The majority of Utahns are at least somewhat disappointed that the Sundance Film Festival will leave Park City in 2027, according to a recent poll.
A Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX revealed that 31% of Utahns are very disappointed while 25% are somewhat disappointed.
Gov. Spencer Cox says the departure "has been the best thing that could have happened."
He went on to talk about the significant interest in filling the hole Sundance Film Festival will leave behind with something else, Margaret Darby reported.
“The number of people interested in doing something bigger and better than Sundance is off the charts,” Cox said. “You’ll start to see some of those plans come out over the next month.”
I would like to hear your thoughts on Sundance.
Tell me: Do you wish Sundance was staying in Utah or are you glad it's leaving?
Here's how Utah voters want Congress to spend money
Utah voters would prefer Congress to spend more money on assistance to the poor and spend less on foreign aid, according to a recent poll.
Voters overwhelmingly believe the government spends too little on education and assistance to the poor with only 15% and 16% of respondents saying too much money is dedicated to those areas, Cami Mondeaux reported.
Here are some more results from the Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX:
A majority of Utahns (56%) said the government spends too much on foreign aid.
59% said the government spends too little on education.
54% said it spends the right amount on federal law enforcement agencies.
47% said the government should spend more on assistance to the poor.
Salt Lake City is showing itself to be a hockey town. One year ago today, Ryan and Ashley Smith bought the franchise and moved it to Salt Lake City, rebranding the National Hockey League team as the Utah Hockey Club.
Since then, every game was a sellout, Dennis Romboy reported. Fans painted the city with rock black, midnight blue and salt white UHC gear — 32,000 hats and 17,000 inaugural season jerseys sold.
“This was a test year. It’s about to get fun," Ryan Smith said.
Here are three quotes about the Utah Hockey Club's inaugural year:
UHC defenseman Sean Durzi: “My standard was set pretty high from that welcome, and it exceeded it. It’s almost like the fans kind of sense something special, not only with us but with the state. Everywhere we go now, everyone’s talking about hockey.”
UHC general manager Bill Armstrong: “We’re in a better place. We’re in a place that we’ve got fans that are very passionate about our team. I can’t tell you how excited people in Utah are about hockey. It’s crazy."
Chris Barney, Smith Entertainment Group president of revenue and commercial strategy: “We get questions from other franchises all the time like, ‘How the heck did you guys pull that off?’ It’s just really a testament to all our employees. There’s really no ifs, ands or buts about it. The city stepped up, the county stepped up, the state stepped up. Anyone and everyone was willing to help us.”
Gov. Cox declares April 18, 2025, Declutter Day in Utah (Utah Policy)
Poll shows how Utahns feel about DOGE, Trump spending cuts (Deseret News)
The Nation and the World
2 dead, sheriff deputy’s son in custody (NBC News)
Cold case solved over 50 years after a young mom was killed, her 3-year-old daughter left alive (ABC News)
Scientists find 'strongest evidence yet' of life on distant planet (BBC)
Sports
‘It really didn’t have too much to do with NIL’: Top point guard Robert Wright III on why he signed with BYU (Deseret News)
How Utah landed one of the top high school kickers in the country (Deseret News)
Results from NCAA gymnastics championships semifinal 2 (Deseret News)
Entertainment and Food
Utahns disappointed by Sundance exit, but Gov. Cox says new festival will take its place (Deseret News)
Utah’s new state flag just got a shoutout on ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ (Deseret News)
J. Dawgs: How a tasty idea became a stadium staple (Utah Business)
2025 Deer Valley Music Festival lineup announced, features The Beach Boys, Common (The Park Record)
🗓️ Events Calendar
We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah during this month. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!
Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:
Saint George Art Festival | UT Town Square, St. George
Farmington Spring Home Expo | Legacy Events Center BMX Course, Farmington
America 250 Freedom Pageant | Washington County Legacy Park, Hurricane
Mozart’s Requiem | Abravanel Hall
“Legally Blonde” | Heritage Theatre, Brigham City
“Little Women: the Broadway Musical” | Timpanogos Valley Theatre, Heber City
Utah Royals vs. Chicago Stars | 7:30 p.m.
BYU baseball vs. Arizona | 4:30 p.m.
BYU softball vs. U of U | 6:30 p.m.
BYU men’s volleyball vs. Pepperdine | 7 p.m.
UVU baseball vs. Tarleton State | 3:05 p.m.
Utah Tech softball vs. California Baptist | 4:30 p.m.
Utah Tech baseball vs. Grand Canyon | 6:05 p.m.
Please reach out to me at sgambles@deseretnews.com if you have any thoughts, feedback or ideas you would like to share!
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