Benjamin Wood

Fast Lane

I love Salt Lake City in the wintertime. Sure, it's freezing cold outside and the air is often poisonous. Sure, the days are short and dark. And sure, the one-two punch of November's election and January's Utah legislative session is a special kind of shit sandwich.

Benjamin Wood Attendees at a ribbon-cutting event pass by a row of tiny homes at The Other Side Village on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.

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The transition to a new calendar year is a time of reflection and opportunity. I imagine many of City Weekly 's readers are setting goals to eat better, exercise more, stay in closer contact with their friends and loved ones and to contribute more of their time and talent to acts of service within their community. These are all great goals, and I wish everyone the best as they embark on a new year of personal growth.

Sundance Film Festival "Omaha," directed by Utah's Cole Webley, is one of four films that will screen for free to Utah locals during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Benjamin Wood A row of electric UTA buses recharge at Salt Lake Central Station on December 20, 2024.

Laura Seitz | Pool Photo Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks to reporters during a televised press conference on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2024.

Day 1

Benjamin Wood Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez (left), Sundance Institute acting CEO Amanda Kelso (center) and Festival director of programming Kim Yutani (right) speak to reporters on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.