News Item: SLC revises building energy ordinance after legislators, Mormon church complain about public reporting

But I thought the Leg wanted cleaner air...and that the LDS Church stayed out of politics in Utah...

Salt Lake City officials have toned down plans to tune up energy-inefficient buildings after pressure from legislators, business leaders and a real estate arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Both versions of the proposal have had council support, but some members privately felt in January that it wasn't worth risking the ire of influential developers and business owners by debating it during a state legislative session.

Indeed, Sustainability Department Director Vicki Bennett was approached by two legislators — House Majority Leader Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, and Rep. Mike Schultz, R-Hooper — who fit that bill. City Creek said the ordinance shouldn't apply to places of worship and tax-exempt buildings, and it, too, got its wish.

Link to full story.

Oooh, Do We Get More Light Rail Out Of This One Too?

New Item: IOC deal may be good news for another Salt Lake Olympics

The International Olympic Committee's decision Tuesday to seek an agreement with Paris and Los Angeles over hosting the 2024 and 2028 Summer Games looks like good news for another Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City, host of the 2002 Winter Games, has been interested in bidding for another Olympics. But the U.S. Olympic Committee, which must submit the bids of American cities, has only sought Summer Games.

If Only There Was A Way To Check References Beforehand...

News Item: Biskupski chooses ‘the Utah expert’ for redevelopment post after controversy sunk earlier pick

Mayor Jackie Biskupski has put forward a familiar face to lead Salt Lake City's urban renewal agency after her previous selection of an East Coast attorney was undone by his undisclosed past.

In April, Biskupskipulled her nomination of Marc Woolley afterThe Salt Lake Tribune reported that Woolley had been named in whistleblower lawsuits relating to his work at the Philadelphia Housing Authority from 1999 to 2003.

But He Can Take His Glasses On And Off In Front Of A Camera Really Good!

News Item: 'Political Insiders' say Salt Lake City Council made the right decision not putting Dabakis on UTA Board

Dabakis had made a promise to be a voice for reform in the embattled organization, but the city council members questioned his lack of experience with transportation issues when they nixed his nomination by a 6-1 vote.

If only social services were a thing...

News Item: Escalating violence around homeless shelter has Utah House speaker asking: Is this a job for the National Guard?

Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes was more than a little perplexed Wednesday in the aftermath of the auto-pedestrian accident, which occurred Tuesday evening around the corner from The Road Home.

"The violence and what is going on there is escalating," Hughes said Wednesday. "When it gets that out of hand, you can have a discussion about the National Guard with a straight face."

Drone Prime Delivery? Count Me In!

News Item: Amazon center will employ 1,500 people in Salt Lake City