By McKenzie Romero | Editor
Is it even worth going to college? A national debate is questioning everything from the tuition costs to uncertain job prospects to AI to political ideologies on campus.
New research from the Utah Women & Leadership Project has identified additional benefits Utahns gained from higher education, particularly deeper understanding and awareness of issues impacting women, children and families.
In today’s Dispatch we examine the project’s findings about the other lessons Utahns learn in college, a microscopic new threat to the Colorado River in Utah, and a hurdle still in place for President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting vote-by-mail.
“Overall, higher levels of education were associated with greater awareness of individual, family, and community well‑being — including stronger understanding, recognition, and attitudes across a wide range of issues. These patterns appeared among both men and women.” — A study from the Utah Women & Leadership Project on higher education and community well-being.
Utah State University’s Old Main is pictured on Oct. 8, 2024. (Photo by Kelly Winter for Utah News Dispatch)
By Alixel Cabrera
As people’s education level increases, a Utah Women & Leadership Project report says, their awareness of broader issues is likely to expand. And as their awareness of family and children’s issues grows, the more likely they are to support policies that promote safety, stability and opportunity.
Survey respondents with higher levels of education demonstrated more awareness of issues related to sexual assault, domestic violence, health and homelessness, among others, within the community. That includes factors like how prevalent challenges are in Utah, whether they are preventable, and their awareness of resources.
An employee of the Utah Department of Natural Resources at work to monitor for aquatic invasive species in the Colorado River. (Courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)
By Annie Knox
In an unfortunate first, state wildlife managers say fragments of invasive zebra mussel DNA have been found in a stretch of the Colorado River near Moab.
The discovery is concerning because the tiny striped mussels pose an outsized threat to rivers and lakes, which include clogging pipes, covering beaches with razor-sharp shells and damaging ecosystems. The Division of Wildlife Resources wants Utahns and visitors to take extra care not to spread them this year while rafting, boating, paddleboarding or kayaking.
A voter drops off a ballot on primary Election Day at the Salt Lake County Government Center on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)
DC BUREAU
By Shauneen Miranda
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed a procedural victory to President Donald Trump on an executive order to curb mail-in voting, but the administration is still fighting a separate ruling that limits a portion of the order and remains in effect.
In light of the ruling in the nation’s highest court, the administration late Monday asked a U.S. District Court judge in Massachusetts to vacate her decision from earlier in August that blocks the U.S. Postal Service from carrying out aspects of Trump’s executive order, while the voting rights groups that brought that challenge argued Tuesday the block should remain in place.
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