SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of protesters rallied Saturday at the Utah state capitol, who want more done to protect Utah’s public lands. They hope to get the attention of state leaders to preserve two of Utah’s national monuments.

Taking over the steps of the state capitol, hundreds of protesters, signs in hand, rallied to protect Utah’s public lands.

“1, 2, 3, let the land be!” the crowd chanted.

Rally organizers vowed not to sit idly by as the tide may be turning for parts of those lands’ preservation.

“Federal lands in Utah are under attack, by the governor, by the legislature, and this is a chance for people to have their voices heard,” said Steve Bloch, Legal Director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

At issue: Utah’s lawsuit to gain more state control of public lands, and the size of Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. During the first term of President-elect Donald Trump, he reduced the size of the monuments by 85%, something President Joe Biden reversed in 2021. With Trump returning to office, protesters don’t want the monuments to shrink again.

“I think it’s the reason we’re all here, because we’re all deeply concerned,” said protester Meg Randle.

“If we don’t put some energy behind protecting some of the wild areas then we’re going to lose them and it’s going to be very difficult to get them back,” said protester Bernie Lasalle.

The protesters were hoping state leaders get the message by rallying together to make their voices loud and clear.

“We are going to do whatever it takes,” organizers said.

Organizers said Saturday’s rally was just the beginning, and they anticipate Utah won’t be the only state rallying in defense of public lands.

As Lynne Roberts walked through the entrance of the Huntsman Center on Wednesday night, she caught a glimpse of a feature she’d never seen before.

“So that’s where the ticket office is,” she thought to herself.

For so long, the former Utah women’s basketball head coach has made her usual entrance through the tunnel and onto the shiny hardwood of the 50-year-old arena. But, on this night, she was a spectator for the first time in the building, no longer the leader of the program she’d built over the last decade.

And even if her former team, No. 22 Utah, was defeated by No. 12 Kansas State 71-47, Roberts couldn’t help but deliver some emotional coaching points and, most of all, embrace the members of the team she relentlessly coached the last few seasons.

“It’s interesting to be on this side of the court,” Roberts told The Salt Lake Tribune after the game. “I don’t care that they had a bad game. I just want to give them hugs and tell them to focus on the next game. This game was not who they are.”

In moments, Roberts clapped along like a typical fan.

Other times, she embraced her former players and waved to the fans inside the arena that had been a second home for 10 years of her coaching career.

“That’s why you coach for the relationships this group has. At Utah, we have unbelievable character with our players, and I’m proud of that. So it makes it even more rewarding to give them a hug,” Roberts said.

In November, she received a call from Raegan Pebley, the general manager of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, to become the next head coach of the franchise in her home state.

She pondered on the decision for days.

She had signed a contract extension the summer before. How could she leave her program at the beginning of the season? What would coaching in the professional ranks be like?

Roberts said, ultimately, the decision came down to wanting to take the next step in her career.

“This was where I wanted to be, and I believed in what we were building, and so I never had my eyes up looking at other options,” Roberts said of her time in Salt Lake City. “But once the Sparks reached out … it just kind of kept feeling more and more right. But the thing in the back of my head was the thought of leaving this group of players, it’s just hard.

“The timing is right with the WNBA where it’s at right now, the franchise is right for me, not just being in California, but the Sparks are investing in the team in a different way, and they want to win championships. It felt right to have a chance to roll the dice. You know, I’m not young, but I don’t feel old. So I thought this is the time to professionally, be like, let’s go, let’s, let’s see if I can do it.”

Before she announced her decision to leave for the WNBA, Roberts hosted a team meeting to inform the players and the coaching staff about her next steps.

Tears were shed.

Associate head coach Gavin Petersen was elevated to the lead job.

Then both sides moved onto their new beginnings.

It’s always nice to revisit the past, though, and Wednesday night provided Roberts a chance to reflect on her time in Salt Lake City.

“It felt good to be back there, and it wasn’t weird,” Roberts said. “I love these players and coaches. These are my people. So it felt really good to be back, and tonight was not their best game, but it’s not who they are. They’ll be fine.”

Obviously, it wasn’t the Utes’ best night. Roberts coached a few of those games during her time at Utah. She also won 165 games and made it to the NCAA Tournament six times.

Roberts said she has watched every Utah game since departing from the program. During the game, Roberts caught herself muttering her usual coaching points under her breath while sitting in her courtside seat.

After the contest, once she was done signing autographs for Utah fans and embracing her former players, she shared a few lessons with junior guard Matyson Wilke.

Wilke nodded her head as Roberts pointed to the baseline and shared her wisdom.

Clearly, some things never change.

“I just wanted to encourage her,” Roberts said. “Players want to win as badly as coaches do. Right? It’s hard, and you lose and you don’t play well, and you kind of get humbled on your court, so I was just giving her some love.

“I know what they’re running and what they’re trying to run. So there were some things I was saying under my breath (during the game), but nothing that I would have done differently.”

But that doesn’t mean Roberts wasn’t doing her own due diligence for the Sparks.

She chose the Kansas State matchup for a specific reason.

The 2025 WNBA Draft is in April, and Los Angeles is in the midst of a rebuild, which means it was the perfect time for some college scouting.

“Obviously, I wanted to give Gavin his space because it’s his program,” Roberts said of her choice to attend the Kansas State matchup. “The last thing I want to be is a distraction. …I knew after Christmas probably would be a good time, and then Kansas State was good, and I wanted to watch them. They’ve got Serena Sundell, who’s a potential WNBA player.”

As both Roberts and the Utes look toward the future, Wednesday night was a moment of reconnection for both parties. Roberts helped the Utes become a nationally relevant program during her tenure, which is what she set out to do when she was hired from the University of Pacific in 2015.

She was recognized for her tenure with a shout-out from Utah’s public address announcer and a standing ovation from the crowd at the arena.

But, for Ronberts, seeing her former players was even more special.

The former Utah coach was seen kissing 5-foot-6 dynamo guard Inês Vieira on the forehead as if she was one of her children. She embraced Gianna Kneepkens with a bear hug.

Winning will always be a part of Roberts’ legacy in Salt Lake City. But she’s also glad to have developed her players into better humans.

“My hope is that I helped make women’s basketball relevant in Salt Lake City,” Roberts said. When I got here, I said that was the goal … and people kind of said, ‘Oh, that’s cute, that you think you can do that.’ So, I take pride in that. But we also have quality players here that are quality humans. I’m incredibly proud of that.”

And it’s that portion of her legacy with the Utes that she hopes to carry with her into the WNBA and beyond.

“I go into this with a humble confidence,” Roberts said, as she looked around the Huntsman Center with admiration. “I’m confident in my ability, and I’m confident in my experience, but I’m also humbled to know that I’ve got a lot to learn and a lot to experience.

“I’m just going to take it one year at a time. Luckily, I have a few years. I just want to win. So what impact can I make in LA? I want to win.”

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah Film Commission announced that the Utah Board of Tourism Development has approved four new productions for state film incentives, which are expected to generate an estimated economic impact of $17.5 million and over 420 new jobs.

Among the productions is a new series from local filmmakers Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin, titled “The Wayfinders,” for a Rural Utah Film Incentive. Faller and Griffin are also known for “The Outpost” and “Mythica: Stormbound.”

 “We are excited to film ‘The Wayfinders’ series in the remarkable state of Utah, where its awe-inspiring landscapes and distinctive rural charm will serve as the perfect backdrop for our story,“ said Faller. “From the vivid colors of the changing seasons to the rugged beauty of its countryside, and the small-town Americana setting that is central to the series, Utah offers the right setting that will enhance the immersive world we’re creating.”

In addition, a new thriller “The Edge of Normal,” based on Carla Norton’s novel, was approved for the Utah Motion Picture Incentive.

Producer Matt Miller, who is also known for “The Wolf of Snow Hollow” and “California King,” which were filmed in Utah, shared that the state’s landscapes, talented local crew, and unwavering support for filmmakers make it the perfect place to create “The Edge of Normal.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Utah Film Commission for awarding us the tax credit for ‘The Edge of Normal,’” said Miller. “We’re excited to return in the spring to begin production and further showcase all that Utah has to offer as a premier filmmaking destination.”

Season two of the Hallmark series “Finding Mr. Christmas,” starring host Jonathan Bennett, was also approved for a Rural Utah Film Incentive.

Producer Cara Tapper, who is known for “Halloween Wars” and “Holiday Wars,” shared that there was little doubt about returning to Utah for season two, adding that its views make for a Hallmark dream location.

“As a production company, the ability to source a lot of local crew, ease of production in Utah and help from the community in finding the perfect locations makes this a no-brainer,” Tapper said. “It’s been a pleasure for us working in Utah over the years with Food Network productions, and our comfort level in the state made it an easy decision to bring the Hallmark production to Utah. Not to mention the very easy parking…we don’t have that at home.”

A new feature from local filmmaker Dustin Ward, who is also behind “Princess for a Day,” was approved for a Utah Community Film Incentive. Named “The Genesis Project,” the film is a thriller that follows five psychology students who are studying serial killers in an attempt to capture a killer who is stalking their town.