Darryn Peterson wants Jazz fans to know he’s approachable

_This article was first published as the_ Jazz Insiders_newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday._

Darryn Peterson knows that everyone has heard he’s a quiet and reserved guy, and there are certainly instances when that’s true.

On the court he considers himself to be more of a lead-by-example type and a quiet killer rather than a loud and boisterous player but he…

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Sarah McLachlan reflects on her ‘Toy Story’ moment: ‘One of the most beautiful songs ever written’

Two days after Taylor Swift confirmed she had written a new song for the “Toy Story 5″ soundtrack, the Deseret News was chatting with Sarah McLachlan, the ethereal voice behind the tearjerker “When She Loved Me” from “Toy Story 2″ that reveals the cowgirl Jessie’s backstory of being outgrown by her owner.

McLachlan — a Swift fan who attended the singer’s Eras tour with her daughters — hadn’t yet…

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Making sense of the Pentagon’s religious code controversy

_This article was first published in the_ State of Faith newsletter_. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Monday night._

The latest controversy over the omission of Latter-day Saints from the Christian category on the Pentagon’s religious affiliation list — which has since been corrected — brought into focus an important point: While Americans continue to disagree about…

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After winning $250,000 on ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ this Utahn is competing again — with his dad, brother and sister

Even though Kai Beckstrand rose to the top on “American Ninja Warrior” last summer, claiming the $250,000 prize as the Season 17 winner, the competitor from St. George, Utah, isn’t ready to be done with the show just yet.

“As long as ‘Ninja Warrior’ keeps calling me back, I’ll keep being on the show,” he told the Deseret News last year.

Now, Beckstrand is returning for Season 18, which…

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Starting lineup decisions loom for Jazz

_This article was first published as the_ Jazz Insiders_newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday._

No matter who the Utah Jazz end up taking with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, they are going to have a bit of a dilemma on their hands: Who will make up the 2026-27 starting five?

Assuming the Jazz come to a contractual agreement with Walker Kessler…

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Diaper drive highlights role as a need that keeps folks in poverty

Everyone needs food to survive, and government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) can help those in need find food security.

But what about diaper insecurity?

Doulas of Utah is partnering with the Utah Food Bank, which runs the state’s diaper bank, to hold a diaper drive for the community. From June 15 to July 6, people can…

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Ken Jennings reflects on being Brandon Sanderson’s roommate at BYU

During a recent “Jeopardy!” taping, host Ken Jennings got the chance to reflect on his college days at BYU — specifically the period of time when he was roommates with bestselling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson.

When Ken Jennings and Brandon Sanderson were roommates

Ken Jennings on being roommates with Brandon Sanderson

As the “Jeopardy!” host, Jennings regularly interacts with the…

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4 takeaways from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s Senate testimony

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, facing questions from lawmakers regarding the administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget plans and an IRS legal settlement involving President Donald Trump.

Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, opened the hearing by highlighting the economic outcomes of the administration’s tax policies. Ranking…

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Jazz pre-draft process progressing this week

_This article was first published as the_ Jazz Insiders_newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday._

The next phase of the pre-draft process gets underway for the Utah Jazz this week.

Now that the NBA combine is over and the deadline has passed for players to decide if they want to remain in the draft or return to college, it’s time for teams to take another step…

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Master violinist Itzhak Perlman is returning to Utah

When legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman made his BYU debut six years ago, it marked his first performance in Utah in a while — and became one of the university’s fastest-selling concerts in school history, the Deseret News previously reported.

“To me that says a lot about the health of the arts in Utah and the love of great classical music in Utah,” Kory Katseanes, who conducted the BYU…

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Is ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ family-friendly? What parents should know

Early reviews for “The Mandalorian and Grogu” were mixed last week, and as more commentary pours in, the consensus remains split for the first “Star Wars” film to hit theaters in seven years, as previously reported by the Deseret News.

The “Star Wars” franchise has a history of family-friendly entertainment, but does its latest theatrical release follow the same pattern?

The film follows Din…

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A look at Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson as potential No. 2 picks

_This article was first published as the_ Jazz Insiders_newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday._

A lot has been made about who the Washington Wizards will take with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft and who the Utah Jazz will take with the No. 2 pick.

That conversation mostly begins and ends with the names AJ Dybansta and Darryn Peterson. But there…

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EPA chief takes a tour of the Great Salt Lake after $1 billion pledge by Trump

Trump administration official Lee Zeldin took a boat tour of the Great Salt Lake on Saturday with Sen. John Curtis and other Utah leaders.

The visit to the lake by Zeldin, who heads the Environmental Protection Agency, comes after President Donald Trump said he would take a special interest in revitalizing one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks.

At a press conference after the tour, Zeldin…

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A 17-year-old singer from Utah just represented France in Eurovision. See her performance — and how she did in the competition

This past weekend, 17-year-old singer Monroe Rigby performed on the biggest stage yet of her rising career.

After years of performing in church choirs, and in opera and theater programs throughout Utah, Monroe took the stage at the 70th annual Eurovision Song Contest to represent France — her mother’s homeland.

Here’s a look at her performance — and how she fared in the prestigious…

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How 100 Women Who Care is changing lives in Utah

In a world filled with needs, it’s easy to think the little you can do won’t make much difference. But the members of 100 Women Who Care and the nonprofits they help are proof that a little bit of support can have a far-reaching impact. Just band together with others and see what happens.

When they meet in June, the group of Salt Lake City area women will celebrate putting $1 million into local…

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Can a robot achieve enlightenment? Humanoid AI robot debuts as Buddhist monk

As the world grapples with the implications of AI priests and chatbot-written sermons, a new figure has entered the conversation: Gabi, the humanoid robot that is now a Buddhist monk.

Per Reuters, the robot devoted itself to Buddhism in a ceremony held at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday. The AI-powered Unitree G1 model robot, which stands approximately 4 feet 3 inches tall and…

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These 3 singers just made the ‘American Idol’ finale

“American Idol” is down to its top three.

On Monday night, the show eliminated two more singers from the competition and revealed the three singers who will compete in the Season 24 finale.

With the finale and a new winner just one week away, here’s a look at the top three remaining in the competition.

She was a runner-up on ‘The Voice.’ Now she’s on ‘American Idol’ — but not getting much…

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Finally, a draft lottery Jazz fans can feel good about

_This article was first published as the_ Jazz Insiders_newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday._

For the last few years, the NBA draft lottery has been a stress-inducing pressure cooker of a situation for the Utah Jazz and Jazz fans. This year, Jazz fans should enjoy lottery night, and whatever the result ends up being, it will be a good one for Utah.

The Jazz…

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The greatness of Lionel Messi, explained

Let’s play a game of “Spot the Imposter,” superstar edition:

  • Player A: 6-foot-9, 250 pounds
  • Player B: 6-0, 200 pounds
  • Player C: 5-7, 148 pounds
  • Player D: 6-4, 210 pounds
  • Player E: 6-2, 225 pounds

The first obvious choice is player C, as “small and lightweight” isn’t the typical winning formula against other world-class athletes. Everyone else in the lineup seems like a…

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Deseret News archives: From first Earth Day to today, it’s about people making a difference

_Editor’s note: This story was originally published on April 22, 2025._

_A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives._

Americans celebrate Earth Day in a variety of forms, from planting trees to gathering in forums to find solutions to changes in the environment.

It’s a perfect chance for schoolchildren to get outside and, well, touch the Earth. For adults, it…

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A Utah ghost town gets a shoutout on ‘Jeopardy!’

A recent game of “Jeopardy!” — game No. 25 for super-champion Jamie Ding — tested players’ knowledge of the Four Corners states, including a clue about a ghost town in Utah.

This ‘Jeopardy!’ player is on a hot streak — and could soon dethrone some legendary players

A Utah ghost town gets a ‘Jeopardy!’ shoutout

Ding, a law student from New Jersey who just won his 28th “Jeopardy!” game,…

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This ‘Jeopardy!’ player is on a hot streak — and could soon dethrone some legendary players

A new “Jeopardy!” contestant is rising through the ranks of the show’s top players — and steadily inching his way toward Ken Jennings’ all-time record of 74 wins.

Ken Jennings opens up about his new book — and why he’ll (probably) never play ‘Jeopardy!’ again

Jamie Ding ‘Jeopardy!’ hot streak continues

Contestant Jamie Ding, who is described on “Jeopardy!” as a “bureaucrat and law student…

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Jazz players offseason plans include a trip to Finland, setting up home and (hopefully) a new modeling gig

_This article was first published as the_ Jazz Insiders_newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday._

For the most part, Utah Jazz players intend to spend a lot of time in Salt Lake City this summer, preparing for the 2026-27 season. That’s pretty normal and tracks with how the Jazz players have preferred to train in-market.

They’ll also take breaks, traveling to…

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A country music festival is returning to Utah after a severe weather disaster last year. Here’s what to know

Six months after heavy rain and wind tore through Salt Lake City and led to a last-minute cancellation of Post Malone’s set, Redwest Music Festival has announced its return to Utah State Fairpark this fall with a two-day lineup of country stars and rising artists.

Update: Post Malone’s Utah show has been canceled

Who is playing at the 2026 Redwest Music Festival?

Now in its third…

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Senate Republicans Kill Democratic Attempt to Rein Trump in on Iran

Senate Republicans are allowing Donald Trump to continue to wage war with impunity.

Senate Republicans voted Wednesday to block a resolution that would have stopped Trump from taking further military action in Iran without the express approval of Congress. The vote was 47–52, largely along party lines, with Senator Rand Paul joining the Democrats, and Senator John Fetterman siding with…

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BYU hoops wrestles with portal recruiting

_This article was first published in the Cougar Insiders newsletter Tuesday. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each week._

There are the departures — seven of them — and commitments coming, all part of the wild scene in college basketball, and BYU’s coaching staff is right in the thick of it.

With the expected departure of projected No. 1 draft pick AJ Dybantsa and starters Robert…

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Trump administration unveils 250-foot Triumphal Arch project

On Friday, the Trump administration unveiled plans for a 250-foot Triumphal Arch to be built along the Potomac River near the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

Current renderings show the monument situated in a traffic circle on the Virginia side of the river, positioned between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

A golden-winged Lady Liberty sits atop the arch, alongside two eagles.…

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AJ Dybantsa visits temple open house with apostle

Though his BYU playing career may be over, AJ Dybantsa continues to endear himself to BYU fans — and this time, it’s for his actions off the court.

Dybantsa recently toured the Lindon Utah Temple open house with Elder Ronald A. Rasband of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, according to a post Dybantsa shared on X Thursday.

Photos showed Dybantsa and…

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Want to keep your dog around longer? A new drug could help with that

Dog is a person’s best friend, making the loss of a loyal companion after only a few years a heartache many know well. The lifespan of each dog and dog breed varies, but typically smaller dogs enjoy a longer lifespan.

To combat the heartache, some have turned to unique measures. Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady said late last year he cloned his deceased dog to give his family more time with…

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