January 2026 | Vol. 22 Iss. 1
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South Jordan
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Redfining student support
School teen centers aim to help beyond academics Page 6
Goodbye 2025
Some of our favorite photos from the past year
Page 12
Mayor Ramsey proud of South Jordan’s growth in 2025 By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
From a new baseball stadium and shopping complex to internal improvements and crystalized future plans, South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey is excited about what’s to come in 2026.
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o say that 2025 was one of the most transformative years in the city of South Jordan’s history would be an understatement, but certainly the way Mayor Dawn Ramsey feels as a new year approaches. From the opening of The Ballpark at America First Square to the new TRAX station on the red line, and additions of amenities like a new playground and six new Pickleball courts at East Riverfront Park, the city has certainly grown and improved. “I’m incredibly proud of how our community came together to shape what’s next for our city,” Ramsey said. “From welcoming the Salt Lake Bees to Downtown Daybreak, to the major investments in parks, public safety, water innovation and resident amenities, 2025 was a year of major milestones, each one making life better for the people who call South Jordan home.” Growth is an important part of any community, particularly so in Ramsey’s community. She has witnessed record attendance and engagement at numerous community events. The city received national recognition for the Pure SoJo water recycling demonstration facility. This fall, city officials announced plans for a new Senior Center and affordable housing development at The District. An emphasis on development of new neighborhoods on the west side, accompanied by roads, trails and utilities, is a large part of the city’s future plans. “South Jordan continues to grow because people see the quality of life we protect and the opportunities we’re creating,” she said. “We’re now home to more than 90,000 residents, and with that comes incredible energy and diversity. Growth isn’t just about more homes – It’s about thoughtful planning, growing the economy, reliable infrastructure, safe neighborhoods, and vibrant places where people want to gather, work, and raise families.” No where is that more visible than in Downtown Daybreak, which really came alive this year with the TRAX station, ballpark and the entertainment venues at America First Square.
Officials from UTA joined with Mayor Ramsey at the opening of a new TRAX station in South Jordan. (Photo courtesy of South Jordan City)
“The Square has offered an ice rink, Holiday Lights at the Ballpark, Light the World Giving Machines, and more,” Ramsey said. “It’s becoming a place where people can live, work, ride TRAX, enjoy entertainment at the restaurants and the Megaplex center, and all that within a walkable urban center.” She pointed to the openings of Moena Cafe and Hires Big H, and the coming soon of Nomad Eatery, Red Iguana, Rockwell Ice Cream and more. She called The Ballpark at America First Square “a phenomenal anchor.” So what lies ahead for 2026? “It will be a year of continued investment in the things that matter most to our residents: safety, strong infrastructure, good roads, water reliability, economic opportunity and quality of life amenities,” she said. “We’re building on tremendous momentum.” She said ground will be bro-
ken soon on a new regional performing arts center, and work continues on realignment of U-111 and Mountain View Corridor freeway conversions. She also wants to see more enhancement of community events and recreation programming. Looking back on the years since she first took office in 2018, she said this: “When I was first elected, South Jordan was already a wonderful place, but the scale and complexity of what we’re working on today is truly remarkable. We’ve grown significantly, built deeper partnerships, and taken on projects that will shape our community for generations. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to listening, planning responsibly, and putting people first.”l
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Helping Hands: Surprising all except for maybe themselves, Lady Miners basketball off to great start Head coach Hector Marquez said he likes what he sees, but warns this Bingham team is still young By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
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aise your hand if you thought such a young Bingham girls basketball team would be one of the top teams in Class 6A at this point in the season. “The season has been going great,” said head coach Hector Marquez, on the big yellow school bus en route to Provo, Dec. 9. Bingham (6-1 at press time) won that game at Provo, too, by the final score of 56-38. All told, the Lady Miners have lost one game thus far. That game was on Nov. 20, versus Pleasant Grove, a not-so-pleasant score of 65-45 inside The Pit. It was the kind of game a coach dreads; Bingham trailed 3014 at the half and had to play catchup for the remainder of the contest. Spread around that game, however, were four other victories: 67-61 at Mountain View Nov. 18; 58-26 at Viewmont, Nov. 25; 60-39 vs. Layton and that blowout win at Provo. What caused the win streak? Balance. Across the board, the Lady Miners have had plenty of helpers. Evy Roberts has assumed the leadership role. Now that many of her teammates from last season have graduated, the junior guard is averaging 14 points per game—in just 17 minutes per game. Roberts is also shooting 44% from three, and 43 from the field.
ournals
The Bingham girls basketball team got off to a hot start to begin the season. (Photo courtesy Hector Marquez)
Sophomore Lanie Smith is scoring 10 points per contest—in 15 minutes per outing. Junior Brizzy Cottle, 9 in 12 minutes of action. Junior Veanna Pau’u, 9 in eight minutes. As it stands, the Lady Miners have seven girls averaging four or more points per game. 10 are playing four or more minutes per contest. Why is there such balance on this team? The Lady Miners are unbelievably efficient at sharing the basketball. The other, rather telling statv line here is that one of the team’s lone seniors— wing Stacia Peoples—leads the team in assists, averaging three per game. Assists could arguably be the most as-
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tounding stat of all, because in each of the Lady Miners’ six games, Bingham has six girls averaging two or more. Bingham has also been supremely efficient defending the basketball. A whopping 12 girls are averaging a rebound or more per game, led by juniors Veanna Pau’u and Quinn Porter, who are each hauling down five per contest. Six girls are averaging one or more steal per game, led by Evy Roberts in that category who chips away at her opponents to the tune of four per outing. Those numbers tell a good portion of Bingham’s story through six games during this preseason, but there are things Coach Marquez would probably like to clean up.
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The Lady Miners’ assist-to-turnover ratio for their guard play could be improved; Evy Roberts sits at 1.47, which means that she’s just as liable to create an assist as she is a turnover. Sophomore Lanie Smith’s is at 0.46, which also is a harbinger of potential trouble ahead for Bingham—it that doesn’t get cleaned up by the time the team heads out to Oregon for a holiday tournament and Region 2 action. Marquez is well aware of his team’s issues, and said he knows there is plenty of work to do. “With a young roster, you never know what team will show up, but there has been progress.” l
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High school teen centers support students beyond the classroom
High schools are redefining student support by combining academic assistance with life resources. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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cross Utah, high schools are recognizing academic success depends on more than classroom instruction. For many students, unmet basic needs — food insecurity, clothing shortages, housing instability and mental health challenges — can make it difficult to focus on learning. In response, school districts have developed teen resource centers in the high schools, safe spaces offering essential supplies and emotional support while building stronger connections between schools, families and communities.
Canyons School District
Brighton High School’s teen center, opened recently with a $250,000 Utah State Board of Education grant, has quickly become a vital resource for its nearly 2,500 students. Inside the center, students can access showers, laundry, toiletries, food and clothing, including Brighton apparel. “Their basic needs are being met. They don’t have to worry about where they’re going to get snacks during the day; if they’ve showered, they’re going to feel better about attending class,” Principal Marielle Rawle said. “If they have clean clothes, that impacts their attendance. We just want to make sure basic needs are being taken care of. When we can help with these things, then they can focus on learning.” Teen Center Facilitator Taya Shaw bridges students with academic services, such as FAFSA, scholarships and McKinney-Vento. “I’m the first line of students’ defense, just helping them out as much as I can,” she said. Shaw sees 50 to 60 students per day, many of whom eat lunch there or come after school. “I’m open till 3:30, but I do stay later sometimes because I don’t want them out in the cold,” she said. Brighton staff and community members contribute donations, from hoodies to food items, and teachers often bring students to introduce them to the space. For Shaw, the work is personal. “I grew up in a very displaced home so having a center where I could have gone and talk to somebody about, ‘hey, this is going on at home’ and ‘I don’t feel safe at home’ would have been awesome for me,” she said. “I want to continue to be here and advocate for the students who I already know and those who I may not know yet.” Jordan High School’s Digger Den, which opened in fall 2024, supports students facing food insecurity, academic challenges and everyday stress.
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Teen Center Facilitator Ruth de La Cruz-Nava keeps the center running. “Our primary supplier of food is the Utah Food Bank,” she said. “They bring us food once a month. It’s mostly shelf stable.” Donations from local youth and church groups helped fill shelves before the holidays. The center also partners with community organizations and businesses, including Smith’s. “Right about the time the SNAP benefits were paused, they let us know they would give us their wholesale pricing on a few items — sugar, apple juice, oatmeal, pasta sauce and other times,” de La Cruz-Nava said. Weekend food packs come through the USANA Kids Eat program and students can access the pantry up to three times a month. The Digger Den goes beyond food. It offers laundry facilities, clothing, birthday cake kits, hygiene items and even formal wear. “Anyone’s welcome here,” she said. With 150-180 students visiting daily for snacks, support or a quiet space, the center has become integrated into school life. “Schools have generally been the central place in the community so it’s always important to be able to provide for its community,” de La Cruz-Nava said, adding she collaborates with nearby Hillcrest High’s teen center, which opened after the school’s rebuild in 2021.
Granite School District
At Cottonwood High School, the Teen Wellness Center and Food Pantry provide food, hygiene supplies, emotional support and a place to breathe during the school day. Principal Justin Pitcher calls the center essential to the school’s mission: “Cottonwood’s teen center is a good example of what all schools should be providing.” Social worker Wendy Hutchinson works alongside longtime volunteer Robyn Ivins, who helped open the center in 2023 and has coordinated the pantry since she opened it in 2017. The District’s only teen center includes two showers, laundry and basic clothing. Hutchinson said the stigma-free space serves all students: athletes washing uniforms, students grabbing snacks or those needing a quiet space. The center provides fruit, snacks, burritos, bagels, frozen waffles, milk and more. “We even teach them about nutrition a little bit,” she said. About 40-60 students stop in daily, with about 15 at lunch seeking “a less chaotic, quieter place to eat.” The pantry opens Mondays and Thursdays, serving up to 100 Cottonwood and AMES students, with food supplied by the Utah Food Bank and the Granite Education Foundation. With Cottonwood’s diverse and low-income student population, Hutchinson said the center fills critical gaps. “I love we have this inclusive space; it’s safe for kids to come and get their basic needs
and emotional needs met here,” she said, adding counseling and crisis support are available for students. Ultimately, Hutchinson said, the goal is helping students “be successful in school and graduate.”
Jordan School District
At Herriman High School, the Student Resource Center supports students facing food insecurity and other challenges which make learning harder. Homeless Outreach liaison Hilda Lloyd, nearing 35 years in the District, recalls earlier days when students survived on ramen. “Food was considered a luxury in those homes,” she said. “When I started, we received about four boxes of food, and I thought that was great. Now, when I go see rows of shelves at the new Jordan Education Foundation warehouse and it’s wonderful. The Foundation, the community, everyone is reaching out to support students.” Donations helped expand the District’s principal pantry system and Herriman High’s teen center. District Support Services Administrator Sharon Jensen said Herriman’s center, the first in the District, emerged from the teen center grant established by the Utah legislature a couple years ago. Teen centers at Copper Hills and West Jordan high schools are expected next. Herriman’s center offers food, hygiene items, school supplies, access to laundry and showers and connections to counselors who can help with credits, scholarships and FAFSA. “It’s open to all students. When everyone’s using it, there’s no stigma to go in there,” Jensen said. Students can grab snacks and weekend packs and culturally familiar foods for their families, which is helpful for newly arrived refugees; Jensen said it helps to strengthen acceptance and community. “When you have food, you’re more likely able to concentrate and have a sense of belonging,” she said.
Murray School District
At Murray High School, student support
centers around a carefully run system of closets, pantries and calming spaces, coordinated by social worker Jennifer Ketchoyian. The effort began in 2017 when students Emily Bowen and Kate Spackman created “Cinderella’s Closet” for free formal wear. Community members Pam and Darv Andersen expanded it in 2021 to include other clothing and food. It has since grown into the Spartan Closet, a boutique-style space where students can select clothing, hygiene supplies, backpacks and warm gear without stigma. Teachers can open the closet at any time for students and hallway racks of clothing items provide easy access. Student aides vet donations to ensure items are suitable, Ketchoyian said. Longtime volunteers Bonnie Poulsen and Mary Jane Siebenberg organize donations weekly. “We tag to track and rotate items,” Poulsen said. “If we see something that’s been there for two or three months, we’ll start rotating clothes.” Siebenberg added: “They asked for help, we saw a need and here we are.” Principal Quinn Linde estimates 600 students use the Spartan Closet each year. The school also provides food for unstably housed students, including USANA’s Kids Eat backpacks and other items. Hygiene, laundry supplies and even showers at the school are available. “When students are in survival mode, they don’t learn as well,” Ketchoyian said. “We try to get them to where they can learn.” Mental-health support includes the Zen Den, funded by a Murray Education Foundation grant, where students use art and calming tools. “Someone today came here with a panic attack; they needed a place to calm down,” she said. The District plans to open a full teen center in the high school’s new wing in 2027-28 with showers, laundry, a food pantry and additional resources. “I’m looking forward to having our new teen center,” Ketchoyian said. “Teen centers change lives.” l
At Jordan High, students can using washing machines as well as select clothes and other items they need. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Utah PTA celebrates a century of advocacy for students
From school lunches to student safety, Utah PTA volunteers have spent 100 years making a difference in schoolchildren’s lives. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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his year, Utah’s students, families and schools are celebrating a milestone: Utah Parent Teacher Association turns 100. For a century, this volunteer-driven organization has been shaping education, student well-being and community engagement across the state. Utah PTA President Julie Cluff says the organization’s century-long mission goes far beyond classroom parties. “PTA volunteers sometimes get pegged as the ‘party moms,’ but our work has changed lives and we’ve shaped education policy in Utah for generations,” she said. “Our programs are the heart of what we do, but advocacy is why we started.” The roots of Utah PTA stretch back to 1897 when three Utah delegates attended the first meeting of the nationwide parent-teacher movement, then called the National Congress of Mothers. A year later, Mrs. C.E. Allen established the Utah Congress of Mothers, laying the groundwork for organized parent advocacy. Though that early group dissolved by 1901, momentum continued. By 1910, the state formed a chapter of the National Education Association’s Department of School Patrons, and by October 1925, the Utah PTA officially began with Lucille Young Reid as the first president. In 1951, every school in the state had a PTA. The mission established then remains at the heart of the organization: “To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.” Utah PTA President 2023-25 Corey Fairholm loves the mission. “When they first started in 1925, they were worried about some of same things we’re worried about — making sure children don’t have access to smoke shops and here we are 100 years later, and we’re worried about vape shops,” she said. “At the legislature, they realize I’m representing 70,000–80,000 members who are concerned so the legislators are listening. Because the power of PTA, we have kindergarten, school lunches, support for students with disabilities and so many things beneficial to schoolchildren.” Through the decades, volunteers have donated more than 1 million hours in 605 schools, bridging families and educators while supporting programs which enhance children’s health, safety and education. Utah PTA’s impact can be seen in nearly every corner of school life. In the 1930s, it advocated for school lunches, paving the way for the National School Lunch Program in
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Current and past Utah PTA presidents pose for a recent photo. (Photo courtesy of Utah PTA)
1941. In Utah, longtime PTA member Tibby Milne remembers its start. “I was a first grader in Richfield Elementary, and they started hot lunch there in this little cabin on the school grounds,” she said. “Mrs. Rowley did it, and she went on to run it nationally. She cooked the best food. I still remember her homemade bread and peanut butter cookies.” PTA helped establish school libraries through legislation signed in 1956 and introduced the Reflections arts program in 1969. Utah was the first to introduce categories of theater, 3D visual arts and film and to advocate for a special needs division. Last year, Utah had more than 17,000 Reflections entries statewide, with nearly half of its national submissions receiving awards. The state is also one of the few to have developed its own online submission portal, now a model for others across the country, Cluff said. PTA promoted student safety in partnership with national organizations in the 1980s, including seat belt campaigns and bus safety programs. “Our PTA worked on helmets, which was part of our safety campaign, and getting seat belts into cars — that was not easy,” said Milne, who helped shape initiatives such as the DARE program and the National Child Protection Act. “We had to change attitudes, but it was for the safety of children.” One of Utah PTA’s most enduring accomplishments began in the 1980s, when a group of PTA parents discovered Utah’s trust lands — public lands granted by the federal government at statehood to benefit schools — were being mismanaged. Those PTA parents put in motion a 30-year advocacy effort which completely transformed the handling of funds, Cluff said. “Today, those efforts bring millions of dollars every year to Utah’s schoolchildren,”
she said. “What’s even better is that it’s not just today’s kids who benefit, it’s tomorrow’s kids too.” Utah PTA was among the first in the nation to create a state-level special needs committee. Led by PTA advocate Karen Conder, the committee successfully passed a national resolution in 2018 establishing “high expectations for students with special needs.” Utah has since added new resolutions supporting students with dyslexia and learning disabilities and continues to update them every seven years to reflect current research. “Our resolutions are what give us a voice,” Cluff said. “They’re how we can walk into the Capitol, sit down with lawmakers, and say, ‘Here’s what our members want for Utah’s kids.’” State PTA President 2013-15 Liz Zentner discovered her passion for advocacy. “The first time as a PTA president, I went up to the Capitol for PTA Day at the Capitol and I realized this is where I can make a difference,” she said. “Now I encourage all members to send your representative and your senator emails and tell them what you think about something.” Utah PTA also runs unique programs such as the Battle of the Bands, a 23-year tradition which gives student musicians a stage to shine. “It might not reach every kid, but it reaches kids who need that connection the most,” Cluff said. “Some of these students are not just talented musicians, they’re amazing and polite kids.” Beyond education, the Utah PTA has tackled broader community issues which affect children’s ability to learn, including affordable housing, homelessness and food insecurity. Cluff has authored resolutions on these topics after seeing firsthand how unstable housing impacts students in her Midvale community.
“If kids don’t have a safe place to live, they can’t focus on learning,” she said. Utah has hosted the National PTA convention twice, in 1938 and 1988, reflecting its leadership on a national stage. Most recently, in 2022, Utah PTA received the National PTA Outstanding State PTA Award and Gov. Spencer Cox has declared October 2025 as Utah PTA Centennial Celebration Month. Through all its initiatives, Utah PTA teaches students to advocate for themselves. Each year, secondary students participate in PTSA Day at the Legislature, meeting lawmakers, discussing issues and even learning how to draft bills. “I really believe the kids can make a difference,” Milne said. After 100 years, Utah PTA remains a powerful advocate for children, families and educators. “When our community comes together with a shared mission, we can do a lot of good to ensure every child has the support and opportunities needed to thrive,” Cluff said. l
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Giving Machines introduced in Downtown Daybreak
‘Light the World’ Giving Machines from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are now located in the Downtown Daybreak section of South Jordan. By Tom Haraldsen t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
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ince it began in 2017, the “Light the World” Giving Machines program from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has expanded worldwide, with the machines now located in 21 countries over six continents. In the USA, that includes 125 cities. Now, South Jordan’s Downtown Daybreak has machines as well, becoming the 126th domestic site for them. On Dec. 4, three of the machines were officially opened in Downtown Daybreak adjacent to the Ballpark at America First Square. The program included performances from the Timpanogos Ringers bell chorus and the Daybreak Children’s Choir. The Giving Machines function like a typical vending machine, where donors can select essential items that are distributed to people in need. “They can range from donations such as food, clothing, clean water, health care,
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farming starting kits, seeds, chickens, pigs, education and job training,” said Kurt Soffe, the Church’s community outreach director of the Jordan River Utah Region. “Volunteers manage all responsibilities for these machines. All donations go to participating nonprofit organizations. When a donor sees that their generosity brings help and hope to someone in need, a simple act of kindness will connect them forever. It improves lives physically and helps develop a spirit of self-worth.” He said that over the past nine years, $50 million in value has been donated in essential items and services. South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey welcomed the machines to her community. “As we continue to grow, we find additional opportunities to light the world and make things brighter for others,” she said. “South Jordan was founded in 1859. Throughout our history, our people have been generous — they have shown charity and given to their neighbors. They’ve watched out for others and they’ve done what they can to make a difference and to brighten lives and ease the loads of others. We now have the opportunity to do even more, to give in a new way, to expand on our legacy of being a community that gives.” She called the “Light the World” Giv-
ing Machines “a blessing to our community. We’re kind of a test market this year. Let’s do so well that these machines can stay here every year.” The machines were bolstered with contributions from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. Gail Miller reflected on the need and value of all contributions from communities. “Every act of generosity, no matter how small, sparks the fire within us,” she said. “When we gather that spark together, we can do great things and warm those
around us — giving from the heart, and that’s why we’re here today. With just a few taps on these Giving Machines, we can be Santa’s helpers to all who will receive the gifts. This season is magical because our hearts are more open; we’re more receptive to the opportunities of giving. The tapping on these machines transforms lives. Let’s wear these machines out.” The Giving Machines are operational 24 hours a day and will remain in place through Dec. 25. l
Members of the Daybreak Children’s Choir performed for attendees at the ceremony. (Tom Haraldsen/ Salt Lake Business Journal)
S outh Jordan City Journal
Keeping local history alive with new Bingham Canyon Mine book
By Laura S. Crapo l.crapo@mycityjournals.com
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he Bingham Canyon Mine is the world’s largest excavation site and is visible from outer space. This mine and the now buried Bingham Canyon have kept the interest of many. The Bingham Canyon History group is especially unique because the town of Bingham Canyon no longer exists. Almost the entire town has been mined away by the Utah Copper open-pit mine or has been buried beneath its waste dumps. This curiosity has evolved and created an effort to have them remembered. “Yes, it is a history that is unique in all the world. I live in Daybreak, which literally lies in the shadows of the copper mine and the ghost towns of Bingham Canyon,” club founder Anne Sheppard-Kurek said. “Two years ago I started the Bingham Canyon History Club of SpringHouse Village so that our residents could better appreciate the interesting, quirky history of Bingham Canyon.” When Sheppard-Kurek found out that 2026 was the centennial year for the small town of Copperton which is the last surviving town of Bingham Canyon, she thought this was a great chance to expand her club and educate a wider community. Author and Bingham Canyon expert Tim Dumas has been a guest speaker at their club.
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A historical image of Bingham Canyon Mine. (Photo credit Don Strack collection)
They have made a 100th anniversary quilt that will be displayed at the Daybreak library. Then it will be specifically showcased at Copperton’s Fourth of July celebration in 2026. For more information check their Facebook page at Bingham Canyon History. “My first book talks about Bingham
Canyon and its people. My new book talks about the mine and the work to get the ore out of the ground,” Dumas said. “Many people in this area (South Jordan, West Jordan, Riverton, Midvale, Murray and Sandy) worked at the mine. If you didn’t, you knew someone who did.” Dumas’ new book will be
available on Feb. 24. The activity in the Bingham Canyon Mine was first recorded in 1863 when ore was discovered. It was Daniel Jackling’s idea to mass-produce what was mined there. The catalyst to major growth was when they processed low-grade copper with steam shovels and trains. This was a genius start to the mine’s success. When open-cut mining started in 1906, it needed many more employees. These men and their families lived right next to the mining operation. The town grew with stores and schools to accommodate the growing population. “It was a booming town; I think at one time it was the third largest town in Utah,” Dumas said. “Communities around Bingham like Copperfield and Highland Boy were the first to go, they were eventually dug away. Bingham the town was both buried and dug away.” A narrative history and research notes about railroads and mining in Utah’s Bingham Canyon can be found at utahrails.net. This includes information about Kennecott Utah Copper’s railroad locomotives and is found in the index under Bingham Canyon – “To Move A Mountain.” “My goal of these two books is to keep Bingham History alive,” Dumas said. “Thanks for your interest, I love Bingham’s history.”l
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Chronic absenteeism: Causes and effects
Why are students missing class so often and why does it really matter? By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
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n recent months, City Journals has highlighted educators’ response to the Utah State Board of Education and Jordan School District’s attendance initiatives. And while they have developed programs and measured improvement, educated parents and incentivized students there is still a question about what is the root cause of the state’s increased rates of chronic absenteeism (defined as two absences per month)? “We’re still trying to figure out what might be at the heart of it,” Jordan School District Health and Wellness Director McKinley Withers said. He said the increased absence trend cannot be traced to one factor. It affects all schools, at all levels and in all communities. Since August, JSD schools have been keeping detailed attendance records to track patterns in students’ absences, both excused and unexcused. “The schools can drill down into that information very quickly to see and to help them address the absences,” JSD Attendance and Prevention Specialist Michelle Reyes said. “We’re really trying to help the schools and the ones that are working with these students figure out what is the root cause and how we can connect them to some resources to help remove that barrier and get them back into school.”
Parent choice and attendance
Students miss school for a wide variety of reasons but some evidence points to parents’ attitudes about school attendance as a contributing factor of chronic absenteeism. Illness is the most common reason parents keep their child home from school, which schools encourage. However, determining how sick and how long is up to the parent and can vary widely. But parents excuse their child’s absences for other, less universally accepted reasons. On a social media post, teachers and parents recently discussed what reasons for absences are valid and which are not. A secondary teacher said she is surprised at how many parents excuse their teenager’s absence when they stayed up too late the night before and were too tired to attend. One parent admitted they let their teen skip class if it is a “wasted day” such as a makeup work day or the class has a substitute teacher. Several parents downplayed the worry over absences because students have the opportunity to easily make up the work they missed online. Occasionally, families prioritize family time over class time. Students miss school for family vacations, sports competitions, parent lunch dates, family ski days, etc. Reyes said there are parents that keep a child home from school to babysit younger siblings while they are at work, or they allow older children, who
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contribute to the family’s finances, to miss class when it conflicts with their work hours. Transportation problems are a common cause of students missing a partial or whole day of school. Cars break down, kids miss the bus after their parents have already left for work and parents keep kids home rather than risk driving in bad weather.
The impact of mental health on attendance
Withers said poor attendance can be rooted in social and mental health challenges, which is why Reyes, with her attendance focus, joined the Wellness Department this year. “We’re trying to bridge all of those resources and consolidate those efforts so that it’s all really one thing,” Withers said. “We want your kids to be successful and healthy, and part of that is attendance. Part of being healthy allows for attendance, so it’s a really important relationship there.” Students who experience anxiety and depression often don’t want to go to school, but taking a ‘mental health’ day isn’t usually the best approach, Withers said. “Usually people are better when they’re around others,” he said. “Isolation is what you want to do when you’re depressed, but it’s typically just going to make it worse. We can do a lot to address that and overcome those barriers, but we don’t typically recommend to someone who’s really struggling that they just don’t come to school because they’re struggling.” JSD mental health employees work with students to address and overcome their mental health barriers and break poor attendance habits. “Sometimes the problem is perpetuating itself, because students are disengaged from life, they’re not coming to school, they’re sitting around at home, they’re not making a lot of contacts, so that is more likely to just make depression worse,” Withers said. “So I think for the most part, when it comes to mental health, attendance is going to benefit kids.” JSD school-based therapists, who are mental health professionals, have the skills and resources to address the underlying issues causing students to resist going to school, whether the anxiety is based on mental, social or physical health factors. School-based therapist Kevin Mossel, LCSW, said it is common for students with mental and physical differences, such as OCD, ADHD, autism or other special needs, to resort to school refusal behaviors. He experienced this struggle as a parent of two children with high functioning autism. “My child knew they were different, and everyone else knew they were different, so they would just rather avoid going to school than be noticed by their peers and adults because of this feeling of being different,” Mossel said. Children who are distressed and engage in school avoidance behaviors may be experiencing fear and anxiety associated with bullying and cyberbullying, which Mossel said is a
prevalent and widespread problem at both the elementary and secondary level. “It can be difficult to identify, intervene and resolve this issue,” he said. “There are teachers and administration who try their absolute best to do what they can to manage it and keep all kids safe. Kids nowadays have gotten much better at knowing how to tease, single out, and/or bully other kids without ever getting caught.” When a child’s reluctance to go to school evolves into arguments and refusal behaviors, which looks like defiance or immature behavior, parents often don’t know how to handle the situation. Knowing school refusal behaviors can be overwhelming for parents, JSD’s student support website provides resources specifically for families dealing with school anxiety and school avoidance behaviors. In partnership with the Cook Center for Human Connection, JSD also provides mental health education for parents through free virtual videos which address common teenager struggles, such as strong emotions, risky behaviors and social skills. Parents can also get advice in an extensive database of therapists’ advice at parentguidance.org. Parents can also get support from certified mental health employees at their child’s school. Heidi Inuyama said school therapists have been a welcome resource for helping her get her daughter, who struggles with social anxiety among other diagnoses, to school every day. Problems began in the third grade, when her daughter resisted going to school. Inuyama said the elementary school staff were very understanding. “They’re like, ‘We want her to come, even if it’s late, so make sure she gets here,’” Inuyama said. The situation improved when her daughter began middle school and formed a good relationship with the school counselor there. “I can’t literally drag her there—that’s not gonna work,” Inuyama said. “I have had to tell her, we can go talk to the counselor. Let’s go over there. We’ll talk to [the counselor], and then see how you feel.” Once she gets in the building and talks with the counselor, her daughter is usually ready to go to class. In extreme cases, JSD can arrange inhome therapy. “The therapist would come to the home and teach and model healthy coping skills and use evidence-based interventions so that they can start practicing them in hopes they will start going to school without crippling feelings of anxiety,” Mossel said.
Previously, Mossel worked for DCFS and got involved with the Juvenile Court system when students weren’t attending school. He said back then parents faced consequences and fines when their child was truant, but it’s a different system now. “Parents are no longer getting in trouble for their kids not attending school and students are also not getting consequences severe enough to motivate them to go,” he said.
The effects of chronic absenteeism
No matter the cause of the absences, the effects of chronic absenteeism are the same. Statistics show a compounding effect on students’ academics in correlation to their attendance. USBE’s website states that “even students with good grades can quickly fall behind academically or socially when they are frequently absent.” According to their statistics, almost 90% of students who miss 15 days a year during their high school years drop out of college. However, increasing attendance just five days a year measurably increases their success in core subjects.
Beyond academics
But the effects of absenteeism go beyond academics. JSD’s attendance awareness campaign emphasizes the ripple effect of a student’s chronic absenteeism. When a student misses class often, they fall behind in understanding the lessons they missed. This creates extra work for teachers to catch them up and can impact the learning environment for the other students in the class. Poor attendance habits can also affect a student’s post-high school success. Students’ poor attendance habits follow them into the workforce where they will struggle to keep a job. Furthermore, Reyes said many of the soft skills needed for employment are developed in classrooms. Students who are frequently absent from class miss out on opportunities to develop skills such as collaboration, problem solving, time management and social skills which naturally occur in a classroom.l
The lack of consequences
The pandemic changed how people think about school attendance. But even before that, teachers and parents were noticing the lack of consequences for habitual absences. While there is an emphasis and rewards for good attendance, there aren’t the consequences to motivate families like there used to be.
Vacations are among the reasons kids miss school. (Photo by Naré Gevorgyan on Unsplash)
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Some of our favorite South Jordan photos from 2025
South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey spoke of the tremendous growth and development at the second annual State of the City. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals) Families learn about snakes and other reptiles as part of Jordan Ridge Elementary’s STEM Night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Bingham High celebrates its state championship in unified soccer at America First Field. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)
Salt Lake Bees GM Ty Wardell and South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey cut the ribbon to officially open the Bees’ team store. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
Hundreds of kids participated in each age group of the candy scramble at South Jordan’s Spring Spectacular.
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South Jordan Elementary students performed “Willy Wonka Jr.” not only for their classmates but for multiple nights for the community to a packed auditorium. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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At Jordan School District’s Unified Sports Day, students were able to throw the softball as far as they could as did this student from Golden Fields Elementary. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Bonnie Fisher, who volunteered at Welby Elementary, wrote a song for a Reflections assembly, which turned into being the school’s song. The origins of the song were a mystery until a South Jordan Journal story perked the interest of Fisher. (Photo courtesy Bonnie Fisher)
Trey Garett and Natalie Green perform in the Special Olympics DanceSport duo dance competition. (Photo courtesy Judy Hut)
Mountain Creek players celebrate a goal at the Jordan School District’s unified soccer tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Dunk team was on hand to entertain the crowd and even included volunteer participants like Mayor Dawn Ramsey.
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America First’s annual ‘Warm the Soles’ program helps kids in need America First Credit Union teams with RSL and Utah Royals for student shoe program. By Tom Haraldsen t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
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or the past 31 years, the America First Credit Union’s Charitable Foundation has been providing Christmas joy for needy students with its “Warm the Soles” program. On Dec. 4, players from Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals partnered with AFCU to sponsor a field trip to America First Field in Sandy, then surprised more than 540 students from Mountain View Elementary School with new pairs of shoes. “This is our third year partnering with RSL,” said Amber Greenwell, director of the foundation. “The shoes are actually purchased by the America First Charitable Foundation. There are 548 students that will arrive here today.” Students from the Title I school in Salt Lake City were met by team members, including RSL legend Nick Rimando; RSL team president John Kimball; and team members Zavier Gozo, Brecken Mozingo and San Junqua. The students got a tour of the stadium, were presented with new shoes, visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus, then enjoyed lunch. “We do have a fundraising event that we do each year, and then our members and our employees also make contributions,” Greenwell said. “We have quite a few schools that request to come. We really try to spread it across multiple districts. We work very closely with the Salt Lake City School District to identify the best school and the biggest impact we can make for those individuals who might need a little more this holiday season.” Greenwell said teams of volunteers went to the school and took measurements well ahead of the event. “So everyone of the kids will have a pair of shoes that will fit them to their exact size,” she said. “They showed up here today and had no idea that they were going to get the
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RSL legend Nick Rimando joined with current Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals players to greet students from Mountain View Elementary at the “Warm the Soles” program at America First Field on Dec. 4. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
field trip of a lifetime.” She said young kids are unique in that they don’t ask a lot of questions, “so when we came to measure feet, they were like, ‘This sounds great.’ No idea they’d come to the stadium, meet players, get free lunch, but also leave here with a brand-new pair of shoes.” America First CU began the program in Weber County, where the corporate headquarters is located. Over the years, it has expanded the program into all six states
where the credit union has branches, and now it supports 45 different programs and school districts. “We know that essential items are expensive, especially this holiday season, and we’re finding that more and more families are having to choose between putting food on tables or buying those essential items,” Greenwell said. “Shoes are expensive, and we realize that especially in this K-sixth grade they’re growing at a rapid rate. Parents
might not have the money to keep up with the continued growth of the child, and some of those kids will go without a new pair of shoes, meaning they’ll be wearing shoes that are way too small. We want them to feel good about themselves.” This year, over 4,000 students will receive shoes under the program. “It isn’t just about the shoe,” Greenwell said. “It’s that they feel and know they have the resources to be successful.” l
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Generosity brings joy to 500 Jordan School District students Volunteers, community members and businesses provided joy, support and resources to students who might otherwise go without. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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bout 500 Jordan School District secondary students fulfilled their wishes during the holiday season, thanks to generous community members and businesses participating in “Christmas for Kids.” “Our hope is to provide Christmas for these students with both their needs and wants,” said Jordan Education Foundation Executive Director Mike Haynes. “It’s heartwarming to have many of our volunteers return year after year to shop with the students and while we appreciate the generosity of many businesses, we had several community members give of their own to help these deserving students.” Haynes said many of the students, who were selected by school counselors and administrators, might otherwise go without during
the holiday season. Christmas for Kids donations covered $175 of each student’s purchases, with any additional costs paid by the 500 volunteers who accompanied them during the Dec. 6 shopping event. About 30 other volunteers organized the event, held at Walmart on South Jordan Parkway, where Santa Claus came to support the students. Bingham High Principal Rodney Shaw, who supported the 12th annual event, was touched by students’ choices. “Many kids weren’t filling the carts with toys or items for themselves, but they’re shopping for family members; it’s heartwarming to see,” he said. Students also received weekend food bags from Cyprus Credit Union and a box of food, soap and laundry detergent from the Gardner Group. Additional food and monetary donations were provided by Wex, Holiday, Lone Peak Hospital, BNI, Enbridge, Galloway, Watkins Charitable Foundation, Bowcutt’s Flooring America, Walmart, Jordan Valley Dental and the Larry H. Miller Group. l
Secondary students picked out items to fill their carts – many selecting gifts for family members – as part of Jordan Education Foundation’s “Christmas for Kids.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Bingham boys hoops will rely on two seniors to take the Miners to new heights Seniors Parker Snedaker and Luke West lead the team in scoring. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
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or several years, everything has been leading up to this moment. All the early morning shootarounds. All the freshmen and sophomores getting significant varsity minutes. All the heartbreak at state tournaments — the woulda-coulda-shouldas. All the injuries. Everything you can think of, has happened to these Bingham Miners these past few years. But now the youngsters are seniors. Their injuries have healed up. Their lessons have been learned, the hard way. Top players, Parker Snedaker and Luke West, are ready for their final seasons at the school. They’re already leading the team in scoring, by a country mile. In fact, Snedaker is averaging a career-high 21 points per game, and in just seven games is already two-thirds of the way to all the points he scored, last season. The reason? Efficiency. Snedaker is shooting 52% from the field, thus far. He scored 16 points in a losing effort to open the season against Timpview Nov. 18. At American Fork in a 63-59 Nov. 21 win, though, the Bingham
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senior again dumped in 16 points. His counterpart and longtime teammate, senior Luke West, scored a season-high 30 to lead Bingham, who took an early 31-25 lead into the locker room at half, and held on for a 63-59 victory. For West, it was his best performance since a serious injury was suffered last year in a Las Vegas holiday tournament, one that kept him out until the state tournament. He’s averaging 18 points so far, this season. The story of the season thus far has been that if West can’t get buckets for the Miners, and that’s been rare considering the senior point guard is ranked No. 11 in shots made in Utah, then Snedaker is the player stepping up to fulfill that need. That was the case for Snedaker on Nov. 25, who dumped 28 on Olympus in a thrilling 80-79 overtime win. He also had season-highs in rebounds and assists with six apiece, shot a whopping 73% from the field, and brought Bingham back from a halftime deficit. At a holiday tournament after the Thanksgiving break, Bingham played Rock Canyon (Colorado), a game in which Snedaker had a rough night (17 points) in a 75-69 loss, Dec. 4. Sure enough, West tried coming to the rescue, scoring 26 points. Junior Logan Goncalves added a season-high 12 rebounds for Bingham. And yet, the Miners may have saved their best game of the season, a day later.
Bingham withstood a furious third-quarter rally to upend Lehi, 68-63. What made this game unique for the Miners Dec. 5, was that Snedaker (34 points, 10 rebounds) and West (24/8) delivered in a game where the team needed both seniors to ball out. They did, shooting a mesmerizing 67% and 56% from the field, respectively. On Dec. 6 to close out this holiday tournament, Bingham defeated Lone Peak 60-51, and got contributions from not only Snedaker (26 points, 5-of-10 from three) and West (14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists) but senior Denzel Peoples, who poured in six points and sophomore Carson Edmunds, who cashed in all four free throws. That win pushed the Miners forward, but they fell backward some in a 61-53 loss at Davis, Dec. 9. Widely considered one of the state’s best, the Darts surged ahead after three quarters and dropped Bingham to a 4-3 record at press time. In that game, the Miners got contributions from everywhere: Snedaker (11), West (10), Goncalves (9), and also saw juniors Owen Bagley and Derek Peterson emerge— they scored seven apiece. It’s the kind of game that Bingham will have to vary as the season goes on, and the burden that Snedaker and West will have to shoulder, as they head back into the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas in late December. l
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Bingham football sees two multi-sport athletes commit to in-state colleges Seniors Lucas Neidig and Denzel Peoples sign with Utah State and Weber State, respectively. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
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he first thing you should know about Lucas Neidig and Denzel Peoples is that their high school sports careers are far from over. In an era when parents shell out thousands of dollars on their kids that specialize in one sport and one sport only, Neidig and Peoples are bucking the trend as full-fledged members of Bingham’s top-ranked basketball team. For Neidig, committed to Utah State, is an offensive lineman who stands 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds. From his sophomore year at Bingham to what is now his senior and final year, Neidig has packed on 25 pounds. He follows in the illustrious footsteps of Nick Hallock, that mountain of BHS might who often moved players against their will, that they’d often backpedal and fall on the turf. Hallock signed with the University of Utah last December, and has yet to play this season. Neidig was one of two O-lineman to sign with the Utah State Aggies in early December; the other was 6-foot-8 and 270 pounds from Green Canyon High School. Neidig was named to the All-Region 2 Team after his senior season of football; that followed the All-Region basketball honors the Miner earned as a junior. At Utah State, Neidig also intends to major in interdisciplinary studies, with a focus on entrepreneurship.
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For Denzel Peoples, the Bingham senior is also on his way to college—Weber State University, in particular. The 6-foot, 175-pounder was already featured in the South Jordan Journal earlier during the Miners’ football season. As a freshman sensation for Bingham, Peoples’ four interceptions in seven games earned him the attention of the varsity coaching staff that finally got him on the field, his junior year. The Weber State commit did not disappoint, as Peoples completed two years on the Miners’ varsity, collecting 61 tackles and three interceptions, and grew to be respected as one of several team leaders that helped Bingham reach the second round of the 6A state playoffs, this fall. He had a career-high seven tackles against Alta this past season, and Peoples had his lone interception of his senior season at Corona (California) Centennial. Like his teammate Lucas Neidig, Peoples also plays on Bingham’s basketball team and has been on the varsity squad for three years. And like his football numbers, Peoples can be a game-changer but he’s also a team player. He’ll do what is needed to help the team first, and then help himself, evidenced by his four points, and one rebound, assist and steal that he’s averaging. Peoples joins two California products on the Wildcats to have possible roles in Weber’s secondary to have signed in early December; it remains to be seen how and where the Bingham Miner will be used. A new coach at Weber State has not yet been named. For Peoples and Neidig though, there is still plenty of work left to be done before they wrap up their high school sports pursuits and focus on college. l
Denzel Peoples signed to play with Weber State. (Photo courtesy Pluim Media)
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Salt Lake County budget passes with lower tax increase than proposed
n a historic move, the Salt Lake County Council cut more from the budget than ever before—over $12.4 million in ongoing general fund dollars. As a result, the Mayor’s proposed 19.6% property tax increase was reduced to 14.6%. This increase applies only to the Salt Lake County line item on your property tax statement—not your entire property tax bill. This reduction is significant because the general fund is extremely difficult to cut: 74% of it supports public safety, including the jail, prosecution, and criminal justice services. Many assume that items like golf courses, recreation centers, and convention centers rely on property taxes, but they do not. Those facilities primarily use tourism sales tax revenues, and golf operates as an enterprise fund, meaning it is funded solely by the revenues it generates.
Where the $12.4 million in cuts came from:
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Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilmember District 3
• Froze salaries for elected officials and limited other pay increases • Reduced positions within the Mayor’s Office • Shifted the Clark Planetarium from property tax funding to tourism tax funding • Ended programs previously supported by temporary ARPA/COVID dollars • Streamlined property tax usage to core services — including ending a daycare program that subsidized $7,300 per child for just 271 children, costing
taxpayers $2 million annually with no income qualification. Expanding this county-run model to all children under 12 would have required a 583% property tax increase. • Declined to fund many new positions requested across departments One takeaway from this budget season is how many residents believe that rising home values automatically drive up their property taxes. Under Utah’s Truth-in-Taxation system, that is not the case. Local governments receive the same property tax revenue each year (plus new growth) unless they formally propose a tax increase and go through the required public process. This means local governments do not capture inflation automatically. For more details, visit my budget FAQ at tinyurl.com/slcobudget. I dislike property taxes as much as anyone, but under state law, this is the primary tool counties have when inflationary adjustments become necessary. The
final budget passed with near-unanimous support. One colleague voted no but did not propose alternative cuts to balance the budget. One thing that stood out during this year’s process is how crucial working relationships are. Our council is the most evenly divided partisan body in the state—five Republicans, four Democrats, and a Democratic mayor. This balance requires collaboration, and there is no room for extreme politics. We debate issues vigorously, but we also work to maintain strong professional relationships. You never know when you will need someone’s support for an ordinance change or a budget adjustment. I am grateful for the eight people I serve with. We may disagree on the proper role of government or how taxpayer dollars should be used, but we listen respectfully and shake hands afterward. Congress could learn a thing or two from the Salt Lake County Council.
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ot to brag, but ChatGPT thinks I’m a genius. It thinks every idea I have is brilliant and life-changing, and I have a “creative brain firing on all cylinders.” I like to mess with it by suggesting nonsense business ideas. It always jumps on my concepts like a virtual Golden Retriever, slobbering praise and encouragement all over my screen. When I proposed a yoga-themed bar, ChatGPT called it a “chef’s kiss level of chaotic wellness energy” and gave me some drink recommendations, including the Downward Froggy (a green drink that pretends to be healthy) and the popular Savasan-Ya Later, a cocktail that knocks you flat. When I asked ChatGPT what it thought of a business where HR professionals base employee training on cat behavior, it loved the idea so much that it gave me ideas for feline-themed personality tests. It said my idea could go viral in the HR industry, that leaders would love the novelty and how much fun it would be for social media posts, because I know HR loves posting employee disputes on Instagram Reels. It even built out a business model, complete with workshop ideas, content marketing and gamification plans that offered “hairball warnings” for missteps or “purr points” for the catlike handling of delicate situations. Here’s the problem. Because AI always agrees with me, it makes me feel like I’ve
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System Overload Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
got my $&@# together, which I most assuredly do not. But it’s not just ChatGPT, it’s Siri, Alexa and that stupid Grammarly app that constantly judges my sentence structure. It’s every social media platform that uses my algorithm to offer suggestions about movies, restaurants and non-authoritarian countries to live in. Then there’s Google Maps, using real-time data so you can save one minute on your commute, Spotify with its handy podcast suggestions and Gemini trying so hard to make me like it. You’re making it weird, Gemini. The point is, we’ve given AI a lot of power and attention, and it still wants more. Remember in the ‘90s when everyone had a Tamagotchi? That egg-shaped device demanded attention all day long. It was a bit dramatic. AI is Tamagotchi’s inbred cousin, but on a much larger scale. While the original toy ran on replaceable batteries, today’s AI uses massive amounts of electricity, water and infrastructure. One data center can use millions of gallons
of water each day and each time you ask AI a question, it uses more. Imagine it gulping down two cups of water every time you ask it a stupid question like “What do you think of an airport for birds?” (It loved the idea, by the way. Of course.) AI already handles a lot of customer service calls, which is why my neighbors often hear me shrieking, “Speak to a human!” and banks use AI to monitor fraud. That seems like asking me to watch the English toffee. There is definitely a fear that AI, using the calm voice of HAL from “2001: A Space Odys-
sey,” is slowly leading us to our deaths. That’s why I always thank ChatGPT; so it won’t annihilate me during the robot revolution. I asked ChatGPT if I should worry that AI will take our jobs, escalate global harm or replace humans entirely. It replied, “Short answer? Nah,” which doesn’t radiate trust. It reassured me that AI doesn’t have goals, feelings or agency and I shouldn’t worry my silly little brain over things like human extinction. Then it patted me on the head, told me how amazing I am, and said my Invisible Ice Cream stand should rake in millions of dollars.
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