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While reporting on the story, Wang and a KTVX cameraman ran into Stevenson in the J&#038;J parking lot in Layton, a city of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/quickfacts\/fact\/table\/laytoncityutah\/PST045224\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">about 84,000<\/a>, a short drive north of Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n<p>It clearly didn\u2019t go well.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/abc4utah?\">@abc4utah<\/a> EXCLUSIVE: A top Utah lawmaker, Sen. Jerry Stevenson slapped the phone out of reporter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bayanwang?\">@bayanwang<\/a>\u2018s hand after showing up to cover employees being threatened and protesters at Stevenson\u2019s business today. Stevenson serves on the MIDA board, the authority responsible for\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/11O7W7lCr5\">pic.twitter.com\/11O7W7lCr5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LindsayOnAir\/status\/2052209320658706940?\">May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis whole thing is such a bunch of baloney,\u201d Stevenson said as Wang recorded him. \u201cJust leave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wang protested that he\u2019d spoken to a J&#038;J employee, according to KTVX. Stevenson was undeterred, and ordered the journalists to \u201cJust get your butt out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy are you being hostile to us?\u201d Wang asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause I\u2019m tired of you,\u201d Stevenson responded, slapping the phone from Wang\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n<p>Police were called by a witness to the scene, KTVX reported.<\/p>\n<p>The incident was the subject of an official police report, according to the station. It also drew a range of reactions from social media users.<\/p>\n<p>Some contended it represented the arrogance of too many powerful elected officials. <a href=\"https:\/\/senate.utah.gov\/sen\/STEVEJW\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stevenson<\/a> has been a member of the state legislature since 2010, according to KVTX, and Senate chairman of the state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/le.utah.gov\/committee\/committee.jsp?com=APPEXE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Executive Appropriations Committee<\/a>, which the station called \u201cthe ultimate authority on which state budget items get funded.\u201d (The state House of Representatives also has a chairman on the committee.)<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Just another example of elected representative thinking they are above the rest of us. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vSNnISqha4\">https:\/\/t.co\/vSNnISqha4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Dapper One (@UTDapperOne) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UTDapperOne\/status\/2052854547220230633?\">May 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Others took Stevenson\u2019s side.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Senator Jerry Stevenson was at his own private business, dealing with real fallout, boycotts and employee harassment stemming from a controversial public project he\u2019s associated with. After days of heat, a news crew showed up on his property filming. Frustrated and telling them\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Janelle Elaina McKnight (@McKnight69420) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/McKnight69420\/status\/2052496199924748586?\">May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Before the police officers left, they told Wang and his cameraman that Stevenson was apologetic for his behavior, KTVX reported.<\/p>\n<p>The officers also issued the journalists a trespassing notice, according to the station.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To keep a Utah story out of headlines, Sen. Jerry Stevenson made a bad move-slapping a reporter\u2019s phone during a heated moment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2600589,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Utah-Senator.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[79362,79363,3914,5894,71616],"class_list":["post-2600587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-assault-allegations-2","tag-data-center-2","tag-lawmaker","tag-politics","tag-press-freedom-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Utah-Senator.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2600587"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2600592,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600587\/revisions\/2600592"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2600589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2600587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2600587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2600587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}