🎓 A 3-year bachelor's degree?

Hot Springs Resort

A $60 million, 53-pool hot springs resort is coming to the Zion National Park area next year. It will be located about 30 minutes outside the park in La Verkin and will include 32 natural hot springs, 16 adult-only pools, three barrel saunas, three cold-dip pools, and a freshwater pool and spa. [ABC 4]

• Related: What to do near (but not inside) Utah's national parks. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

3-Year Bachelor’s Degree

The Utah System of Higher Education wants to give students the option to complete their bachelor’s degree in three years rather than four. Utah is the first state to implement a faster track to graduation through a Bachelor of Applied Studies category, which can be completed in 90 credits rather than the standard 120. [Utah News Dispatch]

Fashion on the Skiway

A recent fashion show held at the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City showcased vintage ski apparel. Ski fashion has historically been intertwined with the sport’s popularity, with designs evolving for both fun and function. Women, often credited with spearheading style changes, have accounted for over 40% of visits to ski resorts. And last year, women made up 60% of new skiers. [Salt Lake Tribune]

• Related: Spring fashion trends from Indigenous creators. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

Birds of a Feather

This morning, environmental activists are filing a petition to list a Great Salt Lake shorebird — the Wilson’s Phalarope — under the Endangered Species Act. And while these little guys are super cute, is this a sneaky tactic to save us all from the shrinking Great Salt Lake? [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

This week we’re talking about more state symbols and more places to get your pup clean.

💎 On Our State Stone

“While our state rock is coal, our state stone is beautiful honeycomb calcite, which I carve into sculptures.” — Jonna R.

🤠 On Our State Folk Dance

“I thought you might be interested in a bit more trivia about how our state dance became the square dance. It's actually the official state dance or state folk dance of about half of the states in the U.S., largely due to a concerted effort by a special interest group that had vigorously campaigned to get square dancing recognized as the national dance in the 1980s and 1990s. Utah adopted it in 1994, at the height of this group's successes. And, well, of course, the movement to codify square dancing as the most American form of dance is racist, as this Quartz article contends.” — John M.

🧽 On Dog Washes

“The Salty Dog Car and Pet Wash is super convenient on the west side! North of Walmart on 5600 W., it starts at $7 for 10 minutes and $15 for 25 minutes! That even includes options like tearless shampoo, flea and tick shampoo, de-skunk shampoo, and tub disinfectant.” — Tommy E.

“Pet Spawt in Holladay. Friendliest & most helpful staff. Always super clean.” — Kathryn C.

“Paw Paw’s always has KRCL playing, which is a major bonus!” — Kate R.

Can a Little Bird Save Great Salt Lake?

Could protecting one little bird save Great Salt Lake? Maybe! That’s what environmental advocates are betting on with a petition to list the Wilson’s phalarope under the Endangered Species Act. Deeda Seed, senior campaigner for the Center for Biological Diversity, joins host Ali Vallarta to explain how federal regulations around the species could get more water into the lake.