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From Eyewitness News at 10

"Everything's Changed."

How many times have you heard that cliche since September 11th?

Like most cliches, it's partly true. Many things have changed; many haven't.

Right here in Utah the terror attacks had a remarkable impact, and we're going to be telling you about that with a series of reports over the next few nights.

We begin with News Specialist John Hollenhorst.

There's probably never been an event in America that struck so many people almost instantly as a life-changing experience. We have clear evidence for that in this story, as well as a fascinating KSL-Deseret News poll.

We call our story: "You Don't Realize How Much You've Changed."

We've all changed. And we can all feel it.

Some of it is very unpleasant.

Mary Anne Hyde/receptionist putting on latex gloves: "I FEEL SAD THAT WE IN AMERICA HAVE TO DO THIS TODAY."

And some of it makes us feel good.

Bruce Baird/Lawyer, political commentator: "PEOPLE ARE BEING MORE COURTEOUS TO EACH OTHER. THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING."

Someday we may lose the habit of looking up nervously every time a plane flies over.

But we're unlikely to ever forget that fateful date, Sept. 11th.

LaMont Murphy collects small change from passersby.

LaMont Murphy/Disabled Worker: "PEOPLE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT. I THINK THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT ON EDGE."

But our poll by Dan Jones and Associates shows 97 percent of Utahns feel they're coping with the tragedy.

Only 47 percent say their anxiety increased, even with the anthrax scare.

Earl Tanner/Attorney: "THE LIKELIHOOD OF BEING HURT BY IT IS MORE RARE THAN BEING HURT IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. AND THE FRIGHT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST DAMAGE THAT'S BEING DONE."

We're already used to armed soldiers at airports.

And heavier security everywhere.

But have you ever seen so many cell-phones? People seem to be keeping them handy at all times, a lifeline to a loved one.

Lance Hope/Commercial director: "SHE FEELS BETTER IF I'VE GOT IT WITH ME AS WELL, BECAUSE SHE KNOWS SHE CAN GET AHOLD OF ME AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE."

First-grade teacher Sarah Jane Marshall went to the principal and resigned on September 14th, terrorism the catalyst for a life-changing decision.

DAUGHTER, PLAYING CARDS: "IS IT MY TURN?" SARAH: "IT'S YOUR TURN." GIRL: "DO YOU HAVE ANY ACES?"

She wanted to spend more time with her own children.

Sarah Jane Marshall/Former Teacher: "LIFE CAN BE OVER (FINGER SNAP!) VERY QUICKLY. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I REALLY FELT. WE ARE LIVING OUR LIVES, WE'RE SHORT-CHANGING OURSELVES IN OUR LIVES, AND I JUST THOUGHT, THAT FEELING CAME TO ME VERY STRONGLY."

Only 5 percent of Utahns considered changing jobs. But nearly all of us, 92 percent, feel more patriotic.

Nationally, faith in American institutions is up, Up, UP-- the highest in 30 years.

Religious terrorism seems to have made Utahns more religious. 19 percent are going to church more. 43 percent are praying more.

And Utahns are trying to buy security on Earth: Life insurance sales are up 20 percent since Black Tuesday.

Applications by new foster-parents plummeted by nearly half.

Jeff Bryant/Utah Foster Care Foundation: "I THINK THERE'S A REAL UNCERTAINTY FOR PEOPLE OUT THERE. AND THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS BRING SOME MORE UNCERTAINTY, BRING IN ANOTHER CHILD, I THINK, OR ANY OF THAT TYPE OF LIFESTYLE CHANGE. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE UNCERTAIN ABOUT THEIR OWN LIVES."

Marriage license sales dropped a few percentage points.

Sherrie Swensen/S.L. County Clerk: "I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO PLAN A JOYOUS EVENT SUCH AS A WEDDING WITH ALL THE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK."

But a lot of things didn't happen in Utah, defying conventional wisdom.

• Crime and domestic abuse are about the same.
• Suicides are not up.
• Alcohol sales are holding steady.
• Divorce, neither up nor down.

63 percent of us say we're more courteous and friendly.

JEFF BRYANT/UTAH FOSTER CARE FOUNDATION: "BOY, DRIVING'S A LOT LESS STRESSFUL. HAH, HAH, SEEMS TO BE A LOT MORE COURTEOUS DRIVERS OUT THERE AS I'M COMING IN TO WORK EVERYDAY."

BRUCE BAIRD/LAWYER, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: "I THINK IT'S SORT OF A REALIZATION THAT WE'RE ALL SORT OF IN THIS TOGETHER, AND UH..." "WHAT DID BEN FRANKLIN SAY? 'IF WE DON'T HANG TOGETHER, WE'LL HANG SEPARATELY'." REPORTER: "HOW LONG CAN IT LAST?" BRUCE BAIRD: "OH, ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF."

Actually one of the most interesting aspects of our poll is on how long the changes will last. Two thirds of us, 67 percent, believe most changes in America since Sept. 11th are, in fact, permanent.