St. George opened the new Temple Springs Trail on the hillside above the city center, marking the latest in a series of new parks, trails and other amenities opened by the city in 2022. Here to discuss all the details is David Cordero, communications director with the City of St. George.

Featured this week:

Elle Cabrera, podcast host.

David Cordero, communications director for the City of St. George.

Related story: https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2022/07/13/st-george-opens-new-paved-temple-springs-trail-cyclists-pedestrians-red-hill-parkway-ivins/10043566002/

In deep-red southwestern Utah, where every major elected office is held by a Republican, the June 28 primary elections held major significance for the political futures of both Washington and Iron counties. And while familiar faces in U.S. Sen. Mike Lee and U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart held serve as the incumbents in their bids for reelection to federal office, local elections saw many newcomers and one race that was close enough it might require a recount. Here to discuss all the potential changes and future possibilities is reporter Sean Hemmersmeier, who has covered the elections in-depth and interviewed candidates up and down the ballot.

Featured this episode:

Elle Cabrera, breaking news and topics reporter and podcast host.

Sean Hemmersmeier, local government and politics reporter.

Related stories: 

https://eu.thespectrum.com/story/news/2022/06/28/gop-primary-shows-early-lead-elison-walter-jack-and-almquist/7747671001/

https://eu.thespectrum.com/story/news/2022/06/28/early-gop-primary-results-projected-wins-lee-and-stewart/7747724001/

SwitchPoint, the organization that runs the St. George area's only major homeless shelter, a local food bank, work programs and other initiatives designed to help people in need, recently opened its latest effort, an "aeroponic tower" high-efficiency garden where vegetables can be grown in a water-efficient setting and then used to suplement the diet of people who might struggle to afford or find healthy food options otherwise.

In this episode, Linda Stay, the development director at SwitchPoint, and Steven Stay, Linda's husband and often a volunteer at SwitchPoint, speak about the new RISE Garden and how it could be used to help the St. George area community.

HIgh schools from southwestern Utah competed again for state titles this spring, with some special athletes and teams leading the way to championships, feel-good stories and a few surprises. Sports reporter Sean Ellertson goes over some of the highlights and his key observations from the season.

Featured this week:

Elle Cabrera, podcast host and breaking news and topics reporter.

Sean Ellertson, sports reporter.

Related story: 

http://www.thespectrum.com/story/sports/2022/06/02/high-school-sports-region-10-top-10-plays-2021-2022/7471239001/

Fast-growing St. George keeps gobbling up more and more electricity, with the growing population and increased number of tourists and other visitors asking more each year of the city's power grid. Combined with the city's exaggerated summer demand (air conditioning), it can make things challenging for the managers tasked with keeping the lights on. This week, reporter Sean Hemmersmeier explains how the city is planning to meet the demands of the future while also increasing its mix of renewable energy, and what that might mean for consumers.

Featured this week:

Elle Cabrera, host and reporter.

Sean Hemmersmeier, reporter.

Related story:

http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2022/05/17/st-george-wants-less-power-coal-more-renewable-energy/9794949002/

Utah Tech University is moving quickly to establish itself under its new name, changing signs, logos and other markers of the institution's Dixie State name. Dr. Jordan Sharpe, the chief marketing and communications officer for the school, explains what changes are happening and how officials hope to have Utah Tech ready to go when most students return for the fall semester.

Kris Jake, a 31-year-old Paiute mother from Cedar City, was killed in 1998, beaten to death after going out dancing with friends in Mesquite, Nevada, about 90 miles from her home. Her murder, like so many others involving missing and murdered Indigenous women, was never solved.

K. Sophie Will, whose work as part of an investigative series published by USA TODAY and its network of properties, including The Spectrum, speaks about her work covering Jake's case and others like it.

Read the story: https://www.thespectrum.com/in-depth/news/2022/05/04/neglect-mmiw-cases-stresses-systemic-struggles-indigenous-crisis/6513265001/

Featured this episode:

K. Sophie Will

Elle Cabrera

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and advocates at places like the St. George-based Dove Center, a nonprofit that provides resources and support for victims of violence, are working to raise awareness.

In this episode, Torrey Sullivan, the sexual assault program coordinator at the Dove Center, speaks about the group’s programs and about the larger community’s efforts to make more people aware of the myriad issues faced by victims of sexual assault, as well as efforts to drum up more support, including the “What Were You Wearing” exhibit on display this month at Dixie State University.

Featured this episode:

Elle Cabrera, podcast host and news reporter

Torrey Sullivan, sexual assault program manager at the Dove Center