SALT LAKE CITY — An early morning explosion rocked a Salt Lake City neighborhood near the intersection of North Temple and Redwood Road on Monday with authorities believing it was caused by natural gas A call was received at approximately 3:15 a.m they reported a smell of gas in the air and started checking on the nearby buildings Four fire trucks were dispatched to the scene While there was no active fire at the time officials said they found structural damage to a Chevron gas station including damaged walls and windows that had been blown out Watch: Officials discuss investigation into explosion "We don't know what happened or how it happened or where the origin of the gas leak was, but it does look like preliminary findings show that there's a decent probability of a natural gas incident," said Salt Lake City Fire Division Chief Bob Silverthorne Silverthorne added that it appeared the explosion itself may have blown out any fire that was started Enbridge Gas (formerly Dominion Energy) crews cut the gas to four buildings in the vicinity of the explosion No injuries were reported due to the explosion and gas company employees remained on the scene with investigators to determine the exact cause of the explosion The building will remain closed until it's deemed safe the director of Salt Lake City's Division of Public Utilities said Enbridge Gas has a good safety record “Our inspectors are constantly working with them so they’ve got an inspection schedule every year for every one of the Enbridge regions in the state," Parker said He added that they don't see natural gas explosions often “An explosion is rare because natural gas is lighter than air and it’s got a relatively high ignition point," he explained Parker urges the public to call 811 — or "Blue Stakes" — a call before digging “Most of the damage to utility facilities are due to people either not calling Blue Stakes before they dig or to people disregarding the marks when they dig,” he said Utah (KUTV) — Emergency crews responded early Monday to an explosion at a Chevron gas station in Salt Lake City that caused significant damage to the building and adjacent businesses It's the second explosion to happen at the location in five years about an explosion at the station at the retail complex at thecorner of Redwood Road and North Temple Salt Lake City Fire Division Chief Bob Silverthorne said there were some conflicting 911 calls and initially it was believed that a car had crashed into the building Subsequent callers all reported an explosion First responders found all the windows blown out of the building and could smell natural gas they discovered interior structural damage to load-bearing walls and to the building's trusses the extent of the building's damage on the exterior became more apparent with windows and doors blown off their frames -- one of which was yards away from the building some sort of natural t gas incident happened," Silverthorne said "But we don't know the extent of where the gas was coming from or how it happened it sounds like it almost kind of blew itself out and the natural gas was still pouring out and trying to find an ignition source" when crews first arrived Enbridge Gas crews arrived on scene and disconnected the line to the area They were seen outside the building inspecting the natural gas meter "This situation began de-escalating almost as soon as it escalated," Silverthorne said "As soon as we got the natural gas cut off That's when the real investigative work comes." No firefighters were injured during the response The fact that no one was around was a bit of a double-edged sword "I think we're lucky that no one was around," Silverthorne said the explosion itself may have been prevented "If this was during the day and it was occupied it's more than likely someone would have smelled the (gas) initially and be able to go ahead and cut the gas off," he said the gas instead built up and then found an ignition source." He said anyone who smells a natural gas odor in their homes should immediately evacuate open any doors or windows they can along the way " Some people just kind of sit on the fence" about calling firefighters No injuries were reported in that explosion SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A two-year-old boy was hit by a suspected impaired driver and hospitalized in serious condition officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department received a report of a child hit by a car They responded to 532 North Dexter Street and found the two-year-old conscious The police department said they believe the boy broke free from being held and ran into a car as it exited an apartment complex The child was transported to Primary Children’s Hospital in serious condition The driver reportedly returned to the scene The police department originally said they did not suspect reckless driving or impairment they contacted KUTV 2News and said the driver was being processed "for driving while impaired." SALT LAKE CITY — A 2-year-old child was hit by a vehicle on Saturday after leaving a Salt Lake City apartment complex The Salt Lake City Police Department believes the boy broke free from the care of an adult just before 7 p.m and ran into the car as it turned near 532 North Dexter Street The boy was transported to Primary Children's Hospital in serious condition Police said the driver of the car returned to the scene and is cooperating with an investigation SLCPD initially said that their preliminary investigation showed no signs of reckless driving or impairment but later gave an update after further investigation saying the driver is suspected of impairment and is "being processed for driving while impaired." SALT LAKE CITY — A 41-year-old man is dead and a 61-year-old man has been arrested after an apparent hit-and-run early Friday Gold Cross Ambulance found a man on the ground at 400 South and 200 East "Evidence on scene suggests a car hit the man," police said officers located the suspected vehicle and driver in the Trader Joe's parking lot on 400 South "The man reportedly attempted to leave again but firefighters ordered him to stay and kept him at the scene until (police) officers arrived and took him into custody without incident," police said adding that preliminary information suggests the driver may have been impaired at the time of the crash was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of automobile homicide failure to remain at the scene of a crash involving a death and driving on a denied license No other information about the victim was released and the incident is still being investigated SALT LAKE CITY — One person is dead and another is in custody following a hit and run crash in Salt Lake City Friday morning Salt Lake City police say that around 1:15 a.m. a Gold Cross Ambulance found a 41-year-old man down at the intersection Officers were able to work with Utah Transit Authority to review their cameras in the area and identify the suspect's vehicle That information was then shared with public safety agencies throughout Salt Lake Valley was arrested after firefighters spotted his vehicle in the parking lot of a nearby Trader Joe's The crew approached to check Weathers for injuries and he allegedly attempted to drive off again before firefighters stopped him Weathers faces charges of automobile homicide failure to remain at the scene of a crash involving death Utah (KUTV) — A man was discovered unresponsive in downtown Salt Lake City after a hit-and-run crash The individual was found by Gold Cross Ambulance emergency medical personnel at the 400 South intersection with 200 East at about 1:15 a.m The suspect was later found in the parking lot of a grocery store It wasn't clear from a police statement released later Friday morning whether investigators believed the fatal crash was recent or if the man had been lying in the street for a longer period of time the man died," according to the Salt Lake City Police Department statement It wasn't known if police dispatchers fielded any calls about the incident or about the pedestrian in the road police alerted the public that the suspect had been located and that investigators believe impairment likely played a part in the crash It wasn't immediately known whether the driver was aware that the pedestrian had been hit checking camera footage from its nearby Library Station to see if the incident was captured on surveillance Police have not yet released the identity of the victim nor the suspect no booking documents had been filed relating to the case The intersection of 400 South and 200 East was closed for several hours while investigators processed the scene SALT LAKE CITY — Fresh off a smash appearance at Coachella pop superstar Benson Boone has announced a North American tour that will end with a stop in Salt Lake City will head to the Beehive State on October 8 with the final show of his American Heart tour at Delta Center The tour will follow the release of his American Heart album on June 20 and is set to kick off on August 22 in St According to a release on the upcoming tour was the most-streamed song in the world last year leading to his appearances at Coachella and Saturday Night Live CLICK HERE for tickets for all Boone's concerts beginning on Thursday with a fan presale followed by a public sale starting on Friday 6:17 AM | Updated: 3:06 pm BY MARY CULBERTSON AND BRIAN CARLSON, KSL TV AND ADAM SMALL, KSL NEWSRADIO SALT LAKE CITY — A natural gas explosion in Salt Lake City shook multiple buildings on North Temple early Monday Salt Lake City police said the explosion caused several windows to blow out of a Chevron gas station convenience store near 1700 West and North Temple The Salt Lake City Fire Department led the investigation which determined nobody was inside at the time the employee who was scheduled to open the store said if it had exploded a mere 20 minutes later “I talked to one of the officers who told me that there has been an explosion here on the property I was supposed to be in there,'” Slim said “I’m just glad it happened before I got there.” Division Chief Bob Silverthorne with SLCFD said no flames broke out after the explosion and the reason for that was still being investigated and they found the windows to be blown out of this building and then that kind of blew the fire out,” he said “… We found some load-bearing walls to be blown out in addition to the windows exploding and some damage to the trusses inside.” Best image this morning of the explosion at a Chevron gas station convenience store & restaurants building in Salt Lake City. On @KSL5TV at 6:30 hear from onde of the ExtraMile employees schedule to work this morning, who would’ve been in the building 20 min later. pic.twitter.com/By97bEXGqP — Brian Carlson (@briancarlsontv) May 5, 2025 but at least three nearby businesses were found to be involved Silverthorne said he’s received reports that the nearby Apollo Burger Silverthorne said a building engineer was expected at the scene to help determine the structural integrity of the businesses before they were expected to open “You don’t want to occupy something that has any load-bearing walls that have been affected or They need to make sure it’s stable before they run businesses out of there.” All utilities were shut off as a precaution in the hours afterward Authorities said there was no further threat to the public but cautioned against complacency when it comes to natural gas call us and we can get our people down there have detection monitoring that we can go through make sure the house is safe,” Silverthorne said explosions like this one may be the result SALT LAKE CITY — Despite potential headwinds from a new state law barring public collective bargaining agreements Salt Lake City librarians made Utah history this week by voting to unionize A whopping 92% of Salt Lake City Public Library employees voted to unionize during a formal vote that wrapped up on Thursday They now join the American Federation of State which represents many other Salt Lake City employees setting up negotiations for what could be the first-of-its-kind collective bargaining agreement in the state — should HB267 be overturned are looking forward to negotiating our first contract and we finally have the tools to advocate for ourselves and for each other," said Christina Ordonez in a statement after the votes were tallied The city library system "respects and affirms" the election results "This moment reflects a renewed and shared commitment — by our employees and our leadership — to continue to be a workplace rooted in dignity I deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness and care with which our staff have engaged in this process," he added in a statement This week's vote marked the end of a long process that first went public over two years ago Over 60% of the city's workforce is represented by various unions, but city librarians were the largest department not unionized at the time staff revealed their intent to form one in April 2023 Employees said at the time they wanted to resolve "long-standing issues" related to the job and exclusion from decisions made by library system leaders They're now the first public library union in the state "This is a historic moment not just for Salt Lake City but for the entire state of Utah," said Jerry Philpot "Library workers have always served their community with dedication and now they will finally have a voice at the table to ensure their workplace is fair the legislation will be held before going on the 2026 ballot Unionization may not factor into the library's upcoming budget but the system plans to pay employees "equitably and competitively" based on the results of a compensation study carried out by a third-party company Baskett told Salt Lake City leaders last month He added at the time that library staff had been "in close conversation" with union lawyers over the next steps Next year's likely referendum will ultimately play a role in the future steps "We are moving forward in the hopes that Utahns will vote in the best interests of their public workers," Philpot said It's about protecting the people who serve our communities every single day." Celebrate the launch of HEAVILY MEDITATED with an inspiring night of conversation this immersive event offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from Dave Asprey the father of biohacking and founder of Upgrade Labs The evening will feature a live fireside chat with Dave and Upgrade Labs President Griff Long and the cutting-edge innovations Upgrade Labs is bringing to Utah Guests will also get a first listen to an exclusive excerpt from Dave’s upcoming book Designed, Developed, Hosted, & Marketed by SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — An urban designer and architect called sale terms for a big part of the Salt Palace to Smith Entertainment Group "very unusual" and "a bad deal" for Salt Lake County taxpayers a member of the Salt Lake City Planning Commission and former dean of the University of Utah College of Architecture "They're getting a promissory note," Scheer said they're (the county is) making a loan to SEG for the money." The county council unanimously approved the $55 million sale last week with at least one county official saying proceeds would finance needed Salt Palace upgrades Loan payments by SEG---owners of the Jazz and Utah Hockey Club---will be stretched over 32 years Scheer called the payment amounts "a drop in the bucket" compared to potential Salt Palace improvement costs that could top $1 billion 2News reported the Salt Palace sales contract also requires county taxpayers to reimburse SEG for costs of demolishing palace buildings to clear land for its privately held arts and entertainment district The reimbursement could continue for six years after SEG closes on the property “We are grateful to the Salt Lake County Council for their continued support in the mission to reimagine downtown Salt Lake City," said Mike Maughan with Smith Entertainment Group adding it plans to "create a more activated and family-friendly future for our capital city’s urban core "We look forward to continuing the work underway in partnership with all stakeholders as we develop a world-class sports and convention district that will create an incredible year-round downtown experience for all.” Scheer was surprised a piece of the Salt Palace—-maybe 20% of the total convention center---is being sold at all "It would be a much better deal for the county to lease the land," she said the county at least would keep the property SEG released a eye-catching image of what its arts and entertainment district east of the Delta Center might look like and the Utah Legislature passed a law giving Salt Lake City authority to hike sales taxes for the development—-which the city council did But what does an arts and entertainment district mean have not been answered—-at least not in the public realm "We don't even know what kind of entertainment we're going to have," Scheer said "I mean what's going to entertain us?" -------------------------------------------------------- SALT LAKE CITY — It was a small but mighty crowd at the Utah State Capitol on Saturday with residents showing up to participate in the “Save Our Land Saturday’s protest was meant to highlight indigenous voices We are not heard,” said organizer Nizhoni Guthrie Guthrie organized the event because she wanted to discuss important topics within her community especially with recent actions from the federal government “Our land is being taken away year by year all the time and being sold for oil “I think it's important that we find ethical resources rather than take from the earth.” who said he believes the extraction of things like coal and oil is harmful for everyone all of those things are in this one community that we need to be thinking about,” Moore said Other topics were discussed at the protest and I haven't really seen a lot of native activists speak up on this,” Guthrie said Utahns participating in the protest told Fox 13 News that they feel the current actions of the Trump administration are harmful and that the main goal of these protests is to educate others and we have an obligation between us and creator to take care of this land and take care of people,” Moore said "It's something that has been usurped by the United States government and our resources are not for sale,” Guthrie said (Southeastern Records) Country-rock band Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit is scheduled to perform Monday and Tuesday For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) John Paul Brophy Jr. one of the owners of Salt Lake City's Dead Goat Saloon inside the bar standing near autographed celebrity portraits in September Brad Wheeler found out his longtime friend and Salt Lake City music scene staple John Paul Brophy Jr was dying in an email from the man himself Brophy’s farewell email was deeply personal, Wheeler said, so much so that it prompted him to make sure Brophy was recognized for his enduring legacy in the Utah music scene. Wheeler wrote to Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who went on to proclaim April 23 as “John Paul Brophy Jr Day” in recognition of his contribution to the culture and music scene in the state Brophy, one of the owners of the iconic local blues bar The Dead Goat Saloon died on April 28 at the age of 74 from prostate cancer Even though the bar closed over 20 years ago it’s not just a footnote in Utah’s music history The same can be said about Brophy’s influence on the music scene in Salt Lake City Under Brophy’s and his business partner Michael Ricks’ direction, the bar became the “premier venue for blues” music though acts from all genres stopped at the hidden venue — from Buddy Miles to Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones to Levon Helm “[Brophy] and Otto Mileti at The Zephyr Club really were the backbone of live music in Salt Lake City,” Wheeler said The Dead Goat Saloon became a music hub for those looking to learn about the history of blues and Americana music Wheeler met Brophy through their shared love of blues music at another bar in Salt Lake but Wheeler already knew of Brophy through reputation: this was the co-owner of the bar that broadcasted live music on KRCL on the last Monday of each month (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A composite 2003 photograph of The Dead Goat Saloon on a quiet night in Salt Lake City You had to walk down an alley and then go down in the basement and go underneath this other building to get to it,” Wheeler who later worked at Dead Goat as a manager in the late ‘90 “When you searched it out and you went in there The Dead Goat Saloon was established in 1973 Brophy bought an ownership stake in the bar around 1990 while he was writing music reviews for The Salt Lake Tribune and writing for City Weekly (under the pen name J Wheeler said that Brophy was a steward of music history and gave “a lot of these old guys that couldn’t get a gig in the rest of the United States a place to come and perform.” The bar remains in the performer’s memories, too, like Texas blues musician Carolyn Wonderland who said she played nearly a dozen shows at The Dead Goat Saloon “Going to play for John Paul at The Dead Goat Saloon was a highlight on tours,” Wonderland said and the fact that he brought in a community We’d go play places as a band that nobody’s heard of and we would come to Salt Lake City and be like ‘We know at least we’re gonna have John Paul and his friends at the radio station.’” Dead Goat closed in 2003 while under new ownership Wonderland wrote a song about the bar’s demise with guitarist Scott Daniels “We danced our cares away underneath the Utah moon / All night at The Dead Goat Saloon,” the lyrics of the chorus go Wonderland has only demoed the unreleased song but is “highly tempted” to play it the next time she comes to town to honor Brophy – who heard it on a broadcast when Wonderland performed it at the High Sierra Music Festival in California “He always brought a family around him,” Wonderland said of Brophy be supporting your local artists the way he did … It was great.” The Dead Goat Saloon served as [an] incubator for young Utah bands.” Bands like The Tempo Timers and My Sister Jane had “formative gigs” at the bar Brophy and Ricks would also sponsor “New Band Night” midweek to support local musicians Charles Thorpe, who founded Anchor Stage Management and runs Space and Faders — a rentable space where musicians and bands can practice or record — was hired at Dead Goat at the end of the ‘90s. But the first time he went to the bar was long before that – at the age of 18 when he moved to Utah from Pennsylvania. “To end up years later, working there was kind of surreal,” Thorpe, who describes Brophy as a “father figure” said. Thorpe is now a stage manager for concerts at Red Butte Garden and Sandy Amphitheater, and has been entrenched in the local music scene for years. He said what Brophy was able to accomplish all those years ago laid a strong foundation for music in Utah. “He paved the way for what is kind of going on now [in the local music scene],” Thorpe said. “[Brophy’s] ethos is still strong in this city,” Thorpe said, tearing up as he detailed Brophy’s legacy. “What matters is that nobody forgets, because they say that you’re only truly dead when someone stops saying your name.” (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gigi Love performs at the Dead Goat Saloon in Salt Lake City in 2000. Brophy was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 24, 1951. He is preceded in death by his wife Wendy Whitney, brother and mother. At the age of 20, Brophy got into a motorcycle accident that left him with a lifelong spinal cord injury. He is survived by his daughter Rachael MacLaughlin and his beloved white Scottie, Willie. MacLaughlin said she was the only one who didn’t get an email, but rather a face-to-face message on Easter, when Brophy had his last meal. She and her dad shared a connection over music. “My life will be forever different,” she said. “He’s going to be missed by me and a lot of other people.” Services for Brophy will remain private, but MacLaughlin is planning a celebration of life event with details to come. Salt Lake City’s new police chief is set up in a spacious corner office with mountain views from the Public Safety Building’s fourth floor Since taking over the city’s top cop in March he has been out on what amounts to a nonstop walking tour with ears open — focused on the intersection of crime “I’ve really been spending just a lot of time out there trying to listen: to the community our professional staff,” Redd said in an interview “to really get an assessment of where we are as an organization.” That quickly led to him recall a sidewalk interaction a few days before with a homeless mom and her kids at a troubled spot along North Temple “I’ve spent a lot of time talking to a lot of these individuals since I’ve been here,” Redd said “It’s really heartbreaking to see some of them.” He said he also is zeroing in on how he listens through the officers in the field “How does that communication get back to me,” Redd asked “so I know how residents are feeling out in the community?” aimed at better addressing heightened problems with vagrancy and drug activity Last month, the Police Department released a new online crime map the interactive tool features real data updated monthly and is now aimed by Redd at giving residents better access to crime trends in their neighborhoods — a sign of added police accountability he said he wants to elevate “What is the data telling us?” the chief said hinting at a new focus on real-time crime analysis “is going to be an area that we’re really going to focus on.” We spend a lot of time thinking about how we can change the narrative just a little bit from this being all a homelessness problem and we need affordable housing and behavioral health treatment you‘ll have the people experiencing homelessness and then what you have is people who come in on top of them and it kind of becomes this gathering point Pretty soon you have people driving in from the different counties to buy their drugs in Salt Lake City And that’s what we’ve got to to figure out as a community We’re really engaging with the [district attorney’s] office How can we make the system work better for these individuals?” Yes, we need more jail beds, more resource center beds and more social services (Jordan Miller | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fentanyl pills seized in Salt Lake City in 2024 We have a lot of fentanyl flowing into Utah right now Some of it is coming here as a trans-shipment location a lot of the gun activity is associated with THC carts and marijuana they are so powerful that it’s going to be really hard for them to make the decision — even if the resources are available — to leave their social environment and the drugs to get help without taking them out either through an arrest or some way of giving them enough time in jail to sober up “I need help,” we need to be able to have a great intervention and actually deliver on that as well We need to deliver consequences — not for consequences’ sake but to get them sobered up and get them the help It doesn’t do them any good to get arrested There’s no teeth in the criminal justice system and we’re really not delivering anything to them (Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brooke Grundy with the Salt Lake County Health Department inspects a shelter along the banks of the Jordan River in Salt Lake City in March Salt Lake City's new police chief says camp cleanups are a vital part of his enforcement strategy According to neighbors, some of it is north of where we’ve closed the Jordan River so that type of information is good for us A lot of that criminal activity has moved onto North Temple That’s an area where we’re trying to find some interventions We’ve had some calls in the Liberty Park area You can have an intense area with a lot of drug and criminal activity occurring and it makes it less profitable for those drug dealers And pretty soon people from Davis County are driving down because you just know where to drive or where to go and get yours So you have to break it down and break it down and make it less profitable And that’s why it’s so critical that we engage the courts and the district attorney and the jail and make more capacity We just have to send a message that you don’t come to Salt Lake City to deal drugs and use drugs I want them to continue to call us when they have concerns — and that goes for anywhere in the city. We need to get the information from them. The data definitely says one thing, but also there are quality-of-life issues sometimes that aren’t reflected in the data. Pioneer Park is another one. There are ideas for more programming in these areas. So just using the spaces, keeping eyes open, reporting, being involved in the community. I don’t know that there’s any one silver bullet. I think it’s just a matter of owning the space, right? Look, I have a family, too. I don’t blame residents if they don’t want to use those public spaces if they’re not safe. We, as a Police Department, need to do everything that we can to make those places safe. And so I think that’s where the engagement between us and the residents is so critical, so that we can help. I don’t want it to sound like the citizens or residents aren’t doing their job. We need to do our job together and make safe places that people feel like they can they can go visit. While taking a stroll down Japan Street (100 South near 300 West) just west of the Salt Palace Convention Center Iwasaki shared memories of buildings that once stood in his childhood neighborhood SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Historical records reveal that some of the first Japanese to set foot in Utah happened in 1871 That’s nearly 25 years after the first Mormon settlers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley so much has changed with the Japanese community contributing in many ways to Utah In recent days, the spotlight has been on Salt Lake County approving the sale of 6.5 acres of Salt Palace to make way for a new entertainment district. Some raised concerns about how this could negatively impact what remains of the historic Japantown. “I’ve always referred to it as J-town or Nihonmachi. Nihonmachi is the Japanese word for Japan City, Japantown," said Paul Iwasaki, Retired Judge from Utah 2nd District Juvenile Court. While taking a stroll down Japan Street (100 South near 300 West) just west of the Salt Palace Convention Center, Iwasaki shared memories of buildings that once stood in his childhood neighborhood. Some of the businesses that were torn down included Eagle Laundry, Pee Wee’s Conoco Station, Gold Strike Stamp Redemption Center, and Whitmore Apartments. Since the time of the community’s thriving existence back in the 1940s to the 1960s, commercial and industrial development has taken over. “All that’s left of J-town are the two churches. The Japanese Church of Christ, which is located on 1st South on the north side of the street, near 300 West. The Salt Lake Buddhist Temple is located on 1st South on the south side of the street, located on the corner of 1st South and 2nd West,” Iwasaki said. He created a diagram outlining sites he remembers being around while growing up in Japantown. "I tell people if they ask me what it was like to live there. I’d say, 'Well, if you’ve ever seen the Andy Griffith show, it was like living in Mayberry.' And I felt like Opie Taylor. There was just this sense of belonging," Iwasaki said. Around the time when talks of the convention center’s construction and expansion were taking place, Iwasaki believes he was about 12 years old. Most of Japantown was demolished to make way for the Salt Palace Convention Center. “It makes me feel very sad. And I didn’t realize the significance of what was going to happen at the time it was happening," Iwasaki said. Saying she was "commanded to do so by the Lord," one of Elizabeth Smart's kidnappers violated her sex offender registry. (Photo: KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Saying she was "commanded to do so by the Lord," one of Elizabeth Smart's kidnappers violated her sex offender registry. Wanda Barzee, 79, was arrested on Thursday after police said she visited Liberty Park on April 9th. She also allegedly visited Sugar House Park. Liberty Park is a little more than three miles from her current address in Salt Lake City, with Sugar House Park more than seven miles away. It is unclear how she got to the parks. Barzee was treated at Utah State Hospital for five years after her initial arrest during the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case. She served 15 years in prison. When she was released in 2018, Barzee had to enter a mental health treatment program. That ended in 2023 along with her parole conditions, although she remains on the sex offender registry for life, and is still subject to the conditions of that registry. That means she must stay away from parks, schools, and places where children and families gather. “She’s probably experiencing another mental health episode, or her mental health has deteriorated again or gotten worse since her release,” explained seasoned defense attorney Skye Lazaro. Now it is up to the prosecutor’s office to decide on possible charges or even to send her back behind bars. They may factor in her mental health issues when deciding what to do. "They may take that into consideration when they consider, 'Do we file charges, do we get her help, or somehow reengage with her to get her stable again?'" Lazaro said. Barzee has since been released and must maintain an updated address and is still subject to the conditions of the sex offender registry. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Thousands of people gather in front of the Utah Capitol during a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. From Salt Lake City to Bluff — and at least seven other spots across the state — thousands of Utahns gathered to take part in a national “Hands Off” protest against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Their message, according to organizers, was, “Hands off our services. Hands off our rights. Hands off our communities.” (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) People gather during a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hundreds of protesters gather at the Capitol for a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) A woman cheers during a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The Utah protests were a handful of more than 1,000 planned throughout the U.S. and internationally, according to a news release from the “Hands Off!” coalition, which includes partner organizations and activist groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the 50501 Movement and MoveOn. Salt Lake City’s protest began at the Capitol around noon and drew a massive crowd of thousands of people, with protesters eventually marching down State Street. A companion “Hands Off Our Elders” event at the Legacy Village of Sugar House, a senior living community, was also planned, to make it more accessible for residents there who may use walkers and wheelchairs, organizers said. Other Utah demonstrations took place in Cache County, Wasatch County, Monticello, Bluff, Moab, Boulder, Kanab and St. George, according to organizers. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters march away from the Utah Capitol during a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) A protester holds up a sign during a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hundreds of protesters gather at the Capitol for a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. In St. George, about 75 protesters lined Red Cliffs Drive on Saturday morning, toting signs calling for the Trump administration to get its hands off America’s national parks, public lands and Social Security, among other demands. Many motorists honked in approval, while others leaned out the window, yelling “Go, Donald Trump!” or expletives. Jam Hall, an attorney from St. George standing nearby, was encouraged by the positive reception protestors received. A second “Hands Off” protest slated for St. George’s Vernon Worthen Park on Saturday afternoon also drew a crowd. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Thousands of people gather during a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Ammon Bennett | Special to The Tribune) People attend a protest against the Trump administration at the Capitol in Salt Lake City, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters march down State Street during a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Bystanders watches as protesters march down State Street following a protest against the Trump administration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sen Bernie Sanders speaks at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Sunday some dressed in years-old Bernie Sanders for President merchandise crammed into the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah to listen to some of the most progressive members of Congress — who in many ways are the ideological opposites of their own representatives “We are living in the most dangerous moment in the modern history of this country,” Vermont independent Sen explaining why he is crisscrossing the country holding rallies in the early months of a nonelection year The “Fighting the Oligarchy” tour has taken place over the weeks since President Donald Trump took office the three richest people in the world — Elon Musk Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg — sat behind the president In reliably red Utah, Trump beat then-Vice President Kamala Harris (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sen speaks during a rally at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Sunday in which he told followers to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “I know that in Utah … there are millions of people who believe that,” Sanders said pointing to a variety of policies — including moves that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people and immigrants as well as what he said is an absence of action to support lower- and middle-class Americans Sanders took the stage to piercing cheers and an ovation Sunday (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Sunday While introducing Sanders, she took a jab at Utah’s six GOP members of Congress for voting to approve a Republican funding bill that Democrats say will lead to more profits for Musk’s companies The Tesla and SpaceX executive spent hundreds of millions toward getting Trump elected last year Musk, who was brought on by Trump to head what he has named a “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE, enjoys a close relationship with Sen. Mike Lee the senior member of Utah’s federal delegation Sanders urged Utahns at the event to follow in the footsteps of Ocasio-Cortez, once a waitress, and get involved in politics and grassroots organizing, like professional ski mountaineer and environmental activist Caroline Gleich. Last year, Gleich ran for Utah’s open seat in the U.S. Senate and lost to Republican Sen. John Curtis Pointing to recent book and pride flag bans, as well as a move to remove public unions’ ability to bargain collectively, which unions are seeking to overturn “I ran because I saw our state and country going backwards.” (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Caroline Gleich a former candidate to represent Utah in the U.S The 15,000-seat arena at the University of Utah was almost entirely filled by the time Sanders took the stage with more spectators packed onto the floor they broke out in chants of “tax the rich,” and “Bernie.” official attendance for the event was around 20,000 including about 4,000 people watching from an overflow space The number was reportedly verified by the special functions lieutenant for the university’s Police Department Among progressives in Utah, Sanders has historically had a broad base of support. When he ran for president in 2016, he easily won Utah’s Democratic caucus over eventual nominee Hillary Clinton with nearly 80% of the vote. In 2020, Sanders beat President Joe Biden in the Utah primary with double the backing lines snaked through the university campus People standing near the entrance of the Huntsman Center on Sunday afternoon said they arrived around 8:30 that morning — seven hours before the doors were scheduled to open Trucks with Trump flags hanging off the back and out the window drove past honking at the processions of people on the sidewalks A few other Trump supporters stood outside the Huntsman Center holding “Make America Great Again” flags and an artificial intelligence-generated image of Trump and Musk dressed as Robin Hood (Trevor Christensen | The Salt Lake Tribune) Harrison and Eliza Hemstreet pose for a photo at a rally held by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) at the University of Utah on Sunday Eliza and Harrison Hemstreet changed their clothes and drove to the U.’s campus to line up for the rally While the Hemstreets identified themselves as liberals who have overall concerns about the direction the government is going access to reproductive health care was top of mind Sunday “I’ve had a previous miscarriage and have experienced repercussions from the reversal of Roe v Wade that were really damaging,” Eliza said but it’s still scary to not know what interventions would be available if I needed them.” (Trevor Christensen | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lydia Jorn poses for a photo at a rally held by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) at the University of Utah on Sunday Air Force brought 74-year-old Lydia Jorn’s family to Utah in 1965 Jorn voted for Sanders in the 2016 and 2020 primaries and said she “couldn’t wait” when Sanders announced the Utah event “and I feel as if all of our rights are being considered to be taken away And we’ve worked too hard as a nation for them to step back.” Wearing a hat with the Mexican flag and a button that said “Gulf of Mexico” (a reference to Trump’s attempt to rename the inlet “Gulf of America”) Jorn said the new administration has made her feel scared for her safety because of her identity Jorn currently lives in Millcreek, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained a Hispanic man who is a U.S. citizen after a traffic stop — the city’s mayor accused the agents of acting illegally in the process “so I carry my birth certificate everywhere I go.” (Trevor Christensen | The Salt Lake Tribune) Alexa Hoggan poses for a photo at a rally held by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) at the University of Utah on Sunday Utah State University student Alexa Hoggan spent the weekend in Salt Lake City she saw the first openly transgender member of Congress — Rep D-Delaware — speak at a fundraiser for the Salt Lake County Democratic Party said she joined the crowd at the Huntsman Center hoping that Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez would reassure her that they are working to protect the safety of her and other vulnerable Americans On the same day he was inaugurated, Trump began issuing executive orders meant to limit transgender people’s ability to live openly and access health care. And Utah has, for four consecutive years, passed laws limiting its transgender residents’ rights (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Attendees hold up various flags during a rally with Sen “This country is seeming like not the country I grew up in,” Hoggan said. “So I want to see change for the better.” A Salt Lake recycling plant caught on fire SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A Salt Lake recycling plant caught on fire Salt Lake City Fire Chief Silverthorne said the department received several calls about a "decent-sized plume of smoke" coming from Metro Group Seven units responded to the scene to extinguish the fire (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Union supporters gather during a protest against HB267 at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday Utah has its first union of public library employees Salt Lake City library workers voted overwhelmingly, 92% of eligible employees to be exact, to form a union this week. The election caps a big week for public union organizers in the Beehive State after a referendum effort to overturn a bill that would prohibit public-sector collective bargaining gathered enough signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot are looking forward to negotiating our first contract,” associate librarian Christina Ordonez said in a news release and we finally have the tools to advocate for ourselves and for each other.” The library union will affiliate with the national American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or the AFSCME, which also represents some other Salt Lake City staffers. The union election comes after the City Council approved guardrails for the unionization process in February Back then, it was unclear how exactly HB267 the anti-collective bargaining bill passed by the Utah Legislature it’s likely that law will be put on hold once the clock runs out for referendum opponents seeking to get signers to take their names off of the petition Some Salt Lake City librarians first announced their intent to form a union in April 2023 Organizers say they’re looking for more sway in library decision-making on safety concerns Under the resolution paving the path for unionization, full- and part-time library employees will be eligible to join. The union will start negotiating its first collective bargaining agreement next. Library leaders have previously said they expect the agreement on working conditions to be hammered out by fiscal 2027. County clerks in Utah have verified more than 140,000 signatures gathered by a coalition of labor groups in support of putting HB267 to a statewide referendum. “We are moving forward in the hopes that Utahns will vote in the best interests of their public workers,” local AFSCME President Jerry Philpot said in a news release. “This isn’t just about union rights — it’s about protecting the people who serve our communities every single day.” (FOX 13) One person is dead and another is in custody following a hit and run crash in Salt Lake City Friday morning One person is dead and another is in custody following a hit and run crash in Salt Lake City Friday morning Officers were able to work with Utah Transit Authority to review their cameras in the area and identify the suspect’s vehicle Read the full story at fox13now.com. The Salt Lake Tribune and Fox 13 News are content-sharing partners. Queer Spectra is an interdisciplinary queer arts festival; this May 15-17 is our 7th annual festival on the theme of Flux & Fracture Salt Lake City Trivia is weekly on Wednesdays at HK Brewing Co It’s a night of fun and brain-teasing questions that you won’t want to miss and get ready to test your knowledge with Game Night Live ABC4 Utah SALT LAKE CITY (Good Things Utah) – For only the second time in history on June 7 2025 MexTour international soccer match is happening at Rice-Eccles between Mexico and Switzerland get ready for the iconic MexTour that kicks off in Salt Lake City The Mexican men’s national team takes on Switzerland at Rice-Eccles Stadium Retired professional soccer player and sports commentator Moises Munoz joins GTU to talk about the match Mexico will begin its title defense in the Concacaf GoldCup the region’s flagship tournament starting on June 14 when Mexico takes on theDominican Republic at SoFi Stadium.About the MexTourThe MexTour – now in its 22nd year has become one of the most celebrated sportsproperties in the United States with a robust list of blue-chip commercial partners,appearances by celebrities and influencers and an average attendance of over 50,000per match in the last decade thanks to its estimated fan base of 65 million people(study: Nielsen Sports).The tour has delighted sports fans across the nation with marquee soccer matchesagainst top opponents at world-class venues stadiumsscheduled to host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.More than a game each tour stop features the AT&T Futbol Fiesta fan fest as well asother fan and media events throughout the markets.The MexTour allows the Mexican team to prepare for important competitions such as theConcacaf Gold Cup and the FIFA World Cup.The 2025 MexTour is sponsored by 7UP and Strauss.The matches will be broadcast nationally on the TelevisaUnivision family of networks,Fox Deportes in English and the Univision Radio Network.B-roll of the MexTour is available HERE.About Switzerland Men’s National TeamSwitzerland’s FIFA Ranking: 20 (top 10 among the UEFA European nations)They are led by Head Coach Murat Yakin and stars Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen),Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) and Yann Sommer (Inter Milan).Record v 1994 / friendly / Alameda CountyStadium in Oakland CAAbout Moises MunozMoisés Muñoz (affectionately known as “Moi”) is one of Mexico’s most belovedgoalkeepers of all time during which hebecame a pivotal figure in both club and national team contexts He retired in 2018.Born in Mexico but raised in Northern California Muñoz began his professional journeywith his hometown club heamassed over 200 Mexican league appearances solidifying his reputation as a reliableand consistent presence between the posts.Muñoz’s move to the storied Club América marked a significant chapter in his career including winning two Liga MX titles and two ConcacafChampions League titles One of his most memorable moments came during the 2013Clausura final against Cruz Azul where he scored a dramatic last-minute equalizer,leading to a penalty shootout victory for América.Muñoz debuted for the Mexican National Team in 2004 and earned 18 caps over hisinternational tenure He was part of the squad that finished fourth in the 2005 FIFAConfederations Cup and contributed to Mexico’s victory in the 2015 Concacaf Gold Cup.Muñoz’s career is celebrated for his dedication and ability to overcomeadversity (following a serious 2012 car accident) leaving a lasting legacy in Mexicanfootball history Moises is currently a featured TV soccer analyst on Tubi broadcasts these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals Progress on preparing Guardsman Pass to reopen the department lost its first officer in the line of duty when Sgt Bill Hooser was struck and killed by a suspect in a semi-truck during a traffic stop the friends he made on the force are remembering him as one of the most dedicated officers who took work seriously but also made an emphasis to build relationships A low-pressure system is working its way through the region and will settle over the Four Corners more compact low drops in on the west side of the main low A low pressure system is working its way through the region and will settle over the Four Corners winter-like storm is set to move into the Southwest over the next day or so The action gets underway this morning and lasts through at least Tuesday morning Family and friends tied blue ribbons around Main Street in honor of Sgt The public is urging police to release records after the court dismissed a case against David Hamblin a former Utah therapist accused of ritualistic child sex abuse authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in a cold case homicide from 2022 A Utah Transit Authority rail maintenance worker has passed away after being struck by a vehicle while working in Murray late April A 17-year-old boy has been confirmed deceased after falling into the Weber River and being swept away on Saturday according to the Weber County Sheriff’s Office and a noticeable drop in temperatures...especially across southern Utah The shelter says it has helped over 6,500 families over the past five years becoming the first library union in the state (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sandbars stretch out along the shallow southern shore of the Great Salt Lake Note to readers • Leia Larsen is a reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune. She spent a year as a New York Times Local Investigations fellow examining the intersection of politics and environmental issues when the Great Salt Lake was at its lowest levels Utah lawmakers were alarmed enough to try what may be impossible: save the lake from drying up “Fast crises often get more attention than slow crises,” said Brian Steed, the state’s newly appointed Great Salt Lake commissioner tasked with developing a strategic plan for the lake when we realized how dire the situation was.” That year, Joel Ferry, then a lawmaker in the Utah House, called for emergency action, saying the depleted lake was an “environmental nuclear bomb.” A flurry of bills overhauled water laws dating to the pioneer era But the measures the state is pursuing will take decades to reap results, if ever. Critics now say the pace and scale of the efforts must greatly increase. What is at stake, they warn, is a public health disaster, the collapse of an ecosystem that supports millions of migrating birds, and a devastating blow to the state’s tourism (Copernicus Sentinel-2 via Maxar) The Great Salt Lake in 2000 And as climate change intensifies drought across the West it would also bring accelerated evaporation of the lake “They’ve stated they’ve done enough,” Deeda Seed a senior campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity Utah has a conservative Republican governor and a GOP supermajority in the Capitol and most legislators bristle at regulation They have been reluctant to constrain the industries that use the most water. Real estate development is a priority in Utah, one of the five fastest-growing states in the U.S Agriculture — and one of its primary cash crops alfalfa — is the basis of much of Utah’s rural economy And the dairy and beef industries rely on alfalfa hay to feed cattle The state recently learned that the money would be released but it is unclear if there will be any future federal aid for the project (Kim Raff | For The New York Times) Agriculture fuels much of Utah's rural economy For now, the lake’s 20-year decline has stabilized, although that has nothing to do with action by lawmakers. A recent year of record snow replenished mountain streams and reservoirs allowing more water to flow to the Great Salt Lake It currently is 5 feet higher than its all-time low but it will need to rise another 5 to attain a minimum healthy elevation To reach that level in five years, Steed’s analysis and strategic plan show all water users in the Great Salt Lake basin would need to cut their consumption by half The shift would have enormous consequences for the state’s economy “I just don’t think we have political support for that,” Steed said “nor do I think we would have public support for that kind of drastic action.” He aims instead to reach the goal in 30 years the region would need to free up about enough water to support the equivalent of at least a million households annually Making real headway could require tens of millions of dollars every year. Gov. Spencer Cox requested $16 million this year for the state to buy water leases for the lake; lawmakers approved $1 million The governor also sought $650,000 to monitor and begin mitigating the lake bed’s dust “The legislative and executive appetite to get water to the lake has absolutely evaporated,” said Ben Abbott, an ecology professor at Brigham Young University and the lead author of a 2023 report warning that the lake could disappear in as little as five years (Kim Raff | For The New York Times) Jason Westover is skeptical about Utah's water-leasing efforts the industries most vital to protecting the lake are largely on the sidelines Some farmers are benefiting from irrigation upgrades partly financed by the state But only a handful have signed up to lease water that could feed the lake “I certainly don’t want to see the lake dry up and disappear,” said Jason Westover a hay farmer who sells to dairies in Cache County and has not joined the leasing effort “But I also don’t want my industry that I’ve grown up with and love to be impacted just to prolong the inevitable.” Lawmakers earmarked $40 million in 2022 for a lake trust meant they created an Inland Port Authority that has offered state incentives for industrial developers to pave over wetlands in at least four crucial areas Brad Wilson, Utah’s Republican former House speaker, who spearheaded many of the policy changes benefiting the Great Salt Lake, is also a prominent real estate developer — a third of the Legislature has ties to the industry Housing affordability and water supply will remain the state’s top challenges in perpetuity “We should continue to have a strategy to ensure we have enough water for our growth,” Wilson said “so our kids and grandkids can live here.” Water flows to the Great Salt Lake through three rivers that collect snow runoff and scour minerals from the Uinta and Wasatch mountains While climate change has contributed to extensive water shortages in the Southwest the Great Salt Lake’s decline is mostly human-caused Agriculture uses 71% of the water that would otherwise flow to the lake according to research compiled by the Great Salt Lake Strike Team Utah lawmakers put a system in place to incentivize water rights holders — especially farmers — to repair the watershed They provided subsidies for more efficient irrigation equipment The legislators also made it possible for the state nonprofits or private entities to pay farmers for a temporary lease of the resulting surplus water The farmer has an incentive to use less water without taking a financial hit — potentially even making a bigger profit — while helping the lake recover (Kim Raff | For The New York Times) Marcelle Shoop helps oversee a lake trust meant “We’re all trying to figure out the best way to make these voluntary transactions work both for the farmer and for the environmental purposes.” While the state grants for irrigation proved popular among farmers hardly any have agreed to lease their water rights “We’re tired of getting a black eye,” said Trevor Nielson general manager of the Bear River Canal Co. which holds the rights for about 2,000 farmers but we’re also the ones who are literally changing how we do business.” an arid state with terrain that varies from hot deserts to cool mountain valleys About 65% of its land is owned by federal agencies to be the most sustainable and profitable food products to produce (Kim Raff | For The New York Times) Utah's dairy and beef industries rely on alfalfa hay to feed cattle But alfalfa has become a scapegoat. Some urban residents have called on Utah lawmakers to buy out alfalfa farmers to “let the water flow,” without scrutinizing their own beef and dairy consumption habits Others have suggested encouraging farmers to transition to other crops But farmers are trying to compete in a national and international market where their alfalfa fetches higher prices than grain it would be equivalent to asking a rocket manufacturer to start building cars the former legislator and now the state’s natural resources director “make it really difficult to flip a switch.” are the leading cause of water depletions in both the Great Salt Lake basin and the Colorado River researchers say that alfalfa is one of the few crops that can help watersheds recover It can go dormant for up to a year if farmers choose to lease their water One holdup with water leasing is that Utah has yet to build a comprehensive system that can track leased water and ensure it makes it from the farm to the lake without being diverted by another user But the state’s biggest hurdle may be earning farmers’ trust (Kim Raff | For The New York Times) Joel Ferry called for emergency action in 2022 to restore the lake farmers now often must expand their footprint If the state can pay more to lease water than the farmer it could take that property out of production bankrupt the farmer and put tractor mechanics seed wholesalers and irrigation pipe suppliers out of business “Our biggest fear is that long-term leasing of water shares may be the death of agriculture,” said Nathan Daugs a farmer and the manager of the Cache Water District Utah’s farmers have long watched farmland that goes out of production get gobbled up by subdivisions “Developers will pay more for water than I can pay,” said Mitch Hancock Advocacy groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, don’t feel Utah is moving fast enough on saving the Great Salt Lake. Several filed a lawsuit in 2023, arguing the state has a responsibility to ensure the saline lake’s survival. The same concept — called the public trust doctrine — was central to a successful lawsuit involving Mono Lake in California in the 1980s The Los Angeles water department had bought and dried all the farmland around Owens Lake in an arid valley east of the Sierra Nevada and piped the water more than 200 miles south to support the growing city becoming the largest source of human-caused dust pollution in the nation After Los Angeles began doing the same to Mono Lake California’s Supreme Court ruled that the city had to curb its water diversions to protect it brought in a liberal state more open to regulation involved a single diverter — the water department — not the tens of thousands of water rights holders in the farmland and cities of the Great Salt Lake basin rising to the mandated level all these decades later Mono and Owens are a small fraction of the Great Salt Lake’s size (Kim Raff | For The New York Times) “The legislative and executive appetite to get water to the lake has absolutely evaporated,” says Ben Abbott an ecology professor at Brigham Young University “We’ve done everything we can within the bounds of private property rights,” said Rep you send people to their corners and they can’t work together.” a judge rejected the state’s motion to dismiss the public trust lawsuit and appeared to rebuke the state for implying it had the right to let the Great Salt Lake dry and fill it in if it so chose But she also denied the plaintiffs’ request that the state restrict upstream water rights until the lake refills Utah’s lawmakers have acted against some businesses considered harmful to the lake They have blocked mineral companies from siphoning away more lake water to harvest lithium which is in demand for electric vehicle batteries Regulators have cracked down on US Magnesium — the country’s only domestic source of the mineral — refusing to allow the company more access to the receding lake They also denied an application to build a massive landfill on the shore that would have potentially accepted toxic coal ash from coal-fired power plants in other states Even so, lawmakers continue to encourage development that takes a toll on the state’s natural resources, including water. Among several major projects, they have spent more than $1 billion moving the state prison to the lake’s southern shore in 2022. There, new roads, power lines and water pipes have since opened a vast swath of land to industrial growth. (Kim Raff | For The New York Times) An irrigation pivot in Cache County. Lawmakers created a quasi-government body, the Utah Inland Port Authority, that has pushed development there and in three other counties around the lake with sensitive wetlands — although Ben Hart, the executive director, said he was encouraging builders to embrace less water-intensive and ecologically damaging projects. Critics say that state funds pegged for fuel development would be better spent helping the Great Salt Lake refill. “I’d like to see us quit spending money to promote growth that’s already happening faster than we can handle it,” said Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek. He introduced a bill this session that would have limited grass in residential construction. A second called for more water-wise drip irrigation in new developments. The first bill never made it to committee. The second died on the House floor. (Kim Raff | For The New York Times) Buffalo graze by the shore of the Great Salt Lake on Antelope Island. sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. Secure your seat at America First Field for the 2025 season and create memories that'll last a lifetime 🙌 The 2025 Grid City Kit represents the grid our city was built from, not only street lights and concrete but the streets that connect us. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada (Sat., May 3, 2025) – Real Salt Lake (4-7-0, 12 points, 11th West) fell at MLS leaders Vancouver Whitecaps FC (8-1-2 25 points, 1st West) 2-1 on the B.C. Place turf tonight, with only a late penalty kick conversion from starlet Diego Luna able to salvage For the last 75 years, Mental Health America, its affiliates, and numerous other international and domestic organizations recognize the month of May as the official “Mental Health Awareness Month,” a time to spread the word about positive mental health. During this month, Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC join On April 22, members of Real Salt Lake and The Larry H. Miller Company came together to Palmer Court to help out the Road Home. The two groups did landscaping for the building to help the residents out by making the front and inside of the building look better. From Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals recently visited the Boys and Girls Club in Sugar House to commence the Larry H. Miller week of service, a yearly tradition celebrated by the LHM Group to honour the late Larry H. Miller. Justen Glad and RSL legend Nick Rimando, along with In a powerful display of community engagement and environmental stewardship, Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC employees joined forces with their new ownership group, the Larry H. Miller Company, for a Jordan River Cleanup event. The initiative marked one of the first collaborative efforts between the clubs and their SALT LAKE CITY — Sometimes cities seem eager to dish out traffic tickets to pad the budget the Utah Legislature passed a law stating that revenue from traffic fines may not exceed 25% of a local government's total general fund revenue for a fiscal year The Utah State Auditor was recently tasked with tracking how much each of Utah's cities gains from citations "The Legislature added this test because they were concerned about towns using traffic fees as a tool to generate revenue for their general fund," said Seth Oveson local government manager for the Utah State Auditor's Office If a city earns more than 25% of its revenue from traffic tickets the overages are given to the Utah Department of Transportation The state auditor's office found that all Utah cities were in compliance for 2023 and 2024 Of those with the highest percentage of revenue from traffic fines But it might not be because they're dishing out more tickets — small towns have smaller overall budgets Photo: Utah State Auditor"If you're dealing with a very small town and their general government revenues are smaller those traffic fees are going to make up a bigger percentage of their budget," said Oveson The Top 10 list does not indicate the number of citations given they've only been keeping track since the legislation passed in 2023 While a few of the towns are anecdotally known to be heavy-handed on traffic tickets the numbers don't necessarily mean that the towns are speed traps it could be good information for drivers to have at the back of their minds they get a higher percent of their general fund revenue from tickets maybe I should drive more carefully through there,'" Oveson said We are proud to be a community-led and community-supported nonprofit Read our 2022 nonprofit report to see how your donation helped improved the health of our community Learn more about our groundbreaking nonprofit model Support local journalism. Donate today. GET IN!!! Jayden Nelson’s second of the season! 😮‍💨📺 https://t.co/5iPvbuZzRH #VWFC | #VANvRSL pic.twitter.com/hjUh05rn39 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charley Hull (@charley.hull) Sending another #ProUte to the @Broncos!! 🙌#GoUtes | @caleblohner pic.twitter.com/8CYR1Yemxs Perfect placement! Diego Luna gives @realsaltlake the lead on the road just before the break!📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/fvNVgJOmWN pic.twitter.com/p6hM1lQPAZ Sam's first RSL goal is an ABSOLUTE LASER ☄️ pic.twitter.com/D7puttfyIh After a historic season welcoming the NHL to Utah, Delta Center is about to be transformed into a fundamentally new dual-use arena. The basketball experience will remain one of the loudest in the NBA with seats as close to the action as before, hockey fans will enjoy better… pic.twitter.com/Jod3OXFZkf (Utah Department of Corrections) Ronald Dale Easthope in a photo taken by the Utah Department of Corrections on Sept who served more than 52 years in prison for a series of rapes in Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood in the early 1970s A man who spent more than 50 years in prison in connection with a string of rapes that terrorized Salt Lake City’s Sugar House neighborhood has died once referred to as “the Sugar House rapist,” died on April 25 according to the state’s Board of Pardons and Parole which issued him a conditional release last December he had served most of the previous 53 years in prison Easthope had admitted to committing eight rapes during a four-month period in 1970 and 1971 all but one of them in the Sugar House area Easthope would break into a victim’s home while she slept and assault her at gunpoint often wearing a mask or a nylon stocking over his face calm and knows exactly what he’s doing,” Capt Stoler of the Salt Lake City police said when his detectives were still pursuing the case in January 1971 “We’ve checked out hundreds of suspects and leads trying to get this guy … and we’ve got a couple of officers going crazy because they’ve tracked down so many leads that go nowhere.” Police arrested the 24-year-old Easthope on Feb after five victims picked him out of a lineup Three of the victims started crying when they identified Easthope (Salt Lake Tribune archives) A mug shot of Ronald Dale Easthope the so-called "Sugar House rapist," in 1971 In the four months before Easthope’s arrest police said they suspected the same man had committed 9 or 10 rapes or attempted rapes — one in the Avenues neighborhood Easthope was ultimately convicted on charges of rape sodomy and robbery and received a sentence of up to life in prison The Tribune reported that a woman had sought to marry Easthope while he was in prison Conder ordered Utah media outlets not to use the phrase “Sugar House rapist,” fearing it would prejudice potential jurors along with Utah’s Society of Professional Journalists chapter Even though the restriction lasted just four days the Utah Supreme Court in 1983 ruled unanimously that Conder was wrong to order it “Though sensational and unsavory, that epithet is still an instrument used to communicate information or ideas,” Justice Dallin H. Oaks wrote in his opinion “If prior restraint cannot be used to withhold information and ideas neither can it be used to censor the vocabulary through which they are communicated.” called to be an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Today he is first counselor in the First Presidency to President Russell M he told the parole board that he was a changed man in prison is that he learned that a man he befriended in prison had killed Easthope’s mother in her Salt Lake City home in 1982 — a death previously attributed to natural causes who was serving a life sentence for killing two women in their 80s confessed in 1999 that he killed Easthope’s mother Troyer made the confessions after prosecutors promised he would not face additional charges “Somebody just like me killed my mother,” told the parole board in 2009 would serve “natural life” in prison and never be released However, on March 19, 2024, the board granted Easthope a “compassionate release,” which under administrative rules can be given to inmates whose threat to public safety is “significantly reduced due to the effects or symptoms of advancing age but because of difficulty finding a care facility Easthope’s crimes occurred before a national victims’ rights movement gained momentum; Utah’s Rights of Crime Victims Act was passed by the state Legislature in 1994 state law requires the Department of Corrections to notify victims who ask to be updated when an offender is released a tool designed to inform crime victims about upcoming parole hearings the board was “unable to locate any of the victims of record.” The Department of Corrections also maintains a public website that lists inmates who have died in custody — eight so far in 2025. Since Easthope was no longer an inmate when he died, his name would not appear on that site, a Corrections Department spokesperson said. (Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley prepares for a face-off versus the Seattle Kraken at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Logan Cooley pushed up in the defensive zone as he saw the puck stall at the blue line. The center collected a chipped pass from Barrett Hayton and hurtled forward. With a defenseman in front of him and the option to dish to Nick Schmaltz on the left, Cooley instead picked his shot off the rush. He wired it bar-down on Connor Hellebuyck — the clear leader for the Vezina Trophy this season. The goal helped lift Utah Hockey Club to a 5-2 win over the then league-best Winnipeg Jets on a January night at Delta Center. Cooley had turned a corner. The confidence and assuredness the 20-year-old was skating with were different. It is part of what made Cooley’s sophomore showing in the NHL a roaring success. And now, as the long offseason commences for Utah Hockey Club, it is what will get Cooley paid. Cooley — who was selected third overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes — has a year left on his entry-level deal, which carries a $950,000 average annual value. However, he is eligible to sign a contract extension as early as July 1. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) brings the puck down the ice at Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 24, 2025. It is a piece of business that general manager Bill Armstrong and his staff have on their long to-do list this summer. Cooley, after all, is looking like a franchise player for the Club, and in the modern NHL, teams must lock talent down early. “It is a mutual thing where you get together with the player and the agent and get down to work. There are a lot of comparables out there for a player like that,” Armstrong said. “We’re looking forward to those talks. Obviously, he’s a great young player in our organization.” Cooley’s rookie year, while still impressive, was plagued with uncertainty. He joined the Coyotes in the midst of swirling relocation rumors — which eventually landed the team in Salt Lake City — and he was learning to be a professional after spending just one season in college. Cooley battled inconsistency at times and finished with 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) in 82 games. He then took the summer to fine-tune ahead of the inaugural season in Utah. He got stronger and bigger. He worked on his shot and he committed to his two-way game. And then, it paid off. (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) celebrates a goal as Utah Hockey Club hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL hockey at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Cooley posted 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) — all of which were career highs and good for second-most on the team, just behind captain Clayton Keller — in 75 games. He ended the season centering the first line between Keller and Dylan Guenther, spent time on both power-play units and contributed to the penalty kill. Cooley proved to be a difference maker — one Utah needs to keep around. “Cools has all-world talent,” defenseman Mikhail Sergachev said. “No. 3 pick for a reason. You don’t get picked third if you’re not great. And he is great. He’s a maximalist as well. He pushes himself, pushes guys beside him to be better. He’s got the potential to be a leader. He’s a young guy right now but you can see — he’s very responsible without the puck and defensively. That is what I appreciate about him most.” Utah has around $22 million in cap space and will use a chunk of that to sign Cooley to a more extensive deal. What could that look like? A potential comparison is Wyatt Johnston on the Dallas Stars. Johnston, who was selected 23rd overall by the Stars in the 2021 NHL Draft, is a 21-year-old center. He had 71 points (33 goals, 38 assists) in 82 regular-season games (Cooley likely would have logged the same if he were not injured for seven games this year). Johnston is on both the power play and penalty kill for the Stars, too. (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) as Utah Hockey Club hosts the Minnesota Wild, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Dallas signed Johnston to a five-year, $42 million contract (with a $8.4 million AAV) in March. It is a deal Cooley’s agent can bring to the table to show why — based on the market — his client deserves that range or more. There is also the fact that the NHL salary cap — which was $88 million this year — is going up to $95.5 million in the 2025-26 season and continuing to increase from there. Accordingly, players will likely negotiate for more money. “For us, it was about — with me and my agent — just playing, not thinking about [a contract extension] too much throughout the year. I’m sure there’s going to be some talks coming up here soon. This is kind of the only time I’ve really thought of it. It’s always in the back of your head but you just try to focus on the season,” Cooley said. “[Utah] is a spot I want to be for a while.” Cooley, Armstrong and others involved in the contract conversations can also look internally — Utah signed Dylan Guenther to an eight-year, $57.14 million contract (with a $7.14 AAV) in September. The 22-year-old had 60 points (27 goals, 33 assists) in 70 games and is another piece of the team’s future core. “There’s certainly no rush at this point. There are priorities — not that Logan is not a huge priority — but it is just the way it rolls,” Armstrong said. “We will deal with it at some point in time this summer.” (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club right wing Dylan Guenther (11) looks to pass during the game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Ottawa Senators at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Guenther got a longer term while Johnston got a higher value. Cooley may get a mix of both or sacrifice one for the other. Either way, the Utah players are excited to have him in the system for the years to come. “They’ve been unbelievable. So good, so quickly. They are great guys to be around. Great teammates,” Keller said of Cooley and Guenther, with whom he played on a line. “They’re always trying to get better. They’re two special guys that this franchise is going to have for a very long time. They’re only going to get better; they’re both so young.” Keller can relate to what Cooley is going through. He was the first overall pick in 2016, came into the league at 18 years old and proceeded to sign an eight-year, $57.2 million contract in September of 2019. “I remember when I was that age, too. It is crazy to think about it, how young they are. I was kind of in the same position. It is cool to kind of help them,” Keller said. “I think we have a really talented, unique young core that not a lot of teams in the NHL have. It’s awesome. Super motivating. We all want to win and that is what is most exciting about next year for sure.” (Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller looks toward the net versus the Seattle Kraken at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Despite the ensuing lofty contract talks, Cooley is trying to remain focused on his game. He will represent Team USA at the World Championship in May and will spend time training at home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, too. And perhaps, somewhere in there, he will ink a life-changing deal, too. “There is still a lot of work to be done. My career is obviously just getting started. ... It is a dream come true and it is something that I love to do and want to do for a while,” Cooley said. “Starting from the ownership — what they’ve done in such a short time — it’s super special to be a part of. I think that allows players and [makes players] want to play here for this ownership.” Real Salt Lake 1: Vancouver the league benchmark RSL sets the sale priceThe Vancouver Whitecaps are for sale; Real Salt Lake was for sale The head to head comparison was made Saturday night Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page For sale: one battered and bruised once-proud franchise A few internal structural issues to work out Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentFor sale: A battered and bruised franchise that’s had a major makeover and is now in pristine showroom condition You won’t find a better one in North America Forget about those pesky market valuations and the fact the Canucks aren’t actually for sale The NHL club could benefit from a change of ownership — either by breathing life into or giving it some breathing room — and maybe get back to the league’s upper echelon Galaxy 15 years ago has a team started the season with at least 26 points through its first 11 games That 2010 Galaxy squad won the Supporter’s Shield that year all six teams who have had 26 points in that span to start the year have won the league title who won the West and finished second overall By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Canucks Report will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Jesper Sørensen’s makeover doesn’t have the hallmarks of a real-estate flip but a sustainable style of play where the team itself is the biggest threat “The pace we’re at right now will be difficult to keep up That’s just how football sometimes is,” Sørensen said “There will also be games where we think that we could have won when asked about his team’s 10-game unbeaten streak the way they want to be together on and off the pitch.” GET IN!!! Jayden Nelson’s second of the season! 😮‍💨📺 https://t.co/5iPvbuZzRH #VWFC | #VANvRSL pic.twitter.com/hjUh05rn39 coaches and performance staff have done their part in making the Caps an attractive-looking buy finally bringing some universal attention to the small-market team The curb appeal on this team sale is off the charts If one needed an idea of what it would take to purchase the Caps their opponents Saturday night were just sold for $US600 million to the Larry H RSL are pretty close to an apples-for-apples comparison in terms of value Vancouver sits at $470 million in Sportico’s estimation The Caps’ revenue is the lowest in the league at $40 million Only Colorado and Montreal are considered to be worth less Salt Lake sold for $100 million more than their valuation and have revenue of $50 million and no operating losses but there’s plenty of room left among the haybales How much success do the Whitecaps have to have before they get back above 20K on the average They were at 26,791 in 2024 — and had none of the buzz that this squad does They looked as dangerous and entertaining Saturday night as they had in the previous matches of their current 10-game unbeaten streak Jayden Nelson was giving Justen Glad nightmares on the left wing blowing by the RSL defender at will with his pace He opened the scoring 20 minutes in by undressing the entire left side of Real’s defence Midfielder JC Ngando was on cruise control in the middle triggering counters and springing his wingers clear Pedro Vote was unleashing bombs from distance and directing traffic in the final third because there’s so many different flavours you could get out of the attack,” said Vote “I think the person that has the hardest job is Jasper he definitely has a headache to pick that (starting) 11.” TRISTAN BRINGS THE SAUCE! 🔥 📺 https://t.co/5iPvbuZzRH #VWFC | #VANvRSL pic.twitter.com/huA0MH5l27 Offensively, there’s even centreback Tristan Blackmon, who scored his second of the season in the 70th minute, turning a ground cross from Sebastian Berhalter into a top-corner screamer, prompting Sørensen to quip “we should put him up front.” The Caps have given up just eight goals, second-fewest in MLS, while scoring 22, the league’s second highest tally. Their expected goals differential is +9.5, a full two goals better than any other team. If the Whitecaps keep playing like this, it could be the biggest bargain in MLS. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account It's hard not to look at what happened tonight and not think about the Utah Jazz's role in that Russell Westbrook played a hand in the Denver Nuggets embarrassing his former team For context, the Clippers traded Westbrook to the Jazz to get their hands on Kris Dunn, who was pretty good for them Besides the hilarity that this was the second time the Jazz acquired Westbrook only to waive him in a year and a half span this also paved the way for Westbrook to sign with the Nuggets The Clippers were right to believe in what Dunn could do for them—there's no argument about that—but man trading Westbrook to get him really makes this situation look even worse factoring in their individual impacts in this series Westbrook averaged 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 43.3% from the field and an astonishing (for him) near-42% from three averaged 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 38.6% and 35.7% from three it's pretty hard not to see how Westbrook didn't thoroughly outplay Dunn which may have been all the Nuggets needed to get past the Clippers in this series While the Nuggets outclassed the Clippers in Game 7 Westbrook's contributions staved them off in multiple games The fact that Dunn never had those standout moments that Westbrook did should really make the Clippers grind their teeth Westbrook is an all-time player who still has juice left That wouldn't have happened without the Jazz's hand in all of this Westbrook definitely wanted to rub it in the Clippers' face The Denver Gazette's Vinny Benzedetto revealed what Westbrook did after the game Russell Westbrook walking into the Nuggets’ locker room: “Picked the wrong person That is 100% petty on Westbrook's part and he has the right to relish in it every second he can He knows why the Clippers traded him to the Jazz and he wanted to make it clear that the Clippers were wrong to pick the ex-Jazzman over him this isn't a reflection on Dunn as much as it is an oversight on the Clippers that sticks out like a sore thumb in hindsight the Jazz only indirectly contributed to how things shook out in this series © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"68","src":"69","url":"6a"},{"type":"67","value":"6b"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"6e","url":"6f"},{"type":"6d","value":"6g"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands He has been overseeing The J-Notes since June 2024 and writing for Hardwood Houdini since August 2023 He has been writing about the NBA since 2016 He has been closely following the Celtics since 2001.\n\nHe also enjoys watching TV shows and movies and The Clippers were right to believe in what Dunn could do for them—there's no argument about that—but man, trading Westbrook to get him really makes this situation look even worse, factoring in their individual impacts in this series. Westbrook averaged 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 43.3% from the field and an astonishing (for him) near-42% from three. Dunn, by contrast, averaged 6.3 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 38.6% and 35.7% from three. When looking at the stats between the two, it's pretty hard not to see how Westbrook didn't thoroughly outplay Dunn, which may have been all the Nuggets needed to get past the Clippers in this series. While the Nuggets outclassed the Clippers in Game 7, Westbrook's contributions staved them off in multiple games, and their season continues because of him. The fact that Dunn never had those standout moments that Westbrook did should really make the Clippers grind their teeth. Warts and all, Westbrook is an all-time player who still has juice left, and he proved it against his former team. That wouldn't have happened without the Jazz's hand in all of this. After the game, Westbrook definitely wanted to rub it in the Clippers' face. The Denver Gazette's Vinny Benzedetto revealed what Westbrook did after the game. Russell Westbrook walking into the Nuggets’ locker room: “Picked the wrong person, didn’t they?” That is 100% petty on Westbrook's part, but all things considered, this is his moment, and he has the right to relish in it every second he can. He knows why the Clippers traded him to the Jazz, so he definitely knows who Dunn is, and he wanted to make it clear that the Clippers were wrong to pick the ex-Jazzman over him. Again, this isn't a reflection on Dunn as much as it is an oversight on the Clippers that sticks out like a sore thumb in hindsight. Sure, the Jazz only indirectly contributed to how things shook out in this series, but they were still involved nonetheless. The Clippers just got embarrassed by the Nuggets, and the Jazz played a hand in that. the Utah Jazz can't help but laugh at the Warriors for their current situation The Golden State Warriors went from leading their first-round series comfortably to becoming massive choke artists. Knowing that they tried to acquire Lauri Markkanen last summer but the Rockets have regained the momentum and now the series is going back to Houston The Warriors are in serious danger and not just because Houston has been on a roll The Rockets' obvious size advantage has helped them come back Alperen Sengun is one of the NBA's biggest stars so the Warriors already knew he would be a matchup problem but Steven Adams' presence has also been a problem Steven Adams in Game 6:17 PTS5 REB3 BLK (!!!)4-4 FG9 FTM (career-high)Leading the series in blocks and plus/minus. pic.twitter.com/rDqTleKbfo Adams' size has been something the Warriors can't fight around They don't have the traditional big men to counter him the Rockets can easily take advantage of them Adams has exposed a problem for the Warriors and because they've had games to counter this and come up with nothing it's hard not to bet against Golden State in Game 7 Times like those really make the Warriors' failure to acquire Markkanen look even worse in hindsight Would Markkanen have been able to prevent Adams from dominating on the boards as much as he has but at least he would have been a big body to throw down low Markkanen may not have been able to stop Adams from doing his thing on the court but his presence could have made the Warriors more dynamic Markkanen is a stretch big capable of creating his own shot His near seven-foot frame would have been tough for the Rockets to adjust as it may have dragged Adams out of the post in a way none of the other Warriors bigs can It would have made the Warriors harder to stop too as Markkanen's speciality is also exploiting matchups as a stretch big For anyone who remembers, the Jazz demanded pretty much every asset from Golden State for Markkanen because they knew the Warriors were desperate. The package potentially included Brandin Podziemski, who has proven the Jazz were right to like him The Jazz had nothing to lose by keeping Markkanen but the Warriors had everything to gain by acquiring him the Warriors' season is on the cusp of falling apart This wouldn't have happened had the Warriors given in to Ainge's demands but they couldn't have expected anything less from Ainge it could have kept Golden State at the top Not only did failing to get Markkanen get Golden State in this position in the playoffs but doing so put them at a lower seed than they would have had they started the season with The Finnisher on the roster Steven Adams in Game 6:17 PTS5 REB3 BLK (!!!)4-4 FG9 FTM (career-high)Leading the series in blocks and plus/minus. pic.twitter.com/rDqTleKbfo For anyone who remembers, the Jazz demanded pretty much every asset from Golden State for Markkanen because they knew the Warriors were desperate. The package potentially included Brandin Podziemski, who has proven the Jazz were right to like him The Warriors are on the verge of blowing a 3-1 lead and it may not have happened had they played ball with the Jazz SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Utah Jazz have signed head coach Will Hardy to a multi-year contract extension that will keep him with the franchise through the 2030-31 season whose Smith Entertainment Group owns the team calling Hardy “an incredible leader” and praising his communication skills and influence on the team’s young core The announcement was effusive in its praise for Hardy painting a picture of steady leadership as the team sets its sights on its goal Smith stated he had confidence that the best is yet to come with Hardy leading the team great communicator – especially with our younger players – and a strong ambassador for this franchise," Smith said in a statement There is no one we would rather have leading us to our ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship here in Utah." will enter his fourth season with the Jazz this year He was hired in 2022 as the ninth head coach in franchise history and the first under SEG Hardy served as the lead assistant with the Boston Celtics during their 2021-22 run to the NBA Finals He also spent 11 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs in various coaching roles Hardy was also among the coaching staff for the Gold Medal-winning USA basketball team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics “I love Utah and the Jazz organization and am extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue to help guide our team," Hardy said in a statement We have a talented group of coaches and people all working to build a Championship program for this incredible fan base." The Utah Jazz have compiled an 85-161 record over the past three seasons under head coach Will Hardy The 2024–25 campaign ended with a 17-65 record marking the lowest win total in franchise history The season also set a new benchmark for futility leaguewide surpassing the Charlotte Bobcats' 7-59 record from the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season for the worst winning percentage in NBA history The 2025-26 NBA season is set to begin in October with an official start date still to be announced A year ago, Kailer Yamamoto was at the lowest point of his career After being traded to the Detroit Red Wings from the Edmonton Oilers the only team he had ever known up until that point he was bought out and signed by his hometown team scoring only 16 points and having the worst season of his career and wasn’t offered a contract by the team entering the 2024 offseason Yamamoto might once again be heading into free agency without a contract he heads into this summer as someone who has really given himself a chance to land another contract in the NHL after revitalizing his career in the Utah Hockey Club organization It came as a professional tryout agreement with Utah which allowed him to join the team for training camp and the preseason Yamamoto worked as hard as he could to try to earn a contract for the upcoming 2024-25 season He appeared in six of the seven Utah preseason games Okayyyyyy, Kailer Yamamoto 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ae17lr97Ge His strong play culminated in a one-year, two-way contract with Utah that he signed right before the season began he only appeared in three games with the team With Utah’s lineup getting more and more crowded with the return of Nick Bjugstad After Utah’s 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Oct Yamamoto was placed on waivers with the intention of sending him to the American Hockey League (AHL) to play for the Tucson Roadrunners marking the second time in a couple of months where he was rejected by every team in the league With that, Yamamoto headed down to Tucson to a group he didn’t really know outside of the preseason. He had played with Cameron Hebig with the Bakersfield Condors a couple of years ago, and Josh Doan up in Utah before being sent down it was a different group than what he had been playing with up in Salt Lake City Yamamoto could’ve taken the demotion poorly It was the first time he had been in the AHL since the 2019-20 season It wasn’t what he wanted or really signed up for he gelled quickly with the group and has become a big leader in the Roadrunners’ locker room.  “It’s obviously different getting sent down,” Yamamoto said It’s very easy to grow with them day in and day out I would grind for these guys any day of the week Related: Utah HC Players Choose Their Favorite Moments of the 2024-25 Season Yamamoto played in 51 games for the Roadrunners, producing 51 points. He played a big part in helping the team stay in playoff contention and also helped players around him thrive. Hebig managed to have a career season in the AHL playing on a line with his former Condors teammate He says that Yamamoto’s NHL experience helped a lot of players in the Roadrunners’ locker room he’s got a ton of experience in the NHL so I think that experience helps the players and offers up a lot of good advice and knowledge.” Yamamoto made it a personal mission of his to improve his overall game during his time in the AHL He worked hard on his confidence in making plays Yamamoto admitted that he was hesitant about making plays early in the season The Roadrunners’ coaching staff helped him restore his confidence they’ve given me a lot of confidence to grow my game,” Yamamoto said “I think that’s one of the biggest things It was clear it was only a matter of time until Yamamoto got another shot with Utah especially after producing at a point-per-game rate in the AHL his time finally came as he was recalled during Utah’s road trip in Florida It wouldn’t be long until he made a mark on the scoresheet. In his second game back It was his first NHL goal since April 2024 You could tell every Utah player on the bench was ecstatic and happy for him “Being able to tuck that one in and see how happy everyone was for me Yamamoto on his first goal with Utah:“Guys are great in the locker room. Being able to tuck that one in and see how happy everyone was for me, it was awesome."Also adds that something he worked on in Tucson was his confidence on making plays.#UtahHCpic.twitter.com/sRdixmzfgE Yamamoto’s time in Utah during the final couple of weeks was a crazy stretch for him After Utah beat the Winnipeg Jets early in April he was immediately sent down to Tucson to help the Roadrunners beat the Condors in the second game of their series In a big game that ultimately helped the team clinch a playoff spot Yamamoto tallied two assists in a 5-2 win.  He wouldn’t get a lot of time to enjoy the nice weather in sunny Tucson. After the win, Utah once again recalled Yamamoto in time for their game against the Kraken he drew a double minor thanks to a high stick from Jamie Oleksiak that left his lip bloody Yamamoto was able to snipe home a shot to score a goal with his mouth still bleeding it felt like the Kraken threw Yamamoto out considering he was a restricted free agent (RFA) and the team didn’t even try to re-sign him Getting the goal against them was a special one for Yamamoto so I came in with a little bit of a vengeance Yamo gets hit in the mouth, comes back out, scores 🔥3-0, Club. pic.twitter.com/u4t0S8jj4b Yamamoto finished out the season with Utah he had a lot of good chances and fit in well on the fly with the team Despite only playing in 315 NHL games in his career head coach André Tourigny saw Yamamoto as more of an NHL veteran during his time up in Utah “He’s a really good player,” Tourigny said It’s not like he’s a guy who is trying to break into the NHL; he’s already been here His playmaking defensively and under pressure is really good.” After the conclusion of Utah’s season against the St. Louis Blues, Yamamoto was sent back down to the AHL to help the Roadrunners in their final regular-season series against the Colorado Eagles the team had to win at least one of their games against the top team in the Pacific Division While the team couldn’t pull off a win in Game 1, a 7-4 win in Game 2 clinched the Roadrunners’ third straight playoff appearance Yamamoto managed to score two points in the series reaching the 20-goal mark with the team and concluding his AHL season with 56 points He led the whole team in points and assists despite playing in only 54 of 72 games Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin has coached a lot of players who have finished out their season in the AHL after playing in the final couple of games in the NHL The mindset of a player can get screwed up with the transition back to AHL games Potvin was pleased with Yamamoto’s performance in the final couple of games for the Roadrunners “It’s hard for a player to be up at the NHL and finish the season there,” Potvin said “I know what it can be like for the mindset You’re seeing the end of your season as well and then to be sent down and have to turn it up again it can sometimes play with your mind…Once he got going you could see that he made some real creative plays.” Yamamoto looked just as good as he did in the regular season standing up for the younger players on the team He sacrificed his body on a breakaway in Game 2 to score the Roadrunners’ third goal of the game it wasn’t enough to fend off the Abbotsford Canucks who won the series in a deciding Game 3 Here’s that Yamamoto goal. pic.twitter.com/7dAyP1OuFb it was clear he was in a better state of mind than the previous offseason Yamamoto was happy to be in Utah’s organization he managed to better his game and created friendships that will most likely last forever a feeling that just a year ago didn’t exist between him and the Kraken organization.  it feels like you have 20 guys who have your back,” Yamamoto said “It is a very awesome thing to have on the ice He’s getting married to his long-time girlfriend He will also have to secure another pro contract as his current one with Utah has expired While no conversations have transpired between him and Utah yet he would love to return to the organization Bringing back Yamamoto would be beneficial to Utah as well With young prospects like Daniil But potentially coming to the Roadrunners next season keeping a veteran who can thrive in the AHL and provide NHL experience like Yamamoto can pay dividends in those players’ development they have a player who can easily be called up and slide into the lineup Yamamoto has had a season that has put him back on the radar of NHL organizations and his mentorship and willingness to play his best even in the AHL this season have proved he still belongs in pro hockey perhaps even in a full-time role up in the NHL.  His days in the Utah organization could be numbered he should be proud for a long time of what he’s managed to accomplish in Utah and Tucson a year after a season that almost derailed it The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide our articles are read millions of times every month Getting to the U academic and medical campuses using public transit this summer is going to take some extra time and a fair amount of patience. On May 24, 2025, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) will begin an extended maintenance and repair project on TRAX Red Line running through August 17 Regular service is scheduled to resume on Monday UTA’s work on the Red Line will center around the Stadium Station near Rice-Eccles Stadium and at 450 East UTA said the project will replace old and worn-out parts of the Salt Lake City area railway system to ensure it continues runs effectively and safely the Red Line will not operate between Courthouse and University Medical Center Stations Red Line trains will be rerouted at Courthouse and follow the Blue Line to Salt Lake Central Station Passengers traveling to the University of Utah should plan to transfer to Routes 1 Increased bus service will be provided on these routes to accommodate TRAX Red Line riders UTA warns that significant delays up to 45 minutes can be expected so riders should plan ahead and adjust their travel as required Service on the Red Line will resume briefly from Thursday, July 3 to Saturday, July 5, 2025 for Monster Jam World Finals at Rice-Eccles Stadium FrontRunner riders who travel to destinations east of Main Street on the Red Line are encouraged to transfer to Route 2 at Salt Lake Central Station rather than transferring at Murray Central Station For construction information, visit rideuta.com/disruptions, call 833-UTA-WORK (833-882-9675) or email construction@rideuta.com Yellow-rumped warblers are among the birds you might see at the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival Photo: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources UT — Spring bird migrations are peaking across Utah and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is urging residents and visitors to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day on May 10 and to explore the state’s prime bird-watching spots throughout the season World Migratory Bird Day celebrates nearly 350 species moving between North America and wintering grounds in Latin America deserts and mountain reservoirs make the state a critical stopover the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says and spring offers some of the year’s best chances to see that spectacle up close 11 a.m.–2 p.m.The DWR will mark World Migratory Bird Day with family activities crafts and guided viewing along the wetlands trails at the George S and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center Nearly 330 species pass through Farmington Bay each spring and fall and advance registration is requested on Eventbrite the BLM will host a bird-watching tour with the Great Salt Lake Audubon Society followed by children’s activities and advice for homeowners on bird-friendly landscaping The DWR will staff an informational booth highlighting Utah conservation programs and citizen-science projects Great Salt Lake Bird Festival — May 15-18The 27th annual festival will offer field trips—several led by DWR biologists—workshops a vendor fair and other activities at sites around the Wasatch Front Many excursions will visit DWR waterfowl management areas providing close looks at migrating shorebirds and raptors Binoculars and a reliable identification guide—print or online—are recommended Northern Utah: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge offers a 12-mile auto loop; Antelope Island State Park draws numerous Great Salt Lake shorebirds and burrowing owls; common loons frequent East Canyon Central Utah: Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge remains a premier site Utah Lake State Park and the Provo Airport dike host migrating waterfowl while river corridors such as the Provo River Trail and Jordan River Trail support songbirds Northeastern Utah: A 9-mile auto route at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge showcases diverse habitats Pelican Lake and Red Canyon Overlook near Flaming Gorge offer waterfowl and high-elevation species Desert Lake Waterfowl Management Area and the Scott and Norma Matheson Wetlands Preserve—accessible through an alternate entrance because of flood closures—provide reliable migration viewing Sand Hollow State Park and Jackson Flat Reservoir in Kanab round out the DWR’s spring list For residents who prefer backyard birding, the agency offers feeder and habitat tips on its website Rebecca Brenner's work has been featured in Time She has lived in Park City for twenty years now with her two children and wild cattle pup She is a member of Leadership Park City class 30 the Park City Community Foundation’s DEI cohort will be published with Wayfarer Books in Fall 2025 Post A JobView All Add Your Organization Don’t miss a beat in the Park City community—get the daily scoop delivered straight to your inbox Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Sign up for our TownLift Daily Newsletter and get today's top local news stories in your inbox TownLift is a web and mobile-based Entertainment & News media outlet providing Park City and Summit County Utah with Breaking Local News & Community Updates Following his third season in the mix with Utah the Jazz decided to extend Hardy's contract until the 2031 season keeping him in the fold for the next six years and continue to lead the team's rebuild process Following the Jazz's decision to re-up with their head coach until 2031 Coach Hardy shared his thoughts on the extension in an interview with Holly Rowe making it clear that he not only loves where he's at but is also extremely motivated to bring a championship to Utah and it’s not just about the organization,” Hardy said “The community here in the greater Salt Lake area and Utah as a whole has been very receptive of me I’ll continue to do everything in my power to bring the championship banner to Delta Center,” Hardy said The extension comes after a tough regular season for the Jazz; one where the team suffered from a franchise-worst 17-65 record and a campaign facing a bit of growing pains However, through the rough patches, the Utah brass still loved what they saw from Hardy, now locking him in as their head coach to reinforce that confidence as the Jazz continue to build their foundation up for the next few years While the Jazz are still navigating their way through a long-spanning rebuild process with lots of unexpected twists one thing remains certain: expect Will Hardy to be the lead voice on the sidelines for the years ahead Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.