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It’s Monday! Here’s the forecast:

☀️ 39 – 75° in Logan

☀️ 54 – 79° in Salt Lake City

⛅ 62 – 85° in St. George

Good morning, Utah Today readers! 🐝

I’ve been going through some of your emails from last week, and I’ve noticed a common thread: As we’re getting closer to the midterm elections, many of you have been asking about the issues that matter most to you.

I saw questions asking how candidates propose we deal with mental health crises, why property taxes are getting so high and others. Since we’re getting so close to the election, I’m curious — what are the issues that matter the most to you and why?

Tell me: Respond to this email and let us know your thoughts!

Also on our minds: How “The Current Thing” is as ridiculous as it is fervent, how Trump’s policies may have led to the Iranian protests and Real Salt Lake wins the regular-season finale.

Mrs. Backer’s: A sweet — and flowery — Salt Lake institution

Fads and sweet treats come and go, but for 81 years, Mrs. Backer’s Pastry Shop has stood the test of time in the iconic pink building on South Temple in Salt Lake City. With their fluffy buttercream and eye-catching floral decorations, it’s no wonder customers have been coming back for decades.

How did this Salt Lake mainstay get started? Learn more here.

Perspective: How ‘the current thing’ became a meme — and a religion

“The current thing” — or whatever the political cause du jour is — is beginning to resemble religion more than it resembles politics, according to writer Ari Blaff. Democrats and Republicans both have a propensity to have a strong fervor towards politically divisive issues, that seems to correlate with declining religious observance.

Learn more here.

Ensuring You Are Ready to Vote in the Upcoming Election

Be ready for the voting process so you can show off your sticker without the stress this November. Check out the Utah Election website. Learn how to vote, track your ballot, find candidate information, find voter registration info and how to update your registration preferences or address.

The Great Salt Lake:

The saline lakes of the Great Basin and why they are in trouble (Deseret News)
The Great Salt Lake isn’t just for the birds — it’s part of a water network that ties Utah to the rest of the West and the world (Deseret News)
At water’s edge: Searching for solutions at the Great Salt Lake’s sister lakes (Deseret News)

Business:

The pandemic caused a union boom in Utah (Utah Business)

Faith:

15 invitations from October 2022 general conference by the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Church News)
What does the Bible say about faith? (Deseret News)

The Nation:

Seven governors’ races to watch this November (The Hill)

The World:

Trump’s hard-line policies toward Iran may have led to current protests (Deseret News)

Sports:

No. 16 BYU blows its golden opportunity on a national stage again in loss to Notre Dame (Deseret News)
How far did Utah and BYU football fall in the major polls? (Deseret News)
RSL wins regular-season finale 3-1 over Portland to make playoffs (KSL)

Culture:

‘As raw as it gets’: Pretty Bird owner reveals what it was like competing on ‘Chefs vs. Wild’ (Deseret News)
Utah reptile lover, YouTuber dispelling fears, myths one animal at a time (KSL)

That's all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow morning for more news from the Beehive State and beyond! 🍯

If you have any feedback for us or on Utah Today, reply directly to this email or email newsletters@deseretnews.com.

Have a good one!

— Kathleen