Category: State News

Categories
State News

The Fieldwork Archive Comes to Utah

Advertisements

By Mike Romero

Derek Piotr, the field researcher and world traveler behind The Fieldwork Archive, is coming to Utah. For the past six years, Piotr has traveled across the United States and beyond collecting and preserving everyday songs that rarely get recorded: lullabies, summer camp chants, church hymns, playground rhymes, and fragments people remember from family or community life.

Piotr recently posted an open call for volunteer collaborators ahead of his March 17-24 trip to Utah.

Dear Lovely Utahns,

My name is Derek Piotr. For six years now I have been traveling, not just nation-wide, but internationally, looking for the old songs. What do I mean by this? I am dedicated to recording and preserving any songs you might have learned growing up – from your mother doing the dishes, at a campfire, in church, school, or your grandfather’s house. Maybe you only remember a line or two – that’s great!

I have been encouraging everyday citizens who have never sung a note before to be recorded and archived. With this petition in mind, I have catalogged a vast amount of little ditties, poems, fragments, hymns, or even longer ballads, into what is now the Fieldwork Archive (fieldwork-archive.com).

I am coming to Utah this spring, in the middle of March (17-24) and staying in Logan, and I hope to meet many of you before my time is through. What are some examples of a good contribution to the Fieldwork Archive? Here is a classic example:

‘Twas in the merry month of May
The green buds were a swelling
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen

Probably many of you readers are familiar with that one, or some variation. I would love to hear “your” take on it. Maybe your grandmother sang it, bouncing you on her knee. Maybe an enthusiastic camp counselor said it was his favorite song, and brought out his banjo to put his own spin on it. Here is another song I have collected:

Dirty Lil, Dirty Lil
Lives on top of Garbage Hill
Never washes, never will
(hawk, spit) Dirty Lil!

I recorded this particular ditty during a fieldwork session with Bill Shute; a legacy folk guitarist of some renown. It was the hostess’ husband who offered this song as the “kickoff” to an afternoon of remembering songs and recording. I still hold it as the prize of the day.

As you can see, I am looking for the small, silly songs, but I am also welcoming work songs, protest songs, hymns, poems, recipes, prayers, and folk-tales (I would be especially curious to hear about any local legends, monsters, ghosts or supernatural encounters).

Hopefully this petition falls on open ears, and you might consider contributing. You DO NOT have to be a performer to offer what you can remember. I welcome all. I cannot tell you how many sessions have begun with the disclaimer “well…I’m not a singer, but…”. These are my people.

You may reach me beforehand with any questions. Please do not hesitate:

derek@fieldwork-archive.com
203. 460. 0576

Advertisements
Categories
State News

Utah Blocks Land Sale Near Provo Airport to Chinese-Owned Company

Advertisements

By Mike Romero

Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced this week that state officials blocked a Chinese state-owned company from purchasing land near the Provo Airport.

According to Cox, the company involved was Cirrus Aircraft, which is majority-owned by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). AVIC is a restricted foreign entity under Utah law due to its connections to China’s military and its presence on multiple U.S. federal watch lists.

Cirrus Aircraft, originally an American company, manufactures small private aircraft. It was acquired by AVIC’s subsidiary in 2011. While Cirrus is not a military contractor, some analysts have raised concerns that its technology could benefit China’s military.

State officials did not disclose how much land was involved or its exact location. The Department of Public Safety said it was notified of the proposed purchase in early 2025. The sale was stopped under Utah’s HB516 law, which restricts land ownership by entities tied to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

County recorders are required to report suspicious transactions. Officials said the local recorder flagged this attempt, which led to the intervention.

Provo Airport. Photo courtesy of Provo City Government.

Governor Cox emphasized that Utah’s laws are designed to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring strategic land. He said the blocked sale demonstrates the effectiveness of recent legislation aimed at national security concerns.

Cox also addressed claims about the extent of Chinese land ownership in Utah. He said about 33,000 to 37,000 acres were previously owned by Chinese companies but that most of this land has been divested, leaving only a small amount under Chinese ownership.

Advertisements

Utah has also closed Confucius Institutes at state universities due to similar concerns about foreign influence. Lawmakers say they plan additional legislation related to critical resources like water and minerals.

Cox linked the issue to broader concerns about religious freedom, citing China’s recent closures of congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Beijing. He said Utah will continue to oppose foreign efforts to limit religious freedom or gain leverage through economic deals.

Utah officials said their approach has drawn interest from other states and has been recognized by national defense organizations as a model for monitoring foreign land ownership.

Cox concluded that Utah will keep enforcing its restrictions to prevent foreign entities with ties to adversarial governments from acquiring land that could affect state security, infrastructure, or economic independence.

Advertisements
Categories
State News

Utah Governor Expresses Support for Texas Amid Border Crisis

Advertisements

By Mike Romero

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday morning, Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox announced his support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott amid a growing confrontation with the United States Federal Government over border control issues.

Advertisements

“The border is a disaster that continues to spiral out of control, both in terms of people and deadly fentanyl traffic,” Cox said. “This is not a partisan issue. This is a national security issue. This is a common sense issue. This is an American issue. Utah thanks Texas and Gov. Abbott for stepping up where the Biden Administration has failed over and over again.”

This came in response to Governor Abbot’s public declaration on January 24, directed towards the Biden administration. In it, Abbott declared that “The federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the States.”

He accused the President of the United States, Joe Biden, of failing to execute immigration laws enacted by Congress, defending illegal immigrants in court instead of prosecuting them, instructing agencies to ignore federal statutes that mandate the detention of illegal immigrants, and wasting taxpayer dollars to “tear open Texas’ border security infrastructure.” To the last point, Abbott said that doing this directed immigrants away from the 28 legal points of entry and into the country.

Utah is among 20 other states across the country who have voiced support for Texas.

Advertisements

The standoff is occurring after the US Supreme Court voted 5-4 on Monday to allow federal Border Patrol agents remove state-erected razor wire barriers. The Department of Homeland Security demanded Texas give it “full access” to the border by January 26, according to CNN. Abbott is refusing to comply, saying that Homeland Security would be destroying state property, and that Biden’s failure to uphold laws triggered Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 in the constituion which acknowledges “the States’ sovereign interest in protecting their borders” and claims Texas has constitutional authority to defend and protect itself. In his eyes, the Texas National Guard, Texas Department of Public Safety, and others are acting on constitutional authority and state law.

This story is developing.

Advertisements
Categories
State News

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. To Visit Utah Tomorrow

Advertisements

By Mike Romero

Presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is holding a free voter rally on Thursday, November 30 in Salt Lake City at 3:30 PM at Soundwell. The independent candidate is in town to meet voters and to collect 1,000 signatures to obtain ballot access in Utah.

After his first Utah rally, RFK Jr. will hold a small fundraising event for donors on Thursday evening. The event is happening at Sky SLC, a nightclub at 149 W. Pierpont Ave, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Notably, Utah Jazz legend John Stockton recently expressed public support for RFK Jr.

Advertisement.

Due to their size and influence, the Republican and Democratic parties can almost automatically place one of their candidates on the ballot in all 50 states for a presidential election. Due to a lack of party affiliation, RFK Jr. must gather enough signatures in all 50 states in order to qualify for ballot access. Last election, the only third party to achieve that feat was the 2020 Libertarian ticket, composed of Jo Jorgensen and her VP Spike Cohen.

RFK is polling well, especially among younger voters. If he keeps up this momentum, he may have a showing that rivals Ross Perot’s 1992 run, which won Perot 18.91% of the popular vote.

Recent polls show that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has suddenly become a serious contender in the 2024 race for the US presidency. A Quinnipiac poll showed Kennedy with a 22% share of the electorate in a head-to-head matchup against Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Another poll shows Kennedy pulling ahead of both major party contenders among voters under 45 in several key battleground states.

Advertisements
Categories
State News

Online Retailer Jane.com Goes Dark, Police Investigating

Advertisements

By Mike Romero

The Lehi, Utah-based online company Jane has been offering fashion and home decor from independent creators since 2011. A curated boutique marketplace advertised as being by women, for women, 90% of its sellers were businesses owned or run by female creators. It was even one of the fastest-growing companies in Utah.

Advertisement.

But the company mysteriously shut down last Friday without any sort of formal announcement. The company’s website went offline, employees were let go without severance or healthcare, and the company turned off comments on its online seller forum and shut down the seller Facebook page. Now the offices in Lehi are sitting vacant.

Several woman have contacted news outlets and police to inform them that the company still owes them money – some reporting that number to be in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Lehi Police Department has confirmed that they have opened an investigation into the company. Krista Kochivar was the most recent CEO of Jane. Lehi police says that anyone who feels they have been wronged by the company and would like to make a report can contact Lehi PD through their non-emergency number, 801-794-3970.

Advertisements
Categories
State News

Latter-day Saint Leader M. Russell Ballard Passes Away; Funeral Services Announced

Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Advertisements

By McKinsleigh Smith

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (one of the international faith’s highest governing bodies), passed away at about 11:15 PM on Sunday, November 12, 2023 with loved ones by his side. He was 95 years old.

Advertisement.

Ballard joined the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 6, 1985. He was announced as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on January 16, 2018, assuming the duties of President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Dallin H. Oaks, after he was called to the faith’s First Presidency, its highest governing body. Ballard helped oversee the spiritual and organizational affairs of a church of more than 17 million members spread all over the world.

Of Ballard, Church President Russell M. Nelson said, “President Ballard was never indecisive. He knew exactly what the Lord taught and how it could be applied in one’s personal life and bring joy and happiness.”

Funeral services for President M. Russell Ballard will be held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah on Friday, November 17, 2023, from 11 AM to noon MST.

Advertisements

The funeral will be open to the public, and attendees must be 8 years old or older. The Temple Square gates and the Tabernacle doors will open at 9:30 AM. Attendees should be seated by 10:30 AM.

The funeral services will be streamed live on the Church’s Broadcasts page and Inspiration and Events YouTube channel (both available in Cantonese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish), as well as BYUtv.

A private burial service will take place at the Salt Lake City Cemetery immediately after the service. There will be no public viewing. In lieu of flowers, President Ballard’s family has asked that donations be made to This Is The Place Heritage Park.

Advertisements
Categories
State News

Southbound I-15 Closed After Fatal Accident

Photo by Sgt. Cam Roden, Utah Highway Patrol.
Advertisements

By Mike Romero

A man died after being hit by a vehicle on southbound I-15 near American Fork, Utah. According to troopers, he was hit and killed after exiting his vehicle.

This story is brought to you in part by Spengler Industries.

Utah Highway Patrol arrived at the incident at roughly 7 AM on November 13. A car had struck the right barrier, and then (for reasons troopers are still trying to determine), the driver exited the vehicle and walked back toward traffic. He was then hit by an oncoming vehicle.

While no one in the other car was injured, this man suffered fatal injuries. He has still not been identified.

The Utah Department of Transportation reports that the five right lanes of southbound traffic are closed and at a near standstill. A man we interviewed reported that he had moved only 600 feet in just under an hour. UDOT estimates the lanes will reopen around 11 AM.

Advertisements
Categories
State News

New Vineyard City Manager Appointed

Eric Ellis.
Advertisements

By McKinsleigh Smith

Despite hesitancy from city residents, The Vineyard City Council voted unanimously last Wednesday to make Eric Ellis the new city manager. Ellis had previously given his support to the plan to dredge Utah Lake and house hundreds of thousands of people on it via artificial islands.

The Salt Lake Tribune recently secured two letters showing Ellis told Lake Restorations Solutions, the company in charge of the artificial island scheme, that the Utah Lake Commission would provide millions of dollars to help them secure a federal loan for their project.

Advertisement. Learn more about Utah’s most experienced ornate roofing company.

Despite this, Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer has described Ellis as an experienced public servant and skilled administrator. It is of note that Fullmer also sent a letter of support for Lake Restorations Solutions’ federal loan in September of 2020, offering $5 million from Vineyard City. Due to public outcry, Lake Restorations Solutions never received any federal funding, and the company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

Ellis will take the reins as Vineyard enters a crucial period of development and expansion, including the massive Utah City project. Ellis beat out more than 150 individuals from throughout the country who applied for the position. He has an associate degree in business administration from UVU, a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications from BYU, and a graduate degree in public administration from the University of Utah.

Ellis will officially assume his new position on Nov. 13.

Advertisements
Categories
State News

How will RFK Jr. fare in Utah?

Advertisements

By Zach Collier

To absolutely nobody’s surprise, The Democratic National Committee has actively kept Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from securing the Democratic Nomination. Only 10 incumbent US presidents have lost re-election – the most recent being Donald Trump. On paper, throwing their weight behind Joe Biden seems like the right move in order to maintain maximum political power.

Advertisement.

However, polls are showing that a vast majority of Americans don’t think Biden is fit for office. A CNN poll suggested that two-thirds of registered Democrats and left-leaning independents would prefer someone other than Joe Biden. An AP poll from September showed that 77% of Americans think Biden is too old to serve another term.

Kennedy, the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy, announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in April of 2023. As someone with a storied American political heritage – but who has not held public office himself – Kennedy is in a unique position. Like Donald Trump, he can position himself as an anti-establishment outsider. But unlike Trump, he can be seen as someone trying to heal the system by restoring it to the “good old days” instead of trying to dismantle or “drain” it.

Photo by Gage Skidmore.

It will be interesting to see how Utahns respond to this new option. Last election, Utah had the second-highest percentage of votes cast for 3rd party candidates at 4.2% – second only to Alaska at 4.4%. 37.7% of Utah voters also voted for Joe Biden in 2020 instead of Donald Trump – the highest Democratic showing for the state since 2008.

The state’s opposition to both Donald Trump and the Democratic Party was made clearest in the 2016 election, when 21.5% of voters opted for independent candidate Evan McMullin, who launched his campaign late and with far less of the political connections, family history, or financial backing RFK Jr. has.

Evan McMullin at a rally in Provo, Utah.

With many Utahns showing disdain for Donald Trump’s irreligious, bawdy, and tawdry behavior, Kennedy’s open Catholic devotion may be seen as a breath of fresh air. His opposition to mandatory vaccinations, goals to ease the housing crisis (with which Utah is struggling considerably ), and tough-but-humanitarian border policy may resonate with Utah Republicans.

Advertisements

However, his his goal of raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, his focus on the environment, and his former affiliation with the Democratic Party may be too problematic for staunch Republicans. This may be enough to win Utah Democrats over, though. Especially since they don’t have a lot to lose: Utah hasn’t swung Democrat since 1964.

Only time will tell. But with Utah’s recent erratic voting behavior, it may become a key player in future elections – especially as the Republican Party drifts from its “values” and descends further into chaos.

Advertisements
Categories
State News

Sister Kathleen J. Eyring Passes Away at Age 82

Photo by Gerry Avant, Church News.
Advertisements

By Mike Romero

Sister Kathleen Johnson Eyring — the wife of President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — died Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in her home in Bountiful, Utah, surrounded by her family. She was 82.

Through over 60 years of marriage, Sister Eyring remained her husband’s biggest support, counselor and confidante.

During an address he gave at the Vatican on November 18, 2014, Henry B. Eyring said, “I have become a better person as I have loved and lived with her. We have been complementary beyond anything I could have imagined. … I realize now that we grew together into one — slowly lifting and shaping each other, year by year. As we absorbed strength from each other, it did not diminish our personal gifts.”

Advertisements

Sister Eyring was born in San Francisco, California, on May 11, 1941. She was the daughter of J. Cyril “Sid” and LaPrele Lindsay Johnson. Her parents instilled in her a deep commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was great at sports, loved the outdoors, and was an intellectual. She was the captain of the tennis team at her prep school, and was student body president and valedictorian. After graduating, she attended the University of California at Berkeley. She also studied at Sorbonne University in the heart of Paris and the University of Vienna, where she learned to speak both French and German.

When she and a friend decided to do a summer semester of school at Harvard in 1961, she met and fell in love with Henry Bennion Eyring. They were married in July 27, 1962, in the Logan Utah Temple by President Spencer W. Kimball. They have six children — four sons and two daughters.

One of the Eyrings’ bishops once told her husband: “I’m amazed. Every time I hear of a person in the ward who is in trouble, I hurry to help. Yet by the time I arrive, it seems that your wife has always already been there.” 

Funeral services will be announced soon.

Advertisements