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☀️ 36 – 66° Logan | ☀️ 44 – 72° Salt Lake

☀️ 36 – 69° Manti | ☀️ 45 – 78° Moab

☀️ 38 – 75° Cedar City | ☀️ 49 – 88° St. George

Good morning!

President Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders since assuming office, but some of the most controversial ones were halted by federal courts.

Next week, the House GOP will begin hearings on the judges blocking Trump’s agenda.

Several House Republicans are also pushing to impeach district judges who have issued injunctions against Trump’s executive orders.

Read more from Cami Mondeaux about the escalating tension between Trump allies and federal courts.

Also on our minds:

Lawmakers demand action after Trump officials accidentally include journalist in war plans
Remembrances pour in honoring Mia Love
What ‘The Chosen’ cast is most excited for audiences to see in Season 5

Gov. Cox returns ‘home’ to sign bill boosting support for Utah’s rural schools

Jason Swensen writes:

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox didn’t need to pull up his GPS app to find Manti Elementary School for Monday’s ceremonial signing of a bill boosting state funding for the state’s rural schools.

The Sanpete County native — by way of nearby Fairview — felt right at home flanked by Manti school kids for the ceremonial signing of House Bill 396 into law.

Sponsored by Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton, HB396 amends the funding formula used at Utah K-12 schools classified as rural schools — providing up to 1.5 of the weighted pupil units now being generally allocated to Utah K-12 students in non-rural schools.

To be concise: Supplemental funding is coming to rural schools. And rural schools and districts will enjoy the flexibility to, say, hire and incentivize teachers — or use the money in other ways that they deem necessary to improve their classrooms.

Read more about how the new bill will support Utah’s rural schools.

U.S. could default on financial obligations in next few months if Congress doesn’t act: Report

Congress narrowly avoided a shutdown over the federal budget earlier this month, but we’re not out of the woods yet.

According to the most recent projections from the Bipartisan Policy Center, the U.S. could default on its loans sometime between July and October if Congress doesn’t pass legislation to raise the debt limit.

Cami Mondeaux, our Washington reporter, explains the situation and answers your questions:

What is the debt ceiling?
What does it mean to default on loans?
What are the options to raise the debt limit this time around?
Could Congress explore a standalone bill if reconciliation is delayed?

Read more about what the country must do to avoid defaulting on its debt.

Utah Business 2025 Executive Excellence Nominations

It’s time to recognize executive team members for their strategic vision, resilient leadership, and profound influence. Nominate before April 18!

Utah

Remembrances pour in honoring Mia Love (Deseret News)
2 persons of interest identified after California woman found dead in Utah vacation rental (ABC4)
Project involving 2 historic buildings to test new Salt Lake development incentive (KSL.com)
Not an OICI: Salt Lake police answer lingering questions after dog shooting (KUTV)

The U.S. & World

Trump officials signal scope of impending tariff ‘Liberation Day’ could be narrowing (Deseret News)
Wildfires continue to scorch Carolinas, burning homes and forcing evacuations (NBC News)
Canadian PM Carney calls snap election, cites Trump’s ‘threats to sovereignty’ (Deseret News)
Oscar-winning Palestinian director is attacked by Israeli settlers and detained by the army (The Associated Press)

Opinion

Jay Evensen: Marijuana’s newfound health problems (Deseret News)
Naomi Schaefer Riley: Being compassionate and enforcing laws are not mutually exclusive (Deseret News)

Sports

Amid a top-heavy Sweet 16, BYU may be the best underdog story left in the dance (Deseret News)
Return to sender: Mawot Mag’s big play is taking him back to New Jersey — and to the Sweet 16 (Deseret News)
Utah’s path to a 49th straight trip to the national championships (Deseret News)
RSL’s Diego Luna Assists U.S. Goal Against Canada In CONCACAF Nations League (KSL Sports)

Faith

‘The Chosen’ Season 5 premiere: Cast shares what they are most excited for audiences to see (Deseret News)
Yazidis call attention to nearly 3,000 captives still missing a decade later (Religion News Service)

🗓️ Events Calendar

We put together a list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah in March. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!

Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:

March 25 — Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies | 7 p.m.
March 25 — USU softball vs. Weber State | 4 p.m.
March 25 — UVU softball vs. BYU | 6 p.m.
March 25 — Utah Tech baseball vs. U of U | 4:05 p.m.

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