KSL News Daily

After years of renovation, the Salt Lake Temple is preparing to welcome visitors from around the world for a six-month public open house in 2027. KSL religion specialist Carole Mikita joins Maria Shilaos to explain what visitors will see inside the renovated temple, the historical significance of the project and why Church leaders expect as many as five million people to take part in the Salt Lake Temple Celebration. The theme, “Rejoice in Christ,” was unveiled as free reservations opened for tours running April 5 through October 1, 2027.

Plus, flash flooding and a rockfall cause trouble near Zion National Park, two specially trained K-9s join the Utah Department of Corrections to sniff out prohibited electronic devices, and gas prices remain high heading toward Labor Day. Before You Go, Utah’s road to the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is already reaching classrooms as Champion Schools 34 launches in 72 elementary schools across seven school districts.

Meta has agreed to a landmark multistate settlement worth up to about $17 billion over claims that Facebook and Instagram were designed with addictive features that harmed children and teens. Utah is expected to receive more than $200 million, but state leaders say the bigger impact could be sweeping new safeguards for young users, including age verification, daily time limits, overnight restrictions and changes to personalized feeds.

Host Maria Shilaos talks with Utah Department of Commerce Commissioner Margaret Busse about what Meta has agreed to change and how the state plans to make sure the company follows through. Then Dr. Jenny Rotzal, a psychologist with Huntsman Mental Health Institute’s Teenscope program, explains what social media is doing to teenagers’ mental health and what parents can do even as new protections roll out.

Plus, a Trump administration immigration move creates new uncertainty for people navigating the legal immigration system, local leaders focus new attention on water quality in the Jordan River, and Salt Lake County ice skaters push back against restrictions on private instruction during public skate sessions.

And before you go: after Dolly Parton’s death, Utah advocates are carrying forward her literacy legacy with an effort to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across the state and put free books into the hands of Utah’s youngest readers.

Artificial intelligence is changing nearly every aspect of our lives, and for college students heading back to campus, it's raising big questions about careers, coursework and the future of work. On today's episode of KSL News Daily, Maria Shilaos and Brandon Amacher who is the Director of the Emerging Tech Policy Lab at Utah Valley University take an in-depth look at how students and instructors can thoughtfully navigate AI in the classroom, from learning opportunities to ethical concerns.

Plus, Utah's wildfire season is on track to become the most expensive in state history, Utah State University announces a new nuclear research and workforce development partnership and aerospace leaders gather in Salt Lake City to discuss the future of space technology.

And before you go, colorful chalk art murals are appearing at schools across the Wasatch Front, encouraging parents and children to start important conversations about underage drinking.

Defense attorneys for convicted killer Douglas Lovell are fighting to keep prosecutors from using artificial intelligence to bring the voice of his victim, Joyce Yost, into the courtroom. Investigative reporter and COLD podcast host Dave Cawley breaks down the case and what's at stake as AI enters a death penalty case. Plus, today's three things and a Logan Canyon cattle drive with a detour to dodge traffic.

The Great Salt Lake is still falling, now sitting just inches above its 2021 low and nearly two feet above the all-time record set in 2022. Andrew Adams talks with KSL NewsRadio reporter Adam Small about what happens when the lake reaches 4,190 feet, why another record-dry winter could make a new low unavoidable in 2027 and the enormous gap between Utah’s current conservation gains and the water needed to restore the lake to a healthy level by the 2034 Winter Olympics.

Plus, students head back to school in Beaver and Washington counties as Beaver-area communities continue dealing with the effects of wildfire and flooding. Isaiah Vaughn Pulu returns to court on three murder charges tied to the carbon monoxide deaths of three men with disabilities, the community answers Weber County Animal Services’ urgent call for kitten supplies and a nonprofit project honors more than 530 pioneers and early settlers buried in unmarked graves at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

As Utah students head back to school, artificial intelligence is entering the classroom with them. Mike Anderson fills in for Maria Shilaos and talks with KSL’s Deanie Wimmer about how educators are using AI to turn textbooks into podcasts, personalize lessons and save time on routine work. They also examine the risks, from inaccurate answers and harmful advice to concerns about cheating, and what new state guidance means for classroom guardrails and parental input.

Plus, Granite School District welcomes students back for the first day of school, the Tooele County Planning Commission considers new rules for data center facilities, the National Park Service prepares to celebrate its 110th birthday and AAA Utah and Zero Fatalities roll out “Please Be Patient” bumper magnets for new teen drivers.

A new report from the Strada Institute for the Future of Work found that nearly one in four of Utah's college-educated workers originally came to the state for school — more than double the national average. But Utah's overall retention of its own graduates falls below the national average. Becky Bruce speaks with the Strada Institute for the Future of Work’s Peter Bahr about what’s driving the trend and what it means for Utah’s economy.

Plus: BugFest wraps up at the Natural History Museum of Utah, and Spider Fest is just around the corner. We also cover the three things you need to know, including a new way to stop lightning-sparked wildfires much sooner, your latest chance to weigh in on higher taxes, and why doctors want parents to prioritize back-to-school shots.

When firefighters and paramedics respond to emergencies in Salt Lake City, a specialized mental health team is often there too—providing immediate support for family members, witnesses and others affected by a crisis. In this episode, Host Maria Shilaos explores the subject with KSL NewsRadio's Don Brinkerhoff.  They look at how this innovative program is making a difference in the community.

Plus, first responders in Sandy are stepping into the shoes of people living with dementia through immersive training designed to build empathy and improve emergency care. We also cover the day's top headlines, including a weekend of triple-digit heat, a proposed $100 million bond for new parks and recreation projects in Salt Lake County and the return of Snowbird's annual Oktoberfest.

Utah's wildfire season is already rewriting the record books, with multiple fires topping 80,000 acres and new research suggesting the trend is far from over. University of Utah professor Dr. Phil Dennison joins Maria Shilaos to explain what's driving larger, more destructive wildfires and what the future could hold for the state.

Plus, Governor Spencer Cox tours fire-ravaged communities, more women are entering the welding profession, a new study reveals a dignity gap in America and Sandy's Hot Air Balloon Festival returns to fill the morning sky with color.