City Weekly May 28, 2026

CITY WEEKLY

BET ON IT

Experts warn that gambling addiction is rising with propbet and prediction apps.

BY CAROLYN CAMPBELL AND CATHERINE H. CHRISTMAN

S AP

BOX

“Ogden City Council approves paid parking …” May 7 Online The saddest part are the local businesses that just lost their livelihood. You can all thank the Republicans you voted into office, starting with the Mayor. This will no longer be in the Top 10 quaintest cities. Ghost town?

JANEYUTAH Via Instagram

Nobody is paying to go to Ogden.

MABERRY12 Via Instagram

Paid parking frees up parking for those who actually need it and provides funds for improving conditions for everyone else. Love it.

HAYDEN.JONES004 Via Instagram

Remove the City Council. They work for the people. Make them remember.

ANGRYFLORIST Via Instagram

Everyone complaining about paying a literal dollar to park; meanwhile, this money is gonna go to actually keep roads maintained and pothole-free. Y’all live in Ogden, I promise you can afford $1 to park on this street maybe once every other month.

_ACTUALLY_AJ Via Instagram

They just have to enshitify every bit of land. No one in Ogden will benefit from this decision.

_BUGWITCH Via Instagram

I say we all go park and just sit in our cars for a few days. Families can’t afford to feed themselves, let alone go out for some ice cream or dinner on 25th Street. Childhood me is pissed. Your debt is not our debt.

KENNSTRUCHEN Via Instagram

Talk about adding insult to injury, LOL. First, you find yourself in Ogden. And then you’ve got to pay?

JK_RUPP Via Instagram

Ick, adding paid parking on top of soaring energy bills, grocery receipts and fuel prices feels like a final, suffocating straw. Boycotting downtown Ogden until this gets resolved. Jump on board!

JP_SKI.THE.WEST Via Instagram

I thought they wanted to encourage people to go out?

SPENCER TERRY Via Facebook

Don’t you just love how city councils make their own decisions no matter what the people want? Just make sure you remember that the next time you go to vote for city council people.

RICK DAVIS Via Facebook

Any government entity lately doesn’t give a shit about the opinion of the taxpaying citizens and what they think is right or fair. Town halls and public meetings for new programs are a way for the government employees to say, “this is what is happening, whether you like it or not.” We don’t get to vote against anything anymore. The 12 or so council members in every program supersede any argument. And the taxpaying citizens just get screwed.

ROB STOREY Via Facebook

Care to sound off on a feature in our pages or about a local concern? Write to comments@ cityweekly.net or post your thoughts on our social media. We want to hear from you!

THE WATER COOLER

Describe an anonymous good deed you’ve done for someone.

Mike Ptaschinski

About 15 years ago I was eating breakfast at Over the Counter and noticed four of my former students in a back corner. I got their waitress to give me their bill and I paid it on the sly. I’d seen this in a movie a couple of times and I always wanted to be that guy. Felt good.

Zach Abend

A few days ago I bought an unhoused person some food.

Gavin Dahl

I was shocked to learn an old friend was experiencing suicidal ideation. We talked for an hour and he got back to me soon after saying things were better already. It’s so important to embrace people going through tough times to fight the feelings of alienation and hopelessness.

Scott Renshaw

A couple of times I’ve done that thing at a drive-thru, where I pay for the person behind me. And a little part of me always wants to go inside and wait to see who the person will be who stops the chain of good will and is just a taker.

Benjamin

Wood

I try to fix things on the street—moving hazards like downed signs, throwing litter away and, of course, reporting illegal parking on the mySLC app.

OPINION

BY JOHN HARRINGTON

Stupid and Menacing

Sometimes you have to see an immoral, costly, stupid idea right in front of your eyes before you can ask the question, “What are these people thinking?” So it goes with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center planned out at 6020 W. 300 South—the massively misguided plot to throw 10,000 souls into a human warehouse before they can be kicked out of the country.

The Department of Homeland Security is buying warehouses all over the U.S, but Utah’s is the most expensive. An overpriced $145.4 million before alterations was blown on a lockup that would dwarf the state’s entire prison system.

The mayors of both Salt Lake City and County are on the record as strongly opposed to this. Maybe they think they can privately negotiate with ICE/DHS now that Kristi Noem is gone. My Washington D.C. sources say: “Fat chance negotiating with these guys.”

In Utah, ICE can stash 10,000 people next to an international airport for easier deportation, possibly to war-torn countries like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An easy airport access concentration camp!

Here’s the dictionary definition of a concentration camp: Mass detention of civilians based on group identity, not individual criminal acts. No judicial process—no charges, no trial, no conviction required. Confinement under guard with no freedom of movement. Conditions typically well below normal civil standards.

Plus, if this gets built, our environment and wallets are going to feel it. Let’s do the numbers; all figures are verified.

The estimated finishing cost to make this building a legal holding pen for 10,000 people is some $250 million to $500 million, on top of the purchase price, or around a half billion tax bucks.

The ICE warehouse is 833,000 square feet. That divided by 10,000 people comes to 83.3 square feet per person. However, once any internal infrastructure space is subtracted, actual living space falls below the American Correctional Association minimum of 35 square feet to 60 square feet of living space, potentially to as low as 20 square feet per detainee. The facility would violate legal detention standards before it even opens.

Also legally mandated: 1,000 toilets; 833 showers; 833 sinks. These are ICE’s own Performance Based National Detention Standard (PBNDS) requirements. One sink and one shower per 12 detainees—that’s 2,666 plumbing fixtures.

The building is currently a bare concrete slab. Fixtures all require water supply lines, drain lines and hot water connections to be cut through a reinforced concrete floor.

Then there’s the water and energy nightmare. At a standard 100 gallons per person per day for correctional/detention facilities, multiplied by 10,000 people—that’s one million gallons a day; 365 million gallons of water per year!

Let’s not forget the sewer. The wastewater rate would be 694 gallons per minute flowing continuously, almost all of that as sewage, requiring the full capacity of an entire standard municipal sewage treatment plant to handle some 310 million gallons a year. This one facility would force the construction of a dedicated, multi-million-dollar treatment plant.

They’re also going to need industrial boiler systems to heat the water for roughly 625 simultaneous showers (another PBNDS requirement). Major natural gas and electrical infrastructure also must be installed, with all utility cost increases passed onto rate payers in the community.

They will likely need pumps to move sewage uphill into a new city system. The area out there is the lowest in the valley. They’ll need kitchen grease traps for three meals per day for 10,000 people. (Maybe they’ll starve them like they are doing at the Camp East Montana facility in El Paso?) Commercial-scale grease interceptors are required by code before any discharge to municipal sewers.

It’ll stink in there without fresh air. A major ventilation and HVAC overhaul must be done. Standard warehouse

HVAC is designed for stuff, not for 10,000 people. You have to handle CO2, humidity and odor loads. And they’ll need an industrial laundry for 10,000 sets of clothing, linens and towels, washed regularly.

The annual electrical draw would be 153 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, based on 15,300 kWh per inmate. Including other needs, the peak electrical load for the one building runs up to an astounding 17.3 megawatts, equivalent to powering approximately 12,000 average U.S. homes 24/7/365. They’re going to need a big new substation.

Don’t forget the natural gas. The combined energy demand comes to some 520 billion British Thermal Units (BTUs) per year, or 52 million BTUs per inmate, times 10,000. The natural gas share is around 35% of total energy, some 182 billion BTUs per year. Commercial gas main extensions, with capacity far beyond anything currently serving the industrial zone around the warehouse, must be built. Rate payers will foot the bill.

The annual utility cost estimate at current rates is $16 million per year. Then there’s labor and operational costs, which will be many millions more. All on the public dime.

ICE’s claims versus the stark reality are absurd. DHS says this thing will deliver economic benefit to the community. As we see from the verified numbers, we are talking about a permanent drain on very scarce water, as well as demands for sewer, electrical and gas.

Now, the worst part. This scheme comes with a staggering loss of our collective morality. It is intentionally meant to destroy human dignity and basic established legal rights for those being interred.

Where do the state’s “moral leaders” like the LDS Church and other clergy stand on this? Where is the state legislature, that body of self-declared “morality?” Where is the governor? Ironically, here in the world capital of Mormonism, how many of these concentration camp detainees will be from countries where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends its missionaries?

Don’t ignore this.

Ignorance is not bliss. It’s a killer. Ask Minneapolis. Send feedback to comments@cityweekly.net

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HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele BY BENJAMIN WOOD

MISS: Supplemental Income

You might remember the late Sen. Orrin Hatch and his deep appreciation of the dietary supplement industry. Yes, at roughly $16 billion per year, it’s Utah’s third-biggest industry, largely thanks to those Utah County herbalists and natural healers, plus Hatch and his donor network. Hatch sponsored the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994, allowing supplements to be sold without FDA clinical trials. Under this law, supplements are considered food, not drugs. But move over Hatch, Sen. John Curtis is pushing into the arena, sponsoring a bill to give “users” a little tax incentive. It’s all about MAHA, Curtis says. Maybe it will be as effective as removing fluoride from our drinking water. The government website still advises “supplements can’t take the place of the variety of foods that are important to a healthy eating routine.” But if you’re wondering, the website still takes you to the upsidedown food pyramid.

HIT: Pay It Forward

Just when you thought that only billionaires mattered, a half-million dollars said differently. Four years ago, the First Congregational Church sold its Foothill Boulevard meetinghouse, and they got a boatload of money for it. There are probably many ways a congregation could spend a windfall, but we’re talking about a Christian community whose congregation—small as it has become—wanted to make an impact that mattered. Crossroads Urban Center was one recipient, whose $500,000 donation will help build a new thrift store and food pantry. The retirement community Friendship Manor, which also serves people with disabilities, got $1 million. The INN Between homeless hospice was granted $250,000. “When we sold our building .. our fellowship was convinced that this was more God’s resource than ours,” the Rev. Doug Gray told The Salt Lake Tribune

MISS: Chilling Effect

The evolution of words is no more evident than in the meaning of “homeland security.” Younger Americans will be surprised to learn the Department Homeland Security was originally conceived in the interest of unity and harmony and that the phrase “homeland security” was originally meant to be reassuring, according to an NPR analysis. Since then, much has happened— government shutdowns, insurrections, September 11 and, of course, Donald Trump. Utahns, take heed. Gov. Spencer Cox is firmly in the Trump court. He’s said he likes the idea of an ICE holding facility and, in fact, a Tribune report enumerated the many flights from the state taking detainees to other cities in the country. It’s no secret that Cox is unhappy with constituent pushback on many issues, and he did sign a memorandum of understanding with the administration to speed through federal reviews. Certainly, the difficult path to a Box Elder data center was giving him heartburn. All of this has given Homeland Security a new meaning—and it’s kind of ICE-y. CW

Cut Off

On Sunday, the Utah Transit Authority began the work of repairing, replacing and upgrading the Trax crossing on 2100 South. Known as a “State of Good Repair” project, the maintenance—however necessary it might be—will be keenly felt by transit riders, disrupting the entirety of the light rail network for a full month.

Trax is rightly known (at least among transportation folks) for punching above its weight. But one of its most glaring deficiencies is the single spine of track between Central Pointe Station (2100 South) and Courthouse Station (400 South) that fuses the Red, Blue and Green lines together like a lumbering Hydra.

This is why, along with lack of funding, peak train frequencies are stubbornly locked at 15 minutes. And it’s a large part of why—again, along with lack of funding—we don’t have 24hour Green Line service to the airport.

There’s simply no way around the logjam and it starts at Central Pointe Station, where even the S-Line Streetcar pops in to say “Hi.” The crossing into Central Pointe at 2100 South is the beating heart of the entire Trax network, and UTA says the time has come for a transplant.

That’s why every Trax stop between Ballpark at 1300 South and Meadowbrook in South Salt Lake, including West Valley’s River Trail Station, is shut down until June 20.

The good news: Trax trips that both originate and terminate within Salt Lake City will be impacted, but won’t be stopped. Ballpark is already the final Salt Lake City station before you cross into the suburbs (1700 South station when?) so all of the city’s stations and routes will continue to operate.

That said, the spillover effects of the closures—particularly the busloads of confused, angry riders being picked up and dropped off at bridge locations— are guaranteed to result in delays downtown. Guaranteed.

The bad news: For trips in and out of the city from the suburbs, don’t even bother with Trax until July. Bus bridges will be available to take people from Meadowbrook and River Trail to Ballpark, but to put it bluntly—bus bridges are trash.

If you typically ride the Blue Line, get to State Street and catch the 200 bus, which runs every 15 minutes. If you ride the Red Line—or if you take Blue to and from the Depot District— transfer to FrontRunner at Murray North and then catch one of the highfrequency buses out of Salt Lake Central (like the 2 or 220) and North Temple Station (including, again, the 200).

If you ride the Green Line, well … bless your heart. Depending on your trip, you can use the high-frequency 217 on Redwood Road to link up with the other end of the Green Line. Or the new MVX bus rapid transit route out of West Valley Central will get you to Murray North, where you can catch FrontRunner into town.

It’s going to be a rough month, but we’ll get through this together. And just remember, it still beats sitting in traffic and paying for gas. CW

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LagoonTube

Social media influencers celebrate their affection for the Utah amusement park.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

For many years, high-profile theme parks around the country and around the world have been the play—and work— ground for social-media influencers, sharing their tips, tricks and affection for places that for most are just occasional destinations. Here in Utah, Farmington’s Lagoon Park isn’t any exception to the way park regulars can turn their favorite places into content.

While content based around Lagoon certainly doesn’t have the built-in audience of material shot at a Disney property, the park’s profile has risen in recent years, in part thanks to investment in state-ofthe-art attractions like Cannibal and Primordial. According to Tyler (“Ty”)—who runs the YouTube channel The XP Project—“It’s now more like a theme park than a carnival park.”

A Utah native, Ty grew up taking Lagoon trips with his family. “Basically, I don’t remember my first time going there,” he recalls. “I’ve just been going my whole life.”

While he had been a less frequent visitor to Lagoon during the years surrounding the COVID epidemic in 2020, Ty got the itch again a few years ago as he dealt with health issues. “I was fairly overweight, and needed to get my body moving,” he says. “I made a commitment to get out [to Lagoon] two to three times a week. … I decided to start a YouTube channel. I picked up the cheapest GoPro I could find.”

Ty acknowledges that as a self-proclaimed “Disney adult,” he watched a lot

of Disney Park YouTubers, and took some influence from them in developing his approach to park-centric videos. Yet while he occasionally makes videos for his Disneyland trips, he remains focused on Lagoon.

“My fans weren’t as receptive [to Disneyland videos],” he notes. “The fans just want Lagoon. … People think there aren’t enough people who go to Lagoon to get any followers, but I don’t think that’s right.”

As Lagoon opened for the 2026 season, Ty created videos addressing the “state of Lagoon,” as well as offering advice for those planning visits. “I wanted to just be the average guy,” he says of his approach, “like I’m just talking to my fans. I just want to be like everyone’s there with me.”

While the Lagoon YouTuber community is smaller, the creators have made some connections, as Ty notes having met Vladimir Chopine, who produces content for the Wonderlanders YouTube channel with his wife, Ami. While Chopine is not a Utah native, and was in fact born in Soviet-era Russia, a similar nostalgic connection is part of his interest in Lagoon. “In 1991, I went there on my first date with my wife,” Chopine says—and he recently shared footage of that visit on their channel, as a way to show how much the park has changed.

A veteran of creating YouTube content going back to the earliest days of the platform, on topics including computers and graphic design, Chopine created the Wonderlanders channel more recently—not exclusively as a home for Lagoon content, but as a more general place to chronicle his and Ami’s adventures.

“It’s a visual journal of our lives,” Chopine says. “I like other people watching, but I’m writing a history with my wife.”

Still, he and Ami have become enough of a fixture at the park that they were given a commemorative pin on the opening day of the park’s new Nutcracker attraction—“for people who spend too much time at Lagoon,” he joked. And he believes there is still plenty of reason to visit, even for two adults in their 50s, and considering that a neck injury has made certain rides inadvisable for him.

A&E

“If you look on YouTube, you see a lot of 20-year-old people going around,” Chopine says. “I’m almost 60. What about from an empty-nester’s point of view, for people who think they’re too old for the parks, people who think it’s just an amusement park with screaming?”

While some theme-park content creators have turned their channels into fulltime jobs, both Ty and Chopine—whose pages boast around 1,300 and 5,700 subscribers, respectively—have other day jobs. They do not create their videos because such efforts are big revenue-generators. There’s also the reality that Lagoon’s main attractions are closed during the winter, leaving such options as occasional visits to the Beer Garden during the off-season.

Yet both channels are able to see from comments the appreciation that viewers have for Lagoon-based content, and Ty reports that more channels are starting to focus on the park.

He believes that it has a unique appeal, even if in some ways, it remains primarily local.

“There’s a magic about Lagoon, and I think maybe you can only feel that if you grew up here,” Ty remarks. “It feels like a community and a family. We knew everyone who worked there. You knew the lifeguard on duty when you were at LagoonA-Beach. … It is family-owned, that’s something people don’t know. There’s a different passion there than a corporateowned thing.” CW

theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT

Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

SB Dance Curbside Theater @ Asher Adams

It’s amazing how something that started as a matter of necessity can turn into a creative boon. That’s certainly been the case for Stephen Brown and SB Dance, as the Curbside Theater concept—created during the height of the COVID epidemic as a way to bring dance productions to audiences outdoors in a safe, socially-distanced way—has since become the company’s preferred method for presentation, as the summer season hits a variety of unique locations around Utah.

MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2026

“Theaters are cool, don’t get me wrong,” Brown told City Weekly in 2022. “But how far can you push this? The closest thing to it is sitespecific work, but this is site-non-specific; the whole point is that we can do this at a high level of production almost anywhere. As a creator, it’s this new canvas for me. ... And, I reach an entirely different group of people. You break down these barriers between artist and viewer.”

For the 2026 season, Curbside Theater will be appearing in locations ranging from Salt Lake’s TWIG Media Lab Studios on June 6 to Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder on Aug. 15. This week, you can catch the company at the Asher Adams for a performance that includes reprises of their productions When Love Calls and Box of Dolls. SB Dance presents Curbside Theater at the Asher Adams Hotel (2 S. 400 West) at 8:30 p.m. The show is free to the public, but reservations are available. Visit sbdance.com for the reservation link, full season calendar and additional show information. (Scott Renshaw)

Neil deGrasse Tyson:

An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies, Part II

For more than 20 years, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has been second only perhaps to Bill Nye as a public-facing voice of science in popular culture. The Harvard-educated scientist has appeared as a guest on multiple talk shows and quiz shows, yet became even better known on social media—particularly X (formerly Twitter)—for his infamously curmudgeonly views about movies and television shows presenting scientific ideas in an unreasonable manner.

To that end, one of his regular touring presentations became An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies, as he talked about famous (and infamous) examples of films getting science both right and wrong. He’s now on to a second iteration of the program, An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies, Part II, with examples ranging from 2001: A Space Odyssey to Mary Poppins. “Movies are part of our shared pop culture, and … occasionally there’s science in there worth commenting on,” Tyson said in an interview with Fox 59’s Indy Now about the show. “Armageddon violates more laws of physics per minute. It’s a thoroughly entertaining film, and I don’t want to take away from the joy anyone has while watching it. I’m just sayin’.” As for positive examples? “On The Martian, Andy Weir, who’s an engineer-turned-novelist, said he imagined me looking over his shoulder, that he didn’t want to mess something up and have me tweet about it later,” Tyson added.

Neil deGrasse Tyson’s An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies, Part II comes to the Eccles Theater (131 S. Main St.) Tuesday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $44.50 at saltlakecountyarts.org. (SR)

Jenna Evans Welch: Love & Gelato

We all get a little self-righteous about the term “nepo baby,” and it is perhaps a little easier to get your foot in the door within the publishing industry when your dad is bestselling author Richard Paul Evans. Still, there was no guarantee that Utah’s own Jenna Evans Welch would hit the bestseller lists herself, as she did in 2016 with her debut YA novel Love & Gelato, about an American teenager’s romantic adventure in Rome, which was subsequently turned into a Netflix feature film and was followed up by a pair of other Europe-set teen romances.

That’s a genre Welch feels comfortable in, and believes shouldn’t be dismissed, as she shared in a 2020 interview with Publishers Weekly. “I think it’s easy for adults to look down on the relationships we form as teenagers as a simple or small thing, but … those early [romantic] relationships are important. We learn a lot about ourselves through them. I decided that I wanted to write for teenagers when I was 11 years old because, when I was ready to read teen books, I went to the section and was disappointed. There was a tiny little shelf and I remember noticing that half of the books were about cheerleaders. … I wanted adventure and magic and kissing, too.”

Jenna Evans Welch visits Sweetaly Gelato (1527 S. 1500 East) to present a 10th anniversary collector’s edition of Love & Gelato on Wednesday, June 3 at 5 p.m. Event is free to the public but Eventbrite reservation is requested; visit kingsenglish.com. (SR)

City Weekly’s Best Of Utah

Pirate O’s claim to fame is their variety of oddball candies that would make Willy Wonka blush. Shelves are lined with gourmet chocolate bars containing ingredients like popping candy, cayenne and potato chips. They’ve got gummy Bagel Bites and sushi, cotton candy “animal poo” and beer-flavored Jelly Bellies. Even bacon donuts will seem tame once you taste their bacon hot chocolate.

STAY TUNED FOR THE 2026 BEST OF UTAH BALLOT THIS AUGUST!

Each week, City Weekly will publish, email to our Best of Utah list and post on our socials an expanded version of our beloved Best of Utah issue. With over 400 categories to choose from, we selected our favorites to post from now til the Best of Utah issue in November. Remember, always support local!

CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE! sales@cityweekly.net

JUNE 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 19, AND 20.

Gates: 7:30 pm | Show: 8:00 pm Draper Amphitheater This show is licensed by Concord Theatricals.

June 2026 Special Screenings

Summer family matinees, SLFS Summer Showdown, Moulin Rouge! and more.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

Family Series at Megaplex and Cinemark: The kids are out of school; now what do you do? One popular option is family-friendly features on a big screen, at a bargain price. Megaplex Theatres (megaplex.com) locations showcase a lineup of matinees including The Secret Life of Pets, Trolls, the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon, Dog Man, Sing, Curious George and more, all for just $2.50 per admission, and concessions deals available beginning with four movies on a punch card. Cinemark Theatres’ (cinemark.com) “Summer Movie Clubhouse” offerings include Paddington, Sonic the Hedgehog, KPop Demon Hunters, Shrek Forever After and more for $1.75, plus special concessions deals. Visit theater websites for full lineups, dates and times.

SLFS Summer Showdown: Every summer, Broadway Centre Cinemas become an arena for battle, as classic films are pitted against one another, with tickets sold marking the ultimate champion. Showdowns begin May 29 – 30 with Bubba Ho-Tep vs. The Big Lebowski, continuing in June with psychological thrillers The Handmaiden vs. Gone Girl (June 5 – 6), a dystopian weekend of Blade Runner 2049 vs. V for Vendetta (June 12 – 13), Welcome to

Week” (see below, June 19 – 20), and the glamtastic Hedwig and the Angry Inch vs. Velvet Goldmine (June 26 – 27). Showdowns continue through Labor Day weekend; for full schedule, visit slfs.org.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World @ Brewvies

Sunday Brunch: Edgar Wright 100% understood the assignment in adapting Bryan Lee O’Malley’s cult-favorite graphic novel series about a 20-something Canadian slacker (played by Michael Cera) and his video-game-inspired journey through life and love. The killer cast includes Chris Evans, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman and Kieran Culkin, in a goofy action-and-music-filled extravaganza. Brewvies (677 S. 200 West) presents the feature as part of its Sunday Brunch Series for a free screening on Sunday, May 31 at noon. brewvies.com

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez @ Utah Film Center: Artist bio-docs generally operate within a fairly narrow register between “okay” and “pretty good,” but there’s a friskiness to director David Alvarado’s approach to profiling pioneering Chicano playwright/filmmaker Luis Valdez (Zoot Suit, La Bamba) that gives it

more life than the usual hagiography. It’s an energetic portrait of the era it does choose to cover, with Edward James Olmos popping in periodically to reprise his role as Zoot Suit’s semi-omniscient Pachuco narrator, and some terrific archival footage of Valdez’s earlier works. Utah Film Center (375 W. 400 North) presents a free screening on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m., including a post-film discussion. Register online at utahfilmcenter.org

Moulin Rouge! @ Pioneer Park Outdoor Film Series: Fun fact: As Moulin Rouge! celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, it also marks my 25th anniversary as Salt Lake City Weekly film critic, as that was the first feature I reviewed in my new role. Over that time, Baz Luhrmann’s gaudy, romantic jukebox musical starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor has become a cult classic; I claim no such similar status. Join the Utah Film Center for a free outdoor screening at Pioneer Park (350 S. 300 West) on Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m. utahfilmcenter.org

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves w/ Utah Symphony: “Live to screen” symphony performances of feature films have generally showcased blockbusters

like the Star Wars saga or Harry Potter. But 2023’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves—the fantasy adventure inspired by the beloved role-playing game, from writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Game Night)—was a bit of a box-office disappointment, despite positive reviews. Here’s a chance to catch up with this charming romp, with the Utah Symphony playing Lorne Balfe’s score to accompany the screening at Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple) on June 19 – 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $18 at utahsymphony.org

“Bleak Week” @ SLFS: Some people go to the movies to feel better about the world— and if so, there are certain movies that you absolutely shouldn’t watch. As part of a special recognition of some of the darkest, creepiest cinematic journeys into dark corners, the Broadway Centre Cinemas (111 E. 300 South) presents not just the Summer Showdown combo of Welcome to the Dollhouse and Gummo (see above) on June 19 – 20, but also Belá Tarr’s epic Werckmeister Harmonies (June 21), Lars von Trier’s apocalyptic Melancholia (June 22) and Federico Fellini’s La Strada (June 22). Get ready to get grim. For schedule and tickets, visit slfs.org.

Experts warn that gambling addiction is rising with prop-bet and prediction apps.

BY CAROLYN CAMPBELL AND CATHERINE H. CHRISTMAN comments@cityweekly.net

While few would confuse Utah with Hawaii, they do have one thing in common—they’re the only two states with total bans on sports betting, casinos and lotteries. Nonetheless, it would be foolhardy to conclude that gambling doesn’t exist within the Beehive State’s borders. It’s just harder to pin down, because the activity is measured, conducted out of state, or carried out on a cell phone.

First, the big picture. The International Business Times reports that the global gambling market in 2025 was a stunning $574 billion. So, what exactly are people betting all this money on?

Once upon a time, there was a whimsical Broadway musical about gambling, called “Guys and Dolls,” that floated the then-ludicrous storyline that its characters would wager on outrageous things, like how many pieces of cheesecake were sold at a famous NY restaurant. Nowadays, thanks to the prolifer-

BET ON IT

ation of what’s known as prop bets, the “Guys and Dolls” plotline is no longer so abnormal. In fact, betting categories have drilled down so far that bettors can place a wager on how long the National Anthem will run at a given event.

Not surprisingly, sports betting addiction is reportedly on the rise. It’s easy to understand why. In fact, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has likened the ability to place bets on cell phones to basketball fans having a casino in their pockets.

Bryce Herrera, a behavioral health specialist at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, said that many of his patients initially come to him for help with other issues—like substance abuse or alcohol addiction—but ulti-

mately disclose that they were too embarrassed to acknowledge they were also grappling with a sports betting habit.

“They often seem to feel more comfortable presenting for something else,” Herrera observed. “Many patients don’t think it’s a problem. They are embarrassed and don’t want to tell anyone about it.”

Other patients, Herrera noted, fail to recognize their gambling habit as an issue and aren’t willing to stop. In those cases, he said, it may fall on another person, like a parent, to gradually pick up on the problem that their child is dealing with.

“You’ll see a lot of highs and lows,” he said.

“One week, they’ll be feeling great, in a manic state of mind where they’ve been winning, and they’re spending more money and buying more clothes. Then, when they’re not doing as well, they’ll be more irritable and depressed day-to-day.”

So, what exactly is compulsive gambling?

According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on a person’s living conditions. Sports gambling addiction is characterized by a persistent urge to bet, leading to negative consequences in various aspects of life, including mental health, finances and relationships.

“The first step is trying to connect and be curious about what they are going through.”—Daniel Patterson

Daria Montgomery, executive director at the Salt Lake City mental health, alcohol and drug rehab Recovery Ways, explains that sports betting addiction also falls into the category of “process addiction,” where people become addicted to a particular behavior.

This wide-ranging category includes dependencies such as pornography, sex addiction and addiction to shopping. Montgomery said in 2025, “74% of our admissions for substance addiction revealed they had a process addiction as well.”

And no other condition, besides addiction, can so overwhelm a person’s psyche and hijack the survival messages within the brain, points out local clinical mental health counselor Lane Porter.

“The need and desire become a compulsion that is almost survivalistic,” he stressed. “The person with an addiction could think, ‘If I can’t do this, I will die.’”

Porter added that when pain is experienced in the form of anxiety and stress, and when an addictive or compulsive behavior is not satisfied, a person will continue to pursue it. He explained that the actual steps the person takes in the process may also become addictive in their own right, such as getting the necessary money together.

“All of that brings dopamine,” he said. “The body realizes that a reward is about to come. It goes through all of the chemical changes.”

In gambling, these steps could include placing a bet and the excitement of watching a game, both of which stimulate the release of dopamine. And because the dopamine hits are random, particularly for people who place multiple bets at a time, the gambler experiences intermittent sources of reinforcement that keep them hooked, Porter explained.

“Often, you don’t have just one bet; you have 20 bets,” he said. “Each time something comes up for any of those, it’s a random reward.”

Porter adds that sports betting addicts often look for the highest reward, like the inside scoop on a 31-1 blowout. “Because if you win,” he said, “it’s a huge win and the risk and the thrill are more exciting.”

According to Daniel Patterson, a clinical mental health counselor who runs the virtual practice No Shortcuts, many addicted gamblers feel that they can pull themselves out of debt, they just need to win big enough on their next wager.

Patterson’s clients are often young men. In fact, he said that most of the people who ask him about treatment for sports gambling and addiction are either adolescents or the parents of adolescents.

“While parents’ gut instinct is to restrict, the best approach is to get curious,” Patterson recommended. “The first step is trying to connect and be curious about what they are going through.”

He added that every addiction involves some form of emotional dysregulation, and behind every addiction is trauma. “[It’s] a psychological wound that they don’t have the skills or regulation to manage,” Patterson explained.

So, despite what is going on, Patterson urges parents to continue to see their child as someone of value. He added that a support person can strongly encourage professional behavioral help while still setting limits, such as not allowing bets to drain the family’s finances or a person’s retirement account.

“While staying curious and maintaining a non-judgmental stance, remember that the person with an addiction has to make the change themselves,” he said. “Yet a support person can help them see that it is valuable for them to have a pathway somewhere else.” CW

BY THE NUMBERS

1% of all adults, and 7% of young adults, are addicted to gambling, according to The Journal of Behavioral Addictions.

25% of sports gambling addicts are women. 67% of college and university students living on campus are bettors, according to an NCAA survey.

Not Your Granddaddy’s Nachos

Birria alfredo and baconwrapped chimichangas await at Nacho House.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

Even before I started drinking margaritas, I’ve always been comforted by the unwavering consistency of my local full-service Mexican restaurant. The basket of tortilla chips and salsa coming out before the meal—usually two chicken enchiladas, but these days a machaca plate does the trick—and the crimson, semi-opaque polypropylene tumblers represent an island of immutability in a chaotic and unforgiving world.

Perhaps this is why I have a soft spot in my heart for places like Nacho House, which use the nostalgia of full-service Mexican restaurants to package a unique take on Latin comfort food. Nacho House currently has two locations on the Wasatch Front. Its North Salt Lake location (15 S. Hwy 89) opened back in 2011, and garnered enough local support to open a second location in West Jordan (7191 S. Plaza Center Dr.). The latter restaurant’s spot in Jordan Landing is perfect for the kind of vibe it sets—it’s ideal for a casual dinner before seeing a movie at the Cinemark, but it’s got enough personality to set it apart from the other eateries in the area.

My initial interest in Nacho House was piqued when I saw the words “birria alfredo” (18.99) on the restaurant’s menu. If my personal sense of nostalgia wasn’t enough to get me through the door, the

thought of birria alfredo officially tipped the scale. I will always be a sucker for this kind of culinary cross-pollination— it’s usually good, and always entertaining—and I think birria alfredo is our sign that birria has officially reached its critical mass as a food trend.

I visited the West Jordan location of Nacho House with my family, which provided a good opportunity to check out Nacho House’s staples before digging into that alfredo. It’s worth noting that, even outside of the nacho plates, there are plenty of shareable entrees like tostadas ($14.99) and bacon ranch quesadillas ($15.99) on the menu. Also, anyone wanting vegetarian options will want to stick with anything “del bosque,” which swaps proteins out for sauteed squash, zucchini and mushrooms.

We went with the nachos fundidos ($13.99, but can be upsized to large for $16.99), which feature shredded chicken and carnitas smothered in melted cheese. Thanks to the pre-meal basket of chips, we had a good sense that the nachos would be above average; they’re the kind of tortilla chips that are thick enough to be load bearing, but they’ve got a nice yielding crunch. Of the two proteins available, I thought the carnitas were superior, which is most often the case. These nachos also come with a few dabs of salsa verde, which packs a modest capsaicin punch, so you may want to omit this if you don’t want your nachos spicy.

I didn’t quite know what to expect with the birria alfredo. I figured it would be good, because how could a combination like this not be, but I was pleasantly surprised by how balanced it was. Granted, a big plate of fettucini alfredo topped with slow-roasted birria is going to be a heavy trip, but there are some flourishes that help cut through the richness. The bowl of creamy pasta is topped with a tangle of purple pickled onions and a generous sprinkle of cilantro, and these ingredients do a lot of work to contrast the creamy, meaty goodness of this dish.

If you’re getting your drink on, a stein

of your favorite Mexican beer also helps wake up your tongue in between bites. The dish proper is just as good as it sounds—it veers affectionately close to your favorite beef stroganoff recipe, and I say that with nothing but respect. The alfredo accumulates a lot of that birria flavor, which makes it much more savory than the typical fettucini alfredo. By the taste of the carnitas on the nachos, I could tell that Nacho House knew how to slow roast a protein, and the birria is another testament of that. It’s tender, flavorful and works well with the starchy fettucini and creamy sauce.

If you’re over birria but still want to try some Latin-inspired pasta dishes, you can check out the lumbre pasta ($17.99), which turns up the heat with a chipotle cream sauce, or the vegetarian pasta poblana ($17.49) with its roasted poblano cream sauce. Each dish capitalizes on a creamy sauce, plenty of fettucini noodles and tasty, chunky accoutrements. This is the kind of fusion that I can definitely get behind, as the pasta entrees here capture what is great about each respective dish to create something totally unique.

Those who want to take a deeper dive into the crazy side of Nacho House’s menu will also want to check out the “chimi” section of the restaurant’s menu. A diminutive of chimichanga, Nacho House offers bacon-wrapped chimis ($15.99) that take the deep-fried burrito concept just a little further. It’s everything you’d hope a bacon-wrapped chimichanga would be.

On top of a solid menu of Mexican classics and a decent menu of signature items, Nacho House takes itself seriously enough to offer a welcoming experience for diners. Its lighting is on the moodier side, its staff is friendly and it’s the only place I know of where fettucini and birria come together so seamlessly. CW

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Elder Berry - Fruited Blonde Ale

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: White Out - White Stout

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap: Pink Boots - Pink Pony Pilz

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

NEW Releases: Kölsch, Dusseldorfer “Alt” Bier

Bonneville Brewery 1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street, SLC chappell.beer

On Tap: Pie Hole - Strawberry Rhubarb Tart Ale

Craft by Proper

1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: El Hefe - Hefeweizen

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap: Edge’s Special Bitter ESB

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: A rotation of 8 new draft beers!

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey EttaPlaceCider.com

On Tap: 435 Hopped Cider, Pineapple-Passion Fruit Session Mead

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers!

Grid City Beer Works

333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

In a Can: Extra Pale Ale

Heber Valley Brewing

501 N. Main Street, Heber City hebervalleybrewing.com

On Tap: Stellar Stream IPA

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper helperbeer.com

Hopkins Brewing Co. 1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany. com

On Tap: Hop Goddess

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Draft: Bliss IPA (Extremely Small Batch)

Kiitos Brewing

Sugar House Bar 1533 S. 1100 East, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Draft: Bliss IPA (Extremely Small Batch)

Level Crossing Brewing 2496 S. West Temple, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Nitro Sinday Pale Ale

Level Crossing Brewing

POST

550 South 300 West, Suite 100, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Helles Munich Pale Lager

Moab Brewing

686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  “Big Drop” West Coast Pilsner

Mountain West Cider

425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Mango Karma (Mango chai hard cider)

Offset Bier Co 1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/ On Tap: DOPO IPA

Ogden Beer Company

358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

On Tap: 11 rotating taps as well as high point cans and guest beers

Park City Brewing 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com On Tap: Hefe Yeah Brother!

Prodigy Brewing 25 W Center St., Logan Prodigy-brewing.com

On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner

Proper Brewing/ Proper Burger 857 & 865 So. Main properbrewingco.com  On Tap: Concerning HopsWest Coast IPA

A list of what local craft breweries and cider houses have on tap this week

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com  On Tap: Concerning HopsWest Coast IPA

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com On Tap: Grand Bavaria

Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: Bramble Brown

Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com On Tap: Hibiscus Sour

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, SLC SaltFireBrewing.com On Tap: Huckleberry Blonde Ale

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com On Tap: OPEN ROAD SERIES #3 - Barrel Aged Grand Cru

Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com On Tap: Newtown Pippin | ABV 7.40%

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek secondsummitcider.com On Tap: Blackberry Lime

Shades Brewing 1388 S. 300 West, SLC ShadesBrewing.beer New Batch: Raspberry Pistachio Sour Ale

Shades On State

366 S. State Street, SLC Shadesonstate.com On Tap: Six Wheat Under Hefeweizen

Silver Reef 4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George SGBev.com

Squatters Brew Pub Sugar House 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC squatterspubs.com On Tap:  Salt Lake Brewing Co. Big U Pilsner

Squatters Brew Pub West Valley 3555 Constitution Blvd, West Valley City squatterspubs.com

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Acapulco Gold Mexican Lager

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co. 147 W. Broadway, SLC squatterspubs.com

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Emigration Amber Ale

Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: “Virgil the Guide” (Italian Pilsner); “Smiles und Sunshine” (German Leichtes Weizen)

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville

596 S 1750 W, Springville StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: “Orange Hopsicle” Hazy Pale; “Trouble” American Sour with Mango and Passionfruit

TF Brewing

936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Twelve taps and high point cans available.

Talisman Brewing Co. 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden TalismanBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Berry Keller (Kellerbier); Save the Fkn Bees (Smoked Honey Kolsch)

Thieves Guild Cidery 117 W. 900 South, SLC thievesguildcidery.com

NEW: Seaside CitadelPineapple and passion fruit cider with a hint of sea salt | 6.5%

Uinta Brewing 1722 S. Fremont Drive, SLC UintaBrewing.com

On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer

UTOG

2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com

On Tap: Bar Down IPA

Vernal Brewing 55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com

Zion Brewery

95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com

BEER NERD

Fruit Cups

These hopped-up, fruity beers are happiness in every glass.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Fisher - All The Haze That Matters:

This beer is a standout example of how a well-planned hop bill can create something both expressive and easy to keep coming back to. Right off the bat, the aroma suggests a hop-forward pale ale built with intention, and once it opens up in the glass, it becomes clear why this one is so enjoyable.

The star here is the hop profile. The combination of Dolcita hops with Citra and Mosaic creates a dynamic aromatic blend that feels bright, juicy and layered. Dolcita especially brings a beautiful stone fruit character that lifts the beer in a unique direction. Peach and apricot-like notes seem to float above the familiar citrus and berry tones from the more recognizable hops, giving the whole thing an extra level of depth.

On the palate, that aromatic promise carries through beautifully. The stone fruit notes come first, soft and ripe, before the Citra and Mosaic start to show their familiar strengths. Citra contributes a clean burst of citrus, while Mosaic adds its signature complexity, tying together tropical fruit and a subtle dankness. There’s also a welcome touch of strawberry that adds a fresh berry softness—not sweet at all, but enough to make the beer feel especially rounded. A little tangerine joins in, bringing a bright and slightly zesty citrus note that keeps everything lively.

The finish leans more earthy and tropical, balancing all the fruit with a grounded hop character that lingers pleasantly. It doesn’t fade quickly; instead, it leaves behind a chewy, hopsaturated impression that keeps revealing little layers as each sip ends.

Verdict: This is the kind of beer that makes one pause and appreciate how

well-chosen hops can shape an entire drinking experience. Balanced, flavorful and genuinely satisfying, it’s a very enjoyable pint. This 5.0 percent ale is only available on draft at Fisher Brewing.

TF / Ogden Beer - NDA: This beer was made for the Great Beer Mashup, and is a New Zealand-style Pilsner. Basically, that means it has the malt and yeast qualities of a German lager with the unique hops of the island nation.

That New Zealand hop signature is expressive, layered and just a little wild. Right away, the aroma hits with a curious but inviting blend of ripe melon and a subtle diesel-like dankness. It’s the kind of nose that immediately tells you this isn’t your average pilsner. The fruit character is bright and juicy, but there’s a rugged edge underneath, giving it a depth that keeps one coming back for another sniff.

On the first sip, those aromas translate seamlessly to the palate. The hops land with an earthy, almost chewy texture that coats the tongue in a satisfying way. There’s a pronounced herbal bite up front, adding a green, resinous character that feels fresh and complex rather than harsh. It gives the beer a sturdy backbone, grounding the more tropical notes that unfold as it warms.

As the sip develops, the fruit really starts to bloom. The melon remains front and center, bringing a soft honeydew sweetness that plays beautifully against hints of strawberry and mango. The strawberry note is especially interesting—not jammy or candy-like, but subtle and fresh, like a handful of just-ripe berries folded into the hop profile. The mango adds a smooth tropical roundness, softening some of the sharper herbal edges.

The finish is where this lager really earns its stripes. It lingers with a robust, well-hopped bitterness and that signature chewy hop saturation that fans of modern hop-forward lagers crave.

Verdict: This is a hop-lover’s beer: layered, aromatic and packed with character from start to finish. You can find this 5.0 percent lager at Ogden Beer Co. and Templin Family Brewing. As always, cheers! CW

Protect Your Loved Ones

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

Xiao Bao Bao Plans Closure

In a recent social media post, Xiao Bao Bao announced the closure of both its Salt Lake locations. The restaurant concept from Romina Rasmussen and brothers Derrick and Dwight Yee started out as a pop-up concept that served hand-made bao stuffed with flavorful combos like chicken curry and eggplant. Rasmussen opened the restaurant’s first storefront in the space that previously belonged to her bakery Les Madeleines, and expanded to a second location in the Milk Block district. The post announced the restaurant’s plan to stagger the closures; Milk Block will close at the end of May, and the downtown location will close at the end of June.

Budda’s Bakery Expands to Liberty Wells

I love it when I stumble upon a Utah County gem like Budda’s Bakery & Breakfast, but I love it even more when said gem expands to the Salt Lake area. Known for its homemade Hawaiian rolls, its gonzo breakfast bowls and its sense of community—the Pleasant Grove location has a magnet board where people can buy an anonymous meal for someone who might be in need— Budda’s will be a welcome addition to the Liberty Wells neighborhood. Currently the plan is to open the Salt Lake location at 1456 S. State Street, Ste. 12 on May 29. Trust me when I say your Sunday dinners won’t be the same after you start adding a dozen of Budda’s homemade rolls to your table.

Chef’s Counter at Hearth and Hill Sugar House

Hearth and Hill recently celebrated a year at its Sugar House location, and Executive Chef Jeff Moore has launched an exciting dinner series for fans of Hill Top Hospitality. The Chef’s Counter experience is a chef-driven dining experience that features a rotating three-course meal curated by Chef Moore. The event’s menu has previously included dishes like lemon ricotta gnocchi with maitake mushrooms, and Spanish pork tenderloin with red chimichurri. It’s a great opportunity to see Chef Moore’s creativity on display—if you have yet to visit Hearth and Hill Sugar House, now’s the time. Reservations for the event can be made via Resy.com.

Quote of the Week: “I judge a restaurant by the bread and by the coffee.” – Burt Lancaster

New Albums for May

New releases from Cory Mon and Chalk.

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl

Cory Mon, Olly Olly Oxen Free

In his 2024 album You Don’t Own Me, Cory Mon touched on themes of healing after very hard times. It led people to call him and ask, “Hey, are you okay?” Things are the opposite with his newest album, Olly Olly Oxen Free This 10th album in Mon’s library focuses on a return to joy, playfulness and creating for the sake of creating.

Inspired by the childhood phrase shouted at the end of a game of hideand-seek, the album channels a sense of freedom, nostalgia and rediscovery. The album dropped at the beginning of May with a release show featuring singer/songwriter Sean Hayes.

“This album feels like both a return to all things that made me happy as a child and a personal breakthrough,” Mon said. “Releasing it in Salt Lake, surrounded by the community that’s supported me over the years—and sharing the stage with my musical hero and good friend Sean—makes this moment especially meaningful.”

One of the best things about Mon and his band is that they are unapologetically themselves. Their personality shines not only through their music, but also on stage. Mon and company joke that their shows are “60% great music and 40% bad comedy.” The band’s humor and spontaneity create an atmosphere where audiences feel less like spectators and

more like part of the inner circle.

While listening to Olly Olly Oxen Free, one can almost picture the movements the band members would be making, because the sound is so free, fluid and unique. They have a blues/rock/funk vibe that’s infectious and pulls you in.

“219” leans heavily on the funk vibes with electric guitar effects and cadence. “She-Chakra” features Hayes, showcasing their natural chemistry.

Mon has done his fair share of touring with Hayes, so it’s no wonder this track sounds so natural. Their styles meld perfectly, elevated further by their experience together.

The album is chill and mellow, but musically intricate. Before you know it, the 16 songs are over, and one wonders where the time went. There are plenty of standouts on the album, including the one with Hayes, but another noteworthy track is “A Song About Steve’s Murder Down By the River.” It tells the story of poor Steve, who meets his end, but in a groovy and gritty way. There’s still the guitar funk, but then the harmonica comes in, adding a whole new layer to the song.

If you’re in the mood for something steady, funky, entertaining and just plain fun, Olly Olly Oxen Free should be added to your library.

Chalk, Be A Part

Just in time for their Kilby Block Party debut, four-piece rock group Chalk released their latest album Be A Part. They helped kick the day off at KBP on Saturday, May 16 with the album releasing the day before—definitely a great start to the summer season.

While the band has been around for a while, the latest lineup has only been together since 2024, so this is a super-fresh take for the group. Band members Skyler Bush (guitar/vocals), Jeremy Devine (guitar/vocals), Sally Yoo (bass/vocals) and Bret Meisenbach

(drums) have come together to create some excellent musical fusion.

Chalk brings a satisfyingly fuzzy alt/rock sound and an interesting “whoever writes it, sings it” ethos, offering some great variety and uniqueness in this new album. (That’s not to say having a lone vocalist is boring, but it’s fun to mix it up once in a while.) Inspired by the likes of Yo La Tengo, The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr and Pavement, the band creates its own satisfying version of alt/rock.

Chalk excels in steady rock rhythm, but can definitely solo when the occasion calls for it. They also incorporate some punk sensibilities in their sound, like on their track “Flail.” The song starts out fast and loud, like any punk track should, but steadies throughout while still showcasing that alt/rock feel.

Lyrically, a track that stands out on the album is “Penny Century,” which takes a look at the world and how quickly things change, and how young folks have no idea what they’re in for as they grow up. “Born at the start of a century / My, how I cannot wait for you to grow,” Yoo sings in the chorus. I like the last verse the best, with Yoo singing, “Little boy called me mother dear / I had to run from that face / Well, will my babies bring a book to show and tell / Turn the pages to be held and smelled / Will they touch anything other than titanium and grass? / Will we be a floating brain dreaming of the past?”

Though the band has their “whoever writes it, sings it” rule, they experimented a lot with harmonies and duets on the album, adding another layer of freshness as one listens through. Tracks like “Leech” showcase such duets and harmonies, allowing members to shine individually, while still melding together perfectly as a group. If you’re an alt/rock fan, Chalk’s Be A Part absolutely needs to be added to your rotation. CW

MUSIC

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

BEST BAR IN UTAH!

GREAT FOOD

MUSIC PICK S

ALLEYCVT @ Boxpac Project 5/29

A fan favorite in Utah, ALLEYCVT is making a stop in Salt Lake City at Boxpac Project. This is the second-to-last show ever at Mutiny’s iconic warehouse, so go while you still can. Hailing from Northern Virginia, DJ/producer ALLEYCVT is a mix of fellow electronic musicians Zeds Dead, Subtronics and Ganja White Night. While some of her older music like “STRANGERS” is devastating to listen to, her signature pop vocals with powerful messages make her unforgettable. Newer tracks like “IN THE ALLEY” and “ONE FOR YOU” blend the various musical genres ALLEYCVT has played with, such as punk rock, pop and R&B. In fact, she does have a bit of an Avril Lavigne flair in her experimental electronic sound. “I definitely do see music as a tool for real-world change,” she said in an interview with EDM news outlet The Daily Frequency. “I think the coolest thing about being able to have a platform is the fact that I have the opportunity to make a difference, even if it’s small.” Her visuals are colorful and fun, mixed with a heavy wonky/funky electronic dance music sound accompanied with peaceful, uplifting lyrics and melodies. Mutiny Music Collective hosts ALLEYCVT this Friday, May 29. Doors open at 9 p.m. for this 21+ show. Tickets cost $30. This show is expected to sell out, so get your tickets fast at eventim.us. (Arica Roberts)

Gozul / Restless Spirit

Fai Laci

Sweet Tangerine, Dog Paw, Mal Brooks @ Velour 5/30

Nothing is better than a weekend show on a warm evening, especially with a great lineup in tow. From Highland, Utah, Sweet Tangerine is bringing their sweet and smooth sound to Provo’s favorite music venue. Their latest single, “Closer,” is a mellow and intricate tune that lets you sink into it like the best pool. The guitar soloing in this track is slick and satisfying, offering a bluesy vibe. This release marks their first since 2022, and what a comeback it is. In honor of the track’s release, the band is doing a guitar giveaway, info for which can be found on their Instagram @sweettangerineband. Provo’s own Dog Paw affectionately writes a cheerful “woof woof” wherever they’re able, and also draws audiences in with their sincere indie rock sound. Their newest single “airplane,” released in March, showcases their fun and satisfying sound. This track also boasts some great soloing to appreciate. Rounding out the bill is up-and-coming singer/songwriter Mal Brooks, who brings a more stripped-back sound. Her latest single, “To Stay,” features Brooks with piano and light string instruments that complement her voice beautifully, especially with the melancholic sound of the track. Don’t miss this great local lineup on Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $12.24 and can be found at 24tix.com.

(Emilee Atkinson)

Friends don’t let friends pay full price. Friends don’t let friends pay full price.

NIGHTLIFE |CONCERTS

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MUSIC PICK S

Pale Horse 10th Anniversary Show @ Kilby Court 5/31

If you’re feeling the post-Kilby Block Party blues, there may be something made just for you right around the corner. Recognizing 10 years of locally-curated music, Kilby Court celebrates the anniversary of the legendary Pale Horse Sound Studios with a mix of local and regional bands of all genres and vibrancy. The bands include Kilby Court alumni like Cardinal Bloom, Over Under, Drusky, The Painted Roses, Bleacher Babe and others, as well as touring bands like MoonTour and Sleeping with Socks On. Pale Horse Sound is located near Sugar House Coffee, and doubles as a live music space, as well as a recording studio for emerging artists in the region. Greg Downs is the face behind the enterprise that has been ongoing since 2016, having served the Utah music community for almost 30 years. Downs mixes and engineers for all bands performing the show, as well as bands who have taken off since their first performances at The Velour Music Lounge in Provo like The Backseat Lovers. He is part of the roots of the Utah indie music scene, and has been a large part of keeping Salt Lake City alive. To commemorate his contribution to the scene, a party is in order on Sunday, May 31, with live music, vendors, food trucks and good company. All local bands will begin playing at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, at Kilby Court. Tickets are $34.50 ahead of the show, and $40 at the door. Grab tickets at snspresents.com.

(Laney Hansen)

Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band @ Eccles Theatre 6/1

In some cynical quarters, Ringo Starr has been held up as an example of how luck is often a factor in an artist achieving fame. After all, the last member to join The Beatles, just before Beatlemania exploded, is sometimes noted as the group’s least creative. That demeaning perspective overlooks Starr’s role as—if not the greatest drummer in history, then—the greatest Beatles-style drummer in history. With Ringo at the kit, the band made some of the most enduring music of the 20th century. Only rarely did he write songs, and only slightly more often

did he sing with The Beatles, but his place in history would be secure had he done nothing after the group disbanded. Happily, Ringo embarked upon a solo career, and continues to record today. And since forming his All-Starr Band in 1989, his primary focus has been in leading the revolving cast of musicians—drawn from acts we’ve known over many years—for concerts full of fun and nostalgia. The current (and 16th) lineup features Toto’s Steve Lukather, Colin Hay from Men at Work and more. The group comes to the Eccles Theater on Monday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $94 and are available from saltlakecountyarts.org.

(Bill Kopp)

Pitbull / Lil Jon @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre 6/3

Pitbull’s audiences have created the most profound cultural movement since pet rocks. Paying homage to Armando Christian Pérez’s signature look by showing up to his gigs dressed to impress with shaved heads and sunglasses has become a running gag with fans. That’s not a bald cap; it’s a skin helmet! With something for everybody, the Cuban-American poprapper knows how to put on a show of nonstop energy and good vibes. In his quest for ubiquity, the songs “I Know You Want Me,” “Feel This Moment” and “Timber” will most definitely get people off their feet. Mr. Worldwide is grateful for the path that led him here. “I appreciate the opportunity. I appreciate the love, I appreciate the support. I just don’t say it, I live it. It’s the truth, it’s real,” Pérez told AP News. “And to be able to feel that on stage, I want them to feel what I feel.” Also on the bill is the King of Crunk, Lil Jon. Second only to Flavor Flav as hip-hop’s most universal hype man, the artist born Jonathan Smith built a career off of exploring the underlying socioeconomic movements behind club-oriented rap music. Kidding: Since the early aughts his unique persona and contagious ab-libs (e.g. Usher’s “Yeah”) propelled him along with The East Side Boyz to the top of the charts. Catch these acts at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre on Wednesday, June 3. Doors at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $92.82 at ticketmaster.com. (Mark Dago)

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

In the weeks ahead, simply being right won’t necessarily lead to success. Having strength, intelligence, wealth or connections might help, though not as much as usual. But a different approach will work well as you strive to overcome challenges: a blend of cleverness and integrity. I invite you to be cunning while remaining honorable. Practice subtle strategy in service of higher aims. And here’s one more secret to ensure victory: Let go of any need to receive full recognition for your efforts.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“Dear Horoscope Guy: Two astrologers have assured me that as a Taurus, I’m a natural-born money magnet. So why am I broke? I keep begging the Divine for cash miracles, and I buy lottery tickets twice a week. Still nothing! Please tell me when I’ll finally hit the jackpot. Better yet, give me the winning numbers. –Taurus Desperate for Dollars.” Dear Desperate: The “luck” you crave will arrive as you diligently pour yourself into building your sweetest dreams, spurning shortcuts and enjoying yourself as much as possible. The Divine prefers to fund eager co-creators, not wishful thinkers. I predict that a slow-motion jackpot will ultimately arrive through your devoted attention to doing what excites you.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20)

Among the Dogon of Mali, Sigui so is a secret language. It’s used in a sacred ritual when people gather to retell their beginnings and patch up strains in tribal harmony. I’m borrowing “Sigui so” here as a symbol for a way of talking that I hope you Gemini will specialize in during the coming weeks: language that eases tensions, soothes friction and fosters unity. Start like this: Unleash your trademark wit but spike it with sly blessings and tactful probes. Wield your fluency to burn away confusion and uncover unspoken feelings. If you’re in an extra-bold mood, give everyone tacit permission to be their idiosyncratic selves instead of their polished personas.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

What’s the holiest, most healing trouble that you could rustle up right now? I mean trouble that freshens what’s stale but doesn’t scorch the earth. Maybe it’s a buoyant disruption, like telling wild truths you usually tend to soften. Or maybe it’s asking for what your future self pines for instead of what your past self regards as polite and reasonable. As a Cancerian soul myself, I dare both you and me to give ourselves permission to rumble. Let’s be brazen as we instigate creative upheavals in service to our cheerful vigor. Let’s instigate at least one concrete action that will rattle the stagnant pattern just enough to make life more interesting.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Sea otters are a keystone species. Their presence is essential to the health of their entire ecosystem. As they eat sea urchins, the kelp forests flourish. Without otters, the urchins overgraze, and kelp forests may collapse, which in turn affects hundreds of other species. One creature’s appetite helps regulate an entire undersea neighborhood. I suspect you’re serving a similar function, Leo. You’re having more impact and wielding more influence than you realize. No pressure! But please act accordingly: with maximum integrity and robust responsibility.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

A Dutch woman who died left her grand-nephew an inheritance of 220,000 euros. The only problem is that he’s homeless and constantly on the move, so the executors haven’t been able to find him. This echoes a recurring pattern in your life. Even now, sources of blessings are searching for ways to reach you, but you are slow to notice their approach or to magnetize yourself to their arrival. My prayer: May you figure out what needs to be done to make yourself fully available for these gifts—and then ingrain that capacity in your habit mind.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Visualize your fears. Consider how few rest on a genuine likelihood that scary events could ever take place. Then ask yourself how much of your uneasiness springs from vivid fantasies or from a practiced tendency to fret. You might also ruminate on how you absorb the background worry that’s amplified by mass culture. After reflecting on all that, I invite you to take one concrete action to lower the level of tension you have come to treat as normal. Take another action to weaken the grip of your deepest dread. The current planetary patterns suggest you now have the bold, creative power necessary to shrink your baseline anxiety.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Even more than usual, you have a sacred duty to celebrate your poignant sweetness and dark intelligence. For the sake of your emotional health, you should pay wild reverence to your deepest, most mysterious yearnings. To be the person we all need you to be, you must tenderly nurture the parts of your inner world that resemble the aurora borealis. I want to support you in these sublime sacraments, which is why I suggest you memorize the following prayer by Rainer Maria Rilke: “Be attentive to what is arising within you, and place that above everything you perceive around you. What is happening in your innermost self is worthy of your entire love.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Linguists use the term “false friends.” These are words in different languages that seem similar but don’t have the same meaning. For example, the Spanish word embarazada resembles “embarrassed” to English speakers but actually means “pregnant.” I suspect you’re dealing with another type of false friend, Sagittarius: people or situations that turned out to be at variance with what you initially imagined. But rather than feeling unsettled by these revelations, I suggest you treat them as a prod to see with fresh eyes. Your disorientation could be the beginning of more interesting understandings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

An ISBN is a code assigned to a book for commercial and cataloging purposes. It contains key information and includes a built-in error-detection notation. If you transpose two numbers when entering an ISBN, the last digit will tell you something’s wrong. In this spirit, Capricorn, I heartily recommend that you build more mistake detection into your life. Invest in extra safeguards. Add verification steps. Build in double-checks. The goal is to create systems robust enough to survive oversights and gaffes. I very much want you to give yourself the gift of safety nets that will empower you to take smart risks and intriguing gambles.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You may not yet grasp how richly creative you are right now, nor how much more abundant your generative powers could become. So it’s auspicious you are reading this horoscope now. Consider this your advance notice: Your capacity to originate ideas, projects and connections is surging, and it’s crucial to choose with care which possibilities you nurture and which you decline. If you are selective and intentional about what you sow, then about six months from now, you will be far more likely to gather lush, beautiful harvests instead of wrestling with overgrown, unruly tangles.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Ethnobotanist Wade Davis documented how different cultures perceive entirely different realities despite inhabiting the same physical world. It means that two people can stand in the same forest and see different forests through their cultural lens and personal mythology. This is simultaneously the problem and the opportunity you face, Pisces. You and others in your orbit are inhabiting divergent realities that superficially seem the same. If you hope to reconcile the differences, you must first acknowledge them as real. You’re dealing with fundamentally different ways of constructing meaning, not just small misunderstandings.

Develop software verification for autonomous building automation systems. Arch CI/CD pipelines to automate testing, integration & deployment. Conduct HIL testing. Validate firmware, comms, & wired/ wireless networking. Execute release validation. Req: MSCE & 3 yrs exp or BSCE & 5 yrs exp, w/ Embedded Linux, CI/CD, Jenkins, Groovy, Bash, Python, Playwright/Selenium, ClickUp/Jira, GIT, Enterprise networks, Firmware & Release validation, HIL & Regression analysis. Resumes to: maquelle@passivelogic.com

TECHNICIAN (2 positions) in Bluffdale, UT. Req. Bachelor’s in Geotech. or Civil Eng. or foreign equiv. Assigmt’s in unanticipated loc’s. w/in Salt Lake County expt’d. Mail resumes to: IGES Ingenieros LLC, dba GeoStrata, 14425 S. Center Point Way, Bluffdale, UT 84065.

EAST #J MURRAY UT 84117 801-272-3900

urban LIVING

Broker, Urban Utah Homes & Estates, urbanutah.com

Limited Access

Moving to Chicago? Or maybe parts of Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin? Last week, thousands of Zillow listings for those areas disappeared.

The database cut off 43,000 entries, claiming that Zillow violated its agreement in regard to a new trend of some listings not being advertised on the platform but instead kept from the internet for weeks before users can hear about or see them.

Zillow subscribes to the thinking (as I do) that if a seller wants to have the best marketing and the most eyes on a property, they should go “full MLS” so that millions see the listing.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Abbr. in grammar

5. Ninth letter of the Greek alphabet

9. Attempt

13. Allergic reaction

15. In that case

16. Opinion on a situation

17. Backyard building had a snack?

19. Spunkmeyer of cookies

20. Show of support from a Twitch community

21. Declares as fact

22. Slam

23. Gomez of “Only Murders in the Building”

25. RR depot

28. Bons ___ (witticisms)

30. D.C. newspaper, informally

31. Minoan island

33. Problem-solving sequence

37. Mobile intro

Compass, Inc. owns Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Corcoran, ERA, Sotheby’s International Realty and Christie’s International Real Estate, with about 340,000 agents operating under its umbrella.

Zillow filed a lawsuit against both MRED and Compass earlier this month, stating that those two entities had conspired to cut off Zillow’s access to Chicago-area listings.

But holding listings off the MLS is happening here, too. I just did a search in the Wasatch Front MLS and there were 10 such properties, most of which were in the Park City area.

To me, these look a lot like pocket or limited access listings, but consumers must be working with one of these firms to see the full listing.

I have a buyer that found one of these held properties in the Sugar House area—it was listed by a local real estate firm but it wasn’t on the MLS. I was able to show it to her with a bit of research and a week later, it appeared on the MLS.

What’s the advantage? First, a buyer might find less competition for a property if the world (internet) doesn’t know about it. Real estate companies can lure in buyers if their listings are private to that firm only.

Second, a buyer can get early access to a listing before other buyers know about the home.

For sellers, some may not want the world to see the property because of a divorce or estate sale situation, or if they are relatively well-known. Others may want to test the market through extremely limited marketing to see if anyone bites at a price.

Sadly, many sellers still believe in “COVID pricing”—or listing at a higher price than comparable properties, which can lead to a long, long time on the market.

According to EffectiveAgents.com, the reality is that off-market homes often sell for less—about 17%—than the comparable price on public MLS listings. That certainly benefits buyers, but not sellers.

If it were me selling a home, I’d expect a “limited” or “non-public” broker to charge me a smaller commission for less service.

And I’d want the seller to handle showings, negotiations and even paperwork with a clear understanding of the limits of this kind of marketing. ■

38. Burglar, say

39. Garden trail

40. Distinction for Rami Malek or Michael

B. Jordan

42. Quarrel

43. Comedian Bargatze

44. Certain lap dog, briefly

46. Short musical releases

47. Ohio city near Michigan

49. Complete, at the Cannes Film Festival

51. Property line marker

52. School outing

57. Three-layer snack

58. Wanderers supporting actor Mikkelsen?

59. They may be fine or graphic

60. Complete set of awards

61. Cathedral sections

62. 1990s puzzle game on an island

63. Not so much

64. Shout before throwing something

DOWN

1. Alan Alda TV show

2. Needing relief

3. “SNL UK” cast member Jack who played Princess Diana

4. Worked with computers, maybe

5. “Great, but we need more”

6. “Fancy meeting you here!”

7. High school students

8. Far-away connection?

9. Lincoln’s hat type

10. “Ms. McRae, please record the minutes”?

11. “Yojimbo” director Kurosawa

12. Harry Truman’s wife

14. Punctual

18. Approximation words

21. Spray banned from orchards

24. “Return of the Jedi” creature

25. Scrape remnant

26. “That is correct”

27. Groups of nine Brooklyn athletes?

29. Single-masted vessel

32. Final figure on a ledger

34. Slasher fan’s mustsees

35. URL opener

36. Ampere-per-volt units, once

38. Added to an email chain

41. Suit to ___

42. Pass along

45. Pottery furnace

47. “Fresh Air” host Gross

48. Old enough

50. “To whom ___ concern”

Last week’s answers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve

NEWS of the WEIRD

Visitors at the Fondation Beyeler, an art museum in Switzerland, recently had the option to peruse art wearing only bathing suits, Yahoo! News reported on May 1. “It’s a rather unusual experience,” said one visitor in a colorful sequined bikini, noting that “You’re always looking” to see if other visitors are wearing swimwear. Visitors could change into their bathing suits in changing rooms at the museum, or they could show up in their one-piece, bikini or trunks and have the entry fee waived. Some roamed around barefoot, while others donned swimming caps. A few could be found sunbathing in the museum’s garden. Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, who headed up the project, was inspired by artist Paul Cezanne’s paintings of people bathing. “You can feel from Cezanne paintings that he wants to be inspired by nature and expose that organic experience of the nature, of the people,” Ana Lopes, a 34-year-old architect, said. “Dressing in swimwear is close to that, because you are almost naked.”

Wrong Order

A man who purchased a bag of greens from a Woolworths in Western Australia found more green than expected inside, reported 102.5 ABC Perth on May 17. The Australian man, unnamed in the report, opened the lettuce and discovered a small frog among the leaves. “He’s the most casual Australian ever, and he’s like, ‘Bro, I’ve got a lettuce, like a frog in my lettuce,’” his roommate Laura Jones, a native New Zealander, said. Jones shared a video on TikTok, where millions of viewers caught a glimpse of the amphibious stowaway. “It’s quite a decent-sized frog for a big adventure,” Billie Le Pine, another roommate, said. “The bag of lettuce does have holes in it to keep the produce fresh, so he had a snack and some air on his way over.” The trio named the frog Greg and released him at a nearby dam. Woolworths said the incident is under investigation and called it “an isolated event with no other reported cases.” “I’m just glad Greg is back in his natural habitat,” Le Pine said.

Round and Round They Go

An Atlanta neighborhood is dealing with an unusual kind of pest: empty Waymo vehicles—autonomous, driverless cars owned by Alphabet Inc.—circling culde-sacs, ABC News reported on May 15. “I think yesterday morning, we had 50 cars that came through between 6 and 7,” one resident said. “It’s almost every little cul-de-sac in our area, so I think it’s a problem,” said another. The glut of robotaxis worries residents. “We’re families, we have small animals and pets, got kids getting on the bus in the morning and it just doesn’t feel safe to have that traffic,” one resident said. One neighbor even tried putting up their own sign to deter the vehicles, but it caused a traffic jam of Waymos turning around to get out. Residents have attempted to reach out to local and state officials, as well as to Waymo itself. In a statement, Waymo said that it is “committed to being good neighbors” and “we take community feedback seriously and have already worked with our fleet partner to address this routing behavior.”

Class of 2026

Jericho High School in Nassau County, Long Island, will have not one, not two, but 21 valedictorians to represent the 300 seniors graduating in June, UPI reported on May 18. The school determines valedictorians based on unweighted letter grades. “It shows a lot of success,” co-principal Brian Cummings said. “Historically, this is the way we’ve done it with letter grades. The difference between a 99.8 and a

99.83 is insignificant, so letter grades really capture what we represent.” With such a large number of valedictorians, not all of them will be able to give a commencement speech, so school officials have had to get creative. “We’re going to put them at the front of the procession,” Cummings said. “We’re [also] creating a video that we’re going to share with the community about their accomplishments.”

Unclear on the Concept

■ Antone Gilonna, 25, of New York, was arrested for driving while intoxicated when he drove to a local police station to pick up a friend who had been arrested for ... wait for it ... driving while intoxicated. Fox 8 Cleveland reported on May 20 that when Gilonna arrived at the police station, he drove into a restricted area. An officer came to check on him and quickly issued a field sobriety test before placing him under arrest. Gilonna’s license was revoked, and he is expected to appear in court at a later date.

■ Vernus Mayhew, 45, of Dixton, Maine, was arrested after calling 911 four times to request a beer delivery, WGME reported on May 7. “I was drunk, and I was trying to be funny,” Mayhew said. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office was not amused. “This was a serious matter that negatively impacted public safety resources including the regional communications center and deputies,” Sheriff Troy Morton said. Mayhew is also charged with assault, but says that part didn’t happen. Video recorded by Mayhew’s daughter shows a physical altercation with police, but a few seconds are out of frame, with differing accounts of what transpired. Police say Mayhew attempted to put one of them in a headlock; Mayhew denies it. He was released from the Penobscot County Jail after paying a $750 bail.

Owl Be Seeing You

An owl in Utah is soaring to new heights after undergoing surgery to repair its concrete-damaged feathers, UPI reported on May 19. The owl was found inside a concrete mixer in St. George, Utah, back in November, and taken to a rehabilitation center at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab. Workers gave the owl a series of 20-minute baths to remove the concrete, which covered 25% of its body. Despite the team’s care, the owl’s feathers were damaged in a way that would have kept it from flying silently, a survival necessity for great horned owls. “That led the Wild Friends team to take a training course about a procedure they had never done before: imping, which requires using donor feathers and adhesive to replace the raptor feathers,” the sanctuary said in a news release. “A wildlife rescue in Northern Utah gave Wild Friends feathers from a great horned owl of similar size who had passed away.” Four staff members worked for 90 minutes to reconstruct the feathers, replacing 10 primary feathers and one secondary feather on the bird’s right wing. “The first few feathers were extremely nerve-wracking, but as we got into the groove, the imping became more comfortable, and everything went smoothly,” supervisor Bart Richwalski said. After the owl came out of anesthesia, Richwalski used a decibel reader to measure the sound of the owl’s flight. With all looking good, staff released the owl and it flew away on its own. “I don’t know that my heart was beating until I saw him leave. I was beside myself, knowing that after all this time, he was healthy and back in the wild,” Richwalski said. “It was such a good feeling.”