Utah
Opinion: Nature and human health in Utah — keeping life elevated
Spending time in nature reduces stress, anxiety and depression and increases cognition, activity and physical health. It also leads to economic benefits. The Kem C. Gardner Institute reports that the quality of life afforded by outdoor recreation is the No. 1 reason employees in the tech sector move to and stay in Utah. Because of the economic contribution of outdoor recreation — at $8.1 billion annually — Utah became the first state to have a Division of Outdoor Recreation.
In Salt Lake City, many are fortunate to have ready access to outstanding nature and recreation because of its world-class skiing, hiking and biking opportunities across the state. Equitable access to the great outdoors and keeping it safe and healthy for all should be an imperative for the good of Utah and its residents.
Unfortunately, the facts suggest this is not the case. According to Trust for Public Land, residents on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley have significantly less access to parks and public lands than residents on the east side. People on the west side are at greater risk for poor environmental and human health outcomes.
Although the frequency of poor air quality days has decreased in the last two decades, the Central Wasatch Commission reports that there is plenty of room for improvement. The risk of the Great Salt Lake drying up and toxic dust blowing up from the lake bed may render time outdoors dangerous instead of beneficial.
Efforts to keep our extraordinary natural environment healthy and accessible to all are not easily addressed, as they involve the complicated workings of municipal, state and federal governments. Organizations across Utah are increasing awareness and advocating for policies to improve the current state of the environment in Utah to maintain its reputation as a destination for outdoor recreation.
One of these organizations is Nature and Human Health – Utah, or NHH-UT, whose aims are to strengthen and unify the voices of organizations who value the great outdoors that “elevate” life in Utah. Founded in 2019, its mission is to understand, articulate and foster relationships between nature and human health by providing a collaborative arena to engage, formulate actions and implement solutions for people and nature in Utah. It connects organizations that recognize the power of nature for health and desire equal access of nature for all and carries out actions to improve environmental quality across the state.
In 2024, NHH-UT awarded nine pilot grants to carry out cross-sectional research and programs projects. These assess the barriers to nature that some populations face, study how exposure to nature affects mental health and well-being, help people unfamiliar with nature to feel comfortable with it and plant trees in neighborhoods that lack adequate canopy for health. Community groups and researchers supported by NHH-UT pilot grants are making headway in understanding the role of nature in our health and well-being and making sure everyone has equal access to it.
Every reader can contribute to expanding and deepening the connections between nature and human health in our community. If you like to get your hands in the soil, you can participate in tree plantings coordinated by the nonprofit group TreeUtah or grow your own vegetables in a community garden plot at the Wasatch Community Gardens or the Salt Lake City Public Library. If you’d like to help diverse groups enjoy the foothills and mountains, you can volunteer with Camping in Color or Wasatch Adaptive Sports. If you’re passionate about improving the health of our environment, consider attending one of HEAL Utah’s community lobbying training programs. Or, simply make time to take a walk in one of our dozens of urban pocket parks to reinforce the values of being in nature.
Together we can create a culture that values the future of the interaction between the environment and human health.
Dorothy (Dart) Schmalz is the co-leader of NHH-UT and professor/chair of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at the University of Utah. In her research and teaching, she focuses on the life side of the work-life balance equation in supporting health and well-being for people of all walks of life.
Myra Gerst, NHH-UT’s program manager, has worked in preventative public health programming throughout her career. She coordinates public engagement, management of the pilot grant program and facilitating opportunities for nature-based programming within the community.
Nalini Nadkarni, co-leader of NHH-UT and professor emerita at the University of Utah, has interwoven research on forest canopy biota with innovative public engagement throughout her career. She collaborates with faith-based groups, artists, corporations and people who are incarcerated to engage with those who do not or cannot gain access to science education and nature.
Tim Brown, co-leader of NHH-UT and president/CEO at Tracy Aviary since 2005, pays particular attention to preserving a landscape and atmosphere that is an oasis in the middle of the city. Providing opportunities for people to connect with nature is his lifelong passion.
Utah
Utah man dies of injuries sustained in avalanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — 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.
“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.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
_____
Utah
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.
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.
“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.
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”
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.
“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:
“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.
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.
The investigation remains ongoing.
______
Utah
Ban on AI glasses in Utah classrooms inches closer to passing
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — 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.
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.
“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.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
___
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Oklahoma1 week agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Louisiana4 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology6 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology6 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making