Public News Service

As of March 2024, 243 schools have completed JED Campus and 201 are active JED campuses, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Report: Suicidal ideation, planning, attempts decrease on college campuses

A new report showed a significant decrease in suicidal ideation, planning and attempts on college campuses around the nation, as well as improved …

Offenders who engage in financially motivated sextortion are often located outside the U.S., primarily in west African countries of Nigeria and Ivory Coast, or Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, according to the FBI. (Adobe Stock)

'Sextortion' cases on rise in UT and nationally

The FBI is warning the public about an increase in the crime known as "sextortion," when suspects target minors and threaten or coerce them into sendi…

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…

An estimated 40% of recent college graduates in the U.S. are underemployed, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Mending the pathway from college to workforce

A new report from WGU Labs, a nonprofit affiliate of Western Governors University based in Millcreek, Utah, is shedding light on the importance of …

Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to say it would be difficult to give up social media, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

UT sues TikTok, alleging negative mental-health impacts on youths

On Tuesday, the state of Utah announced it is suing TikTok as it claims the social media platform "baits children into addictive and unhealthy use." …

Utah ranks 36 for the strength of its gun laws, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Majority of U.S. Youth Agree Gun Violence is a Problem

Some 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and 60% want to see stricter gun laws, according to a new report from …

Utah's average cost of center-based child care for toddlers was $9,003 per year, 9% of the median income of a married couple. (Adobe Stock)

UT Excels in Child Well-Being, But Parents Struggle with Child Care Costs

Utah ranks second in the country for overall child well-being, moving up from last year's fourth-place ranking in the annual Kids Count Data Book…

According to the Children's Collaborative for Healing and Support, between 2017 and 2021, more than 5 million children nationally experienced the death of a parent. (Adobe Stock)

UT Pilot Program Aims to Support Grieving Kids

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined the Children's Collaborative for Healing and Support last week to announce a pilot program in the state designed to …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, and nearly half of students felt persistently sad or hopeless. (Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit Group Urges School Districts to Focus on Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and one group wants school districts in Utah and across the country to focus on critical mental health support…

According to a Brigham Young University report, 85% of the pollutants causing health and economic harm in Utah are fossil-fuel combustion products. (Adobe Stock)

Young Utahns Suing State, Calling for Climate Action

By Ray Levy Uyeda for Prism.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Utah News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Ser…

New Initiative Delivers Free Books to Utah K-3 Students

Many kids across the state of Utah will be able to receive free books in the mail this summer to encourage reading and improve literacy outcomes…

The State of Utah used some of its COVID-19 pandemic relief funding to build the internet infrastructure needed for the higher-ed program in its juvenile justice facilities. (Adobe Stock)

College Courses Show Benefits for Incarcerated Youth in UT

Utah is one of a few states where juveniles behind bars can earn college credit. Utah's Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth program lets young …

When Congress elected to let the Child Tax Credit expire, child poverty rose by 40%, according to the Coalition on Human Needs. (Adobe Stock)

Utahns Call on Congress to Expand Child Tax Credit

Utahns are calling on Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit and say it should be a priority in a year-end tax package. The debate comes as …

The National Bureau of Economic Research estimates the benefits of a restored Child Tax Credit to low-income children would outweigh the program's costs by a factor of 10-to-1. (Jenko Ataman/Adobe Stock)

UT Group Urges Congress to Reinstate Child Tax Credit Payments

When families began receiving expanded Child Tax Credit payments during the pandemic, the extra family income lifted almost four-million children out …

In a recent survey on children's well-being, Utah ranked highest among the states in the Four Corners region. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Ranks 4th Among States in Survey on Children's Well-Being

An annual report on children's well-being rates Utah among the best in the country, but advocates warn it also pointed to a growing mental-health …

Studies show Utah has some of the best public schools in the country, but poor funding and a high student-to-teacher ratio keep them from being top-notch. (Grorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Study: UT Public Schools, Students High Achievers Despite Low State Funding

A new survey of public school systems around the country found Utah continues to rank among the top tier of states for its education system, but many …

Studies show that 40% of college students in Utah and across the country say food insecurity is affecting their academic performance. (prostock/Adobe Stock)

Study: Food Insecurity a Major Problem for Utah College Students

There may be some truth to the expression about the "starving college student" struggling to earn a degree. A survey of students enrolled in Utah …

Inability to pay was the most cited reason for educational disruptions, according to an analysis by the Latino Politics and Policy Initiative at UCLA. (Adobe Stock)

For Some in UT, College Dreams Cut Short by Pandemic

Low-income families in Utah may have shifted funds from education to pay for pandemic-related costs, a trend in line with findings showing Black and …

The Build Back Better Act contains provisions that would bolster coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and Medicaid. (Arlette/Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates: Build Back Better 'Crucial' for UT Kids' Health

SALT LAKE CITY -- Health-care reform advocates in Utah are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act. They say it would improve …

More than 300,000 Utahns have graduated from college with significant amounts of debt, but many in careers considered public service could have their loans forgiven. (kimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Student-Loan Forgiveness Could Help Thousands of Utah Grads

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Major changes are coming to the U.S. Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that could have a big …

Despite concerns of Utah parents that school-age children could be vulnerable to COVID-19 when they return to class, the state bars school districts from requiring face masks. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Utah Officials Urged to Approve K-12 Mask Mandates

SALT LAKE CITY -- As the Delta variant drives a growing number COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in Utah, particularly among young adults and …

Children enrolling is Utah public schools must show evidence of receiving six different vaccines to protect themselves, and their classmates, from infectious diseases. (IPC-PROD/Adobe Stock)

Doctors Urge Parents to Get Kids' 'Back-to-School' Exams, Shots

SALT LAKE CITY -- It is getting to be "back-to-school" time in Utah, and pediatricians say a visit to the doctor is as important as new pencils or …

The outlook for children's well-being in Utah is good, but a new report says 173,000 kids live in households where parents don't have stable employment. (diego serva/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Among Top 5 States for Children's Well-Being

SALT LAKE CITY -- Families with children in Utah and other states remained mostly steady over the past year in an annual report on children's wellbein…

A plan by the Biden administration would give eligible families money to provide meals for their children during summer break in the school year. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

American Families Plan Would Boost Summer Nutrition for UT Kids

LOGAN, Utah -- Food insecurity among rural Utah children, already a problem prior to the pandemic, has grown worse in the past 15 months. Children's …

Experts are concerned that many parents haven't been equipped in the pandemic to cope with the stress of working at home while their children are learning from home. (Rafael Ben-Ari/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Poverty, Pandemic Could Bring Increase in Child Abuse Cases

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah families need more resources to counter concerns of a slumping economy and the pandemic, which could subject more children to …

Research shows children who grow up with health insurance have fewer health problems, higher academic achievement and greater economic security throughout their life. (Rawpixel Ltd./Adobe Stock)

Utah Sees More Children Without Health Insurance

SALT LAKE CITY -- After a decade or more of steady improvement, a new report shows fewer Utah children are being enrolled in health insurance plans…

Studies have shown that people who identify as LBGTQ often must deal with discrimination and social stigma, which can lead to a high rate of mental-health concerns. (Ben Gingell/Adobe Stock)

Utah Coalition Plan Focuses on LGBTQ Suicide Prevention

SALT LAKE CITY - Members of Utah's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning community are at a much greater suicide risk than …

Marcy Baliel is a Utah parent raising a child with mental health issues. Through a six-week class and an ongoing support group, she teaches other parents how to deal with these situations. (NAMI Utah)

Classes Help Utah Parents Deal with Children's Mental-Health Issues

SALT LAKE CITY - There are few challenges more daunting for parents than dealing with a child's mental illness. A new program can provide Utah …

The 2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks Utah fourth in the nation for the overall well-being of its children, with 2% fewer living in poverty (16%) than the national average (18%). (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Kids Rank 4th for Overall Well-Being in New Report

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah is among the best states in the nation for children's overall well-being, according to a new national report. The 2020 KIDS …

A new report shows that the number of Utah children living in concentrated poverty has decreased significantly over the past decade. (AdobeStock)

Report: Fewer Utah Children Living in Concentrated Poverty

SALT LAKE CITY – The number of Utah children living in concentrated poverty has decreased significantly over the past decade, according to a …

A new report says more children who are put in foster care are being placed with families rather than in group homes or institutions. (inaposhkina/Twenty20)

Utah Places More Foster Kids with Relatives, Families

SALT LAKE CITY – The lives of foster children are improving in Utah and other states, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey …

A bill pending in the Utah Legislature would raise the minimum age to get married in the state from 15 to 18. (Twenty20)

Utah Lawmakers Debate Ban on Child Marriages

SALT LAKE CITY - A bill aimed at halting child marriages in Utah has been approved by a legislative committee and will advance to the full state House…

A new study shows that the number of uninsured children in Utah and across the nation is on the rise. (Pixabay)

Study: Number of Uninsured Kids in Utah on the Increase

SALT LAKE CITY – After a decade of improvement, the number of children with health insurance is dropping in Utah and across the nation…

About one in three college students face food insecurity, and the rate is even higher among community-college students, according to Wisconsin HopeLab. (Daphnee Marie/Twenty20)

Many College Students Face Food Insecurity

SALT LAKE CITY – Many college students in Utah will be heading back to class later this month - and juggling high college costs and low-wage job…

According to GLSEN, transgender students who face hostile school environments are three times more likely to miss school days than other students. (Barbara LN/Flickr)

Utah Educators Get Guidance for Supporting Trans Youth

SALT LAKE CITY – The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah and the Utah Pride Center want teachers, school administrators and policymakers to …

Supporters of gun reform rallied at March for Our Lives events around the country in March. This summer's Road to Change tour aims to keep up momentum around the issue. (Mathais Wasik/Flickr)

Parkland Shooting Survivors to Hold Town Hall Event in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Students from Parkland, Florida, who led the March for Our Lives in Washington this spring are now heading to Utah. Parkland …

Utah ranks first in the nation for indicators of family and community, with low rates of children in single-parent households and few children living in high-poverty areas. (Flickr)

Utah Among Best States for Childhood Well-Being

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah ranks sixth in the nation when it comes to children's well being, according to the 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book from The …

The Human Rights Campaign says policies that promote inclusive school atmospheres are key to protecting LGBTQ teens' well-being. (jglsongs/Flickr)

Lawmakers Could Do More to Protect LGBTQ Kids from Bullying, Advocates Say

SALT LAKE CITY — A new survey shows high rates of depression and anxiety among LGBTQ teens nationwide. Advocates say lawmakers could do more to …

As of 2016, nearly 3,000 children were in foster care in Utah out of about 400,000 nationwide.<br />(Donnie Ray Jones/Flickr)

Demand for Foster Care Rises, Extended Families Step In

SALT LAKE CITY – As the opioid crisis has grown in recent years, so has the number of children no longer able to safely live with their parents…

The average student debt load in 2017 was more than $39,000. Nearly 44 million Americans currently owe nearly $1.5 trillion in student loans. (Pixabay)

Survey: Most Teens Unprepared for College Costs

SALT LAKE CITY – As another school year draws to a close, a new survey shows a majority of high school juniors and nearly 40 percent of seniors …

A new study on afterschool programs found that nearly one in three Utah students living under the federal poverty level is at risk of continuing to live in poverty as adults. (Pixabay)

Study: After-School Programs Help Kids Living in Poverty

SALT LAKE CITY – After-school programs are boosting academic performance for Utah students living below the federal poverty level, according to …

Utah law prohibits selling tobacco products to minors, but there are no federal rules limiting access to electronic cigarettes. (Lindsay Fox/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Vaping Harmful to Teens Even With No Nicotine

SALT LAKE CITY – An increasing number of teens in Utah and across the United States are drawn to electronic cigarettes, with such flavors as …

Kids spend an average of nine hours a day in front of a digital or media device. (Pixabay)

Campaign to Protect Kids from Tech Picks Up Steam

SALT LAKE CITY – A campaign has launched to protect kids' brains from the manipulative and addictive power of technology. Known as the Truth …

About 20,000 Utah children depend on the CHIP program for medical coverage, but its federal funding could run out in March. (Children's Action Alliance)

Children’s Health Groups: CHIP Isn't a Bargaining Chip

SALT LAKE CITY — Groups that advocate for children's health are pleading with Congress to stop using the Children's Health Insurance Program as …

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…

Suicide rates among youths in Utah have tripled since 2007, and LGBTQ people are especially at risk. (Pixabay)

First Annual LGBTQ Youth Summit Set to "Ignite" in Orem

OREM, Utah – Hundreds of young people from across the state are expected to descend upon Utah Valley University this weekend for "Ignite," …

Eighty-eight percent of children in immigrant families are U.S. citizens, and just six percent under age 18 are not authorized to be in the country. (Pixabay)

Opportunity Gap Persists for Utah Kids of Color

SALT LAKE CITY – Even after the recession, Utah's children of color and those living in immigrant families face persistent challenges that make …

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