Midday with Maria Shilaos

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 29th, 2026

A professional music festival this weekend is giving students at the Davis Catalyst Center a real-world, career-focused experience. Among a lot of other hands-on things, students at Davis Catalyst can get experience in fields like audio production, live event production, and the performing arts.

Maria Shilaos is joined in studio with several students from Davis Catalyst to talk about the festival. She's also joined by Natalie Stromberg, Business Development Coordinator at the school.

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

The weather is getting warmer and kids will soon be out of school for summer. While that sounds like a lot of fun for younger folks, that combination can also set the stage for a lot of preventable injuries.

In this segment of Health Matters on Midday, Dr. Richard Ferguson, President-Black Physicians of Utah joins Maria Shilaos to share his experiences as an emergency department physician -- including which injuries he sees the most -- and ways to keep your families safe as you get out and enjoy the summer.

April 29th, 2026

April 29th, 2026

April 29th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 28th, 2026

Who has the power the power to tax Utahns? It's supposed to be the elected representatives for your city, county, state, or country. But there's growing concern in Utah that unelected developers are taking advantage of their power to tax people on new developments. Within many of these developments are public infrastructure districts, also known as PIDs. 

Utah Investigative Journalism Project's Eric Peterson joins Midday guest host Heather Peterson to break down the issue and what he's found in his research.

April 28th, 2026

April 28th, 2026

April 28th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 27th, 2026

Robotics students from West High School in Salt Lake City are headed to nationals this week to compete against other regional robotics winners. It's a massive achievement for the team, who could also have a chance to go to the world finals. Ahead of the competition, Maria Shilaos speaks with several members of the team to find out what drives them towards success.

She's joined by coach Alison Bulson, plus teammates Ella Frandsen, Collin Wallace, and Emmet Majersik.

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

Some people think holding onto old prescriptions is just being prepared. You might think it's something to hold onto... just in case. But health experts warn that keeping expired drugs around could be putting your family at risk. And if you do decide to clean out your medicine cabinet, what's the best way to get rid of the old stuff?

In this segment of Health Matters on Midday, Dr. Richard Ferguson, President-Black Physicians of Utah joins Maria Shilaos to explain why it's never a good idea to keep old prescriptions around, and why it's also never a good idea to flush them down the toilet.

April 27th, 2026

April 27th, 2026

April 27th, 2026

As many begin planning a summer getaway, the shrinking budget may mean a scale down. What are the best ways to save on your vacation? What are some good options if gas prices mean you need to stay closer to home? 

In this Deep Dive, Maria Shilaos takes a look at ways you can save money for your trips, plus a slew of things you can do here locally to enjoy the summer months without breaking the bank. Whether it's a space camp for your kids, visiting a new corner of the state, or volunteering with a local library, there's so much to do this summer!

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 24th, 2026

More than a million Utah voters could see their personal voter information become public unless they act before a May 6, 2026, deadline, following changes to the state’s election code under SB153. 

But a KSL Investigates analysis of county data, internal documents and interviews with election officials shows the process for keeping that information private is not consistent across the state, raising concerns about uneven access to protections.  

KSL Investigates reporter Courtney Johns joined Maria Shilaos to discuss her recent story, "Critical gaps in how Utah voter privacy requests are denied involving a snag with a new Utah law that requires."

April 24th, 2026

April 24th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 23rd, 2026

April 23rd, 2026

April 23rd, 2026

April 23rd, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 22nd, 2026

We're hearing from veterans with their thoughts on President Trump's recent executive order, which expands the ability to do research on psychedelics for veteran mental health. The President signed an order over the weekend on the issue, which aims to accelerate research and improve access to psychedelic drugs as promising treatments for things like PTSD.

So what do veterans think about these changes?

For more, Maria Shilaos is joined by Juliana Mercer, a Marine Corps veteran and executive director of advocacy at Heroic Hearts Project, a group that advocates on behalf of veterans suffering from various mental illnesses.

Thousands of runners will take to Utah streets this Saturday for the annual Salt Lake Marathon. The spring time event also draws thousands of spectators and tends to catch some motorists by surprise.

In this segment, Maria Shilaos gets details on the marathon itself -- including what makes it special and which roads will be closed for the race -- from Jennifer Nelson, marketing director at High Altitude Special Events, which oversees the marathon. She also speaks with Olympian and Utah State University alum Chari Hawkins, who's serving as this year's Grand Marshal.

April 22nd, 2026

April 22nd, 2026

April 22nd, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 21st, 2026

A lot of eyes on the issue of multiple sclerosis today... following the death of the oldest brother in the Osmond brothers performance group. After a multi-year struggle with MS, Alan Osmond has passed away. He was 76, and leaves behind a legacy of family, faith, and music.

In this Deep Dive, Maria Shilaos takes a few moments to remember Alan Osmond, then digs into what multiple sclerosis is, how it affects the body, and the treatment options available for people who are affected by MS. She's joined in this conversation by Dr. Enrique Alvarez, medical director of the Rocky Mountain MS Center.

April 21st, 2026

April 21st, 2026

April 21st, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 20th, 2026

Utah families are feeling the financial strain as they start to look at the higher childcare and summer camp costs this year. Childcare costs in general have continued to rise, but it's especially hard when working parents have to find childcare solutions they wouldn't otherwise have to pay for during the school year.

Some summer camps are cheaper than others, but even some of the more affordable options, like the YMCA, will cost $255 per child per week.

Voices for Utah Children Policy Analyst Jennifer Stout joins Maria Shilaos and says she know from personal experience how expensive summer childcare is... even for just one kid.

April 20th, 2026

April 20th, 2026

April 20th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 17th, 2026

Several Utah small businesses were honored today for their contributions and success here in the state. The Utah District Office of the U.S. Small Business Association hosted an awards luncheon earlier today to recognize small businesses and the state's SBA top lenders.

SBA regional administrator Justin Everett joins Maria Shilaos to talk more about the awards, the power of small businesses, and the resources available from the federal government to help small businesses expand and grow.

April 17th, 2026

April 17th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 16th, 2026

The countries of Israel and Lebanon have reached a temporary ceasefire, potentially leading to further long-term peace between the United States and Iran. President Trump announced the agreement on social media late this morning, saying the 10-day ceasefire would begin this evening.

The developments come after Iran insisted that strikes on Lebanon must stop as part of any longer-term deal for peace with the U.S. and Israel.

In these Deep Dive, Maria Shilaos discusses the news and what it could mean as the U.S. works towards an end to the conflict with Iran. She's joined by Amos Guiora, a law professor at the University of Utah who has close ties and connections to Israel.

The famous Big Boy steam engine is about to roll into Ogden for a multi-day stop over. The engine usually tours around the western U.S. nearly every summer. But in honor of the country's 250th birthday, Union Pacific is sending the engine from coast-to-coast.

It chugged through Utah earlier this month on its way to California, but that was just a quick stop. This weekend, it'll be in Ogden for a few days to give train fans young and old the opportunity to get up close and personal with the massive historic steam engine.

For more on this event, Maria Shilaos speaks with Ed Dickens, chief locomotive engineer on Big Boy.

For more information on the famous steam engine and its trip across the country for the United States' 250th birthday, visit https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule. 

Joining me to talk more about the event is Ed Dickens... the chief locomotive engineer on Big Boy.

April 16th, 2026

April 16th, 2026

April 16th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 15th, 2026

April 15th, 2026

April 15th, 2026

April 15th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 14th, 2026

Today, University of Utah Health opened their very first center for medical innovation. The 60,000 square foot, four-level, state-of-the-art facility is named in honor of James LeVoy Sorenson, and it's designed to help advance and accelerate medical research here in Utah.

So what could that mean for you -- a potential patient? For more information, Maria Shiloas speaks with Mark Paul, executive director of the new center.

April 14th, 2026

April 14th, 2026

April 14th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 13th, 2026

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

As it starts to look more like summer and we are spending more time outdoors, it's time to restock the sunscreen. Sure, it may be a little cooler right now, but the warm temperatures we had in March are sure to return as we move closer into summer. So why not get the sunscreen now... before everyone else does?

In this segment of Health Matters on Midday, Dr. Richard Ferguson, President-Black Physicians of Utah joins Maria Shilaos to talk about the importance of using sunscreen for health and not just cosmetics.

April 13th, 2026

April 13th, 2026

April 13th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 10th, 2026

April 10th, 2026

April 10th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 9th, 2026

Since the war in Iran began 6 weeks ago, the world has seen a huge spike in the cost for a slew of things, including gasoline, diesel, plastics, and fertilizer -- all things that relied heavily on the Strait of Hormuz being open. The biggest cost most Utahns have seen is with gas and diesel. And with the amount of goods transported thanks to gasoline and diesel, the costs have or will trickle-down to almost everything we use every single day.

In this Deep Dive -- The Cost of Conflict -- Maria Shilaos looks at the costs of the War in Iran on American families, Utah small business owners, and the job market as a whole.

She's joined in this discussion by:

• Liz Pancotti, managing director of Policy and Advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative
• President Mary C. Daly, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
• Cory Stahle, economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab

April 9th, 2026

April 9th, 2026

April 9th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 8th, 2026

April 8th, 2026

April 8th, 2026

April 8th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 7th, 2026

As more kids are gearing up for outdoor summer sports, a new program is aimed at encouraging their parents to help them to "eat like a champion." The program is a partnership between Get Healthy Utah, and Utah Recreation and Parks. 

Alysia Ducuara, Executive Director of Get Healthy Utah, joins Maria Shilaos to explain more about the goal of the program, which encourages healthier snacks for kids participating in youth sports.

April 7th, 2026

April 7th, 2026

April 7th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 6th, 2026

A program aimed at empowering disabled veterans to start their own businesses is coming to Utah in a few weeks. And today, the director of DAV Patriot Boot Camp is putting out the call for mentors who specialize in areas like product development, marketing and finance.

Matt Feldhaus is the Director of Patriot Boot Camp for Disabled American Veterans. He joined Maria Shilaos to talk about the three-day bootcamp, which will be held June 10-12.

Volunteer mentors can apply at https://patriotbootcamp.org/become-a-mentor/. 

April 6th, 2026

April 6th, 2026

April 6th, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 3rd, 2026

April 3rd, 2026

April 3rd, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 2nd, 2026

Students, teachers, and staff with the Salt Lake City School District's continuing education program are voicing sadness and frustration today in response to news that the program would end in June.

The program, which is open to local residents and focused mostly on adults, has been running for more than 50 years at East, West, and Highland High Schools. During that time, it's featured a wide variety of classes open to the public for a small fee, including classes on real estate, dance, languages, welding, music, finance, and so much more.

In this segment, we hear from those affected by the program's discontinuation, including Swedish teacher Martina Sprague, long-time student Hank Parry, and community center supervisor at West High School Mariela Miranda.

A resolution from the Utah State Board of Education is ruffling some feathers today. The separation of church and state -- called into question at this morning's state school board meeting. The language in the resolution is meant to echo the sentiments of America's founding fathers, at least that's what board members say. But many community members feel like the resolution instead calls non-religious people immoral. And many of those folks showed up in full force at the board meeting today to make sure board members knew how they felt.

In this Deep Dive, Maria Shilaos discusses the resolution and the response to it with KSL NewsRadio's Heather Peterson. 

Fewer and fewer young men are working full-time, and it's contributing to issues not only among men, but within families, society, and among women as well. That's part of the finding of a new report, which puts in plainly: men without work, purpose, or a family to provide for tend to flounder. And when men flounder, the women in their lives suffer and their communities suffer -- the wreckage is shared.

An op-ed in the Deseret News dug into this idea of young men being "demoralized."

In this segment, Maria Shilaos discusses the findings of the report and ways we can all help young me. She's joined by Michael Toscano, Senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies and one of the authors of this report.

April 2nd, 2026

April 2nd, 2026

April 2nd, 2026

Midday with Maria Shilaos Full Show April 1st, 2026

The family of Laura Aime, a Utah teen found murdered in 1974 finally have some closure today. After wondering who killed Laura, investigators in Utah County announced a DNA confirmation that she was killed by infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. For years, the family believed Bundy was responsible for her death, but the case was never closed. Technological advancements in the more than 50 years since the murder gave investigators a chance to finally crack the case.

In this Deep Dive, Maria Shilaos hears from Laura's sister, Michelle Impala, who spoke at the announcement today. She recounts her memories of Laura, a young girl simply enjoying life in the 60s and 70s. Maria also discusses the case and its impacts with Dave Cawley, investigative journalist and executive producer/host of the podcast "COLD" from KSL Podcasts.