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Mina Tanaka the hope for Utah Royals

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Mina Tanaka the hope for Utah Royals


The Utah Royals have made an audacious move and brought a real star into their ranks: Mina Tanaka. The Japanese striker, who recently left Kobe Leonessa of the Japanese WE League, arrives at the club with an enviable CV. With 58 appearances and 37 goals to her name, Tanaka brings a wealth of experience and a winning mentality to a team currently struggling in the NWSL. Signed until 2025, she is the Royals’ big bet to turn the season around.

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At 30, Tanaka comes from an illustrious career in Japan. With spells at Tokyo Verdy Beleza and INAC Kobe Leonessa, she has shown her talent time and time again, including a brief spell in the German Frauen-Bundesliga. With 211 goals in 308 club games and 30 goals in 74 international games, Mina is a veritable goal machine. His signing is a clear sign that the Utah Royals are willing to do whatever it takes to move up the table.

Kelly Cousins, the Utah Royals’ sporting director, didn’t hide her excitement about the new signing. “Mina is an experienced player who can have an immediate impact on our team. Her experience will be essential to the development and culture of our young team,” said Cousins. And no wonder. With four Nadeshiko League golden boot titles and several inclusions in the league’s Best XI, Tanaka is a major addition.

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Tanaka’s arrival couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. The Utah Royals are in an uncomfortable position in the table, with a record of 2-11-2 and 10 points behind the current playoff line. The team has struggled to find its form, and the presence of a top scorer like Tanaka could be just what they need to turn things around. His nose for goals and his ability in decisive moments will be key for the Royals in the coming challenges.

As well as her skills on the pitch, Tanaka brings a champion’s mentality that could inspire her new teammates. In statements before her transfer, she highlighted her enthusiasm for being part of the Royals’ project and her desire to help the team compete. “I’m very determined to be part of this club, taking the team to the level of competing in the championship title race. I’m looking forward to my journey in Utah. We’ll do it together,” said Tanaka, making it clear that she is ready to give her all for the club.

Tanaka’s signing is also a strategic move for the Royals, who are looking not only to improve their performance, but also to attract more attention and support from fans. A player of international caliber like Tanaka will certainly bring more visibility to the team and could help galvanize the fans around the team. With her imminent participation in the 2024 Olympics for Japan, Tanaka will be in the spotlight, and this could greatly benefit the Utah Royals in terms of marketing and fan engagement.

However, it won’t be an easy road. Japan’s Olympic group with Spain, Brazil and Nigeria promises to be a real litmus test. Tanaka, however, has already shown that he is capable of shining in the biggest competitions, having scored in the final Group D match at the 2023 World Cup, helping Japan beat eventual champions Spain 4-0. Her performance in international tournaments only reinforces her reputation as a top-level player, ready for any challenge.

For the Royals, Tanaka’s presence could be the spark that ignites a turnaround in the season. Her ability to score goals in all sorts of ways and her international experience bring a new dimension to the team. The challenge now is to integrate Tanaka into the team’s style of play and make the most of his abilities.

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Utah man dies of injuries sustained in avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon

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Utah man dies of injuries sustained in avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon


A man died after he was caught in an avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the weekend.

A spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday that Kevin Williams, 57, had died.

He, along with one other person, was hospitalized in critical condition after Saturday’s avalanche in the backcountry.

MORE | Big Cottonwood Canyon Avalanche

In an interview with 2News earlier this week, one of Williams’ close friends, Nate Burbidge, described him as a loving family man.

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“Kevin’s an amazing guy. He’s always serving, looking for ways that he can connect with others,” Burbidge said.

A GoFundMe was set up to help support Williams’ family.

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911 recordings detail hours leading up to discovery of Utah girl, mother dead in Las Vegas

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911 recordings detail hours leading up to discovery of Utah girl, mother dead in Las Vegas


CONTENT WARNING: This report discusses suicide and includes descriptions of audio from 911 calls that some viewers may find disturbing.

LAS VEGAS — Exclusively obtained 911 recordings detail the hours leading up to the discovery of an 11-year-old Utah girl and her mother dead inside a Las Vegas hotel room in an apparent murder-suicide.

Addi Smith and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, lived in West Jordan and had traveled to Nevada for the JAMZ cheerleading competition.

The calls show a growing sense of urgency from family members and coaches, and several hours passing before relatives learned what happened.

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MORE | Murder-Suicide

Below is a timeline of the key moments, according to dispatch records. All times are Pacific Time.

10:33 a.m. — Call 1

After Addi and her mother failed to appear at the cheerleading competition, Addi’s father and stepmother called dispatch for a welfare check.

Addi and her mother were staying at the Rio hotel. The father told dispatch that hotel security had already attempted contact.

“Security went up and knocked on the door. There’s no answer or response it doesn’t look like they checked out or anything…”

11:18 a.m. and 11:27 a.m. — Calls 2 and 3

As concern grew, Addi’s coach contacted the police two times within minutes.

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“We think the child possibly is in imminent danger…”

11:26 a.m. — Call 4

Addi’s stepmother placed another call to dispatch, expressing escalating concern.

“We are extremely concerned we believe that something might have seriously happened.”

She said that Tawnia’s car was still at the hotel.

Police indicated officers were on the way.

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2:26 p.m. — Call 5

Nearly three hours after the initial welfare check request, fire personnel were en route to the scene. It appeared they had been in contact with hotel security.

Fire told police that they were responding to a possible suicide.

“They found a note on the door.”

2:35 p.m. — Call 6

Emergency medical personnel at the scene told police they had located two victims.

“It’s going to be gunshot wound to the head for both patients with notes”

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A dispatcher responded:

“Oh my goodness that’s not okay.”

2:36 p.m. — Call 7

Moments later, fire personnel relayed their assessment to law enforcement:

“It’s going to be a murder suicide, a juvenile and a mother.”

2:39 p.m. — Call 8

Unaware of what had been discovered, Addi’s father called dispatch again.

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“I’m trying to file a missing persons report for my daughter.”

He repeats the details he knows for the second time.

3:13 p.m. — Call 9

Father and stepmother call again seeking information and continue to press for answers.

“We just need some information. There was a room check done around 3:00 we really don’t know where to start with all of this Can we have them call us back immediately?”

Dispatch responded:

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“As soon as there’s a free officer, we’ll have them reach out to you.”

4:05 p.m. — Call 10

More than an hour later, Addi’s father was put in contact with the police on the scene. He pleaded for immediate action.

“I need someone there I need someone there looking in that room”

The officer confirmed that they had officers currently in the room.

Addi’s father asks again what they found, if Addi and her mother are there, and if their things were missing.

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The officer, who was not on scene, said he had received limited information.

5:23 p.m. — Call 11

Nearly seven hours after the first welfare check request, Addi’s grandmother contacted police, describing conflicting information circulating within the family.

“Some people are telling us that they were able to get in, and they were not in the hotel room, and other people saying they were not able to get in the hotel room, and we need to know”

She repeated the details of the case. Dispatch said officers will call her back once they have more information.

Around 8:00 p.m. — Press Conference

Later that evening, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police held a news conference confirming that Addi and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, were found dead inside the hotel room.

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The investigation remains ongoing.

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Ban on AI glasses in Utah classrooms inches closer to passing

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Ban on AI glasses in Utah classrooms inches closer to passing


AI glasses could allow you to get answers, snap photos, access audio and take phone calls—and now a proposal moving through the legislature would ban the glasses from Utah school classrooms.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Kizzy Guyton Murphy, a mother who accompanied her child’s class on a field trip to the state Capitol on Wednesday. “You can’t see inside what the student is looking at, and it’s just grounds for cheating.”

Mom Tristan Davies Seamons also sees trouble with AI glasses.

“I don’t think they should have any more technology in schools than they currently have,” she said.

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Her twin daughters, fourth graders Finley and Grayson, don’t have cell phones yet.

“Not until we’re like 14,” said Grayson, adding they do have Chromebooks in school.

2News sent questions to the Utah State Board of Education:

  • Does it have reports of students using AI glasses?
  • Does it see cheating and privacy as major concerns?
  • Does it support a ban from classrooms?

Matt Winters, USBE AI specialist, said the board has not received reports from school districts of students with AI glasses.

“Local Education Agencies (school districts) have local control over these decisions based on current law and code,” said Winters. “The Board has not taken a position on AI glasses.

MORE | Utah State Legislature:

Some districts across the country have reportedly put restrictions on the glasses in schools.

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“I think it should be up to the teachers,” said Briauna Later, another mother who is all for preventing cheating, but senses a ban could leave administrators with tired eyes.

“It’s one more thing for the administration to have to keep track of,” said Later.

The proposal, HB 42, passed the House and cleared a Senate committee on Wednesday.

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