😇 Salt Lake’s patron saint is back

Utah Homelessness Declines

The 2026 Point-in-Time Count revealed a 1.6% decrease in the overall number of Utahns experiencing homelessness on a single night. It’s the first year-over-year drop in recent history. [KUTV]

SLC Council Seat Vacated

District Four Council Member Eva Lopez Chavez has been removed from her seat, after an investigation by the City Attorney's Office determined she lives outside her district. A concerned constituent prompted the inquiry. The council now has to fill the seat. [Salt Lake Tribune]

• For more context: The constituent complaint was prompted by allegations of unwanted sexual behavior against Lopez Chavez. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

Go Fish, While You Can

Utah’s Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers to cast their lines, warning low water levels are expected to reduce fish populations. In response, officials have increased daily fishing limits at two reservoirs. [KUER, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources]

Diverting Our Water to Lake Powell

Northern Utah has begun sending up to 1 million acre feet of water to help fill Lake Powell on the Arizona border. How should Salt Lakers feel about this? [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

Two big events happened recently in our world and yours: We launched our parks map, and we mourned the loss of the downtown Chili’s. We’re still buzzing about both — and so are you.

Remembering the 400 South Chili’s

“Our whole family … bemoans the closing of the 400 S. Chili's where we would go on report card night … It was almost the only time we would go out for dinner, so the boys thought it was pretty special. We’ve never been since they all grew up and no longer needed reward for going to school. Maybe we are part of the reason they closed.” — Kerry D.

“This location was large enough to accommodate 20-plus grieving and hungry people after my dad's viewing at a downtown mortuary years ago. I'll never forget the kindness of the staff who hurried to get us a room on what was a busy weekday evening.” — Julie D.

How You’re Using the Parks Map

“I really connected with you highlighting the fact about park bathrooms not being open or accessible year round. As a year-round bike rider and park enjoyer, it always bothers me that as a taxpayer I cannot utilize services that are paid for in part by me.” — Anna U.

“I have been planning a family get together to do some grilling … I know that several parks in Daybreak have them, but only residents can reserve them, so I am out of luck. I had pretty much resigned myself to driving to every park within a reasonable distance from home that I could see on Google Maps. Then I found your Every Park SLC map, checked "South Jordan" and "grills" in the filters, and there they were.” — Kevin N.