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🇺🇸 Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸 Here are today’s temperatures:

☀️ 45 – 84° in Logan

☀️ 59 – 86° in Salt Lake

☀️ 74 – 107° in St. George

From the beginning, Americans have struggled to live up to the nation’s founding principles and ideals, whether the subject was slavery, women’s suffrage, equal public education opportunities or other practical applications.

And yet, as Americans celebrate another Fourth of July, it is fitting to remember that the original signers of the Declaration of Independence were willing to sacrifice everything for the idea of liberty and justice for all.

Thankfully, that idea still resonates today.

Read more from The Deseret News Editorial Board about what it means to to risk your life, fortune and honor for an idea.

Also on our minds:

A look back at the women of the American Revolution — Daughters of Liberty and more
Behind a former BYU star’s improbable journey to Major League Baseball
Why doctors warn about the danger lurking among barbecue tools

Are Americans proud of their country? Most polled say they are

When it comes to celebrating the Fourth of July, Americans across the political divide share more in common than they might expect.

A new poll conducted by HarrisX for the Deseret News showed almost equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats say they like to spend time with family, have a barbecue or watch fireworks.

However, some of the nation’s strongest patriotic symbols were more likely to be embraced by Republicans than Democrats. When asked whether they planned to fly a flag on Independence Day, 82% of Republicans said they would, compared to 62% of Democrats. Republicans were more likely to say they would say the Pledge of Allegiance (70%) or sing the national anthem (67%).

But near-equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats said they would watch fireworks, shop at a small business or volunteer in their community.

Read more of what the poll says about how today’s Americans feel about our country.

Korean official confident in strong U.S.-South Korea relations regardless of election outcome

A senior South Korean official in Utah this week doesn’t expect much change in the long-standing relationship between his country and the United States regardless of who occupies the White House after the November election.

“I don’t worry about the future of the bilateral relationship,” Lim Jung-taek said, noting it goes back more than 70 years to the Korean War.

As consul general, Lim’s role is less political and more about advancing trade and cultural relationships, which is what brought him to Utah. On Wednesday, Lim presented Ambassador of Peace medals to the families of Korean War veterans at Memory Grove in Salt Lake City. On Tuesday, he attended a luncheon with Utah businesses put on by World Trade Center Utah and met with Gov. Spencer Cox, who is leading a trade mission to South Korea and Japan in September.

Read more about Lim’s visit to Utah and what he said about the Utah-South Korea relationship.

More in Utah

Meet Zion’s Youth, the Las Vegas symphony and chorus opening for the Jonas Brothers (Deseret News)
Remembering the life and legacy of Latter-day Saint trailblazer Martha Hughes Cannon (Deseret News)
See the ‘world’s largest’ steam locomotive as Big Boy tour reaches Utah (Deseret News)
3rd man arrested in shooting death outside a Salt Lake warehouse party (KSL)

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The West

Video: Thompson Fire in California forces thousands to evacuate (Deseret News)
Popular Lake Powell ferry service returns after low waters kept it docked for 3 years (KSL)

The U.S.

Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: What do recent events mean about America’s political health? (Deseret News)
Remembering the women of the American Revolutionary War (Deseret News)
Ka-boom and bust: U.S. fireworks sales fizzling as prices soar (Deseret News)
Supreme Court decision upends Biden administration’s rules for EVs and emissions (Deseret News)

The World

Stampede kills more than 100 worshipers at a religious gathering in India (Deseret News)
Israeli strike kills another senior Hezbollah commander as diplomats scramble for calm in Lebanon (The Associated Press)

Sports

‘I was never going to quit’: Former BYU star Daniel Schneemann's improbable journey to the major leagues (Deseret News)
The 2 things Utah needs to grow hockey in this state (Deseret News)
Why her WNBA coach believes 'great professional career' awaits former Utes star Alissa Pili (Deseret News)
Jazz rookies ready for a chance to prove the doubters wrong (Deseret News)
Is BYU football undervalued? (Deseret News)

Health

New Alzheimer’s drug wins approval after FDA delay (Deseret News)
After 3 surgeries, man warns about danger lurking among barbecue tools (Deseret News)

Faith

New movie portrays the deep faith of former President Ronald Reagan (Deseret News)
What to know about the Vatican’s new tattoo rules (Deseret News)

Check your inbox tomorrow morning for more news from the Beehive State and beyond!

And reply to this email or email newsletters@deseretnews.com to tell us what you think of Utah Today.

Thanks for reading!

— Ariel