Utah
Third Utah fire task force deployed to Midwest
SALT LAKE — A third Utah fire task force has been deployed to help mitigate wildfires in the Midwest.
Two Utah fire task forces were sent to Texas on Wednesday last week due to dry conditions and gusty winds. Members of those task forces have already been put to work, protecting two communities by helping control a 6,300-acre fire in 60-70 mph winds.
After arriving in Texas last week, the task force out of Northern Utah assisted on a 6,300-acre fire. The crew reported that the wind was gusting 60-70 mph, which created erratic fire behavior. They helped stop the fire’s forward progression and protected two communities. pic.twitter.com/QA7WFkJLiL
— Utah FFSL (@UtahFFSL) March 17, 2025
Now, a third Utah fire task force is traveling to Kansas after the state sent out a call for help.
Utah has deployed a third task force to assist in Kansas on a severity assignment. (Credit: Utah Fire Info)
“With the high winds that they’re expecting and the above normal high temperatures, Kansas felt the need to request some additional resources and Utah was willing to respond to that request,” said Karl Hunt, public affairs officer with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.
Utah has deployed a third task force to assist in Kansas on a severity assignment. Red Flag Warnings have been issued today. The crew will be assigned to McPherson, KS. Safe travels and good luck! 🌟🚒 #WildfireResponse #Teamwork pic.twitter.com/lYFNOeB6rs
— Utah Fire Info (@UtahWildfire) March 17, 2025
This group is being sent on a severity assignment, where they will supplement local resources.
Utah has deployed a third task force to assist in Kansas on a severity assignment. Red Flag Warnings The crew will be assigned to McPherson, KS. (Utah Fire Info)
“They are there to help assist and backfill some of the wildlife firefighting resources [in Kansas] because they know they’re going to be spread thin based on what the conditions are going to be,” said Hunt.
Utah still safe despite sharing task force resources
Sending three Utah fire task forces out of the state does reduce local resources. But not enough to become a problem.
“With the storm systems we’ve had coming in we were able to look at some of the northern Utah resources, and that’s why we decided, ‘you know what, we have the opportunity to send Kansas some help. So let’s do that,’” said Hunt. “We’re not going to send out resources and leave Utah vulnerable.”
Members of the Utah division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands always look at Utah’s resources, weather conditions, and fire risk before deploying a task force elsewhere.
However, Utah will help other states if possible.
“We’re always willing to help because these states also help when we’re in need,” Hunt said. “I view it as a way for us to show good Utah values. That when our neighbors are in need, we’re willing to send help to help them out.”
The Utah fire task force is expected to be deployed in Kansas for 14 days.
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Utah
Sundance kicks off in Utah with powerful premieres and emotional tributes to Robert Redford
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Robert Redford liked to say that everybody has a story. He’s not the only person who said it, but he is one of the few who did something to celebrate it, his daughter, Amy Redford, said Wednesday evening ahead of the Sundance Film Festival’s opening day.
Thanks to her father’s vision, the Sundance Institute he founded and its year-round programs have helped shape and nurture American independent film for the past 40 years. This year’s Sundance Film Festival is a grand goodbye party: It’s the first without Redford following his death in September, and the last in Utah before the festival relocates to Boulder, Colorado.
“This is a festival of new beginnings and endings,” his daughter said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I’m going to look around and drink it up and enjoy it and just not take anything for granted.”
Robert Redford’s legacy and Sundance’s decades-long history in Utah are key themes of the 2026 festival, which officially begins Thursday morning with over a dozen films premiering throughout the day.
By the time the dust has settled from Oscar nominations, the festival will already be in full swing with the world premieres of Amir Bar-Lev’s documentary “The Last First: Winter K2” about the changing culture of extreme mountain climbing, Rachel Lambert’s tender drama “Carousel,” starring Chris Pine and Jenny Slate, and Judd Apatow’s portrait of comedian Maria Bamford’s mental health journey on the opening day list.
Also upcoming is David Alvarado’s “American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez” about the legacy of the playwright and director, and Joanna Natasegara’s “The Disciple,” which delves into the stranger-than-fiction story of how Dutch-Moroccan record producer Cilvaringz found his way into the inner circle of the Wu-Tang Clan. “Too Many Cooks” creator Casper Kelly will also debut his midnight movie “Buddy,” starring Cristin Milioti, about escaping a children’s television show.
The Sundance Film Festival runs through Feb. 1.
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For more coverage of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
Utah
Only one Utah restaurant made Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat list… and it made the Top 10!
SALT LAKE CITY — Yelp has released its annual Top 100 Places to Eat List featuring restaurants from around the country, and only one Utah location was praised by reviewers in this year’s rankings.
And it made the Top 10!
According to the site, Slackwater is definitely Yelp-worthy, with its multiple locations across northern Utah coming in at No. 9 among the top 100.
“For those who love their pizzas with a side of pop culture, this popular Utah chain hits the spot,” Yelp wrote.
Sharing what they love about Slackwater, reviewers highlighted the “eye-popping, 300-strong, beer menu,” which Yelp said is tailored to each of the restaurant’s locations in Salt Lake City, Sandy, Ogden, Herriman and Provo.
Others gushed over the wide assortment of pizzas fired up at Slackwater.
“I don’t know what sort of magic they infuse in their pizza, but yassssss! The crust is almost flaky and melt in your mouth, with perhaps a honey sweetness,” wrote reviewer Kaysha.
Yelp said its Top 100 list is created through a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews.
Utah
San Antonio visits Utah after George’s 43-point game
San Antonio Spurs (30-14, second in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (15-29, 13th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Utah hosts the San Antonio Spurs after Keyonte George scored 43 points in the Utah Jazz’s 127-122 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Jazz are 9-21 against Western Conference opponents. Utah allows the most points in the league, giving up 127.4 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 49.4%.
The Spurs have gone 17-12 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 25.9 assists per game led by Stephon Castle averaging 7.0.
The Jazz are shooting 46.7% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points higher than the 45.9% the Spurs allow to opponents. The Spurs’ 47.2% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.2 percentage points lower than the Jazz have allowed to their opponents (49.4%).
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Spurs won 123-110 in the last matchup on Jan. 19. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, and George led the Jazz with 30 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: George is averaging 24.4 points and 6.7 assists for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 16.3 points over the last 10 games.
De’Aaron Fox is averaging 20.2 points and six assists for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 22.1 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 46.5% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 118.1 points, 43.3 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.7 points per game.
Spurs: 5-5, averaging 109.7 points, 46.8 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: day to day (illness), Georges Niang: day to day (foot), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Kevin Love: day to day (rest), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).
Spurs: Devin Vassell: out (thigh).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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