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Utah Public Lands

Chronic absenteeism percentages skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is chronic absenteeism?: It means a student misses 10% or more of enrolled days, according to state school board rule.

Northwest Middle School was hit particularly hard during the pandemic, reaching 42% during the first year, according to the school's principal, Andrea Seminario.

Fast forward to the 2023-24 school year, when the school achieved to reach less than half the statewide average in the same year.

How did they do it? It involved a multi-pronged, intentional strategy to get Northwest students to attend school every day.

Read more about Northwest Middle School's approach to chronic absenteeism.

A judge decided the future of Utah’s proposed constitutional amendment

A Utah judge declared Amendment D void, but the amendment will still appear on the state's ballot.

What is Amendment D?: An amendment to the state's constitution written by Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz would allow the Utah Legislature to amend laws passed by ballot initiative. It would also restrict foreign influence on initiative campaigns.

The decision came on Thursday in 3rd District Court, in response to a lawsuit filed by League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government who alleged the ballot language of a constitutional amendment was “deceptive,” and said the "rush to amend the constitution was unnecessary."

Supporters of the amendment say it would restore representative government and keep foreign interference out of Utah. Adams and Schultz defended the amendment language, calling it “straightforward.”

What happens next?: The amendment will remain on the ballot, but county clerks have been directed not to count the votes.

State lawmakers are expected to appeal the decision. Allowing the amendment to remain on the ballot makes it possible for voters to still weigh in, if the decision is reversed. But as of this week, votes on the amendment will not be counted.

Read more about Utah's proposed constitutional amendment.

More in Politics

Utah 3rd District candidates debate bans on transgender treatments for children (Deseret News)

Blake Moore questions slow budget process as almost two-thirds of taxpayers could see a tax increase next year (Deseret News)

House Speaker Mike Johnson cancels stopgap funding vote amid GOP opposition (Deseret News)

Trump’s attempts to remove gag order rejected by appeals court (Deseret News)

Trump rules out another presidential debate (Deseret News)

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Utah

Try these paved trails for a family-friendly bike ride (Deseret News)

Places you can go in Utah to start celebrating Halloween early (Deseret News)

6 arrested, accused of taking $200,000 from Taylorsville ATM (KSL)

Utah celebrates 152 residents who’ve lived a century and beyond (KSL)

The U.S.

After more than a century, the Campbell's company drops 'soup' from its name (NPR)

Francine lashes Louisiana, leaves hundreds of thousands without power (CBS News)

The World

Russia claims start of fightback in Kursk region (BBC)

U.N. condemns Israel after 6 workers killed in Gaza school strike (NBC News)

Sports

Unpacking an NFL rule that needs the boot (Deseret News)

Coaches fully behind inconsistent starting QB Jake Retzlaff — for now (Deseret News)

A rivalry to remember: Looking back at some of BYU’s most iconic wins over Wyoming (Deseret News)

Deion Sanders got duped into thinking Cam Rising had a serious infection, sends well wishes (Deseret News)

Does Utah State have a case for Pac-12 membership? (Deseret News)

Faith

9 songs added to new Latter-day Saint hymnbook — including ‘Amazing Grace’ (Deseret News)

Kristin Chenoweth surprise guest artist at Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s final tour concert in Georgia (Church News)

Here’s what President Camille N. Johnson has been learning from President Russell M. Nelson (Deseret News)

Health

COVID lockdown may have aged teen brains, study finds (Deseret News)

How changing this one play may reduce football head injuries (CNN)

Entertainment

‘The Bachelor’ rarely creates enduring relationships. Why do we still watch it? (Deseret News)

His brother made it far on ‘The Voice.’ Now this teen singer is trying to win ‘America’s Got Talent’ (Deseret News)