The winners and the losers

Winner: What a week for antiquities. First, art experts uncovered convincing evidence that a chalk, ink and pencil drawing known as "La Bella Principessa" was the work of Leonardo da Vinci. Then, archaeologists announced they had found two Crusades-era murals in a medieval church near Syria's coast. Neither work is really new, of course. But they are new to this age and are exciting additions to the world's body of art.

Loser: Junior high and high school, as many people know, can be dangerous places. But the danger isn't supposed to come from teachers. Maybe it just seems as if Utah has been hit with an onslaught of cases involving possible criminal cases of inappropriate relationships between teachers and students — a Roy Junior High teacher was charged with six felonies, an Ogden teacher is being investigated for living with a former student and a 62-year-old Layton teacher married a student who just graduated. Perhaps society is just more aware of such relationships than it once was. Either way, these are disturbing matters that ought to concern everyone.

Loser: Just when you thought the crazy deal that would give Utah a fourth congressional seat in exchange for Washington, D.C., receiving one was dead, Democrats have started to bring it to life again. Now, the talk is of adding it to a defense-spending bill. With the 2010 Census only months away, Utah has little motivation anymore to be a partner to this deal. The state's delegation should insist that the measure not go forward.

Winner? Loser? This one depends on your perspective. The Tax Foundation says Utah is right in the middle of the pack as far as sales tax is concerned — 26th highest. With a deficit looming, this status may not last long. We would hope lawmakers do all they can to push the state's ranking down, not up.