On the night of Oct. 18, 2024, BYU starting left tackle Caleb Etienne was reduced to tears.
The Cougars had just pulled out an improbable 38-35 win over his former team, Oklahoma State, to improve to 7-0, and Etienne joyfully belted out the school song as his teammates reminded him that he had just defeated the school, and coach, that didn’t want him after the 2022 season.
“That was a really good feeling, that night,” Etienne said a few weeks later. “That’s a game I will never forget. That was sweet.”
More redemption for Etienne came on Dec. 5, when the All-Big 12 honors came out and he was not only named a first team offensive tackle, but also honorable mention Big 12 offensive lineman of the year.
🏈 Read more about how the Oklahoma State transfer rebounded from a subpar junior year to make himself an NFL draft candidate in 2024.
Utah’s governor doubles down on support for Trump mass deportations
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox clarified that his support for President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation agenda extends beyond removing immigrants who have committed violent crimes after entering the country illegally to also include those who are in the country without proper documentation or residency status.
“This isn’t just about the Latino community, it is about law and order,” Cox said. “A country with open borders that can’t deport even those who are committing crimes then we’re not much of a country at all.”
Here are six key points from Cox's press conference:
Gov. Cox said President-elect Trump's mass deportation agenda is about "law and order."
Cox blamed President Biden for a historic surge in immigration that he said has led to increased crime.
Gov. Spencer Cox said Utah will pay to keep national parks open if Congress fails to fund government operations.
Cox labeled Congress' inability to debate and pass spending bills an "embarrassment."
Cox called on members of Congress to set their sights on broad coalition building instead of party-line votes.
He called for electoral reforms to speed up election-night results and reiterated his support for the state’s vote-by-mail system.
Here are stories that detail more about what Cox said during the press conference:
📰 Also in political news, Sen. Mike Lee slammed the effort to pass a 1,500 page continuing resolution ahead of the midnight on Dec. 20 deadline as “Christmastime legislative extortion,” saying legislative leaders try to pass massive spending bills ahead of the Christmas break every year.
Read more about how Lee is in favor of a "clean" continuing resolution.
More in Politics
What will Utah’s new representative focus on as a freshman in Congress? (Deseret News)
Public trust concerns lead to disqualification of DA Fani Willis (Deseret News)
Trump endorses new Republican plan to avoid a government shutdown (NBC News)
'A huge honor and opportunity': Congresswoman Celeste Maloy discusses House Appropriations Committee (St George News)
Ballet West’s founder, Willam Christensen, choreographed the first full-length version of “The Nutcracker” in the United States in 1944. Now 80 years later, Ballet West’s “Nutcracker” has become officially known as a Living Historic Landmark by the state of Utah in 2024, the first such designation of its kind in the United States.
Our Deseret News photographer Laura Seitz received a behind-the-scenes pass to capture stunning photos of the production.
Packed with behind-the-scenes insights from players like Robbie Bosco and Kelly Smith, game-by-game highlights, and more, this collector's edition is your all-access pass to one of college football's most legendary seasons. Get your copy today and celebrate the triumphs of the 1984 BYU Cougars!
Utah
Utah’s college grads often lacking ‘durable skills’ to succeed in industry, claims study (Deseret News)
One week away ... Will Utah have a 'White Christmas' this year? (Fox 13)
‘Our hearts ache’: Relatives of slain West Valley family react to tragedy (KSL)
4-alarm fire breaks out in Ballpark neighborhood (ABC 4)
Utah group sues state leaders, alleging its federal public lands lawsuit is ‘unlawful’ (KSL)
We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah during December. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!
Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:
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