These are The Salt Lake Tribune’s most-read stories of 2019 – Salt Lake Tribune

A lot happened in Utah in 2019. There were joyous stories that inspired hope and optimism for the future, and there were a few that broke hearts and sparked efforts for change.

The Salt Lake Tribune was there to cover them all with help from the readers who support our work. Heres a look at the stories that you read, shared, commented on and emailed us about.

These are The Tribunes most-read stories of 2019.

Latter-day Saints were greeted with sweeping changes in temple ceremonies this year, like more inclusive language, more gender equity and more lines for Mother Eve. Attendees described the revisions as empowering for women and healing for those wounded by the previous wording.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, a Utah substitute teacher asked a fifth grade class: What are you thankful for this year? One boy said Im thankful that Im finally going to be adopted by my two dads, causing the substitute to reportedly snap, Why on earth would you be happy about that?

For the next 10 minutes she lectured the 30 kids in the class about her own views, how homosexuality is wrong and two men living together is a sin. She looked at the boy, too, and told him: Thats nothing to be thankful for. Three girls asked her multiple times to stop, but the substitute continued. They then walked out of class and got the principal.

Police officers and volunteers scoured Logan neighborhoods in search of a 5-year-old girl who was reported missing May 25. Family members told police they last saw Elizabeth Lizzie Shelley around 2 a.m. When they woke up at 10 a.m., she was gone. The girls 21-year-old uncle had disappeared as well, the family said.

The speed of the about-face, historian Matthew Bowman said, reflects the turbulence that this policy and its implementation created among members, as well as among bishops and stake presidents."

Many readers expressed outrage and some offered support after an image of a Utah child dressed in tan pants and a brown shirt with a red arm band adorned with a black swastika went viral this year.

[The district] does not tolerate speech, images or conduct that portray or promote hate in any form, the statement read. The district is taking the matter very seriously and is investigating every aspect of the situation.

A whistleblower complaint to the IRS accused The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of building a $100 billion investment portfolio using donations intended for charitable purposes, potentially in violation of federal tax laws, according to a report published by The Washington Post.

The complaint was filed by David Nielsen, a former portfolio manager for the churchs nonprofit investment arm Ensign Peak Advisors, with the help of his brother Lars Nielsen, who spoke with and provided supporting documents to The Post.

Draper police had sought the publics help locating Heber, who had walked away from the Salt Lake County Juvenile Receiving Center. Draper police said the boy had been diagnosed with autism, depression and anxiety.

The driver of the vehicle was described as cooperative.

They say there had been at least three other reports that the driver, John Naisbitt, targeted multiracial students before this. And while Naisbitt was never disciplined in connection with those prior allegations, they added, he quietly retired after the newest complaint.

"I dont want to see a declaration of national emergency, Romney told MSNBC. I think thats an action that would be taken in the most extreme circumstances, and, hopefully, we dont reach that.

In the end, there was no emergency declaration and Trump did not get his wall money.

Ed Smart, the father of kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, came out as gay in October, sending a letter using Facebook Messenger to family and friends that mentioned that he planned to separate from his wife and no longer feels comfortable in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Smart confirmed he sent it and posted it publicly a day later. Court records indicate that on July 5, Lois Smart filed for divorce from Ed Smart, 64.

NBA hall of famer Jerry Sloan is a hero to many Utahns. And at 77 years old, wrote Gordon Monson, the once-fierce lions eyes are tired now.

In a touching tribute, Monson reveals that Sloan who has Parkinsons disease and dementia is dying, and that those words hit with the force of a swinging tire iron.

The move from a for-profit model was spurred by Tribune owner Paul Huntsman, who, in agreeing to turn Utahs largest paper into a nonprofit, is giving up his sole ownership.

The current business model for local newspapers is broken and beyond repair, said Huntsman, who also serves as The Tribunes publisher. We needed to find a way to sustain this vital community institution well beyond my ownership, and nonprofit status will help us do that. This is truly excellent news for all Utah residents and for local news organizations across the country.

While Marty Jessop trained to stay awake for days at a time, run in the sand, swim for long stretches in frigid water and pack everything from rubber rafts to comrades, memories of his time in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints kept him from quitting. He also thought about the woman he loved, and wondered if shed wait for him to return from Navy SEAL training.

Jessop told The Tribune all about his history with the polygamous sect, what it felt like to leave it and how hes working to create a good life for his family.

The audience cheered and applauded Matt Easton, who said coming out to his entire college was a phenomenal feeling, and it is a victory for me in and of itself.

Our nation is operating concentration camps for refugee children. We need to stop denying that and decide if we are comfortable with that fact. And how we will explain it to our children.

Bravo TV hasnt announced who will be in the cast of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, its newest show in the channels franchise, but that hasnt stopped the speculation. Showbiz Cheat Sheet claims to have a complete list of cast members, including Vida Tequilas Lisa Barlow, Beauty Lab & Lasers Heather Gay, The Fashion Fuses Angie Harrington, jewelery designer Meredith Marks, interior designer Sara McArthur-Pierce, Iris + Beaus Whitney Rose and The Shah Squads Jen Shah.

Doctors at St. Marks Hospital in Millcreek performed heart surgery on Donnamay Brockbank in July 2018 to remove a medical device that was causing an allergic reaction, according to a lawsuit. After the surgery, the tube and needle or cannula returning blood to Brockbanks femur was removed. But blood was still leaving Brockbanks body through the other cannula, which was left in her body, unclamped, the lawsuit states. None of the medical professionals in the room addressed the tube piping blood out of Brockbank and into the garbage can, the lawsuit states. Eventually doctors reopened Brockbanks chest and tried to manually manipulate her heart, but they could not revive her.

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These are The Salt Lake Tribune's most-read stories of 2019 - Salt Lake Tribune