KSL Blog

They're Coming to Utah

First of all if you want to volunteer to help the people coming in from the South call: 1-866-873-2437

What a wild day.  Nice thing about it is that all my stories were just far enough apart time wise that I could make it to all of them and keep my sanity.  I picked up a few stories in the early afternoon and then headed to the Bishop's Warehouse where they were loading up sleeping bags on trucks to go to the disaster area.

After that the governor called a press conference.  We had heard rumblings earlier that some people from the hurricane area may be coming to Utah temporarily.  That was a little hard to believe why they would come all the way out here but that is the case.  Governor Huntsman walked in the conference room at the Capitol and proceeded to say that leaders in Louisiana called earlier in the day and asked for help.  The state did an assessment of how many people could be helped and came up with 1,000.  That number was much higher than anything I had imagined.  I thought where can 1.000 people stay?  The governor said Utah National Guard planes were ready to go and drop off supplies, troops and then bring back people left homeless.  Of course all this still needs to be coordinated with the state of Louisiana.  It would be interesting to see what the reaction of people down south about the idea.  "Hi, we know you've lost everything.  We're now sending you to Utah.  Hop on board."  A shelter in Midvale will be used and it sounds like Camp Williams may be a possible shelter as well.

It will be an amazing task to shelter people for as long as four months.  I can't imagine losing everything and then having to leave for such a long time and live in a totally foreign area.  Volunteers will be needed by the thousands.  The two biggest needs will be food and clothes.  Thousands of hot meals will be needed each day.  All these people will likely be coming in with only the clothes they have on.  They also talked about having to help children with some education classes.  They don't just want to leave them hanging out doing nothing all day long. 

This is really historical.  The governor mention nothing like this has ever taken place that he can remember where other regions were needed to help people this way.  Utah is one of four states that Louisiana is looking to for help.  The others are Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.  Utah has the reputation of being able to help and it will be needed in an enormous way once again. 

The Prison

So I am working on a story about the staffing problems down at the State Prison. Simply put, there isn’t enough money offered to staff the amount of officers they need. A new wage report shows how bad it really is, make sure to listen for the story tomorrow (Tuesday) on Utah’s Morning News. So as part of my trip down south the Public Information Officer for the DOC Jack Ford, offered me a tour, along with the opportunity to talk to a Guard about the problems with pay. I have never been to a Prison before, and I guess I didn’t really know what to expect. Maybe it was everything I really did expect. Anyway….

First we headed to a part of the prison known as Oquirrih 4. A section that houses mostly, and I think maybe all gang members. There were four separate sections within that, one being the best behaved, to the last section, which is the guys that are proving they can do the right thing and gain privileges. The only way I can describe those areas is in each one, imagine 40 of the toughest looking, hardest, meanest looking guys. All of them covered in gang tattoos. And they were all looking at me like fresh meat.

Then we went over to a different part of the prison (I forget what that was called, but they are all named after local Mountains) and this area was much more relaxed. It had a pretty nice looking gym, a chapel, and area where inmates can do some Genealogy, the infirmary, that sort of stuff. We stepped into some other cell blocks, much more relaxed, very different looking inmates. These ones were very young, and very old, some in wheelchairs. Ford says those inmates are mostly in for sex offenses. After that we headed out, my first trip to the State Prison over.

Once place we didn’t go was the maximum-security area. Time was an issue, but I am told I can take a tour, home to Utah’s most famous criminals, Ron Lafferty, Mark Hacking, and Troy Kell. You can bet on a full report….

CougarRadio: Just Can't Get Enough

I knew there were some hardcore BYU fans in Utah but I had no idea the number of people outside the beehive state who are equally obsessed about BYU sports.  I received an e-mail from a Cougar Fan telling me he lives in Washington and flys to Utah any weekend the Cougars have a home game.  He says he's been doing it for 15 years.  Are you kidding me?   

I'm involved with the production of CougarRadio which airs each Tuesday and Thursday on KSL.com.  I thought I was a huge fan - apparently not.  Based on the number of e-mails the show receives each week, there is no such thing as to much Cougar conversation.  Thanks for making the show so popular.  Be sure to tune in next Tuesday, August 30 and we'll feed you some fresh Cougar information to gnaw on.

Later...Patrick 

Cabela's Finally Open...

So I think first of all, it means the Cabela's stories will finally end.  Like no offense, but if I never hear that name again I'm good.  But before I erase it from my mind I thought I would relay a funny story that happened this morning while I was at the Grand Opening.

The media was allowed to come in and out well before the store opened at eight o'clock.  So I was walking in and out doing interviews and took a tour.  One guy that was camped out all night, asked me if he could follow me in and "carry my bag," so he could get a sneak peek.  So after I came out after my "tour" and about 100 people waiting were all staring at me, like they were waiting for me to say something about what I just saw.....

So I put up my arms and said, "Hey folks, I've seen it, it's not that good, you can all turn around and head home!"

Of course I was kidding, but several booed, one guy even yelled, "Are you on CRACK!?"

They quickly realized I was just kidding, and I narrowly averted a mob beating.

And oh yeah, check out our new bio's!

Gas rage

I saw my first example of gas rage the other day...and I'm still thinking about it. While I was in the store at the gas station where I regularly fill up, a motorist who had just gotten gas came storming in screaming about the high price of gas and proceeded to grill the poor clerk during the entire exchange of cash and while exiting the store. The customer was loud and rude and vulgar. It shook up the clerk who proceeded to tell those of us still in the store that he had nothing to do with the price, the gas company sets the price, etc. etc. etc.  I must admit that it shook me up a little, too, because I'm still thinking about it. I remarked at the time it was a good thing the guy wasn't packing heat. I'll bet scenes like that are being played out in gas stations all over the country and will only get worse until these excalating gas prices stabalize. Hang in there and keep listening. Grant

$30.20

I don't expect much sympathy over having to pay $30 for gas, but Wednesday night was the first time I've passed the $30 mark ever.  I've been very close several times but now that prices are over $2.40 I made it past the $30 mark.  I've talked to people that regularly pay more than $40 or $50 each time they go to the pump and truck drivers who wish they could pay that price.  I don't know how they do it.

All this had me thinking about all the gas price stories I've worked on so far.  Eventually you think you would run out of ideas or angles to report on but as long as prices keep going in to record territory there will always be stories. 

I've covered record gas prices when they passed gasp $2 a gallon earlier this year, gas drive offs, new technology by gas stations to catch drive offs, UTA impacts with riders and cost for buses, stations running out of the number 2's for signs (3 is surely on the way), travel tips, car maintenance tips, car pool lane use, pizza delivery guys losing money, and scooter sales, just to name a few.  Other reporters here have probably covered just as many.

The interesting thing about the scooter story is that at that store in Bountiful the owner has a few articles cut out from newspapers about oil prices sitting on the counter of his business.  One is from the Wall Street Journal from just last week that has someone quoted saying that oil barrel prices will reach $100 and that gas prices will be $5 a gallon. There's a nice thought. The owner is positive car companies are extremely worried about the trend that's why he says there are so many employee deals and extra sales going on to get rid of inventory. 

I think if prices continue to rise that our way of life will have to change.  There's no way people can afford it.  Just like the pizza driver told me, "hey my boss isn't going to feel sorry for me and make up the cost by giving me a raise."  I think people may have to reconsider where they live, how they commute, what vehicles they own and how much extra driving they are willing to do for extra curricular activities.  Teens asking for cars may not get them anymore.  Businesses will not be able to afford to have it's employees traveling around as much.  And cost of goods will start to go up to cover shipment costs.

Or in the conspiracy world maybe the health department is behind all this.  We found the cure for the obesity epidemic.  High gas prices will force people to walk and use bikes. 

It's Not EYE-Raq!

Hi, Scott Seeger here. It's great to be part of the KSL Blog. Unfortunately for my first posting I have a bit of a pet peeve I have to address. It's not EYE-raq!!! With applogies to Dennis Miller, I don't want to get off on a rant here, but when I hear that it's like fingernails scraping a blackboard. I was watching "Real Time with Bill Mahr last night (yeah, yeah but I think he's funny) and a Marine colonel who served in Iraq and then ran for congress in Ohio was on will Bill. And he kept saying EYE-raq. This is man who actually spent some time in that country and I suppose an educated man since he was a Marine officer, yet he kept saying EYE-raq!!?? This of course is not the first time I've been iratated by this. Just last week we interviewed another educated person during the afternoon news who kept saying EYE-raq. I've even heard it from many of my journalist colleagues. Please, it's EAR-rack or EAR-rock. No more EYE.

I can't stand it...

How can I possibly wait, the Cabela's opening is just days away.  Man, if you haven't seen the pictures of this place, check them out.  Now if I could only learn to hunt, and fish, I might be in business.

Anyone who has been in downtown Salt Lake as of late has seen them.  The some 10-thousand Vets are here until Thursday, all wearing the hats.  As said in a story I reported on Friday, these men and women have in some cases, given everything so that we can enjoy the life we have today.  If you run in to any, don't hesitate to just say thanks.  The look on their faces tells you that where someone says that to them, it makes it all worth it.  And if you go to the Convention Center, you would see the scores of disabled vets, amputees etc.  Either way, incredibly nice guys with some amazing stories.  Look for a Closer Look on the ever changing VFW as they cope with thousands of new members from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And other than that, everything feels really quiet.  Key word there....feels.  After yesterday's trip from the President, a rocket test at ATK Thiokol would feel quiet.

The Tarmac: The Press, the Platform and the President...

It's not often that the President of the United States comes to town.  So when he does, it sends us scrambling.  Myself, I was sent to the Utah Air National Guard Base to cover the arrival and departure of Air Force One.

I thought I was getting the short end of the stick when our News Director Russ Hill handed out assignments.  After all, Marc Giauque would be covering the president's speech in the Salt Palace... Jon Dunn would be covering Rocky and the protesters at Pioneer Park... I would be baby-sitting an airplane on a tarmac.  It turned out to be the BEST assignment!

I got there early and had to go through a security checkpoint.  I did everything the nice lady with the M-16 asked me to do.  I popped the hood of my car, opened the trunk and let her search.  From there, I got an escort to the platform.  It would be my home for the next three-and-a-half-hours.

The National Guard hurried us to this wooden platform set up on the tarmac.  The Secret Service told us to put our gear down and walk away.  While we were undergoing a security screening, they would do a "sweep" of our equipment.  While I was getting wanded by the Secret Service, they announced that if you had to go to the bathroom -- now was the time to do it!  There wouldn't be any chance once the president arrived.  When we were allowed back on the platform, my gear bag had been gone through.

All the media was packed on the platform.  As we awaited the arrival of Air Force One, we chatted amongst each other.  Then we started noticing the silent cues that the plane was near.  For instance, air traffic at the nearby SL International Airport stopped.  Security quietly increased.  Then we saw the plane come in!

I went live on the Doug Wright Show, trying my best to fill time.  When I overheard another reporter announce it sometimes takes 20 minutes for Air Force One to taxi, I gave up and tossed it back to Doug.  Eventually, the plane did make it to its final destination.  The president came out, waved to everyone, shook hands with the dignitaries and got in the limo.

From there, we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  We weren't going anywhere until the President left.

I interviewed a family that pulled some strings and got a free tour of Air Force One (a relative works for the president's security detail) and a family whose father was being honored by the president at the VFW convention.

To pass the time, I offered to take pictures of the reporters in front of the airplane.  Sure it's totally touristy, how often is it that you get a chance to get your picture taken in front of Air Force One?  A lot of this job is hurry up and wait.  The waiting was over -- here comes the hurry up part!

One of the TV photographers got a page that President Bush had finished speaking.  We all started getting ready again.  I called in to the station.  The producer of Utah's Noon News had almost forgotten me, alone out on the tarmac, babysitting an airplane.  I went on the air with what was happening, then quickly scrambled as we realized the president was coming back to the plane early!  LIVE on the air, I found myself doing a play-by-play of the president ("he's shaking hands, he's waving, he's getting on the plane...").  It was exciting, especially when Senator Orrin Hatch came over.  I took my headset out of my ear and shoved it toward him so we could carry his comments LIVE.  Honestly, I had no idea how anyone heard anything over the roar of the jets -- they were so LOUD!

Then the plane slowly taxied down the runway and took off.  An exciting afternoon, for sure.  We'll have a complete recap on Utah's Afternoon News from 4-7p.  Be sure to listen!

End of Summer

Simply put...this summer has been a roller coaster ride.  I am somehow looking forward to fall in hopes it will mark an end to Boy Scout troubles.  Some might think the average "news person" is unfeeling and just wants to get to the best story first and although news is a very competitive industry we are not without feelings.  For me, my heart goes out to the Bardsley and Hawkins families as we've witnessed their trials this summer...moments of both hope and grief.  I have not met either family but hope they realize what examples of strength they are......at least to this "news person." 

Showing our morals...

Why is it that we insist on keeping some laws on the books, even when we know they aren't constitutional or are outdated or are unenforcible.  For example, two Utah men took a case to the 10th circuit court of appeals this week after one of them had been charged under a state law drafted in the 50s protecting the U.S. and state flags from desecration.  He burned a smiley face into a U.S. flag and hung it on his garage, he says, to show his frustration with the judicial system.  His neighbors weren't happy. 

He was charged with a misdemeanor under the old law.  Eventually the case was dropped.  The other guy was running for governor and signed his name to a bunch of miniature state flags.  They took the case to court, hoping to get that old law scratched because a similar law in Texas was ruled un-constitutional by the Supreme court. 

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff this week said the law is not enforcible.   So why, I ask you, is it on the books?  I've heard some say we don't take laws off our books to show we are moral.  For example, under the law it is still illegal to fornicate or commit adultry.  No prosecutor would dream of drafting those charges.  I've heard some say we keep those laws to show we at one point in time took a hard stand against these acts.  It seems like we might be a bit too worried about perceptions.  Can't we just show folks we have morals by making sure we live right? 

I could be out to lunch on this one.  Maybe it's very difficult to get an old law off the books.  Maybe it would cost a lot of taxpayer money.  Maybe I'm the only one this bugs. 

Senator Karl Malone

It was a close vote.  I wasn't sure whether to go with John Stockton, Thurl Bailey or Malone.  As a matter of fact I had trouble choosing between George Washington, John Adams or Thomas Jefferson for president.  I finally made up my mind while using the new touch screen voting machine that's on display at the Davis County Fair.  I thought it was interesting you can go to the fair, play on the rides, get some cotton candy and vote, well sort of.

The new touch screen machine is much different than using the punch ballot.  At first you get a what looks like a credit card from an election worker.  They type in a code for the card and you slide that card in to the voting machine.  You then read the instructions and move on to the next page by simply touching the screen.  All the names and positions are listed and you just touch the box next to the name of the candidate.

Since it's just a display at the fair all the names were made up which made my choices very difficult.  I voted for Washington, Malone and I believe I wrote myself in for congress.  I wasn't sure how the whole write-in candidate situation would work but you just push the write-in box and then a keyboard appears and so I just wrote in my name.  After you finish selecting all the candidates a summary page comes up and one of the boxes was red.  It was notifying me that I only voted for one person in a category that allowed the option to vote for two people so that was nice it notified me so I could go back and select another fake candidate.

I can see on election night the first time these machines are used that there will be delays because voters will have to get used to them and that could cause some long lines.  It's easy once you use it but it takes a second to get all the instructions down.  A lot of people at the fair liked the option where you can make the font bigger on the screen so they could actually read the names if they forgot their glasses.  Also if you are blind you can plug in headphones and hear what candidate you voted for.  Right now election workers actually have to fill out the ballot for the voter and just trust them they filled it out correctly.

Of course the toughest vote was for senator.  I could just picture Karl Malone back in a senate judiciary meeting in his purple David Letterman outfit wearing a cowboy hat and boots and letting everyone know, "this is how Karl Malone would do it."  Yes Karl Malone is the best fake candidate.

Confessions of a Radio Mom

This is my first step into the world of blogging, and I must admit - I'm a wee bit proud of myself.  I've enjoyed reading various blogs for months and decided it's time I add my voice to the choir.

I came back to work a couple weeks ago after nearly three months of maternity leave.  That is one of the benefits of waiting until you're an old broad to have your first baby - you've accumulated so much bank sick leave you can afford to take the whole three months off.  I must say - it is good to be back.  I missed being a part of the world, aware of what was going on.  Maternity leave was like sensory deprivation for me - good - but a challenge.

And while I say that I am glad to be back, which I honestly am, I miss that baby so much sometimes it hurts.  I keep the pictures of Ethan minimized on my computer every morning so I can maximize them from time to time and see his face.  I never linger too long so as not to get distracted and miss my cue. 

People have asked me how having a child has changed me.  It would be easier to tell you how I have not changed.  This beautiful baby boy has changed so profoundly every facet of my life, every cell of my being.  I think of everything differently, appreciate my job more for the ability it gives me to provide for my family, think of stories differently for the effect they have on children and families.  I am not the same woman I was before I left the air back in May.

I want to thank all of you for your kind emails and wishes to me during my time off.  I received so many words of wisdom and kindness during those weeks, and I read them all.  Thank you for your generosity.  I am honored to have you as listeners and friends. 

Now - back to the news. . . .

Why ABC News?

The emails continue to come.  They ask, "Why the Switch?"  Long-time KSL listeners want to know, why did KSL Radio switch networks.  They also want to know, why haven't you said anything about it?  Let me briefly address both questions.

Why Switch Networks?
The short answer is ABC News is better.  Let me explain.  KSL Radio delivers a very fast-paced headline service at the top of the hour.  Then, in our later in the hour segments we go a little more in-depth with "Closer Looks" or live interviews.  ABC's quicker delivery and more concise presentation is a better fit.  Their anchors and reporters have a fresher sound that better matches KSL. 

ABC also is in the same camp with KSL when it comes to believing the world of news is dramatically changing.  The information overload that now exists in our society makes it essential for all media outlets to evaluate what they do and consider how they need to change.  This is precisely why you see every network news program undergoing fundamental shifts.  The cable news networks have had huge turnover and major programming adjustments in recent weeks and months as they struggle to address this reality.  It is why outlets like The New York Times have purchased satellite TV channels and Internet sites outside of their own.  It is why The Washington Post now operates two seperate sites on their homepage: one for locals and one for those outside the Beltway.

Times have changed.  With an oversaturation of news existing in our society, especially national news,  networks are working to find a way to be more relative and compelling.  ABC is a leader in this area.

Another reason for the change is national and international news coverage.  ABC News has made a very strong commitment to KSL in making their correspondents and key people on both radio and television available to us.  Just today at Noon we spoke live on KSL Radio with ABC World News Tonight correspondent Terry Moran in the Gaza Strip.  Terry is ABC-TV's top White House correspondent.  In the last few weeks, ABC has also made available to KSL everyone from Trent Lott to George Stephanopoulous to Steve Forbes to one of the Jackson jurors. 

One thing KSL Radio does that can not be matched by any other station in the market is take people live to where news is happening.  Listeners expect that from us for stories in Utah and now we're able to deliver that in a much better fashion around the world.  From the London Bombings to the Gaza Evacuations we can take our listeners live with exclusive interviews IMMEDIATELY after a major story breaks. Before, we had limited access to network correspondents and availability was restricted while a story was breaking.  We needed better since this market depends on us for breaking news.  It is critical that our hosts be able to interact with correspondents.  ABC is delivering on that front.

Another reason for the switch is network attention west of the Mississippi.  Broadcast networks often are criticized for ignoring anything major that happens out in the West (other than Hollywood).  ABC News is very aware of this and has been working hard on the radio side to change this.  Their newest correspondents have all been hired from western states.  Even producers and writers who have recently been added to their payroll have come from states in our area.  This is important to us at KSL.

I would not be completely truthful if I did not say financial aspects of the network deal with ABC News were more attractive than what existed previously.  National news industry organizations have taken notice of KSL Radio during the last few years awarding the station with significant recognition for its level of news coverage.  This national attention has made the station much more appealing to networks seeking the strongest affiliate lineup.  ABC News made a decision it wanted KSL under its umbrella and lobbied long and hard to make this happen.  Their offer was a good one.

Why Haven't I Heard Anything about the Switch?
This is the second most common question I'm getting.  Here's the answer: Most listeners don't care.  We made a decision not to strongly promote the change because we decided news quality was most important to our listeners not necessarily which source we got it from.  I understand the long-time KSL core audience is interested in finding out about the switch (hence this blog entry) but most of our 305,800 listeners don't pay a lot of attention to details.  They just want the best news stories, best traffic coverage, and best weather reports. 

We deliver that and try not to overload them with details.  Doesn't mean we won't say anything on air about ABC News in the days ahead, it just wasn't something we were going to heavily promote when we flipped the switch.

Finally, let me say two more things.  Lots of questions about what this means for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcasts that have been carried by CBS Radio for generations.  No change there.

And, some people have pointed out the change is an adjustment because of how long KSL was with CBS.  They're right.  You may not know KSL Radio was CBS News' longest running affiliate in the country.  73 years.  There was a great relationship between the two.  That's why this decision was in the works for nearly a year.  CBS News is a tremendous institution.  Their people and management have been nothing but professional and wonderful to work with.  Our respect for those individuals is not diminished. 

For now, though, ABC News and KSL Radio are the better fit. 

If you're interested in offering your comments... post them below.  Thanks...

Car Trouble...

So as you guys may well have guessed, it has been CRAZY around here.  A new website, summer is a big vacation time here as it is for all companies, Mary Richards had a baby (down a Reporter), Cougar Radio, a network switch (to ABC)...anyway, the list goes on and on. 

Not that any of those things are an excuse, BUT, I got pulled over for a bit of an oversight today. 

I was driving down Van Winkle this afternoon at seriously 49 miles an hour (the speed limit is 50).  The next thing I know *insert flashing lights and siren*, I get pulled over.  I literally have not been pulled over for seven or eight years, nor have I had a wreck (touch wood).  I pride myself on my driving so I really start to sweat about what I did.  So license and registration in hand the Officer with the Salt Lake County Sherriff's Office approaches.

Me: "Good Afternoon Officer."

Him:  "Did you know your plates are expired?"

At this point I am a little more relieved. 

Me: "Oh, crap...No sir, sorry I didn't!"

Him: "Well they are expired by six months!"

Me: "Whoops...."

So then he goes on to tell me he is supposed to IMPOUND the car after tags are expired for 2 months.  So then visions of me lugging my laptop and gear bag down Van Winkle come into my head.  But he was super nice, actually went on to say he won't impound the car because he, "doesn't want to end up in Rolly and Wells." 

Smartly, I figured that point wasn't the best to let him know that Wells left the Trib like six months ago. 

Vacation...

Don't know why I titled this post vacation especially now that mine is OVER  :(

Is it just me or is coming back after a few days off incredibly difficult?  I was back in Atlanta to see my family and the most memorable part of the trip was the THREE hours we spent at IKEA on Sunday. It is so big it could/should be considered it's own country. 

Anyway the other thing on my flight back, I sat in the exit row.  I have sat there before, don't usually think a thing about it.  But for whatever reason I decided to look at the diagram on the door showing you what to do in an emergency.  The first frame showed a woman with it looked like one hand on the handle to the door maybe, and the other hand on I think the armrest of the seat.  The next frame in the diagram showed people exiting the plane?!?!?  Hmmm, don't know about you but I really didn't feel like that helped me to understand how to open the door if I had to. 

In yesterday's Air France crash thankfully no one died, and it seems that way thanks to to quick thinking on everyone's part.  But that makes me think....instead of looking for people on your flight that might be terrorists, shouldn't you be looking at the people in the exit row to make sure they could get it done if yuor plane went down?