The winners and the losers

Winner: The government is planning a new National Security Agency data center at Camp Williams, which couldn't come at a better time. Local officials say this would be on the magnitude of the City Creek project The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is building in downtown Salt Lake City. That means a lot of construction jobs, and eventually a lot of good-paying jobs after the center opens. Of course, nothing is ever certain when it comes to the government, especially where Republican-leaning Utah and a Democratically controlled White House and Congress are concerned. Hold your breath that this one actually happens.

 Loser: The Odd Fellows Hall in downtown Salt Lake City was precious enough to preserve, but it shouldn't be made to sit precariously on a platform 8 feet above ground much longer. Unfortunately, a legal fight between an Oregon company that was moving the building and a Utah construction company has put everything in limbo indefinitely. The building was being moved to make way for construction of a new federal courthouse. The Oregon company insists the building is safe where it is for at least another year. But for the good of everyone involved, including people who may be close to the century-old structure, it needs to be resettled soon.

 Loser: We've heard all the assurances from tanning-bed professionals who say their machines are safer than lying out in the sun. But even if they are correct (and a lot of medical professionals say they aren't), tanning is still more dangerous than remaining pale and staying out of the sun. As a story this week in this paper demonstrated, exposure to harmful rays can lead to dangerous forms of cancer. Unfortunately, a lot of young people believe tanned skin is more attractive than pale skin. Until that changes, health warnings probably won't make much of a difference.