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🌅 Good morning!

Summer is the time for some major blockbuster movies, and there are a lot out right now.

I love going to the movies and have a Cinemark Movie Club pass, so I've seen quite a few of this summer's hits.

The best ones I've seen so far include:

"Thunderbolts"
"Lilo & Stitch"
"How to Train Your Dragon"
"Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning"
"Jurassic World Rebirth"

I personally enjoyed "Thunderbolts" the most because it has action, humor and some really entertaining and likable characters.

"How to Train Your Dragon" was another one I particularly liked. It's a shot-for-shot remake of the animated movie, so the story is strong. And much of the movie is filmed in Iceland, so the backdrop is beautiful.

Meg Walter wrote about three summer movies that are great for kids, and you can read her story here.

Tell me: What summer movies have you most enjoyed?

Celebrating decades old friendship between South Korea and Utah — while honoring local Korean War vets

Jason Swensen writes:

Salt Lake City resident Jim Crane is a month away from celebrating his 100th birthday — and his experiences fighting in the Korean War happened more than seven decades ago.

But for Crane — who is also a World War II veteran — the sounds, images and memories of Korea and its people still frequently visit his thoughts.

“I flew over 100 missions in North Korea,” Crane told the Deseret News on Saturday.

But Crane’s deep emotions for the Korean Peninsula stretch beyond the horrors of air combat.

“I love the Korean people,” he said, before adding, “And our country needs to be closer to these people that we’ve served with.”

A contingent of young adult “ambassadors” and civic leaders from Incheon, Yeonsu-gu, South Korea gathered at the Cottonwood Heights City Hall on Saturday evening to formally thank Crane and several other Korean War veterans from Utah for actions that helped ensure the future of one of the world’s leading democracies and economies.

“You are not just veterans to me — you are American heroes who saved my country and made my very existence possible,” said South Korean ambassador Ina Kim.

Photo Gallery: Stadium of Fire 2025

Provo once again hosted the Stadium of Fire show at LaVell Edward Stadium, and our photographers captured some amazing photos from the event.

Rascal Flatts headlined the show, with many other patriotic acts featured before the band came on, including the Stadium of Fire Dancers, a flyover from Utah's Hill Air Force Base, skydivers and a drone show.

The show was broadcast to the American Forces Network — televising the event to more than 1 million military men and women in more than 100 countries.

See the incredible photos from the Stadium of Fire.

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Utah

Brush fires erupt as wildfires continue to blaze (KSL.com)
Whether it’s alcohol or marijuana, the message to parents is the same: Talk to your kids (KSL.com)
60 miles of mountain bike trail to be built on public lands in southern Utah (KSL.com)
Great Basin teams to switch roles battling the Forsyth Fire in Pine Valley (St George News)
Parade perfection: Official describes months of efforts to put on North Ogden’s Cherry Days parade (Standard-Examiner)
Park City continues to consider one-way Main Street, roundabout at top of street (The Park Record)
Iconic Brigham City cafe closes (Cache Valley Daily)
7-year-old girl from Kearns wins national mariachi competition (KSL.com)

Health

Are you a glucose 'dipper'? Here's how to fix those blood sugar highs and lows (NPR)
Tips that can help good habits stick (Healthline)

Faith

How a fiery sea captain and religious dissident fits in President Russell M. Nelson’s family tree (Deseret News)
17 times Church leaders emphasized the importance of religious freedom (Church News)

Politics

Republicans praise 'big, beautiful bill’s' work requirement for Medicaid: ‘We’ve got to get back to work’ (Fox News)
Why a Utah mom urged Congress against passing cuts to Medicaid (KSL-TV)
America has always been a dangerous idea (🔒 The Free Press)

The Nation and the World

Are mortgage rates heading up or down? (Deseret News)
Paris opens river Seine for public swimming for first time since 1923 (Reuters)
At least 47 dead in Texas floods, with dozens still missing from summer camp (NBC News)

Sports

There are more FBS programs than you probably think (Deseret News)
Utah Jazz: What stood out from Jazz rookies in Summer League debut (Deseret News)
Inside BYU women’s basketball: Unlocking untapped potential (The Daily Universe)

🗓️ 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:

Wheeler Sunday Market | Wheeler Farm
Park Silly Sunday Market | Historic Main Street
9th West Farmers Market | 1060 S. 900 West
Salt Lake Bees vs. Tacoma | 12:05 p.m.

Please reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any thoughts, feedback or ideas you would like to share!

✨ Cheers ✨

— Gambles