"Because, see, punching is boring, especially when the punchers don't really get hurt," Cristy writes. "There are no stakes in these superhero punching battles."
So, here's hoping that "The Batman" has much less punching than, say, "Captain America: Civil War."
Also on our mind today: The man bringing bunkers to the masses, the Kickstarter that raised $19 million in only two days and what Latter-day Saints asked "The Chosen" creator about his popular show.
The new water war of the West has Utah counties in bitter fight
The Central Iron County Water Conservancy District wants to tap groundwater supplies in Beaver County. At some point, the district could also move into Millard County for water there.
Why?: Brent Hunter, chairman of the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District, said if the district does not get more water, practically every acre of agricultural land will dry up in the future.
“This is the best option we have to secure our water supply,” Hunter said. “We think whatever water we take from there would barely make a dent."
Critics say that the district has failed to do enough in the arena of conservation, such as turf replacement programs or other water-saving measures.
“I think this is the existential crisis for communities in the west desert because you have one community that wants to continue its behavior without any consequences and they are asking another community to bear those consequences,” said Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network.
Read more about the fight over the Pine Valley Water Project.
HB440, sponsored by Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, cleared a final legislative hurdle on Thursday.
The bill would:
Ask city leaders to propose a plan to provide emergency shelter space to the state’s office of homelessness no later than Sept. 1 each year.
Flex capacity limits at existing homeless resource centers if the plan from city leaders is deemed insufficient.
Allocate $5 million annually to a homeless shelter host cities’ mitigation fund.
Provide $5.8 million in one-time funding to pay off the debt of the three homeless resource centers.
Why it's controversial: Opponents worry the bill doesn’t provide adequate incentives for cities to “step up” and would still leave the burden of homelessness mitigation largely in the hands of Salt Lake City.
Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, said Salt Lake City spends about $22 million from the city budget on homelessness mitigation with little help from state funding.
“The greatest impact is often felt by the residents near those facilities,” Weiler said, adding they feel a “disproportionate impact.”
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said she appreciates the push to get more cities involved but is “firm” in opposing flexing capacity. Read why.
More in Politics
Will Utah bill bring more puppy mills to the state? (KSL.com)
Legislature addresses severe staffing shortage at Utah State Prison (KSL.com)
Why the Jan. 6 committee says Trump could be charged with criminal conspiracy (Deseret News)
Nevada’s Democratic governor was accosted. Here’s how his GOP opponents responded (Deseret News)
COVID
Surgeon general calls on tech companies for COVID misinformation data (Deseret News)
President Biden says the U.S. should prepare for a new COVID-19 variant (Deseret News)
Fewer colonoscopies during pandemic has led to cancer increase, Utah doctors say (KSL.com)
Faith
‘The Chosen’ creator in Utah: What Latter-day Saints asked Dallas Jenkins about his popular show (Deseret News)
Church History Library merges pioneer and missionary records into new biographical database (Deseret News)
Free tool lets you find, connect with your living relatives worldwide (Deseret News)
Open house, dedication dates scheduled for new Latter-day Saint temple in Cape Verde (Deseret News)
Latter-day Saints providing aid as refugee crisis expands (Deseret News)
Recreation
Snowbasin resort will move to Ikon Pass, Mountain Collective for 2022-23 winter season (KSL.com)
Police/Courts
Judge dismisses civil lawsuit in Bernardo Palacios police shooting (KSL.com)
The Nation
Meet the man bringing bunkers to the masses (Deseret News)
Jury acquits only Louisville officer charged in Breonna Taylor raid (Reuters)
The World
How a phone call led to a Utah fundraiser, donation drive for Ukrainian refugees (Deseret News)
Perspective: Thanks to Vladimir Putin, it’s OK to talk about good and evil again (Deseret News)
U.S. backs expulsion of Russian, Belarusian athletes from 2022 Paralympics in Beijing (Deseret News)
When a Utah State athlete’s family tried to escape from Ukraine, her teammate’s family came to the rescue (The Salt Lake Tribune 🔒)
Trending
Brandon Sanderson’s Kickstarter for 4 secret novels raises $19 million in only two days (Deseret News)
During the 2020 college football season, then BYU quarterback Zach Wilson was a regular on Heisman contender lists. He ultimately finished No. 8 in the voting, with 42 total votes, but his name was mentioned regularly throughout the year.
Last season, though, no BYU, Utah or Utah State player generated much if any noise. Not BYU quarterback Jaren Hall nor Utah quarterback Cam Rising nor Utah State quarterback Logan Bonner, and that despite breakout seasons by all three.
Read more about candidates for the Heisman with Utah ties.
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