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Utah investigating bar run by failed mayoral candidate for implementing ‘no Zionists allowed’ policy

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Utah investigating bar run by failed mayoral candidate for implementing ‘no Zionists allowed’ policy


A Utah bar has implemented a “No Zionists allowed” policy, and is being investigated for alleged discrimination.

Failed Salt Lake City mayoral candidate and bar owner Michael Valentine announced the new policy for his newly opened bar on social media over the weekend — claiming the pro-Israel belief is hate speech akin to “neo-Nazis.”

“As many are, we are horrified by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and are even more horrified to see so many Americans ignore and rationalize ethnic cleansing,” he posted on the Instagram page for the Weathered Waves bar on Sunday.

“That is why we are pleased to announce we are banning all Zionists forever from our establishments,” wrote Valentine, who also owns the local Six Sailor Cider group.

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A Salt Lake City bar is under investigation after its owner posted that it has a “No Zionists allowed” policy. weatheredwavesbar/Instagram

“Zionism is hate speech. It is white supremacy and has nothing to do with the beautiful Jewish faith.”

In the days since Valentine made the incendiary post, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services received “several comments from members of the public” and requested that the state Attorney General’s Office investigate whether the bar is violating anti-discrimination laws, a spokesperson for the agency told the Salt Lake Tribune.

The department is also reviewing its own legal options, after just granting the Weathered Waves bar its liquor license last Thursday, the spokesman said.

The Weathered Waves bar had just opened in the city, and was granted a liquor license last week. weatheredwavesbar/Instagram

Jewish Utahns claim the new policy is just thinly veiled antisemitism.

“I think it is a smoke screen for open Jew hatred,” Rabbi Avremi Zippel, of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, told KUTV.

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He argued that there is no way for bar staff to distinguish between Zionists and Jews.

“When someone comes into your place of business to order food or beverage, how are you able to ascertain what their political ideologies are?” he asked the Tribune.

“Zionism is a political ideology. It’s a philosophy. How exactly is a place of business supposed to determine who is and who is not a Zionist.”

His conclusion, he said, is that “the emptiness of the policy and the inability to enforce that policy without openly discriminating against the religion shows what the real motivation behind that is.”

Bar owner Michael Valentine argues the new policy is not antisemitic and is just a response to the war in Gaza. punkrockmayorslc/Instagram

The United Jewish Federation of Utah also condemned the “biased policy,” and said it had reached out to local, state and federal leaders to investigate the watering hole, ABC 4 reports.

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It said the policy applies a “double standard to Israel” and the Jewish community, and could lead to the acceptance of discrimination and violence.

But amid the backlash, Valentine says he is the one being targeted.

He claimed the bar has received an arson threat and is the victim of “review bombing,” he told the Tribune.

Valentine has also denied that his new policy is antisemitic, writing in a follow-up Instagram post: “For the record, we are banning Zionists, not Jews. The exact same way we ban neo-Nazis and white supremacists, and not Christians.” 

In his Instagram post, Valentine declared that Zionism is “hate speech” akin to that of neo-Nazis. punkrockmayorslc/Instagram

“Being religious is not an excuse or open license for racism, hate speech, and xenophobia. [We] have zero tolerance for it and won’t abide,” he wrote.

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He claimed the policy is necessary to foster an inclusive environment, telling the Tribune how the bar is decorated with trans flags and Palestinian flags.

“I’m against hate speech of all kinds — against trans people, against queer people, against Palestinians, against Jews,” he insisted.

“I don’t perceive how this could be seen as discriminatory,” he added to KUTV.

“We’re advocating for an inclusive environment by rejecting hate speech, which is quite the opposite of discrimination.”

The Post has reached out to Valentine and the Utah Attorney General’s Office for comment.

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Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results

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Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results


In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.

Here are the final results, which show all the movement.

Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.

For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.

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The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.

Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!



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Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong

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Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong


PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.

The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Boys & Girls Club of Utah County’s new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse on Friday. (Photo: Curtis Booker, KSL)

“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.

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The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.

“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”

The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.

Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.

“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.

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The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.

The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.

A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.

“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”

Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.

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“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”

Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.

“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.



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Three motorcycles crash on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah

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Three motorcycles crash on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah


Three motorcycles crashed on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Officials said one motorcycle traveling northbound on SR-176 near milepost 10 failed to maintain its lane while navigating a curve.

The bike crossed into oncoming southbound traffic, where it collided with two other motorcycles. Officials said all three riders were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. All were wearing helmets and protective gear.

Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash.

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