KSL's Inside Sources

Topics we will cover on this episode of KSL Inside Sources include: 

• The role ethics is playing in the midterm elections
• Man accused of killing Santaquin police sergeant to stand trial for aggravated murder
• Impact foreign buyers have on Utah's housing market
• Back to School: Using technology to prepare for a new school year 
• Bipartisan push in Congress for better forest management 

Read these phrases aloud and think about what's wrong with them: Match and mix,  jelly and peanut butter, stones and sticks, Clyde and Bonnie. Did those sound right to you? Probably not. They're called irreversible binomials, and Merriam Webster dictionaries is teaching us all about it on their social media. If you haven't seen their X/Twitter posts, you have to check them out -- they're both educational and fun!

Every election season, we hear from people across the country pleading for more ethical and moral candidates. But when push comes to shove and we're casting our ballot, it often feels like it's a low priority. One thing that's been really interesting to watch in this midterm election season has been this push for ethical lawmakers. At the same time however, some unethical or immoral candidates have also been pushed ahead. So when Election Day finally rolls around, will ethics actually matter?

In some developing news today, the man accused of killing a Santaquin police sergeant will stand trial for 15 charges after all, including aggravated murder and two counts of attempted aggravated murder. Michael Aaron Jayne has been charged for killing Sergeant Bill Hooser in May 2024. In this segment, KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas catches listeners up on how the case has been progressing behind the scenes.

Foreign citizens are fewer buying homes in the United States right now. The National Association of Realtors says it's the second lowest rate of foreigners buying U.S. homes since 2009. So what does a thing like that do to the market? And specifically here in Utah -- how does that affect things? Inside Sources gets some answers from Russell Faucette, co-founder of The Stern Team of Omada Real Estate.

This whole week, we're spending time each day to get you and your family ready for back-to-school season. With the start of school right around the corner, we want to talk about technology -- how can you best use it to prepare for heading back into the classroom? And what things are in high supply already, so you can plan your shopping a bit better? Today, Greg and Holly speak with Amy Eisinger, a Google Search Trend Expert who talks more about using Google to get ready for a new school year. 

It's not very often that Congress can come together and cross party lines to get something done. But the ongoing wildfires around the country may have lit a bit of a fire under lawmakers, and now they have a rare bipartisan priority: wildfire prevention. Utah's own Senator John Curtis is now asking his colleagues to pass a bill aimed at forest management. It's being called the Fix Our Forests Act. Deseret News congressional correspondent Cami Mondeaux has been following this bill and joins us with more. 

The U.S. stock market hit record highs on Tuesday, and profits for A-I and oil companies continue to soar. So amidst all of that, how are you feeling? How's your wallet feeling right now? The Trump Administration continues to relish in a strong stock market, but are the benefits trickling down to the average consumer? Dr. Michael Kofoed, Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville joins to talk about the disconnect. 

The fallout over the Trump Administration's decision to slash the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante monuments continue this morning. Now, we're getting insights into what the White House knew before the decision. When signing the executive order, President Trump said recreation in the area was virtually impossible, and that was a reason to cut the size -- so more people could allegedly use them. But documents uncovered by The New York Times show that the White House knew that wasn't exactly true. 

President Trump is backing planned data centers and AI expansion around the country, saying the concerns many Americans have about these facilities are unfounded. He says data centers will be good for local communities and that Democratic-run states and cities are actually the cause of the country's problems. The Inside Sources hosts certainly have some thoughts on these claims. 

More than 200 residents of a Midvale apartment complex that saw a massive fire on Friday are still waiting for answers and direction this morning. Many on social media have slammed the owners of the North Union Apartments, saying there's been little to no communication on next steps for the tenants. On top of that, many tenants have shared concerns about a so-called renter's insurance policy through their landlord. Greg and Holly share updates on the investigation and Greg shares legal insights into this so-called renter's insurance policy. 

Utah's long history of anti-gambling laws actually do apply to sports betting on prediction markets like Kalshi. That's what a judge ruled yesterday, siding with Utah's Attorney General. This whole thing with prediction markets is pretty convoluted and complicated. Even though states have the right to regulate gambling, there have been certain loopholes and definitions which have allowed this kind of gambling to continue regardless of state laws. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown joins Inside Sources to talk about the efforts to end those kinds of workarounds. 

• Utah Firewatch: 2nd worst fire season on record… so far
• Popular "hot dog on wheels" stops by KSL NewsRadio
• Poll: Voters prefer Democrats over Republicans to tackle the current economy
• Resale hustles -- are they worth it?
• Back to School: The costs of preparing for your kids to head back to class
• The immigration debate: What Utah's Senators are doing to fix a broken immigration system
• The importance of estate planning ahead of time
• Say bye-bye to your robotic vacuum. It could be a Chinese spy.

Do you have a robotic vacuum? Do you like it? Almost everyone we talk to says it's great in theory and can certainly have its perks. But overall… it appears to be more of a hassle than what it's worth. Well it might be time to bid your robotic vacuum 'adieu.' Greg and Holly discuss a new rule from the FCC to ban foreign-made household robots -- including your vacuum -- for being threats to national security.

Getting older has its pros and it certainly has it cons. Throw in an illness or something debilitating, and it creates a whole new challenge. That's why it's so important to prepare and plan as early as possible. A new article in the Deseret News takes a closer look at families who have loved ones with Alzheimer's and how they're getting their affairs in order before things get too difficult. 

Our immigration system in this country is broken. Whether you're on the left or on the right -- or right in the middle -- most Americans can agree that our immigration system needs to be reformed. But the question is how do we make the necessary changes? Utah's Senator John Curtis announced a new bill he's working on that would create a voluntary state-sponsored visa program; he joins Greg and Holly to describe his ultimate goals of the bill. The hosts also describe a proposal to close an immigration loophole from Senator Mike Lee.

With just a few weeks to go until the new school year starts, parents are starting to spend their hard-earned cash on back-to-school supplies. Whether it's clothes, pens and pencils, or lunch supplies -- or if it's the expensive school and extracurricular fees -- it can add up. In fact, a new GMA/Ipsos Parents Poll finds that parents will spend close to $900 per child this year… all to send their kids back to school. KSL NewsRadio's Eric Cabrera has been speaking with Utah families to find out how they're saving money this year; he joins the show to explain.

A lot of people have side hustles nowadays -- a way to make some extra dough. And whether you're spending less or earning more... you're trying to find ways to stretch the budget. KSL Investigator Matt Gephardt took a closer look at this trend of "resale hustles" to see if the math actually equals out. He joins Greg and Holly to share what he learned.

As Jame Carville famously said in President Bill Clinton's 1992 election campaign, "It's the economy, stupid!" And today, we're reading some new polling that Greg and Holly both thought was pretty shocking and telling about the upcoming midterm election. According to a brand new Reuters/Ipsos Poll, a plurality of American voters say they think Democrats would do better with the economy than Republicans. We haven't seen that kind of polling in about 10 years. Inside Sources discusses what this could mean for the upcoming midterms.

"Oh I'd love to be an Oscar Mayer Wiener! That's what I'd truly like to be!" This segment features a real treat for you today -- the Oscar Mayer Winermobile stops by KSL Broadcast House. The 27-foot-long hot dog on wheels is in Utah this week, presenting you with a few chances to see it yourself. Greg and Holly step out of the building to get a tour of the Wienermobile -- one of six currently on the road. All Beef Aiden and Lucky Dog Lauren, two Oscar Mayer Hotdoggers, give Inside Sources and inside look into one of the most iconic vehicles to hit America's roads.

Our fires continue to cause real issues around the state. As of right now, we're seeing the second worst fire season on record. But with the way things are going, we could see this becoming the all-time worst season on record. The Widemouth 2 Fire in southern Utah has exploded in size, and several additional areas are now under an evacuation notice. Plus, a sheriff helping in those evacuations is getting a true "baptism by fire" -- he's only been on the job for two weeks. Greg and Holly share updates on the fires burning around the western United States.

If you're not coughing today, you're probably clearing your throat or blowing your nose. The air quality -- while better than yesterday -- is still so awful. Greg and Holly discuss the bad air and read listener comments with tips on how to adapt to the poor air. KSL Meteorologist Matt Johnson shares some hope for cleaner air in the near future. He also discusses an impending Super El Niño and what that could mean for Utah's upcoming winter.

• What does Utah get out of the new Colorado River agreement?
• Idaho community in mourning following deadly In-N-Out shooting
• DOJ formally cancels anti-weaponization fun, also drops charges for alleged reflecting pool vandals
• Back to School: Preparing your kids mentally and physically for a new school year; how to inspire a love of reading
• Midterm election concerns on the rise
• U.S. State Department mislabels African countries at AIDS humanitarian conference
• Ask the Attorney: Felony charge for U.S. citizen who deleted phone data?
• Benefits of camping

Holly's been out the last week… becoming one with nature. She thoroughly enjoyed a camping trip in American Fork Canyon and is back feeling refreshed and ready to be ultra productive. Turns out camping has a lot of physical, emotional, and mental benefits; Holly and Greg discuss.

A recent article in The New York Times has Holly scratching her head. "A U.S. citizen deleted his phone's data. Now he faces a felony charge." Wait, what? Doesn't this constitute some kind of search and seizure violation? Eh, not so fast. In this edition of "Ask the Attorney," KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas explains how this incident is different because it took place at an international border crossing. He also explains which situations would require a full warrant, and which ones wouldn't.