A low-cost transit pass for Salt Lakers is likely to be axed as part of Mayor Mendenhall's proposed budget plan.

Why it matters: Commuters who rely on the discounted pass could end up paying significantly more to ride public transit.

State of play: For $42 a month or $475 a year, the Hive Pass, in partnership with Utah Transit Authority (UTA), provides unlimited access to the agency's buses, Trax and Frontrunner.

• Compare that to a premium unlimited pass that goes for $170 a month or $85 a month for a reduced-fare version for people 65 and older, youth, low-income riders and those with disabilities.
• Individual one-way fares for buses and Trax are $2.50 or $5 for a day pass.

Yes, but: Despite this absolute steal, only about 400 people use the pass, raising questions about how well it was marketed by the city or UTA.

Between the lines: UTA already offers free transit passes for Salt Lake City School District students, faculty and staff. The district originally distributed 25,000 passes when the program launched in 2023.

• Compared to the Hive Pass, that program has been highly successful, according to UTA.
• Average monthly ridership went from 400 students the year before the rollout to 3,000 a month afterward.

By the numbers: Eliminating Hive Pass would save the city over $400,000, according to Mendenhall's budget, which also calls for a steep property tax hike to address rising costs.

What they're saying: In a statement to Axios, Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesperson for the mayor's office, said increased costs to administer the program, low utilization and no income restrictions led the mayor to eliminate the program in her budget proposal.

What's next: The Salt Lake City Council faces a June 30 deadline to finalize the budget.

💭 You tell us: How would you feel if the Hive Pass went away? Let us know by taking this survey.

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One of Salt Lake City's most beloved figures, the late Julia Reagan, is back on billboards after a hiatus.

Driving the news: Billboard company, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, has displayed her image across the U.S. each year to mark her death in June 2024.

Flashback: Reagan was the wife of Reagan Outdoor Advertising's founder.

• Unsurprisingly, in this internet age, the billboards quickly garnered a massive online following, inspiring tattoos, merchandise, and a body of lore about her life.

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Hantavirus has been on our minds since state health officials revealed that three Utah residents were among the passengers on a cruise ship linked to an outbreak.

Why it matters: Hantavirus is highly dangerous and frequently fatal.

• Unlike other strains, which typically spread via rodents, the "Andes" strain that struck the cruise ship is transmitted from person to person.

Reality check: It's not like COVID-19.

• The Andes virus requires close, prolonged contact to spread between people.

The latest: The Utahns who were on the ship remain under observation at federally monitored medical facilities in Omaha and Atlanta, state health officials told us yesterday.

• "I don't have concerns about an infection spreading widely. … We understand how to stop it from spreading," state epidemiologist Leisha Nolen said in a statement.

Flashback: A hantavirus outbreak in 1993 killed 17 people in the Four Corners region, out of 27 deaths nationally.

Erin's thought bubble: My fam still carefully scours for rat droppings whenever we camp in remote cabins and yurts, because of hantavirus.

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⚖️ Kouri Richins, the Summit County woman convicted of fatally poisoning her husband in 2022 and then authoring a children's book about grief, was sentenced yesterday to life in prison without parole. (ABC 4)

🐝 A semitrailer truck carrying 480 beehives broke down in Parley's Canyon during Tuesday's 90-plus temperatures, imperiling the 25 million bees inside. (KUTV)

• Fire crews cooled them off by spraying water over the trailer until the truck was repaired.

🛥️ Lake Powell's Bullfrog Marina is being moved to the lake's south side, where operators expect the water will remain deep enough for boats to park. (KUER)

There's a HUUUUGE weekend comin' round the mountain to Salt Lake City.

🎸 Kilby Block Party: Catch dozens of acts like Lorde, Modest Mouse, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Ritt Momney tomorrow through Sunday at the Fairpark. Tickets

💃 Living Traditions: The multicultural festival brings food, art and performances from around the world to Washington Square Park and Library Square from tomorrow through Sunday. Free, but donations accepted online

🩰 Choreographic Fest: See the best in Utah contemporary dance daily now through Saturday at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. Performance times vary, tickets online

🎨 So much art: The Salt Lake Art Show runs today through Sunday at the Mountain America Expo Center. Tickets

• Also check out Salt Lake's monthly free Gallery Stroll at 6pm tomorrow and Art on the Towne, 10am-3pm Saturday at South Jordan City Hall. Free

🎶 Starry Nights: Taylorsville's weekly concert series starts 5:30pm tomorrow at Centennial Plaza. Free

🚜 Farm Fest: Wheeler Farm's annual spring celebration offers wagon rides, demonstrations and other activities 9am-1pm Saturday. Free

🍩 Utah Food Festival: The Natural History Museum of Utah hosts its annual showcase of local artisans and workshops Saturday and Sunday. Entry with museum admission

🧩 Jigsaw Puzzle Competition: Teams start assembling pieces 5pm Saturday at the Park Center in Murray. Register

🧌 Creatures and Features: Shop from magical makers and enjoy screenings of "The Craft" noon-7pm Sunday at West Jordan's Pioneer Hall. Free

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