AGP Executive Report

Suicide Prevention Through Dance: Nearly 40 Utah dance groups unite this Saturday at Salt Lake City’s Capitol Theatre for Dance for Life, pairing performances with mental health education and suicide awareness. Local Arts & Community: Odyssey Dance Theatre brings its Halloween staple “Thriller” back to Utah with a two-night run in Logan (Sept. 18-19) at the Ellen Eccles Theatre. Music in the Spotlight: Utah-raised Grammy winner Ray LaMontagne is back on tour after collapsing onstage in Nashville from heat-related dehydration, with his team saying he’s doing well. Sports Watch: No. 20 Utah gets a boost as offensive linemen Keith Olson and Isaiah Garcia “should be ready to go” after missing the opener; the Utes host Arkansas Saturday on ESPN. Entertainment Buzz: ABC pushed back on reports that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will end next season, calling the claims speculative. Food & Local Growth: Chomp Donuts & Coffee plans two new Wasatch Front locations, including a permanent spot at the Delta Center.

Reality TV & Politics: “Real Housewives” is back with a fresh season of loyalty, betrayal, and banishment—an angle that mirrors the drama inside Trump’s GOP. Local Screen Culture: “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Conner Leavitt addressed “DWTS” casting backlash in a new TikTok. Streaming & Money: Disney’s $50M antitrust settlement is still open—YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers have until Sept. 8 to file. Utah Music & Live Events: “Twilight in Concert” returns for a 2027 U.S. tour with 60+ cities. Sports in Utah: The Utes’ “Moment of Loudness” tradition returns, honoring Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe. Community Arts & Food: Afro Utah Fest’s Jollof rice competition brought West African flavor to the Beehive State. Salt Lake Business: Target River won Salt Lake City “Marketing Agency of the Year.” Film/Design Feature: A Utah home inspired by Japanese kirigami shows how architecture can fold with the seasons.

Weber State Leadership & AI: Weber State’s new president, Chris Mallett, lays out a campus push toward technology, accelerated degrees, and digital learning as he settles into the 14th presidency role. Music Health Update: Ray LaMontagne is recovering after collapsing onstage in Nashville from heat-related dehydration during his “Trouble 20th Anniversary” tour. Utah Nuclear Fallout Questions: A Salt Lake City family’s cesium-rich bone sample is fueling new University of Utah research into whether decades-old nuclear testing fallout can still be detected and linked to long-term illness. Local Food Expansion: ROCTACO, the Salt Lake City taco spot with global flavors, says it’s ready to expand across Utah if the fit is right. Labor Day Outdoors: Crowds packed Utah canyon areas for Labor Day, including Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork. BYU Big 12 Opener: BYU heads into Saturday’s Arizona game after a 63-7 opener over Utah Tech, with injury updates and a defense that set the tone early. Park City & Community Events: Parkites marked Miners Day with the long-running “Running of the Balls” and parade festivities. Film & Ski Culture: Teton Gravity Research’s ski film “Actually, It Is Rocket Science” screens Sept. 23 at the Jim Santy Auditorium in Park City.

Utah Arts & Culture: A new public-art moment is taking over Salt Lake City’s “Out of the Blue” whale mural area, with artist Jiyoun Lee-Lodge selected to paint “Open Your Eyes” on the roundabout sculpture—fans have already linked the whale’s makeover buzz to a surprisingly rainy August. Local Music: Movements dropped the “Pulse” music video and announced a big fall run that includes a Salt Lake City stop at The Complex on 10/12. Community & Heritage: Heber City unveiled a new statue honoring Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah at the Heber City Cemetery, building on earlier memorial work to spotlight Timpanogos history. Ski Season Energy: Teton Gravity Research’s 31st annual ski film, Actually, It Is Rocket Science, lands in Park City on 9/23 at the Jim Santy Auditorium. Food & Fun: Sweetgreen is opening its first Utah location in Salt Lake City (Sugar House) on Tuesday, pairing with The Creamery for OLIPOP “soda floats” and local-artist postcards. Family Events: Deer Valley’s Mountain Beer Festival returns 9/19-9/20 with chairlift access, live music, and a Brewmaster Dinner on 9/18.

Utah Food & Retail: Sweetgreen is finally opening in Salt Lake City, launching its first Utah location in Sugar House with local dairy “soda floats” (OLIPOP + The Creamery), limited-edition merch, and a first-day meal donation tied to food insecurity. Utah Arts & Community: Provo River Days returns Sept. 12 as a new multisite festival linking the watershed from the Uinta headwaters down through Jordanelle, Wasatch Mountain, Deer Creek, and Provo Canyon with hands-on activities and education. Utah Entertainment Spotlight: BYUtv’s one-season sci-fi series “Extinct” is getting a second life on Prime Video, climbing into U.S. streaming charts years after its 2017 debut. Local Arts & Culture: Southern Utah Art Guild leader and photographer Sam Barber is remembered for a life of mentorship and community service, with his family highlighting decades of creative work and travel. Pageants (Utah Connection): Elle Anderson, Miss Utah’s Teen, won Miss America’s Teen 2027 in Palm Beach, while Oxford native Madalyn Sullivan finished first runner-up. Sports (Utah Angle): BYUtv and Utah fans also keep an eye on the college football weekend fallout, including Utah transfer JJ Buchanan’s role in Michigan’s controversial Hail Mary win.

College Football (Utah ties): Kyle Whittingham’s Michigan debut turned into a national head-scratcher as the Wolverines survived a second-chance Hail Mary to beat Western Michigan 13-12, with Utah transfer JJ Buchanan hauling in the winning TD after officials put one second back on the clock. Pac-12 Watch: Utah fans are also eyeing the rebuilt Pac-12’s early weekend results, with the Apple Cup still the big remaining test. Utah Music: Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide Tour” hit a sold-out America First Field, drawing 25,000 and spotlighting Utah industry connections. Utah Sports (soccer): Real Salt Lake played LAFC to a 2-2 draw, while the Utah Royals fell 2-1 to Boston Legacy FC in a packed weekend at America First Field. Local Arts: Finch Lane Gallery announced two new Salt Lake City exhibits opening Sept. 14, including Indigenous textile work and a ceramics/media show on memory and everyday objects.

Utah Music & Local Talent: Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide Tour” hit America First Field in a sold-out stop that drew 25,000 fans, with Utah industry connections in the spotlight—celebrity vocal coach Mindy Pack and local horn talent helping shape the show. Community & Culture: North Salt Lake hosted its annual 9/11 Day of Service with a Porter’s Landing trail cleanup, continuing summer-long efforts to keep river paths welcoming. Arts in Salt Lake City: Finch Lane Gallery announced two free Sept. 14 openings—“Weaving Memories” (Indigenous textile storytelling) and “Patterns of Place” (ceramics and mixed media)—running through Oct. 23. Sports (Utah): Real Salt Lake is finally getting a full training week after a brutal stretch, aiming to reset ahead of LAFC at America First Field. Faith & Tradition: Rosh Hashana begins Sept. 11 at sundown, with shofar blasts marking the Jewish New Year and a call for spiritual renewal. UFC 332 (Salt Lake): The card is expanding for the Salt Lake event, including Roberto Soldic’s debut and more main-card additions.

Utah Arts & Community: Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll returns with free, family-friendly gallery stops, sidewalk performances, and local artists turning 25th Street into a monthly hangout. Local Exhibits: Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts in Mt. Carmel hosts “Big Skies and Desert Blooms – Wild Women Ride Again,” featuring eight women artists from Wild Women Paint the West, running Sept. 11–Oct. 16. Northern Utah Events: This week’s calendar highlights everything from chamber music at Weber State’s Bonneville Chamber Music Festival to Ogden Raptors games, farmers markets, and more community arts and music. Sports (BYU/Utah): BYU kicks off the season with a fresh-start vibe as No. 14 BYU hosts Utah Tech at 6 p.m. MDT (ESPN+), while Utah opens Big 12 play after a dominant season opener over Idaho. Crime & Courts: An 18-year-old accused of threatening to shoot men near UVU was booked and then released within a day on non-monetary conditions. Pop Culture: Natalie Portman welcomed her third child with partner Tanguy Destable.

Live Music & Local Planning: Provo Canyon’s proposed Vesper Amphitheater is backtracking after public pushback—developers withdrew their application and say they’ll resubmit a revised plan by month’s end, while Orem officials cite concerns over sound/light pollution, recreation impacts, and traffic. College Sports Spotlight: Utah opened the 2026 season with a 66-14 rout of Idaho in Morgan Scalley’s home debut, while BYU receiver Jojo Phillips says the doubters about the Cougars’ offense will get answered in the season opener vs. Utah Tech. Arts & Community Events: Thanksgiving Point’s Garden of Quilts returns Sept. 16–19 with more than 500 quilts and celebrity guests; Park City’s Afro Utah Festival brings Black-rooted cultures to downtown Salt Lake City; and the Egyptian Theatre marks 100 years with a free Park City Reunion Picnic Sept. 6. Local Culture & Tourism: Park City Chamber/Bureau leaders say the town is leaning harder on four-season identity after a tough winter, pointing to arts festivals and film production momentum. Broadcast/Streaming: WBOI adds “Click Here” Sundays at 4 p.m., a storytelling-driven show exploring how technology reshapes daily life.

BYU Football: BYU opens its 2026 season Saturday vs. Utah Tech (6 p.m. MDT, ESPN+), with the Cougars aiming to keep their momentum after a 12-win run and Big 12 title-game appearance. Utah Sports TV/Radio: Utah’s opener vs. Idaho already delivered a 66-14 win in front of a sellout crowd, and Utah State hosts Idaho State Saturday (5 p.m. MDT, CBS Sports Network). Weber State vs. Southern Utah: The Beehive Bowl rivalry returns in Cedar City for Weber State’s first matchup of the renewed series. Music Releases: Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats drop “House By The Grave” ahead of a Sept. 18 album release, and Dazy announces MAXIMUMBLASTSUPERLOUD Vol. 2 with a new single. Arts & Community: Artspace’s renovated Norbridge Court reopens in Salt Lake City, adding solar and new ground-floor businesses. Local Events: Park City’s Miners Day keeps mining traditions rolling with mucking and drilling at City Park. Drag & Live Shows: Cassie Nova brings Ryot Tour: Icons to Salt Lake City on Sept. 18.

Utah Sports Spotlight: The No. 21 Utah Utes open the 2026 season tonight, Sept. 3, hosting Idaho at Rice-Eccles Stadium (9 p.m. ET on ESPNU), the first regular-season meeting between the teams since 1993. Local Arts & Community: Ogden’s inaugural Ogden Mountain Film Festival is set for Nov. 5 at Peery’s Egyptian Theater, with tickets now on sale and short films focused on outdoor recreation and local landscapes. Music & Live Events: British rock band Squeeze canceled a Salt Lake City-area stop? (No—its Sept. 3 show in Vienna, VA) after a worker died in a venue parking-lot incident; the tour’s next Utah date is Sept. 9 at the Capitol Theatre. Church & Culture: The First Presidency invited everyone to participate in October 2026 general conference, with sessions Oct. 3–4 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mountain time. Entertainment Buzz: Taylor Frankie Paul revealed she accepted a marriage proposal during her scrapped season of The Bachelorette, later discussed in Hulu’s Get Real.

Utah Sports Betting Buzz: Kalshi is pushing a new “OREGONLIVE1” signup deal that lets eligible Utah fans trade MLB outcomes and chase up to a $25 bonus credit. College Football Kickoff (Utah angle): Week 1 starts Thursday, Sept. 3, with No. 21 Utah opening at home vs. Idaho, plus a full slate of games across TV/streaming. Weber State vs. Southern Utah: Weber State’s defense is bracing for SUU’s run-first identity as starting QB Will Burns and RB Floyd Chalk try to keep the ball moving. Music in Utah: Emo outfit Oso Oso announced a new album, and Salt Lake City’s Die Shiny dropped “Gold Star, Good Citizen,” debuting at the Utah State Capitol. Local Arts Event: USU’s Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art hosts a free western-themed Block Bash on Sept. 12. Reality TV Fallout: Taylor Frankie Paul is again in the headlines after revealing major “Bachelorette” spoilers tied to her engagement.

Weekend Picks: TGIF Show’s Labor Day guide spotlights Southern Utah art and family fun, including Cedar City’s First Friday and St. George’s Peach Days and Iron County Fair. Local Theater: Mount Vernon High School stages “Waylen” and “Tracks” Sept. 12-13. Utah Arts Spotlight: ThreePenny Theatre Company brings a world premiere of Mikhail Kuzmin’s “The Death of Nero” Sept. 4-13 at Trolley Square. SLC Stage Buzz: Mad King Productions’ “Macbitches,” a modern, all-female “Macbeth” retelling, continues at The Gateway. Community & Culture: Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll turns back the clock with an industrial-history photo exhibit at Ogden Union Station. Faith & Tourism: Salt Lake Temple open house reservations topped 1 million in the first 24 hours after “Rejoice in Christ” was unveiled. Big Screen Pop Culture: HBO Max drops the first full trailer for its “Harry Potter” series, promising a more book-by-book approach. Sports Crossover: Utah football opens the season vs. Idaho at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Salt Lake Temple Celebration: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says 1 million reservations for 2027 public temple open-house tours were snapped up fast, with the first batch gone in about 30 minutes and the full six-month celebration running April 5–Oct. 1. Sundance in Boulder: Sundance’s Boulder debut gets a boost with “Mostly True Stories From the Sundance Film Festival,” a Sept. 8 preview event featuring Rian Johnson, Amy Redford, Dee Rees and more. Utah dining & live music: Culinary Dropout opens in the rebuilt Utah Pickle Company building in the Granary District, bringing live music Thursdays–Saturdays and a comfort-food menu. Community arts: The National Park Service is taking applications for the 2027 Community Artist in the Parks program, spotlighting local creators in and around Arches/Canyonlands. Local sports support: Tooele County Title 1 schools launch after-school “Bridge Programs” backed by the Ron McBride Foundation, adding tutoring, enrichment, and mentorship. TV spotlight: “The Marlow Murder Club” returns for a third season with three amateur detectives solving new cases.

Salt Lake Temple Celebration: Church leaders unveiled the “Rejoice in Christ” theme and opened free reservations for the 2027 Salt Lake Temple open house, with tours running April 5–Oct. 1 and tickets released in phases. High-Profile Court Case: In Utah, Judge Tony Graf ruled Tyler Robinson—accused in the Charlie Kirk killing—can proceed to trial on capital murder charges, keeping the death-penalty option in play. Utah Arts & Culture: Utah Presents’ Stage Door Series kicked off with “Western Minerals and Their Origins,” a fringe-style, music-driven production built around local scenery and storytelling. Local Events: Park City’s Miners Day returns for Labor Day weekend with parades, markets, and community traditions, while Wellsville marks its Founder’s Day with history tours and a special guest speaker. Outdoors & Family Fun: Moab-Arches shuttle service is live for visitors ahead of the official launch, aiming to make Arches access easier during peak season.

BYU Film Grant: BYU students won a $30,000 grant for the short film “첫째 First,” exploring domestic violence through a mixed Korean-American Christian family and the perspective of the oldest daughter. Food Culture: Park City’s Chef’s Table Festival put chefs in the spotlight as storytellers, with panels on social media, sustainability, and even medicinal ingredients shaping what diners expect. Music Spotlight: Indie folk favorite Iron & Wine announced a deluxe “Hen’s Teeth” edition (Sept. 22) and a fall run that includes Salt Lake City at The Depot (Oct. 9). Local Fair Fun: The Iron County Fair returns Sept. 4–7 in Parowan with livestock, exhibits, contests, and “Iron County’s Got Talent.” Health & Celebrity: Lady A’s Charles Kelley shared before-and-after photos after going sober, while Lionel Richie checked into ICU after a concert-related dehydration scare. Utah Courts: A Provo judge is set to hear arguments Tuesday on whether Tyler Robinson’s case can move to trial in the Charlie Kirk murder matter. Weather Watch: Central and southern Utah face a flash-flood risk as recovery continues after the Grand Canyon flooding deaths and missing hiker. Outdoor Racing: Moab-area youth mountain bike races are set for Sept. 12 and Sept. 26 at Mud Springs, expected to draw thousands.