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Utah's new NHL team will train at Shops at South Town in Sandy
The Shops at South Town in Sandy will be the site of the training grounds for Utah's new NHL team.State of play: Smith Entertainment Group announced this week that it entered a contract with the shopping center to build the team's training facility and offices.It's expected to be completed before the start of the 2025-26 season.The intrigue: The new site will include at least two NHL-sized ice rinks and a team store.It will also offer hockey programming for community members and youth. Read more:Utah's new NHL team left a Phoenix suburb millions in debtAxios readers pick potential names for Utah's NHL team
Trump praises Mike Lee's haircut in comments on vice presidential prospects
Former President Trump praised Sen. Mike Lee for his haircut in an audio recording Axios obtained of Trump reflecting on prospective running mates.The big picture: The former president's most prominent surrogates went to his Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday to audition for vice president.Trump provided some real-time reviews of the prospects at a private luncheon where his remarks were recorded.What he's saying: "I love your haircut! … And he's a good man too."Context: Lee was one of several lawmakers who attended the Florida fundraiser this weekend.Lee hasn't gotten a lot of buzz as a potential running mate, but he's a longtime...
Utah ranked U.S.A.'s best state
Utah was named the best state in the country once again by U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings.The big picture: Economic stability and high education levels pushed the state to the front of the pack.Zoom in: Utah ranked among the top three states for education, economy and infrastructure.In health care, the state received high marks for smoking rates, preventable hospital admissions, nursing home quality and adult dental visits.Low debt at graduation and math and reading test scores boosted our education ranking.Our unemployment score was the best in the nation, with a jobs market that has been strong for decades.We ranked No. 1 for income equality and No. 2 for internet access, low poverty and economic opportunity.Yes, but: Utah had the worst gender pay gap.Zoom out: Joining us at the top of the list were New Hampshire, Nebraska, Minnesota and Idaho.
Salt Lake gets high marks for clean transportation
Salt Lake is one of the nation's top metro areas for limiting pollution from transportation, according to a recent report. That's despite the Wasatch Front's notoriously poor air quality, especially during the winter.Why it matters: Every puff of exhaust matters in an area where people with health problems are told to stay indoors and schools cancel recess to protect children from the air.State of play: Salt Lake ranked 15th overall on a new index that scores the 100 biggest U.S. cities on a variety of measures for transportation-related emissions.San Jose, California, New York and San Francisco were the top cities...
Sen. Romney links TikTok ban to pro-Palestinian content
Sen. Mitt Romney said support for a nationwide ban on TikTok is connected to the "overwhelming" volume of "mentions of Palestinians" on the popular platform.Why it matters: By suggesting Congress is motivated by the pro-Palestinian viewpoint of content, Romney triggered backlash from free-speech advocates, who say the proposed ban would violate the First Amendment.Supporters of the pending ban have tried to promote it as a national security measure to prevent misinformation and data collection by the Chinese-owned platform. It passed with wide majorities in the House and Senate before President Biden signed it last month.Driving the news: In a forum...
Why it's hard to find job that pays a living wage in St. George
Note: Share of the U.S. labor force that is functionally unemployed (seeking but unable to find a full-time job, is unemployed or is employed in a position earning less than a living wage); Data: Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity; Chart: Axios VisualsSt. George, Utah, has one of highest true unemployment rates in the nation, according to data first shared with Axios.Why it matters: A strong job market indicates a growing economy.By the numbers: Last year, the St. George metro area's true unemployment rate was 37%, surpassing the national rate of 23%, per the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity...
How World War II caused a run on pianos in Utah
As World War II raged 80 years ago, folks on the homefront went into hoarding mode amid rations and collection drives for tires, metal, nylon and … pianos?This is Old News, our weekly record of golden oldies.What drove the news: "Pianos Wanted Immediately," trumpeted a Utah newspaper ad in 1944.Behind the scenes: They were to be used in housing developments that popped up around northern Utah during World War II.That's when the sleepy, rural area around Hill Air Force Base rapidly transformed into a crucial military supply operation and defense industry hub.Zoom in: A piano was considered a staple household...
Single-family building permits are up in Salt Lake
Data: Census Bureau via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Chart: Axios VisualsMore single-family homes could be coming to Salt Lake's real estate market, with a recent upswing in building permits.Why it matters: Utah's housing shortage has become so acute that even Gov. Spencer Cox has stepped back from his local-control credo and threatened to force cities to adopt less restrictive zoning to boost inventory.By the numbers: Salt Lake metro building permits in March were up 81% from a year ago, per FRED data.The big picture: Permits in Salt Lake are gradually bobbling back up after cratering post-pandemic.Zoom out: Single-family home construction is down year-over-year across the U.S., but it's grown 30% from March 2020 to March 2024.Yes, but: New home construction isn't evenly spread. Salt Lake saw a bigger increase than most of the country. But in New Orleans, for example, activity is down by nearly half.The intrigue: Some new-build communities are offering lower mortgage rates, an enticing deal as rates touched 7.5% in April.
Utah voters rank concerns ahead of the governor's race
As Utahns anticipate the upcoming gubernatorial election, cost of living and political dysfunction are the top issues on voters' minds, per a new survey released by the Utah Foundation, a nonpartisan policy research organization.The big picture: Voters ranked 17 of the most pressing concerns they consider when assessing their choices for governor.Housing affordability and politicians not listening to voters nearly tied for the top two, followed by affording non-housing needs, government overreach and partisan politics.Zoom in: The issues related to political dysfunction "can be summarized as voters being concerned about the political process, individual representation and political power," researchers noted...
How to roast meat underground: Desert edition
May's arrival means cookout season has begun and one ancient technique tops them all for juicy, tender pork: Bury it.State of play: Chefs the world over have been roasting pork underground for about as long as they've had pigs and dirt.But the prep time and lack of temperature control can make it daunting.Here's how my family does it during our annual spring camping trip with friends in the Utah desert.We use a pork shoulder around 28 lbs. — enough for at least 25 people.The oven: Dig a pit about a foot bigger on each side than whatever you're roasting; you...
Mural Fest brings new art, music to South Salt Lake
Mural Fest is bringing 14 new murals to South Salt Lake's fast-growing entertainment district this weekend, with lots of bands to celebrate the new art. Why it matters: The city has put a lot of emphasis on its "creative industries zone" to draw hip crowds to the breweries, restaurants and galleries nestled between warehouses.What's inside: The annual Mural Walk features games, live entertainment, prizes, art activities at several breweries and restaurants, and, of course, the murals.Check out the map to find them.Zoom in: The music lineup is especially good this year, with bands and DJs playing near the various murals.Say hi if you see Erin at the Triggers & Slips show at city hall!When and where: The party runs 4–8pm between 2100 South and 2700 South.
University of Utah to boost security at graduation amid campus protests
The University of Utah will increase security and the number of police officers at Thursday evening's graduation ceremony amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on campus.State of play: Rebecca Walsh, a university spokesperson, said the security measures will be similar to that of a football or basketball game and a clear bag mandate will be in place at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, where commencement will take place.Demonstrators plan to hold another protest at 5:30pm — a half hour before the school's commencement ceremony starts.Activists are urging graduates, students and school employees to walk out during university president Taylor Randall's speech.What they're...
Cinco de Mayo weekend events in SLC
Whew! It's a busy weekend in Utah — not even counting the May Day festival and May the Fourth Star Wars events we already told you about.Here's what's good for SLC's first weekend of May.Cinco de MayoDraper's Cinco (well, Quatro): Come to Draper Park for lots of food trucks, live performances and other free family activities.When: 6pm-8:30pm SaturdayFiesta 5K: Lace up your sneakers for Sandy's spring race 9am at Falcon Park.Registration: $30 in advance, $40 day-of, with discounts for groups and families. Millcreek Fiesta: Enjoy authentic food, roller skating, a giant piñata, live music and other performances at a free family...
Utah Pride Center to reduce spending on upcoming festival
Utah Pride Center leaders plan to rein in spending at the annual pride festival after the LGBTQ+ advocacy group has dealt with financial turmoil and two rounds of layoffs in the past year.State of play: The center will scale back on staging and production planned for the 2024 event and hire local talent to "mitigate some of the performance fees," the nonprofit's new executive director Chad Call told reporters Wednesday from its new downtown Salt Lake City headquarters.Call also announced the festival's theme will center around building unity in Utah.Between the lines: Call was previously announced as the center's interim...
San Francisco, Atlanta and more eye Park City's Sundance Film Festival
Wednesday marked the deadline for U.S. cities to place their bids to host the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027 and a few surprising contenders have emerged.State of play: So far, officials in Atlanta, Minneapolis and San Francisco and Savannah, Georgia have said they planned to place bids to become the new home for the largest independent film festival in the U.S., per multiple reports.Sante Fe, New Mexico, which hosts an annual international film festival, also expressed interest.Catch up quick: Sundance Institute, the nonprofit behind the film festival, announced last month that it was exploring relocation and began accepting bids...
University of Utah protests roil state's law-and-order culture
Students rallied Tuesday in support of Palestine for the second consecutive day at the University of Utah, despite arrests Monday night.Why it matters: The arrests have heightened an ongoing debate over the role of civil disobedience — and whether protests are more effective when participants show they're undeterred by punishment.Civil disobedience is relatively rare on Utah campuses, activists say — and it usually faces a swift crackdown.The intrigue: Organizers with the student group MEChA have added a demand that the U "stop the political repression of students and take the cops off campus now," according to Tuesday's Instagram post advertising...
This Utah town throws a huge, old-timey May Day
We thought May Day was all but dead in Utah. Surprise! At least one town still goes all out. Thanks to readers Lynnette H. and Mark L. for alerting us.Driving the news: Mendon, a hamlet of 1,300 people in Cache County, has a May Day festival each year on the first Saturday of the month.They even have May Day songs on the city's website.Zoom in: The 162nd (!!!) Mendon May Day festivities begin with a Friday night dance at Mountainside Elementary.The main event starts 10am on Saturday in the town square, with the arrival of the May Queen's court, the May Pole braiding, a "traditional program inside the old church" (location unclear; follow the crowd) and softball games until 10pm.Fun fact: Mendon's kids have been practicing their maypole dance for more than a month.
Where to celebrate May the Fourth in Salt Lake City
The force will be widely felt across Salt Lake City as Star Wars fans celebrate May the Fourth on Saturday.The big picture: Utah was ranked as the No. 1 state for Star Wars fandom last year.Here's a list of May the Fourth events happening this weekend:Planetarium partyCome dressed as your favorite Star Wars character for an evening of family-friendly activities and photos. When: May 4, 4pm–7pm at The Gateway.Admission: Free. Planetarium shows will be discounted to $4 except for "Mesmerica."Star Wars night The fourth annual Star Wars dance party will include three-themed rooms, karaoke and a costume contest. When: May 4 starting at 9pm at Area 51.Admission: $10 before feesUrban Arts GalleryThe gallery will host a Star Wars celebration featuring robotics battles, a cosplay contest and snacks. Where: May 4 starting at 6pm, cosplay contest begins at 6:30pm at 116 S. Rio Grande St.Admission: FreeStar Wars cabaretProhibition is throwing a Star Wars-themed burlesque variety show.Where: May 4 with shows at 7:30pm, 9:30pm and 11:15pm at 151 E. 6100 S., Murray.Admission: $10 per person
17 arrested at University of Utah pro-Palestinian protest encampment
A pro-Palestinian rally and short-lived encampment at the University of Utah ended late Monday night when police arrested 17 people.Why it matters: It was the first campus protest encampment in Utah since demonstrations broke out at colleges and universities across the nation in recent weeks.Students and other activists are decrying U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza.The intrigue: The police crackdown at the U was more swift than at several campuses in other states, where demonstrations have been ongoing for weeks.Driving the news: About 300 people gathered at Presidents Circle Monday afternoon in what the organizing group MECHA described as...
Cloudflare billionaire Matthew Prince in fight with neighbors over Park City mansion plans
The billionaire founder of Cloudflare, will face off on Tuesday night with his Park City neighbors who say he has used his wealth to influence city decisions as he plans an 11,300-square-foot contemporary palace overlooking Old Town.Why it matters: Opponents of Matthew Prince — the richest man in Utah — say his mansion would drastically change the character of Park City's historic Main Street area.Between the lines: Prince characterized the dispute as "two rich people fighting with each other," in the Daily Beast, pointing to a volley of legal disputes involving a couple whose neighboring mansion would be dwarfed by...
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