Author: Kevin Thompson

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Mayor Erin Mendenhall has officially named Brian Redd, the executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC), as Salt Lake City’s next chief of police. The announcement, made during a Thursday afternoon press conference, follows the upcoming retirement of current Chief Mike Brown, who has served the city for over three decades. Brown, who will retire on February 28, 2025, after 33 years of service, leaves behind a legacy marked by a significant reduction in crime rates. However, Mendenhall indicated that his decision to step down was rooted in the need for improvement in…

Ogden, UT – Michael Slayton’s childhood was marked by instability, spending years bouncing from foster home to foster home. In total, he lived in 32 different foster homes and between 12 and 15 group homes for boys. This constant upheaval left him without a clear sense of identity or belonging, particularly as he tried to connect with his Native American heritage. “I would have to explain to classmates that I am Native American, but I didn’t know who I was because I didn’t have a stable foundation,” Slayton said. “I grew up without a place of belonging, without a sense…