Utah
Drought report: July monsoons help Utah’s soil moisture levels, but dry conditions persist
The Antelope Island marina of the Nice Salt Lake on Friday, July 22. The lake continues to fall to file lows. This month’s monsoonal storms have accomplished little to enhance drought situations. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information)
Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — This month’s monsoonal storms have helped enhance Utah’s soil moisture situations, however they’ve accomplished little to enhance drought situations, state water officers mentioned Friday.
Utah’s soil moisture ranges are “trending barely above regular” for the tip of July, in keeping with a weekly drought report compiled by the Utah Division of Water Sources.
Nationwide Water and Local weather Heart information exhibits that jap and southern components of the state, the place many of the monsoonal storms have been concentrated, have the very best moisture ranges proper now. They’re the driest in central and northwest Utah, although each area within the state is at present over 80% of regular, per the info.
The Division of Water Sources provides the moisture hasn’t reversed any drought developments however has helped from the scenario getting any worse. This is the reason the U.S. Drought Monitor lists practically 84% in at the very least excessive drought; Utah has remained round that share for greater than a month. General, 99% of the state stays in at the very least extreme drought, which has been the case for the previous three months.
“We’re higher than we have been final yr, so that is the constructive information. However higher is a really low bar,” mentioned Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, when requested in regards to the present drought scenario Friday.
Almost 99% of the state was listed in at the very least excessive drought by the tip of July final yr, together with over half of Utah in “distinctive” drought. Solely about 8% of Utah is listed in “distinctive” drought in the intervening time.
Joel Ferry, the performing govt director of the Division of Pure Sources, defined that among the advantages of the monsoons have been negated by excessive warmth. For instance, Salt Lake Metropolis set a brand new file on Thursday by hitting 100 levels for the sixteenth time in July. Two extra 100-degree days over the weekend moved the brand new file as much as 18 days.
Different components of the state have skilled similarly-high temperatures between monsoonal storms this summer season.
“Regardless of current monsoons which have introduced much-needed rain to some areas of the state, sizzling, bone dry situations proceed to bake our parched vegetation,” Ferry mentioned in a press release Friday. “With temperatures within the triple digits and excessive winds, it would not take a lot to spark a harmful wildfire. We want folks to make use of good hearth sense and assist stretch our water provide.”
Utah’s reservoirs are at present at 53% capability, in keeping with the Utah Division of Water Sources. The determine excludes Flaming Gorge and Lake Powell as a result of they do not contribute as a lot to Utah’s water provide, the company notes.
Almost half of the state’s 45 largest reservoirs are at present listed at under 55% capability. There are 5 streams additionally at file low flows in the intervening time.
In the meantime, the Nice Salt Lake’s elevation has fallen to 4,189.8 toes — down one other 0.3 toes because it reached a brand new all-time low within the first week of July.
Utah water officers are nonetheless asking residents to scale back as a lot water consumption as potential. Tips about easy methods to do that may be discovered at SlowtheFlow.org.
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Utah
Utah Jazz News: Is it time to panic about Cody Williams?
Cody Williams hasn’t quite taken off as we may have hoped. To authenticate this feeling, the Utah Jazz made the organizational decision to take Williams from Will Hardy’s active roster and drop him down for an assignment with the G-League affiliate Salt Lake Stars.
Quite an inauspicious beginning for a player that the Jazz were very high on as early as before the ping pong balls of the NBA draft lottery determined the draft order.
“If the Jazz had somehow gotten lucky and won the lottery, Williams would have been firmly in the mix to be the No. 1 pick,” shared insider Tony Jones, “The fact that he would have been in consideration should tell you how interested the Jazz were in the small forward.”
Attempting to hit on the right draft pick can often feel like playing the crane game in the entryway of a Walmart. Even though you’ve made every calculation and believe beyond all doubt that when you drop the claw, that Pompompurin plushie could slip through your delicate grasp, catch the nudge of an unsuspecting iPod Touch, or fall short in a million other ways before reaching the promised land.
Williams has an arduous journey ahead of him, and his next stop will be with the Jazz’s G-League squad. Too timid, too inconsistent, and too horrific as a shooter, Cody’s pro introduction hasn’t been comparable to his brother Jalen—who’s been tearing it up in OKC.
But Cody’s NBA exposure hasn’t been faith-promoting since the Las Vegas Summer League. In real NBA floor time, he’s been so invisible that Google isn’t even sure what he looks like.
It isn’t fair to measure his trajectory with that of his older brother, but their shared blood will boil the waters of comparison for the rest of his career. The Jazz understand that to unlock their rookie’s ultimate potential, he’ll need to be brought along slowly.
I’m sure the question at the head of this article has been burning a hole in your mind. Should we hit the panic button on Utah’s rookie out of Colorado?
The short answer is no—the longer answer is no way, Co-day (too much?). Keep in mind this is a player who turned 20 years old only 6 days ago (happy belated birthday, sorry your present kind of sucks), and it’s far from uncommon to see a rookie spend time in the G League to get more reps, build some confidence, and develop their game while distanced from their team.
Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh both spent time with the Stars for much of their rookie campaigns before contributing to Utah’s rotation. Cody has plenty to gain from a brief developmental sabbatical.
In the 2024-25 season, Cody is averaging 3.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per night on nightmare-like shooting splits of 27/19/60—a far cry from his collegiate output of 55/41/71.
Be patient with Williams, because we’re only in the first chapter of his NBA novel.
Utah
Utah family creates 'Giving Gallery' to spread joy of art
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah — You might have heard of little libraries in neighborhoods, but have you heard of Giving Galleries?
A family in Cottonwood Heights is using their love for art to bring joy to those around them.
On the corner of Promenade and Camino is Abigail Bradshaw.
“I’m standing next to an art gallery, my art gallery. That’s my house,” she proudly said.
Abigail is showing her tiny art gallery filled with pieces made by her family and others who want to contribute. This home used to be her great-grandmother’s.
“She was an artist, and so, I wanted to continue that legacy,” said Katie Bradshaw, Abigail’s mom. They found a box, painted it, propped it up, and filled it with tiny art. Anyone can just look at the art, pick up something they like, or put their own piece inside.
Miles Jacobsen is a friend who saw what the Bradshaws were doing and added his artwork to the box.
For people who want to make their own masterpieces, there is also a box of free art supplies in the gallery box. You can come by to pick up paint, paintbrushes, and tiny canvasses to create your own art, which you can drop off at the “giving gallery” to bring joy to someone else.
“I feel really glad that people come and get some art and put it in there,” said Abigail.
Filling the box is something Katie does with her kids.
“I hope that they can carry this with them, that they continue sharing art, no matter where they are,” she said.
Spreading joy to everyone who walks by, and letting the cycle continue.
“I want them to feel happy and glad that they got some, so they could return some back here,” added Abigail.
Utah
Amid traffic, Utah walked to Leafs’ arena pregame
TORONTO — The Utah Hockey Club said players were forced to walk to their game against the Maple Leafs after their bus got stuck in Toronto traffic Sunday night.
The team posted a video on social media of team members walking to Scotiabank Arena, with player Maveric Lamoureux saying the bus was “not moving at all.”
Several city streets had been closed during the day for an annual Santa Claus parade.
The Maple Leafs earned their fourth consecutive win by defeating Utah 3-2.
The viral incident prompted Ontario Premier Doug Ford to call the congestion “embarrassing” and “unacceptable,” highlighting his government’s plan to address the city’s gridlock through bike lane legislation.
It wasn’t the first time a Toronto visitor had to ditch their vehicle to make it to an event on time.
In June, former One Direction band member Niall Horan had to walk through traffic to get to his concert at Scotiabank Arena.
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