Plus, what to do at Utah’s largest indoor prehistoric playground
Good morning! Here are today’s temperatures: ⛅ 26 – 41° Logan | ⛅ 30 – 45° Salt Lake
⛅ 25 – 44° Manti | ⛅ 26 – 47° Moab
⛅ 25 – 51° Cedar City | ⛅ 30 – 57° St. George
This past Saturday, I joined a dozen of my colleagues at a local Target, where we racked up the longest receipt I have ever seen in my life — it had to be at least four feet long. The reason for this shopping spree? My colleagues Lois Collins and Hanna Seariac put together a fantastic silent auction in our office and donated the proceeds to Sub for Santa. On Saturday, we got a handful of cards describing 24 kids who otherwise wouldn’t receive presents on Christmas morning. We gleefully combed that Target for the best winter jackets, shoes and books we could get them, and felt what Christmas is really all about. Emma Pitts reported last week that more than 900 families still hope to be sponsored through United Way’s Sub For Santa program — more than 2,300 children in need in Utah County alone. If you’d like to donate or volunteer to sponsor a family this Christmas, visit subforsanta.org. Also on our minds: 5 inspirational stories that gave us hope this week 4 holiday shipping deadlines you should know about 3 times Congress showed signs of unity in 2024 |
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| John Curtis’ search for ‘good compromise’ |
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The most frequent question Senator-elect John Curtis gets is whether he’ll be the “next Romney.” Curtis will formally replace outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney on Jan. 3. In his prior role as a congressman, Curtis’ reputation for pragmatism led to significant policy wins for Utah on public lands and water issues. But despite his own experience in U.S. politics, people want to know where his party loyalty lies. “To the Trump-skeptical, Romney’s independence made him a hero; to the MAGA faithful, he was a heretic,” Sam Benson reports. “Curtis, perhaps exasperated, has developed a boilerplate response: ‘I’m not Mitt Romney,’ he says, ‘I’m John Curtis.’” Curtis spoke with Benson about how he intends to govern in the Senate, including his priorities and plans for dealmaking and alliances. Read more about what to expect from Utah’s next senator. |
| As I read Emma Pitts’ reporting on Thanksgiving Point’s newest venue, I had two immediate questions: Can adults fit on the slides? And when can I go? Although the Mountain America Jurassic Jungle was created with kids in mind, Emma says the exhibit is large enough for adults to comfortably move through. However, she warned me that the immersive experience is already so popular that tickets may be sold out for several months in advance. The venue features prehistoric-themed play where children can complete missions, including feeding T. rexes, jumping over hot lava and escaping danger down a five-story corkscrew slide. This kind of experience aims to teach children through play by emphasizing purpose, agency and enjoyment. Read more about the thrill of Jurassic Jungle at Thanksgiving Point. More in Utah Utah’s Olympics organizing committee won’t be in place until next year. Here’s why (Deseret News) Many Huntsville residents are still without water; authorities issue boil alert (KSL) Hill Air Force Base confirms reports of drones over Davis County airspace (KUTV) Charges mount for suspected serial storage unit burglar linked to break-ins in Washington City (St. George News) |
FROM OUR SPONSOR JON M. HUNTSMAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Setting the Standard: What It Means to Be a Huntsman Scholar The Huntsman Scholar Program at Utah State University is a selective business and economics program. We seek students with academic excellence, servant leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and integrity, aligning with Jon Huntsman’s vision of purpose-driven individuals. |
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🗓️ Events Calendar We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah the next month. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything! Here are some highlights for events in Utah today: Dec. 11-17 — Gingerbread House Contest | Ogden Dec. 17-18 — Christmas Carol Services at The Cathedral of the Madeleine | Salt Lake City Dec. 16-17 — Mannheim Steamroller Christmas | Eccles Theater Dec. 17 — USU men’s basketball vs. UC San Diego at home | 7 p.m. |
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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 |
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