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Community Corner

🌱 Chen Wins Gold! + Joe Ingles Has Feelings On Leaving The Jazz

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Salt Lake City.

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Rise and shine, Salt Lake City! Here's everything you need to know to get this Friday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 49 Low: 26.

Here are the top four stories today in Salt Lake City:

  1. SLC native Nathan Chen rockets to the top of the podium and to the top of his game, delivering an electrifying performance and clinching a gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics—a first for the champion who entered as the heir apparent and who was favored to win. Chen, who finished 5th overall in the 2018 games, broke world records this week and ultimately turned in a massive total score of 332.60, a personal record. (KSL.com)
  2. President Biden named 117 teachers across the country as recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). Among them were two Utah teachers, both from schools in Salt Lake City. Elementary teachers Heidi Boogert and Jennifer Carver-Hunter were both announced as PAEMST recipients, the nation's highest honor for science and math educators. (ABC 4)
  3. After 8 years with the Utah Jazz, Joe Ingles didn't hold back his feelings about being traded to Portland. "Today hurts," he said about the trade, tweeting "I knew it was a possibility but didn't want to believe it." The Australian native and his family had found a welcoming home and fan base in Salt Lake after a season-ending injury saw him traded from the Clippers in 2014. (fox13now.com)
  4. Brad Wilcox, a religion professor at BYU and a leader in the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has issued an apology for the tone of his remarks about Black church members at a youth gathering earlier this week. He shared racially controversial ideas about the Church institutionally denying them certain rites and worship privileges until 1978. High-profile, speculative opinions by other BYU professors and faith leaders about the "why" behind those discriminatory policies have made headlines in the past. The school, which is owned by the Church, released a statement saying it was 'deeply concerned' with Wilcox's comments. (Subscription: Salt Lake Tribune)

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Today in Salt Lake City:

  • The "Beat of Our Blood" Is a collection of works by Black, Indigenous, and POC artists that centers around the theme of cultural reclamation in an exhibit that seeks to provide support and recognition for local POC artists and their diverse styles. Today at Urban Arts Gallery. (12:00 PM)
  • The Jazz take on the Orlando Magic, tonight, at the Vivint Smart Home Arena, downtown. (7:00 PM)
  • The Utah Symphony presents Bravo Broadway! A Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration, tonight at Abravanel Hall, downtown. (7:30 PM)
  • After 25 years, Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet returns to Ballet West, tonight, at the Capitol Theatre, downtown. (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

  • "Over 3,000 people weighed in last summer on the types of amenities that should be included at the new Pioneer Park - Your Downtown Park. The vision plan incorporates that input along with that from a variety of local stakeholders to ensure it meets the wide range of needs a downtown park should meet. Did we get it right? Visit our site to watch a video and take a survey to weigh in before Feb 18, 2022." (Salt Lake City Public Lands)
  • "The nationally-recognized Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) program is coming to Hogle Zoo! This course is designed for anyone in the interpretive field. Whether you're a new hire, a professional looking to refresh your skills, or beginning a second career, this course will aid you in improving your presentation techniques." (Utah's Hogle Zoo)
  • Salt Lake City recognizes that there is a need for more affordable housing. The City's Planning Division developed draft zoning amendments to incentivize more affordable housing throughout the community and is seeking feedback on the proposal. Join us February 16, 2022 at 9 AM for a Live Q&A Session. (Salt Lake City Government)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday. I'll see you soon!

— Joseph Peterson

About me: Joseph is a writer and marketing communications strategist with a degree in Mass Communication and Public Relations from the University of Utah. He's keen on city life, public libraries, national parks, and promoting events that build community.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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