At Better Days 2020, we're busy planning the "First to Vote" campaign for 2020!
We have big plans in mind, including advertising, events, permanent historical markers and more. Many thanks to the Utah State Legislature, which recently appropriated us the money to create an amazing and unforgettable experience for all Utahns next year. See all of Better Days 2020 projects.
Our Newest Illustrations and Biographies
We continue to seek out and collect information on the remarkable women who made Utah what it is today. Check out these five new illustrations we've added to our ever-expanding collection.
Better Days 2020 hosts UNLADYLIKE2020 at the Salt Lake Public Library on April 22nd. UNLADYLIKE2020 is an innovative multimedia series featuring extraordinary, unsung women who changed America at the turn of the 20th century. They will be creating two episodes devoted to Utah women: Martha Hughes Cannon and Zitkala-Sa. Join us for a discussion with the filmmaker, a sneak peek of UNLADYLIKE2020's first episode, and a panel discussion.
A similar presentation will occur in Vernal, UT on April 23rd at the Uintah County Library.
Are you an educator? Know a teacher who'd like to participate in a unique and stimulating training session this summer through the Tanner Humanities Center at the University of Utah? There are still a few spots open at the two Better Days 2020 Educator Workshops in June and July! See details about the sessions here and email Beth James at the Tanner Humanities Center at beth.james@utah.edu.
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• Early birds & night owls
Whether you are an early bird or a night owl could affect your mental health. Through a genome-wide analysis of nearly 700,000 people, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine discovered that being a morning person lowers risk for schizophrenia and similar disorders, while being an extreme night owl is linked to greater risk of mental health issues. The next step, said Penn psychiatrist Philip Gehrman, is to determine exactly which genes are associated with circadian tendency and with issues such as insomnia.
• Not always green
When tech companies move into a city, they often encourage a sustainability mindset. However, new research from Daniel Aldana Cohen of the University of Pennsylvania and collaborators from the University of Georgia, Southwestern University, and Portland State University, shows that they also lead to gentrification and emissions that either stay the same or increase. “When density results from more high-income residents, the low-carbon benefits of that density get wiped out,” Cohen says. Addressing these issues requires investments in affordable housing, sustainability interventions, and awareness of the issue.
• Fertility decline
The U.S. fertility rate hitting 1.77, the lowest it’s ever been, is not necessarily cause for alarm. A decline was inevitable, due to the recession, less immigration to the U.S., and the difficulty individuals have maintaining pre-parenthood lifestyles after having children, according to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s Population Studies Center. The low fertility rate may be surfacing now, but it has been years in the making. “Would the current trends undermine living standards? I don’t think there’s any concern for that at this time,” says demographer Hans-Peter Kohler. “In fact, if the U.S. population grows somewhat less rapidly, it may even be a good thing because right now, you’re pushing up against resources.”
• Second cured HIV patient
News that a second person may have been cured of HIV is being greeted with both hope and hesitation. The so-called “London patient,” who had both HIV and cancer, underwent a stem-cell transplant using a donor with a unique mutation that confers HIV resistance. The transplant seems to have successfully vanquished the virus. However, University of Pennsylvania researchers urge caution. “Just because it can be done doesn’t mean it’s a solution or a cure for all people who have HIV,” said Pablo Tebas of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, who underscores the risks of a stem cell transplant. Bridgette Brawner of the Penn School of Nursing called the London news "phenomenal" but stressed the importance of continued support for people who are living with the virus today. “There is a concern that money may be getting thrown at a cure for ‘one day,’" she said, "when there are already people around the world who may not have access to the drug regimens that are helping them live longer, healthier lives today."
• Treatment for depression
The FDA has approved esketamine for people with treatment-resistant depression. Known as Spravato, it is the only approved drug to treat depression that is administered via nasal spray. "All of the newer antidepressants introduced over the prior 30 years were variations or slight modifications of the existing classes of medications, such as Prozac,” said Michael Thase, a professor of psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "It is not a miracle solution. But it’s a wonderful thing if you get a nice response to it if your depression is debilitating. Having another treatment that can help many long-suffering people is a good thing."
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With April being Stress Awareness Month and millennials reporting the highest average stress levels of any generation, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2019's Most & Least Stressed States as well as accompanying videos.
To determine the states with the highest stress levels, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 40 key metrics. The data set ranges from average hours worked per week to personal bankruptcy rate to share of adults getting adequate sleep.
Stress Levels in Utah (1=Most Stressed, 25=Avg.):
For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/most-stressed-states/32218/
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Governor Gary R. Herbert’s Schedule
April 1, 2019 - April 5, 2019
**The Governor’s schedule is subject to frequent change**
Monday, April 1
Attend Republican Governors Association Meetings - All Day
Location: Deer Valley
Tuesday, April 2
10:15 a.m. Meet with Leadership Team
Location: Governor’s Office
12:00 p.m. Sign S.B. 103, Victim Targeting Penalty Enhancements
Location: Capitol Rotunda
Media Access
1:00 p.m. Meet with Lt. Governor Spencer Cox
Location: Governor’s Office
2:00 p.m. Meet with Chief of Staff
Location: Governor’s Office
3:00 p.m. Meet with General Counsel
Location: Governor’s Office
4:00 p.m. Attend Boards and Commissions Meeting
Location: Governor’s Office
Wednesday, April 3
No Public Events
Thursday, April 4
No Public Events
Friday, April 5
No Public Events
Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox's Schedule
April 1, 2010 - April 5, 2019
**The Lt. Governor’s schedule is subject to frequent change**
Monday, April 1
Return from Washington, D.C., travel to Salt Lake City
Tuesday, April 2
9:30 a.m. Meet with the Department of Workforce Services
Location: Lt. Governor’s Office
10:15 a.m. Meet with Governor’s Leadership Team
Location: Governor’s Office
12:00 p.m. Sign S.B. 103, Victim Targeting Penalty Enhancements
Location: Capitol Rotunda
Media Access
1:00 p.m. Weekly Update with Governor Herbert
Location: Governor’s Office
2:00 p.m. Meet with the Department of Technology Services
Location: Lt. Governor’s Office
2:30 p.m. Meet with Staff
Location: Lt. Governor’s Office
4:00 p.m. Attend Boards and Commissions Meeting
Location: Governor’s Office
Wednesday, April 3
10:30 a.m. Attend Intergenerational Poverty Welfare Reform Commission Meeting
Location: Salt Lake City
2:00 p.m. Interview with Univision
Location: Lt. Governor’s Office
3:15 p.m. Meet with Staff
Location: Salt Lake City
5:30 p.m. Soup Judging at the Art and Soup Celebration
Location: Salt Lake City
Media Access
Thursday, April 4
No Public Events
Friday, April 5
No Public Events
