Author: Jesse

PARK CITY, Utah — With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.

Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read “Keep Sundance in Utah” in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.

Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.

It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.

“Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can’t really separate those two,” Cox said. “This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever.”

Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.

Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring state.

Cincinnati approved a resolution allocating $2.5 million to Sundance if festival leaders relocate to southwest Ohio. Yet money may not be the ultimate draw.

Sundance leaders say the festival has outgrown the ski town it helped put on the map decades ago, and they worry it has developed an air of exclusivity that takes the focus away from the films. An ideal home would make Sundance more centralized, affordable and accessible to all who appreciate independent film.

Some festivalgoers and industry leaders worry Sundance would lose its identity outside its idyllic mountain hometown.

Roger and Carin Ehrenberg, major donors to the festival, said they would stop attending regularly if the festival was outside Utah. Sundance is a “magical experience” for the New York City philanthropists, they said, due in large part to the atmosphere in Park City.

“If it goes to Cincinnati, maybe once in a blue moon we would go, but it wouldn’t be a regular thing,” Carin Ehrenberg said. “For us, it’ll lose its appeal.”

The couple said they would likely continue to donate even if they did not attend.

Nineteen years of fond memories at Sundance helped inspire Dr. Rhonda Taubin to relocate her family from Atlanta to Heber City — Park City’s neighboring town. She has no ties to the film industry but has become a fervent advocate for keeping the festival in her new home state.

This year, she and her friends distributed thousands of “Keep Sundance in Utah” stickers — and another that read “NOhio for Sundance” — to show the festival how much it means to the local community.

“I really am not a movie buff, but my other girlfriends are, and being able to share all that we’ve been through as women, as mothers, as wives, as daughters, I don’t want it to end,” Taubin said. “We watch provocative movies that make us talk and think about things that maybe we’ve never thought about before. Utah would be at a huge loss without those conversations.”

If Sundance stays in Utah, the festival’s former director John Cooper said major adjustments are needed to improve transportation between Salt Lake City and Park City and make lodging for filmmakers more affordable.

Cooper, who led the festival from 2009 to 2020, said he would be sad to see Sundance shift away from actor and filmmaker Robert Redford’s original vision. Its very name comes from Redford’s character in the 1969 film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

“I felt like my role was to be a keeper of the flame for Robert Redford and his legacy,” Cooper told The Associated Press. “The mountains of Utah, this was his vision. It’s weird to say ‘Sundance in Ohio.’ But I think it could go anywhere. What it does for a community is so strong.”

On the red carpet this week, many were split on whether Sundance should stay or go.

Actor Elijah Wood urged the festival to remain in Park City, saying the location is part of its DNA.

Others were open to it relocating. Actor Tessa Thompson, who serves on the Sundance Institute’s board of trustees, said the festival could maintain its identity in a new city.

“I think that Sundance has more to do with the spirit and community, and I think that’s evergreen,” Thompson said. “Regardless of where Sundance is, Sundance will always be.”

It was Crosby’s 95th career game-winning goal, moving him past Steve Yzerman for the 13th most in NHL history. Crosby also had an assist for his 207th multipoint game, tying him with Joe Sakic for the eighth most in NHL history.

Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson scored for the Penguins (21-24-8), who snapped a three-game losing streak. Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 saves.

Mikhail Sergachev and Michael Carcone scored for Utah (21-21-8), which has lost three straight games. Connor Ingram made 25 saves.

Sergachev opened the scoring with a power play goal at 14:51 of the first period, firing a snap shot past Nedeljkovic to give Utah a 1-0 lead.

Pettersson scored at 6:40 of the second period to tie the game 1-1 as he fired a slap shot off a pass from Crosby that went past the glove side of Ingram for the goal.

Carcone gave Utah a 2-1 lead at 8:36, as he followed up his breakaway attempt and hit the puck into the net past Nedeljkovic.

Karlsson tied the game at 2-2 at 6:17 of the third period, as he beat Ingram on the glove side above the shoulder for the goal.

A bill that would set robust requirements for free-standing emergency rooms across the Wasatch Front advanced through the House Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday.

Sponsored by Rep. Katy Hall, R-South Ogden, HB152 sets requirements for the amount of staff and lists certain equipment that freestanding emergency rooms across the state need to have.

“These are the standards that we came up with in the bill and and we think and hope that it’s going to increase the public safety increase awareness that these are great places to go,” Hall said. “If you have an emergency, you can feel confident in where you’re going, that’s what we’re working towards.”

These free standing, or satellite, emergency departments are health care facilities that provide emergency or critical care away from a main hospital campus that are operated under the license of the parent hospital.

Hall said that as more of these facilities are created in Utah, many of them do not have the necessary staff or equipment to provide proper emergency care.

“I feel like Utah has a chance to decide what we want our emergency care to be, and we have a duty to the public and consumer trust,” Hall said.

What requirements does the bill set?

This bill sets specific requirements for freestanding emergency rooms in first and second class counties around Utah.

It requires these facilities to have at least two registered nurses, a respiratory therapist and a lab technician. Specific equipment to provide services such as CT scans, X-rays and sonograms are also required.

The number of satellite emergency rooms in Utah is growing, and the bill sets limitations to how many one hospital can have.

If the bill passes, any facilities that do not meet these requirements will not be able to identify themselves as providing emergency or critical care services.

This bill will also make it so emergency departments are more transparent and identifiable, including signage that says patients will have to pay emergency room prices.

This is meant help those who don’t necessarily need an emergency room, especially because of the cost of emergency care. If patients are experiencing something that isn’t truly an emergency then they can go to an Instacare for a lower cost, Hall said.

“Medical care is so expensive a person without insurance can go bankrupt from a single visit, and when that’s needed, that’s what’s needed, but the person needs to know what they’re choosing,” said Rep. Raymond Ward, R-Bountiful.

Why are these requirements necessary?

Hall started working on this bill last year after she was approached by a physician at one of these freestanding emergency departments. This constituent shared with her some of the issues that are seen at these departments, including them being understaffed and not having all the necessary equipment for emergency care providers to properly do their jobs.

“His position was, this is not allowing us to do our job to the best of our abilities as emergency physicians,” Hall said.

During the committee hearing, Rae Shelley Larsen, a nurse at one of these facilities shared her personal experience and why she thinks these changes are needed.

“I am concerned about safety with our staffing and giving our patients the best care, it is a safety issue,” Larsen said.

She shared that without the necessary staff she ends up doing the jobs of a lab tech and a respiratory therapist, both of which she is not fully trained or qualified to do, on top of being a nurse.

“We love the work that we do in our community, and we understand and our community loves us. They come to us and they trust us, and I’m afraid that trust that they’ve been giving us that we are going to not be able to uphold that trust in our community that we have established,” Larsen said.

This bill was originally introduced in 2024

Hall first started working on this bill over a year ago. It was introduced in last year’s legislative session and after passing through the House if was stopped in the Senate. She said that she worked hard over the interim to make the necessary changes to please all the stakeholders and get this bill through.

“It’s tough when you have something that you’re passionate about and that you know is for the public good not pass,” Hall said. “But at the same time, that just makes me want to try even harder to make something happen and come up with the right policy.”

Hall shared that she worked hard over the year, meeting with physicians, nurses and hospital administrators as well as visiting facilities from all four hospital systems, in order to prepare the bill for this legislative session.

She pointed out that she had to make a few compromises and concessions to get all the stakeholders on board with the bill. One of these necessary changes was that if a facility cannot get a respiratory therapist that position can be filled by someone else with respiratory training such as an EMT.

“There are lots of things that she’s required in this field that just makes sense, and the ones that didn’t we were able to find compromise, and I think we’ve gotten everything that we need,” said Francis Gibson with the Utah Hospital Association.

Utah’s matchup with Cincinnati at the Huntsman Center late Tuesday night was filled with big second-half runs, lots of offense in the first half and plenty of physical defense in the second half.

In the end, the Utes won a grind-it-out game, 69-66.

3 takeaways

Two big runs defined a large part of the second half. Utah had a game-high eight-point lead at 44-36 early in the second half before going cold.

Over the next six minutes, Cincinnati forged a 14-0 run and moved ahead by six, as it used a physical defensive effort to force six Utah turnovers and five straight misses.

Utah, though, responded well and went on an 18-4 run of its own after the basket finally opened back up.

Keanu Dawes and Hunter Erickson sparked the start of the run, as the Utes moved up by eight again with five minutes to play.

Utah owned the boards. Utah held a 20-9 edge in rebounding during the first half, limiting the number of second chances for Cincinnati.

The Utes also made a pair of putbacks late in the first half — from Dawes and Mike Sharavjamts — that helped them take a six-point lead into halftime.

The Utes ended up with a 41-23 rebounding edge and owned a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint.

Utah shot out the lights in the first half, but it was a defensive struggle in the second. The Utes shot 66.7% in the first half, making 18 of 27 shots from the field. That included making 4 of 7 from 3-point range, as Utah was able to move the ball and led 40-34 at the break.

Then, in the second half, defense dominated the game.

Utah shot 36.4% after halftime, while Cincinnati was 33.3% from the floor in a back-and-forth game.

The Utes had 11 of their 19 turnovers in the second half, and the Bearcats turned that into a 21-10 edge in points off turnovers.

Ultimately, the Utes outshot their visitors 53.1% to 39.3% and made the plays in an ugly final minute to win.

Gabe Madsen, who scored a team-high 18 points, made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 15 seconds to wrap up the victory.

What’s next

The Utes (12-8, 4-5 Big 12) hit the road and will face Oklahoma State on Saturday (1 p.m. MST, ESPN+) at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys (10-9, 2-6 Big 12) play at Kansas State on Wednesday before hosting Utah.

Utah is known for its breathtaking landscapes, pioneering spirit and industrious people. But did you know our state is also a powerhouse of aerospace and defense innovation? With industry giants like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Boeing driving technological development alongside our world-class universities and Hill Air Force Base, Utah has solidified itself as a leader in this high-flying sector.

Nationally, 2.2 million people are employed in this thriving sector, earning wages that are 50% higher than the national average. In Utah, the aerospace and defense industry accounts for an impressive 20% of Utah’s economy, employing nearly 300,000 individuals. Utah’s foresight ensures we’re punching above our weight.

This legislative session marks the dawn of an exciting chapter for Utah’s aerospace ambitions. We are proposing the formation of an exploratory committee to evaluate the feasibility of building a spaceport in our state, focusing on logistical, economic and environmental factors. Imagine it: a Utah spaceport — the gateway to the next frontier of exploration and discovery.

Why Utah? The answer is simple: Utah’s aerospace ecosystem is already soaring, and we’re about to take it to a whole new altitude. Our existing aerospace infrastructure provides a solid foundation, while our geographic advantages — clear airspace, favorable weather and excellent transportation networks — make us an ideal candidate.

This isn’t just a pipe dream.

On Feb. 11, 1971, the Utah Legislature passed SB121, establishing the “Space Port Committee.”

This committee brought together a wide range of local business leaders, political figures and state government officials. Feasibility studies led by University of Utah professors from engineering, economics and other fields highlighted that Utah’s high elevation could result in significant cost savings for space shuttle launches. The studies emphasized that more payload could be sent into orbit at a lower cost.

The Utah Spaceport Committee worked diligently to gain support, gathering endorsements from Utah’s congressional delegation, state and local officials and even representatives from neighboring states. The committee also organized visits to Utah for members of Congress and NASA officials to bolster their case.

While Utah was primed and ready, Cape Canaveral was ultimately selected as the launch site for the research and development phase.

This time around, we’re already one foot in the door. Utah-based Northrop Grumman already produces the solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Space Launch System, which powers the Artemis missions.

Utah universities and research institutions contribute to space exploration through cutting-edge research in fields such as robotics, material science and planetary science. Institutions like Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory are renowned for building small satellite systems and conducting research on space weather and imaging technologies.

A spaceport would solidify Utah as a prominent player in the global space industry and open more doors for Utahns in high-tech careers like aerospace engineering and space science.

A spaceport would act as a magnet for investment, partnerships and talent, bolstering Utah’s thriving clusters in technology, manufacturing and aerospace. It would diversify our economy, create high-quality jobs and foster innovation across sectors.

Some might wonder if this initiative is too ambitious. To that, we say: Utah’s story has always been one of bold ambition. From building a thriving economy in the heart of the desert to becoming a global hub for innovation, we’ve never shied away from dreaming big. By investing in the future of space exploration, we’re paving the way for the next frontier of possibility.

Utah stands at a crossroads. We can watch from the sidelines as the space industry takes off, or we can lead the way. By exploring the feasibility of a spaceport, we’re choosing to lead, to innovate and to dream big.

Utahns appear to agree with Gov. Spencer Cox’s mantra that we must build, new research found.

More than 2/3 of about 600 Utah adults surveyed at the end of last year agreed the state is in a “major” housing crisis or at least facing serious challenges.

Though Utahns surveyed by Envision Utah and Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy disagreed on what caused the crisis, they were more likely to agree the solution is building more housing.

Ari Bruening, CEO of Envision Utah, said housing is the “greatest worry about life in Utah.” The group is nearly two decades old and focuses on growth-related challenges.

“Most Utahns realize this is one problem we can build our way out of,” Bruening said, “they just want us to do it in a well-planned way that doesn’t threaten other aspects of our quality of life.”

Utah will be 153,000 units short in five years

Utah faces a massive housing shortage compounded by high interest rates and a lag in construction. Projections show the state will be 153,000 housing units short of demand by 2030.

Respondents to the survey rated possible reasons from one to seven based on how much each has contributed to the crisis. The top reasons were:

• 67% cited interest rates

• 58% pointed to construction costs

• 57% blamed greed by landlords and developers

• 53% said too many people are moving to Utah

• 35% faulted the lack of housing supply

Though Utahns could not agree on what caused the housing crisis, a slight majority agreed the path out — 53% said the state needs to “build more homes and increase the overall number and availability of homes and apartments.” But another 21% disagreed with that solution, and 26% were neutral.

The survey also found people worry most about low-income individuals and families, first-time homebuyers, young families and community workers like librarians and firefighters.

And why is Utah is growing? In agreement, respondents said Utah is an attractive place to live and officials need to manage growth responsibly so additional housing doesn’t lead to more traffic, crime or overuse of public services.

Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy, a group focused on increasing affordable housing options for middle-income workers, launched the campaign “Demand More Supply” in December.

The public awareness campaign highlights the connection between housing shortages and rising costs and advocates for the state to build its way out of the crisis.

Steve Waldrip, Cox’s senior advisor for housing strategy and an executive board member with Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy, said the state has to add housing supply to make sure the American Dream is still an option for Utahns.

“That’s why our campaign is focused on raising awareness of the core problem of high home prices — not enough supply,” Waldrip said in a statement.

Cox already is championing efforts to increase the housing supply. The governor wants to add 35,000 starter houses within five years, a push aimed at making homes more affordable for young families and a workforce squeezed by the high cost of living.

“Demand More Supply” also calls for proven solutions, including zoning reforms, public-private partnerships, incentives and cutting what they call red tape.

Lawmakers have proposed bills that would do some of those things.

One bill would make building accessory dwelling units and modular homes easier.

Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, is proposing HB88, which would require cities in the first- and second-class counties of Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, Washington and Weber to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, on lots with detached, single-family homes and modular units in residential zones.

Ward also has proposed legislation that would allow housing in commercial zones.

SB152 from Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake, would prohibit local officials from requiring a garage on one- and two-family homes.

Construction material costs have skyrocketed in recent years, with the price for some materials growing by more than 70% between 2020 and 2024, according to the National Association of Home Builders, meaning garageless homes are less expensive to build — and buy.

Another bill, HB37, would create an optional overlay tool for cities to provide a density bonus in exchange for affordable, owner-occupied units.

That legislation, from Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, also aims to improve data collection about housing, zoning, development, and infrastructure and would require the creation of regional plans around housing by next summer.

Other bills would:

• Lower the damages a jury or court can award in an eviction case from treble damages — triple the daily rent from the expiration of the initial eviction notice until the tenant leaves the rental unit — to actual damages.

• Make changes to existing programs that let local governments use tax increment financing — or TIF, which is tax revenue beyond an established base in a given area — to support development and infrastructure.

• Add language to state law clarifying who can buy a single-family home in Utah.

• Set a required notice period for rent increases.

• Make it easier for local governments to regulate and tax short-term rentals.

• Bolster the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund with state liquor revenues.