June 9, 2020 Update

Good afternoon, Provo team.  Things are certainly hopping around here as we work on CARES Act funding opportunities, responding to ongoing concerns about racial inequity and police treatment of minorities nationally and in Utah, the continuing roller coaster that is the Coronavirus pandemic.  Hold on for a wild ride!

CORONAVIRUS STATS

Nationally, the CDC reports 1,956,421 cases with 110,925 fatalities.

Utah: 12,559 cases (up 237 from yesterday); 931 hospitalizations (up 13 from yesterday); 127 deaths (up 3 from yesterday)

Utah County:  2,337 cases (up 27 from yesterday); 123 hospitalizations (up 1 from yesterday); 18 deaths (up 1 from yesterday)

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• If you're a fan of Disney, you'll appreciate that today is Donald Duck's 86th Birthday.  One of an ever shrinking number of cartoon characters older than me.  :)
• Utah County emergency officials reported a 34% increase in the number of calls for mental health and wellness checks since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Law enforcement responded to 62 suicide-related calls from Feb. 1 to May 20. During the same time period in 2019, there were 46 similar calls.  Clearly, the pandemic and its impacts are taking a toll in our community on many different levels.  
• The Herald Extra made a list of the top 10 best restaurants in Provo according to Yelp.

PROVO SOCIAL MEDIA

THE MAYOR'S DAY

Today, Mayor Kaufusi:

• Attended a groundbreaking for Habitat for Humanity
• Met with the City Attorney
• Met with the Police Chief and her executive team 

FUN STUFF

2 Truths and a Lie: Mayor's Office Edition

This Week: Public Information Officer Nicole Martin

1. I'm a true crime show fanatic. -- TRUTH

2. I had a brief stint as a stand-up comedian in college. -- LIE

3. I've eaten guinea pig. -- TRUTH

Time for another fun music moment.  The Hindley Street Country Club is a fun little Australian jazz group that is about as smooth as they come.  This cover of the Bill Withers classic "Just the Two of Us" is a good example of the kind of jazz I enjoy most.

Hope the rest of your day is great!  Talk with you tomorrow.

Wayne