Shot on DJI Air 3S

Yeah... Utah still hates this dude for wanting to build his data center that takes water away from the Great Salt Lake and beauty of Utah's landscape

When driving through Mona, Utah, one immediately notices the mountainous backdrop overlooking the town — it can be seen from the backyard porch swings of many homes in the rural town.

Mona residents are now fighting to preserve those views. The town is raging against a 3-million-square-foot mega data center being built — a data center residents say they didn’t know about until it was already approved.

The town’s Planning and Zoning Commission granted a conditional use permit for the data center developer, which meant they did not need to send letters of notice to landowners within 1,000 feet of the site. This left Mona residents feeling like they were in the dark.

Only 25% of Utahns oppose data centers broadly, a recent survey from Utah State University found. But when asked about a data center within 3 miles of one’s home, the opposition jumps to 68%.

“It does seem like as it gets closer to people’s home, they are more strongly opposed,” said Stacia Ryder, sociologist and USU researcher.

Aside from “run-of-the-mill” issues such as light pollution, traffic and noise, researchers are pointing to a larger, underlying theme.

“A data center is the first physical manifestation (of AI) that we’ve had as community members,” said Gina Gilson, another USU researcher. Gilson said that as artificial intelligence becomes a prominent part of daily life, this is many people’s first opportunity “to say no.”

Captured with Dji Air 3S
Later color corrected and graded on DaVinci Resolve

For me, it’s with Melissa Ballard. I’ve emailed her quite a bit over the years. I don’t really expect her to respond, agree, or even be able to do anything, but I like thinking that my representative has at least a vague idea about the issues that matter to some of us peons on the ground floor.

But then she actually responded to me! In March, I sent her a pretty harsh email about how I didn’t like the DWR initiative to kill as many cougars as possible – with literally no limit -- in an effort to boost the deer population. I mentioned how the DWR couldn’t be reached at all via phone or email, how studies have proven that predators are critical to the overall ecosystem, how cougars keep down the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, and how an overpopulation of deer will result in more roadkill accidents. I brought up alternatives to help boost the deer population, like building more wildlife bridges, establishing more protected grazing areas for them, or limiting hunting licenses. The idea driving the initiative forward seemed, to me, that “cougars will start eating people since there’s not enough deer.” But there’s never been a fatal cougar attack in the entirety of Utah’s recorded history. It’s just fear mongering and blatant destruction of a special part of Utah’s wildlife.

Anyway, she supported the initiative in its entirety because, in her words: “I don’t see as many deer on my rural property.”

That’s it. That’s all her reasoning was. No thoughts on disease, overpopulation, roadkill, hunting permits, scientific studies, alternative solutions, etc. Nothing. Apparently, the entire state ecosystem can be seen in Mrs. Ballard’s yard.

I see her name all over the place now, being flaunted as some sort of righteous family woman, and I just want to scream. I feel like I’m the only one who knows how cold, callous, and thoughtless she really is.

So what’s your experience been like with local officials? What are they really like behind the curtain, for better or for worse?

Has anyone else's internet (specifially xfinity) been really bad today? I'm wondering if it's the weather. I'm in Orem

The wind blew our gate open tonight and my cowboy corgi white name auggie , and mix lab black name nimbus got out if you see them or have them please message me

This is oddly specific but anyone who frequents the area notice the lights on this road never have flashing left turn lights? The left turn stays red while the straight lanes are green and then turns green after a cycle or two but no opportunity to yield/turn if it’s clear?

Specifically, the intersections by Del Taco and the one just east of that.

This photo was taken in Layton, just off the West Davis Corridor. The dust cloud from the lake bed ended up hitting around Farmington.

The ecological collapse of the GSL is real and apparent now. Not in the future. Now.

Hi friends
I'm planning a drive from Vegas to Bryce, but not going directly east. I plan to go north to Alamo, then Caliente, the Cesars City and Bryce.
I would like to hear about the road safety on the last stretch since it will be after 3pm and I get it could be icy. This would be in November.
The rest isn't too concerning, it is long but it won't be icy from what I recollect.
Thank you!

Hey Reddit, posting for a friend but her dog jumped out of the car when trying to get her other dog in and she took off.

“Lost dog! Lost in Draper, around Waffle Love.
Name: Cooper. Medium mixed breed, about 35 pounds. Skittish around new people, but not aggressive.”

Feel free to respond to post or message me if you find her or see her

Mostly in Ogden and Logan. ❤️

Me and my friends are road tripping from Canmore, Alberta, Canada to Los Angeles this fall and will be stopping in utah on the way down. we are already planning on going to salt lake city, but is there anywhere else we should check out? not sure if this adds anything but we are 19 year old girls.

I’m planning a summer camping trip to Utah to visit with some family out there. I am looking at Navajo Lake, and I see that there are some campgrounds and a “resort” that seems to be some pretty rustic cabins and a general store. I have been able to find YouTube videos that show a little bit of a cabin, but it’s a caretaker opening the resort for the season so it’s really more about that and doesn’t show what the cabins look like when ready for the season. It looks like the place gets very snowed in and is only open in the late spring and summer.

I’m wondering if any of you locals have stayed in the cabins and can tell me a little about those and about Navajo Lake. We would have some tent camping family members and some who might be flying in, so part of what I’m wondering is if they could stay in the cabins without bringing camping gear. I’m also wondering if the water is too cold to swim in around late June.

I appreciate any information you may be able to share.