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Happy Friday! I hope you have a sweater handy.

🌤 38 – 70° in Logan

🌤 53 – 77° in Salt Lake City |💧 20% chance

☀️ 58 – 89° in St. George

Thank you for your responses to last Friday's issue of Utah Today! I’m happy to hear that you all like the round up of stories you may have missed from the week. So with no further ado, here were some of the stories you liked best that you might have missed:

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🏀 Political debate roils South Carolina after university cancels BYU women’s basketball games: After an erroneous claim by a Duke Player that a racist slur was shouted at a volleyball game, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley canceled a two-game series with BYU. She has subsequently come under fire from state lawmakers.

🦏 RINO hunting in the age of Trump: In days of yore, being a RINO (Republican in Name Only) meant you were someone who didn’t follow party orthodoxy putting you in league with some of the greats like Teddy Roosevelt. Nowadays, as Rusty Bowers explains, it’s used as a slur.

🏈 Oregon apologizes for ‘despicable chants’ directed at BYU fans and their religion during Saturday’s game at Autzen Stadium: A recorded video of University of Oregon students’ “despicable chants” drew scrutiny from Gov. Spencer Cox. The school and Oregon State Governor have since expressed apologies.

🗳 Who will voters punish more in November — Republicans or Democrats?: It seems like voters feel a sense of betrayal from both Democrats and Republicans. How will the midterm elections turn out? Only time will tell.

🇺🇸 Will Mike Pence run for president in 2024? His answer to a Utah Valley University student: Mike Pence stopped by Utah Valley University this week and gave a speech. Afterwards, one student had the audacity to ask him if he’ll be running for president in 2024.

▶️ ‘I am Mormon, actually,’ Roman Atwood says on popular podcast with Logan Paul: Last week, popular YouTuber Roman Atwood revealed that he converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after his mother died suddenly in an accident.

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Also on our minds: Democrats may try to nix the filibuster, a University of Utah student goes nuclear… literally and why the heck is the f-word on TV so much?

BYU to honor ‘Black 14’ football players kicked off Wyoming’s 1969 team

In 1969, 14 Wyoming football players stepped into their coach’s office to discuss their intention of wearing black arm bands to protest The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s past restrictions on Black members holding the preisthood or entering temples. Their coach summarily dismissed them from the team, causing a big stir in the community. This week, however, members of the “Black 14” are invited back to light the Y before BYU’s game with Wyoming.

How did this come to be and what do these former football players have to say about it? Read more here.

How tight is the Mike Lee-Evan McMullin race for Senate? New Utah poll has answers

The U.S. Senate race is the one Utahns have a close eye on right now. The campaign between incumbent Sen. Mike Lee and challenger Evan McMullin has been an intense one. And voters are keen to make their will known in this one. According to a survey of 815 registered voters, if the election were held today:

83% said they will definitely vote
4% are somewhat likely to vote
And only a measly 2% said they definitely will not vote

But how tight is the race between Lee and McMullin? Find out here.

More in Politics:

The battle over ‘the big lie’ (Deseret News)
Democrats may nix filibuster if they retake the Senate (Deseret News)
Opinion: The Utah approach to homelessness — We see human beings in need of help (Deseret News)

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Health:

Cannabis use during pregnancy could hurt baby into the teenage years (Deseret News)

The Economy:

After months of declines, U.S. gas prices headed back up (Deseret News)
Housing market needs ‘difficult correction’, Fed says. In Utah, it’s already happening (Deseret News)

Police and The Courts:

Amazon Routinely Hired Dangerous Trucking Companies, With Deadly Consequences (Wall Street Journal🔒)

The Wasatch Front:

Village of tiny homes receives support but has west-siders asking, ‘Why us?’ (Salt Lake Tribune🔒)

The West:

Cherokee Nation campaigns for House representation (Deseret News)

The Nation:

Ginni Thomas agrees to interview with Jan. 6 committee. What will the panel ask her? (Deseret News)

Sports:

Breaking down the Bojan Bogdanovic trade (Deseret News)
Student arrested, accused of making nuclear threat unless Utes won (KSL)