Roughly five years ago, Lily Shimbashi looked at her firstborn son, George, lying in her arms and wondered what was next in her life.
Shimbashi loved being a mother. But she had worked her entire life toward a career in sports media and wondered how she could use her broadcasting experience to fill a void in the sports media landscape.
The void Shimbashi saw? “Speaking to female fans.” So, that night, she finished the business plan for Sportsish, a sports media company designed for women.
Through our interview, I learned that the venture was born out of her lifelong love of sports and a desire to create a welcoming space for new and long-time female fans where they could feel seen in the way Shimbashi had craved her whole life.
ALS stole a high school football coach's future. Love buoys his journey
A Utah community has rallied around former high school football coach Erik Thompson.
Thompson was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in 2021. He now uses a wheelchair and can no longer move his right arm. His ability to speak, swallow and breathe are also fading away.
Thompson and his family are the recent recipients of a new South Weber home built by Nilson Homes, in partnership with The Have a Heart Foundation, the Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors and the Northern Wasatch Homebuilders Association.
The home serves as a love letter to Thompson from his community.
Read more about the special project to honor a beloved coach.
Robert, 42, pointed to rabbits running in the grass but paid no mind to the tourists whizzing by on electric scooters. Just minutes before, he was standing on the concrete barrier in Georgetown, one of the nicest areas in Washington, D.C.
He’s shirtless, tanned and holding a cardboard sign. He accepted a water bottle from a car before another laid on its horn — all while Washington experiences its worst heat wave in years. He accepted a Gatorade – and another for his girlfriend – as we spoke on a park bench nearby.
After being in-and-out of the “revolving door” prison system in Georgia for much of his life, he left town. Robert came to Washington, a place he said changed his life, despite living on the street for some time — and because he “wanted to talk to presidents.”
Robert’s story is similar to more than 500,000 others who are unsheltered or in emergency shelters across the country. They not only face the elements, but a divide among advocates about what should be done to help them.
Read more about why the Grants Pass homeless Supreme Court ruling is still hotly debated and how it impacts people like Robert.
Recognizing the state’s vibrant community of innovators — from startups to established companies — and their breakthrough creations. Submit your nomination before July 9!
Utah
Salt Lake firefighters and Red Cross demonstrate fireworks dangers and share safety tips (KSL)
‘Pawsome’ news, pet lovers: Utah State’s weeks away from launching state’s 1st 4-year ‘animal doc’ program (Deseret News)
Murder suspect Kouri Richins faces 26 new felony charges (KSL)
Forsyth Fire hits 10K acres; evacuation orders lifted, but officials urge residents to stay ready (St. George News)
Education
Supreme Court sides with religious parents in ruling on LGBTQ curriculum (Deseret News)
Why are so many recent college grads across the U.S. struggling to land jobs? (Deseret News)
Faith
Church donates infrastructure to assist community garden in The Gambia (Deseret News)
Video: Tom Holmoe on his ‘Graduation’ from being BYU athletic director (Church News)
The actual life of this Mormon wife (Deseret News)
Politics
Gov. Cox declares a state day of prayer for rain as drought conditions increase and wildfires escalate (Deseret News)
Supreme Court upholds law protecting minors from pornography (Deseret News)
Sen. Mike Lee wants to further scrutinize tax package even as Senate plans weekend vote (Deseret News)
Defamation or publicity stunt? What to know about Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit against Fox (Deseret News)
The Nation and the World
Chinese hotel stopped from bringing red pandas to guests' rooms (Deseret News)
Trump celebrates U.S.-brokered peace deal between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda (CBS News)
1 of final 2 New Orleans jail escapees recaptured, authorities say (ABC News)
Trump administration, religious leaders respond to U.K.’s assisted suicide bill (Deseret News)
Sports
BYU QB Jake Retzlaff responds to civil lawsuit, denies sexual assault allegations (Deseret News)
Utah Mammoth select Caleb Desnoyers with 4th-overall pick in NHL Draft (Deseret News)
Ace Bailey is in a muddy situation, and he deserves better (Deseret News)
Which NFL players with Utah ties are currently free agents? (Deseret News)
Will the IOC’s policy on transgender athlete participation change? (Deseret News)
🗓️ Events Calendar
We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah during this month. Check it out, and let us know if we are missing anything!
Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:
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