Tag: Downtown Provo

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Provo City News

Meet the Candidates for Provo City Council: Craig Christensen

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A Note from the Provo Tribune Editorial Team

Election season is upon us. Part of our mission at The Provo Tribune is to help Provo citizens to become active, informed voters who are anxiously engaged in building their community. To further this mission, we’re highlighting every candidate running for Provo City Council this year. These features do not constitute an endorsement, and are done as a public service for the community.

Who is Craig Christensen?

Craig Christensen has lived in Provo for over three decades. He has seen Provo grow over the course of 30 years, and he strongly believes that he understands Provo’s needs.

Before starting a family, Craig attended Brigham Young University and received a bachelor’s degree in English. Soon after, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. After attending Harvard, Craig and his wife Susan decided to settle in Provo to raise a family.

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Craig has since started four businesses, creating hundreds of local jobs. He understands the challenges faced by local business owners and has firsthand experience in fostering economic growth and job creation.

With more expansive growth coming to Provo, Craig believes that changes should be made within reasonable parameters to preserve the city’s unique charm, history, natural surroundings, and residents’ interests.

As a firm believer in the principles of stewardship, Craig has successfully led efforts to save Utah Lake and Bridal Veil Falls from being developed. This has allowed him to gain valuable experience advocating for his neighbors and his community.

If elected, Craig will focus on common sense growth, a business-friendly environment, and the preservation of open spaces that make Provo home.

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State News

Hurricane Hilary and Utah County

A satellite image of Hurricane Hilary. Photo courtesy of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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By Charlie G. Patreus

Hurricane Hilary, labeled a Category 4 storm over the weekend, triggered a tropical storm watch in parts of southern California for the first time. California and Nevada anticipate heavy rain from the storm’s movement across the Southwest. Utah’s impact remains uncertain, but heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected. Thunderstorms have already begun to occur in Provo, Springville, and Spanish Fork.

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As moisture from Hilary heads north into the desert areas of the Southwest, flooding concerns are heightened. Hilary’s heavy rain is already flooding Mexico’s Baja California and bringing hurricane force winds to southern California. They’re starting to move northward.

Utah could face monsoon surges, primarily in southern Utah. Cedar City experienced flooding last Thursday evening. Heavy rain across the state is expected by Saturday. Intense rain might occur in central and eastern Utah. It remains to be seen how much water this storm will add to Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake.

Although Utah’s risk is low, monitoring continues. Avoid flood-prone areas, follow Salt Lake National Weather Service alerts, and remember safety precautions in case of flooding.

Stay away from small streams, slot canyons, burned forests, and other places prone to flooding. If your neighborhood does flood, remember: “turn around, don’t drown.” Merely 6 inches of water can move a car. A foot of water can consume a car entirely and push it into a current. In the worst scenarios, this could be fatal. In the best scenarios, it requires help from first responders. Be safe out there.

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University News

BYU Secures Top Spot for Best Library in the US

The BYU Harold B. Lee Library. Photography by Nate Edwards/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2023.
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By Charlie G. Patreus

The latest edition of The Princeton Review’s renowned “Best Colleges” rankings for 2024 has been unveiled, and Brigham Young University (BYU) has made the list. The annual rankings, now in their 32nd year, are produced by The Princeton Review, a prominent education services company. Unlike traditional rankings that rely solely on academic data and input from college administrators, The Princeton Review’s rankings are exclusively based on surveys completed by college students, providing an authentic reflection of their experiences.

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Presented in 50 distinct categories since 1992, the “Best Colleges” lists spotlight 25 outstanding institutions in each category. These lists are accessible on PrincetonReview.com, and they are also published in the latest edition of The Princeton Review’s college guide, titled The Best 389 Colleges, published by Penguin Random House.

Photography by Nate Edwards/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2023

The data operations team at The Princeton Review processed a substantial 165,000 student surveys from The Best 389 Colleges. On average, this translates to approximately 424 surveys per school. The surveys were administered over the academic years 2022-23 and the two preceding years, with students offering insights into their professors, campus amenities, administrative support, financial aid, and various other aspects of their college lives. Detailed information about the survey methodology and ranking criteria is available on PrincetonReview.com.

This year, Brigham Young University was awarded the top spot in the Best Library category, solidifying its reputation as the premier destination for library resources in the nation. BYU also ranked #1 in another (less surprising) category: Most Religious Students.

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Provo City News

Provo Man Pulled a Gun on the FBI Before Being Killed

Craig Robertson, 75 | Facebook
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By Eric Rockwell

The FBI was recently involved in the death of Provo citizen Craig DeLeeuw Robertson. New reports indicate Robertson pointed a gun at agents before being shot and killed on Wednesday, August 9.

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Robertson was armed with a .357 revolver, according to court documents. The incident occurred hours before President Joe Biden arrived in Salt Lake City – around 6:15 AM. The confrontation occurred as FBI agents approached him to deliver an arrest warrant for three felonies.

“The FBI continues to review an agent-involved shooting which occurred around 6:15 AM on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 in Provo, Utah,” said FBI Spokesperson Sandra Barker in a statement. “The incident began when special agents attempted to serve arrest and search warrants on 75-year-old Craig Deeleuw Robertson at his home for threats to elected officials and law enforcement officers. Robertson resisted arrest and as agents attempted to take him into custody he pointed a .357 revolver at them. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force officers seriously. In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division. We have no further details to provide at this time.”

Age 75, Robertson was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His behavior on social media prompted intervention by law enforcement. He posted threats against New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg (who was the first to indict former President Donald Trump); President Biden; and the FBI agents in contact with Robertson.

“I hear Biden is coming to Utah. Digging out my old ghillie suit and cleaning the dust off the m24 sniper rife [sic]. Welcome, Buffon-in-Chief [sic],” Robertson posted days before the president’s arrival in the state. As an Air Force Veteran in possession of the firearms discussed, this threat was taken seriously.

Robertson’s family released an official public statement on Facebook regarding his death.

“We, the family of Craig Deeluew Robertson, are shocked and devastated by the senseless and tragic killing of our beloved father and brother, and we fervently mourn the loss of a good and decent man,” the statement said.

The family said they “hold no animosity” to any individuals involved in the incident. They described Robertson as a kind and caring person, and didn’t believe he would ever harm another individual.

Craig Robertson wearing a ghillie suit in an undated Facebook photo.

“He (Robertson) was understandably frustrated and distraught by the present and on-going erosions to our constitutionally protected freedoms and the rights of free citizens … As an elderly – and largely homebound – man, there was very little he could do but exercise his First Amendment right to free speech and voice his protest,” the statement said.

Family and friends of Robertson asked the media and general public for privacy while they grieve and “come to terms with the sad tragedy of these events.”

The shooting is still under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division, and Biden left Utah on Aug. 10 without incident.

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Provo City News

FBI Shoots and Kills Elderly Provo Man

The scene after the shooting in Provo | Photo by Shelby Lofton (X: @newswithshelby)
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By Richard Provost

An elderly man named Craig Robertson was shot and killed in his home in Provo on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. A frequent poster on social media, Robertson’s posts included threats toward President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden visited Utah this week ahead of his re-election campaign.

Robertson’s Facebook account showed multiple posts threatening violence. One example said Utah would become famous “as the place a sniper took out Biden the Marxist.” Robertson, a veteran, also frequently posted photos of his firearms.

The FBI contacted Robertson about his comments. He replied publicly on July 27 with this post: “Hey FBI, you still monitoring my social media? Checking so I can be sure to have a loaded gun handy in case you drop by again.” His Facebook profile has since been taken down.

The president was briefed by senior staff on the FBI shooting, a White House official said. No information about how the incident unfolded has been publicly released by law enforcement. CBS News reported that Robertson engaged FBI agents in a gunfight when they tried to serve a warrant. 

A neighbor named Nyla Rollins said they called for Robertson to come out. “And he’s like, ‘I’m not coming out,'” she says, indicating he swore at the agents. “And then I didn’t hear anything after that.”

Robinson said he couldn’t tell whether there was an exchange of gunfire between the FBI and the suspect. “I just heard the five shots.” She recounted that the SWAT team went through his back door with a battering ram.

An official complaint included a 2009 photo of Robertson wearing camouflage gear and holding a rifle in the woods. Authorities say it shows that he had the ability to conduct sniper tactics. The list of threats on his social media profiles were long, graphic, and detailed.

On X (formerly Twitter), author Josef Miyasato had this to say: “Craig was a member of my local Church congregation. I’ve known him for the past 3 years, give or take. Craig would always sit on the pew next to the chapel door. He was a regular face in the congregation. My wife and I loved him.” He explained that he was always friendly and kind at church, but that Miyasoto never interacted with him online and didn’t know how violent his rhetoric was. “The Facebook-ranting, assassination-threatening person that has been revealed was not the Craig I knew. To say he crossed the line into the ugly space of unprotected speech is accurate. And I wish Craig would have never behaved like this. His posts are disturbing to say the least.”

The morning of the incident, Provo PD issued this statement: “Yesterday the Provo Police Department became aware that the FBI intended to serve a federal arrest warrant in Provo this morning. We did not contribute any personnel to the team that went to the house to serve that warrant. After the agent involved shooting happened this morning, our involvement has been limited to supporting the FBI while they conduct a continuing investigation.”

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Orem City News

Orem Invites The Public To Meet Their Candidates

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By Richard Provost

Orem is gearing up for election season! In 2023, 12 candidates are running for 3 available council spots. To help Orem citizens get informed about the candidates and their platforms, Orem City is holding a Meet the Candidates Night on Thursday, August 10 from 6-8 PM in Library Hall.

This is a unique opportunity to interact with fellow citizens running for office. There are few opportunities like this where all candidates are together in one room for open questions. The seats up for election in 2023 are currently held by Jeff Lambson, Terry Peterson, and Debby Lauret.

Candidates will address the audience for the first hour, explaining what they hope to accomplish on behalf of the city. The second hour will be an open house where the public can personally meet the candidates and ask them questions.

The 2023 candidates are: Crystal Muhlstein, Matt McKell, Greg Duerden, Chris Killpack, Jeff Lambson, Archie Williams III, Spencer Rands, Heather Fry, Jenn Gale, David Edward Garber, Mike Carpenter and Wade Sewell.

Ahead of the event, check out the videos Orem shot for each candidate here. You can see an example of one below.

Note: The inclusion of this candidate’s video does not indicate an endorsement, and is merely an example of what you can expect from the video series.

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State News

President Joe Biden to Visit Utah This Week

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By Mike Romero

President Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States of America, is visiting Deseret territory after a tour of the Southwest. The White House announced the itinerary for his trip this past weekend.

The Deseret News reported that the president will arrive in Salt Lake City on Wednesday and visit the VA hospital in Salt Lake City on Thursday morning. He’ll then visit Park City, Utah for a fundraiser held by Kristi and John Cumming and Nancy and Mark Gilbert. Cumming is the founder of the ski resort company Powdr, and Gilbert is a former US ambassador.

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While First Lady Jill Biden visited a Salt Lake City elementary school two years ago, this is the first time President Biden has visited Utah since taking office. He is expected to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act.

Every president since Herbert Hoover has visited Utah while in office. The last time a sitting president visited Utah was Donald Trump in 2017. Trump has recently been indicted for a third time ahead of an expected presidential campaign in 2024.

Trump won Utah in the 2020 election with 58.13% of votes. Biden received 37.65% of the vote – the highest of any Democrat in Utah in over 50 years. The Libertarian Party – the only third party on the ballot in all 50 states – secured 2.5% of Utah’s vote with Jo Jorgensen and her VP Spike Cohen. Biden recently announced that he would seek reelection. Spike Cohen has become immensely popular on social media and network television, and many Libertarians are hoping for a presidential bid.

Spike Cohen speaking in Taylorsville, MS to raise awareness about the murder of Rasheem Carter.
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Springville News

Teen and Her Two Dogs Survive After Jeep Falls Into River

Photo from the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
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By Charlie G. Patreus

Last Sunday night, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office got an urgent call. A white jeep had accidentally driven off the road in Payson Canyon and into the river – a 20 foot drop. The car contained a 16-year-old girl and her two dogs. She was headed northbound out of the canyon.

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In this crash, no signs of impairment are suspected or reported. The crash was likely due to speeding, but not by a drastic or reckless amount. The road exhibits tight curves, which could have contributed to the crash.

UCSO public information officer Sgt. Spencer Cannon said the car went forward 75 to 100 feet and landed upside down in the water. The young driver, Alison Kennedy, made it out safely with only minor scratches. Her dogs escaped as well.

“It looked initially like it could be really bad, but it turned out not to be as serious of a crash as it looked like it could have been,” Cannon said. He explained that the people behind Kennedy stopped to help and called 911. First responders arrived within ten minutes.

There is no railing on the side of the road, but crashes in that area are much less frequent than other, more narrow parts of Payson Canyon. However, many areas of the canyon don’t have a guard rail, and the roads are so narrow they don’t give enough room for both lanes of traffic.

The Utah Department of Public safety recommends driving below the posted speed limit in hazardous weather, at night, and when there is rough or windy terrain.

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Provo City News

Provo’s Music Community Unites To Save Teen

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By Mike Romero

Clayton Smalley, a Spanish Fork country artist and welder, has dedicated his career to infusing his songs with a genuine working-class spirit. Influenced by legendary musicians like George Strait, Keith Whitley, and Reba McEntire, Smalley’s love for traditional country music shines through, shaping his unique style.

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One of Smalley’s remarkable abilities is his knack for transforming songs like Niall Horan’s “Slow Hands” into heartwarming exchanges between a husband and wife, reminiscent of lazy summer days on a cozy porch. His cover of the track garnered an impressive 100,000 streams on Spotify, while his original music has amassed hundreds of thousands more.

As a devoted husband and father, Smalley strives to balance his artistic aspirations with his professional career, all while being signed to Nashville country label YN Records. However, his world was turned upside down when he received the devastating news of his son Austin’s diagnosis—heart failure.

Utah country musician Clayton Smalley.

Austin, an 18-year-old high school student and passionate baseball player, was actively pursued by college recruiters until his diagnosis forced him to miss his senior season. After undergoing numerous tests and specialist appointments, it was determined that Austin was not eligible for a left ventricular assist device and would require a heart transplant.

Thankfully, the transplant surgery, which took place this week, was successful. Nevertheless, the road to recovery remains long and arduous for the Smalley family. According to the January 2020 Milliman Research Report, the average cost of a heart transplant in the United States, prior to insurance coverage, amounted to a staggering $1,664,800. This includes pre- and post-transplant medical care, hospital charges, organ procurement fees, and medications.

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Recognizing the financial strain the family faces, a GoFundMe campaign has already raised over $16,000 and is still open to contributions. Additionally, The Angelus Theatre, along with a group of talented Utah country artists including John Griffin, Cody Robbins, Whitney Lusk, Pat Swenson, Maddie Wilson, and Hayden Cluff, will be hosting a benefit concert on Saturday, July 8th, at 7:30 PM. This event promises an unforgettable showcase of talent. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 or at the door for $25.

All proceeds from the concert will go towards supporting the Smalley family, assisting with mounting medical expenses, lost wages, meals, and the day-to-day costs associated with the heart transplant surgery and recovery.

For the latest updates, be sure to follow Clayton Smalley on Instagram. Meanwhile, take a moment to enjoy his captivating track “These Boots Were Made to Dance” below.

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Categories
University News

BYU Is Finally In The Big 12

BYU fans celebrated at an on-campus party on June 30, 2023. Photo courtesy of BYU Athletics
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By Mike Romero

It’s been a long 22 months. After nearly 2 years of waiting, BYU will end its era of independence by uniting with the elite Big 12 for the 2023-2024 season. Celebrations among students, fans, and alumni took place this past weekend.

A massive gathering was held in Provo, Utah. Fans gathered and counted down until midnight, when the BYU Cougars were officially admitted into the conference. BYU even made a massive announcement on a digital display at Times Square in New York City.

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BYU’s sports teams will compete in 20 of the 23 sports sponsored by the Big 12. The school won’t participate in wrestling, rowing, or equestrian. Since the Big 12 doesn’t support men’s volleyball, BYU’s men’s volleyball team will stay in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

In a major win for Latter-day Saints and a gracious move on the part of the Big 12, BYU will not compete in athletic events on Sundays – a holy day for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

BYU football begins their 2023 season with three non-conference home games. Then they’ll hit the road to take on Kansas on September 23. Home games this year include Cincinnati on September 29, Texas Tech on October 21, Iowa State on November 11, and Oklahoma on November 18.

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