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Although Utah's poverty rate has always been below the national average, housing affordability has become a major issue, affecting how families can cope with emergencies and other day-to-day expenses, according to the Community Action Partnership of Utah. (Adobe Stock)

UT poverty simulation aims to catalyze change, empathy

More than 8% of Utah's population lives in poverty, according to the Census and an event this month wants to give participants a better idea of the …

Utah ranked first in the nation for formal volunteerism and seventh for informal service in 2021, according to the Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism. (Adobe Stock)

UT governor's office discusses importance of service, volunteerism

Ahead of National Service Day, the governor's office brought together Utah leaders to discuss the importance of service and volunteerism. Utah Lt…

The Rein in Response Kickoff event will take place at 44 E. 130 N in La Verkin. (Adobe Stock)

UT program aims to help first responders through horsemanship

A new program in Utah wants to help first responders learn to recognize and work through their traumatic life events through horsemanship. This …

Utahns lace up on Thanksgiving Day to fight hunger

Today, nearly 4,000 Utahns are lacing up their running shoes and putting on a costume for the Utah Food Bank's 18th annual Utah Human Race. Ginette …

Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis are leading the Disagree Better initiative. (Adobe Stock)

'Disagree Better': Utah Gov Leads Initiative to Ease Hyper-Partisanship

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wants people to learn to disagree. As the elected chair of the National Governors Association, he is leading a campaign …

According to the research, about 23%, or 60.7 million people, formally volunteered with organizations between September 2020 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

UT Leads with Formal Volunteering Efforts in AmeriCorps' Latest Research

According to AmeriCorps' latest research, Utah was the state with the highest number of residents volunteering with nonprofits in their communities …

According to Tabron, The National Day of Racial Healing is centered around experiences in truth-telling. (Adobe Stock)

UT Events Highlight National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day in which many across the country celebrate the revolutionary words and thoughts of the civil rights …

During the COVID-19 pandemic, food pantries provided more than 60 million Americans with nutritious food. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Brings Higher Demand, Fewer Supplies for Utah Food Pantries

During the pandemic, food pantries were a lifeline for thousands of Utah families experiencing hard times. Rising inflation, however, is making it …

Since the National Association of Letter Carriers began participating in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, they have collected an estimated 1.8 billion pounds of food for families in need. (Andrii/Adobe stock)

UT Letter Carriers Help 'Stamp Out Hunger' with Food Collections

Utahns can expect their mail to be delivered as usual this Saturday but with a catch. Your letter carrier will be asking for something in return - a …

Utah's food banks are among the state's nonprofit organizations that are struggling to provide services due to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Utah Food Bank)

COVID Crisis Could Force Closures, Job Losses at Utah Nonprofits

SALT LAKE CITY -- During the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Utahns and millions of Americans have turned to nonprofit …

Public health officials say the stress of life during the coronavirus crisis has caused a sharp increase in the number of people in Utah experiencing depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. (Kioshkin/AdobeStock)

Utah Program to Focus on Mental-Health Issues from COVID Crisis

SALT LAKE CITY -- While most Utahns seem to have weathered the coronavirus pandemic with less illness and death than has been seen elsewhere…

The Utah Food Bank distributes supplies to more than 200 charitable kitchens and pantries across the state. (kuarmungadd/Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Pandemic Triggers High Demand at Utah Food Banks

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's food banks, which already feed thousands of hungry people a day, are facing high demand and major challenges in the COVID-19 …

Joseph F. Smith (center), an early leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is shown in 1904 with his polygamous family, including his sons and daughters, their spouses and children. (Wikimedia Commons)

Pushback for Bill to Decriminalize Polygamy in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY -- Efforts to decriminalize polygamy in Utah are getting international attention, but opponents say it could make life worse for …

More than 10 times as many Americans are now imprisoned for drug offenses than in 1980. (Pixabay)

Report: Harsher Drug Sentencing Doesn't Benefit Public Safety

SALT LAKE CITY – A new, 50-state study finds that putting more people in jail for drug offenses doesn't reduce drug use or overdose deaths…

A new AARP website scores livability using more than 60 factors, including safe streets and walkability. (Pixabay)

New Web Tool Calculates Community "Livability" Score

SALT LAKE CITY – How livable is your community compared with others? How well does your community meet your needs, regardless of age or income? …

In most cases, law enforcement is prohibited from entering a family home unless the family consents or agents have a warrant. (Getty Images)

ACLU Sues Over "SWAT-Style" ICE Raids on Utah Family

SALT LAKE CITY – The American Civil Liberties Union is pushing back against what it claims is increasingly heavy handed actions by U.S…

New research suggests that communities that are able to meet and interact with people from different backgrounds tend to have less hate. (Pixabay)

University of Utah Study Maps Hate in America by Region

SALT LAKE CITY – Hate is a national phenomenon, but the way hate is directed varies depending on where you live, according to new research from …

Young Utahns are joining others around the world to engage in community service online. (Pixabay)

Utah Youth Go Digital to Engage in Community Service

SALT LAKE CITY – A growing number of young people are finding community service opportunities online. DoSomething.org is one portal that …

Students across Utah are learning more about the connection between clean water and healthy trout populations. (USFWS)

Trout Eggs Nestle into Utah Classrooms

SALT LAKE CITY – On Monday, Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources, along with volunteers from Trout Unlimited, delivered rainbow trout eggs to 3…

More people die during police encounters than previously reported. (Grendelkhan/Wikimedia Commons)

More Civilians Die in Police Encounters than Previously Reported

SALT LAKE CITY – Police officers have the legal authority to take lives, but keeping tabs on how many people are killed each year hasn't been …

Family gatherings and holiday parties could quickly go downhill this year, as emotions continue to run high post-election. (Pixabay)

Healthy Debate Good for Holiday Gatherings

SALT LAKE CITY – "We respectfully agree to disagree" may be the mantra heard at many office parties and holiday gatherings across the country…

Food collected during the holidays is critical for keeping pantry shelves stocked for families facing hunger through the winter months ahead. (Pixabay)

Holiday Rush to Fill Utah's Food-Bank Shelves

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Food Bank is in the middle of its Holiday Food and Fund Drive, and the need for donations goes beyond helping …

Student anxiety and incidents of harassment have increased since the 2016 presidential election, according to a survey of school personnel. (iStockphoto)

Kids Face Anxiety, Harassment at School in Wake of Election

SALT LAKE CITY – This year's presidential election has had a big impact on the nation's schools, grades K-12. According to a new national …

A new report warns the rapid growth of charter schools could lead to privatization of the nation's public school system. (Pixabay)

Study: Growth of Charter Schools Could Lead to Privatization

SALT LAKE CITY – What began as an experiment to create innovation through charter schools has become a movement to privatize public education…

A new report predicts emissions from oil, gas and coal currently in production are enough to raise global temperatures above limits set in Paris. (Pixabay)

Study: Fossil Fuel Expansion has Reached Climate Limits

SALT LAKE CITY – Existing fossil fuel production is enough to blow the world's entire remaining carbon budget for keeping global temperatures be…

A new study documents the educational, health, nutritional and other benefits of urban agriculture. (D. Sharon Pruitt/Wikimedia Commons)

Report Documents Benefits of Urban Agriculture

SALT LAKE CITY -- Back to school for some can mean planting one last crop of vegetables in school gardens before the first frost arrives - and boostin…

Report: Solar and wind related energy jobs could absorb coal industry layoffs. (Pixabay)

Solar Could Employ Laid Off Coal Workers, Study Finds

SALT LAKE CITY – The growth of solar and wind energy related jobs could easily absorb coal industry layoffs over the next 15 years and provide f…

Immigrants' rights supporters at the Republican National Convention plan to build a 15,000-foot wall around Quicken Loans Arena today. (Erik Drost/Wikimedia Commons)

Protesters Plan to Build Wall Around Trump at RNC

SALT LAKE CITY - After delegates from Utah, Colorado and other states failed to block Donald Trump's nomination at the Republican National Convention…

As part of Latino Conservation Week, community members are being encouraged to show their passion for protected areas, including Echo Canyon in Utah's Zion National Park. (National Park Service)

Latino Conservation Week Celebrates Utah's Public Lands

SALT LAKE CITY - This week marks the third annual Latino Conservation Week, and organizers are shining a spotlight on the Latino community's concern …

Advocates for designating the Bears Ears region of Utah as a national monument say opponents are using �dirty tricks� to turn residents of the area against the project. (USGS/Wikimedia Commons)

Bears Ears Advocates Accuse Opponents of ‘Dirty Tricks’

MONTICELLO, Utah - Groups advocating national monument status for the Bears Ears region of Utah say opponents are using false information and veiled …

Pro-business policies from the State Capitol might have helped rank Utah highly in a new survey of state economies. (Wikimedia Commons)

Study: Utah Economy Ranks First Among States

SALT LAKE CITY - On the strength of business growth and innovation, a new study ranks Utah as having the top state economy in the country. …

Forecasters are predicting a larger number of wildfires in Utah and other southwestern states this season because of high temperatures and dry condition. (millsrymer/iStockphoto)

Hot, Dry Weather Could Mean Active Fire Season

SALT LAKE CITY - Conservationists recently watched with concern as a mega-wildfire swept across northeastern Alberta, causing more than 100,000 …

An Annie E. Casey Foundation report says 44,000 Utah children, and 5.1 million nationally, are separated from a parent in childhood due to the adult's incarceration. (AndrejsZendega/iStockphoto)

Incarcerated Parent Can be a Struggle for Children

SALT LAKE CITY - More than 5 million children across the nation, including 44,000 in Utah, experience separation from a parent due to incarceration…

With the income-tax filing deadline just a few weeks away, help is available for Utah residents through the AARP Foundation�s Tax-Aide Program. (alfexe/iStockphoto)

AARP Volunteers Help Utah Taxpayers File Returns

SALT LAKE CITY - The federal income tax filing deadline is just three weeks away, and if you're getting nervous about filing your tax return…

Planned Parenthood of Utah told a panel of judges at the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Gov. Gary Herbert illegally cut the group's funding.

Planned Parenthood of Utah Appeals Cutoff of State Funds

SALT LAKE CITY - Planned Parenthood of Utah is asking a federal appeals court to force Gov. Gary Herbert to stop cutting off funds to the …

A bill that would legalize marijuana for medical use in Utah is making its way through the state legislature. (Wikipedia Commons)

Medical Marijuana Bill Advances in Utah Senate

SALT LAKE CITY - A bill to legalize medical marijuana is set for a final vote this week in the Utah Senate after getting preliminary approval by just …

A mountain lion peers through the underbrush at the Capitol Reef National Park in South-Central Utah. (National Park Service)

Report: Utah Among Top States for Mountain Lion Trophy Hunts

SALT LAKE CITY - More than 29,000 mountain lions have been killed across the country in the past decade by trophy hunters, according to a new report…

New regulations in Utah now allow patients entering a hospital to designate a family caregiver that will be the official contact person. (wirelog/morguefile)

New Utah Rules Allow Patients to Designate Caregiver

MIDVALE, Utah - A new rule in Utah gives important new rights to family caregivers when a loved one is in the hospital. The Patient Designated …

A family is part of a recent Gay Pride parade. A Utah legislator wants to give heterosexual families preference over gays in adopting children in the state. (Wikimedia Commons)

Rights Group Opposes Bill to Keep Gays From Adoptions

SALT LAKE CITY - A Utah gay-rights group is fighting with a conservative state representative over proposed legislation that would give heterosexual c…

The American Lung Association recently rated each of the 50 states on their tobacco control policies (audelfin/morguefile)

Utah Gets Mixed Grades on Tobacco-Control Programs

SALT LAKE CITY - The American Lung Association says Utah does a good job of protecting its citizens from secondhand smoke, but rates poorly in other …

The Community Action Partnership of Utah says families often miss out on thousands of dollars in tax refunds by not filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit. (KConnors/morguefile)

Many Utah Residents Fail to Claim Lucrative Tax Credit

SALT LAKE CITY - Many Utah residents are potentially leaving thousands of dollars on the table each year when they prepare and file their federal tax …

Utah is launching a new program to better children's lives called Evidence2Success. Courtesy: Annie E. Casey Foundation

Salt Lake County Adopts New Program to Improve Kids' Lives

SALT LAKE CITY - Kearns Township in Salt Lake County is gearing up to launch a new program called Evidence2Success that takes a hard look at what's g…

Nancy Madsen-Wilkerson, Utah's 2015 Portrait of Care honoree, with a painting of her and her mother. Credit: AARP Utah

AARP Artistically Honors Family Caregiver

SALT LAKE CITY - November is Family Caregiver Month and AARP is celebrating by recognizing the 40 million Americans who help older parents, spouses …

Critics are calling for the impeachment of a controversial Utah judge. Credit: Serggn/iStockphoto.com.

Calls for Legislature to Impeach Controversial Judge

SALT LAKE CITY – A movement is gaining steam to oust a Utah judge who sparked a national controversy when he ordered an infant to be removed fro…

Happiness Month challenges people to do something happy each day, such as wearing a favorite shirt, buying someone a cup of coffee or planning a mini-vacation. Credit: Baltimore County, MD

August All About Happiness in Utah, Nation

SALT LAKE CITY - Looking at the brighter side is not always easy when things get you down, but people in Utah and around the country are being …

Grouse Creek, UT � Utah and other Western states could gain from expanded efforts involving farmers, ranchers and government agencies in Montana, working collaboratively to preserve habitat for the Greater sage-grouse, which faces a possible endangered species listing. Comments from Jason Weller, chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); and Jay Tanner, rancher at Grouse Creek, Utah. Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Montana Sage-Grouse Agreement Could Benefit Utah

GROUSE CREEK, Utah – Efforts underway in Montana to restore and protect habitat for sage-grouse, a bird that faces a possible endangered …

GRAPHIC: To help improve the state's air quality, thousands of Utah residents are expected to drive less this month as part of the annual Clear the Air Challenge. Graphic courtesy Salt Lake Chamber.

Utah Residents Can Help "Clear the Air"

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah residents are being asked to drive less in July as part of the state's annual Clear the Air Challenge, which organizers …

PHOTO: According to a report out this week, when it comes to placing children in foster care versus a group home or institution, Utah's performance mirrors the national average. Photo credit: Catawba County, North Carolina.

Report Looks At Utah's Child Placement

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah ranks at the statistical national average when it comes to placing children who are not with their biological families into a fa…

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UT: Community Issues and Volunteering