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The Santa Barbara Independent •

Camerata Pacifica’s 2026-27 Season Offers an Eclectic Program

Chamber collective Camerata Pacifica has just announced programming for its 2026-27 season, where they will debut eight programs, with different instruments featured throughout the season’s repertoire. The season will feature the world premieres of a mixed octet by Niloufar Nourbakhsh and a mixed sextet by Howard Frazin, both commissioned by Camerata Pacifica.


Six of these will be standard chamber music programs; the other two are piano recitals. Performances are set to take place in Santa Ba...
The Santa Barbara Independent •

'Sunset Sips' Set to Cruise Through Santa Barbara Father's Day Weekend

“Santa Barbara Sunset Sips,” a new monthly sunset cruise, is set to have its first voyage Father’s Day weekend. 


The cruise, a two-hour ride along the Santa Barbara Channel, will feature live music and drinks, including craft beer and cocktails. 


The event is sponsored by En Fuego Events, the Condor Express, and Heart n Soul Mixology. This cruise’s key players this weekend are local band Cornerstone Reggae and Firestone Walker Brewing Company, who will be all aboard on the Condor Express....
Utah News Dispatch •

‘Protect the water, the air, the land’: Hundreds demand halt on Box Elder data center plan • Utah News Dispatch

Hundreds of Utahns gathered on the Capitol steps Saturday afternoon, demanding a halt to the development of the Stratos Project, a controversial 40,000 acre data center campus set to be built in Box Elder County along the north shore of the Great Salt Lake. 
The demonstration follows Box Elder County commissioners’ decision to allow the project to move forward, despite backlash from citizens and environmental groups. Speakers warned that the project could negatively impact air quality, increase...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

How University of Utah dancers and faculty manage burnout

Sore feet. An aching back. Hours upon hours of class where meticulous choreography is executed over and over again, combined with evening rehearsals. These are just a few of the issues plaguing college dancers. And they’re not stopping anytime soon. According to the US National Library of Medicine, one in five dancers had “at least moderate symptoms” of either depression or generalized anxiety disorder. In addition to this, dancers are more likely to struggle with perfectionism, according to a 2...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

U hosts 31st annual Wallace Stegner Symposium

The SJ Quinney School of Law hosted its annual Wallace Stegner Symposium March 19-20. Top environmental figures addressed environmental concerns and preservation of public lands. 
The symposium primarily focused on land preservation in the American West, with appearances from former Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Sally Jewell and Ryan Gellert, current CEO of Patagonia. Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner and professor Lincoln Davies kicked off the event on Thursday, focusing on changin...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Activists rally in support of Great Salt Lake conservation legislation

A few dozen conservation activists and citizens rallied at the Capitol on Wednesday to urge state legislators to revisit SB250, a bill allocating $200 million in funding for the Great Salt Lake. Sen. Nate Blouin sponsored the bill.
The activists also encouraged lawmakers to prioritize other legislation that would help the lake return to a “healthy” level. 
Environmental activist and protest leader Autumn Featherstone said she wants to see SB250 and other bills like it prioritized for this year’...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Bill to increase Great Salt Lake funding stalls in committee

SB 250, a bill that would potentially allow for a $200 million increase towards Great Salt Lake funding, was held 5-1 in the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee last Monday. 
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nate Blouin, would draw money from an existing fund — the Water Infrastructure Restricted Account — and move it to a newly created Great Salt Lake Account. 
The $200 million from the former Water Infrastructure Restricted Account was previously set aside for the Bear R...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Forest health and watershed restoration bill passes House committee

HB 376 passed unanimously (12-0) through a House committee on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The bill allocates increased funding for Utah State University’s (USU) Utah Forest Restoration Institute (UFRI). The bill also establishes funding for collaboration with fellow environmental organization Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI).
HB 376 would allow these partnering institutes to conduct research into forest and watershed health and coordinate to fund restoration projects.
Various environmental organ...
Salt Lake Magazine •

Filmmakers Take on Censorship, Free Speech at 2026 Sundance • Salt Lake Magazine

Several documentaries have made their premiere this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Notably, Seized and Birds of War explore government censorship and limits on free speech. 


Seized centers on journalists at the Marion County Record, a local newspaper in a rural Kansas town, after state law enforcement raided their officesin an overt attempt to stop efforts to report on police corruption. 


Director Sharon Liese spoke at the American Civil Liberty Union’s “Free Expression and the Future...
Salt Lake Magazine •

Little Miss Sunshine Celebrates 20 Years With Cast Reunion • Salt Lake Magazine

Believe it or not, Little Miss Sunshine premiered 20 years ago. To celebrate the occasion, cast members Toni Collete, Paul Dano, Greg Kinnear and Abigail Breslin, as well as directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, made a surprise appearance at an anniversary screening at the Eccles Theater on Jan. 28, 2026. Members of the production team were also in attendance. Following the 90-minute screening, the audience gave a standing ovation. Then, Sundance Film Festival Director Eugene Hernandez we...
Salt Lake Magazine •

Sundance 2026: Music was the Driving Force Behind Two Films • Salt Lake Magazine

Throughout the Sundance Film Festival’s history, many iconic film scores have originated.  Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright said it best: “A truly great song…with a truly great film becomes that much more valuable and that much more powerful,” he remarked at the premiere of the genre-bending documentary Broken English, which premiered on Jan. 25.  From the percussive score of Whiplash to the whimsical original soundtrack for Little Miss Sunshine, music has shaped the sounds and feelings of the...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Federal loan caps raise concerns for healthcare, education students at the U

The US Department of Education has implemented caps on loans for certain groups of graduate and professional students, as well as narrowed the definition of “professional degrees.” Additionally, the federal government has eliminated Grad PLUS Loans, which traditionally used to cover tuition that was not covered by other financial aid. The new caps limited graduate student loans to $100,000 and professional degrees to $200,000.
Degrees and professions omitted from the definition of professional d...
Salt Lake Magazine •

Lounges at the 40th Sundance Film Festival that Give Filmgoers a Break From The Cold  • Salt Lake Magazine

It’s 10 a.m. in Park City, and the first-day buzz of the festival is in the air, despite the dreary weather outside. Outside the Adobe House, a line stretches all the way to Dolly’s Bookstore. Light chatter carries throughout the long queue until a hush falls over the crowd. 


“That’s Charli XCX,” one woman remarks as the line moves slowly forward. “Where is she?” the woman next to her asks. A quick glance confirms this, her long black hair and sunglasses instantly recognizable. She’s immediat...
Salt Lake Magazine •

Sundance Fashion Likely to be a Mixed Bag • Salt Lake Magazine

The Sundance Film Festival is an opportunity for creativity across all mediums. From directors to influencers, composers to videographers, this time of year for many is a time to let their personal style shine. Here are some fashion highlights from the first day of Utah’s last Sundance.


For those planning on being on Main Street all day, layering is key. A statement jacket or scarf can add a pop of color to a utilitarian outfit. ”I get so many compliments on this jacket,” Sreb Noeva, a festi...
Salt Lake Magazine •

10 Questions With Sundance Celebrity Selfie Taker Stuart Graves • Salt Lake Magazine

Stuart Graves’ “old-school” camera and knack for timing has helped him to snap selfies with some of the most famous names in Hollywood. He’s spent years running around Park City’s Main Street asking celebrities for a selfie, old-school camera in hand. Dubbed #StuartSelfies by Salt Lake, his documented celebrity encounters include names like Anne Hathaway, Bella Thorne and Jack Black. He won’t be in attendance this year (and will be sorely missed), but he gave us some of his tried and true tips t...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Dr. Caroline Kline discusses Mormon women and feminism

Dr. Caroline Kline, an assistant director for the Center for Global Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University in California, spoke at the University of Utah Wednesday. Kline, a self-described “Mormon feminist,” discussed the rise of the “tradwife” movement on social media and the history of women within the Mormon church. 
“Tradwife,” short for “traditional wife,” is a concept that emphasizes traditional gender roles and homemaking for women. According to Kline, two of the most notable fig...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Some U faculty unionize in face of administrative changes

Amid growing concerns about shared governance at the University of Utah, some career-line and tenure-line faculty have decided to join labor unions to advocate for greater self-determination and involvement in academic affairs. Groups such as the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) work to facilitate relationships between university employees, the state legislature and upper campus administration.
United Campus Workers of Utah (UCW) is a labor union for campus workers and facult...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Student and professor perspectives on Utah redistricting

On Nov. 11, Third District Judge Dianna Gibson adopted new congressional boundaries drawn by voting-rights group League of Women Voters (LWV) and Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit. The map would create a Democratic-led district in Salt Lake City. The judge adopted a map drawn by LWV and MWEG.
The initiative follows a legal battle between LWV and MWEG, as well as the Utah State Legislature. The conflict led to the redrawing of Utah’s congressional map.
N...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Impacts of Women’s Resource Center closure one year later

This article originally appeared in the Off-Script print issue, in stands November 2025. It has not been updated and some information may be out of date.
Last year on June 20, the University of Utah’s Women’s Resource Center (WRC) announced their closure as a result of HB261, an anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) bill prohibiting identity centers on public Utah campuses. The center previously provided scholarships, counseling services and support groups for women at the U.
Currently, the...
KRCL •

Utah Women Navigate River Rafting, Climbing & Other 'Non-Traditional' Sports

Thursday, Nov. 20: A Voices Amplified Takeover by rising journalists bringing you the latest from college media as well as student views on issues of the day. Tonight: Women in alternative sports, such as river rafting and rock climbing, and the challenges they face in those spaces. KRCL History with Nick Burns, RadioACTive's longest-serving community co-host. Plus, Let Me Explain: Let. Fall. Breathe.


If you’ve been listening to RadioACTive on Thursdays the past few weeks, you might’ve hea...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

SLC music scene feels impact of rising ticket prices

Salt Lake City is home to many intimate music venues. Small, local concert halls like The State Room, Kilby Court and Soundwell have hosted various shows ranging from bluegrass shows to indie pop concerts.
The average price of a concert ticket nationwide for a Top 100 artist has increased from just $25.81 in 1996 to $135.92 in 2024, according to an analysis by Pollstar. Secondary sellers like Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, accrued over $23 billion in revenue in 2024.
Live Nati...
KRCL •

A Voices Amplified Takeover -- with Costumes!

Thursday, Oct. 30: A Voices Amplified Takeover by rising journalists bringing you the latest from college media as well as student views on issues of the day. Paraclimbing athlete Brayden Butler on the challenges athletes face. The spooky spirit with reporters Bonnie Fox and Cambria Thorley as we debate Utah's best haunted attractions. Plus KRCL history with Ma Black of Nova FM. It's a Halloween-themed edition of the show -- costumes encouraged!



Brayden Butler is a two-time world champion...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Utah refugee challenges reflect broad federal changes

A recent study from the University of Utah found that refugees face higher levels of food insecurity upon receiving their first job. Newly resettled refugees face food insecurity levels nearing 85% — peaking when federal aid is denied.
According to the American Immigration Council, a refugee under United States law is “a person who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.”
Under President Trump’s second administrati...
The Daily Utah Chronicle •

Charlie Kirk Shooting Draws Varied Concerns on U Campus

On Sept. 10, conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University during a Turning Point USA event. His death sparked widespread public concern. Many public figures have since addressed the rise of politically targeted violent acts.
The shooting followed the assassination of Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota state lawmaker, and the assassination attempt of President Donald Trump. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has said he intends to “pursue the death penalty” for the...
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