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Good morning!

Here’s today’s forecast:

⛈️ 57 – 79° in Logan |💧 60% chance

⛈️ 70 – 86° in Salt Lake City |💧 60% chance

⛅ 76 – 99° in St. George

The deep blue ocean is one of my biggest fears. 🌊 Thinking about endless water and all the enormous creatures lurking within it makes me shudder.

My social media algorithm must know this about me, because lately I'm seeing more videos of whales leaping onto boats in my feed.

Recently my colleague Madison Selcho wrote an update on two kayakers caught on video as a whale seemed to swallow them whole (aka my worst nightmare.)

Tell me: Is the ocean fascinating or terrifying? Or is it a little of both? 🐋

Also on our minds: Lightning near the White House kills three people and injures one, a Utah-based clothing company is fined for fake "Made in USA" tags and Amazon purchases iRobot for $1.7 billion.

Church responds to AP story on abuse of a child and reporting hotline

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently responded to an Associated Press story about bishops handling sexual abuse cases in Arizona and West Virginia. The statement condemns all abuse and explains the purpose of the church's abuse help line.

Rocky Anderson says he wants to run for Salt Lake City mayor again in 2023

Former Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson told a small group of supporters he wants to run for mayor again in 2023. Anderson said he made the decision after seeing Salt Lake City "at its absolute worst" in cleanliness and safety.

Learn more about Anderson's decision.

Perspectives:

Kate Taylor Lauck: I survived abuse. I worked for the church’s help line. The AP story broke my heart (Deseret News)
Bethany Mandel: When does making fun of your spouse cross the line? (Deseret News)
Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Only 7% of Americans have confidence in Congress. Are institutions failing us? (Deseret News)

Wasatch Front:

Utah-based Lions Not Sheep apparel company fined for swapping ‘Made in China’ tags for ‘Made in USA’ (Deseret News)
UTA to shift around service routes, schedules. Here's what you need to know (KSL)
Hundreds of Utah kids receive free back-to-school dental check-up (Fox13)

The West:

Western Governors University at 25: How a group of governors disrupted higher education (Deseret News)

The Nation:

Lightning strike near White House kills 3, leaves 1 critically injured (Deseret News)
Taiwan tensions: China halts co-operation with US on key issues (BBC News)

Business:

Amazon expands, again: Roomba maker iRobot purchased for $1.7 billion (Deseret News)
The high-stakes poker party that turned out to be a crypto scam (Utah Business)

Sports:

BYU Cougars: ‘Sky is the limit’: Jaren Hall eager to see what Cougars can accomplish in final season of independence (Deseret News)
USU Aggies: Could Anthony Switzer actually play for Utah State this season? (Deseret News)
Utah Jazz: The untold story of the statue that now — finally — pays homage to ‘The Show’ (Deseret News)
Utah Utes: Why a more focused, more serious Tavion Thomas so vital to Utes’ offense (Deseret News)

Thanks for reading Utah Today! If you have any comments, questions or suggestions we’d love to hear them — just reply to this email or send an email to newsletters@deseretnews.com.

— Allie