See Inside...
Helping those struggling with mental illness Sindi Byerly believes in living life to its fullest page 8
Also...
Giving voice to the voiceless
page 2
Local basketball teams have success
page 9
$1.50
February 3, 2023 | Vol. 4 Iss. 05
State of care for kids in Utah has become dire situation By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com SALT LAKE CITY—The child care industry is in crisis. Despite high tuition costs, early educators barely make a living wage. On the flip side, families can’t afford to pay for care outside the home – facing costs higher than college tuition. Child care advocates gathered at the Capitol last week to bring awareness to the problem. “When you invest in the family you invest in the whole economy,” said Linda Stone of Moms Rising, a national nonprofit that deals with child care issues. “It’s a state issue that affects all of us. If I didn’t have someone to help me I wouldn’t be able to work.” During the pandemic many lost their child care jobs, she said. “There has been a high turnover. Sixty-thousand centers closed and 150,000 workers left the profession.There’s no incentive other than a true love of children and learning.” The legislature needs to help rebuild and invest in child care, said Stone. “They’re investing in the Great Salt Lake and vouchers but we want them to get child care on their brain. We can’t ignore the problem.” “Most child care workers make less than dog walkers,” said Jenna Williams with Voices for Utah Children. “People think child care facilities are flush with cash. That’s not true, they’re barely making ends meet.” It’s a dire situation, she said. “Only 35 percent of the state’s child care needs are being met. We want the legislature to pay attention to this issue and care about providers. They were already hurting and now it’s even worse.” Holly Kingston has provided child care out of her home in West Jordan for 12 years. “I struggled for a while,” she said. “I couldn’t charge enough to make it a quality program. It’s difficult to provide Please see CHILD CARE: pg. 11
House Republicans launch hearings investigating Biden administration Democrats The Judiciary Committee's first meeting will cover what Republicans have dubbed the Biden Border Crisis, while the Oversight panel is looking into money spent on pandemic relief when Democrats controlled the house.
Mysterious flying spiral A Japanese telescope captured images of a mysterious flying spiral shape on Jan. 18. It was likely caused by the sun illuminating leftover fuel expelled from the rocket of a SpaceX launch.
Bowling alley held together with duct tape and bubble gum Candlepin bowling isn't popular in most of the United States, where the more well-known tenpin bowling reigns supreme. The aging alleys – mostly found in New England and Canada – are held together with “duct tape and bubble gum.” In one Maine town, the community is working together to preserve the tradition.
Weight-loss drugs effective but can cause rebound weight gain
DAXTON, 6, FROM WEST POINT ELEMENTARY reads a book in the State Capitol Rotunda during a rally for “Invest in Care for Kids.”
Photo by Roger V. Tuttle
Governor signs education funding bill for teacher raises and school choice By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com SALT LAKE CITY—A controversial bill that provides $8,000 scholarships to qualifying families for private schools and a $6,000 pay raise to teachers passed through both the House and Senate last week and was signed by the governor on Jan. 28. HB215 caused a debate about whether taxpayer money should be diverted from public schools into private schools. The bill is intended to give parents a choice in education. Senate Majority Assistant Whip Sen. Kirk Cullimore sponsored the bill. “I’m ecstatic the bill passed,” he said during media availability following the vote. “To get the support from the House and Senate is thrilling.” This won’t be implemented for about a year and a half so that gives us an opportunity to look at this and fine tune it, said Cullimore. “Many states have done this and been very successful,” said Senate President Stuart Adams. “We’re getting good ideas from them. The bill is crafted after those states.” Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights voiced her concerns about the bill. “I’m a veteran teacher,” she said. “I think it needs a lot more accountability and transparency. Teachers will enjoy the raise short term but the long-term impact to the education
NEWS BREAK
New weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic are highly effective and can be life-changing for people facing health conditions worsened by obesity. But price and spotty insurance coverage can make it hard to get, and going off of the medication can cause rebound weight gain that’s hard to control.
Home prices continue to fall Following last year’s explosion in home prices, real estate markets are seeing something like a reset to pre-2022 level as fears of a recession and higher lending costs cut into the boom in housing that saw what many experts believe was a temporary bubble in pricing. The last increase in average home prices was noted in October of last year, and the average price has been falling ever since. The future of the housing market is seen as mostly dependent on the Federal Reserve’s actions moving forward with regard to the prime interest rate.
Texas zoo offers buggy revenge
SENATE LEADERSHIP TALKS to the media after HB215 passed out of the Senate Jan. 26. The bill was signed by the governor Jan. 28.
Photo by Becky Ginos
system is alarming to me.” “We have a lot of children per capita in Utah,” said Minority Leader Sen. Luz Escamilla. “We value children and families. Public education is what historically has made us different from other countries in the world. It is the great equalizer for the American dream. We want to make sure what we do in the legislature works because these are taxpayer
funds. I think accountability is critical so we need to find that accountability balance.” “This is really important to the education community,” said Rep. Melissa Ballard, R-North Salt Lake. “When vouchers came up I always voted against it. With HB215 I concluded there were enough votes to pass it.” There’s no question it wasn’t popular in the public sector, she said. l
The San Antonio Zoo is once again offering patrons the unique, if somewhat dark, chance to name a cockroach after an ex and have it fed to one of the zoo’s animals. The naming rights for a snack cost $10, a cost which directly goes to paying for the zoo’s budget. Individuals who feel that a cockroach is too strong a message to a former flame can instead choose a vegetable for $5 or a rodent for $25. Additionally, a recorded message to the named individual can be purchased for $150. The zoo saw 8,000 people participate last year, and claims to be on track for an even bigger return this year.