On May 16, 2023, NPR Music made an announcement during Morning Edition revealing the winner of the ninth edition of their Tiny Desk Contest: Little Moon. The victorious band is composed of Provo locals. They’ll have the opportunity to perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk before heading out on the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour.
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The band is made up of Emma Hardyman (lead vocals/guitar), Nathan Hardyman (bass/guitar), Bly Wallentine (keys/bass), Bridget Jackson (harp), Chris Shemwell (drums), and Grace Johnson (electric guitar/keys). Little Moon was chosen from an impressive pool of nearly 6,000 submissions representing all 50 states, Washington, DC, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
The Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour will return in 2023. This victory tour, which has expanded to eight cities this year, provides an opportunity to witness Little Moon’s live performances alongside a showcase of vibrant local music. Additionally, two local Contest acts will join the lineup in most cities.
Engineering students at Brigham Young University (BYU) have achieved a remarkable feat by constructing the most fuel-efficient vehicle not only in the United States but also across the Americas. Their creation, known as a Supermileage vehicle, can travel an astounding distance of 1,915.83 miles per gallon. This remarkable achievement earned them the first-place title at the prestigious Shell Eco-marathon, an international competition that brings together teams from North and South America to develop the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the planet.
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The Shell Eco-marathon took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a distance of 1,531 miles from Provo, where BYU is located. BYU’s car could have easily coasted to Indianapolis on less than a gallon of gas. Despite its remarkable fuel efficiency, the vehicle can only reach a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. However, for the BYU Supermileage Team, speed is not the focus; their goal is to excel in long-distance efficiency.
Photo by Brooklynn Jarvis/BYU Photo
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Throughout the competition, BYU’s car consistently outperformed other vehicles, surpassing the second-place car by over 100 miles per gallon. BYU had previously participated in the Eco-marathon but had not competed for four years due to the pandemic. Given their absence, the team’s expectations were modest. However, they devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the competition, demonstrating unwavering focus and determination.
Overall, the BYU Supermileage Team’s triumph at the Shell Eco-marathon showcased their remarkable engineering skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. Their accomplishment not only earned them recognition as the best in the country but also solidified their position as the leading fuel-efficient vehicle builders on this side of the globe.
Representatives from Provo Neighborhood District 5 recently announced updates to the Provo Pedestrian Bridge Construction. This district includes the Dixon, Timp, Franklin, Franklin South, Downtown, Joaquin, Maeser, and East Bay neighborhoods. The overhead pedestrian bridge is being built by Utah Transit Authority (UTA) in partnership with Provo City.
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The bridge will span two FrontRunner tracks and two Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks, at approximately 600 South and 100 West in Provo. This pedestrian bridge will provide a more efficient and safe alternative for people to access the Provo FrontRunner station. Additional improvements will include pedestrian access to the structure.
There will be a week-long full road closure along a section of 600 south. All lanes will be blocked from Monday morning on May 8 through Friday, May 12. This closure will help crews finish work beneath the road.
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Reduced visibility at the corner of 100 West and 600 South makes it difficult for motorists traveling south on 100 West and turning on to 600 South to see when it is safe to pull out. They have asked that motorists on 600 South please slow down and be cautious when approaching this intersection.
Construction crews have completed the steel for the south tower column and will be pouring the concrete cap (to support the bridge) this Friday. Steel is being placed this week for the north tower concrete cap.
Dust, noise, and vibrations will occur during working hours but will be more impactful during the period when vertical columns are driven into the ground. Parking disruptions at the Provo Station and on the 600 South shoulder. No night work is expected.
Construction began on January 30, 2023 and is expected to end in October 2023. The bridge will be open to the public by November 2023.
On February 2, 2023, Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi delivered a TEDx-styled address to an audience of locals in the Covey Center for the Arts in downtown Provo, Utah. After being welcomed to the stage by the Provo City Communications Director Nicole Martin, she delivered an address focused on the exceptional nature of the city.
Provo Named Best Performing City
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Last January, Mayor Kaufusi was flown to Beverly Hills, CA for the Milken Institute’s 25th Annual Global Conference. There, Provo was named the best-performing city in the United States. Discussing Provo in an interview, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez humorously said he was thinking of changing their name to Provo to see if that wins them first place in the future.
2 Landmark Developments
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When discussing her two biggest achievements from the last year, Mayor Kaufusi pointed to the newly constructed Provo Public Safety Building/City Hall and the new Provo Airport Terminal.
Mayor Kaufusi shared a story of a sad tour through the old Provo Public Safety Building when she first entered office. Originally built for 40 police officers, it had grown to house 120 officers. Some were working out of closets, others in hallways. She expressed her gratitude to Provo citizens for voting to pass the bond that improved circumstances for Provo police and firefighters. The new facilities help them to recruit more effectively, work more efficiently, and retain top talent.
She also shared that written plans from past mayors predicted that a new airport terminal would be built in another 20-30 years. Kaufusi couldn’t find any research or opinions that indicated it couldn’t be done sooner. Through the help of state and federal grants as well as partners in the community, the new Provo Airport Terminal was constructed debt-free. This new terminal provided 1,020 new jobs and $130 million in additional annual revenue to the local economy.
Planning for the Future
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Mayor Kaufusi also discussed Provo’s growing rainy day fund, which sits at $40 million. She was also proud of her team’s efforts to educate the community on the state’s drought, which led to 728 million gallons of water saved over the last calendar year compared to the 20 year average. She also announced two new parks (Quail Orchard Park and the Regional Sports Park) and two new bridges (one over the FrontRunner downtown and the other over University Avenue near the old Provo High School).
After her presentation, other presenters took the stage: Bill Hulterstrom of the United Way, Carri Jenkins of BYU, Norm Wright of the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Chad Linebaugh of Sundance.
You can watch Mayor Kaufusi’s entire address below.
Provo Tribune: Local News for the Provo/Orem Area 