Ethan and Alex kick off the radio show with a quick hit of Utah’s biggest conversations of the day: from the state’s favorite license plate and rising cougar encounters to the fiery Box Elder datacenter debate that packed a room with frustrated residents. Utah’s new ban on prop bets is set to go into effect, the hosts discuss how this opens up the conversation parents need to have with their kids about gambling. 

 

Ethan and Alex talk with Bret Rawson of the law firm Nelson Jones, also general counsel of the Utah Fraternal Order of Police and a former police officer, about when bystanders should intervene in law enforcement situations, following an incident over the weekend. Alex quizzes Ethan on Cinco de Mayo.

 

The second hour covers drought‑driven sprinkler shaming, July 4th wildfire worries, new research on school cell‑phone bans, and a viral teacher who turns student emails into emo anthems.

 

 Three trending things

Which Utah license plate looks the best? A surprisingly passionate statewide debate.

Cougar sightings are up. Wildlife officials explain why encounters are increasing and how to stay safe.

Box Elder Data Center drama. A packed, heated meeting as commissioners approve the next step of a controversial data‑center proposal. We reset the story: why residents are upset, what the project actually is, and why commissioners say it’s still far from a done deal. (Plenty of sound opportunities from last night’s crowd.)

Utah’s ban on prop betting goes into effect Wednesday 

Utah’s new restriction on proposition betting takes effect Wednesday. The state is pushing back against prediction‑market platforms that insist they’re not gambling. We explain what prop bets are, why the state is cracking down, and how parents can talk to kids about online money‑risk traps.

 

Should you intervene with law enforcement?

A passerby helped UHP troopers arrest a knife‑wielding man — raising a big question: When is it smart to intervene in law enforcement situations? 

Ethan and Alex bring on guest Bret Rawson, attorney, former police officer, and general counsel for the Utah Fraternal Order of Police, to break down the risks and realities of civilian intervention.

 

Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday

Food deals, quick history, and a rapid‑fire Cinco de Mayo quiz to close out the hour.

 

Sprinkler shame

Utah’s drought continues and it turns out, there are ways to report your neighbor for wasting water. We ask: Would you turn in your neighbor for watering too early?  

 

Fireworks & the Fourth of July

A dry winter + the nation’s 250th anniversary = fire officials and veterans bracing for a risky July 4th. We look at wildfire concerns, safety warnings, and what communities may need to rethink this year.

 

School cell phone bans don’t change test scores… But that’s not the point

A new study says school cell‑phone bans don’t change attendance or test scores. A new study claims phone bans don’t affect attendance or academic performance. Alex walks through the real concern of what students are doing on their phones in school and the aftereffects. 

 

Teacher turns student emails into emo songs

A teacher has gone viral for transforming student emails into full‑blown emo tracks. Ethan and Alex listen to the song and discuss the emails.