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!⛅ 40 – 84° in Logan | ☀️ 57 – 89° in Salt Lake

⛅ 39 – 87° in Manti | ☀️ 64 – 99° in St. George

🌅 Good morning!

It’s that crisp time of year with the vibrant colors that compose perfect fall photos, so I grabbed my dog and two foster dogs to check out Snowbasin’s SnowWiesn Oktoberfest activities recently.

🚠 It was a blast.

And what an experience — riding a gondola with my dogs. Amazing. It inspired me, during my favorite season, to look into other fall-related, pet-friendly activities.

🐶 Here are 8 other dog-friendly activities you can do with your family this fall. Let me know if you think of others or if you want to share your experiences.

How Ryan and Ashley Smith are changing the game in Utah

Since acquiring the Utah Jazz in 2020 with big plans for the state, Ryan and Ashley Smith have rapidly expanded their sports and entertainment portfolio through the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG).

They have now purchased:

🏀 Utah Jazz
⚽ MLS team Real Salt Lake
🏒 NHL franchise Arizona Coyotes

The couple's passion for Utah influences their endeavors, including significant investments in local infrastructure. SEG is spearheading a plan to put $3 billion into redeveloping a three-block area east of the Delta Center.

👔 Here's what some of the main players with SEG said about Utah:

Ashley Smith: “The product of Utah is a great thing to be focused on."

Ryan Sweeney: "I'd bet on Utah all day long ... and I feel like it's still in its infancy."

Ryan Smith on why he's so dedicated to SEG's business strategies and investments in Utah: “I think it shows a little bit where our passions are and it’s authentic to our love of Utah.”

Read more about how the Smith Entertainment Group has expanded at a rapid pace in a few short years.

Melons and the Green River: Giving life to a rural Utah town

This small Utah town hosts a weekend-long celebration that is truly one in a melon each year — Melon Days in Green River, Utah.

🍉 What is Melon Days?: The festival has been held in Green River during the third weekend of September since 1906. It's an opportunity for natives and visitors to savor some of the tasty melons the town is famous for producing and to reconnect with the local community.

The Green River is 730 miles long and is the main tributary of the Colorado River. The town's population is about 800 people.

🏞️ Who relies on the Green River?:

Seven basin states
Two countries
30 tribes

For the Colorado River to be healthy, the Green River has to do its part.

What Green River's mayor said:

“The river is like a great artery that runs through our town, and it helps feed so many parts of our residents’ lives and our economy ... The river is a vital part of why melons can thrive here, and the river provides critical opportunities for recreation, economic growth, and cultural identity to the town.”

Read more about how the Green River helps sustain this southeastern town.

This article is one of two articles about the Green River and is published through the Colorado River Collaborative.

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Health

New pill could help smokers quit — for good (Deseret News)
Saving a Generation: The Fentanyl Crisis (ABC4)
1 in 12 Utahns suffers from long COVID, health department study says (Deseret News)
💭 Reda Wigle: I’m a sleep expert — this is the exact time of night you should go to bed for optimal rest (New York Post)

Politics

A guide to voting in Utah for the general election (Deseret News)
📺 Watch: 2024 Salt Lake County mayoral debate with Erin Rider and Jenny Wilson (KUER)
Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson delivers remarks on election security and election worker safety (Deseret News)
Special counsel brief released in Trump election case (Deseret News)
Port strike ends, defusing a political time bomb (Politico)
Liz Cheney joins Kamala Harris on the campaign trail in the birthplace of the GOP (Deseret News)
Utah hoping Supreme Court will break precedent and transfer vast tracts of federal land to states (NPR)

Faith

BYU’s Jake Retzlaff embracing the opportunity to be a role model for young Jewish athletes (The Associated Press)
100-year-old prophet expected to participate at general conference (Deseret News)
Church announces 6 new Area Seventies at general conference leadership session (Deseret News)
📺 Watch: October 2024 edition of the World Report, a 6-month review of Latter-day Saint news (Deseret News)

The Nation and The World

Biden surveys storm damage in Georgia and Florida as Helene death toll tops 200 (CBS News)
Will Hurricane Helene disrupt voting in the South? (Deseret News)
💭 Jennifer Graham: Is the toilet paper apocalypse upon us again? (Deseret News)
Huge explosions in Beirut after apparent Israeli strike close to airport (BBC)

Sports

Too many tight ends? Logjam of talent at the position is a good thing, says Kevin Gilbride (Deseret News)
Where Utah and BYU are projected to finish in Big 12 women’s basketball (Deseret News)
A closer look at Utah State volleyball’s decision to forfeit to SJSU (Deseret News)
What No. 8 means to Patty Mills and how he was able to convince Brice Sensabaugh to give it up (Deseret News)
Volleyball looks to continue winning streak against UT Arlington and Utah Tech (SUU News)

Entertainment & Culture

Stevie Nicks is collaborating with the Eagles — but not those Eagles (Deseret News)
Joan Vassos receives surprise visit from Gerry Turner on ‘Golden Bachelorette’ (Deseret News)
Shaboozey to perform free concert at Utah HC home opener (Deseret News)
Amazon Prime members, do you want a free Grubhub+ membership? (Deseret News)
💭 Meg Walter: We don't need protein in everything. Especially not soda (Deseret News)

1-pets-4122024 (8)-Oct-02-2024-09-19-58-3181-PM

Photo of the week by Kristin Murphy

Ladonna Sidney, who has been homeless since April, talks about looking forward to a hot shower at the Microshelter Community, operated by Switchpoint, in Salt Lake City on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.

We are trying some new things with Utah Today and would love your feedback! You're welcome to email me at sgambles@deseretnews.com with thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

I might not answer right away, but I promise we are reading your feedback and considering your valuable opinions.

✨ Cheers ✨

— Gambles

More in Utah

Melons and the Green River: Giving life to a rural Utah town

Sports

Entertainment & Culture

Photo of the week by Kristin Murphy