If you're planning on driving at all during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, you're in luck, because gas prices are lower than they've been in four years.
Prices are forecast to average $3.02 per gallon over the summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with a sub-$3 per gallon national average possible on some days, especially toward the latter half of the summer, Art Raymond reported.
“This is a win for consumers,” Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, told CNN. “And if the stars align later this summer, we could even see the national average drop below $3 a gallon.”
AAA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over this Memorial Day weekend, up by a million travelers over last year.
Tell me: Where are you planning on driving this Memorial Day or this summer?
I'm going to Idaho to visit family this weekend and plan on driving to California to catch some national parks at some point.
Trouble sending waves over water in Tropic Reservoir
An agreement first etched onto a napkin or paper bag in 1961 is now causing turmoil in Garfield County.
What's going on?
It comes down to water and who has the right to decide how to use it. One of the water systems at play is the Tropic Reservoir and the dispute comes down to storage and releases.
The Utah state engineer over water rights is in the middle of peace talks, while Garfield County officials say they're tired of negotiations and ready to take the issue to court.
“This is insanity,” said Garfield County Commissioner Leland Pollock. “It is going to be a fight now. These are good people who don’t want to fight Otter Creek (Reservoir Company) and they don’t want to fight the state engineer.”
The Otter Creek dispute
The other water system at play is the Otter Creek Reservoir, which is downstream from Tropic Reservoir.
Matt Mills, president and chief executive officer of the Otter Creek Reservoir Company, said people can scream about the water being released, but it is not their water to scream about, Amy Joi O'Donoghue reported.
“The water right is decreed and belongs to the 10 water companies in Otter Creek,” he said.
“The difference this year is that we are in a drought situation. It is pretty much black and white,” Mills said. “They are trying to reach out and grab water that belongs to Otter Creek.”
Fostering a sense of community and connection is the thing that drives Gifted Music School founders Vera Oussetskaia Watanabe and Eugene Watanabe to continue pursuing musical excellence, despite obstacles like funding.
The school has about 800 students involved, and at its top level, there's a conservatory that 38 musicians currently attend on full scholarship.
Over the years, this pre-college program — which has managed to attract kids from outside of Utah — has sent students to prestigious institutions like The Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, Columbia University and Indiana University, Lottie Johnson reported.
“When kids have arts and music education, they become more successful in their personal lives and their financial lives,” Eugene Watanabe said. “From a purely civic standpoint ... I think every dollar that’s put into these kids, they will go out and earn a living. Some of them will become entrepreneurs, and they’ll become great taxpayers. So the money that it brings back to the community, just in sheer terms of dollars, is enormous."
This year's Salt Lake Parade of Homes event promises to be bigger and better than ever before! Come see "New Possibilities and Creative Ideas" August 1-16, open Tuesday-Saturday 12:00pm-9:00pm. Get your tickets today!
Utah
Veteran educator Molly L. Hart will be Utah’s next state school superintendent of public instruction (Deseret News)
Salt Lake City’s gang detectives recognized as Gang Unit of the Year (KSL.com)
Salt Lake City School District issues first of $730M school improvement bonds (KSL.com)
Check out these Memorial Day weekend events in Utah (Deseret News)
Calming art is a centerpiece of Ogden’s new Children’s Justice Center (KUER 90.1)
Utah’s new HOA law: What Homeowners Associations and members need to know (Utah Business)
How to plan for Memorial Day traffic in Utah (Axios)
‘Off-the-charts good’: New Springdale eatery serves campfire flavor with a view (St George News)
Bear Lake development would double the size of St. Charles (Cache Valley Daily)
Health
First FDA-cleared Alzheimer's blood test could make diagnoses faster, more accurate (NPR)
Lift lighter weight, get just as strong: Here's why (WebMD)
4 key findings from RFK Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again report (Deseret News)
Faith
The Supreme Court deadlocked over a first-of-its-kind religious charter school. Here’s what will happen next (Deseret News)
Like da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper,’ individuals can make their lives a masterpiece that testifies of the Master (Church News)
Prayer service at Pentagon sparks religious freedom debate (Deseret News)
Politics
House passes Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ in massive win for GOP agenda (Deseret News)
Utah Legislature to consider extending school lunch breaks (Daily Herald)
Trump administration says Harvard can no longer enroll international students (Deseret News)
The Nation and the World
Mortgage rates are climbing again. Here’s what’s happening (Deseret News)
NOAA forecasts above-average Atlantic hurricane season (NBC News)
Sports
Jazz have work cut out for them heading into 2025 NBA draft. Here’s what to expect (Deseret News)
Egor Demin’s rising NBA draft stock should be boon for Kevin Young’s program (Deseret News)
The College Football Playoff will be seeded differently in 2025. Here’s how it will work (Deseret News)
🗓️ Events Calendar
We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah during this month. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!
Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:
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