Utah has given schools statewide a list of 13 books deemed “pornographic or indecent” that must be “legally disposed of,” including Margaret Atwood’s Oryx & Crake and Judy Blume’s Forever. They have been banned under a new state law that requires books to be outlawed statewide if they are banned by at least three of the state’s 41 public school districts, or two districts and five charter schools, the Guardian reports.

• Schools and librarians have traditionally considered factors including literary and artistic value when deciding if a book should be allowed in schools, the New York Times notes, but the Utah law says school boards should put “protecting children from the harmful effects of illicit pornography over other considerations.”
• The full list, which can be seen here, includes six books by fantasy author Sarah Maas. The graphic novel Blankets by Craig Thompson is the only book of the 13 with a male author.

Lauri Markkanen will be a member of the Utah Jazz for a while yet— and he’ll be very well-compensated.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Markkanen had inked a five-year, $238 million extension with the Jazz. Markkanen made the All-Star team in his first season with Utah and followed it up with a solid 2023-24 in which he averaged 23.2 points per game despite dealing with various injuries.

“”They’ve all showed their belief in me, from the ownership to the front office to [head coach Will Hardy],” Markkanen said in a statement to ESPN following his signing. “It’s a comfortable environment and those guys’ resumes speak for themselves. I trust in the organization to help grow me as a person and a player, to build our team and I’m ready to take on the challenge.”

This news is notable. Not because Markkanen wants to stay with the Jazz long-term; it was a widely-held expectation that the forward would sign a lucrative extension with Utah when he was able. But by waiting until August 7 to put pen to paper, Markkanen ensured he would not be on the trade block for the 2024-25 season. Players who sign an extension cannot be traded for exactly six months after the day of signing, and next season’s trade deadline falls on February 6.

Which is bad news for teams like the Golden State Warriors, who pursued Markkanen pretty heavily this offseason. It is, obviously, great for the Jazz, however. While the franchise is very much in rebuilding mode Markkanen is a legitimate All-Star talent, a seven-footer who can score at all three levels and holds his own defensively. Every team wants a player like that.

It doesn’t mean Markkanen will be with the Jazz for the rest of his career. He could very well show out next season and get moved for an even larger package this time next year than what has been reported. But for the next year, the 27-year-old is staying put.

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.

“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.

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.”

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.