With thanks to our sponsor

Utah Department of Health & Human Services

Good morning! Here are today’s temperatures:

☀️ 45 – 84° in Logan

☀️ 57 – 87° in Salt Lake

☀️ 65 – 99° in St. George

Granite School District’s new policy on cellphone use says phones are off limits during instructional time.

Marjorie Cortez writes about how the policy is being implemented at Granger High School.

“We’re on day nine of the school year, we’ve seen major changes in our school. I’ve got teachers reporting to me that they have never fit so much stuff into the time that they have a class period. They’re getting ahead of schedule, because there’s just not the same level of distractions,” Granger High School Principal Tyler Howe said during a press conference on Monday.

Read more about the issue of cellphone use in schools.

Also on our minds:

Caution urged as heat dome moves over Midwest, much of U.S.
Gov. Cox joins Trump to meet fallen Utah hero’s family; asks Biden to do the same
BYU coaches "kinda" know who the starting QB is, but explain why they won’t announce just yet

Better Boundaries launches campaign against constitutional amendment

Hanna Seariac reports: Better Boundaries kicked off its campaign to encourage Utahns to vote no on a constitutional amendment saying lawmakers have the power to amend or repeal citizen-led initiatives.

“We have heard from thousands of Utahns from all backgrounds, from all political beliefs united in defeating this power grab by politicians,” said Katie Wright, executive director of Better Boundaries. “Our constitutional rights are sacred and we will not give them away to politicians who think they know better than us.”

The organization, known for its work on the 2018 initiative to establish an independent redistricting commission, held a press conference with other speakers Monday at the Utah Capitol steps. Utahns filled the steps holding up signs that said “Vote No” and “Hey lawmakers, listen to us, We the People” as well as simply “Listen.”

Read more about the rally and why others support the amendment.

Poll: Majority of Utahns agree with Gov. Cox’s decision to endorse Trump

Brigham Tomco reports: A majority of Utah voters said they approve of Gov. Spencer Cox’s endorsement of former President Donald Trump, according to a new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX.

While the move surprised some of Cox’s close allies in the state, the poll found that his decision to board the Trump train came as welcome news to 58% of registered voters in the state — the exact same percentage that voted for Trump in 2020.

Despite the apparent popular support for his decision, Cox told reporters during a monthly broadcast in July that it was not made for political reasons.

“None of this was based on a calculus,” Cox said. “This was all based just on these intense feelings that I’ve had over the course of the past week and the past year.”

Until recently, Cox remained one of the few Republican leaders to publicly withhold his support from the party’s standard bearer. Cox reversed course shortly after the failed assassination attempt against Trump.

Read more about how people have responded to Cox’s endorsement.

More in Politics

Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard endorses Republican nominee Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race (Deseret News)
Poll: Is Donald Trump too old, unfit to be president? (Deseret News)
Jennifer Graham: Is ‘Medicare for All’ Kamala Harris’ January surprise? (Deseret News)

FROM OUR SPONSOR UTAH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN RESOURCES

What’s the best save as a parent?

Keep your kids healthy with routine immunizations and well-child checks. Wellness checkups are how you and a healthcare provider you trust can work together to keep your child safe and healthy. Visit Up2Date.Utah.gov to find out which immunizations and health screenings your child needs at each age — or needs to catch up on.

Utah

Cox joins Trump to meet fallen Utah hero’s family; asks Biden to do the same (Deseret News)
Poll results show regional divide on issue of Alpine School District split (KSL)
3 Utahns drown in Sierra Nevada range whirlpool; community mourns loss of race director (KSL)
‘No breathing room’: Cedar City Police make changes as service calls increase (KSL)

The Nation

NASA will keep Starliner crew in space until 2025, send Boeing capsule back empty (Deseret News)
Latest fatal landslide in Alaska kills 1 and injures 3 in Ketchikan, a popular cruise ship stop (The Associated Press)

The World

Six killed in ‘most massive’ Russian air attack, Ukraine says (BBC)
Israel says situation on Lebanon border ‘not sustainable’ (Reuters)

Sports

BYU will try to keep starting QB vs. Southern Illinois a secret until Saturday’s kickoff (Deseret News)
How Dallen Bentley went from playing five snaps in high school to starting at tight end for Utah (Deseret News)
What we learned from BYU’s first depth chart of the year (Deseret News)
Why Patty Mills? A three-pronged answer for the Jazz’s most recent deal (Deseret News)

Faith

Prophetic guidance, emphasis on students more important for BYU than lofty new research status (Deseret News)
Logan Tabernacle rededicated by Elder Cook in city where he grew up (Church News)
The Church of Jesus Christ donates $5 million to treat malnutrition (Deseret News)
How Florida’s coach used faith to will the team to a Little League World Series title (Deseret News)

Health

Deaths related to heat waves are on the rise in U.S. (Deseret News)
Walmart recalls apple juice due to potentially harmful levels of arsenic (TIME)

Check your inbox tomorrow morning for more news from the Beehive State and beyond!

And reply to this email or email newsletters@deseretnews.com to tell us what you think of Utah Today.

Thanks for reading!

— Ariel