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March 3, 2023 | Vol. 2 Iss. 09
Covering Your Community
Position filled
The Board of Education appoints a new superintendent
page 8
MORGAN COUNTY NEWS Since 1929
NEWS BREAK SNAP benefits end giving individuals less for groceries Millions of Americans’ grocery budgets will shrink this month even as prices remain high due to inflation. The pandemic era boost to SNAP benefits has ended, and individuals will get on average $90 less this month.
Republicans challenge Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan
MORGAN CELEBRATES as Athletic Director Kade Morrell awards the first place trophy.
MHS girls bring home 5th state basketball title By Liisa London Mecham
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or the second time in three years, the Morgan High girls’ basketball team brought home the gold from the 3A State Girls Basketball Tournament. After entering the tournament as a third seed behind Grantsville and Richfield, the Trojans defeated both teams, including the Cowboys who beat them twice during the regular season, enroute to their championship. Coach Sterling Mack commented, “It’s hard to win one championship so this one is pretty cool. Lots of grit and resilience was shown throughout this year, so it was a very fun year. Playing your rival in a state championship game after losing to them twice and then winning in the finals is pretty epic. This movie would sell!” For the graduating seniors, the state tournament has been a four-year showcase of determination and focus as the Trojans have finished higher than their entering seed every year of the Class of 2023’s tenure on the court. Although this year’s leap from third seed to first place wasn’t as dramatic as the 2021 vault from eighth seed to first, the Trojans showed their dominance as they jumped out to a big lead over the Cowboys in the championship game and held on to win it at the end 70-66. Mack first identified the tenacity of his seniors in eighth grade when he met them for the first time after he arrived in Morgan to teach. “This group of seniors is the first group I taught when they were in 8th grade,” Mack said. “I remember having very competitive games during PE classes back then with not
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The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday over challenges to the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan. A majority of the court's conservatives indicated great skepticism, and it seems the Republican-led state challengers could be on the verge of invalidating the plan. A final decision on the case is expected this summer.
Murdoch testifies in defamation case Rupert Murdoch knew in late 2020 that the hosts on Fox News were endorsing lies from then-President Donald Trump about election fraud, but did nothing to stop it. Under oath in a $1.6 billion defamation case, Murdoch says he wishes Fox News had been “stronger in denouncing” false claims of election fraud.
Despite high inflation Americans are still spending Americans are doing something weird. Despite high inflation, they've been spending like crazy, and personal spending went up 1.8% in January. Is this a good thing? It's hard to tell. If spending continues to grow, the Fed could raise interest rates again. But if spending cools, it would raise concerns of a recession.
Erythritol sweetener linked to negative health outcomes
JUNIOR LIV JAFFA soars over her competition to catch the ball. Jaffa was named MVP of the tournament. Photos courtesy of Mike Despain, Morgan Sports Network
The food industry product erythritol has been linked to higher likelihoods of cardiovascular problems, according to a new study. Erythritol is used to bulk up the volume of products such as stevia and monkfruit. The study has found that higher levels of erythritol in sweetener products have a similarly higher correlation to blood clotting, heart attack and stroke than natural sugar products. The product has been highly successful as a component of “zero calorie” substitutes for sugar.