Salt Lake City’s 1st Free Blockbuster is a fun antidote to streaming sticker shock Price hikes and password sharing crackdowns have customers reconsidering how much they’re willing to spend on streaming services. But physical media isn’t dead, and “take a movie, leave a movie” is ea...

Longing for some 90's nostalgia? A (Little Free) Blockbuster could be coming soon to a yard near you. www.kuer.org/business-eco...

Have you or someone you know in Utah cancelled your streaming services in favor of renting from the library or just using your own physical media? If so - I'd love to talk to you for a story for @kuer.org about budgeting for the new year!

Salt Lake City 2034 committee unveils new name, logo for Olympic Games Olympic officials have just released a new name and logo as they count down the Winter Games’ return to Utah in 2034.

That's a very full Great Salt Lake.

www.kpcw.org/state-region...

Hi Utah! Are you or anyone you know considering gifting a kid a smartphone this Christmas? KUER would love to talk to you! Send me an email at cballard@kuer.org

Utah National Guard asks for volunteers to support Homeland Security and ICE The details of the mission are still to come, but the guard would support local agencies through administrative roles such as transportation, fingerprinting and data entry.

Utah National Guard asks for volunteers to support Homeland Security and ICE

www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

Utah Department of Corrections signs new ICE agreement. Here’s what changes There’s little effect on the department’s operations, but the agreement sends a message that immigrants who enter the country illegally and commit crimes will not be tolerated.

Latest in Utah: state corrections has a new agreement with ICE. @kuer.org www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

Utah’s collective bargaining ban will not go into effect as originally scheduled The ban was supposed to start May 7. But Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson put the law on hold while signatures for a likely referendum challenge are being counted.

Utah collective bargaining news: the ban will NOT go into effect tomorrow.

www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

Mia Love, a former Utah congresswoman of many firsts, dies at 49 Love, whose political career included serving Saratoga Springs and Utah’s 4th Congressional District, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer, in 2022.

Mia Love, the first Black woman elected to Congress as a Republican in 2014, died at age 49.

(via @kuer.org)

Utah Senate signals a shift back to a ban on public union collective bargaining Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore said he’s gotten mixed messages from public unions and their members on his proposal to allow some collective bargaining. Without a consensus, he said they’ll lik...

Utah's collective bargaining ban is back. www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

Chime in: What are the best resources, trainings and tips you've found and used an editor?

A movie post of Leave The World Behind.

The last few days kind of feels like living the first hour of this movie.

Doomsday Clock Moves One Second Closer to Catastrophe The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists shifted the hands of the symbolic clock to 89 seconds to midnight, citing the threat of climate change, nuclear war and the misuse of artificial intelligence.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock one second closer to catastrophe, citing the threat of climate change, nuclear war and the misuse of artificial intelligence.

Southern Utah’s Burr Trail keeps its historic name after bid to add Trump fails The proposal drew pushback from Garfield County residents, who valued the historic name for the trail road going through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

A proposal to rename a scenic road after Trump in southern Utah failed on a 2-1 vote of Garfield County Commissioners today.

Read my story for @kuer.org with insights from a historian on what makes efforts like this different from typical commemorations ⤵️
www.kuer.org/politics-gov...

Today, "Like a Love Story" by Abdi Nazemian was added to the list of books banned in all Utah public schools.

This book was reported by the Davis, Jordan and Washington Co. school districts.

Utah students can no longer bring personal copies of banned books to school Updated guidance from Utah State Board of Education staff clarifies that students can’t bring to school their personal copies of books deemed “sensitive material.”

The updated guidelines from the Utah State Board of Ed are based on its interpretation of the “sensitive materials” law. Schools and districts are left to decide how to handle disciplinary action.

I want to know the time breakdown between how long it takes them to write and record a song, and how long it takes them to make the corresponding music video to go along with it.

Utah students can no longer bring personal copies of banned books to school Updated guidance from Utah State Board of Education staff clarifies that students can’t bring to school their personal copies of books deemed “sensitive material.”

While banned books are now prohibited on school grounds, the guidance is less clear what happens to a student who brings one. That's up to the schools or districts.

New year, new legislative session, new faces The 2025 Utah legislative session (which opens Jan. 21) will have more than a few fresh faces — 22 to be exact. We talk to two of them.

The news is moving fast right now, but if you have 25 min, I highly recommend listening to the latest State Street from @kuer.org. We had the newest members of the #utleg interview each other about what it means to serve & Pacific Islander representation.

www.kuer.org/statestreet/...

After 125 years, the Christmas Bird Count still offers vital data on Utah ecosystems This year marks the 125th anniversary of the nationwide Christmas Bird Count. The data volunteers gather in Utah helps scientists understand how climate change and other factors threaten bird…

Climate change has hit some bird populations hard, particularly by disrupting migratory patterns.

Anyway, let me know if this strikes your fancy. I can put you in touch with great people (my family, lol).

THINGS TO EXPLORE:

The struggle of small schools to survive the coming "enrollment cliff."
The de-valuation of arts & humanities in higher-ed.
The program of pairing composers with students is a cool experiment in getting new works performed.

Last May, the university decided to cut all of its arts and many humanity programs. The school is trying to survive declining enrollment, but the decision infuriated staff and students. So now, this trip is basically a last hurrah for a theater program that was kicked to the curb by the school.

A pitch for NYC/VA reporters:

For years, my brother & mom have worked to pair NYC's up&coming musical theater composers w/University of Lynchburg theater students to write & perform new songs. In January, the group known as "Curtain Call" will perform in a cabaret at 54 Below in NYC.

THE TWIST...

I LOVED the construction of this story from a writer's perspective. Holiday bickering among the kids? Genius stuff from Alex Hager.

Every time I start a new social media account I feel like I'm respawning in a video game. Fingers crossed I've gained extra health and lives this time around 🤞