Plus, how a near-death crash gave this race car driver new purpose
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By Sarah Gambles Friday Dec. 27, 2024

🌨️ 24 – 39° Logan | 🌧️ 32 – 46° Salt Lake 

🌧️ 26 – 41° Manti | ⛅ 30 – 49° Moab

⛅ 29 – 51° Cedar City | ⛅ 35 – 55° St. George

 

🌅 Good morning! 

 

What do you think were some of the most-read stories on Deseret News this year? Or tell me: what were some of your favorites? 

 

Stories about the role of faith in the lives of high-profile individuals were among the most-read by Deseret News readers in 2024. That was particularly the case with the 2024 presidential election. Here are some of the most-read headlines about religion:

  • What Kamala Harris has said about her faith
  • What has Donald Trump said about religion?
  • The star of ‘Reacher’ has a message for Christians
  • Steve Young and Brock Purdy sat down to talk about football. They focused on faith instead
  • Former ‘American Idol’ star announces she’ll serve a Latter-day Saint mission

Read more to see some of the other top-read stories in the Deseret News in 2024. 

How a near-death crash gave this race car driver new purpose

 
It was a sunny, mild day in Tucson, Arizona, Jan. 19, 2018, when Mark Haley climbed into the beloved 1926 Ford Roadster that he’d “built from nothing,” revved it up and started down the track in a two-car drag race time trial.
 
Ten seconds in, going over 100 mph, the right tire came apart and he slammed into a wall, bounced off, twisting the fuel pump hose before he slammed back into concrete, gas pouring over the engine.
 
The accident was such that his left hand was amputated at the wrist, and the fingers on his other hand also had to be amputated. He’d been burned on over half of his body, including singes that reshaped his nose and made his right eyelid droop. He was probably on fire less than a minute, but the damage was incredible.
 
Now Haley is a peer mentor at two different hospitals. He helps people who’ve been injured or become disabled in some way see that life is good, you can keep your sense of humor and perspective and still lead a robust, joyful life. 
 
Read more about how Haley is now helping others, especially those with disabilities or who are recovering from trauma. 
 

More in Utah

  • Post-Christmas snow triggers winter storm warning for Utah’s mountains (KSL)

  • The highs and lows (when it comes to weather) in 2024 (Deseret News) 

  • In Utah, one in 40 pregnant women faces intimate partner violence (KUER)

  • How Jesse Mecham founded YNAB (Utah Business)

  • After dying twice, this artist’s visions are now alive on canvas in Southern Utah (St George News)

  • Snow is on the way. What does that mean for avalanche danger? (Deseret News)

1-pets-4122024 (3)-Dec-27-2024-01-11-23-5687-AM

Utah’s peculiar year in politics

“Peculiar” has long described the Beehive State. In 2024, it certainly applied to Utah politics.

From state Rep. Phil Lyman’s unprecedented write-in campaign for governor, to 2nd District Rep. Celeste Maloy’s near primary defeat at the hands of a Mike Lee-backed challenger, to Donald Trump’s unsuccessful attempt to pick a replacement for outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney.
 
Despite a series of unusual electoral changes — which includes Gov. Spencer Cox’s surprising change of heart toward Trump — the political year was just as remarkable for what stayed the same.
 

Utah political experts say some of these unprecedented changes reflect how Utah stands apart from the rest of the country.

 
Read more about the rest of the peculiar year in Utah politics. 
 

More in Politics

  • Rep. Kera Birkeland announces resignation from Utah Legislature (KSL)

  • Should Congress have term limits? Rep. Kay Granger’s situation makes a ‘compelling case’ (Deseret News)
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Round out your day (v5)

Health

  • Whooping cough cases in the US are the highest they’ve been in a decade (CNN)

  • New Year’s resolutions: 5 apps to help you achieve your goals (Deseret News)

Faith

  • The best faith-based movies of 2024 (Deseret News)

  • 2024 Year in Review: Prophet’s 100th birthday, the Church’s 200th temple — and more (Church News)

The Nation and the World

  • Holiday travel hits new highs amid packed roads and airports (Deseret News)

  • Kremlin warns against speculation that Russia shot down Azerbaijan Airlines flight (NBC News)

  • Bird flu has killed 20 big cats including cougars at a U.S. wildlife sanctuary (NPR)

Sports

  • BYU football: Can Cougars’ inexperienced safeties contain dynamic Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders in Alamo Bowl? (Deseret News)

  • 10 Utah Utes highlights from 2024 (Deseret News)

  • How big, really, is BYU’s Alamo Bowl showdown against Colorado? (Deseret News)

  • Changes have taken the bounce out of college basketball (Deseret News)

  • Netflix had a successful NFL debut. What’s next? (Deseret News)

  • Utah Hockey Club has a major statistical advantage against its next opponent (Deseret News)

Entertainment and Lifestyle

  • 💭 Naomi Schaefer Riley: When looking at the lives of others, the struggle is real (Deseret News)

  • Many (un)happy returns? Exchanging your gift could be tricky (Deseret News)

  • ‘Wicked’ will be available to stream very soon (Deseret News)

🗓️ Events Calendar

We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah during the next month. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!

 

Here are some highlights for events in Utah today: 

  • "Shrek the Musical" | Eccles Theater
  • “Anastasia the Musical” | Draper Historic Theatre
  • Utah hockey vs. Colorado Avalanche at home | 7:30 p.m.

Please reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any thoughts, feedback or ideas you would like to share!

 

✨ Cheers ✨

— Gambles

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