Hunt Much?
Utah is part of the Wild West, and that means hunting is a right of passage. However, there are limits to what you can kill. Here is your chance to stand up for some wild felines as the Utah Wildlife Board gets ready to set rules for trophy-hunting bobcats and cougars. The nonprofit Western Wildlife Conservancy wants the board to "at least get a scientifically reliable count on the number of cougars before deciding on whether, and how many, to kill." They're inviting you to Speak Up Against Trophy Hunting Cougars and Bobcats and insist on accurate data before the shooting begins. If you can't attend, you could send a polite note to members of the board listed on their website. Utah Department of Natural Resources, 1594 W. North Temple, 801-538-4700, Thursday, Aug. 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., free, bit.ly/2xxeqN6
Facts or #FAKENEWS
You've been bombarded by promises, assertions, insults and, frankly, lies since the 2016 election, so you might want a little clarity. Join Richard Kimball, president of Vote Smart, as he offers a multimedia presentation to unmask more than 40,000 candidates and elected officials—the ones you're supposed to trust. The Facts Matter Tour shows voting records, position statements and interest-group ratings so you can see just where your political icon stands. Vote Smart provides free access to a host of information, and you can learn how to use it. Hinckley Institute of Politics, 332 S. 1400 East, Room 102, 801-581-8501, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2-3 p.m., free, bit.ly/2iuXZ1c
Climate History Through Salt
Yeah, the earth is changing, the weather is weird—but what does it all mean? Brenden Fisher-Femal, a paleo-climatologist, has been trying to figure that out by looking at how the earth has responded to warming in the past as a predictor of how it will change in the future. He's speaking this week as part of the Natural History Museum of Utah's Scientist in the Spotlight series. See his rock samples and learn about his field work in "Studying the Salt Flats and Decoding Climate History." Hydrologist Evan Kipnis will also be there to cover his research on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Natural History Museum of Utah, 301 S. Wakara Way, 801-581-6927, Friday, Sept. 1, 2-4 p.m., adults, $12.95; seniors and young adults, $10.95; kids, $7.95, bit.ly/2ivG2Qc
