KSL at Night

Hosts: Leah Murray & Rusty Cannon

Who’s going to control Congress in the new year – Republicans or Democrats? It’s anyone’s guess at this point. Could one party win both chambers, or will it continue to be a split Congress? House leaders of both parties have been campaigning in areas not usually popular with their base. KSL at Night takes a few minutes to share updates on the hottest Congressional races nationwide.

Hosts: Leah Murray & Rusty Cannon

Ballots have all been sent out and more than 400,000 voters have already sent in their ballots here in Utah. We wrap up our Elections 101 series going over the ballot return process – and overall election security – with Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson. She shares some insights into current voting statistics and discusses the confidence Utahns have in elections with the KSL at Night hosts. For more information, go to https://vote.utah.gov.

Hosts: Leah Murray & Rusty Cannon

With only one week left to go until Election Day, the presidential candidates are in the final stretch. Democrats appear to be worried about some of the policies Kamala Harris hasn’t focused on; why? Republicans seem frustrated with a recent rally for Donald Trump; why? We catch listeners up on the presidential race as we enter the final week of this election cycle.

Hosts: Leah Murray & Rusty Cannon

Today, the Salt Lake County Council discussed a proposed ordinance that would limit how mailers can be used around an election. It comes following an incident with the County Recorder and a notice she sent out with property tax notices. While the flyer wasn’t illegal, there’s been a lot of discussion on the ethicality of it all. The KSL at Night hosts discuss the whole situation.

Hosts: Maura Carabello & Taylor Morgan

Appeals court rules on mail-in ballot ‘grace period’
More than 20 states around the country accept mail-in ballots after Election Day, so long as it was postmarked before on or Election Day. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that the ‘grace period’ shouldn’t be allowed, siding with the Republican Party, which brought forth the earlier suit. What could this ruling mean for voters in Utah – if anything at all? The KSL at Night hosts break it down.

Major newspapers withhold presidential endorsements
The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times have both decided to withhold endorsing any presidential candidate this election cycle. It goes against what they’ve done for many, many previous presidential races. The reasons for the lack of endorsement varies between the two publications, but the effect and outrage from many is the same. Does it actually matter for media organizations to endorse a candidate?

Are conspiracy theories affecting voter turnout in Salt Lake County?
There’s been a resurgence in conspiracy theories around the election this year, especially as it relates to mail-in voting and voting machines. The bogus accusations are leading to harassment against election officials and workers, plus it’s affecting rates of early voting. How could these conspiracy theories be affecting early voter turnout? How about here in Salt Lake County? The KSL at Night hosts discuss.

Examining the role of money in local campaigns: Do ‘deep pockets’ still matter?
We all know that national elections require a lot of money in order to have a chance at success. But what about on a smaller scale in local elections? Do ‘deep pockets’ matter in those smaller races? KSL at Night hosts Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan share their thoughts – using their years of experience – and draw a line between races that need lots of money and those that don’t.

Utah County Proposition 11: An opposer’s view of dissolving Alpine School District
Proposition 11 is on the ballot in Utah County right now; it would create a new school district for the cities of Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland, Lehi, and parts of Draper. The idea isn’t necessarily new, but several cities have pushed this idea back to the forefront of folks’ minds. Sarah Beeson, Member of the Alpine School District Board of Education opposes Proposition 11 and joins the program to explain her stance.

Utah County Proposition 14: An opposer’s view of dissolving Alpine School District
Another proposition in Utah County would create another school district for the more western cities in the county: Cedar Fort, Eagle Mountain, Fairfield, and Saratoga Springs. Proposition 14 would also dissolve the Alpine School District and create a new district for the fastest-growing part of Utah County. Mark Whitaker, Secondary Director of Curriculum with Alpine School District opposes Proposition 14 and joins the program to share his view of the issue.

Meet the candidate: Steve Van Wagoner for Weber County Commission C
Voters in Weber County have the opportunity to select their next County Commissioner for Seat C. They either choose the incumbent, or one of two challengers. Steven Van Wagoner is the Democratic candidate for Weber County Commission Seat C. He joins us in the studio to talk about his background and the issues most important to him.

Enrollment at Utah’s public schools on a downward trend
The number of students enrolled in Utah’s public education system is on the decline. In fact, the decrease from 2023 to 2024 is the largest overall decrease since 2015. What’s affecting this trend? The KSL at Night hosts discuss how fertility rates and in-migration is impacting school enrollment in the Beehive State.

Hosts: Maura Carabello & Taylor Morgan

 The number of students enrolled in Utah’s public education system is on the decline. In fact, the decrease from 2023 to 2024 is the largest overall decrease since 2015. What’s affecting this trend? The KSL at Night hosts discuss how fertility rates and in-migration is impacting school enrollment in the Beehive State.

Hosts: Maura Carabello & Taylor Morgan

Voters in Weber County have the opportunity to select their next County Commissioner for Seat C. They either choose the incumbent, or one of two challengers. Steven Van Wagoner is the Democratic candidate for Weber County Commission Seat C. He joins us in the studio to talk about his background and the issues most important to him.

Hosts: Maura Carabello & Taylor Morgan

Another proposition in Utah County would create another school district for the more western cities in the county: Cedar Fort, Eagle Mountain, Fairfield, and Saratoga Springs. Proposition 14 would also dissolve the Alpine School District and create a new district for the fastest-growing part of Utah County. Mark Whitaker, Secondary Director of Curriculum with Alpine School District opposes Proposition 14 and joins the program to share his view of the issue.

Hosts: Maura Carabello & Taylor Morgan

Proposition 11 is on the ballot in Utah County right now; it would create a new school district for the cities of Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland, Lehi, and parts of Draper. The idea isn’t necessarily new, but several cities have pushed this idea back to the forefront of folks’ minds. Sarah Beeson, Member of the Alpine School District Board of Education opposes Proposition 11 and joins the program to explain her stance.

Hosts: Maura Carabello & Taylor Morgan

We all know that national elections require a lot of money in order to have a chance at success. But what about on a smaller scale in local elections? Do ‘deep pockets’ matter in those smaller races? KSL at Night hosts Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan share their thoughts – using their years of experience – and draw a line between races that need lots of money and those that don’t.