Near-record temps are speeding up mosquito season, pushing its arrival about a month earlier than usual, mosquito control officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The bites are an itchy nuisance and you shouldn't need to cover up when the weather's this nice.

Driving the news: Mosquito traps set in wetlands near the airport last week detected 200 mosquitoes of a species not regularly seen until the end of April, said Ary Faraji, executive director of the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District.

• He said this is "by far the earliest" mosquito season he's seen in his 12 years at the abatement district, calling it potentially historic.

📆 Typically, activity isn't recorded until mid-April to early-May, but the timeline is being pushed earlier due to climate change, Faraji told Axios.

• The season has also been extended, running through the end of October in several recent years.

Threat level: The longer season could complicate control efforts and impact the way disease spreads, per Faraji.

Reality check: Early season mosquitoes aren't harmful beyond the annoying itching. Diseases like West Nile virus (WNV) don't typically show up in mosquitoes until between mid-July and September, said Michelle Rehbein, an education specialist with the abatement district.

• There are easy precautions you can take, she told Axios, like checking your property weekly for standing water — buckets and children's toys — and using EPA-approved insect repellent.
• Wearing long sleeves and pants can also help.

Between the lines: It's too soon to tell if mosquitos showing up earlier could prolong exposure to WNV, Faraji said.

• Last year's first human case of WNV in Salt Lake County was reported in mid-August.

How it works: As cold-blooded insects, mosquitoes thrive in warm weather, Faraji said.

• Because mosquitoes are drawn to standing water, west side residents may see the worst of mosquito season as snowmelt flows down.

Kim's thought bubble: After enjoying some cocktails on the patio for my birthday earlier this month, I woke up the next morning with FOUR mosquito bites.

• If you attract mosquitoes like me and you plan to spend most of your time outdoors, carry tiny bottles of repellant. You won't regret it.

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Some major downtown thoroughfares will close for six months next year to accommodate crowds for the open house at the renovated Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple.

Why it matters: The closures, approved Tuesday by the City Council for March–October 2027, will mostly affect travel to and from Capitol Hill.

Zoom in: Full road closures will be on North Temple from Main Street to West Temple, and on West Temple from North Temple to South Temple.

• All eastbound lanes will close on North Temple from West Temple to 200 West.
• Individual lanes will close on adjacent blocks of South Temple and West Temple.

By the numbers: More than 20,000 visitors are expected downtown each day of the open house — the first time the faith's flagship temple will be open to the public since it was dedicated in 1893.

• The church is paying $2.3 million to lease the surrounding streets to manage the crowds.

Friction point: The streets around Temple Square are crucial access points for the neighborhood to the north, where eastern access is blocked by City Creek Canyon.

• 300 North — a two-lane road — will likely absorb most east-west traffic, funneling it to two already-busy areas: the Capitol or West High School.
• Trips to grocery stores and schools could be difficult, said Chris Wharton, who represents the area on the City Council.
• "I know what a huge ask this is," he said Tuesday.

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💧Salt Lake City will restrict water use to 200,000 gallons per day in nonresidential buildings in response to a planned ICE detention center city leaders oppose. (KSL)

• While it's unclear how many people the facility would hold, Mayor Mendenhall said a center housing 7,500 people would require 1 to 2 million gallons daily.

🚨 West Jordan police are investigating a third domestic violence report involving reality star Taylor Frankie Paul — though officers aren't disclosing whether she's considered a potential suspect. (FOX 13)

• Officers said the 2024 allegation was reported in February — the same month that Draper police began investigating a separate report there.
• Paul was set to star in "The Bachelorette" when ABC pulled the show last week in connection with a 2023 assault.

💸 Gov. Cox signed a bill cutting state income taxes for the sixth consecutive year, from 4.5% to 4.45%. (KSL)

🛤️ Salt Lake City finalized agreements this week to extend the Sugarhouse S-Line streetcar to Highland Drive. (Building Salt Lake)

South Jordan is the nation's No. 2 small-city career hotspot, per a new analysis from the flex workspace listing platform, Coworking Cafe.

Stunning stat: Wage growth of 72% since 2019 pushed SoJo up the ranks, per the report.

Between the lines: The study weighted wages and employment levels over cost of living to keep cheap cities with stagnant job growth from dominating the list, its author told the New York Times.

Zoom out: Only Alpharetta, Georgia bested South Jordan, with its "dense, diverse employment base," per the study.

Here's what's happening in and around town this weekend.

🛍️ Asher Adams market: Salt Lake Sideaways is highlighting more than 16 local vendors setting up shop inside the historic Union Pacific Depot.

• When: 4:30-8pm tomorrow

🐰 Bunny Hop Breakfast: Discovery Gateway Children's Museum is throwing its annual Mini Pancake House breakfast. Access to the rest of the museum is included. Tickets.

• When: 8-10am Saturday

🎨 Festival of Colors: The Hindu festival returns to the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, celebrating the arrival of spring.

• When: 10am-5pm Saturday; 11am-4pm Sunday

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