There’s something about the Washington State Fair in Puyallup that just feels right. It’s a long-standing tradition in my family, and I suspect it is for many others across the state. This past Sunday, we kept the tradition alive, heading to the fairgrounds for a day of rides, food and, as it turns out, a little bit of reflection.

We arrived early, which turned out to be a great decision. The lines were almost nonexistent. We jumped on the big wooden roller coaster without much of a wait, and the kids hit the Gravitron with the same ease. The food was fresh, and the weather was practically perfect — like the fair gods were smiling down on us.

Now, maybe it’s because I’ve been subbing in for Dave Ross on Seattle’s Morning News on KIRO Newsradio the past couple of days, but I found myself in an unusually observant mood. Let’s just say I had my Ross-colored glasses on. What struck me as I wandered through the fairgrounds was the sheer diversity of people, all mingling together, seemingly getting along just fine amidst the dairy cows and the Dole Whip.

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For instance, as I passed by one of the barbecue stands, I noticed a guy wearing a shirt with that image of President Trump — fist in the air after the assassination attempt, accompanied by the bold statement, “You Missed.” Just a few minutes later, as we checked out the Quarter Horses — or maybe they were Clydesdales; I’m no equine expert — I spotted a dad wearing a hoodie that read, “No One Is Illegal.”

It was like a scene out of a Norman Rockwell painting, with a modern twist. Here we were, in the heart of Puyallup, with people wearing their beliefs on their sleeves — literally — and yet, there wasn’t a hint of tension in the air. It was just … normal.

Later, in the shopping pavilion, I encountered the Gideons dutifully handing out New Testament Bibles. Step outside, and there, right next to an ice cream stand, was a booth set up by a local Muslim group, spreading the word about how Jesus is mentioned in the Quran. It was a veritable buffet of religious and political perspectives, served up alongside elephant ears and funnel cakes.

And you know what? No one was losing their minds. Despite what some cable news channels would have you believe, people with different views were coexisting just fine. It was a refreshing change of pace from the usual doom-and-gloom narrative we’re seeing lately.

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Of course, I’m not naive. I know disagreements are part and parcel of life, and I’ve witnessed more than my fair share of heated political and religious debates recently. But at the fairgrounds in Puyallup this past Sunday, everything felt surprisingly, almost annoyingly, fine.

So, here’s a thought: Maybe the solution to the divide in this country is simpler than we think. Maybe what we need are more big gatherings where people can come together, enjoy some good food and maybe even pet a goat or two. Imagine fairs popping up in every town across America, with farmers showcasing their cutest animals, dads firing up the grills and everyone enjoying warm, delicious scones. It might not solve all our problems, but it could be a start.

After all, who can argue when you’ve got a scone in hand? It’s a fair idea — pun very much intended — that might just bring us closer to finding some common ground. So, let’s give it a shot. It’s time we all did a little more “Puyallup” in our lives.

Charlie Harger is the News Director for MyNorthwest.com and KIRO Newsradio

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SALT LAKE CITY – Head coach Kyle Whittingham and Utah Football turn their focus to week two and the Baylor Bears. This game will be a non-conference game but will also be Big 12 Homecoming weekend for the Utes and other members of the conference.

Week one provided Utah with a competitive environment to fine-tune execution before the competition increases in the coming weeks. The Utes scored 49 points while limiting the Thunderbirds to 0 on the scoreboard. They produced 513 yards total yards and gave up just 150 on the other side of the ball.

We’re on a bear hunt this 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞

🏟️: Rice-Eccles Stadium
⏰: 1:30PM MT
📺: FOX
📻: ESPN 700 AM / 92.1 FM#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/J8pjcqncIv

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 2, 2024

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More importantly, it was a good welcome back for Cam Rising, Brant Kuithe, and the rest of the squad but now Utah Football’s season truly begins.

Utah Football preparing tougher test against Baylor Bears

If Utah’s week one contest against SUU was the welcome-back party, week two against the Baylor Bears is the reality check. This will be a much tougher matchup but more importantly, will provide a better picture of Utah’s potential this season.

“Much bigger challenge this week, we understand that,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Baylor is a good football team, they’ve got good personnel, and they’re extremely well-coached.”

“We have to prepare the right way all week long, just like we do every single week and be ready for a fight because that’s what it’s going to be.” Kyle Whittingham on the Baylor Bears

Quarterback Cam Rising had a pretty efficient performance in his return to action on Thursday. He also recognizes that this will be a more difficult contest but feels confident in the guys around him.

“I think they’re a very sound football team and I think they’re going to be (very improved) this year,” Rising said of the Bears. “It’s going to be a good game, we’ve just got to be ready to go for anything they bring at us.”

Utah needs more from the run game

This week will be much tougher competition. Utah has to maintain levels of efficiency & explosiveness while doing so against a better opponent. So, where can Utah make improvements going into week two?

“There were some things we could do better, as there is every single week,” Whittingham said. “I thought we ran the ball just ok. We had 185 yards rushing but we like to get that 5.0 yards a carry statistic and we were just shy of that.”

Top Five Takeaways From Kyle Whittingham’s Utah vs Baylor Press Conference

Utah’s run game should play a bigger role in the formula to success this weekend. The Bears finished as one of the worst defenses in all of college football last season. That has led to Dave Aranda taking over defensive coordinator duties, which could lead to schematic changes. Utah may need to rely on the run game if that’s what the defense dictates. At the very least, there will be a need for balance on offense as they figure out how to best attack the Aranda-led defense.

“It was a throw-first game plan, I thought we ran the ball efficiently,” Andy Ludwig said. “Southern Utah was fully committed to stopping the run with 9-man boxes, which created a lot of 1-on-1’s which we were able to exploit.”

Still, Ludwig was encouraged by what he saw from the rushing attack, particularly from the specific components of it.

“I was pleased with Mike Mitchell, what he showed. Dijon Stanley out of the backfield whether as a receiver or running the ball, he did a lot of good things. I’ve got a lot of confidence in Micah Bernard, Charlie Vincent, and Jaylon Glover. And I think the offensive line is really going to be something special on this football team.”

Cleaning up mistakes, continue on a positive trajectory

Not only is there a desire for an improved run game there is also a desire to simply play cleaner football. The Utes had 6 penalties for 55 yards as well as two interceptions, two fumbles- which they recovered, and gave up 9 pressures in pass protection (only 2 on Rising).

“I think procedurally we could be better, we had a series where just kept going backward, kept shooting ourselves in the foot,” quarterback Cam Rising said. “Whenever you have that it’s just bad business, bad ball, and you can’t really have a successful drive when you’re doing that over & over. And then cleaning up a few protections to make sure we’ve got it as tight as we can get it would be great.”

Well deserved, @MonterrenParks! 🙌#GoUtes https://t.co/ALm2SjErkj

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 3, 2024

Eliminating self-inflicted mistakes is traditionally a significant part of a team’s improvement after week one. However, tightening up pass protections going into week two will be critical for Utah. Pass protection wasn’t bad against SUU but it could’ve been better and needs to be better against Baylor.

“I think we need improvement in every area,” Ludwig said. “I think I said at the conclusion of fall camp that I was confident in the direction of the offense and the improvement that we’ve shown but in no way are we comfortable. We had good work today and look forward to another day of work tomorrow.”

Utah Football Schedule

Utah will be back in action against the Baylor Bears for week two on Saturday.  You can find Utah football’s conference schedule here.

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

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Drill Intercepts includes 299.1 Meters at 4,393 ppm TREO

Highlights

• Assay results for 756 samples from the first 11 core and reverse circulation holes, has been received following the completion of the 2024 drilling campaign.

• Assays show elevated rare earth mineralization from surface to depths of at least 300m.

• Significant results include:

  • HC24-RM035: 299.1m @ 4,393 ppm Total Rare Earth Oxides (“TREO”)

  • HC24-RM023: 117.5m @ 4,006 ppm TREO

  • HC24-RM026: 81m @ 3,673 ppm TREO

  • HC24-RM028: 81m @ 3,602 ppm TREO

  • HC24-RM030: 81m @ 3,652 ppm TREO

  • HC24-RM031: 81m @ 2,698 ppm TREO

• Deposit remains open at depth.

• The results of this drill program to be used to update geological models, resource estimate and input for the upcoming Prefeasibility Study (“PFS”).

DENVER, Sept. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) (“ARR” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the first assay results from the 2024 drilling campaign at the Cowboy State Mine (“CSM”) area of its wholly owned subsidiary, Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc (“WRI”).

ALS Global provided assay results for 756 samples from 11 core and reverse circulation holes, plus one partial hole. Since drilling concluded final drill hole locations were surveyed and geophysical logs for each drill were collected. Additionally, acoustic televiewer logs were collected in 7 core holes.

Drill hole HC24-RM035 showed an average grade of 4,393 ppm TREO across the entire 299.1m length of the drill hole. The results continue to indicate the deposit remaining open at depth and extending well into Red Mountain. Likewise, drill hole HC24-RM023 has an average TREO grade of 4,006 ppm over 117.5m. WRI geologists prepared and shipped 54 core samples to WSP for geomechanical analysis. WRI also provided WSP with televiewer logs collected during the program.

Chris Gibbs, CEO, commented:
“These first assay results continue to demonstrate the upside potential of the Halleck Creek district. The 2024 drilling indicated elevated rare earth mineralization of the CSM area extending well into Red Mountain. The sheer size and scale of the deposit continues to grow as these results confirm the deposit remaining open from surface to depths of at least 300m.”

Gibbs continued: “These drill holes allow us to expand our resource estimates into Red Mountain in the western portion of the CSM area. Our team continues to focus development on the CSM area, a portion of the Halleck Creek Wyoming State Tenements. With a pathway to State permitting and recent Government funding, the CSM area represents a unique opportunity to work with the State of Wyoming to rapidly advance the Project. When the remaining assay results are received, we will update our geological models and resource estimates. This data, together with the results of geomechanical test work, will provide the basis for detailed mine planning within our upcoming PFS.”

Story continues

WRI geologists are also using the assay data, and whole rock geochemistry to update lithological designations of specific rock types within the Red Mountain pluton. Geological modelling domains are also being updated based on these rock type designations. Once the remaining assay samples are received from ALS geological models will be updated to reflect all data at the CSM Area.

This announcement is authorized for release by the CEO of American Rare Earths.

Full JORC Table available here

Competent Persons Statement:
The information in this document is based on company work performed in July and August 2024. This work was reviewed and approved for release by Mr. Dwight Kinnes (Society of Mining Engineers #4063295RM) who is employed by American Rare Earths and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 JORC Code. Mr. Kinnes consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based upon the information in the form and context in which it appears.

American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF | ADR: AMRRY) owns Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. which is focused on the development of the Halleck Creek Project, WY. It also owns La Paz, AZ rare earth deposit. Both can potentially become the largest and most sustainable rare earth projects in North America. The Company is developing environmentally friendly and cost-effective extraction and processing methods to meet the rapidly increasing demand for resources essential to the clean energy transition and US national security. The Company continues to evaluate other exploration opportunities and is collaborating with US Government-supported R&D to develop efficient processing and separation techniques of (REEs) elements to help ensure a renewable future.

Further information:

Susan Assadi
Media Relations US
sassadi@americanree.com
347 977 7125

Beverly Jedynak
Investor Relations US
Beverly.jedynak@viriathus.com
312 943 1123

Figure 1 – 2024 Drill Hole Locations and Assay Summaries

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44016a46-ad3f-4264-b14d-9a6e8a94c46c