Quantcast
Channel: The Salt Lake Tribune
Viewing all 88019 articles
Browse latest View live

David R. Irvine: Taking the long view on the special counsel investigation

0
0

Who would have imagined an American president doing his level best in 2018 to break up the NATO alliance that has stood as a bulwark against Soviet/Russian aggression in Europe for nearly 70 years? Every U.S. president since Harry Truman has understood its strategic importance and the value of strong U.S. leadership to maintain its collective strength.

That is, every president but one. This would be the same president who has taken pains to ensure that his July 16 meeting with Russian President and former KGB officer Vladimir Putin will be conducted with no other American officials in the room. There will be no record of what is discussed or what Trump may agree to with no witnesses present.

Journalist Jonathan Chait posed the question this way: “Will Trump be meeting with his counterpart or with his controller?”

That question, under other circumstances, would seem absurd, but the Senate Intelligence Committee issued a bi-partisan report on July 3, 2018, which confirmed the reliability of an earlier Intelligence Community Assessment (Jan. 6, 2017):

“We assess with high confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election, the consistent goals of which were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary [Hillary] Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump.”

Whether Americans are Republicans, Democrats or independents, the reality that a foreign adversary is seeking to manipulate our election process – and did so in 2016 – should be as alarming as Paul Revere’s cry along the road to Lexington, “The British are coming!”

What happened in Brussels with NATO leaders and what may happen in Helsinki could indicate Putin’s objectives. That’s why the special counsel investigation of Robert Mueller is so necessary and critical. It is in everyone’s interest to know whether partisan political operatives actively colluded with foreign agents to throw an election. Problematically, extremist partisans on both sides are prone to rushing to judgment before the facts are in, which, in this instance does a huge disservice to the rule of law: One side expects to find impeachment-level wrongdoing and the other side attacks the inquiry as completely illegitimate.

The reality is, the public knows relatively little. Mueller is pursuing an intricate inquiry delving into sensitive intelligence, and only limited information can be reported. Until we have details in hand, we shouldn’t jump to extreme conclusions. The fact that so little is known is evidence of Mueller’s careful professionalism. It would be a serious mistake to fire Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to short-circuit the investigation.

This is why Congress should pass S. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham,R-S.C., and co-sponsored by Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Christopher Coons, D-Dela. The bill, which was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, would provide meaningful and prudent protection for an investigation that is vital to our national security, as well as instill confidence among the American people that justice will prevail.

Legislation to protect the judicial process from presidential interference is in line with opinions expressed by key Utah officials. Sen. Orrin Hatch has stated in no uncertain terms that firing Mueller “would be the stupidest thing the president could do.” Sen. Mike Lee has also come forward to say, “I fully support Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s continuing investigation.”

In light of this information, we cannot in good conscience halt or artificially accelerate our inquiries into the matter, including Mueller’s ongoing investigation. We must understand Russia’s behavior so we can protect our elections from hostile powers. With mid-term elections looming, time is of the essence. The infighting and political grandstanding on display in certain venues only distracts attention from this crucial mission.

In misguided efforts to protect this president, some Trump allies are sowing deep distrust in law enforcement and undermining the very concept of impartial justice. Without these institutions, the American constitutional experiment is over.

The Continental Congress declared independence from monarchy in 1776, casting off a king in favor of republican democracy. Our system of checks and balances ensures that no leader holds absolute power or stands above the law. These norms are more important than any one man — no matter who he is or how popular his message. Without them, tyranny strangles liberty.

Trent Nelson  |  The Salt Lake Tribune
Attorney David Irvine speaks at a meeting of Salt Lake Indivisible, a grass-roots bipartisan group organizing against President Donald Trump. The meeting was held at Wasatch Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, Wednesday February 1, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Attorney David Irvine speaks at a meeting of Salt Lake Indivisible, a grass-roots bipartisan group organizing against President Donald Trump. The meeting was held at Wasatch Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, Wednesday February 1, 2017. (Trent Nelson/)

David Irvine is a Salt Lake attorney, a retired Army strategic intelligence officer and a board member of the Alliance for a Better Utah.


Man struck and killed by FrontRunner train in American Fork

0
0

A 53-year-old man was hit and killed by a Utah Transit Authority train Friday after attempting to cross the railroad tracks while the crossing arm was lowered.

Delwin Laughridge, of American Fork, crossed the adjacent Union Pacific tracks about 7 p.m. Friday at the American Fork TRAX station, 782 W. 200 South, before trying to traverse the FrontRunner tracks by going beneath the crossing arm, UTA spokesman Carl Arky said.


In addition to the crossing gate being in place, Arky said there were also “lights flashing and bells ringings,” but the man “never looked up.”

The UTA train opperator saw the man, blasted the train horn and tried to stop, but hit Laughridge, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Arky said he doesn’t know why the man tried to walk across the tracks. He urged pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings at train crossings.

“If people aren’t paying attention or they’re distriacted — they’re talking on their phone or they’ve got earbuds in, they’ve got their head down — there’s the potential for real trouble,” Arky said.

Out of adversity, Luka Modric and Croatia to play for World Cup

0
0

Moscow • From a childhood blighted by war to a successful playing career now being muddied by a criminal case, Luka Modric has arrived at the World Cup final with plenty of life experiences.

Through it all, the Croatia playmaker will be the key member of a team that will face France on Sunday at the Luzhniki Stadium for the biggest title in soccer.

“I’ve seen a great deal of hardship in my life,” the 32-year-old Modric said Saturday. “What is the most important is never to give up, never to give in to circumstances, to trust yourself.

“This was my motive, this is what led me to this point in my life.”

Loyalty and a team-first ethic run through the national team from Croatia, which gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and has a few players younger than the country itself.

Modric spoke briefly about how this team’s toughness has some roots in the Balkan war turmoil, but was reluctant to delve too deeply.

“I don’t like to go back to these things. It’s all in the past.” said Modric, who was a child when his grandfather was killed and his family forced from its home. “Of course, everything influences you. It’s made us resilient as people, as the nation.”

There were no questions during a 27-minute news conference with Modric and coach Zlatko Dalic about the criminal case that has clouded Croatian soccer, however.

Modric was charged with perjury in March, and defender Dejan Lovren is under investigation for suspected false statements in support of a former director of Dinamo Zagreb, who also was a vice president of the Croatian soccer federation.

Zdravko Mamic was sentenced last month to 6 1/2 years in prison for embezzlement and tax evasion worth millions of dollars linked to player transfer deals from Dinamo. They included Modric’s 2008 sale to Tottenham and Lovren’s 2010 move to Lyon.

Mamic has long been a polarizing figure with Croatian fans. Protests against the federation include throwing fireworks on the field to disrupt a game at the 2016 European Championship, and drawing a swastika on the field before a qualifying game.

Croatia regularly plays home games in empty stadiums because of disciplinary orders from FIFA and UEFA.

Dalic said such adversity over a decade made the team stronger.

“Without their character, without their fortitude, they wouldn’t have reached this final,” the coach said through a translator. “I’m so proud of them.”

If Croatia wins its first major trophy, only a few weeks after helping Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League title, Modric will be favored to sweep soccer’s most prized individual awards: the Golden Ball as player of the tournament, the Ballon d’Or, and FIFA’s annual best player award.

Modric, speaking through a translator, said while it was “pleasing” to be mentioned as an awards contender, it is not important now.

“I’m really focused on my national team,” Modric said.

At 5-foot-8, Modric was also asked about being doubted early in his career because of his height. Lionel Messi, however, is a five-time player of the year winner who is listed at 5-7.

“I’m happy where I am. These things were not a burden, they only further motivated me,” Modric said. “You don’t have to be a strapping lad to play football.”

Where a historic Utah railway once stood, a model locomotive made by train enthusiasts now chugs along

0
0

Provo • Train bells sound from a Highland home as Jim Smeltzer cruises on railroad tracks through his driveway atop a green locomotive. Though having many bells and whistles of its own, the train is far from full size — roughly 13 percent as big as the real deal.

Since 2004, the Smeltzers’ land surrounding their home has been a model railyard. Jim’s love of trains, however, spans much further back than that.

“I’ve always had a love of trains,” said Jim, 84, who was born and raised in Fresno, Calif. “Back when I was a little kid, every day my grandfather would take me for a walk. It was two blocks to the train tracks, and a train came back every morning and went out every evening. He’d take me down there and we’d watch the train go by.”

Today, Smeltzer is a trustee of Utah Live Steamers Railroad Club, a group of model-railroad enthusiasts based in Utah County. The group typically builds trains and track the same size as Jim’s, a scale of 1.6 inches to 1 foot or a ratio of 1:8 the size of a full-size train.

ADVANCE FOR USE WITH WEEKEND EDITIONS JULY 7-8, 2018 AND THEREAFTER In this Saturday, June 16, 2018, photo, Mike Hansen, co-founder of the Utah Live Steamers Railroad Club, corrects a heat kink in a section of track during public train rides held by Utah Live Steamers at Shay Park in Saratoga Springs. Shay Park's name has to do with the history of railroads in the area. "A lot of these communities were built because of the railroad," Hansen explained. "At one point, you could get on a train here and go anywhere in the country."  (Isaac Hale/The Daily Herald via AP)
ADVANCE FOR USE WITH WEEKEND EDITIONS JULY 7-8, 2018 AND THEREAFTER In this Saturday, June 16, 2018, photo, Mike Hansen, co-founder of the Utah Live Steamers Railroad Club, corrects a heat kink in a section of track during public train rides held by Utah Live Steamers at Shay Park in Saratoga Springs. Shay Park's name has to do with the history of railroads in the area. "A lot of these communities were built because of the railroad," Hansen explained. "At one point, you could get on a train here and go anywhere in the country." (Isaac Hale/The Daily Herald via AP) (Isaac Hale/)

Mike Hansen, who co-founded the club in 2007, said the train-loving group was initially created with the intent of building a train park within Utah Valley.

Hansen’s passion for locomotives also began young. “It started at the age of 5 with my parents and my brother, Jeff, riding the Heber Creeper,” he said. At age 8, he began cultivating a dream to open a train park himself. Hansen continued to fuel his love of trains through later becoming a locomotive engineer, fireman, conductor and brakeman for today’s Heber Valley Railroad.

Upon co-founding Utah Live Steamers and beginning the search for a place to open a train park, Hansen encountered mixed interest from cities. Around that time, Saratoga Springs was in the midst of the eight-year process of creating Shay Park, a railroad-themed community park. Hansen had heard of the park and eagerly pitched his idea to the city.

“We basically came in at the last inning,” Hansen said, laughing.

Shay Park’s name has to do with the history of railroads in the area. “A lot of these communities were built because of the railroad,” Hansen said. “At one point, you could get on a train here and go anywhere in the country.”

The Salt Lake and Western Railway, one of several area railroads settled by Mormon pioneers, once went directly through where Shay Park now stands. The sloping grade for the former railroad in the middle of the park is now a walking path with a bridge above the model-railroad tracks. Steam-powered Shay locomotives were often found running along the Salt Lake and Western Railway, hence the park’s name.

Now visitors can ride on a train where a railway once stood — albeit a much smaller train and a much shorter ride.

Hansen said his dream could not have come true without the efforts of sponsors, especially the Bank of American Fork, contributors, donors, club members and support of the city of Saratoga Springs, especially its mayor, City Council and employees. The model railway, however, is still in need of additional sponsors.

ADVANCE FOR USE WITH WEEKEND EDITIONS JULY 7-8, 2018 AND THEREAFTER In this Tuesday, June 19, 2018, photo, Jim Smeltzer welds a miniature ladder that will eventually attach to the back of the caboose in his workshop at his home in Highland. Since 2004, the Smeltzers' land surrounding their home has been a model railyard.  (Isaac Hale/The Daily Herald via AP)
ADVANCE FOR USE WITH WEEKEND EDITIONS JULY 7-8, 2018 AND THEREAFTER In this Tuesday, June 19, 2018, photo, Jim Smeltzer welds a miniature ladder that will eventually attach to the back of the caboose in his workshop at his home in Highland. Since 2004, the Smeltzers' land surrounding their home has been a model railyard. (Isaac Hale/The Daily Herald via AP) (Isaac Hale/)

One person who helped Hansen realize his dream was Jim Smeltzer, who goes by his first name, Paul, to those in the group. Although he explained with a laugh, “I go by Paul, Jim, PJ, hey you, whatever.”

Some of the group’s railroad switches and stands, railcars and safety cars have been crafted by Smeltzer, who has a metalworking shop of his own at home.

Despite having an affinity for trains at a young age, he trained his hands in metalworking on things with more firepower rather than horsepower.

In 1946, 13-year-old Smeltzer passed for 16 when he was hired to sweep the floors and put finish on gun stocks at a local gunsmith in his hometown of Fresno, Calif. His knowledge progressed as he worked, and he eventually learned how to create a firearm from scratch.

“The day I turned 16, I joined the California National Guard — I told them I was 18,” Smeltzer said. “They didn’t check anything. It was no problem, until Korea broke out.” Then, officials checked his age and kicked him out of the Guard. He rejoined at 17 with his father’s permission and put his metalworking skills to use as an armorer for the 49th Division of the California National Guard.

“The day I graduated from high school, I quit and went to work for a foundry,” Smeltzer said. “I learned a good bit about foundry practices. I made parts for Korea.” Not long after, he volunteered for the draft and joined the 82nd Airborne Division.

At age 23, Smeltzer got married and opened a metalworking shop of his own.

In February 1960, Smeltzer joined the Fresno Police Department. In April that year, his father took him to see an old friend of Jim’s who had just opened a gun shop.

“As we walked in the front door, Elmer looked up, opened a drawer, pulled something out, threw it and I caught it. It was a set of keys; he says, ‘Come back to work for me.’”

So, Smeltzer began making guns again in the day and working for the police department at night. Working two jobs, he recalled, “In my free time, I could work on things at home.” In addition to guns, Smeltzer had the know-how to make a plethora of equipment from metal.

After 14 years, he quit the police force and moved his family and metalworking shop to Highland.

Once in Utah Valley, Smeltzer began working for a local company and made fewer guns and a more of a little bit of everything.

“I like to build stuff,” he said. “I don’t care much what it is. If it’s interesting, I’ll do it. If it’s not interesting, you can take it someplace else. If I can learn something from it and make it worthwhile, then I’ll do it,”

Smeltzer does not have a degree related to metalworking, but holds degrees in criminalistics and criminology and certificates in refrigeration and welding. He’s primarily learned his craft through hands-on experience.

“I was doing what I wanted to do. I never figured I’d make a lot of money. I never have made a lot of money, but I’ve enjoyed my life,” he said.

Throughout the years, Smeltzer worked for various companies and built countless creations. He later retired, deciding that he would take in work as it came in his own shop to pass the time.

In 2004, a trip to Tooele opened up new projects.

That year, he and his wife attended the annual railroad museum opening in the city. The museum had several small-scale railroads for visitors to enjoy, so his wife said, “If you build all this other stuff, why don’t you build a train?”

And so, Smeltzer came to pair his childhood love of trains with his skills as a metalworker.

Now, Smeltzer spends his time with his family, reading, working on the computer, riding his train on the tracks he built in 2004 and of course, working in his shop — though he admits he works slower than he used to. “Spend an hour or so in the morning, an hour or so in the afternoon, and do what I want to do,” he said. “I’m going to keep my hands in the shop.”

George F. Will: Don’t fix baseball, even if it may be broken

0
0

Washington • It is a prudential axiom: If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. This reflects the awareness that things can always be made worse, and the law of unintended consequences, which is that they often are larger than and contrary to intended ones. As baseball reaches the all-star break amid lamentations about several semi-broken aspects of it, it is time to amend the axiom: Don’t fix it even if it is broken.

The itch to fix complex systems often underestimates the ability of markets, broadly understood, to respond and adapt to incentives. So, even if you are an unsatisfactory American — i.e., uninterested in baseball — read on, because the debate about some of the game's current defects contains lessons about lesser things than baseball, meaning everything else.

Today's all-or-nothing baseball is too one-dimensional. There are too many strikeouts — for the first time in history, more than hits, a lot more. And the number is increasing for the 13th consecutive season. Also, too many of the hits are homeruns. It was imprecise for Crash Davis (Kevin Costner's character in "Bull Durham") to say that strikeouts are "fascist," but he was right that they are "boring," at least in excessive quantities. So are home runs (and caviar, and everything else except martinis). In about one-third of today's at-bats, the ball is not put in play (home run balls are put in the seats). Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci notes that by the end of June there were "more strikeouts in half a season than there were in the entire 1980 season." And "on average, you have to wait [3 minutes and 45 seconds] between balls put in play — 41 seconds longer between movement than 20 years ago." Steals (hence pitchouts), sacrifice bunts, hit-and-run plays — interesting things for fans — are becoming rarer.

This is not the main reason attendance is down. The weather is: In 35 April games, the temperature was below 40; in the entire 2017 season, only one. But the all-or-nothing style is not helping, and it is encouraged by the exponential increase in the use of defensive shifts — from 2,357 in 2011 to a projected 36,000 this season.

The best-known early use of the shift, in 1946, overloaded the right side against Ted Williams, who regally said they could not put the shift high enough. Actually, he tried to hit through, not over, it, but after the shift began, his average that year went from .354 to .327. Today, the 99.999 percent of players who are lesser hitters elevate their bats' “launch angles,” exacerbating the all-or-nothing style.

Also, shifts cause pitchers to target a particular part of the plate in order to increase the probability that the batter will hit into the shift. This results in more walks, which batters like because high on-base percentages are rewarded: Today, baseball's compensation system is an incentive for walks, and for equanimity about striking out, if home runs are frequent.

What baseball people call “analytics,” and less-scientific people call information, has produced all this: Particular hitters have particular tendencies; defenses adjust accordingly. Now, let us, as the lawyers say, stipulate that more information is always better than less. But for the moment, information is making offense anemic. So, there is a proposal afoot — this is fascism — to ban shifts, to say there must be two infielders on either side of second base, or even that as the pitch is delivered all infielders must be on the infield dirt. This would leave some, but much less, ability to manage defenses. It would, however, short-circuit market-like adjustments.

Incessant radical shifting will persist until it is moderated by demand summoning a supply of some Rod Carew-like hitters. A Hall of Famer, Carew was a magician who wielded a bat like a wand, spraying hits hither and yon, like Wee Willie ("Hit 'em where they ain't") Keeler. The market is severely meritocratic, so some hitters who cannot modify their tendencies and learn to discourage shifts by hitting away from them might need to consider different careers.

Baseball — the game on the field, not just the business side — resembles a market system because constantly evolving strategies create demands for different tactics, and thus different skills, which are then supplied by persons and teams that are eager to excel in the new forms of competition. Before restricting managers' and players' interesting choices by limiting shifts (and certainly before softening the ball; or moving the pitcher more than 60 feet, 6 inches from the plate), give the market — freedom for fan-pleasing ingenuity and adaptation — a chance.

George F. Will | The Washington Post
George F. Will | The Washington Post

George F. Will writes a twice-weekly column on politics and domestic and foreign affairs. He began his column with The Washington Post in 1974, and he received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com.

Dana Milbank: The ritual humiliation of Peter Strzok

0
0

They stuck with Donald Trump when he was heard, on video, boasting about sexually assaulting women. They stuck with him still when he acknowledged paying hush money to a porn actress who alleged an affair.

But this last week, congressional Republicans, determined to discredit the investigation by Robert S. Mueller III into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, hauled in FBI agent Peter Strzok and sought to humiliate him over anti-Trump texts he exchanged with his mistress, FBI lawyer Lisa Page.

"I can't help wonder," said Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tex., "when I see you looking there with a little smirk, how many times did you look so innocent into your wife's eye and lie to her about Lisa Page?"

Denunciations rained from the Democratic side.

"Shame on you!"

"Have you no decency?"

"This is intolerable harassment."

"Do you need your medication?"

Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., ruled that Gohmert was free to impugn the witness's character.

The purpose of interrogating Strzok for 10 hours Thursday (after 11 hours in a private session) was clear: ritual humiliation. In fairness, the vast majority condemned Strzok over his texts to his lover without invoking the affair. But then there was Rep. Karen Handel, R-Ga., picking up where Gohmert left off. "Engaging in the kind of behavior that you have been engaging in, especially with the extramarital affair, it opens up an agent to exploitation and even blackmail," she proclaimed.

If Republicans really want to go there, they'll need to investigate the vulnerabilities of some of Strzok's inquisitors on their glass-house committee:

Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., who needled Strzok about "text messages with your friend." DesJarlais, according to divorce filings, had multiple extramarital affairs and encouraged his ex-wife and a patient with whom he had an affair to get abortions.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is battling the allegations of former Ohio State wrestlers who said he ignored sexual abuse while coaching there.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over payments to a former staffer accused of sexual harassment. Other members of the panel are Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., who was sentenced last year to community service and anger-management classes for assaulting a reporter, and Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., whose infidelity as governor of South Carolina made national headlines.

Judging Strzok also would have been Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Tex., but he recently resigned after revelation of a taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlement.

And there's Gohmert himself, who defended Jordan against the wrestlers' allegations and who remained on Trump's leadership team through the "Access Hollywood" scandal.

Republicans aimed to show that Strzok went easy on Hillary Clinton's emails and rigged a witch hunt against Trump. Strzok's anti-Trump text messages were dumb and made it easier to attack both probes, and he was deservedly reassigned. His claim that he has no bias is silly: We all have biases. The important thing is not to let bias overtake judgment.

This is why the whole argument against Strzok and the FBI is absurd: Strzok and colleagues could have doomed Trump with one phone call, leaking the investigation into possible collusion with Russia. But they kept it secret. Instead, then-FBI Director James B. Comey went public 11 days before the election with information about the Clinton email probe, tanking her candidacy.

"I was one of a handful of people who knew the details of Russian election interference and its possible connections with members of the Trump campaign," Strzok told the lawmakers, but "exposing that information never crossed my mind."

Goodlatte quickly lost control of the proceedings, as Democrats hectored him with points of order, appeals of his rulings and a call to adjourn. He ordered the removal of Democrats' posters showing those who pleaded guilty in the Mueller probe but then admitted there was no rule against them. He demanded Strzok answer questions in order to "respect the dignity of the Congress" and to provide "facts needed for intelligent legislative action."

Dignity?

Intelligent legislative action?

This Congress?

Strzok didn't play down his antipathy toward Trump. A former Army officer, he said he thought Americans would reject Trump after his "horrible, disgusting behavior" attacking the parents of a fallen soldier.

He called those his "views." I'd call that bias. The question is whether it affected the Clinton and Trump probes. Strzok found it "astounding" and "deeply destructive" to suggest that the FBI's many safeguards against bias could be overridden in "some dark chamber."

The actual outcome — the FBI released damaging information about Clinton on the eve of the election but kept mum about damaging information about Trump — suggests that, if anything, the bias went the other way.

But by all means let's hear more about Peter Strzok's affair.

Dana Milbank | The Washington Post
Dana Milbank | The Washington Post

Dana Milbank is a Washington Post columnist. He sketches the foolish, the fallacious and the felonious in politics. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank

Ex-Piston Chauncey Billups says he’s ready to run NBA team

0
0

Detroit • Chauncey Billups is still eyeing the chance to run an NBA team.

The former Pistons standout was back in the Detroit area Friday night as part of the BIG3 — entertainer Ice Cube’s 3-on-3 league of former NBA players, which made a stop at Little Caesars Arena.

Billups had talks with the Cavaliers last year but did not join their front office. When Detroit overhauled its organization this year, he seemed like a potential fit, but that didn’t happen either.

“My desire is to one day run a team, be in a front office and try to build a champion,” Billups said. “I know that I will and I know I’m going to do a good job. When that opportunity presents itself, and it’s a good opportunity, I’ll be ready to go.”

The Pistons were run by Stan Van Gundy — their coach and president of basketball operations — for the past four seasons, but they moved in a different direction this offseason. Dwane Casey was hired as Detroit’s new coach, and Ed Stefanski came on board as a senior executive.

“I thought Stan did a good job. Stan is a very good coach, but sometimes you just need a new voice,” Billups said. “Coach Casey obviously has been a very good coach the last few years, he’s really ascended to the top of the ranks in the league. Whatever happened in Toronto presented an opportunity for him to come here.”

In one offseason, Casey has been fired by the Toronto Raptors, got hired by the Pistons and was named NBA Coach of the Year.

Billups is still viewed fondly in Detroit after leading the Pistons to the NBA title in 2004. The team played at The Palace of Auburn Hills back then. The Pistons played their first season at downtown Little Caesars Arena in 2017-18.

“It’s always good to be here. Everybody knows how much I love the city, love the fans. Obviously, I never had the opportunity to play in this building. I wish we would have. I wish we played in the city when we were here,” Billups said. “But The Palace was good to us. The city was good to us, the fans. So it’s always good to be back here. I’m such a big Pistons fan. ... I’m excited for the team for next year. The East is wide open, and I’m excited for the team. New coach, new everything.”

As for Friday’s BIG3 competition, Billups’ team — the Killer 3s — lost the night’s opening game. Metta World Peace of the Killer 3s was ejected. That was an unusual development in what Billups said should be a light-hearted league.

“We’re doing this for fun,” Billups said. “It ain’t that serious. So that’s kind of my message. We’re out here to just have fun, compete, have a good time, enjoy the fans of Detroit, enjoy every single city that we go to, and go home to our family and chill and relax. That’s what this thing is all about to me.”

World Peace, of course, was the most infamous participant in the brawl between the Pistons and his Pacers at The Palace in 2004. On Friday night, he punted the ball away early in the game and was tossed — although it was a bit of a shank.

“I told him in the locker room, ‘If you was going to kick it, you should have put it in the top row or the top deck at least,’” Billups said. “It was a weak kick.”

Royals' third loss in a row leaves coach Laura Harvey lashing out at the referees

0
0

Sandy • It wasn’t as hot as it could have been for a mid-July soccer match along the Wasatch Front, as overcast skies created an unseasonably cool day despite the 5 p.m. first kick.

But Utah Royals FC coach Laura Harvey still went away steaming after her club lost 2-1 to the visiting Orlando Pride in front of an announced crowd of 8,761 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Now she will probably be a little lighter in the pocketbook.

Harvey went off on how the match was officiated, and was particularly perturbed by a penalty kick awarded to the Pride late in the first half that was scored by longtime U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan and tied the match at 1-1.

The game-winner came early in the second half when Royals goalkeeper Abby Smith was woefully out of position, allowing Orlando’s Kristen Edmonds to chip the ball over her head in the 52nd minute.

Later, Smith collided with a teammate, flipped head over heels, and landed on her head. After a lengthy delay, she slowly walked off the pitch under the direction of a trainer and was replaced by backup Nicole Barnhart.

Harvey said she didn’t know anything about Smith’s condition in her postgame news conference.

That would have been the story of the day, but Harvey let loose with her remarks, after basically acknowledging she would be fined for criticizing some of the decisions made by referee Reyna Fonseca and her crew.

“It is hard to sit here every week and watch a performance like that from a referee and not acknowledge it,” Harvey said. “Like, this is my job. I could get fired over that result. But what is going to happen to her? It is every week, stuff like that happens every week.”

Asked if she received an explanation from the officials after Morgan’s equalizer, Harvey scoffed.

“You’re joking, aren’t ya,” she said. “No.”

She also said a yellow card assessed to Orlando’s Alanna Kennedy on the play in which Smith was injured was not the right call.

“It is just hard work to sit here and not say anything about [the referee],” she said. “And I will probably get fined and suspended and all that. But what’s happening to the ref? That’s my question. What’s happening? Fine me, but just provide the refs with a better performance. … Let the fourth official actually be OK to speak [to coaches].”

As for the Pride’s second goal, Harvey called it “a mistake by Abby. She was too high. I am not sure what [she was doing]. That’s something she needs to look back on [and improve]. You have got to let defenders defend. And if she had led the defender defend, that goal wouldn’t have happened.”

The Royals (5-6-6) remained in sixth place in the NWSL, but are stuck on 21 points and will tumble to seventh if Houston wins Sunday. It was their third-straight loss, the first time this season they’ve dropped three in a row. They haven’t won a match since June 30.

Defender Rachel Corsie called the Pride’s penalty kick goal “really hard to take” and a “real sucker punch” to the team’s morale.

“It just takes the wind out of your sails,” she said.

And some cash out of the coach’s bank account, probably.


Jim Knous jumps into the Utah Championship lead with a 62; BYU’s Patrick Fishburn is near the top 25

0
0

Farmington • If the Utah Championship had ended Saturday, Jim Knous would have topped the winning score from the tournament’s first visit to Oakridge Country Club last July.

That’s why he knows a victory will require a lot more birdies Sunday.

Knous moved into the lead with a 9-under-par 62, giving him a 22-under total for three rounds and a one-stroke lead over Cameron Champ. Andres Gonzales, who tied the course record (shared by Champ, thanks to Thursday’s opening round) with a 61, and Bhavik Patel are three strokes behind Knous.

They’re competing for the $126,000 first prize in the Web.com Tour event presented by Zions Bank. Former BYU golfer Patrick Fishburn is tied for 30th after shooting 67-67-68, and probably needs a 67 to make the top 25 and advance to the tour’s next stop.

Last July, the Utah Championship’s leading score moved only from 16 to 18 under in the third round and 21 under ended up winning. That trend was developing Saturday, when Champ was even par for the day through 11 holes after being 17 under through two rounds.

But then Knous surged into the lead and Champ got going, almost keeping pace with four birdies. His 67 came after a 61-64 start that he knew would be tough to maintain, describing the third round as “my biggest hurdle.” In that context, he said, the final round is “going to be a free day.”

Champ might be the tour’s hottest player this summer, having posted four straight top-10 finishes and moved to No. 27 on the season’s money list. Any kind of high placement would move the rookie from Texas A&M well inside the top 25 with five tournaments remaining and position him to qualify for the PGA Tour’s 2018-19 schedule.

Knous made nine birdies to follow his 65-64 start with another round that seemingly has come out of nowhere. That’s true in terms of scoring, yet he likes the way he has played lately. The Colorado School of Mines graduate worked on his short game at home in Denver last week, and he’s comfortable playing at altitude. “I know a lot of guys complain about it or they have trouble with it. I don’t mind it at all,” Knous said.

He played in the final group on Sunday in a California tournament last year and faded to a tie for eighth. “I learned to just keep the pedal down,” he said. Knous, who’s 94th on the money list and knows he needs a victory to get anywhere close to the top 25 with five regular-season tournaments remaining.

Gonzales opened the 2014 tournament with a 62 and led all the way in winning the Utah Championship, then played at Willow Creek Country Club in Sandy. This season, he has made barely $5,000 in nine starts. Gonzales eagled the par-5 No. 2 (Oakridge’s nines are reversed this week) and birdied eight holes Saturday, including the last two.

Fishburn knows he’s headed somewhere Monday. Whether that destination is Omaha for the next Web.com Tour stop or Ontario to resume his Mackenzie Tour travels in Canada will be determined by his finish Sunday, inside or outside of this weekend’s top 25. He’s tied for 30th place at 11 under, having just missed posting a third straight 67.

Fishburn had good birdie chances on the last two holes Saturday, after making four birdies in a row to salvage his 68. His misadventures included four-putting for a double bogey on the par-3 No. 6, and he was 1 over par through 12 holes. “Things were kind of going the wrong direction,” he said. “I’m happy with the way I came back.”

He nearly drove the green on the par-3 No. 14, starting his run of four birdies that was highlighted by a flop shot out of the rough to within a foot of the hole on the par-5 No. 15.

Orem native Scott Pinckney eagled No. 6 on his way to a 67; he’s tied for 14th at 13 under.

‘Drain my bank account. I don’t give a s---,' Mike Petke says in epic rant at MLS referees as Real Salt Lake loses at Minnesota

0
0

Minnesota • Ibson scored and Darwin Quintero added a goal and two assists to help Minnesota United beat Real Salt Lake 3-2 on Saturday afternoon, but the game wasn’t the most interesting part of the day.

Ibson rolled a cross from Quintero inside the post to open the scoring in the 51st minute. Quintero, on the right side of the area, tangled with RSL defender Justen Glad and when the referee did not blow his whistle for a foul, tapped it to Ibson for the side-footed finish, past a diving Nick Rimando.

Rimando immediately jumped up off the ground and charged at the referee about the lack of a call, and RSL coach Mike Petke was ejected after storming along the sidelines, angrily shouting at the referee and the fourth official on the sidelines.

After the game, Petke — best-known for a tirade about the MLS officials last season after a game against Sporting Kansas City — topped last year’s performance.

“What are we doing here?” Petke asked rhetorically during his KMYU postgame interview. "Quintero, on the goal, doesn’t look at Justen. Doesn’t look at the ball. Plays — literally — not the ball, runs in, extends his arm ... and the only thing I get from MLS is ‘stop criticizing the referees.' I want to know where the referees are — right now. Why can’t we ask the referee a question? ... To MLS: It would be better for this league, for the fans, for the owners, for the coaches, for the players. ... And I’ll take the fine. Fine me! I don’t care anymore. So drain my bank account. I don’t give a s--- anymore. OK?” before throwing his headset to the ground and walking away.

Minnesota (7-11-1) has won two of its past three after losing three straight. Quintero, from the top-right corner of the box, chipped it over Rimando’s head into the far corner of the net in the 62nd and then bent a pass around defender to a charging Miguel Ibarra, who tapped in the first-timer from the center of the box that made it 3-0 in the 68th minute.

Joao Plata scored in the 77th and 85th minutes for Real Salt Lake (9-9-2).

Jazz eliminated in summer league round of 16 by Grizzlies

0
0

Las Vegas • The summer league run for the Utah Jazz has come to an end.

With a 92-86 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Jazz have been eliminated from the annual Vegas tournament in the round of 16. Utah led for much of the first half and battled through most of the third quarter. Ultimately, the Grizzlies were too much down the stretch in the fourth quarter.

Jaren Jackson Jr., the No. 4 overall pick of the NBA draft last month, scored nine points, adding nine rebounds and seven blocked shots. Second-round pick Jevon Carter shredded Utah’s defense off the dribble for much of the night, scoring 26 points, added grbbing eight rebounds and six assists.

Georges Niang led the Jazz with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Martin Truex Jr. repeats as NASCAR Cup winner at Kentucky Speedway

0
0

Sparta, Ky. • Martin Truex Jr. won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway, passing Brad Keselowski and then Kurt Busch late on the way to repeating as champion on Saturday night.

Truex’s No. 78 Toyota Camry appeared even more dominant than last July as he led five times for 174 of 267 laps and swept the first two stages from the pole. The defending Cup champion was always in contention in the 400-mile race, even while trailing. He proved it at key moments late, overtaking Keselowski on lap 201 and Busch 23 laps later to become Kentucky’s first back-to-back winner, earning his fourth victory this season and 19th of his career.

Ryan Blaney and Keselowski were next in Fords, followed by Kyle Busch (Toyota) and Kevin Harvick (Ford).

Dominant as Truex was a year ago in leading 152 of 274 laps, Busch and Keselowski loomed as favorites after combining for five victories in the previous seven races. Keselowski’s knack for winning this race in even-numbered years was especially compelling, and for a moment it looked like he might do it again with a bold rush off pit road to claim the lead entering the final segment.

Truex soon took care of that before Busch grabbed the lead on lap 210, a brief edge as the defending Cup champion took over for good 14 laps later.

Truex’s dominant run to victory last July provided an opening some hoped might expand membership in Kentucky Speedway’s exclusive winners' club. He turned out keeping things the same by taking control when he wanted.

It was that way all night for Truex, who led 51 laps to win the first stage and led 118 after claiming the second. Even when he trailed, it wasn’t by much as he stayed close enough to make a run.

Rounding out the top 10 were Kurt Busch, Erik Jones — who started second in a Toyota — Aric Almirola, Kyle Larson and Joey Logano. Larson ran in the top five for much of the night, an impressive performance considering he started from the back of the field as penalty for missing driver introductions.

Kurt Busch led three times for 45 laps, while Keselowski led twice for 38.

UP NEXT

The series heads to Loudon, New Hampshire on July 22 for its lone New England stop. Denny Hamlin won last year’s 301-mile race.

———

More AP auto racing: https://racing.ap.org

NBA Summer League has its elite 8 as tourney continues

0
0

Las Vegas • The NBA Summer League has its elite eight.

The quarterfinals were set by the end of play Saturday, and include a few surprises.

Philadelphia and Toronto, the two lowest seeds in the 30-team tournament, both pulled out close games Saturday to stay alive. Toronto, the No. 29 seed that was winless in the preliminary round, has put together two straight wins in the tournament and will face 12th-seeded Cleveland and rookie Collin Sexton, who like Lonzo Ball last year is a highly touted point guard trying to win a summer title.

No. 27 Memphis is next up for Philadelphia. Detroit, the No. 25 seed, is also still alive.

The top-seeded Lakers and No. 2 Portland had byes into the quarterfinals. No other single-digit seeds remain in the field.

Saturday’s results:

76ers 91, Bucks 89 • Furkan Korkmaz scored eight of his 19 points in the final 40 seconds, including the go-ahead points on a three-point play with 3.6 seconds left for the No. 30 seed 76ers (2-3).

Jonah Bolden added 13 points and eight rebounds and Isaiah Miles scored 12 points for Philadelphia.

Christian Wood had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the 14th-seeded Bucks (2-3). Sterling Brown added 15 points, Trae Bell Haynes scored 13 and Tim Quarterman 12.

The 76ers will play Grizzlies in the quarterfinals.

Cavaliers 92, Rockets 87 • Collin Sexton shook off a 5-for-17 night to score 17 points for the Cavaliers (4-1). The No. 8 pick in the draft had scored 25 in the first round of the tournament.

Scoochie Smith also scored 17, Jamel Artis had 13 and Billy Preston 12 for Cleveland.

Danuel House finished with 30 points for the fifth-seeded Rockets (4-1) in their first loss of the summer.

Raptors 87, Hornets 84, OT • Rawle Alkins made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 32 seconds left in overtime and finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors (2-3). Rookie Malachi Richardson added 14 points.

Dwayne Bacon had 28 points and rookie Miles Bridges added 18 points and 11 rebounds despite shooting just 5 for 20 from the field for the Hornets (3-2).

Celtics 74, Heat 72 • Pierria Henry scored 15 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the 10th-seeded Celtics (4-1).

They advanced to meet second-seeded Portland.

Boston turned to its defense again, limiting Miami to fewer than 20 points in all but the fourth quarter, when the Heat scored 22.

Derrick Walton Jr. finished with 15 points for the Heat (2-3), but missed a long 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the No. 6 seed to the quarterfinals.

Pistons 72, Bulls 66 • Henry Ellenson scored 21 points and No. 25-seeded Detroit (3-2) advanced to a quarterfinal matchup against the top-seeded Lakers.

Antonio Blakeney scored 24 points for the Bulls (2-3). Rookie Chandler Hutchison had 11 points for the No. 24 seeds.

Grizzlies 92, Jazz 86 • Second-round pick Jevon Carter had 26 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals for Memphis (3-2). Markel Crawford scored 19 points, hitting 5 of 8 from 3-point range, and first-round pick Jaren Jackson Jr. had nine points, nine rebounds and seven blocks for the No. 27 seed Grizzlies. Kobi Simmons added 13 points.

Georges Niang led 22nd-seeded Utah (2-3) with 18 points and nine rebounds, Trey Lewis was 4 of 6 on 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. Naz Mitrou-Long scored 14.

Jackson made a layup and then Crawford and Carter hit back-to-back 3s to spark an 11-2 run that gave Memphis a 91-81 lead with 24 seconds left.

The Grizzlies will play No. 30 seed Philadelphia in the quarterfinals.

Will Utah be able to claim an Emmy win this year?

0
0

For the second year in a row, the partially-made-in-Utah series “Westworld” got a lot of Emmy nominations. A total of 21, just one behind the front-runner.

The big question is whether the HBO series can improve on 2017, which turned out to be … well … rather disappointing.


Not that winning four Emmys is a bad thing. But a year ago, “Westworld” was the most-nominated show on TV (tied with “Saturday Night Live”). The 22 nominations included best drama, four actors, directing and writing.

But after winning four technical awards (for hairstyling, makeup, sound mixing and visual effects) at the creative arts Emmys presented a week before the main show, “Westworld” was shut out.

Can “Westworld” break through and win one of the big ones this year? Is there even a chance it could be named best drama?

(File photo by Chris Pizzello, Invision, via Associated Press) Creator-showrunners David Benioff, left, and D.B. Weiss accept the award for outstanding writing for a drama series for "Game of Thrones" at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 2015.
(File photo by Chris Pizzello, Invision, via Associated Press) Creator-showrunners David Benioff, left, and D.B. Weiss accept the award for outstanding writing for a drama series for "Game of Thrones" at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 2015. (Chris Pizzello/)


Well, it certainly won’t be the favorite. There is one show that has even more nominations — and the last time “Game of Thrones” was eligible, it won a dozen Emmys (including its second in a row as best drama), increasing its overall total to 38, the most ever by a single series.

(“GoT” was not eligible in 2017 because it didn’t air any original episodes from June 2016 to May 2017.)

This year’s best-drama contenders also include last year’s winner, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu), as well as “The Americans” (FX), “The Crown” (Netflix), “Stranger Things” (Netflix) and “This Is Us” (NBC). If I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet on “Westworld.”

That’s not a slam against the show, although I don’t think Season 2 was as good as Season 1. But keep in mind that the Emmys are not always fair and have rewarded shows for less-than-stellar seasons.

Once again, “Westworld” has a slew of nominations in technical categories. But it’s also nominated in some of the heavy-hitter categories in addition to best drama — best actor (Ed Harris and Jeffrey Wright), best actress (Evan Rachel Wood), best supporting actress (Thandie Newton), guest actor (Jimmi Simpson).

A win in any category is Utah’s chance to claim partial ownership of a Primetime Emmy. Sort of.

( John P. Johnson | HBO) Luke Hemsworth as Stubbs — on the shore of Lake Powell — in Season 2 of “Westworld.”
( John P. Johnson | HBO) Luke Hemsworth as Stubbs — on the shore of Lake Powell — in Season 2 of “Westworld.” (Scott D. Pierce/)


Utah itself plays a supporting role in “Westworld.” About 95 percent of Season 2 was shot on locations and soundstages in Southern California; the other 5 percent was filmed on locations in Utah.

But the Beehive State has a pivotal role. Much of Season 1 was filmed in the Moab area, Castle Valley and Dead Horse Point State Park, and Season 2 returned to the state to film at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Lake Powell and Kanab.

(Photo courtesy of Netflix) Tan France in an episode of “Queer Eye.”
(Photo courtesy of Netflix) Tan France in an episode of “Queer Eye.” (Scott D. Pierce/)


The state has a couple of even more tenuous ties to nominees. One of the “Queer Eye” guys, Tan France, has adopted Salt Lake City as his hometown — and that Netflix series got four nominations, including as “outstanding structured reality program.” (That’s really a category.)

(Photo courtesy of Barbara Nitke/Lifetime) Ayana Ife, who lives in Salt Lake City, was a finalist on Season 16 of "Project Runway."
(Photo courtesy of Barbara Nitke/Lifetime) Ayana Ife, who lives in Salt Lake City, was a finalist on Season 16 of "Project Runway." (Scott D. Pierce/)


Lifetime’s “Project Runway” got three nominations, including one for casting — and that included casting two Utahns, Ayana Ife and Brandon Kee.

(Photo courtesy of Barbara Nitke/Lifetime) Murray native Brandon Kee was among the finalists in Season 16 of “Project Runway.”
(Photo courtesy of Barbara Nitke/Lifetime) Murray native Brandon Kee was among the finalists in Season 16 of “Project Runway.” (Scott D. Pierce/)

Ana Breton, who’s not only a former Utahn but a former Salt Lake Tribune reporter, is among those nominated for her work on “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” — shes a digital producer, and the show is a nominee for best interactive program.

If we really want to stretch for a Utah connection, there’s Netflix’s “Godless.” It wasn’t filmed in Utah. It wasn’t set in Utah. But the seven-episode miniseries features bad guy Frank Griffin (Jeff Bridges), who grew up to be a villain after his family was murdered by Mormons at the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

“Godless” is nominated in 10 categories, including best limited series, Bridges as best supporting actor, Michelle Dockery as best actress and Merritt Weaver as best supporting actress.

A win in any category would be an opportunity for a speech mentioning Mormons and Mountain Meadows — although that seems rather unlikely.

We’ll find out on Sept. 17.

‘Andi Mack’s’ TV mom finds Utah rather startling

0
0

When Lilan Bowden was cast in the Disney Channel’s “Andi Mack,” she was thrilled. When she was told the series would be shot in Utah, she was … startled.

“I was very surprised, because Utah is not really a place I think of when I think of places that are big film hubs,” Bowden said. “You think of Vancouver. You think of Atlanta. But I was just ready for a whole new adventure.

“I knew it would be completely different. And I was right. In a good way.”

The California native had never been to Utah before, and she said the biggest surprise was how similar certain Salt Lake City spots were to her hangouts in Los Angeles.

“I love going to vintage clothing shops and I love going to cool coffee shops and fun, eclectic bars,” she said. "And Salt Lake has a lot to offer in that regard, so I really felt at home.”

She has no regrets about becoming an honorary Utahn to work on “Andi Mack,” now airing its second season and in production for its third. But as her first gig as a regular in a weekly TV series, the role was a “big leap” for the 32-year-old — playing the mother of a teenager when "it was just a couple years ago I was playing teenagers,” she said with a laugh.

And the role has a twist, one reason “Andi Mack” was a decided departure for the Disney Channel.


Andi is a bright, funny, thoroughly lovable middle-schooler who — when the show premiered — was excited that her older sister, Bex (Bowden), was coming home for a visit. But Andi and viewers quickly learned that Bex (short for Rebecca) is her biological mother, who gave birth out of wedlock as a teenager. And the woman Andi thought was her mother, Celia (Lauren Tom), is really her grandmother.

Bowden jumped in enthusiastically.

“I loved the idea of this young mom, still trying to figure things out,” she said. “And I thought it was so unique and cool.

“So I didn’t really fret too much about the idea of — oh, no! I’m playing the mother of an almost-grown-up.”

Delivering diversity

The title character in “Andi Mack” is biracial. So is her mother. Her grandmother is Chinese-American; her grandfather is Caucasian. One of her best friends is African-American; another is gay.

And it all began when creator/executive producer/writer Terri Minsky saw Peyton Elizabeth Lee’s audition and decided she should be Andi.

“They weren’t looking for a specific kind of girl or a specific race,” Bowden said. “And they happened to cast a biracial, Asian-American girl.”

The ethnicity of the characters has never been an issue in “Andi Mack.” With the exception of an episode that featured a Chinese New Year celebration, it’s hardly been mentioned.

(Photo courtesy of Fred Hayes/Disney Channel) Bex (Lilan Bowden) consoles Andi (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) in an episode of “Andi Mack.”
(Photo courtesy of Fred Hayes/Disney Channel) Bex (Lilan Bowden) consoles Andi (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) in an episode of “Andi Mack.” (Fred Hayes/)

“It’s so great how organic this diverse and multiracial family is,” Bowden said. “This actual color-blind casting perspective created the groundwork to explore this family without having to really hammer it being part of the plot.”

Predictably, conservative groups have blasted the show because Andi’s parents never married and because her friend Cyrus (Joshua Rush) came out as gay; others have praised the series for the same developments. But what some may have been missed is that the scripts don’t dwell on either subject.

“What makes the show so special is we’re not actively delivering a direct message to the audience. We’re just living these characters’ lives,” Bowden said. “And through that, I feel like the audience can get these messages of understanding and empathy and open-mindedness.

“That’s why I feel so connected to the show and so proud to be a part of it.”

Mothers and daughters

For the most part, the character Bex and her daughter, Andi, have a good relationship. But the relationship between Bex and her mother, Celia — aka CC — is considerably more fraught.

“I totally identify with that,” Bowden said. “I feel like there’s so many parallels to my relationship with my own mom. My mom is from Taiwan and she is first-generation. And a lot of the things that CC values, my mom also values.”


Bowden’s parents tune in to every episode, which “means so much” to her because they “are not big TV watchers,” she said.

“They really get into the plotlines,” Bowden said. Her dad — who she describes as an engineer who would rather watch a lecture about physics — is “a logical guy but a big softie at heart. So he says that he has to pace himself when he watches it because it makes him too emotional.”

Bowden and her television daughter have developed a close relationship, but it’s not exactly of the mother-daughter variety.

“She’s so smart and mature, and I’m not a mom in real life, so I more feel like a big sister to her than an actual mom,” Bowden said.

She’s close to Lee and the other young cast members — Rush, Sofia Wylie (Buffy) and Asher Angel (Jonah).

“I love watching these awesome kids grow up,” Bowden said, “and there’s a part of me that does feel very protective of them.”


As the show has continued, Bowden is convinced that Bex has become more like her — a little bit goofier and a little bit more self-deprecating. She traces the character’s development to Minsky being on set.

In one episode, Andi teaches Bex how to solve a Rubik’s cube — shortly after Minsky overheard a crew member teaching Bowden how to do it.

“A couple of weeks later I found the exact words in Andi’s dialogue,” she said.

’Live the surprises'

Bowden grew up in Castro Valley, about 30 miles from San Francisco, and began performing as a kid after her parents “at my request, got me involved with auditioning for local commercial agents. And I did book a couple of commercials,” she said.

She participated in high school and college improv clubs and theater departments. She’s a veteran of the improv and sketch comedy group Upright Citizens Brigade but doesn’t feel restricted by working from “Andi Mack” scripts.

“In some ways, scripted material is almost like — Oh, good! I get a break,” she said. “I can just be an actor. I don’t have to be the actor and a writer.”

She still performs improv in California while “Andi Mack” is on hiatus. And while the show is filming in Utah, she’s been known to join the Ogden improv group Sasquatch Cowboy as a guest performer. “I really love performing with them,” she said.

Since “Andi Mack” premiered in March 2017, Bowden has been getting recognized around town, and more frequently if she’s with Lee “because one recognition begets the other one,” she said.

“I think people are really surprised, because a lot of them don’t know that we film in Salt Lake.”

If you’re a viewer of the Disney Channel, you probably aren’t expecting to run into Andi’s mom when she’s in Petco, which happened just the other day. Or when Bowden, Lee and other members of the cast are rollerskating at the Classic Fun Center in Sandy.

To date, their encounters with fans have been “positive and wonderful.”

“And it’s always so much fun to run into a young girl,” Bowden said. “They’re just the best kind of fan, because they’re so open on how the show has affected them. And they can’t wait to tell you.”

She adds: “I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. And every single fan I talk to makes me excited to be a part of the show all over again.”

Fans do tend to ask Bowden one question — will Bex end up with Bowie, her ex-boyfriend who is Andi’s father?

Bowden doesn’t know, and she doesn’t mind.

“I almost feel like [the writers/producers] do that on purpose, “ she said, “because then we can really live the characters’ lives and live the surprises and not prepare for them.”

On TV • Season 2 of “Andi Mack” continues Mondays at 6 p.m. on the Disney Channel. Season 3 is currently in production for telecast in late 2018/early 2019.

(Photo courtesy Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel) “Andi Mack” stars Asher Angel as Jonah Beck, Sofia Wylie as Buffy Driscoll, Joshua Rush as Cyrus Goodman, Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Andi Mack, Lilan Bowden as Bex Mack, Lauren Tom as Celia Mack, and Stoney Westmoreland as Ham Mack.
(Photo courtesy Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel) “Andi Mack” stars Asher Angel as Jonah Beck, Sofia Wylie as Buffy Driscoll, Joshua Rush as Cyrus Goodman, Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Andi Mack, Lilan Bowden as Bex Mack, Lauren Tom as Celia Mack, and Stoney Westmoreland as Ham Mack. (Scott D. Pierce/)



Commentary: Innovation, service and partnerships fuel UTA’s future

0
0

Throughout the significant changes at the Utah Transit Authority over the past few years, one thing has stayed the same: UTA’s commitment to providing the best possible transit value to the communities we serve with the public resources that are entrusted to us.

As UTA prepares for a new governance structure and new executive leadership later this year, I want to thank the tens of thousands of riders who use our system each day. Serving you is why UTA exists and it’s what keeps us focused on creating an even better system.

UTA’s 2,400 team members also deserve a huge shout-out for their diligence, patience and professionalism during this transition. They are the heart and soul of the agency and the reason we can accomplish our mission day in and day out.

Moving forward, we’re excited about several efforts focused on improving service, building ridership, making our system easier to use, and partnering with local leaders to make their communities more transit-friendly.

Here are a few of the initiatives we’re working on:

• Utah Valley Express. The new Utah Valley Express bus rapid transit line begins initial service in mid-August. This new frequent, quick service will connect the Orem and Provo FrontRunner commuter rail stations via stops at major local destinations, including Utah Valley University, University Place, Brigham Young University and downtown Provo. UVX is a transit game-changer for fast-growing Utah County.

• Prop 1 and locally funded service improvements. Passage of sales tax increases in 2016 in Weber, Davis and Tooele counties and, just recently, in Salt Lake County, provide additional resources to further improved transit service. Opportunities include bus rapid transit projects in Ogden and south Davis County, increasing frequency and expanding service hours on bus routes, improving bus stop amenities and passenger tools, as well as other improvements to be determined in partnership with local elected leaders, riders and the public.

• Focus on core bus routes. Our well-established and efficient transit backbone of TRAX and FrontRunner lines excel at moving people north-south along the Wasatch Front, with main bus routes providing connections at rail stations. This hub-and-spoke bus route design works well for regional travel, but it’s less effective at providing east-west service.

Recognizing this, and knowing that UTA funds are limited, Salt Lake City leaders recently budgeted $5 million to increase service and ridership on key east-west bus routes in the Capital City. This is an exciting partnership that could become a template for other communities.

We’re building on this concept by launching a public outreach and planning effort soon to redesign the bus network to serve more riders, more frequently and more conveniently. In partnership with UDOT and regional transportation planning agencies, we’ll be reaching out to riders, city and county officials, large and small employers, nonprofit groups and others over the next 12 months to seek input on how we can remake bus service to work better for more people.

• Innovative mobility services. Ride-hailing apps, on-demand services, bike-sharing, autonomous vehicles, and electric scooters are just some of the ways that getting from one place to another has changed, and more disruption is on the horizon. We’re embracing this quickly evolving transportation landscape, looking for ways to connect UTA services to provide a seamless door-to-door experience. We’ve already partnered with service agencies in Davis and Utah counties to launch less-expensive, more-flexible alternatives to paratransit service, our most costly offering. Look for other innovative partnerships to come.

• Preparing for tomorrow. The Wasatch Front continues its fast growth and we know that further investment will be needed over time to build capital projects and fund service needs. The Silicon Slopes area of northern Utah County and southern Salt Lake County is one obvious location where significant transportation improvements will be needed. UTA works closely with our partners to plan for short-term and long-term needs.

There’s no doubt that UTA has evolved in recent years, but, through it all, the Wasatch Front’s transit system has remained one of the best in the nation. Continued community leadership, visionary planning and smart investments will keep it that way for decades to come.

Steve Meyer
Steve Meyer (Utah Transit Authority/)

Steve Meyer is Utah Transit Authority’s interim executive director.

Letter: Love is only pretending to care about Utah’s environment

0
0

I was confused learning that Doug Owens, founder of the nonprofit Outdoor Partners, teamed up with Mia Love to extol the economic virtues of outdoor recreation in Utah. According to the report released by Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, recreation is a big draw for business considering locating in Utah. Now, Love says she is all for this, it being nice to have hard data. Outdoor Retailer’s move to Colorado, costing the state millions, was data she cared nothing about.

She doesn’t want to talk about the actual land use policies driven by her political allegiance. It is much nicer to talk about recreation. She doesn’t want to talk about her support to dismantle Bears Ears or Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. She doesn’t want to talk about how she supported and campaigned to have this land designated for extraction of oil, gas and coal.

I don’t think it is cynical to believe her election-year conversion is a response to her opponent, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, who is well known as environmentally friendly. Considering her actual record, I think this is an example of either cognitive dissonance or Love selling snake oil.

Frank Brannan, Salt Lake City

Commentary: The power of connection can reduce suicide

0
0

Affirmation, the world’s largest and oldest organization for LGBTQ+ Mormons, has been at the forefront in supporting LGBTQ+ individuals who are experiencing rejection by their society, their families and their faith communities. Despite our community’s efforts, reported suicides have continued to increase, particularly in the last 15 years. At every loss, our community has experienced great collective grief and pain.

In January of 2018, the executive committee and board of Affirmation held a strategic planning meeting wherein suicide prevention and trauma awareness were identified as the organization’s primary spirituality and wellness goal. Our team decided to use a leading suicide prevention training program, QPR — Question, Persuade and Refer — to train our leadership team, who will in turn train our international membership in suicide prevention in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Important new research that supports Affirmation’s recognition of this issue was recently conducted by Dr. Brian Simmons at the University of Georgia. Dr. Simmons’ study addresses negative LDS beliefs regarding sexual or gender identity and how they are impacting LGBTQ+ Mormons. Simmons’ data indicates “that study participants overwhelmingly perceived LDS teachings, messages, and experiences associated with their gender or sexual identity to be harmful.”

Perhaps the most shocking data Simmons found was that, “overall, nearly three-quarters (73.4%) of respondents would have likely met criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This estimation of PTSD prevalence among study respondents is ten times greater than the approximately 8% for the general U.S. adult population.”

Understanding how membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints informs the well-being of our LGBTQ community is what motivates Affirmation’s efforts to establish a relationship with the LDS Church, something that has moved in a positive direction over the last decade. This understanding is also what led, in part, to Affirmation’s decision to request a grant from the LDS Foundation for suicide prevention training. The LDS Foundation awarded Affirmation the full amount requested, $25,000.

Why collaborate on suicide prevention with an organization so many perceive to be the source of so many LGBTQ+ wounds? Affirmation believes in the power of connection. We witness the destructive effects of rejection and, conversely, see the power and healing that takes place when love and understanding are provided by those around us.

QPR training recognizes that, “to the degree suicide is an index of community disorganization and despair, so too are effective suicide prevention programs a reflection of an integrated, educated, and caring community.”

This must be a community endeavor. We invite LDS Church leaders to seek established resources and education models that can help raise awareness and prevention of suicide. While the online resources that the LDS Church is providing are helpful, face-to-face training is most effective and needed for local leaders. We invite the LDS Church to give suicide prevention training to stake and ward leaders, and in particular to those who work with youth.

We hope that this grant will inspire confidence in Mormon leaders and members to utilize Affirmation as a resource in providing support to the LGBTQ+ people in their lives. We invite all Mormons and former Mormons, LGBTQ+ and straight alike, to utilize Affirmation’s resources and community to the fullest extent in joining with us on our mission to make the world and the LDS church a safer place for LGBTQ+ people.

National, state and LDS Church leaders agree that something must be done. As an organization, Affirmation is implementing concrete action and awareness at the grassroots level within our communities worldwide in suicide prevention. QPR trainings for Affirmation members will begin July 20th, 2018 at our International Conference in Salt Lake City.

Carson Tueller
Carson Tueller

Carson Tueller is the President of Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families and Friends.

Did Truth in Taxation law backfire? It led many Utah cities to dodge tax hikes for years, only to double them now.

0
0

Cue the taxpayers’ pitchforks and torches: Tooele City is proposing to more than double its share of property tax this year, by 114.9 percent, the highest in the state.

It isn’t the only Utah city aiming to double property taxes. So are Spring City and Monroe.

Five others plan to raise them by between 50 percent and 85 percent: Scofield, Richmond, Smithfield, Apple Valley and Stockton. Three more propose hikes of between 25 percent and 49 percent: Murray, Enoch and Payson.

That almost makes Cottonwood Heights' proposed 21.9 percent spike seem like a bargain.

These cities are among 53 cities, towns, school districts, water districts and special districts that are seeking to raise property taxes this year, according to the Utah State Tax Commission.

Ironically, many of the biggest jumps may come because Utah’s 33-year-old Truth in Taxation law, designed to help keep taxes low, worked a tad too well for too long. Officials say some of the huge hikes now are coming to make up for that.

That law requires a public hearing — often full of angry, threatening voters — whenever a local government proposes to raise property tax revenues beyond what it collected the previous year, plus the extra generated by any new growth. Such hearings for proposed tax hikes this year will occur throughout August.

“Some officials said after taxpayers showed up with pitchforks and hanging rope, they would rather run across the state naked than go through Truth in Taxation again,” says retiring Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, who is also president of the business-backed Utah Taxpayers Association and helped pass that law in 1985 as a lobbyist.

Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper.

So, he says, many officials tried too hard to avoid those hearings.

Stephenson says he and others initially believed local governments would go through the Truth in Taxation process every five to eight years to keep up with inflation. “We found they had a lot less courage to raise taxes than we anticipated” and waited much longer — often bringing truly big increases when they came.

He adds, “A lot of people say this is tax limitation. No, it’s not. It’s just tax transparency. It does nothing to prevent elected officials from increasing tax levels at any level they want” — if they can make a politically supportable case for it.

With Truth in Taxation, Stephenson notes, Utah dropped from No. 24 highest for property taxes in the nation in 1985 to 34th now — and for primary homes (which receive discounts not given to vacation homes or commercial property) it ranks 43rd.

Big hikes follow years of no hikes

Several cities proposing the biggest increases this year blame them partly on a lack of courage by past leaders to go through Truth in Taxation when needed.

Debbie Winn, the recently elected mayor of Tooele, with the state’s highest proposed increase of 114.9 percent, or $221 on a median-priced home there, says, “It has been 36 years since the city raised taxes. … The policy of previous administrations was more political: ‘We won’t raise your taxes.’”

She says the city had been tapping savings to meet financial obligations in recent years, but that money is largely gone. It now needs to catch up with inflation and meet other needs — such as boosting the pay for police to reduce turnover.

Rick Egan  |  The Salt Lake Tribune 

Douglas and Char Gray, from Farmington, play the Overlake Golf Course near Tooele, Monday, June 21, 2010.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Douglas and Char Gray, from Farmington, play the Overlake Golf Course near Tooele, Monday, June 21, 2010. (Rick Egan/)


“We average 65 percent turnover every three to five years for our officers. They leave for more money and more benefits,” she says. The city also is trying to raise pay for other workers and construct a new public safety building.

What happened when voters heard their taxes may double? “The overwhelming response was that the residents were not happy,” Winn says, “but that they understood this had to take place. Many comments were made that they wished we had done it a little at a time. Hindsight is always 20/20.”

Not far from Tooele is Stockton, which proposes a 50 percent tax hike of $166 on a median-priced home there. Mayor Thomas Karjola says taxes there had not been raised in at least 15 years.

“Of course, the cost of business has gone up. You’ve got to pay to keep the town going,” he says.

“We have the lowest-paid police chief in the state. We can’t afford health insurance for our full-time employees. We don’t have money to repair our roads. We have an aging fleet of vehicles, and no money was set aside to replace them,” Karjola adds. “We need a new shop, but no one’s ever saved up money for a new shop.”

Proposed property tax increases, 2018

Tooele City
114.9%
Spring City
105.7%
Monroe
100.3%
Scofield
84.8%
Richmond
74.7%
Smithfield
72.9%
Apple Valley Town
70.3%
Stockton
50.0%
Enoch
49.6%
Murray
47.0%
Payson
25.0%
Millville
24.5%
Cottonwood Heights
21.9%
Ogden City - Special levy to purchase WBWCD water
21.1%
West Jordan
18.8%
Bountiful
13.5%
Lewiston
12.4%
Providence
12.3%
South Ogden
10.1%
North Tooele City Special Service District
10.0%
North Davis Fire District
9.7%
Park City School District
9.6%
Garfield County School District
9.5%
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
9.0%
Ogden City School District
8.9%
Ogden
8.8%
Genola
8.4%
Spanish Fork
7.8%
Wasatch County School District
7.8%
Alta
7.7%
Nibley
7.7%
Beaver County School District
7.5%
Logan City School District
7.1%
Kaysville
7.0%
Central Utah Water Conservancy District
7.0%
Provo School District
6.6%
Duchesne County School District
5.4%
South Jordan
4.9%
Vernal
4.5%
Daggett County School District
4.0%
South Summit School District
3.5%
Salt Lake City
2.6%
Syracuse
2.6%
Weber County School District
2.5%
Alpine School District
2.3%
Sevier County School District
2.2%
North Logan
1.8%
Salt Lake City Library
1.2%
West Valley City
0.7%

Source: Utah State Tax Commission

More examples

Sanpete County’s Spring City has the state’s second-highest proposed tax hike by percentage: 105.7 percent, or $93 on a median-priced home there. City Clerk Dixie Earl says she cannot remember the last time her town had a tax increase.

“It was a long, long time ago. Our council refused to increase taxes every time," Earl says. "But we’re in a corner now,” and a tax hike is needed to save the city’s police and fire protection.

She adds the council may reduce the proposed hike. She says the city temporarily planned to lift taxes to the same level charged by nearby Fountain Green, hoping to match its services. But it may trim that.

The third-highest proposed tax increase in the state was in Monroe, Sevier County. The 100.3 percent hike would cost $95 on a median-priced home.

“We haven’t had a tax increase for at least 40 years," Mayor Johnny Parsons says.

But he says the biggest reason for it now is that the city’s 24 miles of asphalt roads are deteriorating. “We’re about to lose our roads if we don’t do something.” He says a study estimates needed repairs at $7 million, and the town is raising taxes enough to provide the local match for a hoped-for state loan to do the work.

Scofield is the smallest town in Utah — with 22 year-round residents but with many seasonal occupants who enjoy Scofield Reservoir — and is proposing the state’s fourth-largest tax hike by percentage: 84.8 percent, about $28 on a median-priced home.

(Morgan Jacobsen | Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)  Three new fish species will be introduced to Scofield Reservoir.  Hopefully, the fish will help control Utah chubs and make fishing for sportfish at the reservoir better.
(Morgan Jacobsen | Utah Division of Wildlife Resources) Three new fish species will be introduced to Scofield Reservoir. Hopefully, the fish will help control Utah chubs and make fishing for sportfish at the reservoir better.

Town Clerk Andrea Brady says Scofield has gone years without a major increase.

“We’re just trying to pay the bills," she says. The town had been covering them by transferring funds from utility collections, but she says it is fairer to use property taxes instead.

Salt Lake County tax increases

Several areas in Salt Lake County are calling for property tax increases.

The largest is in Murray — a 47 percent jump that would cost $135.58 on a median-priced home there. “The city has not realized a property tax increase in 12 years, yet the cost of providing services and infrastructure has increased considerably,” says a written City Council message to residents.

It says all of the additional money will go to help improve public safety, including bringing pay for police and firefighters up to the market average for their positions.

Cottonwood Heights proposes a 21.9 percent boost, which would cost $95.71 on a median-priced home. “We have not raised property tax in the 13 years that we have been incorporated,” says Assistant City Manager Bryce Haderlie.

He says the hike is needed to keep pace with inflation and continue basic services. The city also wants to put more money into roads, improve snow removal and raise employee wages to remain competitive.

Millcreek is proposing what is technically an eye-popping leap of 3,145 percent, or $424 on a median-priced home. But Finance Director Laurie Johnson says the city is collecting — and lowering — taxes that had been collected separately by the Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Service Area (SLVLESA).

“So, for example, it actually is lowering the mayor’s overall property tax bill by $40,” she says. The city is staying with the Unified Police Department, but changing how it collects the taxes to pay for it — raisig taxes locally to pay for its policing costs, instead of having SLVLESA collect it as part of its district.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune)  Dignitaries cut the ribbon as the City of Millcreek celebrates its first birthday and grand opening of its City Hall, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dignitaries cut the ribbon as the City of Millcreek celebrates its first birthday and grand opening of its City Hall, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. (Trent Nelson/)


Herriman is moving to start its own police agency and created its own special police district to collect what residents had been paying to SLVLESA, so it looks like a $373 increase on their property valuation notices.

But Herriman spokeswoman Tami Moody says taxes essentially will be the same that residents would have paid before the shift. She says SLVLESA was proposing a small increase, and the city is matching that.

Elsewhere in the county, West Jordan is proposing an 18.8 percent tax hike ($55.75 on a median-priced home); Alta seeks a 7.7 percent raise ($79.59 on a median-priced home); South Jordan, 4.9 percent ($18.99); Salt Lake City, 2.6 percent ($18.86); and West Valley City, 0.7 percent ($3.28).

Small percentage, big tab

Some of the proposed property tax hikes this year may be small percentagewise but carry high dollar amounts. Or they are for new entities.

The highest increase in the state by dollar amount is $1,211 on a median-priced home in Cedar Highlands. It is a brand-new town of about 120 residents, nestled in forests at about 8,000 feet in the mountains southeast of Cedar City.

The Park City School District plans a 9.6 percent increase, but that has one of the higher costs in the state: $147.84 on a median-priced home there. It would help raise the starting salary of teachers there to $50,000 a year.

"We pay by far more than anyone else in the state,” says district spokeswoman Melinda Colton. “That has been invaluable as we’ve been hiring” and competing with other school districts in the Salt Lake Valley that have been boosting their teacher pay.

She notes that the district doesn’t get to keep 34 percent of the increased revenues. State law requires putting it in funds for equalization among school districts statewide — to help smaller, poorer districts keep up with richer ones.

West Haven, in Weber County, had never imposed a property tax in its 27-year history, says Mayor Sharon Bolos. But she says it found it could no longer afford to do that. So it is creating a new tax that will cost $154 on a median-priced home.

Schedules of individual Truth in Taxation hearings are included in property tax valuation notices sent to taxpayers this month, in required newspaper ads and on the websites of most agencies proposing the increases.

Letter: Carbon-emissions proposal would help all Utahns

0
0

When November comes, many Utahns might skip the polls. Candidates seeking victory should give them a reason to show up by acknowledging that we all care about our shared future. The environment, and the type of policy we use to tackle our state's unique environmental problems, is a major part of deciding what that future will look like.

Utah's HB403 is an unprecedented bipartisan tax-swap bill before the state House, introduced by Rep. Joel Briscoe and co-sponsored by Rep. Becky Edwards. Serious candidates should pledge support for the passage of HB403 in 2019, to push us further toward a clean and prosperous era. HB403 would incentivize carbon emissions reduction through a series of usage fees that will benefit all Utahns, especially the more vulnerable of us. This is a double-down win: addressing our pollution and improving our living standards.

Utah's industry and growth are unsustainable through current practices. We can’t continue to cage young children and the elderly in their homes on unhealthy Air Quality Index days. It's time for state leaders to join the military's march toward a clean energy future. Let's vote for candidates who will help get us there, rather than for those who would hold us back.

Naresh Kumar, Salt Lake City

Viewing all 88019 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images