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Community Corner

🌱 Pit Mine In Parley's Canyon? + $20M For Affordable Housing In SL Co

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

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Happy Friday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know going on today in town.

First, today's weather:

Rain tapering off. High: 56 Low: 43.

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

  1. An impressive 20,000 Salt Lake County citizens lent their signature to a petition resisting the development of an open-pit gravel mine in Parley's Canyon. The nearly unanimous outpouring of support on a single issue is rare in Utah, and recent legislation passed at the county level instituting a ban on mining operations in forestry and recreation areas was another big win for the SaveParley's group. Still, some are concerned about the silence from state legislatures and say the fight is far from over. (ABC4.com)
  2. Salt Lake City's emergency winter shelter that occupied a Ramada hotel on North Temple and Redwood is closing. It was meant to be a temporary winter shelter but staffing shortages led to opening delays and the facility and its 150 beds slated for 65 and older (or with special considerations) didn't open until January. But for the short window that it was operational, it was a success and plans for more programs like it are still in the works. But perennial hurdles such as funding and location plague the process to continue what were demonstrably needed services. (KUER 90.1)
  3. And the ayes have it. The 7-2 vote among the members of the Salt Lake County Council passed a measure to spend $20 million on affordable housing options in Utah's most populated county. The money comes, in part, from shifting COVID-19 relief funds to affordable housing initiatives that proponents say are a long-time coming for adequate resources around a housing and homelessness crisis. Part of the money will be used to acquire a minimum of 1,000 rental units. (FOX 13 News Utah)

Today in Salt Lake City:

  • Utah's Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City presents Paint Night: Springing Into Easter, a guided acrylic painting class where participants will be creating a holiday nature-inspired piece that will feature a rabbit just in time for Easter! (6:00 PM)
  • Live at the Eccles presents Rob Gardner's Lamb of God – A Concert Spectacular April 15-16 at the Eccles Theater on Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City. Tonight and two shows Saturday. (8:00 PM)
  • Live Nation presents famed stand-up comic Tig Notaro, bringing her Hello Again tour to downtown SLC at The Complex. (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

  • "Our conservation officers cited 14 people for trespassing on wildlife and waterfowl management areas during the most recent seasonal closures. These public lands help minimize and mitigate wildlife depredation on private property, and are vital to providing important winter ranges and feeding grounds for many wildlife species, including big game! It's important to adhere to these seasonal closures in order to help wildlife in these areas during the critical winter and spring months." (Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)
  • "Expect periods of mountain snow through Friday evening. Occasional winter driving conditions on mountain routes are possible." (US National Weather Service Salt Lake City Utah)
  • "Quilting artist Moanike'ala Revoir is inspired by Hawaii's diverse botanical landscape. In this quilt, currently on view alongside the quilts in Handstitched Worlds, she transformed bright bird of paradise flowers into a pink motif using a traditional Hawaiian applique quilting technique." (Utah Museum of Fine Arts)
  • "Find great deals on books, music, movies, and more! The Spring Used Book Sale offers a well-rounded selection of items, including children's books, teen fiction, graphic novels, sci-fi, and audiobooks, all available at bargain prices. Sale is by appointment only. To register, visit slclibraryfriends.org/events" (Salt Lake City Public Library)
  • "It's not often you get to be one of the very first people to hear brand new music for the very first time! This week we're performing the world premiere of Arlene Sierra's "Bird Symphony." Listen up as Ghost Light Podcast hosts Jeff, Carol, and Arlene discuss her work." (Utah Symphony)

Loving the Salt Lake City Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— 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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