Latest news with #BrighamYoung
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Civil lawsuit accuses BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff of raping Utah woman in 2023
Brigham Young quarterback Jake Retzlaff has been accused of raping a woman at his Utah residence in November 2023. In a civil lawsuit filed this week in state court in Salt Lake County, a woman identified in documents as Jane Doe alleges that Retzlaff "raped, strangled, and bit" her after she and a friend came over to his place to play the video game "Fortnite." The claimant is asking for more than $300,000 in damages over claims including assault, battery and "emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, mental distress and anxiety." Retzlaff's attorney, Mark Baute, said on Wednesday in a statement to media outlets that Retzlaff is 'factually innocent." "We look forward to proving that innocence," Baute said. "Jake's focus this year will be on football. We don't try cases in the media, we will respect the process and establish Jake's innocence through the judicial system.' Retzlaff played two years at Corona Centennial High before spending a year each at Riverside City College and Golden West College in Huntington Beach. He has played 17 games in two seasons at BYU and led the Cougars to an 11-2 record last year. He has one year of college eligibility remaining. BYU said in a statement to The Times that it learned about the lawsuit Wednesday. "The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX," BYU wrote. "Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment." According to the lawsuit, Doe and Retzlaff met via social media in October and began messaging. They met in person in late November when Retzlaff invited the Salt Lake County resident to his place in Utah County. She and a friend came over "that evening and went to his room to play Fortnite," the lawsuit states. The filing states that Doe interacted with "Retzlaff's friends and teammates" while playing the video game. Later, after her friend left, Doe and Retzlaff were kissing while watching a movie when "Retzlaff began escalating the situation, attempting to touch her breasts and genital area," according to the complaint. The lawsuit states that Doe "tried to de-escalate the situation and attempted to slow things down, trying to pull away, and saying 'wait.' She did not want to do anything sexual with him." Retzlaff's physical contact started "causing her pain," the complaint states, and Doe objected — saying "no" and "wait, stop" — and "wanted to leave, but was scared and felt like she could not get away." According to the lawsuit, Retzlaff would go on to allegedly pull Doe's hair, forcefully kiss her, bite her lip (which allegedly caused a cut) and "put his hands around her neck and started to press down so that she could not breathe," among other alleged actions before raping her. Doe left after Retzlaff fell asleep, the lawsuit states. She went to a hospital "a few days later," according to the lawsuit, and had a rape kit performed and photos taken of her injuries. She also spoke with the Provo Police Department but initially did not give Retzlaff's name because "she was scared and in shock and not ready to confront him," the lawsuit states. "At some point after speaking to the police, an officer reached out to her asking for the name because someone else filed a complaint against a football player and the police wanted to see if it was the same person," the lawsuit states. "At that point, [Doe] shared Retzlaff's name, and the Provo police then encouraged her not to do anything because, as they claimed, 'sexual assault victims never get justice.'" In a statement released Wednesday night, the Provo Police Department said it "is aware of a civil suit involving an allegation of rape made by an anonymous plaintiff against a BYU football player" but "has not been served any legal filing relating to this civil case." The department said it was able "to identify a possible correlating case report" based on the details of the civil case. The initials of the woman who called in that report match those of Retzlaff's accuser. The Times does not name victims of sexual assault unless they choose to be identified. "Our records show that on November 27th, 2023, our department received a phone report from a woman ... who gave a similar account. She was treated with courtesy and care," the department stated. "The complainant in that case was given several opportunities to identify her abuser. She declined to do so, as is her right, and the case was subsequently closed. Collected evidence was examined, and it revealed no actionable investigative leads. Our victim advocates followed up several times to offer services but received no response." The department continued: "The civil suit states that Provo Police personnel discouraged the victim from proceeding, by telling her there is no justice for victims of sexual abuse. From everything we have reviewed, this is not true. We have a team of dedicated investigators and victim advocates whose sole mission is to provide justice to victims of sexual abuse. They do not send people away, warning them there is no justice for victims. "Our Special Victims Unit investigations regularly result in criminal accountability for offenders. We hope the plaintiff chooses to make a statement to further the criminal investigation if desired." Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
22-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Civil lawsuit accuses BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff of raping Utah woman in 2023
Brigham Young quarterback Jake Retzlaff has been accused of raping a woman at his Utah residence in November 2023. In a civil lawsuit filed this week in state court in Salt Lake County, a woman identified in documents as Jane Doe alleges that Retzlaff 'raped, strangled, and bit' her after she and a friend came over to his place to play the video game 'Fortnite.' The claimant is asking for more than $300,000 in damages over claims including assault, battery and 'emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, mental distress and anxiety.' Retzlaff's attorney, Mark Baute, said on Wednesday in a statement to media outlets that Retzlaff is 'factually innocent.' 'We look forward to proving that innocence,' Baute said. 'Jake's focus this year will be on football. We don't try cases in the media, we will respect the process and establish Jake's innocence through the judicial system.' Retzlaff played two years at Corona Centennial High before spending a year each at Riverside City College and Golden West College in Huntington Beach. He has played 17 games in two seasons at BYU and led the Cougars to an 11-2 record last year. He has one year of college eligibility remaining. BYU said in a statement to The Times that it learned about the lawsuit Wednesday. 'The university takes any allegation very seriously, following all processes and guidelines mandated by Title IX,' BYU wrote. 'Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment.' According to the lawsuit, Doe and Retzlaff met via social media in October and began messaging. They met in person in late November when Retzlaff invited the Salt Lake County resident to his place in Utah County. She and a friend came over 'that evening and went to his room to play Fortnite,' the lawsuit states. The filing states that Doe interacted with 'Retzlaff's friends and teammates' while playing the video game. Later, after her friend left, Doe and Retzlaff were kissing while watching a movie when 'Retzlaff began escalating the situation, attempting to touch her breasts and genital area,' according to the complaint. The lawsuit states that Doe 'tried to de-escalate the situation and attempted to slow things down, trying to pull away, and saying 'wait.' She did not want to do anything sexual with him.' Retzlaff's physical contact started 'causing her pain,' the complaint states, and Doe objected — saying 'no' and 'wait, stop' — and 'wanted to leave, but was scared and felt like she could not get away.' According to the lawsuit, Retzlaff would go on to allegedly pull Doe's hair, forcefully kiss her, bite her lip (which allegedly caused a cut) and 'put his hands around her neck and started to press down so that she could not breathe,' among other alleged actions before raping her. Doe left after Retzlaff fell asleep, the lawsuit states. She went to a hospital 'a few days later,' according to the lawsuit, and had a rape kit performed and photos taken of her injuries. She also spoke with the Provo Police Department but initially did not give Retzlaff's name because 'she was scared and in shock and not ready to confront him,' the lawsuit states. 'At some point after speaking to the police, an officer reached out to her asking for the name because someone else filed a complaint against a football player and the police wanted to see if it was the same person,' the lawsuit states. 'At that point, [Doe] shared Retzlaff's name, and the Provo police then encouraged her not to do anything because, as they claimed, 'sexual assault victims never get justice.'' In a statement released Wednesday night, the Provo Police Department said it 'is aware of a civil suit involving an allegation of rape made by an anonymous plaintiff against a BYU football player' but 'has not been served any legal filing relating to this civil case.' The department said it was able 'to identify a possible correlating case report' based on the details of the civil case. The initials of the woman who called in that report match those of Retzlaff's accuser. The Times does not name victims of sexual assault unless they choose to be identified. 'Our records show that on November 27th, 2023, our department received a phone report from a woman ... who gave a similar account. She was treated with courtesy and care,' the department stated. 'The complainant in that case was given several opportunities to identify her abuser. She declined to do so, as is her right, and the case was subsequently closed. Collected evidence was examined, and it revealed no actionable investigative leads. Our victim advocates followed up several times to offer services but received no response.' The department continued: 'The civil suit states that Provo Police personnel discouraged the victim from proceeding, by telling her there is no justice for victims of sexual abuse. From everything we have reviewed, this is not true. We have a team of dedicated investigators and victim advocates whose sole mission is to provide justice to victims of sexual abuse. They do not send people away, warning them there is no justice for victims. 'Our Special Victims Unit investigations regularly result in criminal accountability for offenders. We hope the plaintiff chooses to make a statement to further the criminal investigation if desired.'
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Travel + Leisure
11-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Salt Lake City's Cool Factor Is Rising—and It Starts in These 3 Neighborhoods
Utah's capital has been associated with the Mormon community since its founding in 1847 by the religious leader Brigham Young. The Gothic spires of the Salt Lake Temple still stand out against the cluster of modern office buildings that make up the skyline, but the temple has been closed for renovations since December 2019. Most of the temple was formerly accessible only to members; when it reopens next year, it will offer a public open house for the first time. The transformation reflects wider changes afoot in Salt Lake City. Younger adults have been relocating there because of its relatively affordable real estate, as well as the outdoor-adventure scene in nearby skiing and hiking areas like Park City and Brighton. As of 2024, Utah has the lowest median age of any state in the country. This infusion of youthful energy and capital has resulted in a burst of creativity. On a recent visit, I spent time in the neighborhoods that best reflect this shift. Curator's Café, in the Evo Hotel. From Left: Caputo's Market & Deli; the 23-foot whale sculpture in 9th & 9th. Caputos; Logan Sorenson/Visit Salt Lake Downtown is the setting for one of the state's biggest events: the Utah Pride Festival, which attracts crowds of up to 50,000 each June. Salt Lake City has one of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ people in the U.S., and three of its seven city council members identify as LGBTQ. For a place that has long been considered conservative, that feels like a sea change. But then, says wine and spirits expert Jim Santangelo, 'Salt Lake City has always offered up surprises.' I joined Santangelo's Whiskey & History walking tour of Downtown, where I learned that though the Mormon faith famously preaches abstinence from alcohol, Brigham Young himself produced a whiskey called Valley Tan—'for trading and medicinal purposes,' according to Santangelo. Our tour ended at White Horse Spirits & Kitchen, where we tasted locally made whiskeys and ciders, which were served with freshly shucked oysters from both the East and West Coasts. My favorite drink of the day was another beverage discouraged by the Mormon faith. The celebrated coffee at Caputo's Market & Deli is roasted by La Barba, which has been in operation since 2012. Caputo's was founded in 1997, and its shelves reflect the family's Greek and Italian heritage. Owners Matt and Yelena Caputo import artisan cheeses, tinned fish, and oils directly from Italy. The place has become a neighborhood go-to. The 225-room Asher Adams, Autograph Collection , which opened last year in a carefully restored historic train depot, is now the coolest place to stay in Downtown. The building's original stained-glass windows, coved ceilings, and gold detailing all contribute to an atmosphere of early-20th-century splendor. The bar at White Horse Spirits & Kitchen. Just southeast of lower Downtown lies 9th & 9th, an often-overlooked blip on the Salt Lake City map. I made a beeline for the Salt & Honey Makers Market, where cofounders Ashley Collett and Nicole Choules give 250 mostly local vendors a space to sell handmade products. I picked up a laser-cut map of the city by architect Caitlin Blythe, plus stickers of Collett's illustrations. (One of her bestsellers is a rainbow decal, which makes sense, given the shop's location on Harvey Milk Boulevard.) Afterward, I rewarded my efforts with two kinds of pie. At Pizza Nono , I ordered slices dotted with salami and drizzled with local honey; at Pie Fight, just down the block, I opted for a piece of blueberry-lemon. Both establishments are near the "Out of the Blue , " a colorful 23-foot statue of a humpback whale that has become a quirky symbol of the area since its installation in 2022. Some locals claim the sculpture is responsible for record snowfalls in the state since its arrival. To the west of 9th & 9th lies the Maven District, a collection of 100 businesses, most of which are female-owned, spread across 10 buildings. It was established in 2015 by Salt Lake City native Tessa Arneson and her cofounder, Rocky Donati. Colorful murals, many by women artists, greeted me at every turn; one by illustrator Brooke Smart, depicting women lifting each other up, reflects the ethos of the district. The Maven is home to shops, fitness studios, and restaurants. Highlights include Pantry Products, where founder Michelle Czarka whips up small-batch, earth-friendly balms and oils, and Normal Ice Cream, which was nominated for Outstanding Bakery by the James Beard Foundation in 2023 (and was the first ice cream shop ever to receive a nod in the category). The Maven is continuing to grow; last year, Arneson launched a small group of short-term rental apartments. An art market at Fisher Brewing Co. Mack Lambert/Fisher Brewing Company The line for the all-ages music venue Kilby Court snaked around the block when I visited on a Thursday evening. The space, which can hold 200 people, hosts up-and-coming artists of all genres. In the early 2000s, it was a launchpad for acts like Death Cab for Cutie and Dashboard Confessional; Doja Cat performed there when she was starting out in 2018. The surrounding Granary District, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Salt Lake, was once an industrial and manufacturing hub. Today, it's redefining itself as a playground for young adults, with breweries, live music venues, and, as of 2022, the 50-room Evo Hotel. The property—the first of three from the gear brand of the same name—blends seamlessly into the neighborhood, with floor-to-ceiling murals paying homage to nearby attractions, such as Snowbird resort. It's part of a complex called Campus Salt Lake, which includes an indoor skate park and a 26,000-square-foot bouldering gym set inside century-old warehouses. There's also a massive shop that offers gear rentals for all kinds of outdoor sports, making it an excellent complement to the adventures found beyond the city. An evening walk through the district led me to Fisher Brewing Co., which attracts beer enthusiasts with its 18 rotating taps, food trucks, and a dog-friendly heated patio with picnic tables. After sipping on Fisher Beer, a classic pilsner, I headed around the corner to the Woodbine Food Hall, where the colorful graffiti paired well with my Korean fried chicken. Not ready to call it a night, I headed up to Evo's rooftop Crown Bar, where I cozied up around the firepit and toasted with a beer from local brewer Uinta, with the city in the foreground and the Wasatch Mountains in the distance. A version of this story first appeared in the June 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline 'Shaking It Up .'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Opinion: The living legacy of Utah's Jewish and Latter-day Saint friendship
In 1903, a remarkable scene unfolded in Salt Lake City beneath a canopy of American flags. Members of the Jewish community laid the cornerstone for Utah's first Orthodox synagogue, joined by civic and religious leaders from across the city. Among the speakers that day was President Joseph F. Smith, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He praised the Jewish community's 'fidelity and earnestness of purpose,' extending a hand of fellowship and calling them 'brethren.' His remarks, published in the Deseret Evening News under the headline 'Jewish People Congratulated,' offered a vision of kinship between faiths — one that, even today, feels strikingly generous. At a time when religious differences elsewhere sparked violence, Utah's civic life told a different story: one of solidarity and shared hope. Utah's early history offers a remarkable but often overlooked example of interfaith support. In part, this solidarity grew from shared experience. In the 19th century, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints understood their own story through the lens of biblical Israel, seeing themselves as a people in exile, seeking a promised land. Having faced suspicion and exile, Utah's early Latter-day Saints often showed respect for the Jewish story. While the relationship between Latter-day Saints and Jews was not always simple, these early moments of kinship — forged through shared ideals of covenant and perseverance — challenge assumptions about the American West and offer lessons for today's world. These ideals soon found concrete expression. In the 1860s, Brigham Young deeded land to Utah's emerging Jewish community for the establishment of the state's first Jewish cemetery — a rare gesture of civic inclusion at the time. In 1884, Salt Lake City's first synagogue, B'nai Israel, opened its doors to a Christian Bible class taught by Rev. F.T. Lee, reflecting a reciprocal spirit of religious hospitality. By 1891, when the congregation dedicated a new temple, they invited 'people of all churches, denominations and beliefs' to attend. Contemporary accounts praised the event as a civic celebration, noting that political leaders, businessmen, and religious leaders from across traditions filled the pews. Today, a successor to the congregation, Kol Ami, continues Jewish life in Salt Lake City. President Smith's remarks emphasized a bond of civic goodwill and spiritual kinship. 'You are descended from Judah,' he told the Jewish community. 'Many of us are descended from Joseph through the loins of Ephraim. We therefore consider you our brethren and we ought to be friends.' His blessing, reported in the Deseret News, captured an extraordinary moment: a religious minority celebrated, not merely tolerated, by the dominant faith community. This pattern continued into the next generation. In 1921, when the Jewish community of Ogden laid the cornerstone for their new synagogue, civic and religious leaders again gathered in support. Speakers included Mayor Frank Francis; Reverend John Carver, a Presbyterian minister; James Wotherspoon, a local Latter-day Saint leader; and former Governor Simon Bamberger — one of America's first Jewish governors. Today, Brith Sholem remains Utah's oldest synagogue. No history is without tensions or imperfections. But at a time when Jews elsewhere faced violent pogroms — as in Kishinev, Russia, in 1903 — the public solidarity shown in Utah stands out. Across generations, Utah's Jewish and Latter-day Saint communities cultivated a civic friendship rooted in dignity, religious freedom and shared public life. That example is especially worth remembering today. In a time when interfaith bonds are tested around the world — from campuses to city halls — Utah's story reminds us that solidarity is possible even amidst difference. Recent headlines tell of strained faith relationships, but also a yearning for peace. The foundations laid in Utah more than a century ago show that bridges can be built even in uncertain times. Latter-day Saints and Jews, each a religious minority in their own way, found ways to honor one another publicly and participate together in the building of civic life. They proved that respect and shared hope are living traditions, renewed whenever communities choose to see each other with dignity. That is a legacy worth carrying forward.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
No. 1 College Basketball Recruit AJ Dybantsa Turns Heads With New Post
AJ Dybantsa is considered the No. 1 recruit in the nation from the high school class of 2025. He spent this season at Utah Prep, and he will be heading to Brigham Young this fall to start his college basketball career. Scouts seem to think very highly of the 6-foot-9 forward, and many expect him to leave college after his freshman year to go into the NBA draft, where he's projected to be the first player chosen. Advertisement On his official Instagram account, he posted a video of himself working on his basketball skills, and fans across the land have taken notice. "Lead the way," one fan wrote. "Generational Talent Otw," another fan wrote. "so tuff #1," a third fan wrote. "Very proud of you lil bro," a fourth fan wrote. "Good luck ❤️," a fifth fan wrote. "Travel lol," a sixth fan wrote. Dybantsa has a wingspan of over seven feet, and he can score at all three levels, although his mid-range pull-up game is considered his biggest strength, according to a scouting report from 247Sports. The Massachusetts native is also thought to have plenty of potential to become an impact player on the defensive end as well. Team Oak Soldier's AJ Dybantsa (3) dunks the Boyd II-The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK Two years ago, Dybantsa represented the United States in the FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Mexico, and he helped the Stars and Stripes earn a gold medal. Advertisement This past season, BYU qualified for the NCAA Tournament as the sixth seed in the East region. It got to the Sweet Sixteen round, where it was blown out by Alabama, 113-88. Related: Dan Hurley's UConn Huskies Make Decision on Top Transfer Portal Player
