July 12, 2021 Update

So, as you may be hearing related to the Covid-19 concerns, Utah is having a bit of a surge in cases, with the Delta Variant leading the way.  Still the vast majority of cases (well over 95%) are occurring in unvaccinated Utahns.  Also of note is that the State was a little premature in announcing that we hit the 70% of eligible adults receiving the vaccine.  We still have a long way to go to declare the disease successfully defeated.  Please continue to be careful, feel free to wear a mask if you are concerned, and give people who wear masks the benefit of the doubt.  We never know what may be prompting someone to wear a mask, and kindness and deference should always apply!  

CORONAVIRUS STATS

Nationally, the CDC reports 33,672,474 cases with 604,710 fatalities.

Utah:  420,214 cases; 17,820 hospitalizations; 2,399 deaths

Utah County: 99,884 cases; 2861 hospitalizations; 411 deaths

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• 71-year-old Richard Branson went to space, signifying the first space-tourism company to do so. He is now the first person to ride into suborbital space aboard a rocket he helped fund. He went with five members of his Virgin Galactic space-tourism company.
• The Utah-based company, Traeger Grills filed paperwork to take the steps toward a public stock offering. The stock event will mark the second time CEO Jeremy Andrus, a BYU and Harvard Business School grad, has helmed a Utah-based company into the public markets. (The other company is Skullcandy.)
• Barnes Bullets, LLC will expand its Utah headquarters, adding up to 116 new high-paying Utah jobs in the next eight years. Taxbit is planning to do the same, adding up to 1,700 new high-paying Utah jobs in the next 10 years. Also, health-tech company, Nusano, Inc. will open an office in Utah, adding up to 92 new high-paying Utah jobs in the next 15 years. 
• The Division of Water Resources reports that the state’s reservoir storage dropped from 61% last week to 59% this week. 26 of Utah’s largest 42 reservoirs are below 55% of available capacity and one major reservoir near Manti is now completely dry.

PROVO SOCIAL MEDIA

THE MAYOR'S DAY

Today, Mayor Kaufusi:

• Met with the Fire Chief
• Held a meeting with the Interim Police Chief
• Participated in a Communications Strategy meeting
• Held a Mayor's office staff meeting
• Met with the City PIO
• Held a meeting with the CAO
• Participated in a meeting with HR
• Met with a Provo resident
• Held a meeting with office staff
• Participated in a meeting on upcoming events in Provo

FUN STUFF

So, I think you know I have a little bit of an eclectic taste in music.  So when a friend sent me a link to this Peter Hollens video, it seemed so "me."  This is a favorite song from Disney's Aladdin performed in many, many different musical genres and with credits to pop, rap, classical, jazz and other artists whose names you would know.  It is only about 3 1/2 minutes, but I hope you find the joy and laughter in it that I did.  

I hope you have a great evening, and I really hope that we get out of the smoke event from West Coast fires that we are experiencing.  A little wind would be much appreciated (that's for you Mother Nature). 

Wayne