According to the Census Bureau, child poverty was cut in half in 2021, the lowest rate on record. When the child tax credit was reduced in 2022, 4 million children returned to living in poverty.

Several members of congress and advocates for middle- and low-income families gave a press conference urging congress to restore the expanded child tax credit along with efforts to pass the R&D corporate tax credit before the end of the year. The expanded child tax credit was temporarily boosted as part of COVID-19 relief in the American Rescue Plan, giving families extra money in direct monthly payments.

Between Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans controlling the House, there’s an increased possibility the two tax credits could get hitched together.

Cox proposes $6,000 compensation boost for every Utah public school teacher

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wants to make teaching a more attractive profession by increasing the annual salary and benefits for every teacher and in-school specialist by $6,000 per year.

By the numbers:

• The proposal includes a 5% increase to the value of the weighted pupil unit.
• The cost to raise salary and benefits per teacher is $200 million annually.
• The proposal seeks an additional one-time $200.7 million to ensure the raise is applied before the end of the school year.
• It also includes an additional $40.8 million for optional all-day kindergarten and $70.7 million to help at-risk students.
• In total, the proposal increases Utah’s education budget to over $1 billion.

Read the full story here.

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Southern Utah:

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The West:

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The World:

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Sports:

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• Glut of QBs and RBs are hitting transfer portal (Deseret News)
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