Utah
What's next in Utah's fight against new Title IX regulations as enactment date approaches?
As state lawmakers prepared for a special session to consider the impacts of new federal Title IX regulations, state education leaders met with a legislative commission urging the Utah Legislature to provide clarity over an apparent conflict between the regulations and a public school restrooms bill.
HB257 requires K-12 students to use public school restrooms that match their sex designated at birth, restricting transgender access to “privacy spaces” in public schools and other publicly-owned buildings.
The Department of Education’s new Title IX rules, set to take effect on Aug. 1, change the definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Utah State Board of Education Chairman Jim Moss, addressing the Legislature’s Federalism Commission on Tuesday, said the state school board recently unanimously agreed to ask state lawmakers to apply the Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act to eschew enforcement of the new Title IX regulations.
Under the act, the Utah Legislature could “in appropriate circumstances, prohibit a government officer from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of the federal directive within the state if it violates the principle of state sovereignty…or a right reserved to the state by the 10th Amendment or in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare and promote the prosperity of the state’s inhabitants,” Moss said.
“We know very well that federal law is typically supreme law of the land, but the state Sovereignty Act was set up to effectively set up a challenge (if) actions of a particular bureaucratic agency might exceed its power. That could only be ultimately resolved by court, but that’s what the act was set up to do. So we’ve asked for the consideration of whether that might apply here, and that will be on the special session call tomorrow,” Moss said.
Federalism Commission House Chairman Keven Stratton, R-Orem, said he appreciated the board’s actions.
“I was very grateful for the unanimous decision, because I know there’s a broad spectrum of ideological perspectives on the board,” Stratton said.
The state school board has also allocated $50,000 to hire a contract attorney to help state assistant attorneys general assigned to the board to evaluate “if and how” state law is out of compliance with federal law in light of the new Title IX regulations.
The board also agreed to spend $50,000 to hire an independent auditor to determine how much federal money the board has received in recent years and how much it spends to comply with federal laws.
State School Board vice chairwoman Jennie Earl told commission members that schools want guidance on how to be in legal compliance.
“With the August 1 deadline coming forward, there is confusion out there,” she said.
Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion, D-Cottonwood Heights, asked Moss and Earl if prior to the Legislature’s General Session whether schools around the state had raised concerns about students using restrooms corresponding with their gender identity.
“I’ve been on the board for about three and a half years, so I’ve heard those concerns throughout my time,” Moss said.
He continued, “You’ve got somebody who says, identify this way, this my sexual orientation. So how do you accommodate that person while protecting others? That’s been a challenge throughout my time on the board.”
Moss said Utah school districts and charter schools have expressed concern about how to proceed.
“There’s state law that very clearly says, ‘Do this in order to protect girls in separate space facilities and there’s federal law that says ‘You can’t do that,’ ” he said.
HB257 went into effect in January, “so that has been the law since January. Title IX regulations go into effect August 1. So currently, we’ve explained to our schools we’re under the state law requirements,” he said.
Meanwhile, Utah has joined three other GOP-led states and four private entities in a lawsuit that challenges the Title IX rules.
The other plaintiffs include the states of Kansas, Wyoming and Alaska, along with a parent, Shawna Rowland, who filed on behalf of her daughter, K.R.; and three private organizations, Moms for Liberty, Female Athletes United and Young America’s Foundation.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Topeka, seeks a declaratory judgment holding that the final rule is unlawful and that plaintiff states are not bound by it.
It also seeks declarative judgement that does not require “Title IX recipient’s employees or students to use an individual’s preferred pronouns or honorifics,” the lawsuit states.
Attorneys general in more than 20 GOP-led states have filed at least seven legal challenges to the new Biden administration policy.
On Monday, a federal judge in Kentucky temporarily blocked the new Title IX rule in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves referred to the regulation as “arbitrary in the truest sense of the word” in granting the preliminary injunction.
Earlier this month, a federal judge in Louisiana temporarily blocked the new rule from taking effect in Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi and Montana.
U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty called the new rule an “abuse of power” and a “threat to democracy,” ruling that the Department of Education had overstepped its authority.
It’s on nights like these that I’m reminded of the ravine that divides the NBA from all other levels of basketball. This Summer League tilt was sloppy on both sides, and not many fringe players earned an NBA contract tonight, by the looks of it.
This matchup has always been about the number-one pick AJ Dybantsa and the number-two pick Darryn Peterson. Rivals since high school, these two are in an eternal struggle for the designation of being “number-one”. They wanted to be the best in their high school class. They wanted to be the first off the board in the NBA Draft. Rest assured, these two will be battling for Rookie of the Year honors by the season’s end.
Advertisement
Both stars were fully aware of the magnitude of this game, and both wanted to be the first to strike in the Thomas and Mack Center.
Dybantsa took his first touch all the way to the basket and forced up an off-kilter shot that missed everything.
Peterson took the ball the other way and forced up a top-of-the-key three-pointer that missed badly.
Dybantsa quickly picked up the slack, flipping an under-and-around lay-in and following that up with a good leading bounce pass through traffic to find a cutting teammate.
From there, the 1-2 combo settled in and let the game flow around them.
For the first time in a Utah Jazz uniform, Darryn Peterson walked among mortal men as a commoner. He had a very slow start in his Las Vegas debut, opening the night 0-for-3 from the floor and even whiffing on his first all-or-nothing foul shot. His steps were hurried, and he stood unstable before his first trip to the bench. Not quite so infallible outside of the mountain air in Salt Lake City.
Advertisement
AJ claimed the first quarter, dicing up the defense with fadeaways, dribble chains, and this vicious, inhumane slam that will dominate your social media feed for the next day or so.
Washington set the tone for some — should we say physical — defense out on the perimeter, and the officials gave the Wizards liberty to reside in Peterson’s chest for the majority of the game. The number-two pick couldn’t get himself into a rhythm as he’d step out of bounds, dribble off his foot, and sputter under the heat of the Wizards’ aggressive double-team scheme.
They were incredibly handsy from end to end, frustrating Jazz ball handlers as the whistles piled up at the other end.
Advertisement
AJ Dybantsa lives at the foul stripe — that’s his superpower — and he has since his days at BYU, where he led the nation in foul shots taken per game. Perfectly within his idiom, Dybantsa was 6-of-7 from the foul stripe — keeping in mind the experimental do-or-die free throw rule. Considering how much more physical the Wizards played at the defensive end, it’s a mystery how the Wizards managed to reside in the comfort of the bonus for the entire first half.
Neither player was efficient from the floor, but Dybantsa won the first half of this marquee matchup.
Dybantsa finished the first half with 19 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Peterson lagged behind with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting and a pair of dimes.
The lead shrank to single digits, and what appeared to be a blowout in the first half — Washington led by as much as 20 — rapidly drew tighter in the second half. It had become a two-possession game before the clock hit 0:00 in the third quarter.
Advertisement
Both stars lived up to the bill in this one, clearly displaying their individual talents despite their efficiency not leaping off the box score.
Peterson’s tendency to cough up possession has to get straightened out. He’ll be a target for his whole career, so learning to handle and exploit on-ball pressure will be critical to maximize his effectiveness and keep his teammates involved.
Cody Williams stole the show a bit for the Jazz, despite a rocky opening to the night. Though he struggled to stop Dybantsa on the defensive end, he notched 16 points on great efficiency (6-11, 2-3 3PT) plus 5 rebounds. He’s not a ball-handler, despite the Jazz’s wishes, but thrived on a newly added stepback mid-range jumper tonight.
Dybantsa had a strong night, finishing with 27 points on 7-for-18 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Advertisement
The Wizards ultimately won this game behind the strength of their NBA guys, Tre Johnson and Will Reily, who combined for 41 to pair with Dybantsa’s 27. They also strongly benefited from Jamir Watkins, Darryn Peterson’s assignment fouling a grand total of 9 times (not a typo).
Peterson likewise fouled 9 times in this one, an ugly blemish on what was an unsteady night for the rookie. He finished with 24 points on 6-18 shooting and 2-7 from three-point land (thanks to a bank-shot heave at the final horn). Dybantsa will be crowned the winner of this head-to-head with Peterson thanks to better highlights and the team win, but neither player dominated, despite what X will likely tell you.
Washington defeats Utah with a final score of 92-88.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The man arrested for murder in the 2006 death of his wife at a Utah national park left behind a suicide note in his Las Vegas jail cell, according to a police report.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police released a public report on the death of David Vander Meer, 49, who was in custody on an out-of-state warrant.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office said in an affidavit that Vander Meer, a former youth pastor, was a suspect in the death of his then-wife, 28-year-old Bernadette Vander Meer, 20 years ago.
Bernadette fell to her death at Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Prosecutors said in their affidavit that they received new information implicating David, alleing that he began having a close relationship with a young girl when she was 14 and he was her youth pastor.
A fugitive task force took Vander Meer into custody in Summerlin, according to an arrest report, and he was booked into Clark County Detention Center on June 22.
In the report on his death, LVMPD said a corrections officer was conducting visual checks at about 9:30 p.m. June 24 when he noticed Vander Meer lying face down on the ground and unresponsive.
Several sections are redacted, but police wrote that the officer performed chest compressions until medical personnel arrived. Vander Meer was taken to UMC, where he was pronounced dead just after 2:36 a.m. June 25.
Investigators wrote that because of “the nature of his case,” Vander Meer was placed into protective custody. He was seen sitting upright and awake at 9 p.m., and he had no known medical conditions. He also did not mention being suicidal during a mental health screening.
Inside the cell, police wrote that Vander Meer “left a hand written suicide letter and a hand written will in his cell which has been photographed and impounded.” The following paragraph of the report was redacted, and no further details on Vander Meer’s death were disclosed.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office has not yet released its official rulings on his cause and manner of death.
Bernadette’s parents, Richard and Laura Gudenkauf, told News 3 they long suspected Vander Meer played a role in her death.
“Because of the girlfriend,” said Laura. “I found insurance policies months later that he had, lots of them.”
It has been a long time since the Jazz last played a meaningful game I desperately wanted them to win, and it is unhealthy how excited I am for this matchup. After a solid three games in the SLC Summer League, the Jazz head south to Las Vegas, and as hot as the desert sun is sure to be outside, on the court, the Thursday night primetime game featuring the top two picks in the draft will be much hotter.
How to Watch the Las Vegas Summer League?
Who: Utah Jazz vs Washington Wizards
When: Thursday, July 9, 2026 | 7:00 MT
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
How to watch: ESPN, Jazz+
Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa
Summer league games do not matter in the record books, but this game is a statement-making opportunity for both AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. Given the historical nature of this draft class, especially at the top, there is some real juice to this game that is atypical of most Summer League games. AJ has the chance to silence the noise that has swelled after Darryn’s remarkable performances in the SLC Summer League. Meanwhile, Darryn has the chance to ratchet up the noise and take the NBA world by storm with another solid performance against the Wizards. Can you imagine the narratives if Darryn were to come out and dominate AJ as he has through high school and college? In the words of the great Charles Barkley, I have two words for you… Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, must-see TV.
Ace Bailey looked really impressive in his 2.5 quarters of play in Salt Lake before missing games with back spasms. It is unknown whether or not he will be ready to go for the Vegas opener, but if he is available, he will probably be the one checking AJ Dybantsa on defense. His combination of length and athleticism could not only make things difficult for AJ on the defensive end but also expose his lackadaisical defense on the offensive end. If Ace is able to go, he will be looking to show the Jazz and the NBA that he is ready to take a leap in year two.
Which Jazz Big Man Will Stand Out?
Which big man will step up this game? In Game 1, we saw a lot of Kylor Kelley, who was a little less than impressive. Against Memphis, Jaxon Kohler, the Utah native, showed up and showed out against Cam Boozer. In game three, although the number of NBA-level players was few and far between, Jonas Aidoo stole the show with his rebounding and ability to play his role. Will we see one of those same three guys seize their opportunity, or will another guy like Micah Handlogten or Eric Dixon steal the show? We saw how vital a big that can roll and catch passes is for Darryn Peterson as a lead guard, playmaking-wise. It will be interesting to see who steps up to the plate to relieve pressure when he is blitzed and double-teamed.
SIDE NOTE: Adam Silver is LAME
No one should ASPIRE to be as boring as Adam Silver. After much excitement was made about Keyonte George making his unofficial coaching debut on Thursday night, according to Sarah Todd, the league has nixed that excitement and won’t allow Keyonte to be coaching on the sideline because who knows why…? I guess they were worried about the Jazz circumventing the salary cap to pay Keyonte or something. Anyways, I guess Will Hardy’s coaching TREE will have to wait for more branches to grow. Adam Silver remains evil in my book.
-
Nevada7 minutes agoNevada bystanders pull crash victim from burning motorhome on I-15 near Mesquite
-
New Hampshire10 minutes agoTownsend man arrested in connection with two armed robberies in New Hampshire and New Jersey, authorities say – The Boston Globe
-
New Jersey15 minutes agoAre all Freedom Fuel locations $3.47? Not anymore
-
New Mexico22 minutes agoNew Mexico’s ban on liquor ‘minis’ yields mixed results five years later
-
North Carolina25 minutes agoNC state budget includes $27M for Madison County’s new public service complex
-
North Dakota30 minutes agoThe Women’s College Fan Guide To 2026 Junior Nationals – FloWrestling
-
Ohio37 minutes agoOhio reports nearly 200 cases of ‘explosive diarrhea’ illness
-
Oklahoma40 minutes agoEvery Oklahoma State Cowboys’ College Football 27 Preseason Player Rating
