Marjorie Cortez
Deseret News
Utah, United States
Contact Marjorie
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Marjorie:
27% of Utah students are chronically absent. Here’s what lawmakers have directed schools, juvenile justice to do
School attendance took a dive during the pandemic but continues to decline for a host of reasons. A bill that seeks to reduce the significant spike in chronic absenteeism in Utah schools passed the Legislature. → Read More
Dwyane Wade on being father of a transgender daughter: ‘All I’ve wanted to do was get it right’
Utah Jazz part owner Dwyane Wade and spouse Gabrielle Union dedicated the NAACP President’s Award to their 15-year-old daughter, Zaya, who came out as transgender in 2020. → Read More
Will Utah lawmakers might letter grades from school report cards?
Utah lawmakers moved a step closer to eliminating a requirement for the state school board to assign letter grades to public schools as part of the state accountability report. → Read More
Here’s what these state lawmakers propose to improve school safety in Utah
Proposals to improve school safety range from standardizing responses to threats in schools, age-appropriate drills for students to dropping fees for school employees seeking concealed weapons permits. → Read More
If she names a cockroach or rodent after you, odds are you’re not her Valentine
For a donation, this zoo will symbolically name a cockroach, rodent or vegetable after your “not-so-special someone” and notify them via a digital downloadable Valentine’s card at your request. → Read More
Orders for free rapid COVID-19 tests start today
Four free COVID-19 tests per household are once again available by mail. The Biden administration is encouraging Americans to test themselves if they have symptoms and before family gatherings. → Read More
Should Utah judges get a 10% pay raise to encourage applicants?
Citing inflationary pressures and intense competition for qualified attorneys along the Wasatch Front resulting in sharp declines in numbers of lawyers applying for judgeships, a state commission has recommended a total 10% pay raise for Utah judges. → Read More
This state will charge 10 cents for single-use grocery bags starting in January
A new Colorado law will require that everyone pay 10 cents for each single-use plastic or paper bag they require for store purchases. Some Utah towns have imposed bag bans but there is no statewide policy. → Read More
How are Utah school district’s handling library book challenges?
One Utah school district convened 25 committees of parents and educators to review books pulled for possibly ‘sensitive materials.’ Some Utah lawmakers are asking why the reviews are taking so long. → Read More
No discrimination found in investigation triggered by Utah teacher’s social media video
A Utah teacher whose video said her classroom was “built for nonwhite students” did not violate district policy or state law, a Granite School District investigation has determined. → Read More
Cox, GOP governors: Student loan forgiveness ‘rewards rich, punishes poor’
President Joe Biden announced a plan to forgive student loan debt. Utah GOP Gov. Spencer Cox is among 22 Republican governors who want Biden to withdraw the plan. → Read More
University of Utah investigating 2 female students who wore body paint as tops to football game
University of Utah police are investigating reports that two female students wore body paint as tops to the Utes football game with Southern Utah University at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The students will also be referred to the Dean of Students for “potential non-criminal sanctions.” → Read More
After their daughters were beat by a girl in sports, Utah parents triggered investigation into whether she was transgender
The girl’s school opened the student-athlete’s enrollment records dating back to kindergarten, confirming she had always been female, a Utah High School Activities Association representative told legislators. → Read More
Are race-based teacher layoffs in Minneapolis legal?
The Minneapolis teachers union and school district are defending a negotiated agreement in which white educators would be laid off or reassigned ahead of less-senior minority faculty. The terms are needed to fix “past discrimination,” the district said. → Read More
Western Governors University at 25: How a group of governors disrupted higher education
Launched 25 years ago, Western Governors University now boasts 285,000 graduates in all 50 states in business, education, information technology and health professions. → Read More
What could vote in Kansas on abortion rights mean for Republican states?
Utah state Sen. McCay has requested a bill to amend the state constitution on abortion rights. A vote on abortion rights in Kansas on Tuesday is being watched across the country. Kansas, like Utah, is a conservative, GOP-majority state, although Gov. Laura Kelly, is a moderate Democrat. → Read More
Has science found the cure for baldness?
California university researchers have identified a single molecule believed to be key to controlling when hair follicle cells divide and die. The discovery could potentially treat baldness and alopecia, and speed up wound healing. → Read More
Western governors aim to harness geothermal ‘heat beneath our feet’
Gov. Cox says Utah is looking forward to partnering on ‘exciting initiative.’ Utah currently has utility-scale electricity generation from geothermal sources → Read More
Are pulse oximeters less accurate for people of color?
New studies suggest pulse oximeters are not calibrated to account for darker skin, resulting in overestimation of Black and Hispanic patients’ blood oxygen levels, which raises the possibility they may not be referred for treatments they need. → Read More
Stay cool: Intense physical activity, record temperatures raise risk of heat stroke
Sources confirm former NFL running back Marion Barber III died of heat stroke in a Texas apartment. Record high temperatures in Utah and across the country mean people must protect themselves from heat stroke and heat exhaustion. → Read More