Midday with Maria Shilaos

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 26th, 2025

A leaked memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military is looking to sever ties with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America. According to the memo, Secretary Hegseth says the organization is now woke and genderless, and attacks boy-friendly spaces.

The comments have hit local scouting leaders hard, with some saying his comments are a disgrace to the young people who work hard towards their rank of Eagle Scout. Local scoutmaster Johnathan Oldroyd told Maria Shilaos that the Secretary's comments were a slap to the face. He explained why he thinks the Secretary's remarks are far from accurate.

November 26th, 2025

November 26th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 25th, 2025

The fight over the future of Utah's congressional maps is far from over. This morning, state GOP leaders in both the House and the Senate announced their plans to appeal the latest court decision on redistricting, once again calling the maps and the process that created the map into question. They also announced a special legislative session in December to address how they plan to move forward. Following the news conference, Governor Spencer Cox echoed the sentiment, saying he's behind the push to appeal Judge Dianna Gibson's decision.

In this Deep Dive -- The Maps Redrawn -- Maria Shilaos gets insights on the issue and the developments from all sides. KSL NewsRadio's Adam Small provides coverage of the news conference this morning, followed by an interview with House Speaker Mike Schultz. Maria also hears from Better Boundaries and speaks with Emma Petty Addams, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Later on, KSL NewsRadio's Heather Peterson explains the governor's stance on all of this and KSL NewsRadio's Cameron Elliott explains the ongoing death threats against Judge Gibson over her decision. This Deep Dive ends with Maria interviewing State Representative Doug Owens to get the Democrats' perspective to these new developments.

Thanks for tuning into Midday. I'm Maria Shilaos.

The Maps Redrawn... we have a special half-hour deep-dive into the appeal announced today and reaction from the other side.

November 25th 2025

November 25th, 2025

November 25th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 24th, 2025

Health Matters on Midday, where we dig into health topics you might be curious about. 

The holiday season is a special time filled with friends and family. Unfortunately, it's also cold and flu season. Ahead of the parties and celebrations, there are a few things you can do to stay healthy. Dr. Richard Ferguson, President-Black Physicians of Utah, joins Maria Shilaos with ideas on how you can boost your immune system during what's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.

November 24th, 2025

November 24th, 2025

November 24th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 20th, 2025

A sweet and colorful holiday tradition... unwrapping magic and joy tonight in downtown Salt Lake City — the Candy Windows are coming back in full glory. It's been something Utahns have been able to look for since the early 1970s in the days of ZCMI. After a few years hiatus after the company was purchased, Macy's brought the display back in 2011. 

Maria Shilaos has found memories of the Candy Windows, both as a young person and as a parent. She's joined in the studio by two people involved in the project, Macy's spokesperson Alicia Richmond and candy artist Jennifer Vesper.

November 20th, 2025

November 20th, 2025

November 20th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 19th, 2025

Utah lawmakers are once again looking at the signature-gathering process here in the state.

During the final interim session being held today, legislators in the Government Operations Committee discussed two signature-related pieces of legislation right off the bat. The larger of the two draft legislations included a proposal that would move all signature-gathering -- for potential candidates, initiatives, and referendums -- away from paper and to a fully electronic method by 2030. The proposal would also create a process by which signature gathers would scan a Utah driver license of ID card to verify eligibility to sign.

Currently, voters can sign petitions, referendums, and candidate nominations by both paper and electronic means. But the idea of moving to a fully-electronic method raised questions from lawmakers during the hearing.

On this Deep Dive, Maria Shilaos discusses the issue with Midday Executive Producer Andy Cupp. The conversation includes comments from lawmakers during the hearing itself, plus analysis and commentary from Taylor Morgan, Executive Director of Count My Vote.

November 19th, 2025

November 19th, 2025

November 19th, 2025

Festival organizers for the Kilby Block Party announced the lineup for next year. Festival marketer Billy Eusterman joined with information on the performers.

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 18th, 2025

November 18th, 2025

November 18th, 2025

November 18th, 2025

We've enjoyed a longer-than-normal fall this year... at least up until the last few days. And according to Dr. Sabo, assistant state veterinarian for Utah, this has apparently come with some unintended consequences, including harmful algal blooms and West Nile virus.

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 17th, 2025

November 17th, 2025

November 17th, 2025

November 17th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 14th, 2025

From the Crossroads of the West to the Big Apple -- one Utah high school choir is taking their talents to New York City's Carnegie Hall. The West High School Choir received this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at the renowned music hall this Spring. Their director, Andrea Hernandez, says it's a massive accomplish and a proud moment for the community as a whole.

The choir came to KSL Broadcast House this morning to talk about the experience and what it means to get this invitation. Maria Shilaos speaks with students Emma Mitchell and Cameron Park to get their perspectives, and the entire choir performs one of their songs too.

The choir is seeking donations and financial support as they work towards their trip in Spring 2026. If you'd like to donate, you can do so here: https://www.successfund.com/nqjm5 

November 14th, 2025

November 14th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 13th, 2025

November 13th, 2025

November 13th, 2025

November 13th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 12th, 2025

November 12th, 2025

November 12th, 2025

November 12th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 11th, 2025

As we celebrate our military veterans and their families, we take a moment to pause and remember the sacrifice made by those who have fought to protect our country. With that service, unique challenges that can require special resources and help. 

In this Deep Drive, Maria Shilaos looks at those challenges and the resources available to help those who have served. She's joined by Cory Pearson, Deputy Director of Veteran Services within the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Family Affairs and Dr. Josh McConkey, an emergency room doctor who also commands the 459th Aeromedical Staging Squadron in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

The Utah State Legislature is responding to a new congressional map selected late last night. Third District Judge Dianna Gibson handed down her ruling just before midnight last night. The maps will be used in the 2026 midterms and could give Democrats a congressional seat here in the Beehive State. Judge Gibson threw out the map submitted by the state legislature, which was approved by lawmakers last month. Instead, she chose a map submitted by the plaintiffs in the case.

This afternoon, Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz issued a joint statement reacting to the decision. They said the judge disregarded the Constitution to select a clearly gerrymandered map. They said the choice is not fair to Utahns and is deeply disappointing. They also said the process by which the map was chosen was done in secret and was not a transparent process.

In this Deep Dive on Midday, Maria Shilaos gets political analysis from Jason Perry, Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah and legal analysis from Greg Skordas, KSL Legal Analyst and co-host of Inside Sources.

November 11th, 2025

November 11th, 2025

November 11th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 10th, 2025

Health Matters on Midday, where we dig into health topics you might be curious about. 

As the temperatures drop and we begin to gather for holiday celebrations, there are some key things we can do to stay healthy. That includes not only cold and flus, but heart health too. In fact, the risk for heart attacks tend to rise during the holiday season.

Dr. Richard Ferguson is an emergency room doctor and the president of Black Physicians of Utah. He joins Maria Shilaos to share simple ways to keep you and your family safe and healthy this holiday season -- for your immune system, your digestion system, and your heart.

November 10th, 2025

November 10th, 2025

November 10th, 2025

One Utah man is trying to be the youngest and fastest person to ever run across the state, all the way from the border with Idaho to the border with Arizona. And he's doing it for a good cause: to raise money for suicide awareness.

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 7th, 2025

November 7th, 2025

November 7th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 6th, 2025

November 6th, 2025

November 6th, 2025

November 6th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 5th, 2025

November 5th, 2025

November 5th, 2025

November 5th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 4th, 2025

Newly-passed laws from the Utah Legislature have delivered some challenges for mental health professionals and educators. This week, a Salt Lake City summit is bringing together those folks to discuss how to best deliver mental health services among those challenges. The Black Mental Health and Education Summit is aimed at creating strategies to address barriers and gaps in supporting Black students.

Clincial director of Two Brothas Counselling in Ogden Gregory Noel, LMFT told Maria Shilaos that it's important for the individuals who work face-to-face with young people every day to find the best ways to help them with their challenges. 

November 4th, 2025

November 4th, 2025

November 4th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show November 3rd, 2025

You wouldn't know it with the mild weather we are experiencing today, but the ski season is set to begin in just a few short weeks. That means now's the perfect time for skiers and snowboarders to get 'snow ready' in order to improve their leg strength and mobility as the season gets underway.  

Dylan Suarez, personal trainer at Planet Fitness West Valley, says there are some simple things you can do that will help you prevent both injury and those early-season aches. 

You can see a demonstration of some of the workouts Dylan recommends by checking out KSL NewsRadio on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Artificial intelligence is being welcomed with open arms at the University of Utah. Beginning in the Fall of 2026, the David Eccles School of Business will offer a new Business AI minor for all undergraduate students. It's the first AI-related academic program at the U.

Dean Kurt Dirks joined Maria Shilaos to talk about the new program, saying the timing is right to make AI an official component of the academic experience.

November 3rd, 2025

November 3rd, 2025

November 3rd, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show October 31st, 2025

As the federal government shutdown stretches on, millions of families who rely on SNAP benefits are left in the lurch, unsure if their benefits will continue past today. Even with two rulings earlier, saying that the federal government must use contingency funds to keep SNAP food aid payments going during the shutdown, many families have so many questions. All this uncertainty has created stress on the 42 million Americans who rely on food assistance programs, including 86-thousand families here in Utah. And those families with children... under even more stress.

This poses some questions: how do you talk to your kids about this ongoing situation? If you lose SNAP benefits -- and may have less food on the table -- how do you talk about that with your kids?

Malinda Frietag, Senior Clinical Director at The Children's Center Utah, joins Maria Shilaos to discuss how young children have been feeling the stress from their parents over the past month, and why it's important to talk to them and reassure them. 

October 31st, 2025

October 31st, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show October 30th, 2025

October 30th, 2025

October 30th, 2025

October 30th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show October 29th, 2025

There's just a few days left until Halloween and while the weather in Utah is warming back up a bit, cold and flu season is still on the way. Dr. Richard Ferguson, President-Black Physicians of Utah, joins Maria Shilaos to talk through some of the things parents can do to protect their children and others from getting sick ahead of Halloween festivities -- and the holidays in general.

A decision by the Salt Lake County Council to close county-run daycare facilities has sparked some serious outrage and concern today. Many say the decision leaves parents in the lurch, many saying that finding a new daycare before the county-run ones close at the end of the year is impossible in today's world. But county leaders who support the closures say it's simply a financial decision, one they hope will help prevent a proposed 20% property tax increase in the county.

In this deep-dive, host Maria Shilaos examines the issue from all sides. To provide the "for" argument, she speaks with Salt Lake County Councilmember Laurie Stringham. For the "against" side of the argument, she hears from another Salt Lake County Councilmember, Jiro Johnson. Maria takes it one step further, getting to the heart of the story with a parent whose children would be affected by the closure, Cristina Llamas. Llamas also brings up concerns with how the closures could affect the community in which she lives.

October 29th, 2025

October 29th, 2025

October 29th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show October 28th, 2025

October 28th, 2025

October 28th, 2025

October 28th, 2025

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show October 27th, 2025

Health Matters on Midday, where we dig into health topics you might be curious about. 

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, many people find themselves in a funk (Maria Shilaos herself included). For people who crave the sun, the cold darkness of winter can lead to things like seasonal depression. But -- as with major depressive disorder -- hope is not lost. And there are things people can do throughout the winter season to find joy and hope.

Gregory Noel, LMFT is the Clinical Director at Two Brothas Counseling in Ogden. He's also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He joins Maria Shilaos to break down why seasonal depression affects some people so much and shares tips on how people can find joy without having to wait until the warm months of summer come again.