CITY
By the Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock
S AP
BOX
Emergency!
Now that I have your attention … I’m not a climatologist, but as Bob Dylan once observed, “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” Lately, the wind is telling a clear story.
You likely noticed the March temperatures in Utah. We’ve seen sustained hot weather, well above normal, breaking daily records. This past winter was unusually warm and notably dry. That combination should give us pause.
Long-term temperature records for Utah
tell the same story. You don’t need sophisticated analysis—just a straight edge across the data reveals a steady upward trend. Whatever debates may exist in the abstract, the lived reality here at home is becoming harder to ignore.
With diminished snowpack in the Wasatch, the implications for drinking water and irrigation are serious. Conservation will be essential. But there is one area where cutting back too much would be a mistake—the plants around our homes.
Our trees, shrubs and gardens are not optional in a summer like the one we are likely to face. They are part of how we cope. In a very real sense, they depend on us—and helping them survive is also helping ourselves.
Well-watered trees provide shade that cools our homes and yards by several degrees. That shade reduces evaporation and lowers the water needs of surrounding plants. Shrubs and hedges act as windbreaks, protecting soil moisture and preventing plants from drying out. These land-
scapes are small but meaningful defenses against increasingly harsh conditions.
Timing matters. Many plants are already leafing out—lilac, chokecherry, sumac, apple trees—and they need water now to support growth. Waiting too long risks stressing them at a critical stage that can affect their health for the rest of the season.
Deep watering, done occasionally, is more effective than frequent shallow watering. It encourages roots to grow deeper, making plants more resilient during heat waves. Evening is the best time, allowing moisture to soak into the soil instead of evaporating. Midday watering wastes a significant portion before it ever reaches the roots.
These plants represent years of growth and care. Just because they survived past summers does not guarantee they will make it through this one. Conditions are changing, and in many ways we are now in uncharted territory.
Lawns are another matter. Turf grass is one of the most water-intensive features of a yard. This may be the year to ask whether
every square foot is necessary. If you keep it, water deeply but infrequently—about once a week—and let grass grow longer before mowing to retain moisture. Leaving clippings can act as natural mulch. The worst approach is to cut the lawn short and compensate with heavy watering. That increases stress and water loss. Many lawns can go dormant during peak heat, turning brown but staying alive, then recovering when cooler temperatures return. Finally, take care of yourself. Stay hydrated, pace outdoor work and limit exposure during peak heat. Take it easy—but not entirely.
Take it easy on yourself, and take your plants seriously.
TOM ELDER
Vernal
Care to sound off on a feature in our pages or about a local concern? Write to comments@cityweekly.net or post your thoughts on our social media. We want to hear from you!
THE WATER COOLER
If you had to give a TED Talk with zero prep, what topic could you fake your way through?
Gavin Dahl
MLB’s rule changes for the new season
Pete Saltas
The answer is yes (just give me a mic and a stage).
Zach Abend
The merits of Katz’s vs. Second Avenue pastrami.
Carolyn Campbell
Because I won a clutter contest, I always discuss being organizationally impaired and domestically challenged.
Scott Renshaw
Probably at least a couple: how to have the best possible Disneyland day, and how to write arts criticism. I’ve been doing both for decades, and would hope I have at least something worthwhile to say on the subjects.
Eleni Saltas
Why everyone needs a garden.
Bryan Bale
I’d call it “Two Words or One? Everyday Errors Encountered Every Day.” But I couldn’t do it with zero preparation. At the very least, I’d have to put together a slide show. Can’t have a TED Talk without PowerPoint.
OPINION
BY CHRISTOPHER SMART
School’s Out
Oh no, it’s not promoting religion or Christianity or anything like that. It’s just a new Utah law signed by Gov. Spencer Cox that has public school teachers reading passages out of the Holy Bible for historic and sociological reasons.
Sure, there will be naysayers who will argue that it chinks the armor of the First Amendment and the separation of church and state. But nah, they don’t get it. It’s about teaching religion while not teaching religion. Pretty slick, huh?
Some frowny-faces might say, well what about the Jewish kids and what about the Muslim kids and what about the Hindu kids and what about the Buddhist kids. Well, this is a Christian nation founded by white people—if you don’t count all the indigenous tribes that have been here for millennia—and, if you hadn’t noticed, Christian nationalism is on a comeback.
If Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas can post the Ten Commandments in public schools then that ought to give those separation-of-church-and-state atheists a clue. Sure, in 1980 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Kentucky law requiring the Ten Commandments in schools was unconstitutional. But the new Supreme Court could change that. Amen.
GOP: Haven’t Killed Democracy Yet But Working on It It’s true Wilson, Republicans really don’t like democracy. It keeps getting in the way.
Here in Utah, Republican lawmakers went to great
lengths to kill Prop 4, a citizen initiative that called for a nonpartisan boundary commission. It aims to put an end to the gerrymandering of the male, Mormon GOPdominated legislature. They would prefer that the House and Senate operate more like a priesthood meeting. Their petition to undo Prop 4 has finally failed. Amen to that. But you know they aren’t done. Maybe they could just change the state Constitution or something.
You’re right Wilson, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee was in on the attempt to undo Prop 4. Not coincidentally, he’s the sponsor of the misnamed “SAVE America Act” that seeks to make voters show proof of citizenship before casting a ballot. President Donald J. Trump—who will soon have his signature on paper money—loves Mike Lee’s bill and urged the Senate to change its rules in order to pass the thing. That fight isn’t over.
Many Americans have neither a birth certificate nor a passport—which is the whole point of the SAVE America from Voters Act. Republicans have been screaming voter fraud forever.
You’re right Wilson, and that the sky is falling.
The Strait of Trump? What the Hell?
Donald J. Trump and Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu have got us in one sticky pickle. Actually, they’ve put the entire globe in a chokehold as the Iranians shut off oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. That despite Trump’s claim that “we’ve won the war.” Right.
No one knows why we went to war with Iran but we’re going to pay the price for a long time to come. Shipping through the strait is still in a holding pattern as the price of oil spikes. Gasoline is over $4 a gallon in Utah. In L.A. it’s as high as $8.79. That means everything will go up in price. The so-called “affordability hoax” is going to cause a lot of misery to a lot of people. But remember, you can’t believe your lyin’ eyes.
In the middle of this mess the president floated re-
naming the waterway, The Strait of Trump. No Wilson, we are not making it up. He’s such a shameless narcissist that he wants to slap his name on everything. You’ve got to wonder, Wilson, what do his supporters think when he renames another thing after himself—money, buildings, institutions, fleets of battleships . . . It just doesn’t end.
Maybe we should name it the Strait of Trump after all, so people will always remember what a total screw-up he is.
Postscript—That’s a wrap for another gangbuster week here at Smart Bomb where we keep track of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi so you don’t have to.
Well Wilson, you’re right—she could wind up behind bars for her shenanigans surrounding the late Jeffrey Epstein. Remember John Mitchell, the attorney general for Richard Nixon? He committed a number of crimes during the Watergate coverup and subsequently served 19 months in federal prison.
There is no telling what all Bondi has done in connection to the Epstein Files. Just for starters, her Department of Justice still has not released some 2.5 million documents, despite the Epstein File Transparency Act that required the release of all the documents by Dec. 19, 2025. There is little question that she lied to Senate and House committees about various elements of the files.
In a House Oversight committee hearing Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Tex, produced a document signed by Bondi that authorized a $2.3 million settlement related to Epstein to a shady offshore corporation. Bondi had earlier testified that she had no knowledge of it. Bondi had the settlement agreement sealed to make sure it never saw the light of day. Busted. CW
Private Eye is off this week. Christopher Smart writes the weekly Smart Bomb column, available at cityweekly.net . Send feedback to comments@cityweekly.net.
HITS & MISSES
BY KATHARINE BIELE
MISS: Going Nuclear
What could possibly go wrong? Nothing much, according to Gov. Spencer Cox and a bevy of officials. Nuclear power is a rare opportunity, an economic driver, and well, it doesn’t come via the Strait of Hormuz. So the governor has posited a “nuclear fuel lifecycle campus” near Tooele, which has a long-suffering history with radiologic materials at the EnergySolutions site. It’s always something when it comes to nuclear wastes, but this time it’s different. It would handle everything “from uranium enrichment, conversion, fuel fabrication, reprocessing and disposition of fuel,” the governor’s energy advisor, Emy Lesofski, told FOX 13. Now that the Trump administration disdains alternatives like wind and solar, there’s not a whole lot left in the energy-producing field. Coal’s there, of course, with its last dying breath, along with hydro, geothermal and such. But Utah is ecstatic over the promise of clean energy, even if it’s not so clean. There’s been talk of one of those small nuclear facilities, too. And it’s all good unless you think about water needs, groundwater contamination, and all the leaks and spills. Don’t worry your little head about it.
MISS: Management
Speaking of the administration, let’s talk about Utah’s public lands, always in the crosshairs. Rep. Celeste Maloy has a new plan for economic development in Grand Staircase-Escalante. “This new attack on Grand StaircaseEscalante from Congress … would set a national precedent with no public input that could upend public lands protection for years,” environmentalist Stephen Trimble opined in the Park Record. This is not about the up-sizing and down-sizing of the monument, but rather a way to easily overturn the 2025 Resource Management Plan—a collaborative effort to guide conservation decision-making—and bar the Bureau of Land Management from implementing any such plan again. If you’re all about off-roading and the extractive industries, Maloy is right on target.
HIT: Across the Board
Frances McDormand was classic in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” a story about a mom fighting to bring closure to her daughter’s rape and murder. In that case, billboards were the ugly hero of the story. But along Utah’s scenic byways, they are both distracting and detracting. In a couple of surprising legislative victories, the billboard industry limped away with the passage of a resolution to support “safer, betterdesigned roadway access while honoring what makes this byway extraordinary—its sweeping red rock panoramas, open skies, and the small communities that serve as gateways to Zion National Park,” reports the nonprofit Scenic Utah. And the industry-backed SB 219— Highway Signage Amendments—failed to make it easier for billboard owners to relocate and rebuild signs. That bill was referred to interim study, so the threat to Utah’s communities and landscapes remains—unless Utahns speak out against the polluting nature of big signs among the red rocks.
Life Evaporated
After a bad winter for snowpack, SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall in March called for water rationing heading into the summer months. The mayor expects the city to experience a moderate drought, continuing an arid cycle that began in 2020.
According to the state’s Division of Water Resources, this past winter was both the warmest and lowest snowfall ever recorded, with Salt Lake receiving only 58% of its median snow-water equivalent. And in March, a water outlook report released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service attributed poor conditions to the record warmth and “dismal amounts of new snow” in December and January.
Typically, more than half of Salt Lake’s water supply depends on thawing snow. This means the valley will be heavily reliant on reservoir water, which is currently at 68% of capacity.
“Even with strong reservoir storage, the unusually low snowpack and reduced stream flows mean we need to act now to stretch our water resources,” said Laura Briefer, Director of the City’s Department of Public Utilities. “Saving water today helps ensure reliability for our community and contributes to the long-term sustainability of the Great Salt Lake.”
In light of the expected shortage, Mendenhall announced a stage 2, or “mild,” advisory heading into the spring. It will be SLC’s first time implementing stage 2—of a five-stage rationing plan—in the last three and a half years. The city’s plan calls for increased water monitoring and a 10% reduction in usage by government institutions. Residents and businesses are also asked to exercise voluntary reductions, such as checking sprinkler systems for leaks, reviewing their utility bills and considering low-water garden and landscape designs that prioritize native species.
The City Council also adopted two ordinances that block development of new, non-residential facilities expected to consume over 200,000 gallons daily. While the restrictions are meant to prevent further strain on the city’s reservoirs, they could also halt progress on the recent ICE detention facility.
“Salt Lake City has always shown resilience in the face of challenges, and this moment is no different,” Mendenhall said. “By taking thoughtful steps now, we can protect our water supply for the months ahead and potentially avoid more severe restrictions later. I’m asking every resident and business to be part of the solution.”
Snowpack and reservoir storage data suggest that more extreme stages may be imminent. Utah Division of Water Resources metrics suggest the city is already at the point where mandatory reductions, curtailed water rights, applications for federal relief funding or a Drought Emergency Declaration by the governor should be under consideration. “Ours is just advisory,” said Michael Sanchez, a division spokesman. “We want these two plans to complement each other, but Salt Lake City knows more about what their water supply is actually looking like.” CW
| @kathybiele BY GRACE X. MAYA
Streaming 4/20
Some stoner comedies are just the right percentage of stupid— here’s a sampling of TV’s smarter weed-coms.
BY BILL FROST comments@cityweekly.net
Confession: I became a marijuana user later in life, but I’ve always appreciated stoner comedies (and it’s usually comedies; besides Pineapple Express, there are few pot equivalents to Scarface). From Cheech & Chong to Harold & Kumar, much like an Indica-dominant gummy, green humor always works for me.
To that end, I’ve gathered some of my favorite grass-themed series to stream during the 4/20-happy month of April … unless I’ve done this one before. Have I? No, this is totally fresh and new. Maybe. Weeds (2005–2012; Plex): It was one of Showtime’s most popular originals ever during its initial run, but Weeds has been unfairly retconned since. Does pot-dealing suburban mom Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) qualify as Mother of the Year? Oh, hell no—not even in California. But the series’ wildly careening crime capers are still as jolting and farcical as they were back then, even in the final season, during which marijuana became—spoiler—legal. Weeds should be in eternal reruns alongside The Office
Broad City (2014–2019; Hulu, Paramount+): Sure, Broad City centers on the unshakable bond between NYC BFFs Abbi and Ilana (Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer), but this is a stoner comedy through and
through—there are waaay too many Phish references to believe otherwise. Broad City’s peak weed moment came in season 4, when the pair traveled to Florida and got baked with Ilana’s mom (Susie Essman) and aunt (Fran Drescher) in Boca Raton. The Emmys snub of this episode still stings.
Mary + Jane (2016; YouTube): MTV’s Mary + Jane premiered just before recreational marijuana became legal in California, and it featured a slow-rolling theme song by executive co-producer Snoop Dogg—but yet, obscurity. The series stars comic Scout Durwood and future Happy Death Day lead Jessica Rothe as weed-delivery startup partners, neither named Mary nor Jane, and it could easily have lasted longer than a single season anywhere but the comedy graveyard of MTV. Remember MTV? Yeah, me neither.
Time Traveling Bong (2016; Paramount+): Mary + Jane attempted the impossible of replicating Broad City, but Ilana Glazer sidestepped the idea entirely with her first outside-BC lead role in Time Traveling Bong, a miniseries that debuted on April 20, 2016. The title says it all: Cousins Sharee (Glazer) and Jeff (Paul W. Downs) journey through the ages after smoking a magical bong, from the Salem witch trials to Ancient Greece to a dystopian future where corporations have wrecked everything (so, now).
High Maintenance (2016–2020; HBO Max): While I did say earlier that weed-related shows are mostly comedies, HBO’s High Maintenance drifts into dramedy territory.
The series follows “The Guy” (Ben Sinclair) as he makes marijuana deliveries to his New York clientele; no linear plot, just a collection of scenes and characters ranging from the absurd to the emotional. Weeds creator Jenji Kohan herself praised High Maintenance as “beautiful glimpses into people’s lives,” and there’s no better summary.
Disjointed (2017–2018; Netflix): Like a comedically engineered hybrid of Weeds and Netflix’s Grace and Frankie, Disjointed leans into sitcom wackiness with a subtle educational agenda about the health benefits of cannabis. Veteran hippie and weed advocate Ruth (Kathy Bates) now runs her own Los Angeles marijuana dispensary, patronized by characters with names like “Dank,” “Dabby,” and “Jesus Bruce Lee Christ.” Disjointed isn’t deep, but it’s a fun watch while high (as are most shows, really).
Growing Belushi (2020–2023; HBO Max, Discovery+): Actor Jim Belushi, proprietor of Oregon’s Belushi’s Farm, isn’t the first guy you think of when it comes to science (or, most would argue, comedy), but his oddball Discovery series drops some real knowledge about cultivating cannabis.
Growing Belushi couches its weed-farming info in obviously scripted reality-TV shenanigans and side-hustle promotion of Jim’s Blues Brothers (it’s still a thing), but there’s learning to be had here. John would be … proud?
High Hopes (2024; Hulu): Jimmy Kimmel is an executive producer, and its April 20, 2024, Hulu premiere was promoted as well as you’d expect of a Kimmel property, but reality series High Hopes didn’t set streaming ratings ablaze. The show follows Belarusian brothers Mishka and Slava as they open an L.A. marijuana dispensary, but the stilted workplace hijinks are even more unreal than those of Growing Belushi (think Pawn Stars or, ugh, Duck Dynasty). High Hopes is still funny, but far from sober funny. CW
Mary-Louise Parker in Weeds
theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT PICKS,
Complete listings online at cityweekly.net
APRIL 2-8, 2026
Sesame
Street Live:
Elmo’s Got the Moves @ Park City Eccles Center
So many generations have grown up with the legacy of Jim Henson’s Sesame Street that we almost can’t remember a world before it existed. For more than 55 years on the public television show, some of the most famous puppets in American history—Kermit the Frog, Bert & Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Elmo and more—have helped introduce pre-schoolers to basic educational concepts like numbers and letters, along with more complicated emotional-growth topics like understanding death. The fact that it endures decades beyond Henson’s own death is proof of its lasting appeal, whether those characters are appearing on a television screen or in a live theater.
Among the productions presented by the Sesame Workshop is the current touring show Elmo’s Got the Moves, showcasing the beloved, giggling red Muppet. Like most of the Sesame Street Live experiences, it’s less a “sit in your seat” show than a “get up and move” show. In the show’s fine tradition, it’s appropriate for all ages, full of music and many of your favorite characters, including Cookie Monster and Big Bird. With a youngster-friendly running time of just 60 minutes, including an intermission, it’s a great chance to celebrate the show’s “Sunny Days” while everybody gets their wiggles out.
Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Got the Moves comes to the Eccles Center in Park City (1750 Kearns Blvd.) on Friday, April 3 at 6 p.m. General admission tickets are $35.65, with special reduced rates for Summit County school students, and additional VIP photo experiences. Visit parkcityinstitute.org for tickets and additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)
Kevin Nealon @ Wiseguys
If you’re a comedic actor, becoming part of the now-50-year history of Saturday Night Live is a good way to ensure a small degree of immortality. Kevin Nealon spent nearly a decade on SNL from 1986 – 1995, including occupying the cherished seat of Weekend Update anchor and creating characters like Mr. Subliminal. But he might not have gotten that shot had it not been for his friendship with fellow SNL alum Dana Carvey, who joined the cast in 1986 and suggested Nealon to producer Lorne Michaels—an audition Nealon was convinced wouldn’t amount to anything, since he was a stand-up comedian without the improv experience of so many other cast members. Nevertheless, he made his mark, and was able to take that opportunity into a long-lasting entertainment career. Some of those gigs took him to the big screen, including several Adam Sandler features like Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Anger Management and Little Nicky. Some of them have been on the small screen, including the 2002 – 2006 CBS comedy Still Standing and a recurring role on the Showtime series Weeds as pot-smoking accountant Doug Wilson. And in recent years he’s taken to the streaming world, including the YouTube series Hiking With Kevin, involving conversations with celebrity guests while out on a hike. But since he’s a veteran stand-up comedian of more than 40 years, you can really see him in his element at Wiseguys Gateway’s Showroom (194 S. 400 West) Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4, 6 p.m. & 8: 30 p.m. nightly. Tickets are $40; visit wiseguyscomedy.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)
Broadway in Utah: The Phantom of the Opera
As a figure in the history of musical theater, Andrew Lloyd Webber is not without his detractors. After all, his fondness for spectacle may have given us Evita, but it has also given us Cats and Starlight Express
Whatever one might think of Lloyd Webber’s role in shifting the sensibilities of Broadway towards mammoth productions, however, it’s hard to deny that he has also been responsible—along with lyricists like Tim Rice and Charles Hart—for some of the most iconic showtunes ever. Diva showstoppers like “Memory” (from Cats) and “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” (from Evita) share space with songs like Jesus Christ Superstar’s “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” in the theatrical canon. He knows how to write a hit.
Lloyd Webber’s 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, adapting Gaston Leroux’s novel, became an instant sensation for its stagecraft, its score, and the indelible lead performance of the original Phantom, Michael Crawford. The story about a disfigured musical genius living in the labyrinth beneath the Paris Opera House, and the beautiful soprano with whom he becomes obsessed, in 2012 became the first-ever Broadway show to record its 10,000th performance, and the longest-running show in Broadway history. And it’s easy to understand why, thanks to a soundtrack including “All I Ask of You,” “The Point of No Return” and the now-classic “The Music of the Night.”
The current touring production of The Phantom of the Opera comes to the Eccles Theatre (131 S. Main St.) April 8 – 26. Tickets begin at $155.90; visit saltlakecity. broadway.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)
REVIEW CINEMA
The Rating Game
What’s the difference between a 2-1/2-star and a 3-star movie? Maybe less than you think.
BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw
If you’re a regular reader of this space, and you immediately looked down the page for a star rating, I have some bad news for you: There’s no movie review, and hence no star rating. As a follow-up, some even worse news: The entire purpose of this feature is to let you know how much I would prefer there never to be a star rating in this space.
When I started writing film criticism more than 30 years ago, I didn’t think too much about numerical ratings. It was just something I did because it’s what everybody did. Early on, I used a 0 – 10 scale; later, when I started writing for City Weekly, I migrated to the more traditional four-star system. Every review I write still includes a numerical rating, and that will likely remain the case until whatever happenstance takes me from this gig.
But I’m not happy about it. I can’t say exactly when I started to sour on star ratings, though it was certainly before a dustup with Rotten Tomatoes sent me fleeing from its binary measuring stick. At some point, though, I got itchy about two realities: 1) There were readers who would take a quick glance at the star rating without bothering to read the thinking that went into it; 2) “Rating” art feels far more reductive than a written analysis. If you’ve got any kind of ego as a writer, you want to feel as though the time you spent working
on something wasn’t wasted. And if you were part of the creation of one of these films I review, I want it understood that the process of thinking about it was more complicated than staring skyward and going, “Mmmm, feels like a 2-1/2.”
Nevertheless, numerical ratings are still part of the work I put out into the world, and it’s fair to wonder what goes into deciding where on that scale a particular film falls. In that spirit, here’s a brief peek inside the brain of one critic regarding how that rating materializes.
The first concept to emphasize, and perhaps the most important one, is that I believe in the normal curve. If it’s been a while since you’ve taken math or statistics, that is the concept that for any measurable characteristic, the range of results will find the most common result bunching up in the middle of a hill-shaped graph, with the outliers at the far edges. And it’s the way I think about creative work: That
there is a lot that’s in the range of “okay” to “fine,” and far less that would qualify as either “instant classic” or “abomination in the eyes of God.” When I give out four stars, you can bet that it means something beyond “I really liked it.”
A corollary to that concept is the fact that, because of the job that I have, I will inevitably see a lot more movies that I don’t particularly care for than the average person will. If you are a civilian who selfselects the kind of movies you see, your own ratings are far more likely to include a lot of “I liked it” or “I loved it.” Since I see somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 movies a year, on the other hand, in every possible genre, you should not expect the same results.
With all that throat-clearing out of the way, here’s the reality of where a star rating comes from: It’s where a review ends, not where it starts from.
For me, any process of artistic analy-
sis starts with a feeling. What was my gut emotional response to the movie and what it was trying to do? If it was a comedy, how much did I laugh? If it was a horror movie, how much did it evoke a sense of terror or dread? And from there, it leads to the analysis of what the work did to lead to this reaction, and from there again to a thesis idea around which to organize the writing.
It’s only at the end of that process that I really know where it falls on any kind of rating scale. Looking at what I’ve written tells me if we’re talking about, for example, 3 stars (mostly liked it, with a few reservations) vs. 2-1/2 stars (liked and disliked things in closer to equal measure).
Of course, that means that if I’m doing the job right, someone could read what I’ve written and know exactly what that should mean in terms of a star rating, without actually having to look at the star rating.
A guy can dream, can’t he? CW
“If a government belongs to the people, so do its documents.”
The Foilies 2026
Recognizing the Worst in Government Transparency.
By the
Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock Illustrations by Shelby Criswell comments@cityweekly.net
For the last six years, a class of journalism students at the University of Nevada, Reno, has kicked off each semester by filing their first Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The assignment: Request copies of complaints sent to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about their favorite TV show, a local radio station, or a major broadcast event, such as the Grammys or the Super Bowl halftime show. The students are learning that the federal government and every state have laws establishing the public’s right to request and receive public records. It’s a bedrock principle of democracy: If a government belongs to the people, so do its documents.
In the past, the FCC always provided records within a few weeks, if not days. But that changed in September, when students requested consumer complaints filed against NPR and PBS stations to see if there was absolutely anything at all to merit defunding public media. Seven months later—crickets.
Now the students are learning to persevere even when public officials demonstrate an utter disdain for transparency. And The Foilies are here for it.
Established in 2015, The Foilies are an annual
Ou t of 1,400 pages of emails between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk, 1,200 were fully redacted.
project by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock to recognize the agencies, officials and contractors that thwart the public’s right to know. We give out these tongue-in-cheek “awards” during Sunshine Week (March 15-21), a collective effort by media and advocacy organizations to highlight the importance of open government.
This year, we’ve got a few “winners” whose behavior defies belief.
But it’s not all negative. Those same Reno students are also assigned to file public records requests for restaurant health inspections. This semester, the records started to show up in their inboxes within 20 minutes.
If every agency followed Northern Nevada Public Health’s example, we could sunset this Sunshine Week project.
The Love Letters Award—Gov. Greg Abbott
Last spring, the office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott withheld communications between himself and one of the state’s most powerful business figures, Elon Musk. The office claimed that the communications were exempt from public records law because they would reveal confidential legal and policy discussions, including how the state entices private companies to do business in Texas, or “intimate and embarrassing” information.
The claims were unelaborated boilerplate language based on exemptions in Texas’ public records law. But if you’re wondering what “intimate” and “embarrassing” exchanges Abbott and Elon Musk shared over email, you may be waiting a while.
Last fall, the Office of the Texas Attorney General ordered Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office to release nearly 1,400 pages of communications between Abbott and Musk.
About 1,200 of those pages were fully redacted— just sheets of gray obscuration. The records that
vitation to a happy hour or a reminder of the next SpaceX launch.
The Shady Screenshot Award—Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security’s banner year of lawlessness included backsliding on its transparency obligations.
In response to a request from the nonprofit American Oversight, DHS stated that it was no longer automatically archiving text messages sent between officials.
The department clarified that it had a new, and much worse, records retention policy. Instead of archiving officials’ text messages as the agency had done before, DHS now asks officials to take screenshots of any text messages conducting government business on their work phones.
It’s hard to see the change as anything more than a giant middle finger to the public, especially because the Federal Records Act requires agencies to retain all records officials create while conducting their public duties, regardless of format.
We won’t hold our breath waiting on DHS officials to dutifully press the volume and power buttons on their phones to record every text message they send and receive.
The Discardment of Government Efficiency Award—DOGE
As the Trump administration took over last year, there was a looming threat over government transparency: the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. Billionaire Elon Musk, soon to be the de facto leader of DOGE, proudly claimed “there should be no need for FOIA
requests” and “all government data should be default public for maximum transparency.”
What quickly became apparent was there may be no need for FOIA requests, because there may be no FOIA officers to fulfill those requests.
DOGE quickly went to work slashing through the federal government, including seizing control of the U.S. Institute of Peace. Part of the takeover included restricting access to the agency’s FOIA system and firing the employees responsible for fulfilling FOIA requests, according to a letter sent to Bloomberg reporter Jason Leopold.
Meanwhile, when CNN filed a FOIA request with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for information about Musk and DOGE’s security clearance, they were told: “Good luck with that,” because the FOIA officers had been fired.
DOGE also argued that its own records are exempt from FOIA under the Presidential Records Act, meaning those records cannot be accessed until five years after President Donald Trump is out of office. While DOGE “doesn’t exist” anymore, according to the OPM, there remains a lasting dark mark on the state of FOIA and records management.
The Secret Eyes in the Sky Award—Chula Vista Police Department, Calif.
In 2021, Arturo Castañares at La Prensa San Diego filed a request with the Chula Vista Police Department for copies of videos taken by drones responding to 911 calls as part of the city’s “drone as first responder” program. One of the goals was to evaluate the technology’s efficacy and risks to civil liberties.
The city worked overtime to maintain the secrecy of the footage at the same time that officials publicly touted the drones as a revolution in policing.
One police department charged $1.8 million for a records request, another argued every minute of its drone footage was protected.
That’s some impressive trust-us-but-don’t-verify chutzpah.
The city argued that every second of every video recorded by its drones was categorically off limits because they were law enforcement investigative records. They even got a trial court to initially buy the argument.
But an appellate court ruled that the investigatory records exemption is more limited, shielding only drone footage that is part of a criminal investigation or evidence of a suspected crime. Footage of wildfires, car wrecks, wild animal sightings and the like are not criminal investigations and must be disclosed.
The California Supreme Court rejected both of CVPD’s appeals and a trial court bench slapped the city for inaccurate and incomplete court filings. In the end, the city had to shell out north of $400,000 to its outside lawyers, and then paid Castañares’ lawyers more than $500,000 when he prevailed.
So what were Chula Vista police hiding? A bunch of routine service calls, such as unverified reports of a vehicle fire and a vehicle collision.
Now, according to La Prensa’s reporting, officials are trying to raid a public safety fund created by voters to reimburse the city for the cost of its illadvised secrecy.
The Flock You Awards—Taunton Police Department, Mass.
If you live in one of the 5,000 cities where surveillance vendor Flock Safety claims to have established relationships with local cops, you may have noticed the sudden installation of little black cameras on poles by the side of the road or at intersections. These are automated license plate readers (ALPRs), which document every vehicle that passes within view, including the license plate, color, make, model and other distinguishing character-
istics. The images are fed to Flock’s servers, and the company encourages police to share the images collected locally with law enforcement throughout the country.
In 2025, journalists and privacy advocates started filing public records requests with agencies to get spreadsheets called a “Network Audit,” which shows every search, including who ran it and why.
Accessing these audits uncovered abuse of the system including: investigating a woman who received an abortion, targeting immigrants, surveilling protesters, and running racist searches targeting Roma people.
In response, some cities have terminated their contracts with Flock Safety.
Other law enforcement agencies, and Flock itself, have gone a different direction.
—Taunton Police Department, Mass.: The police department told the ACLU of Massachusetts to cough up $1.8 million if the organization wanted its network audit logs—the highest public records fee we documented this year. The civil liberties group filed requests with agencies throughout the state for the audits, and most agencies handed over the spreadsheets for free and with little fanfare. Taunton, however, said it would take 20,000 hours to process the request, at $86.57 an hour.
—Flock Safety: The company responded to criticisms of its ALPR network by sending legal threats aimed at trying to silence its critics. First, the company used a bogus trademark claim to threaten DeFlock.me—a crowdsourced map of ALPR. (EFF represented its creator.) Then it hired a company to try to get the hosts of HaveIBeenFlocked.com, which hosts an interface for searching these network audits, to remove the site from the internet. CW
The Foilies were written by EFF’s Beryl Lipton, Dave Maass and Aaron Mackey and MuckRock’s Dillon Bergin, Kelly Kauffman and Anna Massoglia.
Come for the Sips, Stay for the Soup
Soup
& Sip simmers its way
into West Valley.
ITALIAN ITALIAN VILLAGE
BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer
One of the nice things about traveling the Wasatch Front in search of dining options is that certain restaurant terminology starts taking on new meanings. Thanks to our rapidly evolving food scene, my definition of “cafe” has expanded well beyond a Euro-centric coffee shop or roadside diner. Though it’s a concept that refines itself, one pattern that all cafes share is that they make one feel welcome, specialize in comfort food and most likely have some type of caffeinated beverage on hand. While West Valley’s new Vietnamese cafe Soup & Sip has indeed helped me further revise my definition of what a cafe can be, it’s definitely serving traditional cafe vibes.
Soup & Sip had its soft opening back in December of last year, and since then it’s steadily been gaining influence. It helps that the new restaurant is located near the corner of 3500 South and Redwood Road, which is one of West Valley’s most notable foodie haunts. It’s an area that already has a few well-established Vietnamese spots, but the cafe angle is really what sets Soup & Sip apart.
Before even diving into the food, I was drawn into the “sip” section of Soup & Sip’s menu. It’s got a wide range of iced coffee and chai, and I started things off with the Vietnamese salt coffee ($6.25), as it’s touted as a restaurant specialty.
Though salt coffee was a new experience for me, it’s a staple in Vietnam—and I will now be looking for it any time I visit a Vietnamese restaurant locally.
As someone who started drinking coffee roughly 10 years ago, I have to say that my first experiences with coffee-shop coffee were horribly underwhelming. The salt coffee at Soup & Sip marks only the second time that I’ve actually felt energized by a cup of coffee—the first time was when I tried imported Ethiopian coffee at Mahider and saw the face of God. On top of being good, strong coffee that is unashamed of sweetened condensed milk, the salty foam adds a saline flavor contrast that really rips on the tongue.
The caffeinated beverages don’t stop there; Soup & Sip has a few Thai tea drinks on the menu, and The Chosen One ($5.75) makes a traditional milk tea using the cafe’s own roasted oolong variety. Based on just this portion of the menu, Soup & Sip is worth a visit. I like a good boba spot, but I do find it refreshing that Soup & Sip eschews the little tapioca blobs in favor of its salt cloud coffee and tea.
While it’s perfectly reasonable to pop into Soup & Sip for a pick-me-up, the cafe has a sizable menu of traditional Vietnamese comfort foods to explore. I spent a bit of time perusing the pho section of the menu; even though we’ve had record high temperatures, soup season lives on in my heart. Soup & Sip serves up all the classics, and the House Special Pho ($17.99) is ideal for those after the soup’s traditional flavors. It’s packed with brisket, rare beef, tendons, tripe and meatballs, and comes together for a textbook example of pho. Of course, meat connoisseurs can also spring for the filet mignon pho ($20.99) for a few bucks more, though I always recommend going with the OG when it’s possible.
I was tempted by the Bún Bò Huế ($17.49), otherwise known as BBH on the menu, which is a variation of pho that I
Simmering goodness from Soup & Sip
had yet to try. It’s composed of a spicy beef and pork broth that is infused with lemongrass, pork meatballs, brisket and a thick beef shank for added flavor. The noodles in this pho were a bit thicker than I was used to, but nothing wrong with that at all. Overall, I liked this pho quite a bit. The brisket was sliced thin, which kept it tender, and I loved the pork meatballs; their flavor was a bit milder and almost sweeter than the beef meatballs that I traditionally like in my pho. Slurping the cartilaginous meat off the accompanying beef shank is a treat, and the accompanying bone imparts an additional layer of richness to the pho broth. My one gripe was that the pho was a bit weak on the spicy and lemongrass flavors—I was hoping for a bit more heat and acid in my bowl.
I also ordered a grilled pork banh mi ($9.99), which was a perfectly serviceable banh mi. It’s got the traditional banh mi veggies—pickled carrots, daikon, cilantro, sliced jalapeño and cucumber, all of which tasted crisp and fresh—along with slices of grilled pork and some creamy egg butter. I found myself more enamored with the fresh veggies than I was with the pork, which I thought was just a tad under-seasoned. I also thought this was a bit small considering the price, but its dainty dimensions fit with the cafe vibe. It’s easy to munch on one of these while enjoying a cup of coffee.
In the end, I have to say that the Vietnamese cafe vibes on display at Soup & Sip really work for the establishment. The service was attentive and friendly, it’s got a decent pho selection, and I absolutely loved the coffee menu. This cozy spot has definitely made this corner of West Valley a little bit brighter. CW
2 Row Brewing
73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com
On Tap: Irish Porter
Avenues Proper
376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com
On Tap: White Out - White Stout
Bewilder Brewing
445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com
On Tap: Pink Boots - Pink Pony Pilz
Bohemian Brewery
94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com
NEW Releases: Kölsch, Dusseldorfer “Alt” Bier
Bonneville Brewery 1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com
On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale
Chappell Brewing
2285 S Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer
On Tap: Pie Hole - Strawberry Rhubarb Tart Ale
Craft by Proper
1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com
On Tap: Paradise Lost - dry hopped rice lager
Desert Edge Brewery
273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com
On Tap: Edge’s Special Bitter ESB
Epic Brewing Co.
825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com
On Tap: Billion Dollar Sculpin IPA
Etta Place Cidery
700 W Main St, Torrey EttaPlaceCider.com
On Tap: All-American Blend Cider, MangoHabanero Session Mead
Fisher Brewing Co.
320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com
On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers!
Grid City Beer Works
333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com
In a Can: Extra Pale Ale
Heber Valley Brewing
501 N. Main Street, Heber City, UT hebervalleybrewing.com
On Tap: 3 C’s Pale Ale 5.0% ABV
Helper Beer
159 N Main Street, Helper, UT helperbeer.com
Hopkins Brewing Co. 1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com
On Tap: Raspberry Gose
Kiitos Brewing
608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com
On Draft: Bliss IPA (Extremely Small Batch)
Kiitos Brewing Sugar House Bar 1533 S. 1100 East, SLC KiitosBrewing.com
On Draft: Bliss IPA (Extremely Small Batch)
Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com
On Tap: Vienna Lager
Level Crossing Brewing Co., POST 550 South 300 West, Suite 100, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com
On Tap: El Santo Mexican Lager
Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com
On Tap: “Big Drop” West Coast Pilsner
Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com
On Tap: SpringThyme (Apricot Thyme Hard Cider)
Offset Bier Co
1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/
On Tap: DOPO IPA
Ogden Beer Company
358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com
On Tap: 11 rotating taps as well as high point cans and guest beers
Park City Brewing 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com
On Tap: Bob’s Irish Stout on Nitro
Prodigy Brewing 25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com
On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner
Proper Brewing/Proper Burger 857 So. Main & 865 So. Main properbrewingco.com
On Tap: Saison du Ben (Saison)
Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com
On Tap: Saison du Ben (Saison)
Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com
On Tap: Gypsy Scratch
Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com
On Tap: Grand Bavaria
Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com
On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier
RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com
On Tap: Bramble Brown
Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com On Tap: Hibiscus Sour
SaltFire
BEER NERD
Draft Kings
The taps rule with this week’s beers.
BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net
@utahbeer
Kiitos - NZ Pilz: There’s something undeniably enjoyable about catching a pilsner the moment it hits the tap, and this New Zealand–style example leans fully into that just-poured freshness. Still wearing a touch of that “just tapped” lager haze, it pours with a soft glow—slightly veiled, but inviting in a way that promises vibrancy over polish. The aroma is expressive. A wave of ripe melon leads the charge, distinctly honeydew, with a subtle undercurrent of that unmistakable New Zealand hop character: a faint diesel note that draws you in, rather than cause distraction. It’s a nose that feels alive, shifting slightly as it warms, with hints of white grape and a whisper of berry peeking through.
On the palate, the beer follows through with purpose. The melon character deepens, staying juicy yet restrained enough to keep things crisp. Motueka, Nelson Sauvin and Riwaka hops work in harmony here, layering in delicate citrus zest and a touch of that vinous, almost sauvignon blanc–like quality. There’s a gentle suggestion of mixed berries— nothing overt, but enough to add dimension. Despite the expressive hop profile, the backbone remains firmly rooted in pilsner tradition. The malt bill is clean and supportive, allowing the hops to shine without sacrificing drinkability. A light bitterness anchors the finish, keeping everything snappy and refreshing. That slight haze—a byproduct of its just-kegged newness—adds a soft texture that will probably settle with time, but right now it enhances the overall experience, giving the beer a pillowy edge.
Verdict: This is a pilsner that bridges old-world structure with new-world flair. It’s crisp, aromatic and just a little wild around the edges—in the best possible way. It’s a perfect reminder that even the most classic styles can still surprise you
when approached with a fresh perspective.
Salt Lake Brewing - Dark Hex Honey Nitro Porter: Served through SL Brewing’s traditional cask beer engine, this honey porter sets itself apart with a presentation that is both classic and intentional. The pour is soft and natural, with a gentle, creamy head that hints at the texture to come. There’s an unmistakable charm to cask service, and this beer leans into it beautifully. The aroma is rich and inviting. Coffee and cocoa rise first, warm and familiar, followed by a subtle layer of dark fruit that lingers in the background. It’s not overly sweet, but there’s a rounded depth that suggests complexity without being heavy-handed.
On the palate, the beer opens with a firm base of roasted malts and bitter chocolate. It’s a grounded start—structured and true to style. As it develops, coffee notes come forward, bringing a slight acidic edge that lifts the profile and keeps it from becoming too dense. That brightness is key, adding a bit of contrast to the darker elements. Midway through, a creamy, almost nostalgic “Whopper”-like malt character emerges, adding both body and balance. This is where the honey influence subtly shows itself—not as a distinct flavor, but as a soft, smoothing sweetness that ties everything together. It rounds the sharper edges and enhances the overall drinkability. The finish introduces mild dark fruit notes—think raisin or plum—just enough to add another layer without distracting from the core profile. Everything resolves cleanly, inviting another sip.
What truly elevates this porter is the cask conditioning. The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth and creamy, almost pillowy, with a natural carbonation that allows the flavors to unfold more gently than a standard pour. It enhances every element, making the beer feel fuller and more integrated.
Verdict: All told, this is a thoughtfully executed porter—balanced, flavorful, and made even better by its cask presentation. While not small batches, these are limited runs from their respective breweries. SL Brewing/Squatters has many locations, but Dark Hex Honey is only available at Squatters’ downtown SLC location.
the BACK BURNER
BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer
Easter brunch roundup
One of brunch’s biggest days is just around the corner and there are plenty of local spots offering a good Easter brunch for those after a good meal this Sunday. Here are some hot ticket brunch items that are being hosted this weekend.
The Grand America (grandamerica.com) has a few nice options for dining this weekend. Easter Bunny Tea transfers the high tea experience over to a springtime vibe that is complete with Easter Bunny visits to each table. The spread includes plenty of seasonal treats and will take place April 3, 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Laurel Brasserie & Bar (laurelslc.com) will also be hosting its annual Easter brunch on April 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Little America (saltlake.littleamerica.com) is also offering an Easter breakfast and dinner buffet at Lucky H
Urban Hill (urban-hill.com) has become a pretty decent spot for weekend brunch, and the restaurant will be hosting an Easter brunch buffet on April 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expect a menu of classic brunch foods like pancakes and scrambled eggs along with some creative flourishes like funeral potato casserole and smoked salmon toast.
Hub & Spoke Diner (hubandspokediner.com) is also bringing out a classic buffet spread that includes chicken and waffles, corned beef hash and a few classic benedicts. There will also be plenty of brunch staples like scrambled eggs, honey glazed ham, buttermilk biscuits and country gravy. Those craving something that blends the charm of a diner breakfast with upscale sensibilities will want to check this one out.
Of course, if you want to really shoot for the nines, Franck’s (francksfood.com) and La Caille (lacaille.com) will be hosting their traditional Easter meals this weekend. Franck’s is offering a multi-course meal that will feature delectable bites like green eggs and house cured ham lasagna and prime beef tenderloin tataki. La Caille will be serving its traditional French-inspired buffet along with an egg hunt, a candy buffet and visits from the Easter Bunny.
Quote of the Week: “Breakfast is a meal, but brunch is a culture.” – Matt Basile
Theater Kid Energy
Terence Hansen continues a prolific musical career with theatrical “scenic metal.”
BY LEE ZIMMERMAN comments@cityweekly.net
For the past 30 years, Salt Lake City’s own Terence Hansen has accumulated a remarkable résumé. He boasts a repertoire that features his own compositions, popular standards and timeless classics, all performed for audiences across the U.S. and overseas.
In addition, he’s loaned his skills to any number of high-profile artists across multiple genres. His work has also been featured in several movie soundtracks and commercials, as well as 15 albums of his own making. He composed and performed original modern dance music under the direction of choreographer Marjolijn Breuring for a two-night theater production in Brielle, Netherlands. What’s more, the video for his song, “Asymmetrical” was honored as Best Music Video in the Zepstone Film Festival. Plus, he’s headlined several prestigious overseas festivals and drawn numerous critical kudos.
Hansen’s outreach also extends to charitable fundraisers, co-founding the non-profit teen education program Salt Lake Academy of Music (SLAM) and a music teaching career involving coaching, mentoring, recording and producing kids, adults and upcoming artists working in a variety of musical genres.
Hansen’s own learning trajectory gelled early on. “I grew up mostly with my mom’s music, artists like Stevie Wonder; Earth, Wind and Fire; Hendrix, Steely Dan;
Joni Mitchell; Billy Joel; Pink Floyd; George Benson etc.—all the good stuff,” Hansen said. “As a teenager, it was bands like Deep Purple, Dio, Metallica, Iron Maiden and Prince. A fter I picked up a guitar, it became artists like Andrés Segovia, Carlos Montoya, Yngwie Malmsteen, Allan Holdsworth, Stravinsky, Stanley Jordan, Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass. Later on it was Astor Piazzolla, Miles Davis, Billy Preston, Alice in Chains, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Ben Folds Five, Chris Cornell, Béla Fleck, Jeff Buckley and the Punch Brothers … to name a few.”
As a result, the transition to actually making music of his own became a natural one. “My grandma says, ‘You didn’t choose music, it chose you!,’” Hansen recalled. “Seeing live performers on TV was akin to watching a magic trick. At age 13, I talked my parents into buying me a cheap acoustic guitar, after making a ‘guitar’ from a single uninsulated wire screwed to a board, with a 9V battery connected to a speaker from a radio.”
That was only the beginning of what became a highly prolific career.
“Within a year, I had shifted from being the art/computer/jock kid to heavy metal band practice eight days a week,” he continued. “By high school, I was performing in the pit for musical theater productions and teaching private and community guitar lessons. It all happened very unconsciously and without any forethought .... until I woke up at age 25 as a ‘successful’ young guitarist with an intense case of imposter syndrome. I feel that if I have ‘made it’ by any metric, it would be that I eventually did find my own style, voice and sound, and feel now that I can genuinely contribute something beautiful and unique to the world.”
Happily then, Hansen feels fulfilled.
“I have always loved the feeling of creating things from my imagination for as long as I can remember,” he remarked.
“By my senior year of high school, I had financed a little MIDI studio and embarked
MUSIC
on my first instrumental shred solo album, 1993’s Angry Fly.”
More changes were to come.
“My vocal debut actually wasn’t until 2004 on my albums Void of Course, and then Songs For Two Guitars in 2005,” Hansen said. “These albums marked the beginning of my signature approach to songwriting, arranging and production, which has carried through to my most recent 2025 solo album, Future Primitive, an album that could be dubbed ‘Scenic Metal’—heavy guitars and drums with symphonic elements, and vocals with my crossed neck acoustic always in the forefront of every tune. These songs are the result of coping with the loss of my father during the pandemic. I have songs about telepathic communication with aliens, the civil war, isolation, artists and painters, and a few concept songs that are big on melodrama and in a very theatrical way.”
He has very definite plans going forward: “More performing, touring, collaborating, composing and producing.”
Hansen, who lives in downtown Salt Lake City, has nothing but praise for other local artists. “We have world-class musicians and bands here in every style, but like everywhere else, shrinking opportunities and venues. It’s a very fragmented ‘scene’ with immense talent! I love catching local live shows, and often I feel like I’m traversing multiple dimensions that are often unaware of each other.”
For Hansen, it’s clear that music is more than a mantra; it’s an uplifting enticement in which he invests his full trust and talent. “The longer I am a musician, the more I believe in the power of music to affect us individually as well as to bring us together collectively,” he said. “In spite of my natural mental, intellectual and technical acuities, music has forced me on a journey to meet my heart, connect with my humanity and connect with others. The process of learning, teaching, creating, collaborating and performing has elevated my spirits through some very hard times and helped bring order where chaos reigns.” CW
Terence Hansen
TUESDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
BEST BAR IN UTAH!
GREAT FOOD
Raven @ Aces High Saloon 4/4
One of the great things about the new wave of British heavy metal, or NWOBHM, is that songs can be about pretty much anything, and those who write them often come across as quite classically educated. Take the powerhouse rock band Raven, for instance—it’s all in the songwriting as much as the riffage. The speed, the thunderous, joyful NOISE and the energy are exhilarating and revelatory. What’s not to like? “Without blowing our own trumpet too loudly, we know we’re good. As a live band nobody can touch us,” bassist/vocalist
John Gallagher told Loudersound in 2023 . “There will be people who haven’t got a clue who we are, but we’ll win them over because we always do. All we need is an opportunity. I hope we get it, but even if we don’t these stubborn old bastards will carry on.” Since 1974, Raven has carried on well past their initial burst of popularity during the ’80s, through the hair stadium bands, grunge, nu-metal and emo, watching their peers split; meanwhile, they experiment with different sounds and have become elder statesmen of the joy of overdriven guitars and bombastic drumming. John and brother Mark Gallagher (guitar) know what fans want, and they deliver it. Slackjaw and Bonestorm open. Catch these musicians on the Can’t Take Away The Fire 2026 tour at Aces High Saloon on Saturday, April 4. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $27.60 at 24tix.com. (Mark Dago)
MUSIC PICK S
The Summer Set, Senses, Lindsay Ell, Good Boy Daisy @ Soundwell 4/4
The late ‘00s and early 2010s were a prime time for pop/rock and pop/punk. Groups like Imagine Dragons, 5 Seconds of Summer and Twenty One Pilots were taking the music world by storm, with many more following suit. The Summer Set is a group from the same round of pop/rock groups, really making waves with their 2013 album Legendary, but the group has been consistently putting out music since 2008. Even during pandemic times, The Summer Set released great albums and singles. These days, the band is promoting their 2025 album Meet Me at the Record Store, along with their latest singles “America!” and “Nostalgic.” They continue to show off that upbeat, fun pop/rock style that’s perfect for blasting on some bass-heavy speakers. Los Angeles natives Senses are also joining the party—they describe themselves as “emo-friendly, punk-curious,” perfectly fitting in with the 2000s vibes. Indie artist Lindsay Ell and twin alt/indie rockers Good Boy Daisy round out the bill. Come have some fun on Saturday, April 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the allages show are $40 and can be found at soundwellslc.com. (Emilee Atkinson)
DEVO @ The Complex 4/7
DEVO are that rarest of creatures: pop music artists who are also culture jammers. Look beyond the surface of the band’s sound and visuals, and you’ll discover an off-kilter and ironic perspective informed by serious art, social change and political unrest. So while DEVO scored hit singles with “Whip It” (No. 14 in 1980) and a cover of Lee Dorsey’s “Working in the Coal Mine” (charting in four countries) plus a succession of popular videos on MTV, there’s much, much more to the group from Akron, Ohio. DEVO was formed in 1973 by brothers Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh plus brothers Gerald (Jerry) and Bob Casale along with Alan Myers. From the start, the surreal troupe were pioneers, both in music and in the field of music video, years before MTV began. The band’s wickedly deconstructed cover of the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” unleashed their deliberate madness upon an unsuspecting world. Nearly 50 years later, DEVO are most definitely not—as one of their best songs suggests—through being cool. DEVO brings its Mutate Don’t Stagnate tour to Rockwell at The Complex on Tuesday, April 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets for this all-ages show are $84.89 and available from axs.com. (Bill Kopp)
Lovingly Clad, Social Cinema, The Moonspinners @ Velour 4/7
As a band, it can be hard to put yourself in a box and have a definitive description of your sound, especially when you draw inspiration from tons of different sources. When asked to describe their sound, Lovingly Clad said, “We don’t know. We usually like to use the words shoegaze-y, bubble gum, blues rock, with a lot of instrumentation and dynamics,” they told The Utah Statesman last April. Their debut album Stay With Me dropped last June, and does indeed incorporate many different sounds, but it definitely doesn’t sound directionless. Their music has a deeply heartfelt feeling, in everything from the instrumentation to the vocals. The bluesy sounds are snuck in at just the right places, and you can tell this
is a group who could jam for hours together if you let them. Pictures and videos of Lovingly Clad always show them rocking out and driving the crowd wild, so they’re not one to miss live. Logan rockers The Moonspinners are also bringing their indie charm for their evening. Their 2025 EP Do You Really Need Therapy? is a joy to listen to; if only there were more tracks. Hopefully 2026 will bring more from the Logan group. Head to Velour on Tuesday, April 7 to experience some indie magic. The all-ages show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets cost $14.32. Grab yours at 24tix.com. (EA)
Little Miss Nasty @ Metro Music Hall 4/8
Little Miss Nasty’s DEADDOLLZ Tour is kickin’ it off with its first stop here in Salt Lake City. This group was started by vocalist Gina Katon, and is a mix of alternative music, EDM and metal, with a full-on burlesque show included. The seductive, dark performance art is a high-intensity experience that is rooted in punk rebellion and sensual power. The group has a Las Vegas-influenced production style with professional dancers, aerialists and contortionists (Sophia Aguiar, Dina Auneau, Talitha Thurston, Kayla Brenda and Laura Pakasaar). Their debut 2024 album Weapon Of Choice is best accompanied by the live performance because the full expression is a merging of sound and visual art. You won’t be able to keep your eyes off the dark glamour and defiant self-expression. The special guest is Australian DJ, singer-songwriter and producer GG Magree (Georgia Magree), who mixes punk, rock and bass—a perfect fit for this show. GG’s debut album Spit Love released last year, and is a bit like a short horror film, as songs like “Bleed” and “Siren” explore themes of trauma and power. Local artist HEELS+ is opening the show, so show up early to support. If you are a bit on the darker side, you don’t want to miss this performance. This 21+ show takes place at Metro Music Hall on Wednesday, April 8. Doors open at 7 p.m. General admission costs $37.50 at 24tix.com. (Arica Roberts)
DEVO
free will ASTROLOGY
BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Now is an excellent time to decide your favorite color is amaranth (a vivid red-violet), or sinopia (earthy redorange), or viridian (cool blue-green, darker than jade). You might also conclude that your favorite aroma is agarwood (deep, smoky, resin-soaked wood), or heliotrope (cherryalmond vanilla), or petrichor (wet soil after a rain). I’m trying to tell you, Aries, that you’re primed to deeply enhance your detailed delight in smells, colors, tastes, feelings, physical sensations, types of wind, tones of voice, qualities of light—and everything else. Indulge in sensory and sensual pleasures!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
My Taurus friend Elena keeps a “gratitude garden” in her backyard. When she feels grateful for a specific joy in her life, she writes it on biodegradable paper and buries it among her flowers, herbs, and vegetables. “I feed the earth with appreciation,” she says. “Returning the gift.” She feels this practice ensures that her garden and her life flourish. Her devoted attention to recognizing blessings attracts even more blessings. Her cultivated appreciation for beauty and abundance leads her to discover more beauty and abundance. Elena’s approach is pure Taurean genius. I invite you to create your own rituals for expressing your thankful love. Not just paying dutiful homage in your thoughts, but giving your appreciation weight, texture, and presence in the actual world.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Many of us periodically slip into the daydream that everything would finally feel right if only our lives were somehow different. If we’re single, maybe we imagine we ought to be partnered; if we’re partnered, we wish our beloved would change, or we secretly wonder about someone else entirely. That’s the snag. The blessing is this: In the days ahead, you’re likely to discover a surprising ease with your life exactly as it is, and feel a genuine, grounded peace. Congratulations in advance!
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
A cautious voice in your head murmurs: “Proceed carefully. Don’t be overly impressed with your own beauty. Stick with dependable methods. Live up to expectations and avoid explorations into the unknown.” Your bold genius interrupts: “Tell that fussy, boring voice to shut up. The truth is that you have earned the right to be an inquisitive wanderer, an ingenious lover, a fanciful storyteller, and a laughing experimenter.”
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
In medieval European gardens, there was a tradition of creating “pleasure labyrinths.” They were walking meditations that spiraled inward to a center, then back out again. There were no decisions and no wrong turns, just the relaxing, meditative journey itself. I think you need and deserve a metaphorical pleasure labyrinth right now, Leo. You’ve been treating every choice as a high-stakes dilemma and every path as potentially problematic. But what if the current phase isn’t about making the perfect decision? Maybe it’s about trusting that the path you’re on will take you where you need to go, even if it meanders. By cosmic decree, you are excused from second-guessing every turn.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Your eye for imperfection is a gift until it becomes the lens through which you see everything. The critical faculty that drives you to refine and enhance may also shunt you into a dead end of never-being-good-enough, where impossible standards immobilize you. In the coming weeks, dear Virgo, I beg you to use your vaunted discernment primarily in the service of growth and pleasure rather than constraint. Be excited by buoyant analysis that empowers constructive change. Homework: For every flaw you identify, identify two things that are working well. You won’t ignore what needs attention, but instead will compensate for the excessive criticism that sometimes grips your inner critic.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
You Libras shouldn’t expend excessive effort trying to force the external world to be more tranquil. That’s mostly a futile task that distracts from your more essential work. The secret to your happiness is to cultivate serenity within. How do you do that? One reliable way to shed tension is to continually place yourself in the presence of beauty. Nothing makes you relax better than being surrounded by elegance, grace, and loveliness. Now is a good time to recommit yourself to this key practice.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
In computer science, there’s a concept called “graceful degradation.” When a system encounters an error, it doesn’t crash completely. It loses some functionality but keeps running with what remains. According to my reading of the astrological omens, Scorpio, you’d be wise to acknowledge a graceful degradation like that. Something isn’t working as you had hoped and planned. A relationship? Project? Adventure? In classic Scorpio fashion, you’re tempted to burn it all down. But I encourage you to practice graceful degradation instead. Keep what still works and release only what’s actually broken. Not everything has to be all-ornothing. You can lose some functionality and still run. You can be partially out of whack and still be valuable. PS: The awkwardness is temporary.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
At your best and brightest, you are a hunter—though not the kind who stalks prey with weapons and trophies in mind. Your hunt is noble: the fervent pursuit of adventures that nourish your curiosity and the brave forays you make into unfamiliar territories where intriguing new truths shimmer. And now, as the world drifts deeper into chaos, you are called to respond with even more exploratory audacity. I invite you to further refine your hunter’s craft. Lift it up to an even higher, more luminous form of seeking.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Capricorn meditation teacher Wes Nisker guided his students to relax the relentless mental static that muddled their awareness. But he also understood that excessive striving can sabotage the peace we’re seeking. I invoke his influence now to help you release some of the jittery goalobsession you’ve been gripped by. Nisker and I offer you permission to temporarily suspend the potentially exhausting drive to constantly be better and more accomplished. Instead, just for now, simply be your authentic self. Loosen your high-strung grip on self-improvement and allow yourself the radical luxury of purposelessness.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Here’s a danger you Aquarians are sometimes prey to: spending so much energy fixing the big picture that you neglect what’s up close and personal. You may get so involved in rearranging systems that immediate concerns get less than your best attention. I hope you won’t do that in the coming weeks. Your aptitude for overarching objectivity is a gift because it enables you to recognize patterns others can’t detect. But it may also divert you from the messy, intricate intimacy that gritty transformation requires. Your assignment: Eagerly attend to the details, which I bet will be more interesting than you imagine.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
In horticulture, “hardening off” is the process of gradually exposing seedlings started indoors to outdoor conditions before transplanting them. Too much exposure too fast will shock them; no exposure at all will leave them unprepared. Let’s invoke this as a useful metaphor for you. I believe you are being hardened off, Pisces. Life is making small, increasing demands on your tender self. Though this may sometimes feel uncomfortable, I assure you that it’s preparation, not cruelty. You’re being readied for a shift from protected space to open ground. My advice is twofold: 1. Don’t retreat back into the ultra-safe greenhouse. 2. Don’t let yourself be thrown into full exposure all at once.
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urban LIVING
Housing Hopes
As March ends, we look back and wave at our legislators and say, “buh-bye” for another year. There were a record number of bills proposed by our elected officials—1,015 were sponsored during this past session, and 541 actually passed.
What I paid attention to were housing bills, since some experts predict that we’ll need more than 200,000 new housing units in the state over the next 30 years.
We all know we’re facing an ongoing housing shortage, but maybe there’s some light to this dark topic with the few bills that passed.
HB492 will reportedly help make a dent in our low inventory, specifically to help local governments pay for infrastructure, allowing for new roads and water/sewer lines to be installed ahead of development.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
ACROSS
1. Morning brews
6. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” locale
10. Some hieroglyphic animals
14. Like Hozier
15. Mardi Gras city nickname
16. Gloating sound
17. Japanese box meal
18. Word before lung or stomach
19. Peace Prize city
20. Hole-y Veronica Roth novel (about rocker Ronnie James hovering above a penguin species)?
23. Zsa Zsa and Magda’s sister
25. “Cobra ___” (“The Karate Kid” sequel)
26. Yanks’ rivals
27. Old U.K. record label
28. Lip salve
30. Inits. on an airport uniform
32. “No go, bro”
34. Flower
36. Response to a challenge
38. Hole-y E.L. Doctorow novel (about a cartoon bartender being told singer Rita earned a moon of Jupiter)?
41. Talented up-and-comer
The adage “If you build it, they will come” is true, as you can’t have a new housing subdivision without basic municipal connections.
Another bill, SB284, requires cities in our state to allow detached accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, on lots that are at least 11,000 square feet. To give you an idea of what that looks like, a small home in the Avenues of Salt Lake takes up about 0.06 acres— about 2,600 square feet.
If a home in the Avenues is listed with less than one-tenth of an acre, it probably doesn’t have a lot of room for a garage or an ADU. However, if you head to the west side or south end of the valley, there are many subdivisions with one-half or one-acre lots. That’s about 22,000 to 44,000 square feet, with plenty of room to add a tiny accessory home.
In 2019, SB34 required that all Utah cities must allow ADUs in residential areas. Current city code in places like St. George allow for ADUs up to 800 square feet in a side or rear yard, with some restrictions on how close the structure can be to lot lines and to the height of the primary building. Given the high number of seniors and retirees in Washington County, this is a great addition to the housing shortage, where adult children and many seniors can’t afford high rents or home prices there.
Over the years, demand has grown for local builders in Dixie to offer homes with mother-in-law apartments or tiny homes in the rear yards, called “casitas,” and they have tried to keep up with demand as St. George and surrounding towns keep growing and growing.
According to UtahADUBuilders. com, a free-standing ADU in Utah costs between $200,000 and $400,000 to build. It’s interesting that during WWII, housing was at an even greater premium in this state and local officials would knock on doors to see if any part of the home could be rented (rooms, unfinished basements, etc.). It’s how we got so many illegal (now) mother-in-law apartments here! ■
4. Spot of sparkling wine
5. Agitated
42. High-pitched, like some small dogs
45. Mr. Peanut’s headwear
48. Court divider
50. Like some consequences
51. ___-Wan Kenobi
52. Trippy letters
54. Precursor to rocksteady
56. Quantity of bricks
57. Hole-y Daphne du Maurier novel (about a cookie-flavored chocolate drink stirred with a woodwind)?
61. “Star Trek” captain
62. Taylor-Joy of “The Queen’s Gambit”
63. Like many IPAs
66. Guam, e.g., for short
67. “Dungeon Crawler ___” (book series)
68. “___ Majesty’s Secret Service”
69. “___ penny, two ...” (“Hot Cross Buns” line)
70. Surrealist painter Paul
71. “Champagne Supernova” group
DOWN
1. “I like the cut of your ___!”
2. Exist
3. Indian curry dish
6. U.S. network with telenovelas
7. Sped along
8. “Zut ___!”
9. Keep
10. Unknown author, briefly
11. Organizational method
12. Faith with the 2009 album “Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?”
13. Presumptive winner
21. Muesli bit
22. Out of service?
23. Recede gradually
24. “The Doors” star Kilmer
29. Change form
31. “___ Brown Cooks Food” (YouTube series)
33. Only bone not attached to another bone
35. “Thank you,” in Honolulu
37. Calcium carbonate deposit that builds up in hot water appliances
39. Recoups
40. Text on tombstones
43. Paid athlete
44. Kyoto currency
45. Developed a fondness for
Last week’s answers
Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.
46. Conan who hosted the 98th Academy Awards
47. Capital of South Dakota
49. Ring decision
53. Actor Logue
55. Sneezy outburst
58. Gumbo staple
59. Jane of a BrontÎ novel
60. Chaplin of “Avatar: Fire and Ash”
64. “Anne of Green Gables” Canadian prov.
65. Millennium divs.
NEWS of the WEIRD
Creme de la Weird
Professional cornhole player and quadruple amputee Dayton James Webber, 27, was arrested on March 22 in Charlottesville, Virginia, WBRC-TV reported. Earlier that evening, Webber and Bradrick Michael Wells, 27, got into an argument as Webber drove in La Plata, Maryland, witnesses said. Webber allegedly shot and killed Wells, then pulled over and asked his backseat passengers to pull Wells’ body from the car. They refused and left the vehicle, then called police. Webber drove on with Wells’ body, which was later found in a yard. When detectives found Webber, he was at a Virginia hospital seeking medical care. In Maryland, he’s expected to be charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and more. Webber plays in the American Cornhole League, which in 2023 called him a “shining example of our slogan—anyone can play, anyone c an win.”
Florida
Florida Highway Patrol officers stopped a truck near Plant City, Florida, on March 22 as it drove along a state highway, CBS12-TV reported. The truck’s driver, whom the officers dubbed “Rocket Man,” had missiles mounted in the bed of the truck, and multiple other drivers had called it in. However, the missiles turned out to be plastic replicas used for shows and events, and the driver was released with a gentle warning to transport his “artillery” in some other manner.
Great Art!
In Mount Gambier, Australia, a large sculpture called Cast in Blue has garnered attention from locals since its installation last year, ABC News reported. Amelia Vanderhorst, 20, of Mount Gambier, Australia, added her own personal touches to the “blue blob” late last year, and on March 24, she pleaded guilty in court to a charge of making graffiti. According to Vanderhorst, she was high on MDMA and had consumed three liters of vodka before placing googly eyes on the sculpture. She said she wanted to make it look funny but admitted it was “one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done.” She was ordered to pay $2,000 in compensation and complete 60 hours of community service. “Your actions mocked the sculpture and the artist,” said Magistrate Kylie Schulz.
The Continuing Crisis
The Texas Department of Transportation has cut off the small town of Bug Tussle (population 15), United Press International reported on March 23. More than 70 Bug Tussle road signs have been stolen over the years, and the DOT announced it won’t supply the burg with any more. “People just like the name Bug Tussle, and they steal the signs,” explained resident Deborah Stout.
It’s a Mystery
Residents of three towns in New Jersey—Edgewater, Fort Lee and Cliffside Park—are suffering from a mysterious blast of loud late-night music, Fox News reported on March 25. The towns lie across the Hudson River from Harlem, which seems to be the source of the noise, the Edgewater police department said. While many believe a nightclub is to blame, the Edgewater mayor thinks party boats on the river might be the culprits. Some residents say the music sounds like it’s in their own backyards;
they described it as a thumping or vibrating that lasts from 11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the weekends. Until the source can be identified, however, Jerseyites are stuck movin’ to the groovin’.
Saw That Coming
Well, it’s official: CNBC reported on March 26 that artificial intelligence has taken over the internet. A report released by cybersecurity firm Human Security detailed the incursion of bots in our lives: Automated traffic grew eight times faster than human traffic in 2025. “The State of AI Traffic” also concluded that AI that performs autonomously grew almost 8,000% last year. But Stu Solomon, CEO of Human Security, reminded readers that not all AI systems are malicious. “This notion of machine bad, human good is just not realistic,” he said. “You have to live in a world where machines are acting on our behalf, and we have to establish a level of trust that’s persistent over time.”
Unique Tradition
Hundreds of people swarm to Annapolis, Maryland, each year for the Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning festival, NPR reported. This year’s event on March 21 said goodbye to one of the coldest winters on Chesapeake Bay. Kelly Swartout of the local maritime museum said the event started in 1977, when “a local sailor got so fed up with the cold weather that he decided he was going to take his socks off and burn them.” Festival attendee Scot Labin said he brought a sock with a hole in it and the “Egyptian cotton socks that your mom got you,” because no one wears dress socks anymore. It’s “a good party,” he said.
News You Can Use
If you’re looking for an eye-catching lawn ornament for your front yard, perhaps consider Tyra, the 86-foot-tall, 145,000-pound T. rex that currently graces the town of Drumheller near Calgary, C anada. Popular Science reported on March 24 that the fiberglass and steel dino will be evicted from its home in 2029, so officials from the Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology aren’t wasting any time. They’ve had Tyra structurally assessed and declared her “safe, stable and ready to welcome visitors.” The original plan was for her to be dismantled when her time is up, but the chamber is looking into “long-term options for the dinosaur.”
Weird Science
Applications are now open for the first-ever Sperm Racing World Cup, LAD Bible reported on March 13. While a date has not been set for the competition, organizers expect specimens from men from 128 countries around the world to race around a tiny track, all in the hopes of winning the $100,000 prize. Eric Zhu, Nick Small, Shane Fan and Garret Niconienko claim to have a higher motivation than getting attention. “Sperm racing isn’t just a joke,” they said. “Male fertility is declining. ... Nobody’s really talking about it. And sperm motility—how fast your sperm moves—turns out to be a massive factor in fertility.” Applicants must be 18 or older, free of STDs and be available to participate in qualifying rounds and tournaments. Good luck!
