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Good morning! Here are today's temperatures:

☀️ 21 – 45° Logan | 🌤️ 28 – 46° Salt Lake

🌤️ 23 – 48° Manti | 🌤️ 27 – 48° Moab

⛅ 25 – 51° Cedar City | ⛅ 35 – 61° St. George

Giving Machines will always hold a special place in my heart — not just because of the good they do and the Christmas spirit they bring, but also because six years ago, I witnessed them “Light the World” firsthand.

As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gilbert, Arizona, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the machines in 2018. It was the first year they were available outside of Salt Lake City and people lined up around the block to give their Christmas money to others. Despite the chill in the air, there was an undeniably cozy feeling all around. I remember one little boy asking his mom if, instead of a Christmas present for him, she could buy something from the machine for a child in need.

The magic continues to spread. Deseret News reporter Tad Walch was in Times Square in New York City yesterday, where three bright red Giving Machines drew together the leaders of 14 major national and international charities.

They praised the campaign, and World Food Program USA’s leader pledged to match every dollar given for a WFP USA product in a Giving Machine.

Read more about what world charity leaders said about the Giving Machines.

Also on our minds:

How going to the Olympics — and in one’s case, winning a medal — changed 2 BYU runner’s lives
What Utah’s 4th-place ranking in household debt means for residents
Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers in at least 19 states

A legacy of children in the Governor’s Mansion continues with students decorating one of its Christmas trees

Caitlin Keith writes:

For the 24 schoolchildren who found themselves dancing in the ballroom of the Governor’s Mansion, with the governor himself, Monday turned out to be a school day unlike any other.

In the early 20th century, Utah’s first lady Jennie Kearns started a tradition of regularly bringing kids from the nearby orphanage into the Governor’s Mansion.

This legacy continues on today, as each year elementary school children are invited into the mansion to help the governor and first lady decorate the library’s Christmas tree and mantel.

Read more about the themes of this year’s decorations and the fourth graders who made them.

A $50 million ‘gift’ for the Great Salt Lake

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded the Great Salt Lake $50 million on Monday for water conservation, updated infrastructure and ecosystem restoration.

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton announced the investment at the Utah Capitol Gold Room as part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s funding for drought mitigation efforts throughout the West.

The award comes in response to an application filed by the state of Utah.

Here is some key information about the gift:

$10 million of these funds will be used to buy water directly for the Great Salt Lake.
The grant will be matched by a $50 million investment from the state of Utah.
The $900 billion Inflation Reduction Act allocated over $4.5 billion for water conservation projects.
The Bureau of Reclamation has already announced more than $3.2 billion in projects funded by the legislation signed into law in 2022.

Read more about Utah’s plans to save the Great Salt Lake.

More in Utah

Utah’s EVject aiming to make EV charging safer (Deseret News)
Rash of wild horses shot, including popular Onaqui stallion (Deseret News)
Consumer sentiment improves despite rising household debt in Utah (Deseret News)
Teachers worry about salaries and benefits as Alpine School District prepares to split (KUER)
Meteorological winter is here. What's in store for Utah this season? (KSL)

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Politics

Jennifer Graham: ‘Of, by and for the elites’ — The message of Hunter Biden’s pardon (Deseret News)
President Biden faces backlash over Hunter’s controversial pardon (Deseret News)
Donald Trump demands release of Israeli hostages before his inauguration (Deseret News)
Congress readies another funding punt ahead of pre-Christmas shutdown deadline (POLITICO)

The U.S.

Renter households outpace homeowners in rapid growth (Deseret News)
Already buried under snow, Great Lakes region expected to see more stormy weather this week (The Associated Press)

The World

After 5 years of reconstruction, Notre Dame will reopen to the public this week (Deseret News)
Syrian government needs to reconcile with its people and opposition, Turkey says (Reuters)
Months of political instability loom as French government nears collapse (BBC)

Sports

How going to the Olympics — and in one's case, winning a medal — changed 2 BYU runner's lives (Deseret News)
BYU eager to test Providence in Big East-Big 12 Battle — first true road game of 2024-25 season (Deseret News)
Puka Nacua’s latest NFL accomplishment puts him in elite company (Deseret News)
Reports: Taysom Hill out for season with torn ACL, additional damage to knee (Deseret News)
Jay Hill? Bronco Mendenhall? Someone else? The latest on Utah State coaching search (Deseret News)

Faith

First Presidency shares Christmas message ahead of Christmas devotional (Deseret News)
Pastor draws on martial arts training after responding to intruder alarm (Deseret News)
Here are 10 faith-centered Christmas movies you can watch with your family (Deseret News)

Health

Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers in at least 19 states (Deseret News)
A twice-yearly shot could help end AIDS. But will it get to everyone who needs it? (The Associated Press)

🗓️ Events Calendar

We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah the next month. We’ll have the full list ready soon, but here are some highlights for events in Utah today:

Dec. 1-23, 26-30 — Zoolights at Hogle Zoo
Dec. 1-7 — Christmas Town Festival | Helper, Utah

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