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Event helps Utah refugee students, families prepare for upcoming school year

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Event helps Utah refugee students, families prepare for upcoming school year


SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah — Kids in Utah are gearing up to head back to school this month.

A back-to-school night was held Tuesday at Granite Park Junior High School to help Utah’s refugee children and families get all the necessary supplies for the new school year.

Tetini Kamanova was born and raised in the western part of Ukraine.

She left home with her three children in March of 2022, shortly after the war with Russia started.

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“It was my first time when I left Ukraine. It was heartbreaking… It was hard for my children,” said Kamanova. “We really think we will [go] back to Ukraine, but war doesn’t stop and we decided we need to do something because we need to think about our children, and we decided to move to America.”

Kamanova has been in the United States for two years. On Tuesday, she came to check the back-to-school night.

“It’s really awesome because I really feel this support and love from people who organize this,” said Kamanova.

Organizers say the event gets bigger every year. This year, they expected 2,000 people to come though, up from 900 in 2023.

“It just makes me feel like going to school again,” said 11-year-old Khairat Yassin.

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Yassin says her parents are refugees from Africa.

She is getting ready to start the sixth grade and was pretty excited to get a new pink backpack.

“I feel like it’s important because some people out there can’t afford backpacks, and you get free backpacks here,” said Yassin.

Tuesday’s event was put on by the Granite School District, in collaboration with the Utah Refugee Connection.

“This is I think our ninth year doing this annual back-to-school event,” said Amy Dott Harmer, the executive director of Utah Refugee Connection. “All of these backpacks… are given by someone in the community that wants refugees to feel like they’re safe, they’re seen and they’re supported.”

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Harmer told FOX 13 News on Tuesday that there are 65,000 refugees in Utah. She says about 70% of the refugee population is in the Granite School District currently.

“We’re so grateful to have them here, and so this is the least we can do to help them get started in school,” said Shawn Nielson, the associate director of family and community engagement with the school district.

Whether it was getting back to school supplies, some new shoes or to just come out and enjoy the event, those who turned out say they are grateful.

“We feel belong here and loved and helped. Thank you,” said Kamanova.

Harmer says they had about 100 volunteers helping orchestrate Tuesday’s event. She says they do about five major events every year, including a Christmas event and one for International Women’s Day.

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4 Prospects the Utah Jazz Could Trade Up to Draft in the Second Round

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4 Prospects the Utah Jazz Could Trade Up to Draft in the Second Round


After landing Darryn Peterson at the top of Tuesday night’s first round, the Utah Jazz are heading into day two of the 2026 NBA Draft without a second round at their disposal.

However, with a front office like the one that’s in Utah, it’d be hard to truly count out the Jazz from making a trade throughout the night to jump into the second round, in the event there was a prospect the Ainges had a certain appeal for.

While most of the big names of this class have already been scooped up in the first 30 picks, there’s certainly a few both interesting and potentially valuable names to keep an eye on through the next 30.

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And for the Jazz, a few of them could fit their current lineup or some specific needs well enough that would make sense to get back on the clock once again.

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Let’s take a look at four prospects still left up for grabs on day two of the draft that could be a worthwhile pickup for the Jazz to consider trading up for.

Dillon Mitchell | F, St. Johns

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Mar 14, 2026; New York, NY, USA; St. John’s Red Storm forward Dillon Mitchell (1) with head coach Rick Pitino as he checks out of the game during the second half of the men’s Big East Conference Tournament Championship against the Connecticut Huskies at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

An athletic forward fresh off of a season under Rick Pitino at St. John’s, trading up to add another D-Mitchell to Utah’s draft history might not be the worst idea here.

Offensively, he won’t bring a ton to the table, as he only averaged 8.3 points a night during his senior season and shot a rough 6.7% from three. What he does do is check a ton of boxes in terms of size at 6-foot-8, 210 pounds, as well as his abilities as a defender, rebounder, and energy guy enough to warrant a look at the top half of the second round.

For the Jazz, perhaps they’d like to land on a more dynamic fit on both ends than Mitchell. But he sure would bring a nice spark on the defensive end that Utah could utilize after multiple lackluster years of production on that end of the floor.

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Richie Saunders | G, BYU

Jan 31, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; BYU Cougars guard Richie Saunders (15) shoots against BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) during the first half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
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A local product who spent four years with Brigham Young, Saunders might not fit exactly the type of mold on the defensive end that Utah could really covet here in the second round.

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However, he does project to be a pretty seamless connecting wing with solid NBA size standing at 6-foot-5, has a strong outside shooting ability with a 38.7% clip from deep from his career, and should be able to at least hold his own on the other end.

He’d be a nice fit in Will Hardy’s system, and have a solid pro career as role player in the wing.

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Trevon Brazile | F, Arkansas

Jan 6, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Trevon Brazil (2) reacts after scoring in the first half against the Auburn Tigers at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

If you’re looking for a lengthy, two-way impact player that could fit with the current standout size in this Jazz frontcourt, Brazile would be a perfect fit to bring in that would do just that.

He’s got great length standing at 6-foot-10, can be an ample shot blocker, is a threat at the rim who can finish well, stretches the floor, and on paper, looks like the type of piece in the frontcourt that many front offices around the league would love to get their hands on.

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However, he has seen several questions regarding his lighter frame at 225 pounds, and has shown a lack of physicality and a real motor from his time at Arkansas. That same reason is why many GMs might turn away from taking a flier on him.

Jaden Bradley | G, Arizona

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Jan 14, 2026; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) reacts during the second half of the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images | Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

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For the guards that are up for grabs in this range, Bradley has some of the best traits in terms of size at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, and has the chance to be an impactful player on both ends of the floor as a solid playmaker and perimeter defender.

He wasn’t a high-volume scorer during his three years at Arizona, but he was efficient in his opportunities, shooting over 46% from the field and 39% from three on over nine shots a game. He could be a worthwhile dart throw to bring in for the back-end of the roster.

Another note that could make him a fun target for the Jazz: Bradley and Keyonte George are tight-knit from their days as teammates back at IMG Academy. So he’d be a pretty awesome fit into the locker room on top of the impact he offers on the floor.

Be sure to follow Utah Jazz On SI on X to stay up to date for daily Utah Jazz news, rumors and analysis!

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‘Now’s our time’: Utah Jazz fans rejoice as Darryn Peterson gives them something they’ve been missing

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‘Now’s our time’: Utah Jazz fans rejoice as Darryn Peterson gives them something they’ve been missing


The rookie guard is already dreaming of a championship in Utah.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jazz fans celebrate as the Utah Jazz pick Darryn Peterson in the 2026 NBA Draft during a watch party at The Shops at South Town in Sandy, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.



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Utah mother charged with international kidnapping claims she was saving kids from ‘end of times’

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Utah mother charged with international kidnapping claims she was saving kids from ‘end of times’


SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah mother, who believed she was saving her kids from “the end of times,” is facing federal kidnapping charges after she fled to Croatia with her four children.

Elleshia Anne Seymour, 35, of West Jordan, is accused of traveling to Europe with her four children without court approval or permission from the fathers of the children. On Jan. 28, she was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of international parental kidnapping and passport fraud. She made her initial federal court appearance Monday.

West Jordan police started urgently searching for the four kids in December after Kendall Seymour — father to the three oldest children — realized something was wrong when they didn’t show up to daycare. He had last seen the children a week prior when he dropped them off at school the week of Thanksgiving, which was the start of the mother’s scheduled custody time.

“Seymour did not notify the father of her intent to travel internationally with the children as required by the custody order,” federal prosecutors said.

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The father told police he believed Seymour may have taken the children out of the country and forged his signature on the passport applications because he found passport-related envelopes in the trash at her apartment and other evidence that indicated she had left the country.

Elleshia Seymour was charged in 3rd District Court on Dec. 16 with four counts of custodial interference, a third-degree felony. A warrant was issued for her arrest as, according to charging documents, she “recently discussed obtaining passports and leaving the country, expressing concerns about biblical events and the ‘end of times’” with her ex-boyfriend.

Investigators located surveillance footage at the Salt Lake airport showing Seymour and the kids boarding a one-way flight to Croatia with a layover in Amsterdam. In a voicemail to her other ex-husband — the father of the youngest child — she claimed she was in France looking for a permanent residence.

“Seymour reminded him she had to get the children out of the country because the ‘end time is coming.’ Seymour allegedly told her ex-husband and father of the fourth child she wanted him to join them and asked him not to let the three children’s father know where she was,” federal prosecutors said.

Kendall Seymour said he was initially unaware of any of these beliefs and was concerned “she’s not in the right mind.” While there were no signs of the “doomsday” beliefs when they were married, he found a TikTok account where she was posting increasingly extreme religious messages.

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With posts titled “Urgent Word,” “Brace Yourself,” “Zombies,” and “US Decimated,” she spoke of darkness consuming America, urged followers to “get provisions,” and warned that Salt Lake City would soon be destroyed. Police said witnesses they spoke to indicated Seymour had “previously suffered from emotional breakdowns and hallucinations.”

On Jan. 16, Seymour was arrested by Croatian authorities. The children were found in a state-run Croatian orphanage.

“It sounds like she met this other American citizen in Croatia under the pretense that she was bringing the kids here legally,” Kendall Seymour said. Once the American citizen living in Croatia heard the news about the children, the police were called, and their mother was taken into custody by Croatian authorities, the father said.

He was then contacted by Croatian police, who were holding the kids in a children’s home in the country. Croatian police at first would not release his children until documentation from the U.S. had been checked and rechecked. He stayed in the country for eight days trying to get them released.

On Feb. 1, he announced on a GoFundMe* that he and the four children were on their way home.

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Seymour was extradited to Utah from Croatia on June 12 and was booked into the Davis County Jail. She has a detention hearing scheduled next week in federal court and an initial appearance for the state charges on July 13.

“The safe return of the children remains our highest priority. We are deeply grateful to our federal and international partners for their tireless efforts in bringing about this successful outcome,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “Our work is not finished — we will continue to pursue justice in the case against Seymour.”


*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.



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