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Good morning! Here is today’s forecast:

🌤️ 17 – 33° Logan | ⛅ 27 – 39° Salt Lake

⛅ 24 – 35° Manti | ⛅ 26 – 45° Moab

⛅ 22 – 36° Cedar City | ⛅ 33 – 50° St. George

⚠️ Wind advisory for Northern Wasatch Front and Lower Washington County

You may be feeling a bit partied out after the holidays, but don’t turn into a hermit just yet — socializing could lower the risk of stroke, heart disease and infection.

Lois M. Collins reports that this finding comes from a study from the U.K. and China, which looked at proteins in blood that are known to contribute to serious health issues.

“Social relationships are adaptive and critical for well-being and survival in social species,” the study said. Both social isolation and loneliness are linked to disease and death, “with effects comparable to traditional risk factors such as smoking and obesity.”

Read more about how socializing may improve your health.

Also on our minds:

Miss America contestant from Utah wins award for most inspirational
Congress certifies 2024 presidential election
Why BYU isn’t panicking after ‘butt-kicking’ it suffered at Houston

Utah Republican lawmakers announce public safety crackdown on migrants in state illegally

Utah Republican lawmakers announced a slate of immigration bills on Monday targeting migrants who are in the country illegally and increasing penalties for migrant-related crime.

These bills include measures to:

Expand detention space for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers to make it easier to deport migrants who commit crimes.
Enhance criminal charges for those involved in violent crimes.
Create negative consequences for other unauthorized migrants living in the state.
Provide emergency funding to schools that have experienced a surge in non-English speakers.

Utah remains a place that welcomes all legal immigrants and refugees, but that attitude cannot come at the expense of public safety or seriously strained public resources, House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee said.

Read more about the bills and the future of the Utah Compact.

How the ski patrol strike is impacting Park City Mountain’s image

Skiers and snowboarders have complained about long lift lines, crowded slopes and limited open terrain since about 200 members of the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association hung up their jackets and started walking a picket line on Dec. 27.

Here’s what you need to know about the strike:

The strike centers on more than starting wages — workers are asking for holiday pay, health coverage pay and increases based on experience and inflation.
Park City Mountain Resort’s longstanding image as a premier ski and snowboard destination in the United States is taking a hit. Many workers have taken to social media to blast the resort and its parent company, Vail Resorts.
Shares in Vail Resorts have reportedly taken a hit, decreasing more than 5% last week.

Read more about how the strike is affecting the resort’s image.

Relive the glory: BYU’s championship season

This is more than a look back; it’s a tribute to the spirit and passion of the Cougar community. Step back in time and celebrate the legendary moments of BYU’s epic 1984 National Championship season! Order your copy and relive the championship journey with us. Celebrate the past, inspire the future.

Politics

Gov. Cox to join Trump at Mar-a-Lago dinner with other governors (Deseret News)
Congress certifies 2024 presidential election, affirms Trump victory (Deseret News)
The Deseret News Editorial Board: The peaceful transfer of power endures (Deseret News)
Trump seeks delay in ‘hush-money’ sentencing (Deseret News)

The U.S.

Was it easier for Americans to afford a home last year? (Deseret News)
Man’s body found outside a bus shelter as death toll rises in US winter storm (BBC)

The World

Justin Trudeau resigns as Canada’s prime minister: what’s next? (Deseret News)
Russia may share advanced satellite tech with North Korea, Blinken warns (Axios)

Sports

Kevin Young eager to right the wrongs that plagued BYU in lopsided loss to No. 14 Houston (Deseret News)
Taking a closer look at the Jazz’s 2025 draft assets (Deseret News)
Remembering Ralph Mann, one of the greatest BYU athletes of all time (Deseret News)
Egor Demin is in a hurry to get up to ‘American’ speed (Deseret News)
Oldest living Olympic medalist, a Holocaust survivor, dies at age 103 (Deseret News)

Faith

A prayer in the U.S. Capitol sparked a unique religion controversy (Deseret News)
What to expect from FamilySearch in 2025 (Church News)

Health

Mental health challenges elevating in the military ranks (Deseret News)
First bird flu death in U.S. reported in Louisiana (People)

🗓️ Events Calendar

We are still putting together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah the next month. Let us know what we should include!

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