The Daily Buzz

Utah’s abortion trigger law is currently on hold while a ban on abortion after 18 weeks of pregnancy is in place in the Beehive State. But, the trigger law could go back into effect any day and it’s made some Utahns wary about getting pregnant.

Reporter Becky Jacobs talked to seven people about the impact of the law on their lives. In today’s episode, we’ll hear from two of the people Becky interviewed.

Environment and open lands reporter Bryan Maffly joins host Daedan Olander to discuss his reporting on a bark beetle epidemic that is killing Utah’s notoriously resilient bristlecone pines.

In this episode, reporter Tony Semerad breaks down the latest trends in the Wasatch Front’s housing market and explains why there may be hope for a return to a type of “normal” in the future.

Also, I briefly detail the progress of one bill that is aimed at saving the Great Salt Lake. Sponsored by members of Utah’s delegation, the legislation — now part of the Water Resources Development Act — received overwhelming support in the U.S. Senate on Thursday.

In this episode, reporter Jordan Miller talks me through Summit County’s emergency management plans should a wildfire spark in any of its communities during this historic drought.

Also, reporter Julie Jag discusses how Powder Mountain, famous for its northern Utah ski lodge, is trying to draw people to its slopes during the summer months.

In this episode, reporter Jessica Miller and editor Jeff Parrott talk about how anglers and the megadrought is impacting Utah’s recreational fishing industry, specifically where and how the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources stocks fish.

And I provide an update on the confirmation process for Jill Pohlman, whom Gov. Spencer Cox appointed to the Utah Supreme Court last month. On Tuesday, the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee voted unanimously to advance her confirmation to the full Senate.

Reporter Peggy Fletcher Stack joins the podcast and talks about her reporting on a recently discovered daguerreotype that could well be of Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If authenticated, it would be the first photo ever uncovered of the religious leader.

And host Daedan Olander share an update on how Utah’s U.S. House delegation voted on issues relating to same-sex marriage and access to contraception last week. All four Republicans voted to codify same-sex marriage, while voting against codifying the right to contraceptives in the U.S.

On today’s episode, reporter Paighten Harkins talks about her reporting on why murals meant to call attention to homeless youth in Salt Lake City were defaced, and why the vandals alleged the art was hypocritical after county and city officials cleared out homeless camps last year.

Reporter Scott Pierce gives us an update on the state’s current COVID-19 situation.

And reporter Jacob Scholl has a story about all four of Utah’s congressional representatives voting in favor of codifying same-sex marriage in the United States.

In today’s episode, reporter Courtney Tanner discusses her story on new documents from the University of Utah that acknowledge that the school failed to protect a student in danger from a domestic violence situation.

And, host Palak Jayswal discusser her story on Utah rock band MELO, who will be doing a show tonight at the Soundwell.

Columnist and long time politics reporter Robert Gehrke joins the podcast to discuss Utah's caucus-convention systems, and why, Gehrke says, delegation don't represent the average voter in Utah elections.