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• 🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high of 64.

Today’s newsletter is 835 words — a 3-minute read.

Trump officials connected to a proposed data center complex near Price are heavily invested in the AI industry, ProPublica reports.

Why it matters: The financial ties could add fuel to controversy around Valar Atomics' plans to build a huge nuclear-powered data center campus on Bureau of Land Management land in Carbon County.

• Complaints that public input on the project has been limited echo allegations of secrecy in the approval process for other data centers in Utah.

Valar didn't immediately respond to Axios' query Friday but has promised transparency and public input in previous statements.

Driving the news: ProPublica reported Friday that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and other Trump officials have millions invested in the AI industry as the administration pushes for more data centers on public land.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin has made smaller investments in AI while ending public feedback requirements for air permits for data centers.
• The federal agencies they lead told ProPublica their investments are lawful — though legal experts told the outlet they raise ethical questions.

Zoom in: In an NPR report in September, the Bureau of Land Management acknowledged it was reviewing a permit for the Valar campus, known as "Project Beehive," proposed for 9,000 acres of federal land.

• Michael Boren, a high-ranking U.S. Forest Service Trump appointee who previously was at the Department of the Interior, has "up to $500,000 invested with Valar," ProPublica reported — though no Forest Service land is involved in the proposed data center.

Zoom out: Public anger over data centers influenced the outcome of several Utah elections this year.

The intrigue: While community backlash has preempted, slowed or reduced the scale of some data center proposals, federal agendas are harder for locals to influence.

• Valar representatives' appearances at county and city meetings have also been closed to public comments and questions, the Salt Lake Tribune recently reported.

What's next: Public hearings will be likely in coming weeks as Valar seeks county permitting.

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Utah defeated BYU Saturday in a thrilling 28-20 match between two top-10 teams.

Catch up quick: BYU's stellar early season made the team's performance a matter of divine providence for Cougar believers — especially after the narrow victory over then-No. 2 Notre Dame last month.

• This led to a number of complaints by Ute supporters, of BYU fans' "insufferable" preening.

Erin's thought bubble: If you guys were from the Midwest, you'd know better than to underestimate the insufferability of Notre Dame fans.

What they're saying: Before Saturday's rivalry game, Utah head coach Morgan Scalley — himself a Latter-day Saint — announced that God did not care about the outcome.

• That actually came up in a press conference.

The latest: The AP ranked Utah at No.2 after their win; BYU fell from No. 7 to No. 12.

Disclosure: BYU head coach Kalani Sitake's wife's aunt was the youngest member of the family that in 1938 built the SLC house where I now live.

• Kalani Sitake's wife's aunt's childhood home is my only personal connection to college football.
• Well, that, and whatever Kyle Whittingham is doing to my Michigan-alum husband's outlook on life.

🏛️ State Sen. Evan Vickers (R-Cedar City) is set to become Utah's next senate president in January, succeeding current leader Stuart Adams of Layton. (Salt Lake Tribune)

• Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore (R-Sandy), a frontrunner for the position, conceded his reelection bid to Democrat Shana Anderson last week, clearing the way for Vickers to take the helm.
• The position opened up after Adams lost the June Republican primary.

🎷 Viral saxophonist Nathanial Young drew hundreds of fans to two free performances last week at the downtown library and Asher Adams hotel. (ABC 4)

🎢 Lagoon is officially closed for the year after its final day of operations yesterday. The amusement park is expected to reopen in late March. (KUTV)

The reality series "Love Island USA" is on the hunt for Salt Lake City singles to compete in Season 9.

The big picture: Salt Lake City is having a reality TV moment with multiple franchises — and Peacock wants in on the drama.

How it works: The series gathers a group of single people, called "Islanders," to live in a secluded luxury villa.

• Contestants are under constant surveillance as they couple up, with drama, betrayal and broken hearts sure to follow.
• The surviving couple is awarded a $100,000 cash prize.
• Even Islanders who don't find love can walk away with lucrative brand deals.

State of play: Online applications are open to nominate someone for the series. Candidates must be at least 18.

• Applicants will need to divulge their relationship history and habits.

What's next: The show is set to premiere next summer.

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🍗 Kim prepared these buffalo wings for the Utah-BYU game.

✍️ Erin wants to make "withis" and "withat" normal English contractions but without apostrophes.

This newsletter was edited by Hadley Malcolm.