Latest news with #SaltLakeTribune
Axios
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
When Utah passed an "emergency" ban on tall hats at live performances
With Kilby Block Party heralding the start of our summer concert season, I find myself torn between wanting to join in the fun and not wanting to spend hours staring at some guy's shoulder blades because I'm too short to see anything else. Catch up quick: Turns out I'm not the first Utahn to tire of neck-craning. The legislature once passed an "emergency" ban on tall hats in theaters because no one behind them could see the show. This is Old News, our weekly quest for an unobstructed view of Utah's past. The intrigue: The 1897 ban was the first Utah bill ever filed by a woman. Eurithe K. LaBarthe was one of two women elected to the state House in 1896, when Utah's new constitution granted suffrage. When LaBarthe proposed the hat ban, the men in the chamber laughed at its frivolity. Yes, but: "High hat" bans were sweeping the nation, starting in Ohio. Context: Women's hats of the day were, admittedly, way over the top. What happened: The ban swiftly passed both chambers and was signed by the governor as an " emergency measure." How it worked: Guests at theaters, opera houses and other "indoor places of amusement" faced fines ranging from $1 to $10 for wearing hats that blocked the view for other patrons — about $40 to $400 in today's money. Friction point: Women kept wearing their high hats, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, noting: "Just how many ostriches had been stripped to supply these mammoth creations would be hard to tell." The next month, lawmakers called for the arrest of one theater owner who refused to sell them tickets in protest of the hat ban. The other side: In an editorial, the Broad Ax newspaper of Salt Lake City argued that women looked prettier without hats anyway. The Salt Lake Herald pointed out that men were constantly getting up mid-show to go hang out with their friends in the theater. The newspaper called on the legislature to ban that, too. The bottom line: Until Utah implements a tall person ban, my 6' 4" husband will be avenging my shortness at all the live shows I skip. Previously in Old News
New York Post
20-05-2025
- New York Post
Police name killer in cold case murder, rape of a Utah teenager that went unsolved for 40 years
A killer has finally been identified in the shocking rape and murder of a Utah teenager that baffled investigators for 40 years, according to police and reports. Christine Gallegos, 18, was last seen alive hitchhiking to downtown Salt Lake City on her way to work on May 15, 1985. Her body was discovered early the next morning by the driver of a passing car, according to reports from the Salt Lake Tribune at the time. 5 The murder of Christine Gallegos, 18, was solved 40 years later with the help of sophisticated DNA technology. Salt Lake City Police Dept Investigators arrived and found a grisly scene in the neighborhood now known as Ballpark. Gallegos had been beaten, raped, stabbed and shot twice in the head. She reportedly put up a fierce struggle against her attacker before she was killed, police said. 'She left a blood trail up to the gutter of Jefferson Street,' Detective Cordon Parks said at a press conference Thursday announcing that the cold case was solved. With the help of good old-fashioned detective work and cutting-edge genetic technology, police announced that the likely killer who evaded them for decades is Ricky Lee Stallworth — an Air Force vet who went on to marry five times and have three children before his death in 2023. 5 Police announced that Ricky Lee Stallworth, now dead, was the suspected killer of Christine Gallegos, whose lifeless body was discovered in a remote area 40 years ago. Aarons Mortuary Stallworth, 27 at the time of Gallegos' murder, was an airman at Hill Air Force Base in May 1985 when the teenage girl was killed. Before his death, Stallworth was reportedly known to police for his alleged interactions with prostitutes along State Street, the commercial strip that runs through downtown Salt Lake City, in the last two years of his life. During the press conference last week, Parks posthumously dubbed him a 'State Street stalker' for his late-night rendezvous. Even though he was married, Stallworth was known to leave his house at the dead of night and come back early in the morning, police said. He'd never tell his wife where he had been or what he had been doing, according to Parks. Stallworth, whose name never came up in the different rounds of investigations into the murder over the years, died of natural causes in July 2023, so investigators were never able to question him – a frustrating prospect for detectives. 'I wish we could have got to him before he died,' Parks said. 5 Christine Gallegos ' murder case remained unsolved for 40 years until DNA identified the killer. Salt Lake City Police Dept Investigators don't believe Stallworth and Gallegos knew each other before the murder. 'Handcuffs, however, do not equal healing,' said Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Steve O'Camb in a press release. 'The resolution of Christine's case is a prime example. We weren't able to arrest a suspect, but hopefully we achieved some measure of justice for her and the family and friends that loved her.' One of Stallworth's family members voluntarily provided a DNA sample to investigators that police say confirmed Stallworth was the killer. The DNA preserved from Gallegos' case was sent to one of the most powerful genetic sequencers in the world, Othram Labs, which found the match. 5 Police Chief Brian Redd at a press conference in Salt Lake City where he named Ricky Lee Stallworth as the suspected killer of Christine Gallegos, 18. Salt Lake City Police Dept Gallego's mother Leah said a day hasn't gone by since the teen's brutal killing that she hasn't thought of her daughter. 'I sure miss that girl every day,' she said at the press conference. Leah said that Christine was engaged to a man named Troy and that they had plans to have children together. 'I wonder about the kids she would have,' she said. 'I watch other people with their daughters, with their grandkids.' She said was grateful to the police for finally solving the case, but remained heartbroken about her loss. 'They took so much away when they took her away,' she said. 5 Leah Gallegos, mother of murder victim Christine Gallegos, said at a press conference that she thinks about her daughter every day. Salt Lake City Police Dept An obituary that appears to be for the suspected killer — which spells his first name as Rickie — described him as a loving family man and with an adventurous spirit. 'Rickie traveled the world during his very impressive and accomplished career in the United States Air Force,' it read. 'After retiring from the Air Force, Rickie started a career with HK Systems (now Dematic) and worked tirelessly until he had to retire for health reasons.' It states that he is survived by his wife, three children and a host of grandkids and other relatives. Cops also said Stallworth had four ex-wives during his lifetime. One of Stallworth's ex-wives challenged the police account and said that Gallegos' real killer remains 'out there somewhere.' 'He's dead,' the ex-wife, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Post. 'He never had a chance for a trial. We're going to fight this.' She said Stallworth was a loving, gentle husband and hard-working engineer. The ex-wife said she was married to Stallworth for 19 years and never once did he ever raise his voice or his hand to her. 'Not once. How do you go from that to killing someone?' she asked. 'You'd think there'd be something in 19 years, but no.' 'We just don't believe it,' she added.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Department of Health and Human Services deletes mental health report on Utah's transgender children
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has quietly deleted reports tracking the mental health of transgender youth in Utah from its webpage, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. HHS did not delete reports using the same datasets to evaluate the mental health of cisgender youth who were straight, gay, bisexual, and unsure in the state. The 'Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention' (SHARP) survey asks students to answer questions about their health and well-being. In 2023, 51,890 students took the voluntary survey in grades six, eight, 10, and 12. Of those students who responded to the question asking if they were transgender, 729, or 1.4 percent, responded affirmatively, although children in grade six were not asked about their gender identity. Related: White House gender-affirming care post is full of lies The compiled datasets were evaluated and available in 'Transgender Student Profile Report[s]' on the Utah Office of Substance Use and Mental Health on February 2, but disappeared by March 4, the Tribune reports. 'Your willingness to participate has helped families and communities throughout the state in many different ways,' the SHARP website says of the survey. 'The knowledge we've gained from the SHARP survey is invaluable – because it tells us where to look for problems and solutions.' Related: Controversial Trump HHS report targets care for trans kids The data had also been deleted from the website of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), until a federal judge ordered the data to be restored online. The CDC now issues the following disclaimer on its website. 'Per a court order, HHS is required to restore this website as of 11:59 p.m. ET, February 11, 2025,' the site notes. 'Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from the immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female. The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology and condemns the harms it causes to children, by promoting their chemical and surgical mutilation, and to women, by depriving them of their dignity, safety, well-being, and opportunities. This page does not reflect biological reality and therefore the Administration and this Department rejects it.' Related: HHS launches 'whistleblower' portal targeting trans kids The compiled data showed warning signs for transgender children, with roughly 60 percent saying they had contemplated death by suicide in the previous year, while nearly 25 percent reported they had attempted to die by suicide. Ilan Meyer, a distinguished senior scholar at the Williams Institute at UCLA, which studies gender and sexual identity issues and policies, cautioned that the climate for the well-being and mental health of transgender children will not get better by denying their existence. Related: Trump administration to defund suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth starting in October 'Whatever it is that LGBT youth are going through is continuing, and just not knowing something doesn't really address the underlying problem,' Meyer, of the Williams Institute, told the Tribune. 'By not knowing, you're not going to be able to address it at all. And maybe that's the point.' If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at or text START to 678678.
Int'l Business Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Red State Cities Troll Lawmakers by Adopting Official Rainbow Flags to Work Around Ban on Pride Flags
The capital cities of Idaho and Utah have approved new diversity-themed flags in a move to sidestep recently passed legislation banning the display of unofficial flags on government property. Salt Lake City's council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt three new city flags: one styled after the rainbow Pride flag, one reflecting the pink, blue and white of the transgender flag, and another marking Juneteenth. All three designs include the city's signature sego lily, making them official and thereby legal under the state's new rules. "Our city flags are powerful symbols representing Salt Lake City's values," Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a statement. "We value diversity, equity and inclusion... We are united as a city and people, moving forward together." Boise followed suit, officially designating both the Pride flag and a flag promoting organ donation as city flags. "This is our lawful expression of our dedication to ensuring all members of our community feel seen, respected, and welcome," Boise City Council President Colin Nash said in a statement. Utah's law, HB 77, bars public schools and government agencies from flying any flag not explicitly listed, which includes U.S., state and city flags, military and college flags, and a few other exceptions. Idaho passed a similar law earlier this year. Though LGBTQ+ flags aren't mentioned by name, the law's key backers openly admit their intent was to remove them. The Trump administration issued a similar directive in January, barring unapproved flags from federal buildings with its "One Flag Policy," part of a broader push to abandon DEI initiatives. Utah Republicans condemned the move, with State House Speaker Mike Schultz dismissing the new flags as "political theatrics," the Salt Lake Tribune reported. State Sen. Dan McCay mocked the city by posting photos of altered flag designs featuring a Trump MAGA logo and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' emblem. Under HB 77, cities can be fined $500 per day for displaying unapproved flags — but the new Salt Lake and Boise flags now fall under the law's narrow definition of permissible city flags. Originally published on Latin Times
Fox News
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Minecraft' movie mayhem raises alarms for America's youth, ‘bad for society': expert
"A Minecraft Movie," the big-screen adaptation of the popular video game "Minecraft," has been packing theaters with rowdy kids and teens since its release this month, spurring a social media phenomenon and sparking concern for America's youth. Videos on social media show young theatergoers huge reactions to one key scene, where one of the film's stars, Jack Black, yells out the phrase "Chicken Jockey!" as a small, Frankenstein-looking creature lands on top of a chicken in a boxing ring to face off with co-star Jason Momoa. The scene has prompted excited fans to scream, shout, throw popcorn around, jump up out of their seats, and in one instance in Provo, Utah, toss a live chicken in the air during a screening, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs, Georgia, told FOX 5 Atlanta that its staff has had to clean up popcorn, ICEEs, ketchup and shattered glass. "The movie-going experience has changed a lot since I was younger," Josh Gunderson, director of marketing and events at Oviedo Mall in Florida, told FOX Business. "And TikTok has changed that quite a bit." "There's a part of me that says this is just dumb fun. There's another part of me [that says] for the poor people who are there at the movie theaters having to clean up this mess, it's a disaster," Raymond Arroyo, Fox News' contributor and host of the "Arroyo Grande" podcast, told Fox News Digital. "And obviously, you know a safety hazard, because … anytime you get 200 young boys in a room, and they're all yelling and jumping in 20 directions, it's sort of like, you know, a social media 'Lord of the Flies,' that's what this is. And I get why they're calling in the cops. I get why some theater chains are saying you can only come with a parent because you can't have that kind of mayhem every day and at every showing." Arroyo added, "I think, if anything, it shows the deep passion and the connection that these boys feel to this video game, and therefore they've carried over to the movie. And that's part of the reason it's such a big hit." "…anytime you get 200 young boys in a room, and they're all yelling and jumping in 20 directions, it's sort of like, you know, a social media 'Lord of the Flies.'" WATCH: KIDS CAUSE CHAOS DURING 'MINECRAFT' MOVIE VIEWINGS "A Minecraft Movie" has earned $557 million worldwide so far, led by the established fandom of the games and the social media buzz created by filming videos related to "Chicken jockey" and other meme-able moments related to the game. The movie's director, Jared Hess, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the chaotic screenings. "It's been way too fun. People are sending me these really hilarious speeches that a lot of teenagers are giving right before the movie. It's so hysterical, man. I'm staying up way too late," he said. Some screenings have had police called to break up the antics, which Hess thinks is a little much. "It's weird when you're having too much fun and the cops get called," Hess told the outlet. "It's funny because I think it's just literally cheering and throwing popcorn, which is so funny to me that cops are getting called for popcorn. Yeah, it's hilarious. I've seen so many funny videos. It's great, especially when people are climbing on their friends' shoulders and standing up and cheering for those moments. It's like this crazy anticipation. But, man, I'm just glad people are making memories with their friends and families." Arroyo is "all for engagement," comparing the theater experience to that of midnight screenings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" or sing-alongs to "Grease." "Singing along or clapping in unison or doing silly things at a certain point in a movie everybody knows and loves … throwing popcorn, throwing live chickens, throwing the guy next to you up into the air, I'm not sure that's the best way forward. "If there can be a more contained audience participation, I think everybody would be on board. But the moment you are [causing] a mess and injuring people, that turns into something very different, and I get why they don't want to tolerate that. It shouldn't be tolerated." Arroyo also sees it as an opportunity to instill some life lessons in young boys. "Boys need an element of freedom, and they need to be a little wild. That's a good thing," he said. "On the other hand, they need to know how and when to rein that in and to discipline themselves, and I worry that when you let this kind of mayhem just go on and say, 'Oh let them throw the popcorn, we love it,' like the director said, that may be good for the ticket sales, it's bad for society. Boys need to learn how to control themselves in public settings. The world is not your rec room." "I worry that when you let this kind of mayhem just go on and say, 'Oh let them throw the popcorn, we love it' …that may be good for the ticket sales, it's bad for society. Boys need to learn how to control themselves in public settings." Jack Black recently attempted to dissuade audiences from bad behavior by popping up at a screening in Los Angeles to deliver a warning. "For today's presentation of 'A Minecraft Movie,' please no throwing popped corn, and also no lapis lazuli… and absolutely no chicken jockeys!" he said in a video shared on social media. "I love the Jack Black public service announcement," Arroyo said. "I think he's worried, too, about their welfare. These are young kids for the most part. And you can see how excited they are because it's a big part of their lives." Arroyo further explained why the "Minecraft" mania has been sweeping the nation. "I think a way to put this in context, so everybody doesn't freak out, what the Barbie movie was for girls and women, this movie is for young boys and teens. It strikes a deep chord, it's something that's part of their growth and childhood and everyday life. It's also how they communicate. A lot of [kids], they put their headsets on, and they're talking while they're playing 'Minecraft.' So it is a… touchstone for them." He continued, "It's an exciting moment. It's like Hollywood validating their lived experience, so that's why you're seeing this level of excitement, I think. And it's a callback that they feel is only theirs, it's their own little personal thing. So it becomes kind of a communal ritual almost for them. That's what this is. This is a communal ritual of young guys saying, look, we all play this, we get the reference even though these idiot parents and everybody else don't. "But there is a level where you have to say, 'Guys, you've crossed a line here.' You need an adult in the room," Arroyo added. National theater chain Regal Cinemas is trying to manage some of the excitement by offering "Chicken Jockey" screenings on April 20. "Customers are invited to dress up as their favorite 'Minecraft' characters, whoop, yelp, clap and shout 'Chicken Jockey!' There are some rules we don't break. So here's the deal: build excitement? Absolutely. LOL with friends till you're rolling in the aisles? Totally. But please don't go full Creeper in the auditorium," their website states. Representatives for Warner Bros. Pictures and Cinema United (formerly the National Association of Theater Owners) did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Arroyo noted that the hype for the "Minecraft" movie appears to be part of a cultural shift in taste from the superhero domination of the Marvel movies to an upswing in video game-based stories. "This is the prevailing culture among young people, particularly for boys. 'Mario Bros' was a big hit. You saw 'The Last of Us' on HBO, 'Fallout' [on Amazon Prime]. These are all video games that have spawned spin-offs. Some of them good, some of them not so good. But there's this built-in IP and what novels and stories and Broadway provided in years past to Hollywood, now video games are furnishing with IP and storylines that are already well-known enough that it diminishes your risk when you bring it to the big screen." He added, "That is dying out, and we just imagine kids remain excited about that. I don't think they do. It doesn't hold the same fascination it held for us."
