🌱 Local Battle Rap Group Sets Up GoFundMe + 2 Teens Found With AR-15s

Good morning, friends. It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Salt Lake City Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in the community.

But first, today's weather:

Sunny and very warm. High: 101 Low: 73.

Here are the top three stories today in Salt Lake City:

1. A Salt Lake City rap battle group is currently working to collect funds to replace equipment stolen following an event on Jul. 2 and 3. Founder and CEO of Mic Masters Alliance Gabino Chacon III reported that the equipment was stolen from his car; he has reached out to the authorities as well as local resellers but has not had luck yet. Stolen from the car was a camera bag, a Nikon D7100 camera with two lenses and a custom flash as well as microphones and cables. A GoFundMe was set up in the hopes of gaining assistance in replacing this equipment. (KUTV 2News)
2. Late last week, Salt Lake police arrested two teenagers who were in possession of AR-15s. Officers received a call from an individual who reportedly saw two masked men with hoodies covering their faces walking away from a car near 300 East 700 South. The two men were identified as 18-year-old Angelo Crippen and 19-year-old Angelo Gay; upon search, they were found with an AR-15 rifle and a vape pen with what was suspected to be marijuana inside. Both of these individuals were booked in the Salt Lake County Jail and currently face multiple charges. (ABC4.com)
3. A reported swarm of grasshoppers detected on radar in northwest Utah was actually caused by material released from a U.S. Air Force base in Nevada, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologists initially identified the radar movement as insects due to its non-uniform pattern but further analysis revealed it to be "chaff," a reflective substance deployed by the military to disrupt radar systems. The confusion arose from the similar characteristics between chaff and insects. (Salt Lake Tribune)

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Today in and around Salt Lake City:

Monday, July 10

• Discover The Science Of The Mind, Film Showing At Church Of Scientology (1:00 PM)
• Escape The Room For Teens At Chapman Branch (2:00 PM)
• Footloose At Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, Taylorsville (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Ballet West thanked Principal Artist Jenna Rae Herrera, Corps Artists Jazz Khai Bynum, and Claire Wilson as well as Guest Instructor Karin Averty for teaching classes at Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy. Each of these wonderful artists and instructors provides a deep foundation of knowledge and taught all those in attendance a great amount about the craft. (Ballet West via Instagram)
• There are now less than 75 days until FanX 2023 will be taking place right here in Salt Lake! Get your pass at the link for the convention, taking place from Sep. 21-23. (FanX)
• The Salt Lake City Public Library is welcoming members of the community to stop by and visit any city library location to enter a random drawing for a Community Exploration card for the family. These cards give free admission to some Salt Lake museums and cultural centers for a month; the deadline for this month is Thursday, July 22. (Salt Lake City Public Library via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update!

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.