Data just compiled by the Utah State Tax Commission shows that California accounts for just under 21% of the more than 1.4 million vehicle registrations moved to Utah since 2020, including nearly 30,000 so far this year.

What is the state of housing in Utah?

The next highest state on the list, Idaho, made up just under 11% of the registrations over those years, followed by Arizona and Nevada, each at slightly over 8%; Colorado, at nearly 7%; Texas, at less than 4.5%; and Montana at nearly 4%.

The tax commission’s deputy executive director, Jason Gardner, said he’s not surprised to see California consistently topping the list of states where vehicles that now have Utah license plates used to be registered.

The vehicle registration numbers do largely match up with U.S. census data about Utah’s population.

According to census numbers from 2024, more Californians have come to Utah than people from any other state, making up 12.9% of in-migration. Arizona is next, at 10.8%; then Idaho, at 9.1%; Colorado, at 5.2%; and Texas, 5%.

Here’s how many people now live in Utah

“I’ve seen a lot of Californians,” Gardner said, noting that even though the data tracks vehicles relocating to Utah, not people, he believes the numbers from the Golden State are actually newcomers, who have 60 days to title and register their vehicles with the state.

“The ones in Idaho, Nevada and Arizona, those could just be people buying cars across the border,” he said, adding they’ll still have to register their purchases in Utah. “But California is likely going to be people moving here.”

Montana is a different story for some. Because Montana doesn’t collect taxes on vehicle sales, Gardner said there’s “a big scheme” that involves setting up a limited liability company to buy and title vehicles there to avoid taxes on high-priced cars and trucks.

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Last year, the Utah Legislature moved to close the so-called “Montana loophole” with a law intended to help the tax commission collect the unpaid taxes that adds up to $2,400 on a $50,000 vehicle and assess penalties.

So far this year, Gardner said the law has helped bring in about $2 million.

“There’s a big fine and penalties when we catch you,” he said. “It’s not thousands of people, it’s hundreds of people, but very expensive cars, so it becomes a lot of dollars. Like Ferraris and Lamborghinis, that kind of stuff. Those are the ones that stand out.”

The increase, which boosts the Fed’s benchmark rate by 0.25% to a range of 3.75% to 4%, was widely anticipated ahead of the monetary body’s two-day policy meeting that concluded Wednesday.

U.S. inflation has held stubbornly above the Fed’s target annual rate of 2% for nearly 5 1/2 years and has been trending upward in recent months thanks to petroleum industry price shocks, new international trade tariffs and economic headwinds driven in part by massive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Fed chairman Kevin Warsh, who signaled that a rate hike could be in the offing in comments made at an annual economic conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming late last month, said the move was squarely aimed at addressing one side of the central bank’s two-part mandate of maintaining price stability alongside supporting maximum employment.

“The plain fact is that inflation is too high and has been for too long,” Warsh told reporters at a Wednesday press conference. “We must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed. Today, the (Federal Open Market Committee) decided that this standard has not been satisfied.”

The increase earned unanimous support in a 12-0 vote by the policy setting FOMC, which had seen numerous dissents in recent votes that had left the rate untouched since a series of reductions in the Fed’s final three meetings of 2025.

Most economists were predicting a rate hike following new federal data releases, which arrived after Warsh’s summit speech, that included an unexpectedly upbeat August jobs report and new inflation data that showed the rate of U.S. price increases still on the rise.

Generally speaking, Federal Reserve rate cuts help spur economic activity by reducing the cost of debt, which can promote business activities like investment and hiring. Rate hikes, which increase the cost of consumer and commercial debt, are intended to quell spending and help slow down inflationary price increases.

The Fed also released economic projections on Wednesday, including a so-called dot plot graph that indicated most of the body’s officials, a group that did not include Warsh, expect another rate hike before the end of the year.

August inflation reading likely to corner Fed on interest rate hike

So, what does the rate change mean for me?

Where the Federal Reserve sets its federal funds interest rates — the interest charged on lending between banks to maintain required reserves based on a percentage of each institution’s total deposits — trickles down to consumers in numerous ways. Here are a few financial areas to keep an eye on in the changing economic landscape:

Mortgages

Mortgage rates don’t necessarily move in tandem with the Fed’s rate changes. Sometimes, they even move in the opposite direction. Long-term mortgages tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which, in turn, is influenced by a variety of factors. These include investors’ expectations for future inflation and global demand for U.S. Treasury bonds.

While the yield on 10-year Treasury notes has been running near two-decade highs, those rates saw some decline on news of the Fed’s rate decision on Wednesday. According to tracking by Zillow, the average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage loan was 7.03% on Wednesday.

Credit cards

Credit card rates are set by issuing institutions based on a number of factors, including the applicant’s personal credit history, but base rates are computed in part using the prime lending rate which is tied to the Fed’s benchmark rates.

Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst for LendingTree, told CNBC the rate hike was great news for households that are good at saving money but “stinks for borrowers.”

“Cardholders should expect their credit card’s APR to rise a quarter-point in the next couple of months following the Fed’s move,” Schulz said. “For most people, this one rate increase won’t amount to more than a dollar or two added to their monthly bill, but for those already struggling with card debt, any increase is definitely unwelcome.”

Combined, a 25-basis-point hike will cost credit card users roughly $2 billion in interest charges over the next 12 months, according to a recent analysis by personal finance site WalletHub.

Big-ticket spending

Higher interest rates can also make accessing credit, like qualifying for a home mortgage or new car loan, a bit harder as banks tend to tighten lending policy to reflect economic conditions.

While those looking to finance a big purchase are likely to see the Fed rate hike reflected in slightly higher borrowing rates, those changes are, like credit card rate adjustments, several months away.

Interest earnings

Mirroring changes in loan rates, the interest banks offer on savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts and a variety of other financial products are also likely to rise following the Fed’s rate increase.

“I have always regarded the United States Constitution as a model for a diverse people to achieve self-government,” President Oaks said on the eve of Constitution Day in the United States.

President Oaks, who was sustained as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints almost one year ago, in October 2025, has served as an apostle of Jesus Christ for 42 years. He was a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. He taught for 15 years as a professor of law. Immediately prior to his call in 1984 to serve as a member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he served for more than three years as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court.

“I do not speak for any political party or pressure group,” he said as he began his remarks. “I speak for the United States Constitution.”

President Oaks shared some background of the first members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He briefly explained their expulsion from Missouri in the 1830s and their subsequent move farther west — outside the borders of the United States — in the 1840s. He described the church’s pioneers at that time as refugees.

President Dallin H. Oaks: Faith, Freedom and the Common Good (full text)

Those experiences, he said, helped early members of the church to learn what it meant to become peacemakers as they sought the ability to live their religious beliefs.

“We have become peacemakers and advocates of freedom and unity by necessity. We have learned to forge those compromises on policy necessary to achieve the freedom and unity to live at peace with those with whom we disagree on religious faith. At the same time, we have preserved the freedom required for us to continue with our most important doctrines and practices,” he said.

The United States at large has also had to adapt its laws from the country’s beginning 250 years ago, he said. Examples include extending the right to vote to women and abolishing slavery.

“New laws had to ensure that those who had been enslaved or disadvantaged would have all the conditions of freedom,” he said.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a specific reason for their deep appreciation for the Constitution of the United States, President Oaks said.

“We have a revelation that identifies the Constitution as divinely inspired. This does not mean that every word is inspired, but that it is based on inspired principles.”

President Oaks specifically mentioned five inspired principles:

1. The source of government power is the citizens. This is often referred to as popular sovereignty.
2. The division of delegated power between the nation and its states.
3. The separation of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches. 
4. The “cluster of vital guarantees” of individuals’ rights and specific limits on government authority, such as in the Bill of Rights. 
5. The “vital purpose of the entire Constitution” that citizens are to be governed by law and not by individuals.

He added at the end of that list his hope that individuals would be loyal to the aspirations and the system of government over loyalty to individuals who are elected.

“Our loyalty is based on the Constitution and its principles and processes, not to particular officeholders,” he said.

The results of a society that seeks to abide by shared principles include the fact that groups and individuals work to understand each other while also working to compromise in ways that help everyone live together in peace, President Oaks said.

“As a practical basis for unity, all of us should accept the reality that we are fellow citizens who need each other. This requires all of us to obey some laws we dislike and to live peacefully with some persons whose values differ from our own. We should make every effort to understand the experiences and concerns of others, especially when they differ from our own.”

As individuals seek to protect rights that matter to them, President Oaks counseled against seeking “total dominance” on every position.

“Where there is genuine conflict on the effect of constitutional rights, contesting positions need to be balanced legally and negotiated politically in a way that upholds all essential rights to the greatest extent possible. We need to work for a better way forward — a way to resolve differences without compromising core values. We should seek fairness for all,” he said.

Part of this process includes individual reflection to understand what beliefs are truly nonnegotiable and which others may be lower in priority in protecting the general welfare of society.

“Far from being a weakness, reconciling adverse positions through respectful negotiation and coalitions is a virtue. As Jesus taught, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God’ (Matthew 5:9).”

Creating and maintaining a peaceful society requires all to act in good faith, President Oaks said.

He continued by drawing on the teachings of the apostle Paul in Romans 12:18, where Paul invited the Romans to “live peaceably with all men” wherever possible.

“The Constitution compels a divided people to build coalitions to allow them to act together. ‘Compels’ is a strong word, but it is exactly what the Constitution does. It puts what we now call ‘peacemaking’ at the heart of the Constitution’s process for achieving freedom and unity, and fairness for all.”

That process, President Oaks said, includes parties sitting down with one another to share their opinions face to face. He said he finds it unfortunate that too many matters end up in litigation to find resolution. This puts the decision in the hands of courts and judges in a time-taking and money-depleting endeavor.

“When a contentious issue arises, one filled with major conflicts, we ought to see this as an opportunity to listen and to learn, both about the issues at hand and about those who differ from us.”

This approach is one President Oaks said will help achieve fairness for all without compromising core values on either side.

“Peacemaking involves finding common ground,” he said.

Some forms of peacemaking involve the inclusion of an arbiter. For example, an ecclesiastical leader may work with a couple seeking to resolve marital discord. Individuals who work to bring together groups with expressed differences and those who engage in service projects are also types of peacemakers.

“People of goodwill, compassion and a desire to understand and help one another are at the core of peacemaking and fairness for all in the constitutional process of achieving freedom and unity, as difficult and slow as it is. It is all about trying to understand the deep needs, the deep commitments, on both sides and then to forge solutions that yield peace and fairness for all.”

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe each individual on earth is a literal son or daughter of heavenly parents and that God has a plan for them. This understanding, President Oaks said, should help them as they work to overcome conflict with others.

“Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a divine vision of the worth of all others and the will and ability to rise above prejudice and racism.”

In conclusion, President Oaks said he knows the process of becoming and acting as a peacemaker is not always easy. He said he knows Heavenly Father will bless those who work to bring peace to the world.

“He gave this command to love, and He promised His help as we seek to obey it.”

This is not the first time President Oaks has invited individuals to follow the example of the Savior and work to create a more peaceful world.

President Oaks spoke to members of the Church in the April 2026 general conference and taught listeners to “love even your enemies.”

In that message, he also noted that living peaceably and lovingly with others who do not share the same values or have the same covenant obligations can be a challenge.

“As followers of Christ, let us follow Him by forgoing contention and by using the language and methods of peacemakers. In our families and other personal relationships, let us avoid what is harsh and hateful,” he said.

In the October 2024 general conference, President Oaks, then the first counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, also spoke of peacemaking in efforts to stand for what is right when negotiating public policy.

“As we pursue our preferred policies in public actions, let us qualify for [the Savior’s] blessings by using the language and methods of peacemakers. In our families and other personal relationships, let us avoid what is harsh and hateful,” he said.

‘Love even your enemies,’ President Oaks says during April 2026 general conference

130+ quotes from Church leaders and scriptures about being peacemakers

Peacemakers ‘stand for right without being contentious,’ says BYU–Idaho president

The Utah Mammoth held their annual media day to kick things off at the Mammoth Ice Center Wednesday morning — and boy, was there a lot to take away from it.

To save you from having to sit through nearly two hours of interview audio, here are the most important points discussed by players, management and the coach.

Injury update

The Mammoth are starting the year off on the right foot: There are no injuries to begin camp, per GM Bill Armstrong.

Armstrong did not specifically mention whether that applies to Tij Iginla or Caleb Desnoyers, who both missed all on-ice aspects of the Mammoth’s rookie camp from Friday to Tuesday with “nagging, day-to-day” injuries. At the time, Armstrong did say that he expected both to be available “at some point” during main camp.

Logan Cooley, who missed 28 games after crashing into the post at high speed last season, said his main goal for the year is to play every game.

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The line blender

As Armstrong visited his players in their hometowns throughout the summer, the No. 1 question he got was, “What are the lines?”

Fans have been wondering the same thing. André Tourigny, who holds the ultimate responsibility of determining who will play with whom, gave an answer — but the only thing the answer did was cause less certainty.

“You will see lines today, tomorrow and the next day. That will change,” he said.

He went on to explain that although in previous years his lines on the first day of training camp were usually the ones with which he planned to begin the season, he wants to try some different things this time.

“I want to (get) to know certain guys. I want to give opportunities to other guys. There’s a lot more to watch this year, a lot more to gain,” he said. “It’s not just in making the team. It’s, ‘OK, what, what will make work better? How do we build a heavy top-six, a shutdown third line, an identity fourth line? Do we spread the wealth and build three offensive lines, or what are we doing?’

“We know what we want to do, but we will give them an opportunity to show us if we were right or wrong and then we will figure it out from there.”

Center depth

Speaking of trying guys in different spots, a lot of natural centers will get booted to the wing this season — and that’s exactly how Tourigny wants it to be.

“I believe if you want to have success, you need six centers who can play center,” he said.

Nick Schmaltz, who popped off for his best offensive season after making the move to center last season, agrees. He pointed to the divisional-rival Dallas Stars, who he said seem to have two centers on each line.

“It’s nice to have another guy that’s comfortable down low,” Schmaltz said. “And guys that can play wing and center is huge, so I think that’s a big key for us going into the season and should be good.”

Between Schmaltz, Cooley, Vincent Trocheck and Barrett Hayton, the Mammoth have four guys who have played first-line center in the NHL at points in the last few years. On top of that, they have Kevin Stenlund, one of the most effective shutdown centers in the world, and Jack McBain, who is than capable of handling his own line as well.

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Expectations for 2026-27

Armstrong maintains that the goal for Year 3 in Utah is simply to make the playoffs again — it takes a significant amount of growth and pain to build a contender, as he has previously said.

The players, though, won’t be satisfied if that’s all they accomplish.

“Our expectations inside the dressing room are to exceed what we did last year,” said MacKenzie Weegar, who waived his trade protection to join the Mammoth at the trade deadline. “It was a great year, but I think that’s in the past.”

“I spoke about it at the end of the exit interviews with all of you that the belief’s got to be, you know, win the Stanley Cup. I don’t think (Trocheck, who also altered his trade protection to allow for a trade to Utah) or myself came here to just make the playoffs every year. We want to hoist the Stanley Cup, and that’s the belief this year.”

Dylan Guenther sleeping on the floor

Even 40-goal scorers in the National Hockey League aren’t immune to the inconveniences of daily life. Dylan Guenther began his interview with a bone to pick.

“I mean, guys come in early, get settled in their new place. I mean, I got the mattress firm here not bringing my mattress, so it’s been a rough morning for me, sleeping on the floor yesterday,” he said to a chorus of laughter. “If they don’t bring it today, I might have to go look elsewhere.”

As a noted Costco fanatic, maybe he should have gone there first.

The statues, valued at $170,000 combined, are on loan from the Monument of Americas display in Heber City for the next 18 months.

The sculptures are a product of hundreds of hours of work by Utah sculptors Steven Neal and Michael Hall, who crafted the Washington and Jefferson statues, respectively.

The men said they hope the statues provide insight and meaning into the heroism and humanism of the Founding Fathers.

Jefferson: ‘We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident’

The 1,400-pound statue of Jefferson depicts him sitting on a throne of books. One of Jefferson’s hands supports his head while the other pens the Declaration of Independence.

Hall said the setting intentionally reflects a notable component of Jefferson’s personality.

“Jefferson was a prolific reader who had a feverish appetite for books. In fact, he once said ‘I cannot live without books,’” Hall said in a news release. “So, with this knowledge, I decided to create a literal throne made of books, not a throne to symbolize high office but a throne to pay tribute to Jefferson’s love of learning and his quest for intelligence.”

How a Renaissance masterpiece came to Provo

The statue’s inspiration came in part from Hall’s personal admiration of the leader. Hall said Jefferson was “always a hero of mine” and Hall’s favorite book as a young boy was about the life of the nation’s third president.

“I read it so many times the cover fell apart,” Hall said, remembering the book.

Hall told the Deseret News he hopes the sculpture does “justice and honor to (Jefferson’s) legacy.”

“It is my hope that when people see this sculpture they will not only develop an appreciation for this remarkable former president, but also be inspired by his example when it comes to learning and, especially, to reading books,” said Hall on Wednesday as the sculptors watched Capitol grounds staff finished placing the artworks at the East entrance of the building.

Hall added that he hopes “young children will come climb on this, experience it and just enjoy it.” Hall even stabilized the Jefferson sculpture himself so it would not tip.

Washington: ‘Washington Praying At Valley Forge’

The 850-pound statue of George Washington portrays the leader on one knee with his hands clasped and eyes gazing towards heaven in prayer at Valley Forge.

Neal said he hopes the sculpture reminds visitors that Washington was “a great leader of tremendous courage, but he’s also a man of faith, and he fully believed in providence and providential protection.”

'LOVE’ — with a slanted ‘O’: University of Utah welcomes massive iconic sculpture to campus

Neal created the Washington sculpture down to the detail. He visited Mount Vernon several times for inspiration and even crafted the buttons on Washington’s suit coat to match what would have been fashionable at the time.

The statue took Neal hundreds of hours to create. He started off by creating a miniature version and then scanned it and drilled a larger copy out of foam. Working with the foam version, he moved some pieces around, modeled it again, covered it with clay, welded it all together and then put patina on it to create the sculpture sitting outside the capitol.

“Without him, there was no America,” Neal told the Deseret News. “That’s why he’s so important and I think he should be displayed here.”

The latest story to make national headlines is that of Joseph and Arlene Kutzko, whose 17-year-old daughter was taken out of their custody by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families in 2025 after the Northborough-Southborough school where their daughter attended filed a complaint with the state department following a counseling session with the child, the parents told Massachusetts outlet NewsCenter 5.

“(She) went into school and Arlene got a call (from the school) ... the call (was) that ‘(She) is scared to go home,’” the Kutzkos told the news outlet.

Joseph Kutzkos was reportedly arrested on charges of assault against the child, but has denied the allegations, and the claims have since been disproven, according to the news account.

The couple, who are devout Catholics, said they had no idea about what their daughter was going through until after she was taken, per the New York Post.

The Kutzkos’ attorney, Vernadette Broyles, president and general counsel of the Child and Parental Rights Campaign, said the state has been administering gender-affirming care against the will of her parents since she was 15.

“DCF, for whatever reason, has taken the position that they have total authority over this child even while the parents’ rights have not been terminated,” Broyles told NewsCenter 5. “There has never been a finding of unfitness against these parents.”

The couple is currently fighting the state in court to prevent the administration of testosterone to their daughter. Although they won in juvenile court, the legal battle continues.

“The court is not going to allow giving testosterone, because DCF took the position that giving testosterone at high doses to a female is ‘ordinary care,’” Broyles added.

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Becket joins another parent custody case

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed a friend-of-the-court brief Tuesday in a case regarding Washington state and its law allowing youth shelters to hide runaway teens from parents if the reason they left their homes was that they wish to seek gender transition.

In 2023, the Washington law was extended to provide an exception for runaway children who are pursuing a “gender transition,” even if their parents have not been abusive or neglectful.

Washington parents are fighting the law in International Partners for Ethical Care, Inc. v. Ferguson.

“In those cases, youth shelters must withhold the child’s whereabouts from the parents and notify the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families instead,” per the Becket Fund. “State officials can then steer the child toward services that support that transition and delay the child’s return home with no set deadline.”

The amicus brief asks the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and give parents the opportunity to fight in court before they lose custody of their child. It was filed on behalf of Mary and Jeremy Cox, Indiana parents who lost custody of their son after they refused to refer to him by anything other than his biological sex and given name.

By the time the courts deemed the Coxes fit parents, their son had reached the age of legal adulthood.

“We love our son, and we can never get back the years we lost with him or undo the damage that was done to our family,” said Mary and Jeremy Cox. “What we can do is tell our story so that others won’t have to endure the nightmare we did. We pray the Supreme Court will make sure parents like us can get into court to defend their families before it’s too late.”

Arguments are scheduled for Dec. 7.

“I just wanted to make sure everyone’s OK with the music?” Trump said. “I just want to make you happy.”

Trump visited the press cabin to take questions, and the topic quickly switched from music to high-tech security at the southern border when he was asked about the laser weapons the military has been using against drones coming across the border.

Trump said, “Laser’s gonna be a big thing, because it’s a lot less expensive than sending up Patriots,” and “they are virtually 100% accurate.”

CBS News reported firing a laser costs as little as $3 per shot, while Patriot missiles cost millions of dollars to make.

Cartel drones have been crossing into Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border, and lasers have been used to shoot them down.

Lasers vs. cartel drones

In April, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Pentagon reached an agreement clearing laser operations in U.S. airspace.

These illegal drone incursions over the border in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas have dropped by 75% since the U.S. Army began deploying high-energy lasers, the Hill reported, citing Customs and Border Protection sources.

This year, more than 300 suspected cartel drones have been downed by the military, 11 of which have been taken down by the Army’s multipurpose high energy laser (AMP-HEL).

AMP-HEL is part of Operation Ardent Vanguard, a broader effort by the U.S. Northern Command to secure and protect the southern border.

“The lasers are very, very good for … certain types of missiles, certain slower missiles,” Trump said. “I think the laser is gonna be the future.”

Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said, “JTF Southern Border’s combined arms approach and fusion with mission partners is delivering a new layer of homeland defense capability to counter illegal activity on the border.”

Operation Ardent Vanguard Update

11 cartel drones defeated by the Army’s Multipurpose High Energy Laser as of Sep. 4. More than 300 defeats using kinetic and non-kinetic systems this year, with more than 100 occurring in August.

“JTF Southern Border’s combined arms approach… pic.twitter.com/KexEOvgM9D

— U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) September 4, 2026

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on the military’s efforts to take down the drones and said that “that’s what we all should care about right now: protecting America.”

AG Pam Bondi: "The news is reporting that cartel drones are being shot down by our military. That's what we all should care about right now: protecting America."

pic.twitter.com/jCKtiMKm4K

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 11, 2026

Lawmakers voted 262-159 by a wide bipartisan margin to pass the legislation, which has been under negotiation by both parties for years — stretching back to when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The package also includes sanctions targeting Iran, which were added in the most recent iterations of the bill in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

All four members of Utah’s House delegation voted in favor of the sanctions package, as did both Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis when the bill was under consideration in the Senate last month.

What happened to the Russia sanctions package?

The sanctions package has been years in the making as former Sen. Lindsey Graham, the bill’s namesake who died unexpectedly this summer after returning from a trip to Ukraine, had consistently decried Russia’s 2022 invasion. Graham secured a deal with the White House just one day before his death on July 11.

The package seeks to impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia as well as any other country supporting the Kremlin’s war efforts in Ukraine. Those sanctions would target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions.

Additionally, it would impose penalties against the Russian Shadow Fleet, a network of hundreds of vessels designed to evade sanctions and bypass Western price caps on oil. The bill also includes language to prevent the expiration of sanction authority restricting funds for Iran’s energy and weapons sectors.

The sanctions package includes a number of exceptions for the president to issue waivers to certain countries or individual officials if it’s “in the national interest of the United States.” That language was important to win over the White House, which was worried about mandating the president to impose sanctions while peace deal negotiations continue.

Although the concept of sanctioning Russia and supporting Ukraine has massive bipartisan support, the package on Wednesday still received opposition from most House Democrats who were concerned about the expansion of tariff powers it provides to Trump.

Roughly one-third of Democrats present on the floor voted with nearly all Republicans to approve the package, while 152 Democrats opposed. Party leaders said while they support Ukraine, they could not support legislation that does not explicitly mandate the president to apply the sanctions.

To get the president on board with the proposal, the package includes provisions allowing him to impose targeted tariffs on countries that purchase the majority of Russian oil or gas. Those tariffs would only apply to the five largest importers of Russian oil or gas as well as the top five countries that aid Russia in evading sanctions.

Countries would be removed from that list as soon as they fall out of the top five slots, according to a deal brokered by Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., ahead of the Senate vote.

Senate passes sweeping sanctions targeting Russia and Iran

Still, the provision elicited backlash from some Democrats who have accused Trump of stretching the limits of his tariff authority already during his second term.

Senate Democrats who negotiated the package defended its inclusion, noting the language is narrowly targeted and only applies to the five largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas. The concession to Trump is also the only way the sanctions will become law, they argued.

The bill’s passage on Wednesday marks a major step in U.S. support toward Ukraine during the yearslong war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has personally lobbied lawmakers to approve the sanctions in recent months, urging an end to the conflict.

In an almost unanimous vote, lawmakers voted 417-3 to approve the measure, overcoming the two-thirds majority needed to expedite passage in the House. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it’s unclear whether Republican leaders will schedule a vote before leaving town to campaign for the November election.

The proposal comes as an increasing number of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local area, becoming a political flashpoint heading into the midterm elections.

The politics of AI data centers

The issue of data centers became a major concern during Utah’s primary elections, after local leaders proposed a data center in Box Elder County spearheaded by celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary. A majority of Utah voters at the time said they opposed the project, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult for the Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics.

The debate bled into primary fights for Utah Reps. Blake Moore and Celeste Maloy, both of whom voted in favor of the bill on Wednesday. The other two members of the Utah delegation, Reps. Burgess Owens and Mike Kennedy, also voted yes.

What does the Ratepayer Protection Act do?

The Ratepayer Protection Act would target large data centers by requiring state utility regulators to consider adopting standards to hold those centers responsible for expensive updates that are necessary to provide its services to customers. The requirements would specifically target data centers that use at least 100 megawatts of electricity at one site or campus.

Data centers are Congress’ newest obsession

The rates would be designed to ensure that the data center pays the full additional cost, protecting taxpayers from having their own costs increased. Those rates would remain intact even if the data center cancels its agreement or stops buying electricity after the upgrades are made.

Those rates must be paid before the utility provider begins constructing the upgrades, according to the bill.

It’s not yet clear when, or if, the Senate will consider the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters on Monday that it would likely require unanimous consent to expedite its passage in the Senate, which is far from guaranteed.

Counted among the players on those local Utah teams are sizable numbers of international athletes. And those rosters are not outliers.

Athletes from outside the United States are increasingly common — and they’re filling roster spots that, in generations past, were claimed by American-born players.

The reason for the international athlete spike on U.S. collegiate teams is no mystery. A college coach’s job is typically linked to winning. Lose games — lose jobs.

So coaches at, say, a DI men’s basketball team or a women’s tennis team are, understandably, going to recruit the best eligible athletes available — regardless of their passports.

But who should be getting those prized athletic scholarships at American colleges and universities? And how is the global shift in college sports impacting our national programs in Olympic sports?

Those were questions examined Wednesday at a Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee hearing chaired by Utah Rep. Burgess Owens.

The hearing comes two days after Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., and Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, introduced the TEAM USA Act to limit international student-athlete participation to no more than 20% on each varsity sports team.

'All about developing American athletes': How passage of proposed bill would help American student-athletes

If it passes, the TEAM USA Act would take effect with the 2029-2030 academic years to allow schools time to adjust recruiting practices.

Owens: College sports culture ‘has become a mess’

A former scholarship athlete at the University of Miami, Owens began Wednesday’s hearing saying that athletic scholarships are prized paths to higher education for many young Americans.

But only about 2% of U.S. high school athletes receive a college athletic scholarship.

“At the same time,” said Owens, “international participation in college athletics has grown substantially, from fewer than 9,000 in 2001 to roughly 25,000 today.”

And that matters, he argued. Scholarships and roster spots are limited. “American families devote years of time and money in youth and high school sports so their kids can compete at the college level.

“Too often, those spots go to older international athletes instead. The pressure to win at all costs in today’s college sports environment has led more coaches to recruit older international athletes instead of American high school graduates.”

That trend is particularly high in certain NCAA DI sports, said Owens, citing statistics that more than 60% of athletes competing in tennis are international. Meanwhile, college hockey is 40% international — and over a third of D1 men’s soccer players are from outside of the United States.

“In basketball, international participation has more than doubled during the last decade. And in the 2025 NCAA (basketball) tournaments, international student athletes made up over 15% of participants,” he said.

The rise of international students on American college rosters is not limited to the sport’s highest levels.

In 2022, noted Owens, the Alabama State men’s tennis team won the Historically Black College and University tournament championship with a roster composed entirely of international student-athletes. And last year, Division II Flagler College won a national tennis title with an all-international roster.

But the consequences of increased international players competing in American college sports goes beyond roster spot availability, said Owens. It also weakens the development of U.S. Olympic talent by providing international athletes with access to elite American coaching, competition and training facilities.

Title IX “greatly expanded” athletic opportunities for women in the United States — but Congress did not intend for those opportunities to be filled by international athletes, Owens added.

“U.S. colleges are significantly contributing to the Olympic success of other countries while taking away scholarship opportunities from American athletes,” said Owens.

“This is a reality that’s in front of us. International recruiting has surged — American kids are losing roster spots. And the college system that helps develop Team USA is also developing everybody else’s teams.

“Our college sports culture has become a mess.”

Democrat warns of ‘further demonizing’ international students

Responding to Owens’ arguments concerning international athletes on U.S. college rosters, Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., said that during the current congressional session, students and teachers “have been through the wringer as the Trump administration ramped up its attacks on public education.”

The American higher education system, added Adams, “has long been the envy of the world,” drawing bright minds from around the world to pursue study and research while enriching academic achievement and cultural diversity.

“Tragically, the Trump administration’s bigoted attacks on international students have made coming to the U.S. to attend college an uncertain and often a dangerous prospect. These students face threats of visa restrictions, termination, and deportation,” said Adams.

The veteran lawmaker added that Wednesday’s hearing on international student-athletes “only serves to further demonize a population already struggling to keep their heads above water.”

McEnroe: College tennis and the ‘canary in the coal mine’

Patrick McEnroe belongs to a storied American tennis family. He’s also a former U.S. Davis Cup captain and a veteran ESPN analyst.

He recently penned a Wall Street Journal opinion piece entitled “Where Are All the Americans in American College Tennis?”

During Wednesday’s hearing, McEnroe noted that the recent SEC and ACC men’s tennis final featured 24 athletes. Only three were Americans.

He labeled the current NCAA tennis situation “the canary in the coal mine.”

“The same incentives are increasingly showing up across all college sports,” argued McEnroe. “Coaches are under enormous pressure to win now, and if you can recruit an older, fully developed international athlete — often someone who has already competed professionally — why spend several years developing an 18-year-old American?”

The former pro tennis tour player said he’s not hostile toward international athletes. They make teams and universities better.

“But this is about balance and making sure we don’t close the door on our own kids in the process, because roster spots are finite,” he said. “When one athlete gets a spot, another doesn’t.”

Limiting American access to college scholarships impacts middle- and working-class families the most, said McEnroe. An athletic scholarship for such families may be their vehicle to education and mobility.

“For millions of kids, college sports is not a professional dream, it’s the next rung on the ladder,” said McEnroe. “Take away enough rungs and eventually kids stop climbing.”

Leveling the competitive playing field

A former college basketball coach and athletic director, Tommy Brown is now the CEO of One Heartbeat Inc., an athlete-focused leadership training program.

During his testimony Wednesday, Brown called for roster limits for international student-athletes, adding “the fifth year of eligibility that the NCAA has granted is a definite game changer. It’s reduced the number of spots for everyone.”

Brown spoke of working recently with coaches at a junior college soccer program with a roster limit of 10 international players. That rule put the team at a competitive disadvantage.

“However, the coach said one of the positives of having so many American players is that they develop, and many of them end up signing with Division I institutions — and almost all of them sign four-year college scholarships.”

Some may say limiting international roster spots is discriminatory.

“But I’d like to remind everyone that the Canadian Football League limits the number of Americans on their rosters — as do most European basketball leagues, (where teams are) limited to two Americans,” said Brown.

“The reason why they do this is because their roster would be full of Americans if they didn’t.”

Douglas DePeppe is a former college soccer player who now works as an attorney representing college athletes. His research in men’s college soccer tells the story of an unbalanced system.

A key challenge, testified DePeppe at Wednesday’s hearing, is not simply international athletes participating in American college sports. Instead, there are questions that should be addressed regarding unfair, opaque recruiting practices such as disclosing the size of a team’s roster.

“For Congress to legislate on protecting fair access to sport rosters, it should not solely focus on international limits,” argued DePeppe. “It should also legislate on recruiting transparency, and to bar deceptive practices in recruiting.”

Calls for focusing on student loan debt

While Wednesday’s hearing focused primarily on examining college roster spots, several remarks centered on the broader challenges facing higher education in the U.S.

National Student Legal Defense President Aaron Ament noted in his testimony that scholarship athletes represent approximately 1% of American college students.

“Meanwhile, tens of millions of students and student loan borrowers are trapped in a snowballing crisis that is worsening every day during the Trump administration,” said Ament.

“Over the past three decades, average tuition and fees at public four-year colleges have roughly doubled after adjusting for inflation, and tuition at private four-year colleges has climbed almost as much.”

The student loan system, he added, “is in chaos — and students and families are paying the price.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., questioned why the committee, in its final hearing prior to a seven-week recess, was debating international student-athletes when there are broader challenges facing higher education and workforce development.

“So today the Republican majority has chosen to talk about international student participation in college sports,” said Bonamici. “Of course, this sort of villainization of international students comes at a time when the Trump administration is already engaged in some pretty aggressive and illegal immigration enforcement that’s terrorizing immigrant communities, including on college campuses.”

Bonamici added she has yet to take a constituent call regarding international students on college sports teams. Instead, they are anxious about changes to federal student loan repayment plans and rising student debt burden.

“We must do something about the existing student loan debt and, in the long term, make college, for those who choose that path, debt-free.”

TELEVISION

GOLF

• Jackson T. Stephens Cup, GOLF, 2 p.m.

MLB

• White Sox at Guardians, ESPN, 11 a.m.
• Orioles at Mets, ESPN, 5 p.m.

RODEO

• Pendleton Round-Up, Cowboy, 2:30 p.m.

SOCCER

• Women U-20: U.S. vs. Brazil, FS2, 7 a.m.
• Omonia Nicosia vs. Celta de Vigo, CBSSN, 10:45 a.m.
• AC Milan vs. Benfica, CBSSN, 1 p.m.
• Crew vs. Orlando City, CBSSN, 5 p.m.
• Rapids vs. St. Louis City, CBSSN, 7:30 p.m.

RADIO

BASEBALL

• Bees at Isotopes, KSL Sports Zone, 6 p.m.

STREAMING

BASEBALL

• Bees at Isotopes, MiLB.tv, 6 p.m.
• Marlins at Diamondbacks, ESPN Unlimited, 7:30 p.m.

SOCCER

• Minnesota United FC 2 at Real Monarchs, YouTube, 5 p.m.
• Utah Valley at Gonzaga, YouTube, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026

TELEVISION

FOOTBALL

• Syracuse at Pitt, ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
• Kanab at Beaver, KSL 5.3, 7 p.m.
• Skyridge at Lehi, KJZZ, 7 p.m.

GOLF

• BMW Championship, GOLF, 5 a.m.
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, GOLF, 11 a.m.
• Biltmore Championship, GOLF, 1 p.m.

MLB

• Teams TBA, MLBN, 10:30 a.m.
• Phillies at Mets, Fox, 5:15 p.m.
• Twins at Angels, MLBN, 7:30 p.m.

MOTOR SPORTS

• UNOH 250, FS1, 6 p.m. (Qualifying, FS2, 1 p.m.)

RODEO

• Pendleton Round-Up, Cowboy, 2:30 p.m.

SOCCER

• Levski Sofia vs. Salzburg, CBSSN, 10:45 a.m.
• Real Sociedad vs. Bournemouth, CBSSN, 1 p.m.

WNBA

• Sparks at Wings, USA, 6 p.m.
• Aces at Storm, CNBC/USA, 8 p.m.

RADIO

BASEBALL

• Bees at Isotopes, KSL Sports Zone, 11 a.m.

STREAMING

BASEBALL

• Bees at Isotopes, MiLB.tv, 11 a.m.
• Padres at Rockies, ESPN Unlimited, 1 p.m.

FOOTBALL

• Lions at Bills, Prime Video, 6:15 p.m.

SOCCER

• SUU at Boise St., YouTube, 7 p.m.
• Utah St. at Idaho St., ESPN+, 7 p.m.
• Utah Tech at New Mexico, MW+, 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

• BYU at Weber St., ESPN+, 6 p.m.
• Utah Valley at Utah St., YouTube, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 18, 2026

TELEVISION

FOOTBALL

• Miami at Wake Forest, ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
• Houston at Texas Tech, Fox, 6 p.m.
• Lone Peak at Corner Canyon, KSL 5.3, 7 p.m.
• Woods Cross at Bountiful, KJZZ, 7 p.m.

GOLF

• BMW Championship, GOLF, 5 a.m.
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, GOLF, 11 a.m.
• Biltmore Championship, GOLF, 1 p.m.
• Pure Insurance Championship, GOLF, 4 p.m.

HORSE RACING

• Jockey Club Gold Cup, Fox, 1 p.m.

MLB

• Teams TBA, MLBN, 5 p.m., 8 p.m.
• Mariners at Rockies, COZI, 6 p.m.
• Yankees at Diamondbacks, Utah 16, 7:30 p.m.

MOTOR SPORTS

• Food City 300, KUCW, 5:30 p.m.

RODEO

• Pendleton Round-Up, Cowboy, 2:30 p.m.
• North Dakota Rough Rider, Cowboy, 7 p.m.

SOCCER

• Women: Manchester City vs. Liverpool, CBSSN, noon
• Brentford vs. Chelsea, USA, 1 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

• Kansas St. at Creighton, ESPN2, 6 p.m.

WNBA

• Fever at Tempo, ION, 5:30 p.m.
• Fire at Valkyries, ION, 8 p.m.

RADIO

BASEBALL

• Bees at Isotopes, KSL Sports Zone, 6:30 p.m.

STREAMING

BASEBALL

• Phillies at Mets, Apple TV, 5 p.m.
• Red Sox at Rays, ESPN Unlimited, 5 p.m.
• Bees at Isotopes, MiLB.tv, 6:30 p.m.
• Giants at Dodgers, Apple TV, 8 p.m.

SOCCER

• Men: St. Thomas at Utah Tech, MW+, 7 p.m.
• BYU at Arizona, ESPN+, 8 p.m.
• Utah at Arizona St., ESPN+, 8 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

• Chicago St. at SUU, ESPN+, 6 p.m.
• UC Riverside at Utah Tech, ESPN+, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026

TELEVISION

FOOTBALL

• Coastal Carolina at Delaware, CBSSN, 9:30 a.m.
• Arizona St. vs. Kansas, FS1, 10 a.m.
• Bowling Green at Iowa St., ESPNU, 10 a.m.
• Georgia at Arkansas, ABC, 10 a.m.
• Kent St. at Ohio St., Fox, 10 a.m.
• North Carolina at Clemson, ESPN, 10 a.m.
• North Texas at Texas St., USA, 10 a.m.
• Tulane at Kansas St., ESPN2, 10 a.m.
• Temple at Toledo, CBSSN, 1 p.m.
• Duquesne at Washington St., USA, 1:30 p.m.
• Florida St. at Alabama, ABC, 1:30 p.m.
• Kentucky at Texas A&M, ESPN, 1:30 p.m.
• SMU at Louisville, ESPN2, 1:30 p.m.
• USC at Rutgers, CBS, 1:30 p.m.
• Utah St. at Utah, Fox, 1:30 p.m.
• Louisiana Tech at Baylor, ESPNU, 2 p.m.
• Northern Iowa at Iowa, FS1, 2 p.m.
• Stanford at Duke, KUCW, 2 p.m.
• Marshall at Missouri St., CBSSN, 4:30 p.m.
• Florida at Auburn, ESPN, 5 p.m.
• BYU at Colorado St., CBS, 5:30 p.m.
• Colorado at Northwestern, Fox, 5:30 p.m.
• LSU at Ole Miss, ABC, 5:30 p.m.
• Michigan St. at Notre Dame, NBC, 5:30 p.m.
• New Mexico at Oklahoma, ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.
• Virginia Tech at Maryland, FS1, 5:30 p.m.
• Arkansas St. at TCU, ESPNU, 6 p.m.
• JMU at San Diego St., KUCW, 8 p.m.
• South Dakota at Boise St., CBSSN, 8 p.m.
• NIU at Arizona, TNT, 8:30 p.m.
• North Dakota St. at Sacramento St., ESPN, 8:30 p.m.
• Fresno St. at San Jose St., FS1, 9 p.m.
• Montana at Oregon St., USA, 9 p.m.

GOLF

• BMW Championship, GOLF, 5 a.m.
• Biltmore Championship, GOLF, 11 a.m.
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, GOLF, 2 p.m.
• Pure Insurance Championship, GOLF, 4 p.m.

MLB

• Brewers at Orioles, MLBN, 2 p.m.
• Teams TBA, MLBN, 5 p.m.
• Giants at Dodgers, MLBN, 8 p.m.

MOTOR SPORTS

• SuperMotocross World Championship, NBC, 3 p.m.
• Bass Pro Shops Night Race, USA, 5:30 p.m.

RODEO

• Pendleton Round-Up, Cowboy, 2:30 p.m.
• North Dakota Rough Rider, Cowboy, 7 p.m.

SOCCER

• Tottenham vs. Aston Villa, USA, 5:30 a.m.
• Brighton vs. Arsenal, USA, 8 a.m.
• Nottingham vs. Coventry, NBC, 10:30 a.m.
• NWSL: Pride vs. Thorns, ION, 2 p.m.
• NWSL: Courage vs. Gotham FC, ION, 4:30 p.m.
• NWSL: Summit vs. Reign, ION, 6:45 p.m.

WNBA

• Mercury at Wings, CBS, 11 a.m.

RADIO

BASEBALL

• Bees at Isotopes, KSL Sports Zone, 6:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL

• SUU at St. Thomas, KSL Sports Zone, noon
• Utah St. at Utah, AM-700/KSL Sports Zone, 1:30 p.m.
• BYU at Colorado St., AM-1160/FM-102.7, 5:30 p.m.
• Northwestern St. at Weber St., FM-103.1, 6 p.m.

SOCCER

• Whitecaps at Real Salt Lake, KSL Sports Zone, 7:30 p.m.

STREAMING

BASEBALL

• Phillies at Mets, ESPN Unlimited, 2 p.m.
• Bees at Isotopes, MiLB.tv, 6:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL

• SUU at St. Thomas, Midco Sports Plus, noon
• NAU at Utah Tech, ESPN+, 6 p.m.
• Northwestern St. at Weber St., ESPN+, 6 p.m.

SOCCER

• Weber St. at Utah Valley, ESPN+, 7 p.m.
• Whitecaps at Real Salt Lake, Apple TV, 7:30 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

• Chicago St. at Utah Tech, ESPN+, 10:30 a.m.
• Utah at Northern Colorado, ESPN+, noon
• UC Riverside at SUU, ESPN+, 2 p.m.
• Weber St. at Utah Valley, ESPN+, 3 p.m.
• Utah St. at BYU, ESPN+, 6:30 p.m.

Email: swatkins@deseret.com

But one forecaster decided to look back at how the snowpack finished during the 1997-1998 winter season — one of the four strongest El Niño episodes on record — at each ski region across the western U.S.

OpenSnow meteorologist Sam Collentine said there are two major sources of uncertainty in long-range forecasts predicting weather months in advance.

The first is how accurately forecasters can predict El Niño or La Niña. El Niño is expected to continue, and there’s a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter of 2026-27, he said.

The second is the atmospheric response to El Niño or La Niña, Collentine said. That is, if El Niño occurs, does it always affect the weather in North America in the same way?

The short answer is no.

‘Super El Niño’ is coming. What does that mean for Utah ski resorts?

Looking at the past to predict the future

“To determine how El Niño impacts weather in North America, we can look at snowfall records during past El Niño events and compare them to a typical year,” Collentine wrote.

Here’s are the western snowpack levels during the four strongest El Niño episodes on record:

• 1982-1983: 139%
• 1991-1992: 73%
• 1997-1998: 104%
• 2015-2016: 98%

So, only two of the four resulted in higher-than-average snowpacks.

“The effects of El Niño appear to show a mixed bag for much of the western United States, with the strongest signal being average to above-average snowfall for the Southwest. Again, though, the pattern doesn’t hold 100% of the time,” Collentine wrote.

Collentine then, “to have a little fun,” looked specifically at how the snowpack finished during the 1997-1998 winter season at each ski region across the western United States:

• California: 156%
• Colorado: 101%
• Utah: 128%
• Southwest: 138%
• Pacific Northwest: 102%
• Northern Rockies: 96%
• All Regions: 104%

While the 1997-1998 ski season is interesting to look at as a potential comparison for an El Niño episode, keep in mind that no matter how deep or light a winter is overall, when it comes to skiing, it’s all about timing, he said.

Collentine said booking a trip seven to 10 days in advance and for a general area that looks stormy will increase the chances of scoring the best conditions.

Super El Niño: Coming this winter to a climate near you

What is a ‘Super El Niño?’

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern in the tropical Pacific Ocean in which sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific become warmer than average. When the sea surface temperature there runs at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above average for a sustained period, meteorologists call it El Niño. When it runs cold, it’s called La Niña.

Meteorologists typically use the term Super El Niño when temperatures climb 2 degrees Celsius above normal. Meteorologists will compare specific Pacific temperatures to the average temperatures in the area and compared to the rest of the tropical oceans to determine that 2-degree threshold.

“It sounds small. A patch of the Pacific being a degree or two warmer than usual doesn’t seem like it should matter to anyone who isn’t a fish. But that warm water reshapes the jet stream, which reshapes where storms go, which is the only part of this article that actually matters to skiers,” forecaster Evan Thayer wrote for Ski Utah.

Call, an actor and filmmaker now living in Utah, fondly remembers the audience’s collective gasp at the end of “The Shining” or the burst-out laughter at “Superbad.” She smiles as she remembers the thrill of sneaking out of her house to see “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

She figures others experienced similar memories at the Tower Theatre before it shuttered several years ago, as the nearly century-old building faced serious structural concerns that threatened its ability to reopen.

“That kind of an experience is something we’re losing these days,” Call said.

However, like the “Don’t Dream It, Be It,” a key song from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — a message also written on the theater’s marquee — a massive dream to bring the historic theater to its next century is now nearing reality.

Call and her husband are one of the larger donors who helped raise enough to help get a major renovation project off the ground. The project is expected to begin in earnest next year, before reopening in 2028 — the centennial year for the building, the Salt Lake Film Society announced on Wednesday.

“It will ensure the completion of critical remaining architectural and design work,” Baker said. “It underwrites our pursuit — which is very ambitious — of environmental standards and it makes sure that we begin construction on time and deliver the building in 2028,” said Tori Baker, CEO of the organization.

Tower Theatre, located at 876 E. 900 South, first opened in 1928, debuting as a marvel for its time. It was the first city cinema to install air conditioning and one of the first theaters in Utah to play sound films.

It was originally designed to resemble the Tower of London, but that was altered amid renovations in the 1950s. The building closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, but hasn’t reopened since because of building concerns.

The Alternative Visions Fund donated enough funds to help the Salt Lake Film Society purchase the building in 2023, keeping it safe from redevelopment threats. The film organization has spent the past few years planning ways to revive the building for the next century.

Officials unveiled renderings last year, which called for its facade to look more like it did when it first opened. Some initial work began earlier this year, putting the property on track for renovations.

With Alternative Visions Fund serving as the lead donor, and key donations from Sandi Behnkin, Lauren and Tyson Call, the Hamsam Foundation and John and Andre Miller, the film society is now on track to begin construction in spring 2027 for the 2028 reopening, Baker said.

The full vision calls for some adjustments to the theater’s interior to allow more types of films to be shown, along with three new micro cinemas for education and improved access to the film society’s video archive. An “Academy-style” film memorabilia and storytelling exhibit space overlooking the district, as well.

The organization plans to screen independent and local cinema at the space, holding various film-related events and ensuring the theater is curated year-round. That includes small film festivals and question-and-answer events.

A time capsule is also planned for the next century, which aims to collect memories people have had from the first century of it.

“This will still be the Tower. ... It’s going to be a very human-imprinted space like it has been the last 100 years and it will be a celebration of film and uniqueness,” Baker said, adding that it aims to be “one of the most environmentally and accessible cinemas” in the nation once it reopens.

She wouldn’t say how much money has been raised so far or the exact project cost, but she said the film society is seeking to raise another $8.5 million to complete the full vision that’s much larger than what the theater previously was.

The existing funding gap won’t change the 2028 reopening projection, Baker added. An official 100-year celebration is planned for either late 2028 or early 2029.

Those who live near the building say they’re relieved.

Barb Guy, who has lived in the neighborhood for over 30 years, likens its recovery to one of the final moments before the theater closed. A Hallmark movie was partially shot inside, and the movie’s plot somewhat mirrored the story playing out for the Tower Theatre, questioning whether the building would find a new life.

Spoiler alert: “The answer is, ‘yes,’” Guy said.

While most of the league will be participating in nonconference games this weekend, No. 22 Houston and No. 13 Texas Tech face off — on a Friday night, no less.

The contest between the Cougars and Red Raiders has been circled on the calendar for college football pundits for some time, and with both teams looking the part of Big 12 contenders, Friday’s game is shaping up as a vital one for the conference race.

It comes one week after then-No. 15 BYU rallied to earn a 28-17 win over Arizona last week at LaVell Edwards Stadium in the first Big 12 Conference matchup of the season.

Combine that with Utah looking especially strong in the early going of the 2026 season, and the upper tier of the league is forming already — though Oklahoma State is just toying around with that concept.

Here’s how the Big 12 stacks up through Week 2 of the 2026 season.

1. BYU Cougars (2-0, 1-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 1 (same)
• Last week: Beat Arizona, 28-17
• Next game: Saturday at Colorado State, 5:30 p.m. MDT (CBS)

The Cougars have the early jump on the rest of the conference, thanks to their league victory over Arizona last week.

The Wildcats came to Provo with a solid game plan and worked it to a 17-14 halftime lead, but BYU — to its credit — took control in the second half and outscored the visitors 14-0 in the final two quarters against an Arizona team that is expected to factor into the Big 12 chase.

BYU’s next challenge is going on the road for the first time this season and facing an old Mountain West rival that is looking better than previously expected, though the Cougars are still a noticeable favorite.

2. Utah Utes (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 3 (⬆️ 1)
• Last week: Beat Arkansas, 43-10
• Next game: Saturday vs. Utah State, 1:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)

For only the second time ever, an SEC school played Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium and, let’s be honest, it looked like one team was in another stratosphere compared to the other.

The Utes ran over, around and through their Power Four counterpart, behind a Kevin McGiven offense that kept finding inventive ways to get playmakers like Devon Dampier, Byrd Ficklin and Wayshawn Parker on the field together and making defenders second-guess where the ball was going.

Two years ago when Utah played at Utah State, the Aggies actually led by 11 in the second quarter before the Utes’ offense got rolling. While crazy things can happen in rivalry games, Utah should have an easier time putting Utah State away this time around.

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 2 (⬇️ 1)
• Last week: Beat Oregon State, 35-24
• Next game: Friday vs. No. 22 Houston, 6 p.m. MDT (Fox)

The Red Raiders were challenged on the road by Oregon State and were even down three in the fourth quarter before putting the game away with two late touchdowns. Texas Tech hasn’t looked nearly as dominant this year as it did a season ago, but the Red Raiders are unbeaten and still in good position to make another College Football Playoff run.

That pursuit takes a major step this week, as Texas Tech hosts Houston, one of the primary challengers in the Big 12 race. This is one of the biggest games on the Red Raiders’ favorable schedule this season.

4. Houston Cougars (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 4 (same)
• Last week: Beat Southern, 77-6
• Next game: Friday at No. 13 Texas Tech, 6 p.m. MDT (Fox)

Willie Fritz has the program on the rise, and that continued with a dominating win over their FCS opponent last week. Going back to the start of the 2025 season, the Cougars have won 12 of their past 15 games.

It’s all led up to a giant opportunity for Houston this week, as the Cougars travel to face defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech in a Friday night matchup. There is a common opponent: both teams have played and beaten Oregon State this year, Houston by 13 and Texas Tech by 11.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 16 (⬆️ 11)
• Last week: Beat then-No. 6 Oregon, 39-31
• Next game: Saturday vs. Murray State, 5 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)

What a rollercoaster first two weeks of the season for Oklahoma State and Eric Morris, and it necessitated a leap back up the Big 12 power rankings. One week after a head-scratching 14-point loss to Tulsa, the Cowboys responded by knocking off previously top 10 Oregon.

Drew Mestemaker looked like a Heisman contender in tearing up the Oregon defense and the talk that Oklahoma State could factor into the Big 12 race — if it can establish consistency — is alive once again. Following a game against an FCS opponent this weekend, the Cowboys will start league play Sept. 26 at West Virginia.

6. Kansas State Wildcats (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 7 (⬆️ 1)
• Last week: Beat Washington State, 34-7
• Next game: Saturday vs. Tulane, 10 a.m. MDT (ESPN2)

Kansas State, one of four Big 12 schools with a first-year coach, has looked good in the first two weeks of the 2026 season. After smashing FCS opponent Nicholls in the opener, the Wildcats followed that with a dominant win over the Pac-12’s Washington State.

This next game should be an interesting litmus test for just how far Colin Klein’s team has come in the opening quarter of the year. Tulane made it to the College Football Playoff last season, though it’s 1-1 so far in 2026 and hasn’t looked the part of a Group of 6 playoff contender thus far.

7. Arizona Wildcats (1-1, 0-1 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 5 (⬇️ 2)
• Last week: Lost to then-No. 15 BYU, 28-17
• Next game: Saturday vs. Northern Illinois, 8:30 p.m. MDT (TNT)

Arizona came out strong against BYU last week and took the fight to the Cougars over the first two quarters, eventually taking a 17-14 lead into halftime while consistently winning the field position battle. BYU responded by controlling possession in the second half and taking advantage of a few Arizona mistakes to earn the win.

It’s a missed opportunity for Brent Brennan’s squad, though it showed that Arizona should still be considered one of the top Big 12 programs if they can shore some things up. After a couple more nonconference games, the Wildcats get into the meat of their league schedule starting in October.

8. Cincinnati Bearcats (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 8 (same)
• Last week: Beat Western Carolina, 62-10
• Next game: Saturday vs. Miami (Ohio), 1:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)

Through two weeks, the Bearcats haven’t really been tested. They blew out Western Carolina last weekend after beating a moribund ACC program, Boston College, by 19 to open the 2026 season — hardly enough evidence to really show how competitive Cincinnati might be once league play rolls around.

This week will wrap up the nonconference portion of the season for the Bearcats, as they host a 1-1 Miami (Ohio) squad. Then the real season — conference play — begins, and it’s one where Scott Satterfield’s program will need to show some growth.

9. Colorado Buffaloes (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 10 (⬆️ 1)
• Last week: Beat Weber State, 52-21
• Next game: Saturday at Northwestern, 5:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)

This year’s version of the Colorado football program already looks more fun than last season, when the Buffaloes slogged their way to a 3-9 record. The Buffaloes followed up their Week 1 win over Georgia Tech with an offensively entertaining victory over FCS school Weber State.

Can Colorado make it 3-0 going into Big 12 play? The Buffaloes are the only league team playing two Power Four schools in nonconference play, both on the road — kudos to Deion Sanders. The Wildcats are coming off a bye after pulling away late to beat FCS power South Dakota State by 16 in Week 1.

10. Arizona State Sun Devils (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 6 (⬇️ 4)
• Last week: Lost to then-No. 10 Texas A&M, 48-20
• Next game: Saturday vs. Kansas (London), 10 a.m. MDT (FS1)

For three quarters, Arizona State and its new quarterback, Cutter Bolley, hung tough with the top-10 Aggies. The Sun Devils were only down 24-20 going into the fourth, but Texas A&M won going away with a 24-0 quarter that included two pick-sixes.

Conference play kicks off for Arizona State this week, though it’s happening overseas — the Sun Devils’ Big 12 opener with Kansas is taking place in London. Can the Sun Devils, the 2024 Big 12 champions, contend for the league crown again? That campaign starts this week.

11. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 13 (⬆️ 2)
• Last week: Beat UT Martin, 52-7
• Next game: Saturday vs. No. 25 Virginia, 5:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)

Like a couple other teams around the Big 12, it’s tough to know what to make of West Virginia at this point in the season. After fending off a late charge by Coastal Carolina in the opener, the Mountaineers cruised to a win over an FCS opponent last weekend.

This week’s matchup is easily the toughest nonconference test for West Virginia and should give a better answer as to what kind of team Rich Rodriguez has. The Cavaliers, behind quarterback Beau Pribula, are heavy favorites over the Mountaineers.

12. Iowa State Cyclones (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 14 (⬆️ 2)
• Last week: Lost to then-No. 21 Iowa, 16-13
• Next game: Saturday vs. Bowling Green, 10 a.m. MDT (ESPNU)

Iowa State and first-year coach Jimmy Rogers really played with Big 12 fans’ heart strings last week, as the underdog Cyclones stayed within striking distance against rival Iowa before ultimately losing on a last-minute field goal. The Big 12 really could have used another signature nonconference win.

The final tuneup for Iowa State before conference play ramps up is a matchup against 0-2 Bowling Green. Following that, the Cyclones host No. 17 Utah in their conference opener, two weeks before playing at No. 11 BYU.

13. Baylor Bears (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 11 (⬇️ 2)
• Last week: Beat Prairie View A&M, 44-3
• Next game: Saturday vs. Louisiana Tech, 2 p.m. MDT (ESPNU)

One week after missing a golden opportunity to earn a victory over the SEC’s Auburn — losing when they failed to convert a late two-point conversion attempt — Dave Aranda’s club earned an easy win over its FCS foe with backup Nate Bennett replacing an ailing DJ Lagway.

It’s worth monitoring when Lagway, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is able to return. This week, the Bears wrap up nonconference play with a home game against the Sun Belt’s Louisiana Tech.

14. TCU Horned Frogs (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 15 (⬆️ 1)
• Last week: Beat Grambling, 63-7
• Next game: Saturday vs. Arkansas State, 6 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)

Let’s continue the running trend — there was really nothing to learn from TCU bouncing back from its season-opening loss to North Carolina by drubbing an overmatched FCS opponent last week. At least Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig looked far more poised this time, throwing for 391 yards and four touchdowns while completing 24 of 31 passes.

The final matchup for the Horned Frogs before league play begins is a home game against 1-1 Arkansas State. Then TCU hits the road to take on UCF in the Big 12 opener the next week, before hosting No. 11 BYU.

15. UCF Knights (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 9 (⬇️ 6)
• Last week: Lost to Pittsburgh, 12-7
• Next game: Saturday vs. Georgia State, 5 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)

The good vibes from UCF’s season-opening thumping of an FCS opponent dissipated when the Knights fell to Pittsburgh last week, and more importantly, lost their starting quarterback. Alonza Barnett III is expected to miss “multiple weeks” with a hamstring injury, according to various reports.

How much will that injury impact UCF’s fortunes as they kick off Big 12 play following their nonconference finale this weekend? The Knights have a difficult stretch to open conference action — their first four Big 12 games include hosting TCU, playing at Houston and Oklahoma State, then hosting No. 11 BYU.

16. Kansas Jayhawks (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 12 (⬇️ 4)
• Last week: Lost to then-No. 23 Missouri, 38-21
• Next game: Saturday vs. Arizona State (London), 10 a.m. MDT (FS1)

Kansas was no match for Missouri in the latest edition of the Border War — after the teams went into halftime tied 14-14, the Tigers pulled away in the second half. Jayhawks quarterback Isaiah Marshall, in particular, had a rough night, completing just 13 of 30 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Following that uninspiring effort, Kansas starts Big 12 play with a trip across the pond to face Arizona State in London. Though ESPN Analytics gives the Jayhawks a 46.5% chance to win, it feels like the Sun Devils are the clear favorite here in the Big 12 opener for both schools.

Twenty states and Washington, D.C., sued the administration over the change.

For more than 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has been clear in its intent to halt and reverse the trend toward species extinction, whatever the cost.

With 21 AGs, we’re standing up to defend it and protect the hundreds of animals, plants, and habitats that share this… pic.twitter.com/1mO0PGMWFs

— Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) September 9, 2026

The original definition — found in the 1973 Endangered Species Act, or ESA — prohibited “habitat modification or degradation,” stating it could harm or kill endangered animals.

The administration’s new regulations state habitat destruction is not included in the definition of “harm” — essentially opening the floodgates to development in new areas.

“The action returns the interpretation of the ESA back to its actual text and original intent, which will end years of federal overreach,” the Department of the Interior touted in a press release. “Through this action, the Department is delivering the kind of common sense and accountability the American people voted for.”

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Pushback from the states

Environmentalists — including Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at Center for Biological Diversity — feel the change is the opposite of “common sense.”

“Habitat destruction is the biggest cause of species endangerment and extinction, so if you completely take away the prohibition on habitat destruction, there’s just no way we’ll be able to save species going forward,” he said.

Greenwald believes the lawsuits “have a good chance,” pointing to the fact that in the 1995 Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon case, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of including habitat destruction in the definition.

“It’s just common sense,” he added. “I think the courts will see that. I’m hopeful that won’t stand, because it will entirely end how we’ve been protecting species and how we’ve been implementing the Endangered Species Act up to this point.”

The Department of the Interior points to a different court case, saying it supports their reasoning.

The 2024 Loper Bright v. Raimondo case came to the conclusion that courts must exercise independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.

“Using the legally justifiable standard, the Services determined that the prior definition of ‘harm’ was an unlawful regulatory intrusion that interfered with private property rights,” the Interior Department said.

The final rule will reduce “unnecessary” permitting, cut compliance costs, and “eliminate confusion” for landowners, small businesses, energy producers, farmers, ranchers and local governments, the department said.

“It brings long overdue financial and regulatory relief to citizens who faced unpredictable delays and unnecessary costs due solely by interpretations that went far beyond the statute,” the press release read.

Interior redefines ‘harm’ under Endangered Species Act

Why did a government agency turn a Utah creek red?

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said that for years, federal agencies “abused” the ESA to obstruct lawful land use and burden American families and businesses.

“That approach turned routine activity into a regulatory trap, drove up costs that impacted people’s lives, and expanded federal authority beyond what Congress intended,” he said.

What does it mean for Utah?

The Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office says the Endangered Species Act should be “a framework for recovery, not a permanent designation,” according to its website.

“Unfortunately, species often remain on the list for decades, without proper analysis or in contrast to the best available science,” the guidance says.

The state takes a “management-first” approach — one that quickly delists species after they have recovered rather than keeping them under federal protection indefinitely.

The office pointed to the Ute ladies’-tresses — a rare wildflower — as an example. It has been listed under the ESA for decades “despite scientific evidence demonstrating they exist throughout the West in large, thriving populations.”

“This has adversely affected water and grazing projects throughout the State,” the office said.

The state’s internal posture is opposite of the current lawsuit — shrinking federal involvement, not defending it.

The public lands office did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

‘I’m dealing with survivor’s guilt’: Grand Canyon flash flood survivors share their stories

The fire was estimated at 25-30 acres shortly after 12 p.m., according to Utah Fire Info.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This story will be updated.

But the number of children ages 11 to 18 seen in emergency departments related to problems from caffeine consumption doubled between 2017 and 2024, according to a new report. And U.S. poison control centers recorded nearly 2,700 energy drink-related calls from those age 19 and under in 2023.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that between August 2021 and August 2023, nearly 63% of youth consumed caffeine on a given day, the intake increasing with age. About a third of those ages 12 to 17 say they drink energy drinks regularly.

While pediatricians and others say that children should not be consuming caffeine, it’s not reality for most and it’s also hard to avoid. Actual safe amounts, if any, are hard to calculate for kids, but for healthy adults, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that 400 milligrams a day is an amount not generally associated with negative effects.

That would be about two or three 12-ounce cups of coffee. But many products, including the energy drinks adolescents are more apt to drink, contain higher amounts of added caffeine and they aren’t required to list natural caffeine on labels.

Meanwhile, 44% of college students have mixed alcohol with energy drinks, with between 1 in 10 and 1 in 11 doing so at least biweekly. According to the Atlanta-based personal injury law firm John Foy & Associates, which took a deep dive into caffeine-related statistics and produced a report, “Caffeine can make a user feel less drunk without reducing actual impairment, and regular users show higher rates of binge drinking, impaired driving and alcohol-related injuries.”

“Caffeine-related emergency visits rose substantially among both adolescent groups (ages 11-14 and 15-18) while rates among people ages 19–35 remained nearly unchanged,” according to the report.

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The pattern suggests, per the report, that “the increase identified in the clinical data is concentrated among school-age consumers rather than reflecting a broad rise across younger Americans.”

The poison center numbers provide “a separate but complementary signal,” the report adds. ”More pediatric energy drink exposure calls do not prove that energy drinks caused the increase in caffeine-related emergency visits. Still, both datasets point toward growing reasons to examine how younger consumers encounter high-caffeine products.”

As Deseret News reported in 2024, with caffeine readily available, even in products one would not think contained it, people of all ages may be exposed to more than they think they are consuming. “Caffeine consumption can add up, because it’s in so many products, from the tiny amount in an Oreo cookie, dark chocolate bar or chocolate pudding to the megadose in certain energy drinks and weight-loss supplements.”

Signs of trouble

The FDA points out that in healthy adults, “light to moderate caffeine intake seems to provide impressive health benefits in many people.” But there are limits. The article notes visible signs that one has had too much caffeine. They include:

• Increased heart rate
• Heart palpitations
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia or sleep disruptions
• Anxiety
• Jitters
• Upset stomach
• Nausea
• Headache (Interestingly, caffeine is also sometimes used to treat a migraine headache).

Healthline has a list that adds digestive issues, muscle breakdowns, dependency and increased urination.

The muscle breakdown, called rhabdomyolysis, is serious because damaged muscle fibers get in the blood stream, with complications like kidney failure. It’s not common with caffeine consumption and usually results from trauma, infection, drug abuse, muscle strain and poisonous bites, Healthline said. But “there have been several reports of rhabdomyolysis related to excessive caffeine intake,” which the article deemed “relatively rare.”

The legal firm’s analysis found a huge range of caffeine in popular energy drinks, which was largely the focus of its report. It noted that “some cans contain three times the caffeine found in a typical cup of coffee.”

And it also noted that some products are marketed to appeal to young consumers. The report’s author said that “the combination of health-oriented branding and high-stimulant content creates new questions about consumer understanding.”

How much caffeine is safe and how to know if you've had too much

“Our goal is to emphasize and reemphasize what dating is as it pertains to the gospel,” said Jim Lucero, Young Men president in the Plano Texas Stake, which hosted the event. “The term dating has changed from what it used to mean and we want to help the kids understand that dating is both an experiment and an experience and to value it as a way of getting to know a variety of individuals and move toward a temple marriage.”

To many in today’s world normal dating is seen more in terms of what was called “going steady” in times past.

Guest speaker Brad Wilcox, a professor of education at Brigham Young University and author of several books as well as a popular speaker in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talked to the youths about forming proper bonds. He emphasized morality and that the dating experience should be fun and leave lasting memories.

Sophia Blankmeyer, another Plano Texas Stake senior, noted, “Sometimes we think we’re missing out, but hearing a message like this helps me realize there is so much more to it and it’s not worth the emotional pain.”

The conference also included teen speakers who provided dating views from both a guy and lady’s perspective. Daniel Acey reminded the young women that the young men are extremely nervous and to help them out by accepting when they ask them on a date. He also reminded the young ladies that guys aren’t made of money, which caused the room to erupt with applause. Michelle Adorable told the young women to keep their heads, heels, and standards high and reminded all youths of the value of shopping around to evaluate prospects.

“The youth want to date and we wanted to find a way to put them in a comfortable situation to help some of these kids get on their first date,” Lucero said.

The conference culminated with a dance and the feature activity, a Mega Date to accomplish that goal.

As the teenagers arrived at the activity, they were randomly given one of five colored wristbands and were told what they were for before the dance started. At one point in the dance, the lights came on and those wanting to participate went to an appointed area in the room for their wristband. Information was collected by leaders and taken to a room where the participants were randomly paired with someone in their group. A short time later in the dance, the lights came on again and the couples were paired. Two slow songs were played to allow the couples a chance to get to know each other and set arrangements for their date.

“At first, kids were hesitant to participate, but then people started jumping in and just doing it and it was really encouraging to others,” Blankmeyer said.

Overall, the stake leaders felt that Mega Date was a positive experience as more than 160 couples participated. It provided the Mormon youths an opportunity to meet someone they might not have otherwise talked to.

“This all originated from an idea to help our youth value dating as an LDS principle,” Lucero explained. “We want to help the kids feel proud of being LDS in a society that seems to make us feel guilty for being different. We want the kids to be comfortable with dating and with themselves and to value dating as a way to move toward a temple marriage.”

Themes from previous years included Romeo and Juliet and a dating Game Show. Besides the Priest and Laurel activity, the Plano Texas Stake has developed activities for each age group to help ease them into the dating process.

Stake leaders recognize dating is an issue and are working to help the younger youth become become more comfortable with the concept.

Beehives and deacons participate in a cotillion where they are taught dating etiquette and basic dance steps. This is a chance to introduce good old fashioned social graces. “Save the Date” is the activity for Mia Maids and teachers where pre-dating tips are shared through various activities and a dating panel.

Megan Nylander worked for Temple Square Hospitality for five years before moving to Texas last summer.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Peter Wood, an Englishman born in the walled city of York but now a resident of Montross, Scotland. He’s a member of the Carnoustie Friendship Cup team that tied with the Red Rocks (USA) 32-32 after a Ryder Cup-type competition in both countries.

This year’s matches started in Scotland in May and finished in Utah this week. The Utah USA-based Team Roadrunners ran over Team St. Andrews 46.5 to 17.5 in the international competition that concluded Tuesday at Sand Hollow.

“This has been the joy of my life,” said Rhett Long, Friendship Cup secretary in charge of logistics. The event is in its seventh year, an idea hatched by co-founder Dave Wilkey, former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and his brother, Friendship Cup Chairman Mark Leavitt, in connection with retired starter at St. Andrews and co-chairman Rod Sturrock

The event has forged lifetime connections and friendships between USA players and the Scots, who are so full of stories, jokes and wisecracks that one could write a book about their remarkable culture, the home of golf.

Take retired Glasgow detective inspector Alan Brown. He’s got that Scottish brogue but can switch to an American twang at the drop of a hat. Why? He grew up loving the famous TV shows “NYPD Blue” and “Kojak” with Telly Savalas. Coincidentally, “NYPD Blue” was also my all-time favorite.

Brown loved the American detective series because he could relate. He walked in their shoes, experienced their lives. He witnessed and took notes in two dozen autopsies of homicides or suspicious deaths in Glasgow.

I couldn’t resist asking Brown how in the world police in Scotland and England do not carry guns. They are not allowed to carry. If there’s a great need for deadly force, they have to call an armed unit, a specially trained police force.

U.K. police go into dangerous situations with nothing but an expandable stick. To my wife and I, who love to watch U.K. detective shows on BritBox, this seems insane. But to this detective from Scotland, it is a matter of safety for all.

“I’ve been talking to you for almost an hour,” Brown said. “You can talk to people, resolve things. You don’t need a gun. If it gets touchy, you can take a pen out of your pocket and stuff it in the suspect’s right nostril. That’ll do the trick. You don’t need to shoot them with a gun.”

Well … I guess that works. Would go over well against cartel gangs with Uzis and semis.

Brown was surprised I have a 9 millimeter Braretta, an Italian military police pistol. In Scotland, it is against the law for a regular citizen to own a gun.

“I absolutely have loved this trip, to see this desert, these rock formations and this beautiful golf course at Sand Hollow. I’ve never played anywhere like this and it’s so different from what we have in Scotland.”

There, a golfer can get blown off the course. The winds from the North Sea near Carnoustie make that course one of the toughest in the world, and it often hosts the Open Championship, the latest in 2018, won by Francesco Molinari.

“The wind kicked up here today during our round, and it felt just like home,” said Wood. “Only this wasn’t wind; this was a breeze. All of us played better when the wind came.”

Wood called Sand Hollow “absolutely fantastic,” with its lush fairways and good greens set against a backdrop of rock and desert. “Really, not very much like Montrose in any way whatsoever. I found it a privilege to be able to play a course like this. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and as I say, I enjoyed it probably slightly more today having played yesterday and getting to understand the layout.”

Remind him of anywhere he’s played golf before?

“Absolutely not. Nothing like you’d play anywhere in the U.K., not in Scotland or England. Not at all.”

“This Friendship Cup has really grown,” said Carnoustie team captain Alistair Batchen, a retired banker.

What would Batchen tell Americans who want to play Carnoustie?

“Um, get some therapy after playing the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th,” said Batchen. “The first nine will lull you into a false sense of security. They’ll come back and bite you. It’s a fantastic golf course, a fantastic finish, a joy to play.”

On the U.S. side, the Leavitts, Wilkey, Long and former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert have taken the Scots to Bryce Canyon and the Leavitt Ranch outside Loa. A few members of the Scottish traveling party were invited to sing with the The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. On Monday, almost all of them took in “Les Miserables” at Tuacahn. They’ll be heading back across the Atlantic after a quick stay in Las Vegas.

This event has justified its purpose over seven years. Players from Utah, Nevada and California have gone to Scotland and made lasting friendships. Many players meet up during the year in the U.S. or Scotland and continue their relationships.

The agreement, still subject to court approval, resolves a case Utah’s Division of Consumer Protection filed in October 2023, alleging Meta knowingly exposed young users to serious mental health harms. It’s one of the largest consumer protection settlements in U.S. history, rivaled only by the 1990s tobacco settlements.

Utah’s leaders — the governor, the legislature, the attorney general’s office and the Division of Consumer Protection — deserve real credit here. This case took years of persistence, and it sends a clear message that Utah will hold powerful companies accountable when they put profit ahead of families. That fight is essentially won. The question now is whether Utah can lead the nation by getting the money part right the first time.

Opinion: Thoughts from Gen Z — why the Meta settlement is far from enough

Opinion: Big Tech can protect kids online — now it needs to do more

History offers a cautionary tale. After the 1990s tobacco settlements, much of that money never reached the public health programs it was meant to fund — states used it to plug budget gaps instead. A similar pattern is emerging nationally with opioid settlement funds, where watchdog groups have flagged unclear reporting and inconsistent tracking, and Utah, set to receive $543 million with about half going to counties, is still working out how to ensure full local transparency.

That’s reason enough for Utah to put strong guardrails in place now, before a single dollar of the Meta settlement moves, so funds are directed to those most impacted by Meta’s practices: children and youth.

How the Meta settlement money can help Utah’s kids

The need is real and well-documented. Utah’s own 2025 Student Health and Risk Prevention survey found that nearly 80% of Utah youth spend two or more hours a day on electronic devices, a habit tied to poor sleep, loneliness, substance use and mental health struggles. The study cited 41% of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 check their electronic devices every 15 minutes outside of school and sleep time, while kids who spend five or more hours daily online are nearly twice as likely to experience cyberbullying.

Parents across the political spectrum worry about these statistics, and most agree that the best solutions start with families, faith communities, local nonprofits and neighborhood organizations.

That’s what makes this moment promising. After-school programs, community-based mental health services and youth development initiatives offer kids consistent relationships with caring adults, hands-on exploration in sports, arts, STEM, service and real opportunities to build confidence away from a screen. Utah parents already see the value — 87% say after-school programs decrease screen time and encourage connection and educational achievement.

The problem is access. Five in six Utah children who want to participate in after- or out-of-school programming are missing out, held back by cost, transportation and limited availability. The very programs best positioned to offer kids a healthy offline alternative remain out of reach for the families who need them most.

Utah is unusually well positioned to solve this. The Legislature already passed SB165, the Economic Mobility Initiative, establishing the REACH (Raising Expectations through Accountability, Community, and Hope) Initiative — a statewide framework that coordinates community-based services, tracks outcomes and directs resources to families who need them most.

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That accountability infrastructure didn’t exist during the tobacco settlements. It exists now, thanks to the legislature — giving state leaders a ready-made, fiscally responsible vehicle to ensure each dollar of this $212 million settlement produces measurable results instead of disappearing into general budgets.

With the settlement secured pending court approval, there’s no reason to wait. We are ready to work alongside the legislature, the governor’s office, local leaders and impacted communities to build transparent allocation guidelines and outcome tracking from day one to account for every dollar and bring results to Utah families.

We ask Utah’s legislators to join us in making sure this money goes to the young people this case was about protecting. Utah has already held one of the most powerful companies in the world accountable. Now we have the chance to turn that victory into safe, accessible, community-rooted spaces where Utah kids can thrive offline.