The Local Wire is Provo.com's news desk — short, original write-ups of stories that matter to people who live in, study in, or visit Utah Valley. We curate from Daily Herald, Provo.gov, BYU Daily Universe, KSL, and local outlets — then write everything in our own words with credit and links to the original sources.
We don't cover crime, individual high school sports results, or partisan politics. We focus on the stuff that moves the needle: new business openings, civic announcements, recreation programs, cultural events, and the everyday changes that shape the area. Read more about our editorial standards →
BYU Basketball 2026-27: The Schedule, the New Roster, and What Provo Should Expect
Kevin Young enters year three with one returning starter and a rebuilt roster. BYU's announced 2026-27 non-conference schedule, eight home games at the Marriott Center, the Maui Invitational draw, and the Timpview product on the bench.
Vesper Amphitheater: The Application Is Withdrawn, and Orem Has Formally Voted No
The Osmond-backed Vesper Amphitheater proposal was pulled from Provo's agenda days before the council's first chance to vote on it, and Orem has since passed a formal resolution opposing it. Here is what actually happened, and what a revised application has to get through.
One Year After Charlie Kirk Was Killed at UVU: What Happened, and What It Left Behind
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University in Orem. A year later: what happened that day, where the criminal case stands, why there is still no memorial, and what the anniversary looks like in Utah Valley.
Vesper Amphitheater: No Vote on August 25 Either — Provo City Now Says the Earliest Is September 8, and the Proposal Has Changed
Provo City's own project page, updated August 24, says the August 25 council meeting was a second work session with no vote, that the Vesper Group's proposal and its development agreement have changed significantly since the Planning Commission's denial, and that the earliest the council will decide is September 8 — 'very tentative.' What has been published, what hasn't, and how to read the date.
Detached ADUs Become a Right on October 1 — and Provo's Ordinance Is Still Not Written
Utah Code § 10-21-304 takes effect October 1, 2026, requiring Provo, Orem, Lehi and every city over 5,000 people to permit a detached ADU on lots of 11,000 square feet or more. Lehi has adopted its ordinance. Orem has been drafting. Provo published an eligibility map but, as of our last check, has not adopted a rule. Here is what the statute actually says and what is still open.
Provo Airport Now Says Gates 6–8 Open December 2027 and the Last Two in 2029 — Not 'Late 2028'
In a written statement to the Lehi Free Press, Provo Airport put dates on each half of its ten-gate expansion for the first time: the North Concourse (three gates, eight total) opening December 2027, and the South Concourse (two more, plus shell space for a Customs facility) targeted for 2029. That splits the single 'late 2028' target the airport had been giving.
The Delta's Boat Ramps Are Open, the Fishing Piers Are Fenced, and the Repaving Is Still Ahead: Where the Old Provo Channel Work Stands
The Provo River Delta project's summer update says the two non-motorized boat ramps on the Old Provo Channel are functional, but the three new fishing piers stay behind red fencing while inspectors' reinforcement work is done — and Utah County's repaving of the trail from Lakeshore Drive to Utah Lake State Park, which finishes both, is still to come. The 'mid-summer' finish has slipped into fall.
Thanksgiving Point Wants to Build a Stained-Glass Sphere With 300 Windows — and Finish It Before the 2034 Olympics
Thanksgiving Point and the Roots of Humanity Foundation have released plans for the King and Diane Husein Sphere of Light, a multistory building in Ashton Gardens wrapped in roughly 10,000 square feet of Holdman Studios stained glass. Privately funded, design complete, timeline tied to donations — with the 2034 Winter Olympics as the target.
UVU Will Now Pay High Schoolers Up to $20,000 for Taking Its Classes Early
Utah Valley University has launched the Freshman Concurrent Enrollment Merit Scholarship: two tiers of $3,500 to $5,000 a year, renewable for four years, for freshmen who earned UVU concurrent enrollment credit in high school. Transcripts are due February 1 of senior year. Here is who qualifies, what is still unstated, and why the timing matters for Utah County juniors.
We Measured What Notre Dame Weekend Does to Provo Hotel Prices — and What Halloween Weekend Does Not
Provo hotel rates for BYU–Notre Dame weekend run about 27% above a matched no-game weekend, and every hotel in our panel moved the same direction. The surprise: Halloween's Arizona State game is the cheapest weekend we measured. Here are the numbers and the method.
The Covey Center's 2026-27 season is out: country co-headliners, Kyiv ballet, and a world-premiere Boléro in downtown Provo
Provo's Covey Center for the Arts has announced its 2026-27 season — Whitney Lusk & WILDWOOD, Grand Kyiv Ballet's Swan Lake and a world-premiere Boléro, Whose Live Anyway comedy, and free holiday concerts downtown.
Domo Is Selling Itself to Progress Software for $400 Million. Here's What That Actually Means.
American Fork's Domo has agreed to sell substantially all of its assets to Progress Software for $400 million. It's not a normal acquisition — Domo the public company survives. Updated September 15: antitrust cleared, the stockholder notice period has run, and Domo now expects to close by the end of September.
Vesper Amphitheater: August 11 Is Not the Vote — Provo City Says the Earliest Is August 25
WITHDRAWN as of September 2026 — no Provo council vote will happen on this application. This is the August 2026 record: Provo City's project page said the August 11 council meeting was initial consideration, not a vote, and that the earliest a vote could happen was August 25 — possibly September. Here is what actually happens on the 11th, and what moved in the meantime.
The BYU School of Medicine, Explained: Accreditation, Timeline, and What It Means for Provo
BYU is building Utah's next medical school on its West Campus in Provo. Here's the full picture — where accreditation stands after the June 2026 site visit, when the first class of 60 students could start, the Intermountain and University of Utah partnerships, and what a medical school means for the city.
The Provo River Delta's Last Construction Summer: What's Finishing, What's Detoured
The $53 million Provo River Delta restoration enters its final stretch — Old Provo Channel recreation amenities wrapping by mid-summer 2026, county trail paving from Lakeshore Drive to Utah Lake State Park to follow, and a couple of detours to know about in the meantime.
The $500M Provo Towne Centre Redevelopment: What's Planned, What's Decided, What's Not
Brixton Capital and PEG Companies want to turn the Provo Towne Centre mall into an indoor-outdoor 'mini town' with 1,300 apartments and 83 townhomes. Here's the full picture — the plan, the Shady Acres mobile home park question, where the approvals stand, and what happens next.
The USYS Boys National Championships Arrive at Epic Sports Park July 13–23
One of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the country splits its 2026 boys national championships between Salt Lake City and Provo's Epic Sports Park, July 13–23 — here's what it means for hotels, restaurants, traffic, and the drop-in field.
The Jazz Rebuilt Themselves in Five Months: A Utah Valley Fan's Guide to 2026–27
Jaren Jackson Jr. in February, Darryn Peterson at No. 2 in June, Walker Kessler traded to the Lakers in July — the Jazz just compressed a whole rebuild's payoff into five months. What the 2026–27 season means for Utah Valley fans, and when the AJ Dybantsa reunion game hits the Delta Center.
The Vesper Amphitheater Fight, Explained: What's Actually Proposed in Provo Canyon
A 20,000-seat amphitheater, a hotel, and a century-old gravel pit at the mouth of Provo Canyon. Here's what the Vesper Amphitheater proposal actually includes, who's for and against it, what the Planning Commission decided, and where the City Council process actually stands now that the August 11 meeting has been confirmed as initial consideration rather than a decision.
BYU Football 2026: The Complete Schedule, Home Games, and Season Preview
Cougar football returns to LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 5 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. BYU's full 2026 Big 12 schedule with the four confirmed kickoff times, all seven home games — including Notre Dame — and how the remaining eight times get set.
BYU Is Rebuilding Wymount Terrace: 240 New Apartments for Married Students
BYU is deconstructing nine aging buildings at Wymount Terrace and replacing them with 11 new ones — 240 apartments for married students and student families. Here's what's being built, the timeline, and what it means for Provo's tight student-housing market.
AJ Dybantsa vs. Darryn Peterson: How the 2026 NBA Draft Left Utah Caught in the Middle
AJ Dybantsa spent two years becoming a hero in Utah — at Utah Prep, then at BYU. Darryn Peterson was his rival every step of the way. Now Dybantsa is a Wizard and Peterson is a Jazzman, and Utah fans are pulled in two directions. The full story of the rivalry, and the split it created.
Remembering Paul Oscarson: A Life of Faith, Family, and Quiet Devotion
Paul K. Oscarson — a former mission and temple president, and husband of former Young Women general president Bonnie L. Oscarson — died July 3, 2026, at 80. A remembrance from Provo.com, including a personal note from an editor who grew up alongside the Oscarson family.
Provo Is the Best-Run City in America Again — Here's What That Actually Means
For the second year in a row, WalletHub has ranked Provo the best-run city in America out of 148 large cities. Here's what the ranking measures, why Provo keeps winning it, and what it says (and doesn't say) about life here.
The Provo Real Estate Market in 2026: What Buyers, Renters, and Investors Are Seeing
Provo home prices have cooled from their peak while demand stays stubbornly high. Here's an honest read on the 2026 market — where prices actually are, why Provo stays expensive, and where priced-out buyers are moving across Utah Valley.
Utah Valley Events: Your Guide to August and Labor Day 2026
The Fourth is over, but Utah Valley's best stretch of festivals is just getting started. From the August city days (Lindon, Salem) to Golden Onion Days and the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, here's everything worth putting on your calendar through Labor Day 2026.
Fireworks Are Banned Across Most of Utah Valley This Fourth of July — Here's Where the Rules Stand
Gov. Cox's emergency order made 'no fireworks' the statewide default through July 5 amid record wildfire danger. Here's what's actually legal in Provo, Orem, Lehi, and every Utah County city — and where to see a professional show instead.
Pioneer Day 2026 in Utah Valley: Parades, Rodeos, and Fireworks Across the County
Utah's other big summer holiday lands July 24. Here's your guide to Pioneer Day 2026 across Utah County — Spanish Fork's Fiesta Days, American Fork's Steel Days, and the parades, rodeos, and fireworks worth planning around.
Thanksgiving Point's Freedom Celebration: The North Valley's Free Fourth of July Fireworks in Lehi
With personal fireworks banned across most of Utah Valley, Lehi's free Freedom Celebration at Electric Park becomes the north valley's go-to Fourth of July show. Gates 4 p.m., fireworks 10 p.m., free admission, food trucks, and music synced to FM100.3.
The Most Jaw-Dropping Homes of the 2026 Utah Valley Parade of Homes
A 26,000-square-foot Provo mansion, a 16-foot sauna, a glass-floor basketball court. A tour of the standout homes in the 2026 Utah Valley Parade of Homes — and how to still see them virtually through August 31.
Fourth of July in Provo 2026: An Hour-by-Hour Guide to the Big Day
How to spend July 4, 2026 in Provo — from the morning Grand Parade to Stadium of Fire and the free street dance. A full day-of itinerary with times, tips, and where to be.
Inside Oxford Road Estate: the 26,000-Square-Foot Provo Mansion Stealing the 2026 Parade of Homes
Home #23 in the 2026 Utah Valley Parade of Homes is a 26,573-square-foot Provo estate built for Crumbl co-founder Jason McGowan, designed by Studio McGee. Here's what's inside — and how to tour it before the parade closes June 20.
New FEMA flood maps take effect in Provo on June 23 — what homeowners and renters should know
Updated Federal flood maps become official across Provo and Utah County on June 23, 2026. Some properties will be newly mapped into flood zones, which can change insurance requirements — here's how to check yours.
Provo Airport is growing up: mainline jets, more routes, and a push to 10 gates
American Airlines has upgraded its Provo–Dallas route to full-size mainline jets, and the airport is mid-build on an expansion toward 10 gates — a sign of how fast air travel out of Utah Valley is changing.
Provo River Delta keeps getting better: new fishing platforms, boat ramps, and fresh trout
The restored Provo River Delta on the west side keeps adding amenities into 2026 — new fishing platforms, non-motorized boat ramps, freshly stocked trout, and newly paved trail connecting Delta Gateway Park.
Provo's Covey Center is bringing Broadway-caliber shows downtown — at half the price
The Covey Center for the Arts just topped Utah Valley Magazine's 2026 'Best Of' as Best Music Venue, and its new transparent ticket pricing puts national touring shows downtown for up to 50% less than bigger Utah venues.
Utah Valley's summer outdoor concert season is taking shape
Sundance's mountainside amphitheater and Orem's SCERA Shell have set their summer 2026 lineups — here's what's on and how to plan the perfect open-air show.
Correction: Orem's Cheesecake Factory Opened in 2024
We reported in May that The Cheesecake Factory was coming to University Place in Orem this fall. It opened there on July 2, 2024. Here is what we got wrong, what is actually at 575 E. University Parkway, and how to plan a visit.
Provo Rec Center Drops Student Membership to $25/Month for BYU and UVU
Provo's Countdown to Summer promo offers BYU and UVU students $25/month gym memberships from May 13–22, plus 10–20% off longer-term plans for residents.
EPIC Sports Park Opens for Free Drop-In Play Through Mid-October
Provo's EPIC Sports Park and select city fields are open for free community drop-in play from April through mid-October. Here's how to use them.