March 23 2021 Update

I hope your day is going well.  It was wonderful this morning to attend the "groundbreaking" for the Mix at River's Edge, the development that is replacing the former Plum Tree Plaza shopping center on University Parkway.  This one has been a long time coming and will feature housing, retail, entertainment and office uses in a mixed use environment.  Our teams have been working on some complicated infrastructure issues at this location for several years and it is nice to see all of our hard work coming together with the private sector to have a positive outcome.  And besides, Mayor Kaufusi is getting really good at operating the bucket of a track hoe!  

CORONAVIRUS STATS

Nationally, the CDC reports 29,708,385 cases with 540,503 fatalities.

Utah:  382,171 cases (up 383 from yesterday); 15,323 hospitalizations; 2,077 deaths (up 15 from yesterday)

Utah County:  92320 cases (up 91 from yesterday); 2504 hospitalizations; 357 deaths (up 4 from yesterday)

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Commissioner Tanner Ainge announced his resignation as a Utah County Commissioner, and the filing to run for that position closes this week. So far, three candidates have announced they would like to fill the position: current Utah County Clerk Amelia Powers Gardener, Highland Mayor Rod Mann, and a former candidate, Christopher Forbush.
• There was a mass shooting in a Boulder, CO grocery store. The suspect is in custody. Ten people were killed, including a police officer who arrived on the scene.
• The future of Bridal Veil Falls currently lies with the state Parks and Rec department since the Utah County Commission voted unanimously to place an easement on the falls and gave management and care of the area to Utah Open Lands. They are deciding if it will best serve Utahns as a monument or a state park.

PROVO SOCIAL MEDIA

THE MAYOR'S DAY

Today, Mayor Kaufusi:

• Met with the Assistant CAO
• Held a meeting with the City Attorney
• Participated in a work session meeting
• Met with representatives from the school district
• Participated in a groundbreaking at the Mix
• Met with a city Councilor
• Held a meeting on Economic Development
• Met with office staff members individually

FUN STUFF

So, I have several friends who are BYU professors in physics and chemistry.  This physics professor (not from BYU) handles an interesting concept in a way that totally engaged his students.  

And this one is from one of my more creative BYU professor friends who wanted to recruit students to his upcoming Chem 106 class.

I wish my chemistry professors in college had done this much to entice me to learn.  I took a Chem 105 class as a sophomore because my best friend who wanted to be a doctor dragged me into it.  I have never had such a difficult class in my undergrad days.  That's probably why my friend went on to medical school and I just got a masters in public administration!  :)  

Wayne