Carmen Nesbitt - The Salt Lake Tribune

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A librarian removes banned books from West High School's circulation database in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Utah just banned a 35th book from all public schools. Here’s what it’s about.

By Carmen Nesbitt | June 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Illustration by Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students at Kearns High School may soon have to revive a retro beauty accessory — the compact mirror — after the school removed all mirrors from its restrooms about a month ago.

Here’s why one Utah high school suddenly removed all of its restroom mirrors

By Carmen Nesbitt | June 9, 2026, 12:57 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High graduates line up for commencement ceremonies at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Photos: West High School graduation draws hundreds to celebrate class of 2026

By Carmen Nesbitt | May 30, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Maddie Hassinger, left, has fun rug tufting for the first time with the help of Linda Matson at Rug Lounge in the 9th and 9th neighborhood on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, during the studio's soft-open phase.

At this new Salt Lake City studio, you can try your hand at rug tufting and create a ‘piece of art’

By Carmen Nesbitt | May 30, 2026, 8:54 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Graduate Aadhi Umamageswaran beams as she looks up at family gathered for West High school commencement ceremonies at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Utah high schools must legally allow leis at graduation. But at least one venue charges districts $1K for that.

By Courtney Tanner | Carmen Nesbitt | May 29, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The cafeteria at East High School, where principal Ryan Oaks plans to step down. His last day will be June 30.

East High principal to step down, continuing trend of leadership shake-ups at Salt Lake City high schools

By Carmen Nesbitt | May 28, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Highland High School, on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. The Salt Lake City School District is expanding its background check requirements after the spouse of a Highland High School assistant cheerleading coach joined the team on an overnight school trip to California.

A Utah school district is expanding background checks after a sex offender went on an overnight cheerleading trip

By Carmen Nesbitt | May 26, 2026, 8:26 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Librarian Kara Budge holds a newly banned book, George R. R. Martin's "A Clash of Kings", at West High School in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

In Utah, nearly all statewide book bans originate from just 2 school districts, sending novels to the shredder, Tribune finds

By Carmen Nesbitt | May 18, 2026, 2:18 p.m.

(Spectra Books / Simon & Schuster) Book jackets for George R.R. Martin's "A Clash of Kings" and Jaycee Dugard's "A Stolen Life: A Memoir." Both books have been added to the list of books banned in Utah public schools.

Two more books banned from all Utah public schools, including a sex abuse survivor’s memoir

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 28, 2026, 7:44 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Vehicles line up to pick up students after school at Beehive Science and Technology Academy in Sandy. For the fifth year in a row, Beehive claimed the top spot as Utah's No. 1 high school.

Utah’s best high schools: Did your school make the latest list?

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 28, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Magna STEM Academy in Magna on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Researchers documented a wide achievement gap between students in Magna, Kearns, West Valley City, Taylorsville and the west-side of Salt Lake City when compared to the rest of Salt Lake County and Utah.

Graphics: See just how wide the achievement gap is between Salt Lake County’s east- and west-side students

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 28, 2026, 8:53 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Highland High School student body officers pose with hardhats and shovels during the groundbreaking ceremony for the school's $300 million rebuild on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Highland High’s massive $300M rebuild is officially underway. Here’s what’s planned.

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 23, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A section of Sugar House Park south of Highland High School in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 13, 2026.

Highland High’s expansion will reshape part of Sugar House Park. Here’s what we know.

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 18, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Michel Euler | Associated Press file photo) Author and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, seen here in 2006. Morrison's first novel, "The Bluest Eye," has been added to the list of books banned in Utah public schools.

Four books added to Utah’s banned list for schools, including one by a Nobel Prize winner

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 17, 2026, 8:13 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Neko Mabe grabs a cookie during lunch at Bryant Middle School, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The Salt Lake City School District is considering raising the prices of school meals this fall.

Salt Lake City school meals may be getting more expensive. Here’s how much prices could rise.

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 16, 2026, 7:36 p.m.

(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Vista Education Campus in Farmington, Friday, April 10, 2026.

Utah special education teacher charged after admitting to drinking ‘hard seltzer’ at school

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 13, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Board member Joseph Kerry listens during a meeting for the Utah State Board of Education in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Kerry has said the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission, or UPPAC, “is in need of reform."

Utah teachers are treated unfairly, state school board member argues, urging an overhaul of how they’re disciplined

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 8, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) From left, Utah State Board of Education member Jennie Earl, state superintendent Molly Hart, and board member Cole Kelley sing happy birthday for America's 250th birthday during a board meeting on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Utah school board member criticizes ‘socialist-believing’ youth to defend celebration of America’s 250th birthday

By Carmen Nesbitt | April 6, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Third grade students at Indian Hills Elementary School in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. As early as third grade, Utah students will be required to analyze specific Bible passages referenced or “alluded to” in U.S. historical documents.

As early as third grade, Utah students will need to study Bible passages in social studies lessons under new law

By Carmen Nesbitt | March 30, 2026, 9:57 p.m.

(Meg Kinnard | AP) A Wi-Fi-enabled school bus is seen at an apartment complex in Winnsboro, S.C., where such buses were sent to rural and low-income areas during the COVID-19 pandemic to help distance-learning students access the internet. In Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox vetoed a plan to offer Wi-Fi access on rural school buses.

Gov. Cox vetoed giving rural students — like he once was — Wi-Fi on school bus rides. Here’s his explanation.

By Carmen Nesbitt | March 27, 2026, 9:24 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah State Board of Education meets for its monthly meeting in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

A K-12 bill some Utah education leaders want vetoed: Here’s what it would do

By Carmen Nesbitt | March 24, 2026, 2:31 p.m.

(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students leaving Granger High School in West Valley City unlock their cell phones after exiting the school’s doors, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

‘Bell-to-bell’ cellphone ban is now the law in Utah schools

By Carmen Nesbitt | March 19, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) People read together in the Capitol Rotunda as part of a read-in to protest Utah book bans, hosted by Let Utah Read, in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

Utah banned another book from all public schools, bringing the list to 28. Here’s what it’s about.

By Carmen Nesbitt | March 17, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Students in Kimberly Mills' third grade class at Indian Hills Elementary School in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.

We asked, you answered: Here’s what Utah educators say are the biggest challenges in schools today

By Carmen Nesbitt | March 12, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Knopf Books for Young Readers; Elephant Rock Books; Nan A. Talese; Clarion Books) Books recently banned in Utah public schools, from left: "Breathless," by Jennifer Niven; "The Carnival at Bray," by Jessie Ann Foley; "The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel," written by Margaret Atwood and illustrated by Renée Nault; and "Red Hood," by Elana K. Arnold.

Utah adds 4 books to growing list of 27 titles now banned from all public schools

By Carmen Nesbitt | March 2, 2026, 9:44 p.m.