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🌥️ 18 – 40° Logan | ⛅ 28 – 48° Salt Lake

⛅ 19 – 46° Manti | ☀️ 24 – 46° Moab

⛅ 21 – 55° Cedar City | ⛅ 31 – 57° St. George

Good morning! Here are the top stories from last week:

The way to renew the message of Christmas in a divisive age remains simple: Promote understanding

Opinion: Why eliminating Utah’s tax on Social Security is a big deal

EPA bans 2 cancer-causing chemicals. Will consumers miss them?

Martha Hughes Cannon statue installed in U.S. Capitol’s Emancipation Hall

Biden commutes a record 1,500 sentences in single day and pardons 39 — 1 Utahn among them

As Mitt Romney heads for the exit, he sounds a hopeful note on Trump

2024 captured through photos

What’s around the next bend? That’s what he writes about

Lynn Arave is one of Utah’s most prolific authors, with nine books published and a 10th on the way. His works cover the overlooked corners of Utah, from fatalities at Lagoon to Bigfoot sightings, and he doesn’t do it for the money — he has an insatiable curiosity, and he wants to share his findings with the world.

In titles such as “Detour Utah,” “Unforgettable Utah,” “Legends, Lore and True Tales of Utah,” “Walking Salt Lake City,” “Great Salt Lake” and “High Uintas Wilderness,” Arave explores Utah off the beaten path.

Read more about Arave’s career, explorations and what’s around the ext bend.

BYU dominated the sports world in 2024

BYU fans had a lot to celebrate in 2024.

From Kenneth Rooks’ silver medal to Andy Reid’s third Super Bowl ring, athletes and coaches tied to the school racked up achievements that made a splash across the country and around the world.

Here are some highlights from BYU’s year in sports:

Jimmer Fredette made Team USA.
BYU basketball hired Kevin Young.
In October, BYU football led the Big 12 after undefeated start.

Read more from Kelsey Dallas about BYU’s year in sports — one highlight from every month of the year.

More in Sports

How an insurance company is helping top athletes prepare for life after soccer (Deseret News)
Utah Hockey Club sweeps another road trip, gets revenge against teams that had embarrassed them at home (Deseret News)
BYU’s Richie Saunders provides injury update after collision against Wyoming (Deseret News)
The Utes have their first transfer running back (Deseret News)
3 Utah cowboys earn world champion titles at 2024 National Finals Rodeo (ABC4)

FROM OUR SPONSOR BYU 1984 MAGAZINE

SPECIAL OFFER: Relive the trail to fame and glory

Calling all BYU fans! This year is the 40th anniversary of BYU's magical 1984 season where the Cougars went undefeated and claimed the National Championship. Relive the glory of victory with an exclusive retrospective magazine from the Deseret News, "1984: The Year BYU Was Second to None."

Inside you'll find never-before-read stories from the players on the '84 team, sports writers who covered each play and the insights from the family of LaVell Edwards. This is a limited edition magazine, perfect for every Cougar fan who bleeds blue. Order now!

Utah

Recent petroglyph damage highlights ‘disrespectful’ Utah issue, experts say (KSL)
Three not wearing seatbelts taken to hospital after single vehicle rollover in Layton (KUTV)
Park City Ski Patrol authorizes strike against Vail Resorts (ABC4)
Avalanche danger still in place for northern parts of Utah (KUTV)

The U.S.

Energy development: The last ones standing in coal country (Deseret News)
Mayorkas says no known foreign involvement in mass drone sightings (The Guardian)

The World

U.S. has made contact with Syrian rebel group HTS, Blinken says (NPR)
Hundreds feared dead after worst cyclone in 90 years slams French territory (Axios)
South Korean investigators push to summon impeached president as court set to determine his fate (The Associated Press)
Two Russian oil tankers wrecked in Black Sea (BBC)

Faith

How playing Mary Magdalene on 'The Chosen' changed Liz Tabish’s life (Deseret News)
Christians in Syria mark country’s transformation with tears as UN envoy urges an end to sanctions (The Associated Press)
How to stream, watch the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s 2023 Christmas concert ‘Joy’ (Church News)

Lifestyle

Epidemic in our pockets: Digital addiction with the author of ‘Dopamine Nation’ (Deseret News)
Unsure about marriage? The research should reassure you (Deseret News)

🗓️ 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. 1-23, 26-30 — Zoolights at Hogle Zoo | Salt Lake City
Dec. 11-17 — Gingerbread House Contest | Ogden
Dec. 16-17 — Mannheim Steamroller Christmas | Eccles Theater
Dec. 16 — UVU women’s basketball vs. Jacksonville State at home | 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 — Utah Tech men’s basketball vs. Whittier | 7 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