Bring home the bacon: 35k pounds of pork donated to Utah Food Bank
This is all thanks to a donation by the Utah Pork Producers Association (UPPA), in partnership with Daily's Premium Meats.
Members of UPPA, as well as football players from Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and Southern Utah University, delivered the donation on Wednesday, April 16.
'With this donation, Utah pork farmers aim to offer a meal and a sense of hope to those who need it most,' said Jim Webb, UPPA president-elect. 'We are grateful for the work Utah Food Bank puts in every day to ensure no Utahns go hungry, and are proud to be able to support their efforts through this donation. Thank you to our partners at Daily's Premium Meats for helping to make this happen.'
More than 320k Utahns sign referendum to appeal labor union bill, double the required amount
The UPPA has worked to consistently offer support to the Utah Food Bank, last year also donating 35,000 pounds of pork. Over the last six years, UPPA said they have donated a total of 210,000 pounds of meat, which is equal to 840,000 servings.
According to the Utah Food Bank website, 415,000 individuals in Utah, or 1 in 8, are facing food insecurity, and for kids, that number is 1 in 6. The non-profit reported that last year, with donations and support from the community, they were able to distribute 65.5 million pounds of food, or 54.6 million meals, to those facing food insecurity.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Utah No. 4 for childhood well-being, but there are rocky spots
Utah ranks No. 4 in the nation for child well-being, with gains in reducing poverty and youth engagement. But there are persistent challenges in housing and access to early education, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual evaluation, which is now in its 36th year. The '2025 Kids Count Data Book' ranks the states from 1 to 50 on 16 indicators of child well-being. The report considers four factors in each of four categories: Economic well-being, education, health and family and community. Utah came in behind New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. New Mexico was the state with the lowest ranking. It notes that a quarter of Utah children in 2023 (the last year for full data) lived in households that spent more than the recommended 30% of household income on housing and reports an increase in the share who have challenges finding affordable housing in the Beehive State. Additionally, 9% of children live in poverty, which is down from 10% five years ago. But while 3,000 children who lived in poverty in 2019 no longer do, that means 88,000 still lived in poverty in 2023. Other bad news, despite Utah's high ranking: More Utah fourth-graders are not proficient at reading, at 64% compared to 60% in 2019. The share of eighth-graders not on grade level in math is 65%. That's a sad number that's still better than the nation's 73% who are not proficient. The number of Utah teens ages 16-19 not in school or working has risen to 7% — that's 16,000 teens. On the plus side: The poverty rate dropped from 10% to 9% for children. The share of children in households where no parent has full-time year round employment fell to 18%. Paying attention to how children fare is vital in Utah, said Martín C. Muñoz, Kids Count director at Voices for Utah Children, because a third of the state's residents are younger than 18. 'When we strengthen families and communities, we're securing our future, for our state and for our country. On the education front, 57% of children ages 3 and 4 are not in school, which is the same as during the last ranking. But Utahns are faring slightly better in terms of high school students who are not graduating on time, at 12%, which is down from 13% last time and which is slightly better than the national average, which is also 13%. The health category is a very mixed bag for Utah, where the state ranks 13th overall. The Beehive State is slightly better than the national share of 8.6% for low-birthweight babies, at 7.4%. That's been pretty consistent since 2019. But that still means 3,308 babies were born with low birthweight in Utah. And many low-birthweight babies face long-term complications in their development. Utah continues to have 26 teen and child deaths per 100,000 each year, compared to the national average of 29 per 100,000. The state's gotten worse, though, in terms of the number of children ages 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese. That used to be 1 in 5, but has risen to 1 in 4 in the last few years. Nationally, the overweight/obesity rate is slightly more than 3 in 10. Fewer Utah children, however, lack health insurance, at 7%, compared to 8% in 2023. Still, that's worse than the national average of 5% of children without insurance. Utah's No. 2 overall in the family and community category, with a stable share of children in single parent homes (19%), just 6 % in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma, and a mere 1% of children living in high-poverty areas, though nationwide 8% do. Utah teen birth numbers are also better than national numbers, at 9% compared to 13% nationally. The report also looked at trends since 2019, noting seven of the indicators nationally have improved, six have gotten worse and three have been unchanged. Since 2019, the nation has seen less poverty among children, fewer teen births, more children covered by health insurance and a rise in on-time school graduation. The report also notes increases in parental education and the share of parents with secure employment. 'Some of these trends reflect years of progress,' the report says. 'Others highlight the resilience of children and families after the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of strong policies that provided support during that time.' Nationally, the area with the worst news was in education, where three out of four indicators show decline since 2019. Those include preschool participation that hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels, a decline in reading and math scores and the note that chronic absenteeism has become a 'major challenge.' On the plus side, high school graduation rates have been going up. The report notes that 'serious challenges remain, as 16% of U.S. children still live in poverty and nearly 1 in 3 children live in households struggling with high housing cost.' And the foundation adds that where a child lives 'continues to matter deeply, with stark geographic disparities shaped by local and state policies, economic conditions, community investment and infrastructure.' The report says that's clear in the most challenged areas, which are largely in the South and Southwest: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia. It adds that many Northeast and Midwest states rank well: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota and Vermont. Utah gets a special call-out, the only one in the West, as the report says that 'Utah also stands out as a strong performer.' Muñoz said that besides showing state policymakers and parents where more could be done to improve, it also highlights areas that can be emulated because of their high ranking. Policies and programs that are working can be built upon, he said. 'Utah is doing well,' he said. 'We are a success story but there are little pockets in our state that need some attention.' What helps families, he added, is true 'trickle-down economics. When we help families, it trickles down to help the kids.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Utah Gov. Cox wants you and your family to unplug this week. Here's why
For "Family Connection Week" from June 9 to June 15 2025, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wants Utahns to put down their screens and spend time with their families. (Stock photo by Daniel de) Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has declared this week as 'Family Connection Week' to encourage Utahns to put down their phones and 'disconnect to reconnect' with loved ones. 'Spending quality time together strengthens our bonds, fosters better communication and creates lasting memories that carry us through life's challenges,' Cox said in a prepared statement. 'This week is a chance to really listen, connect and to make sure the people around us know they are valued.' From Monday to Friday this week, Cox wants Utahns to dedicate time to 'unplug from devices and reconnect through meaningful, screen-free activities,' he office said in a news release. 'This special week encourages families to be fully present with one another to create lasting memories and stronger bonds. It's the latest way Cox has encouraged Utahns to cut back on social media. He's been an outspoken critic of the addictive nature of social media algorithms and especially their negative impacts on kids. In 2023, his office launched a public awareness campaign urging parents to learn about the harms social media can have on youth. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX That campaign announcement highlighted a 2023 survey of 609 Utahns conducted by Lighthouse Research that found Utah parents reported 76% of their children use social media in some capacity, 57% use it seven days a week, and 53% use it one to three hours a day. That survey also found 88% of Utahns said social media had a detrimental impact on children and youth. According to another study published last month, researchers at the University of California San Francisco found that as preteens used more social media, their depressive symptoms increased. Using data from nearly 12,000 kids ages 9 to 10 and then three years later at 12 and 13, the study found on average, kids' social media use rose from seven to 73 minutes per day over the three years of the study, and their depressive symptoms went up 35%. In the announcement for 'Family Connection Week,' Cox's office data from the Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey that 'supports the importance of shared time, especially mealtime.' 'Mealtimes are critical to foster communication and connection. In fact, Utah youth who sit down to eat at least one meal a week with their family are 45% less likely to report feeling depressed, 70% less likely to use vape products and 54% less likely to consider suicide,' the governor's office said, citing the SHARP survey. Social media companies applaud Utah's latest bill aimed at teen social media use 'At the same time, excessive screen time — especially on social media — can take a toll on mental health and family cohesion,' the governor's office added. 'Positive, in-person interactions lay the foundation for resilience and safety for children and adults alike. Family Connection Week encourages families to 'disconnect to reconnect' and take time to talk, laugh and connect without distractions.' In a Youtube video announcing the 'Family Connection Week' declaration, First Lady Abby Cox said their family this week will be 'making a conscious effort to put down our screens and be fully present with one another, and we invite you to do the same.' 'We are carving out time to play board games, cook meals, and participate in recreational activities together,' Abby Cox said. Encouraging Utahns to learn more about the effort, Cox's office pointed to a page on the state's website that offers a list of activities Utahns can do in their areas. The website also offers resources for parents, including stress management advice, parenting tips, child development information, and a directory for assistance programs for food, housing, access to physical and mental health care, affordable child care, utilities assistance, and more. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Rep. Casey Snider to serve as new Utah House majority leader
After Jefferson Moss resigned from the Utah Legislature, the Utah House Majority Caucus held a special leadership election to replace him. In the special closed-caucus election late Tuesday, Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, was elected to be the House majority leader. He previously served as the majority assistant whip. 'I am honored to take on this role and grateful for the opportunity to serve,' Snider said, according to a release from the caucus. 'Our leadership team is committed to serving the members of our caucus and the people of Utah with integrity and foresight as we continue to advance meaningful policy for the benefit of every Utahn.' Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, will be the new House majority whip, and the new House majority assistant whip is Rep. Bridger Bolinder, R-Grantsville. 'I am thankful for the trust our Majority Caucus has placed in me,' Pierucci said. 'Our leadership team is energized and ready to represent our caucus as we work to make a lasting impact for families and communities across our state.' The three representatives will serve in these leadership positions for the rest of the 2025-2026 term. 'It's an honor to earn the trust of my colleagues,' Bolinder said. 'I'm eager to get to work, to listen, and to help ensure every voice in our caucus, and every Utahn, is represented.' Moss, who was the majority leader, resigned from the Legislature after he was appointed to serve as executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. 'I am excited to work alongside this new leadership team as we represent our caucus and work on behalf of all Utahns,' said Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper. 'Congratulations to Rep. Snider, Rep. Pierucci, and Rep. Bolinder. This leadership team stands ready to work on behalf of all Utahns.'