KSL's Inside Sources

In today's final segment, Greg and Holly introduce listeners (and livestream viewers) to Bryce, the new "Puppy with a Purpose" for the Utah Mammoth. His name is spelled with a "y" but Greg and Holly both think it should have been with an "I" and pronounced, Brrrrrrr-ice!

What do we hope our kids carry with them when they leave home? Not just a packed suitcase, but faith, purpose, and the confidence that they belong. Believe, belong, and become -- those three words guide the refreshed Latter-day Saint youth program and invite a bigger conversation too: How do we help the next generation build a faith of their own while knowing we’re still standing beside them? Deseret News faith reporter Amy Ortiz joins the conversation.

When you drive around Utah, roadside cameras can read your license plate. We've talked about these a few times now -- people have a lot of concerns. So who’s making sure the people with access to that information are using it appropriately? That’s the question behind a new investigation from KSL Investigator Daniella Rivera, uncovered a former detective’s misuse of license plate reader data ... and it wasn’t a routine audit that caught it. The Inside Sources get updates on the story -- including an exclusive detail -- and discuss the issue with Daniella.

Your kid comes home with a bad grade -- do you get them a tutor, or an attorney? The Wall Street Journal reports that some parents are taking disputes over grades and classroom treatment beyond the principal’s office and into court. Now, if a school genuinely mistreats your child, you should fight for them. Teachers aren’t above accountability. But neither are our kids, right? So where’s the line between standing up for your kid and making sure your kid never has to stand on their own? Would you ever sue over your child’s grade, or is the bad grade sometimes the lesson they need?

Should billionaires pay more in taxes? That was essentially the question at the heart of a proposition in California. If approved, it would have imposed a one-time 5% tax on Californians whose wealth exceeds one billion dollars. It took almost a week from Election Day, but the Associated Press has finally called the race -- and it failed. Would this have been a good idea? Or simply a bad business decision?

Christmas may have a wish list, but your budget has a veto. The newest inflation report came out this morning, and it shows prices are still putting pressure on family budgets. But forget the economic charts for a minute. What’s the expense that changed how your family lives -- not just for a month, but for good? Groceries? Insurance? Child care? What did you give up that you haven’t brought back? Now add Christmas to that conversation. When the budget won’t stretch, what bends? Fewer gifts under the tree? No trip to Grandma’s? Or do you borrow to keep the traditions alive?

Hundreds of thousands of Rocky Mountain Customers got a notice in the mail over the last week that caught many by surprise. The notice tells customers that they'll soon pay a $4/month fee to pay for clean energy. It's not applicable to all customer; only to those who live in 16 different communities around the state. With more on what the fee is and what it'll go towards, Inside Sources turns to Dan Dugan, the board chair of Utah Renewable Communities and a member of the Salt Lake City Council.

You turn up the thermostat, the heat kicks on, and most of us don’t give it another thought. But how does that natural gas actually get to your house? And here’s another question: If natural gas comes out of the ground without a smell, why does a gas leak smell so bad? These are some of the questions being answered at Utah STEM Fest today and tomorrow. Greg and Holly "nerd out" a little with Cooper Fasselin from the Enbridge Gas Training Academy.

Speaker Mike Schultz says the legislature made a mistake in the way it handled data center development. Speaking to the Deseret News/KSL Editorial Board, the Speaker said MIDA (Military Installation Development Agency) should not have been involved in data center plans around the state. He now says the process for data center development needs reform in the legislature, and it could result in giving local governments more authority over data center development.

Court will come to session and Tyler Robinson will be on trial for the murder of Charlie Kirk beginning in June of 2028. It's later than the Kirk family wanted, but earlier than the defense wanted. So is it a good balance? But it's still so long away and it's scheduled to last 105 days -- about 3.5 months. KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas gives his takes on the continued delays that seem to plague this case.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was pretty mad this morning as he addressed impeachment calls from members of Congress. Outgoing Representative Thomas Massie officially filed articles of impeachment yesterday, and a procedural vote is expected this afternoon. Amid his comments today, the Secretary continually slammed Representative Massie, saying he had a personal vendetta against the Secretary and President Trump. We hear some of Sec. Hegseth's comments from this morning and the hosts give their takes.

• Eye On the Hill: New leadership elected in Utah's legislature
• New initiative launches: The Utah We Believe In
• Gov. Spencer Cox makes first remarks following election last week
• Utahns' views on immigration mirror nation's; Pres. Trump says his deportation policies may have been "too tough"
• It's the Trump Cabinet Shuffle!
• Inside Washington: Congress returns for lame duck session
• Relief at the pump: Is it all seasonal, or did the election play a role?
• Ask the Attorney: Controversy around U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche
• Utes move up, Cougars fall off AP Top 10 Poll following Saturday's game
• All-terrain wheelchairs expand to Utah's 'Mighty 5' National Parks

If you've been in a wheelchair or you have a wheelchair user in your family, you know that it can really restrict the places they can go. But there's some really welcome news in Southern Utah that aims to make the 'Mighty 5' National Parks more accessible for all. We're reading today that all-terrain wheelchairs are now available in all five parks, making the outdoors a bit more reachable for all Utahns.

Greg's on Cloud 9 this morning following the University of Utah's win over the BYU Cougars on Saturday. Despite both teams coming in with drive, the Utes came out on top. As such, they've now moved to #2 in the AP Top 10 Poll and BYU has fallen off the list (sorry, Holly). So what's to come for both the Utes and the Cougars? Inside Sources speaks with KSL.com sports director Josh Furlong to get his takes.

United States Attorney General Todd Blanche says he represents both the United States and members of President Trump's cabinet on a personal level. He's said before that he represents the president; now he says he also represents the White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. How can he do both? He also suggested that he would investigate Democrats solely on President Trump's orders -- is that legal? KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas shares his legal takes on both situations involving AG Todd Blanche. 

After months and months of rising gas prices, things are starting to finally fall. But is it due to "fall"... or did the election play a role in lowering prices? President Trump said that prices would plummet after the election. We're not quite at that point, but the cheaper prices for fuel are a welcome relief. So what's driving the price difference? GasBuddy's Head of Petroleum Analysis Patrick De Haan joins with his perspective. 

Congress heads back to Washington, D.C. today, despite several races around the country still being undecided. And it's not just existing lawmakers -- many of whom are out at the end of the year; newly-elected lawmakers are also in DC today for freshman orientation. In fact, it looks to be the largest freshman class in Congress in almost 100 years. As Congress begins its lame-duck session, what should we expect? The Inside Sources hosts turn to Deseret News congressional correspondent Cami Mondeaux for the inside scoop.

Washington’s got a new dance and you don’t need rhythm; you just need an updated White House staff directory. It’s the Cabinet Shuffle! Wiles heads out! Miller moves in! Somebody print the org chart again! Dana, grab the mic! Wait... not quite! Was that a job offer, or just fight night? Hegseth, hold your position! Everybody else... watch the audition. President Trump's cabinet is already moving around less than a week after the election. He told '60 Minutes' that he's still confident in Pete Hegseth, but also says there could be a few more changes to his cabinet.

Where do Utahns draw the line on deportation? A new Deseret News–Hinckley Institute poll finds 50% support deporting someone living here illegally who hasn’t otherwise committed a crime — nearly identical to the national number. But support jumps to roughly 80% when that person has committed some kind of additional crime. At the same time, President Trump says his deportation policy might have been “too tough” — acknowledging it may have hurt Republicans in the election.

With so many changes on both the state and national levels following the election, how is our governor feeling about the future of Utah's Capitol Hill? Governor Spencer Cox spoke for the first time since Election Day in his monthly PBS News Conference. We hear a bit of his remarks; Holly and Greg then compare them to similar comments from Utah's new legislative leaders.

After an election season spent counting what divides us, this number tells a different story: 61% of Utahns say the same five values best represent our state: family, faith, hard work, community and nature. And that common ground held across the political spectrum, from very conservative to very liberal. Agreeing on a list is one thing; working together when you disagree is another. Can those shared values get us beyond the yard signs and into a project with a neighbor who voted differently? A new statewide initiative is putting that idea to the test, with project guides and small grants to help bring people together. The co-founders of "The Utah we Believe In" Ze Min Xiao and Byron Russell join Inside Sources to talk about what Utahns still share and how we can build on that common ground.

Now that we have a better idea of what the new Utah legislature will look like, who’s going to lead it? In the Senate, Senator Evan Vickers won his caucus' election to become the next Senate President; he joins Greg and Holly to explain how his caucus will move forward after the election. The changes in House Republican leadership weren't as big, even after the majority lost about a dozen seats. Speaker Mike Schultz won re-election amid his caucus to stay in the House's top seat. In the end though, top Republicans in both chambers say voters sent them a sobering message.

Just how big was Utah’s shift toward Democrats last week? Look beyond Washington and look at our own Capitol. Democrats were on track to flip 13 Utah House seats and two Senate seats -- those aren't small potatoes. And looking more broadly, new data shows that Utah saw a huge shift towards Democrats in our congressional elections; not just in the one district where a Democrat actually won. The data shows that Utah could have very easily elected more Democrats, especially if we had a statewide election. So, is this reliably red state changing politically, or was this a one-election backlash?

GREG SKORDAS OUT -- JIM BENNETT IN

Topic we cover on this episode of KSL's Inside Sources include:

• Fans prepare for rivalry football game between BYU and Utah
• As the holidays approach, Utah organizations prepare for high demand for food assistance
• Opportunities to give: Live PC Give PC
• Utah youth experience trouble with online gambling at high rates
• A few decades late: The FAA begins to phase out floppy disks
• How do Americans feel about AI? New survey looks at what AI movies we think of when we think of AI

Inside Sources finishes the week by checking in with the hosts of the KSL Movie Show, Val Cameron and Andy Farnsworth. They discuss the big movie of the week: The Cat in the Hat. They also discuss the famous actor Jimmy Stewart thanks to a new movie portraying his life.