Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 17h

More of this from our creatives please:

Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 2d

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 17h

It’s great to see the investments happening in journalism because of the @sltrib.com (a nonprofit! go donate!) Utah is better because of the Trib and its staff.

The Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com · 1d

The Southern Utah Tribune is being mailed to 40,000 homes and businesses in Washington County each month, no subscription needed, starting today.

Bookmark this link for The Southern Utah Tribune e-edition

The Southern Utah Tribune is being mailed to 40,000 homes and businesses in Washington County each month, no subscription needed, starting today.

www.sltrib.com

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 1d

“Specifically, parcels available for leasing are directly adjacent to or near Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.”

KSL.com @ksl.com · 2d

President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" has cleared the way for 48,000 acres of previously off-limits Utah public land to be available for coal leasing. https://ow.ly/jn9X50X8Vbs

'Lovesick for king coal': Trump administration pushing new coal leasing in southern Utah

President Donald Trump's

ow.ly

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 2d

“The Trump Administration views Southern Utah’s remarkable redrock country as just another place to exploit and plunder as they promote new coal mining…America’s national parks, national monuments, and wild public lands don’t deserve this fate and we’ll work tirelessly to stop it from happening”

Utah News Dispatch @utahnewsdispatch.com · 2d

An initiative of Congress’ “big, beautiful bill” has left environmentalists with deep concerns as thousands of acres of federal land are now open for coal leases, including near or directly adjacent to landmarks like Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks.

Thousands of acres of federal land now open for coal leases are adjacent to Utah national parks • Utah News Dispatch

An analysis from environmentalists found that thousands of acres of federally-owned land open for coal leases are near national parks.

utahnewsdispatch.com

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 2d

Maps + analysis + press release from @protectwildutah.bsky.social 💪🏻 suwa.org/trump-admini...

Reposted by Grant Stevens

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance @protectwildutah.bsky.social · 3d

Last week, the Trump Administration announced it is making previously off-limits public land available for coal leasing under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including 48,000 acres in Utah.

Maps and additional info can be found here: suwa.org/trump-admini...

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 3d

Conservation groups have defeated this highway proposal 7 times since 2006. And we’ll do it again.

Brooke Larsen @jbrookelarsen.bsky.social · 3d

The feds are once again considering the Northern Corridor, a highway through desert tortoise habitat in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

Feds put polarizing southern Utah highway proposal back on the table, months after Biden administration rejected it

The Bureau of Land Management is reassessing the controversial Northern Corridor highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

www.sltrib.com

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 9d

Back from a @protectwildutah.bsky.social staff retreat. Public lands are pretty great:

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LCV – League of Conservation Voters 🌎 @lcv.org · 11d

209 out of 210 U.S. coal plants are now more expensive to keep running than it is to build entirely new solar and wind energy.

Coal is a relic of the past that destroys our environment, pollutes our communities, and raises our energy costs.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 11d

Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Fox: "We're announcing today expanded programs to help the American coal industry. We're helping it because for years it has been under assault. It was out of fashion with the chardonnay set in San Francisco, Boulder, and NYC ... coal just makes the world go round."

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 12d

West Slope, Best Slope, Colorado.

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Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance @protectwildutah.bsky.social · 14d

❗ACT NOW ❗suwa.org/keeplabywild

Trump’s Bureau of Land Management is proposing to greenlight more off-road vehicles in Labyrinth Canyon at the request of the State of Utah and certain motorized groups. Tell the BLM to Keep Labyrinth Canyon Wild!

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Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance @protectwildutah.bsky.social · 15d

Yesterday, the BLM announced it is considering reversing course on the motorized Travel Management Plan for the Labyrinth Canyon/Gemini Bridges area near Moab.

Keep an eye out for an Action Alert coming soon, we have 30 days to submit public comments!

More info here: suwa.org/suwa-stateme...

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Bryant Heath @slsees.bsky.social · 16d

Always wild to me how much politicians hitch a ride to the “we’re going to save the GSL” but then back it up with mostly inaction during the legislative session.

We. Couldn’t. Even. Get. Stats. On. Golf. Course. Water. Consumption.

Carter Williams @cwilliams.ksl.com · 16d

"We will not let the Great Salt Lake fail."

Utah launched a new charter this afternoon, as it seeks to solve the GSL's challenges. It also received $200M in donation pledges, half of which is to be raised by local business leaders:

www.ksl.com/article/5138...

Utah launches new pledge after receiving $200M in pledged Great Salt Lake donation

A new joint public-private mission seeks to save the Great Salt Lake ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics and beyond.

www.ksl.com

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 18d

Remember: The GOP’s nonsensical culture wars are meant to distract you from corporate corruption and plunder. [Cartoon by Jace Avery]

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Ryan Broderick @ryanhatesthis.bsky.social · 19d

Kirk was a nobody to normal people, but it's now clear how important he was to the right. The dream of post-Steve Bannon conservativism: An influencer presidential candidate. A homegrown Trump. The panic we're seeing is a movement realizing they have nothing to replace Trump's cult of personality.

Joshua Erlich @joshuaerlich.bsky.social · 19d

i've been thinking a lot about the historical record on this and how hard it will be to communicate that this guy was a fucking nobody

muscular baby jeb lund @mobute.bsky.social · 21d

My militantly de-woked alma mater, which Charlie Kirk did not attend, might erect a statue to him, for the same reasons that Sinclair media will be airing a memorial for him tonight on local stations nationwide: Because fuck you, that's why.

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Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 21d

btwn the state sponsored censorship hypocrisy and stuff like this it really feels like a theme of being alive right now is power feeling like it doesn’t even have to try - just treating everyone with obvious contempt

Brandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · 21d

This is hilarious. These people have never run a real business. It is 100% a scam operated by skiled, dedicated grifters.
www.wsj.com/articles/sto...

Wall Street Journal: Stop Worrying About AI’s Return on Investment
Tech leaders at WSJ’s Technology Council Summit said it’s nearly impossible to measure the impact of AI on business productivity. And when we try, we’re measuring it wrong.
By Belle Lin and Steven Rosenbush
Sept. 16, 2025 9:33 pm ET

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Erik Schlenker-Goodrich @riogranderift.bsky.social · 23d

We have an abundance of milquetoast, Billionaire-funded think tanks fixated on Beltway politics designed to preserve the elite status quo in the face of tyranny — not protect the most vulnerable or exercise bold leadership in the public interest. This approach will continue to fail.

A New Democratic Think Tank Wants to Curb the Influence of Liberal Groups

www.nytimes.com

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Darin Self @darinself.com · 23d

Remarkable how many people are willing to form think tanks or consulting groups that siphon off Dem-aligned funding but not actually join the party to help build it.

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Timothy Burke @bubbaprog.xyz · 22d

it's also really important to spread the "this is illegal" message as far as you can because the majority of people are not exposed to it! most people do not even know the government is doing the illegal thing it's doing, let alone that it's illegal. when they learn about it they get mad!

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 22d

I know it's frustrating when lawyers point out when something the administration is doing is not legal. But responding with "the law doesn't matter anymore" is really unhelpful and defeatist. Clarifying the law is important because it reminds us not to comply in advance and to resist and take action

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LCV – League of Conservation Voters 🌎 @lcv.org · 22d

They've silenced scientists and erased climate data.

They've weaponized the law against universities, organizations, and politicians.

Now they're censoring comedians like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel who don't toe the line.

Share content they're trying to censor. Speak up today while you can.

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 27d

He’s not. “Disagree better” has always meant nothing and Gov Cox has shown time and time again he is a spineless bigot with a smile.

The Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com · 28d

Utah’s governor built a national brand on his “disagree better” slogan.
It is far from clear whether the country’s better angels can still be reached — or whether Cox is the man for the moment.

Charlie Kirk’s killing tests Utah Gov. Cox’s ‘disagree better’ plea

Utah’s governor built a national brand on his “disagree better” slogan. It is far from clear whether the country’s better angels can still be reached — or whether Cox is the man for the moment.

www.sltrib.com

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 27d

“…much of the donor revenue will be used to cover the cost of what's now fewer than a dozen employees as well as make annual rental payments on Olympic facilities operated by a nonprofit.”

So…not getting kids involved in sports (work that is already happening + donors could give to existing orgs)

KSL.com @ksl.com · 27d

For four-time Olympic speedskater Catherine Raney Norman, what's most important about the more than $200 million in donations just announced for Utah's next Winter Games is the impact it'll have on getting kids involved in sports.

Here's how some of the over $200M raised for Utah's Olympics will be used

Four-time Olympic speedskater Catherine Raney Norman said the more than $200 million in donations for Utah's next Winter Games will have an impact on getting kids involved in sports.

www.ksl.com

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Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 27d

I am having a hard time reconciling "Charlie Kirk was a fierce advocate of open dialogue and free expression" with "we must identify and persecute everyone who is insufficiently mournful"

After Charlie Kirk's death, teachers and professors nationwide fired or disciplined over social media posts

At least a dozen faculty and staff have faced fallout over insensitive comments online.

www.nbcnews.com

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Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · 28d

Answer: Utah’s federal delegations hates the presence of federal public lands in the state and seeks to privatize and sell them off.

The Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com · 29d

Letter: Why did Utah’s congressional delegation unite to support the ridiculously named “Big Beautiful Bill” that gutted funding to all national parks?

Letter: Utah’s leaders object to a reservation system for Zion. Perhaps they should’ve thought of that before toeing the party line.

Letter: Why did Utah’s congressional delegation unite to support the ridiculously named “Big Beautiful Bill” that gutted funding to all national parks?

www.sltrib.com

Grant Stevens @grantrstevens.bsky.social · Sep 10

It feels like leaders go out of the way to make our city as bland and boring and soulless as possible with every new development:

Carter Williams @cwilliams.ksl.com · Sep 10

NEW: SLC School District just released several new renderings of the future West HS to tack onto the recently-released Highland HS designs.

This is what the schools will look like. SLC Council is voting tonight on a street vacation at 240 W. 200 N. tied to the West HS project