With thanks to our sponsor

Good morning! Here are today’s temperatures:

⛅ 63 – 99° in Logan

🌥️ 76 – 102° in Salt Lake | 💧 30%

🌥️ 81 – 105° in St. George | 💧 10%

⚠️ Heat advisory in effect. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her allies have found a new favorite line of criticism against her Republican opponents. They’re “weird.”

JD Vance has pushed back, arguing the label says more about the Democratic Party being detached from the concerns of regular Americans than it does about the GOP ticket.

So, what does it really mean to be “weird” in this political climate?

Read more about each party’s campaign to frame the other side as strange.

Also on our minds:

Blood donations are down nationwide and in Utah
Counties postpone Maloy-Jenkins recount certification to deal with software issue
The U.S. government is suing TikTok over child privacy law

Thousands of Latter-day Saints celebrate their faith at Salt Lake City conference

When news outlets publish frequent think pieces on why younger generations leave religion in droves, part of the story is left behind — spiritual communities burgeoning and thriving with Gen Z and millennials.

That story was on display when thousands of young single adults came to downtown Salt Lake City for a weekend of spiritual devotionals, a concert headlined by Ben Rector, Rachel Platten and Emma Nissen, service projects, games and dances.

It was the 2024 Utah YSA conference — a two-day event aimed at cultivating a sense of belonging in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as strengthening faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Attendees said seeing so many young Latter-day Saints in the same area was heartening. The event culminates with a Sunday devotional from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

Read more about why participants say they’re attending the conference.

After losing election, Phil Lyman asks Utah Supreme Court to remove Gov. Cox and put Lyman on Nov. ballot

After losing the Republican primary election to incumbent Gov. Spencer Cox, Phil Lyman has asked the Utah Supreme Court to toss out the results of the primary election and remove Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson from office.

Filing the petition himself, Lyman named Cox, Henderson, Rob Axson and the Utah Republican Party as respondents. Lyman’s main argument has to do with a law that allows candidates to gather signatures to get onto the primary ballot.

Axson told the Deseret News in a phone call he complied with the procedures outlined in state law and while he does not certify the nominee for general election (per state law), he did certify Lyman as the official nominee for the primary ballot.

Read more about Cox’s response to the lawsuit.

More in Utah

Counties delay Maloy-Jenkins recount certification because of voter equipment error (Deseret News)
Meagan Kohler: Unfair media portrayals — not a rich family life — are erasing Hannah Neeleman’s true identity (Deseret News)
Utah’s poor air quality: What’s driving the problem? (Deseret News)
Storms to return to Utah this weekend. Will it clear the smoky skies? (KSL)

FROM OUR SPONSOR SALT LAKE PARADE OF HOMES

NOW OPEN! The 2024 Salt Lake Parade of Homes!

The Salt Lake Parade of Homes is America’s 1st Parade, celebrating 78 years of fulfilling dreams. Come see “New Possibilities and Creative Ideas” August 2–17, open Tuesday–Saturday 12:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Buy your tickets today! Use promo code: PARADE3 for $3 OFF.

Politics

Kamala Harris secures Democratic presidential nomination (Deseret News)
Trump and Harris spar over race, identity issues (Deseret News)

The U.S.

U.S. unemployment spikes to nearly 3-year high as job gains slow (Deseret News)
U.S. government sues TikTok over child privacy law (Deseret News)

The World

Thomas B. Griffith: Promoting the rule of law in Ukraine sets an example for the entire world (Deseret News)
U.S. sends more forces to region ahead of possible Iranian attack on Israel (Axios)

Sports

Gerry Bohanon declares himself 100% healthy, ready to ‘truly compete’ in starting QB derby (Deseret News)
How the new college football roster limit could impact Utah in 2025 (Deseret News)
BYU is officially a finalist for the nation’s No. 1 recruit, AJ Dybantsa. Who else is in his top 7? (Deseret News)
Egor Demin becomes BYU’s first 5-star prospect in program history (Deseret News)

Olympics

Whittni Morgan advances to the 5,000-meter Olympic final (Deseret News)
Jimmer Fredette remains out, but can the U.S. 3x3 team still reach the medal rounds after 2 straight wins? (Deseret News)
The road to the medal rounds just got tougher for these former Utes at the Olympics (Deseret News)

Faith

Rachel Miner & Haifa Tlili: Headscarves shouldn’t stop a woman from competing in the Olympics (Deseret News)
An upsurge in musical tributes to the Savior is taking place (Deseret News)

Health

Blood donations down nationwide; Utah networks plead for donors (Deseret News)
Ground cinnamon products recalled by FDA due to ‘elevated levels of lead’ (Deseret News)

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