News

The Boy Scouts of America delayed a vote this morning on whether it should change its policy excluding gay scouts and leaders. The move would give troops control over who they welcome into their ranks and people in Utah are paying close attention. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the largest Scouting youth membership of any organization. Wednesday, we're asking people on both sides of the controversy what a policy change would mean for the organization and for its members.

Thursday on RadioWest we’re talking about northern Utah’s perennially poor air quality. While people have no control over the weather and geography that team up to trap nasty air in the valleys, they can influence one very important factor: how much air pollution they put out. So here are some questions: Who’s responsible for our mucky air? What, realistically, can be done about it? And what can we learn from other cities that have cleaned up their air? We want to hear from you, so we hope you’ll join us.

A lawsuit was filed in New Jersey on Tuesday against groups that say they can help gay people be straight. A University of Utah student and LDS Church member is among the four plaintiffs who claim they were defrauded and endangered by conversion therapy. Proponents of “reparative therapy” insist that it can help reverse homosexuality. Critics say it can lead to severe depression, anxiety and even suicide. Wednesday, we’re asking whether gay conversion therapy is “quackery” or a legitimate treatment.

When a U.S. Navy SEAL team killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last year, the journalist Mark Bowden says it was the final chapter in a long and significant story. That story began soon after 9/11, when America went to war with evasive and opportunistic enemies and had to develop innovative fighting tactics. Bowden's latest book chronicles the decade of intelligence gathering, mission planning and strategies that finally led to "The Finish." Tuesday, he joins Doug to talk about what he learned.