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BYU 1984 Magazine

Thousands of Utahns flocked to Sharon McMahon's book event at Utah Valley University this fall. What makes "America's government teacher" so popular with Utahns?

Meg Walter asked her. "I think some of it has to do with my approach to talking about government,” she said. “It’s very common sense. It’s not excessively inflammatory. It’s not hurling insults at people. It’s not making fun of people’s appearance or the way that they talk.”

She said she believes this approach aligns with the cultural values of Utahns and Latter-day Saints.

“Governerds” are what Sharon McMahon’s loyal 1.1 million Instagram followers call themselves. Using the handle @sharonsaysso, McMahon, a former teacher, has been sharing information about democracy, politics and history and how they impact American citizens, for four years.

📚 Read more about McMahon, her new book "The Small and the Mighty" and what it is that makes her so popular.

More in Utah

Warmer weekend; Storm early next week (Fox 13)

BLM endorses alt highway plan to bypass St. George’s Red Cliffs conservation area (KUER)

Bluffdale officers justified in shooting armed man, report concludes (KSL)

Utah’s Waystar follows $1 billion IPO by tearing it up on NASDAQ (Deseret News)

Utah man rescued after 50-foot fall down abandoned mineshaft (ABC4)

A list of Veterans Day events and freebies across Utah (KSL)

More than a third of Salt Lake City veterans served during Vietnam era (Axios)

Unique golf facility to open near Jordanelle Reservoir next summer (The Park Record)

Millions in settlements from drug companies, pharmacies continue to flow into Utah (St. George News)

UVU announces new Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (Utah Policy)

Utah’s bid for control of federal land gets support from Elko commissioners (Nevada Independent)

New life, new money for the critical Great Salt Lake shoreline (Deseret News)

Studying the ocean deep at 4,500 feet? It’s happening at landlocked Utah State

Why is Utah State University — a place landlocked by hundreds of miles and sitting at 4,500 feet above sea level — now offering a minor in marine science?

“Yes, it’s a question we’re often asked,” said USU watershed sciences professor Trisha Atwood, laughing. “It’s part of the preconceived notion that you need to be close to the ocean to study it.”

Decades ago, marine researchers actually needed to, well, get their feet wet to study oceans and other large waterways.

💻 What changed? Technology.Now, oceans are managed and studied at sprawling national scales and often far from the nearest beach.

Some researchers never even need to go to the ocean, take Atwood for example, who does computer modeling using data collected by researchers across the globe.

🐋 When can students sign up?

Starting this academic year, USU students earning a watershed sciences degree can pursue the new minor introducing them to marine ecosystems, marine biota, the chemical and the physical properties of the ocean and the seafloor — along with the conservation and management of marine resources.

The curriculum for the new marine science minor was designed to ensure that participating USU students “receive a rigorous program of study with several opportunities for experimental learning.”

🌊 Read more about how a minor in marine science is now available at Utah State University.

FROM OUR SPONSOR BYU 1984 MAGAZINE

Relive the glory of the 1984 BYU football championship season with our exclusive magazine!

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!

Health

Study says short bursts of activity can lower blood pressure (Deseret News)

The power of gratitude: 5 ways practicing gratitude benefits the body and mind (Deseret News)

What are the healthiest sleep positions for your heart and overall health? (Healthline)

Faith

Updates to Perpetual Education Fund will expand opportunities, make education more affordable (Church News)

How over 20,000 Latter-day Saints brought relief to southeastern U.S. after hurricanes Helene and Milton (Church News)

One of the best antidotes to fear of the future (LDS Living)

The ‘final girl’: Why the writers of ‘Heretic’ made sister missionaries victims (Deseret News)

Politics

Why Trump won (Deseret News)

Vivek Ramaswamy speaks to Yale group after Trump’s election win (Deseret News)

What could Trump's second term bring? Deportations, tariffs, Jan. 6 pardons and more (CBS News)

Trump has potential to appoint a majority of the Supreme Court (NBC News)

The Nation and The World

We must not turn blind eye to antisemitism, says Dutch king after attacks on Israeli football fans (BBC)

U.S. charges Iranian man in plot to kill Donald Trump, Justice Dept. says (Reuters)

Deleted cellphone data helps reveal murder of Indiana fireman (ABC News)

Sports

BYU women's volleyball loses to Utah in 3 sets (Deseret News)

Keys to BYU men's basketball's win over U.C. Riverside (Deseret News)

BYU vs. Utah usually goes against scripts and expectations. Will that be the case Saturday? (Deseret News)

How do out-of-state players get immersed in the Utah-BYU rivalry? (Deseret News)

Ogden to host national figure skating sectional at the Ice Sheet (Standard-Examiner)

Utah Hockey Club to join with veterans and law enforcement in ‘22 in 22 Challenge,’ raising funds and awareness of military suicide (Deseret News)

High school football: State playoff quarterfinal scores and schedule (KSL)

Entertainment