AGP Executive Report

Phone-Free Concerts: Phoebe Bridgers announced a phone-free “Lost Tour” this fall, using Yondr pouches and escorting anyone who ignores the rules. Local Arts & Theater: LionHeart Hall in Logan is casting “Next to Normal” for a dinner-theatre run, with Celeste Baillio starring as Diana Goodman. Music Spotlight: Utah-filmed “The Fire I Am” by rising artist Aurelian is out, with K-pop/trap-pop/alt vibes and a planned debut state performance. Sports in Utah: BYU named Todd Miller its new men’s golf coach after Bruce Brockbank’s 34-season run. Community & Culture: Park City High School seniors received 149 scholarships totaling about $199,300, highlighting mentorship and first-gen support. Utah Health Policy: CMS guidance warns more than 180,000 Utahns could lose Medicaid under new work rules starting Jan. 2027. Data Center Backlash: A Utah mega data center plan faces growing pushback, with leaders calling for major reductions amid protests. Food & Local Flavor: Tart cherries are being pitched as a modern menu staple, moving from breakfast to late-night dishes.

Music: Muse dropped “Nightshift Superstar,” the fifth preview of its upcoming album The Wow! Signal (out June 26), and announced a North America tour starting next month. Music: Evanescence released Sanctuary and extended its world tour into 2027, with Utah listed on the run. Touring: Bryson Tiller announced the “Neo Trapsoul Tour,” with a Salt Lake City stop (Aug. 27) and tickets going on sale today. Touring: Sabaton set UK/Europe arena dates for spring 2027, kicking off in Dublin and running across major cities. Utah Arts & Community: Salt Lake City’s Downtown Farmers Market returns with a new layout at Pioneer Park, keeping roughly the same vendor capacity despite construction and vendor changes. Local Sports/Entertainment: BYU’s Ken Jennings connection to Brandon Sanderson is getting renewed attention after a “Jeopardy!” taping clip. Utah Public Life: Brigham City installed emergency-vehicle tech that can change traffic lights to speed first responders. Health/Local Care: New CMS data shows two Utah nursing homes (Murray’s Cottage on Vine and Orem Rehab & Nursing) earning overall ratings of 2 for Q1 2026.

Utah AI & data centers: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary says he’ll cut his proposed Stratos AI data center footprint in northern Utah in half, after Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams demanded a 75% reduction amid water and environmental concerns around the Great Salt Lake. Politics & tech: Republicans also pressed the White House over claims China-linked funding is fueling anti–data center opposition, while a bipartisan federal “Great American AI Act” draft would create a national AI governance framework. Local entertainment & community: Heber Valley’s Red, White, and Blue Festival is expanding to a three-day America250 celebration (July 2–4). Sports: The Utah Jazz mapped out key offseason dates, starting with the NBA Draft June 23. Reality TV: Peacock’s The Traitors topped the Critics Choice Real TV Awards. BYU fandom: BYU released its 2026 gameday fan shirt, now priced at $14.99. Provo plans: Residents raised concerns at City Hall over the proposed Vesper Amphitheater at the mouth of Provo Canyon.

Music & Tickets: Gracie Abrams announced The Look At My Life Tour with a North America run starting Dec. 2–3 in Denver and ending March 16–20 in Brooklyn; tickets go on sale June 5. Local Live Music: Iron Mountain’s 906 Fest returns with two days of country, rock, blues and indie—Poolhouse headlines Saturday. Opera (Free): Utah Festival Opera vocalists will perform a free June 5 concert in Logan at Carol and Jim Laub Plaza. Art & Culture: Marmot Art Space spotlights Indigenous sculptor Greyshoes in its June exhibition Southwest Sculptures. Film: Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan’s Sundance hit Josephine lands exclusive distribution rights across the Indian subcontinent. TV Loss: Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch star Duane Ollinger dies at 68 after ALS. Sports (Utah ties): South Korea beat El Salvador 1–0 in a World Cup warmup at BYU South Field in Provo. Big Tech/Local Backlash: A new report warns AI could dramatically increase electricity use and water demand—fueling the broader Utah data-center fight.

College Sports Reform: Utah Sen. John Curtis grilled U of U defensive end Lance Holtzclaw during a Senate hearing on the Protect College Sports Act, as lawmakers push for a national rulebook for NIL, transfers, and athlete health. Utah Arts & Film: Woodbine Food Hall and the Utah Film Center team up again for “Movies in the Alley,” kicking off Friday with The Princess Bride and running monthly through summer. Music & Festivals: Fort Desolation Fest revealed its 2026 lineup—Drive-By Truckers, Andrew Bird, Grahame Lesh & Friends and more—Sept. 24-26 in Torrey. Sports Business in Utah: Salt Palace Convention Center will fully close for three years starting in 2027 for redevelopment tied to a new downtown sports/entertainment district. Local Community Spotlight: The Utah Summer Games marks its 40th anniversary with a June 5 opening ceremony in Cedar City. Public Safety/Local News: A man died after an electric scooter crash in Kearns; and Tooele County voters received incorrect primary ballots due to a print-vendor error.

Utah Arts & Culture: Robert Smithson’s iconic Spiral Jetty gets a fresh spotlight as Salt Lake’s Great Salt Lake continues to shift the artwork’s fate, reminding visitors why the land-art classic still feels alive. Local Events: Helper En Plein Aire returns with a three-day painting competition (Aug. 18-21) tied to the Helper Arts Festival, plus a new Helper Beer label award. Music: Mastodon honors late guitarist Brent Hinds with the new single “Your Ghost Again” and teases a fall tour. Sports (Utah ties): South Korea’s World Cup squad trained together for the first time in Utah, but defender Cho Yu-min left camp after a foot injury ended his run. Entertainment/Media: Congress is pressing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify over the league’s TV and streaming deals—another reminder that what you watch (and where) is becoming a political issue. Tech/Community: Erin Brockovich launches a site tracking AI data centers and invites residents to report local concerns.

NBA Draft Buzz (Utah ties): ESPN’s Jeremy Woo and Tim Bontemps are already mapping the 2026 NBA Draft, including AJ Dybantsa’s BYU spotlight and early player comparisons that fans love to debate. Stanley Cup Final (Utah sports): The Hurricanes and Golden Knights open the title series with Game 1 Tuesday, setting up a Vegas vs. Carolina matchup after both teams steamrolled their way through the playoffs. Utah Arts & Community: Salt Lake City’s Blocks program is launching a free “Art Garten” at the old Utah Pantages Theater site with live music, food trucks, and lawn games—plus UMOCA’s latest summer exhibitions are drawing attention. Northern Utah Festival Season: Logan Summerfest is asking for 150 more volunteers for its June 18-20 juried arts weekend. Health & Safety: The Red Cross of Utah is urging residents to prep for extreme heat with hydration, cooling plans, and knowing heat illness warning signs. Utah Sports Coaching: BYU women’s gymnastics brings back Shannon Evans as an assistant coach.

Music & Touring: Grammy-nominated Bryson Tiller announced his 61-date “Neo Trapsoul Tour,” kicking off Aug. 27 in West Valley City and running through major stops before a Dec. 1 Dublin show. Local Sports & Coaching: BYU women’s gymnastics brought back Shannon Evans as an assistant coach after her standout Cougars career. Utah Arts & Community: Magnolia Bakery opened in Holladay, drawing big crowds for its signature banana pudding and desserts. Courtroom Watch: A Utah judge ruled that the public and media can attend key parts of Tyler Robinson’s Charlie Kirk murder-case hearing, rejecting a defense push for secrecy. Utah Sports Spotlight: BYU freshman golfer Kihei Akina tied for 8th at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships after a 2-under final round. Global Pop Culture: Malaysia moved to ban social media accounts for kids under 16, joining other countries tightening online rules for minors. Entertainment TV: “Below Deck Down Under” Season 4 wrapped with cast updates and a look at what’s next for Captain Jason Chambers and crew.

Courtroom Access: A Utah judge ruled Tyler Robinson’s July preliminary hearing in the Charlie Kirk murder case will stay open to the public, rejecting efforts to restrict media coverage, while also setting a June 12 evidentiary hearing on whether prosecutors violated a pretrial publicity order. BYU Football Recruiting: BYU coaches are heading into June with a big recruiting lift for the 2027 class, with just five commitments so far and a busy month of camps and evaluations ahead. Healthcare & Community: Idaho Falls opened a new outpatient surgery center touting lower-cost procedures and a close-knit staff model, aiming to bring hospital-level specialties to the community. Arts in Education: A Utah school credits an arts-focused makeover for major improvements, including sharply lower chronic absenteeism and higher early-grade test scores. Utah Royals: Utah extended its unbeaten run to 10 games with a 2-2 draw at Portland, setting up the next stretch of NWSL play after the June break. Music & Theater: Logan’s Lyric Repertory Company kicked off its 60th anniversary season with Page-to-Stage events and a major restoration reveal at the Caine Lyric Theatre. NHL Spotlight: The Stanley Cup Final is set—Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights—starting Tuesday. Tech & Policy: Utah leaders are pressing for stricter limits and transparency around a proposed massive data center project, including calls to shrink its footprint.

Local Arts & Culture: A new Church Historian’s Press website, “Native Saints: The Washakie Ward,” launches from a collaboration with the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, spotlighting an Indigenous LDS congregation near the Utah-Idaho border (1880–1966). Utah Film/Pop Culture: EA Sports College Football 27 puts Indiana coach Curt Cignetti on the Deluxe Edition cover, sparking big debate among fans. Sports (Utah ties): BYU track punched multiple NCAA Championship berths at the West Prelims, including 800m, discus, 1500m, and steeplechase qualifiers. Community Events: Utah’s June lineup is packed—from major concerts at Eccles Theater and amphitheaters to a free fly-fishing day at Deer Valley Ponds on June 6. Utah Life & Safety: Park City neighbors blocked a street after a moose gave birth to twin calves, with wildlife officials urging distance from baby animals. Health: A Utah-based psychologist explains why sleep matters for cognitive health as people age.

Reality TV Buzz: Whitney Leavitt says she’s exiting Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” but her latest Instagram tease has fans hunting for her next reality project. Sports Spotlight: John Tortorella’s quick Vegas turnaround is being framed as a swagger-finding mission as the Golden Knights push toward the Stanley Cup Final. Local Arts & Stage: Cache Theatre Company’s “The Hello Girls” at LionHeart Hall blends WWI history with a rising feminist edge, led by local performer Lauren Kian. Utah Outdoors & Safety: Utah’s boating series wraps with a safety-first reminder—experts warn that jumping in to help someone can turn one emergency into multiple drownings. Community Calendar: Central Utah’s June family events list spotlights library art clubs, STEM, story times, and summer camp registration. Food & Lifestyle: Jell-O is rolling out a “Simply” line with more natural ingredients and less sugar, aiming at Utah potluck nostalgia with a cleaner recipe. Tech & Controversy: Kevin O’Leary’s Stratos data center fight keeps heating up, with Utah opposition and national attention colliding.

Stanley Cup Spotlight: Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights meet in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, with Carolina entering as a slight betting favorite and riding a dominant playoff run that includes a four-game sweep over Montreal. Utah Sports Buzz: BYU’s men’s golf team played its NCAA round early to honor religious observances, while BYU track and field punched multiple entries to nationals at the NCAA West prelims. Local Pro Sports: Denver Summit FC kept momentum with a 1-0 win over Racing Louisville, powered by Ally Brazier’s first goal of the season. Arts & Entertainment: Provo Canyon’s planned Vesper Amphitheater would transform a long-running quarry into a major year-round venue, with Osmond family members helping unveil the concept. Community & Culture: Wasatch Food Co-op opened in Salt Lake City’s Liberty Wells neighborhood, aiming for heavy local sourcing and already drawing big first-day crowds. Scam Alert: The BBB warns of a Facebook Marketplace heavy-equipment scam that pushes buyers to wire money upfront, then disappears. World Cup Prep in Utah: South Korea vs. Trinidad and Tobago kicks off at BYU South Field in Provo as part of the teams’ World Cup tune-up series.

Utah Sports & College Football: BYU’s women’s track star Jane Hedengren advanced after breaking a 17-year-old 10,000-meter facility record, while BYU men’s golf struggled Friday after a strong earlier round at NCAA West. Utah Basketball Recruiting: Utah State is adding Evansville transfer Connor Turnbull, a 6-foot-10 center expected to anchor the paint. Big 12 Football Tech: The conference unveiled a centralized Replay Operations Center—plus replay audio for broadcasts—while coaches push toward a 24-team College Football Playoff. Local Arts & Community: Salt Lake City’s Golden Spike Monument lands a permanent home, and SF Porchfest-style vibes hit Utah with Mission District porch concerts (100+ acts) as a reminder that free, neighborhood music still wins. Entertainment Streaming: Netflix premiered Calabasas Confidential, spotlighting influencer-and-celebrity-family culture. Utah Culture & Faith: A new LDS Humanitarian Center opens June 1 in Salt Lake City, expanding classrooms and English programs. Legal/Media: In Utah’s courts, Tyler Robinson’s defense seeks to appeal a judge’s order allowing cameras on a hearing-by-hearing basis.

AI & TV: BBC’s “Question Time” special left viewers rattled after an AI panel of historic figures (Churchill, Kahlo, Gandhi, Pankhurst) was introduced alongside real guests. Utah Sports & Training: Korea’s men’s national team is using a Salt Lake City altitude camp to prep for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico. BYU Athletics: BYU opened the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships with a 1-under 287, led by Senior Simon Kwon, plus freshmen Kihei Akina and Parker Bunn. Track & Field: BYU’s Jane Hedengren won the NCAA West 10,000m prelim and broke a 17-year facility record, setting up the final next month. Great Salt Lake Action: Gov. Spencer Cox will convene a Great Salt Lake Roundtable Friday, followed by a Farmington Bay service project. Local Accessibility: Utah County friends Sam Durst and Ryan Grassley are expanding outdoor access for wheelchair users through their Extreme Motus platform and the Pleasant Grove Berserker Blitz. Music Tours: Good Charlotte announced the UK/Europe leg of its Motel Du Cap Tour, with tickets going on sale at 10am.

Youth Sports: More than 7,500 Utah youth soccer players are set to chase the MLS NEXT Cup at Zions Bank Stadium this weekend, with local clubs including Real Salt Lake’s academy spotlighting the region’s growing pipeline. Local Wildlife: A young black bear was tranquilized and removed from a Park City neighborhood after climbing a tree near Prospector Park. Viral Trend Fallout: A Provo teen is in critical condition after attempting the dangerous “couch surfing” TikTok stunt, suffering severe injuries. Community & Culture: Salt Lake City’s Busker Fest returns Friday and Saturday with free, all-ages street performances across downtown. Food & Business: Chicken Salad Chick announced its first Utah restaurant opening in Pleasant Grove, with a June 9 grand opening. Housing Watch: Redfin reports Americans need about $116,780 to afford a typical U.S. home—down 2% year over year—while Utah isn’t included in the metro list. Civic Safety: Utah Postal Workers Union launches a vote-by-mail ad campaign ahead of Utah primaries. Sports Business: The NBA approved major anti-tanking draft lottery changes, affecting teams including Utah.