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🌨️ 23 – 40° Logan | ⛅ 32 – 47° Salt Lake

☁️ 29 – 48° Manti | ⛅ 25 – 49° Moab

☀️ 26 – 54° Cedar City | ⛅ 31 – 58° St. George

🌅 Good morning!

We are already into the second day of 2025.

Tell me: Do you have any New Year's resolutions or intentions for the new year?

Here are three stories that could help if you're looking to set a goal or to just be more intentional this year.

Holly Richardson shares unconventional tips for setting and achieving your goals.
Derwin Gray writes about four holy habits that can change your life and the lives of others.
If you're looking to simplify this year, read my story about the life-changing magic of doing less.

Many academics say conservative professors don't fit on campus

Free speech is considered elemental to college campuses — that time-honored academic privilege to express diverse opinions in pursuit of truth and knowledge without fear of retribution.

But a recent report that surveyed over 6,000 faculty members from 55 four-year colleges and universities across the United States — including over 200 faculty members from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah — reveals that fear and self-censorship are campus realities for many academics.

Campus “free speech chill,” according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression survey, appears to be felt most deeply by conservative faculty members.

47% of "conservative faculty" who responded to the survey report feeling unable to voice their opinions because of how others might react.
19% of “liberal faculty” reported similar fears.

24 of our most thought-provoking illustrations of 2024

Our illustrations helped illuminate and complement important Deseret News stories in 2024.

They added elements of surprise and delight, while also providing insights into our stories.

See our list with 24 of our top illustrations of the year.

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Inside you'll find never-before-read stories from the players on the '84 team, sports writers who covered each play and the insights from the family of LaVell Edwards. This is a limited edition magazine, perfect for every Cougar fan who bleeds blue. Order now!

Utah

Details and photos released on fatal Little Cottonwood Canyon avalanche (KSL)
After series of storms, here's what Utah's snowpack looks like heading into 2025 (KSL)
As Salt Lake City changes, location and timing can make or break a business (KUER)
How to choose the right business entity and register your small business in Utah (Utah Business)
'Blessing a stranger': St. George women surprise servers at annual donation event (St George News)
Utah Lake Authority to host yearlong carp-catching competition (Daily Herald)
Powder Mountain opens first new lift in a decade (Cache Valley Daily)

Health

Feeling nauseous? What to know as stomach bug outbreaks rise in U.S. (Miami Herald)
Norovirus outbreaks are on the rise around the country and on cruise ships (NPR)
Make Big Changes With Small Steps (WebMD)

Faith

25 years ago, Latter-day Saint apostles published 'The Living Christ,' a 710-word document on Jesus (Deseret News)
Temple milestones in 2024: Another look at 33 renderings released (Church News)
3 generations serve in the same mission at the same time (LDS Living)

Politics

💭 Elizabeth Hutchings: The case for protecting mail-in voting in Utah (Deseret News)
What 2025 could mean for US, Utah politics (KSL)
💭 Jennifer Graham: RIP, cancel culture? Why cancel culture might not survive 2024 (Deseret News)
Utah Supreme Court signals interest in death penalty challenge (Fox 13)

The Nation and the World

Authorities identify suspect in New Orleans attack that killed 15 and injured dozens (Deseret News)
Police probing cybertruck explosion at Trump Las Vegas hotel (BBC)
Trump and Putin's momentum: Ukraine faces a precarious 2025 (NBC News)

Sports

Utah Jazz have a losing record — again. How closely are people watching? (Deseret News)
Sugar Bowl postponed after attack in New Orleans (Deseret News)
Utes’ first Big 12 contest had a touch of familiarity for two Utes — former Baylor Bears Caleb Lohner and Miro Little (Deseret News)
BYU coach Kevin Young preaching patience for struggling freshman phenom Egor Demin (Deseret News)
BYU’s Alamo Bowl experience was priceless, but Cougars must share payout with fellow Big 12 members, including Utah (Deseret News)
3 of the NFL’s best individual performances this season came from BYU players (Deseret News)

Entertainment and Lifestyle

The 4 new Hallmark movies coming in January 2025 (Deseret News)
10 highly anticipated books coming in 2025 (Deseret News)
New travel requirements taking effect in 2025 for domestic and international destinations (ABC News)

🗓️ Events Calendar

We are working on updating the calendar for January events and will hopefully have it ready by the early next week.

Here's a notable event in Utah today:

Travel the World - Namaste India | Thanksgiving Point

Please reach out to me at sgambles@deseretnews.com if you have any thoughts, feedback or ideas you would like to share!

✨ Cheers ✨

— Gambles