🌱Outbreak in Salt Lake County Schools + More Homeless Shelters?

Salt Lake City UT

13 January, 2022

6:27 PM

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Happy Friday, Salt Lake City! Let's get this day started. Here's everything worth knowing today in Salt Lake City. First, today's weather: Mostly sunny. High: 40 Low: 25. Here are the top 3 stories in Salt Lake City today: As many as 26 schools in Salt Lake County are reporting COVID-19 outbreaks this week, with many of them seeing record-setting highs in the number of cases since the pandemic began. This combined with thousands of students home sick, more teachers calling out, a shortage of substitute teachers, and mask mandate protests, has led to a chaotic situation that led one spokesperson for Canyons School District to admit that it's "become a challenge to even run our schools." (Salt Lake Tribune) The Salt Lake City Planning Commission voted earlier this week against an indefinite pause on the construction of new homeless shelters and recommended the deadline for when the moratorium on permanent shelters ends remain in place. The city asserts it was never meant to be a permanent prohibition, but that city code updates need to be made regarding the shelters. (KUER 90.1) One of the newly elected SLC council members went to a recent county council meeting to speak up for masks and advocate on behalf of the neighborhoods he represents, some of the most diverse in the city. SLC Councilmember Alejandro Puy reminded elected officials and attendees at the county council's mask debate that many of his constituents miss these kinds of gatherings due to shift-work schedules, and that minorities like those he represents are disproportionately affected by COVID compared to the rest of the population. (ABC 4) From our sponsor: Today's Salt Lake City Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Salt Lake City! Today in Salt Lake City: Rock out to Big Head Todd & the Monsters at The Depot (7:00 PM)Cheer on the Red Rocks at the U's Jon M Huntsman Center where Utah Women's Gymnastics faces the Oklahoma Sooners Women's Gymnastics team. (7:30 PM) See Pioneer Theatre Company's The Messenger, by Jeff Talbot. Using Henrik Ibsen's classic An Enemy of the People as a departure point, this brand-new play examines our relationships with the press, our community, and each other. (7:30 PM) From my notebook: "DinoFest is back! Our sixth annual DinoFest will be hosted at NHMU January 29-30 and we just posted our speaker lineup on our website." (Natural History Museum of Utah) "Have you always wanted to be a panelist at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention? Now is your chance to shine! Apply below to let us know what discussion panel, sing-a-long, game show, tutorial, or any other type of panel you would like to lead." (FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention)"The 2022 Utah Legislative Session begins Jan. 18, and, for 45 days, lawmakers will swarm capitol hill and buzz around, debating issues that matter and, inevitably, a few issues that do not." Here's Salt Lake Magazine's 2022 Utah Legislative Session preview. (Salt Lake Magazine) Loving the Salt Lake City Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at [email protected] You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! — Joseph Peterson About me: Joseph is a writer and marketing communications strategist with a degree in Mass Communication and Public Relations from the University of Utah. He's keen on city life, public libraries, national parks, and promoting events that build community.