City Cast Salt Lake

Utah House Republicans elected new leadership this week, and host Ali Vallarta thinks you should put Speaker Mike Schultz’s number in your phone right now. Ali and executive producer Emily Means discuss expectations for Schultz heading into the next legislative session. Plus, unionizing is afoot among University of Utah Health workers, which is perfect timing as a memorial for labor activist Joe H...

The Salt Lake Bees are moving to Daybreak, a master-planned community in South Jordan. And while a lot of Salt Lakers scoffed at this decision, recent data shows that 56% of urban Utahns desire more planned living. Daybreak resident Samora Magadla recently won the lottery and decided it was the place to put down roots, which has host Ali Vallarta asking: Is Daybreak cool? Become a founding member...

The campaign season for Salt Lake City mayor has felt longer than it had any right to be, including about a dozen debates with the candidates. As we inch closer and closer to Election Day, executive producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to discuss takeaways from the debates and some final musings before voters decide who will lead our city.  Why would the Utah Jazz leave Salt Lake City? KUE...

Utah is now the only bidder for the 2034 Winter Olympics, which has some outlets reporting that it’s almost certain Salt Lake City will be awarded the games (again). But not all SLC residents are convinced we need a do-over — including host Ali Vallarta. Catherine Raney-Norman, a four-time Olympian and chair of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, makes her case for bringing the Olympi...

We crave more third spaces in this city — but our local coffeehouses do a damn good job! Host Ali Vallarta asks local cafetero Alonso Reyna Rivarola what makes a café worth spending hours in, and why coffee shops have become an important safe space for a lot of locals. Plus, where can you get a hot cuppa after 6 p.m.? Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best...

We’re taking a break from election coverage to talk about two scandals that boggled our brains this week. One involves essential oils and the other a sexy calendar — we couldn’t make this up if we tried. Executive producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the stories, plus share their picks of the week. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityC...

Homelessness is one of Salt Lake’s most urgent issues, and the topic has dominated the Salt Lake City mayoral race. Earlier this year, City Cast Salt Lake was quick to get candidates on the record about the issue. In the final part of our three-interview series, host Ali Vallarta talks with current SLC mayor Erin Mendenhall about her record on this issue, and how she views the city’s role in probl...

The topic of homelessness has dominated the Salt Lake City mayoral race, and earlier this year, City Cast Salt Lake was quick to get candidates on the record about the issue. In the second of three interviews, host Ali Vallarta talks with former SLC mayor and current mayoral candidate Rocky Anderson about his record on this issue, stretching all the way back to the 2002 Olympics. Later, Ali and le...

The topic of homelessness has dominated the Salt Lake City mayoral race, and earlier this year, City Cast Salt Lake was quick to get candidates on the record about the issue. With Election Day about two weeks out, host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means are revisiting and analyzing our conversations with each of the candidates, starting with Michael Valentine.  Find out more about Salt Lak...

This past winter, ski bus service up Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons really sucked. With opening day at the resorts fast approaching, what can winter recreators expect this season? Russ Fox, director of planning at the Utah Transit Authority, joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about improvements, so you’re (hopefully) not left waiting at a bus stop in a blizzard.  UTA’s guide on riding the ski bus...

Election Day is a couple weeks away, and candidates are making their last-ditch efforts to convince you to vote for them. But can their endorsers convince you? Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to ponder how much political endorsements really matter in an election. Plus, they share municipal news about community funding for arts and culture programming and a permanent Green Loop as...

Looking for a weekend getaway from Salt Lake? Try heading north to Boise, Idaho. We know what you’re thinking: “Boise? Really?” But lead producer Emily Means just visited for the first time — for her mini honeymoon, of all occasions — and absolutely loved it. She joins City Cast Boise host Emma Arnold to debrief on food recommendations, tractors, and more. Plus, should Salt Lake be a little more l...

November can seem like just a runway month to the holiday season. But producer Ivana Martinez and host Ali Vallarta are here to convince you to make the most of this month. They share their best bets for November, from nailing your Friendsgiving to local ideas for homebodies. Here are some of the events and places discussed: Workshop SLC Salt Lake Pottery Ballet West Utah Symphony Clever Cucumber...

So you’ve received your ballot for Salt Lake City’s municipal elections, and it just might be your first time using ranked choice voting. Now what? Salt Lake City Elections Management Coordinator Olivia Hoge joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the do’s and don’ts when it comes to ranked choice ballots, so you can successfully cast your vote this election season.  Dates, deadlines, and more helpf...

Besides the Utah Jazz’s defeat in their first home game of the season, things seem to be looking up for Jazz fans. The team is wearing purple, they’re playing at the Delta Center again — good signs all around. Except for a rumor that has us on edge: Could the Jazz someday leave Salt Lake City for the ‘burbs? Host Ali Vallarta has been looking for answers and shares her speculations and findings wi...

What’s in Salt Lake County’s budget? Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down Mayor Jenny Wilson’s proposal. Plus, four heroes ran an entire marathon around the 9th and 9th whale, tricks for avoiding the wait at Urgent Care, and City Creek Canyon closures. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when our famously mild-mannered and street-swept suburbs absolutely rock out for Halloween. Twelve-foot-tall skeletons grace Sugar House neighborhoods, Daybreak is Barbieland, and Utahns are hyped for scary season. Deseret News features writer Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to explain why Utah goes so hard for Halloween. Consider becoming a founding me...

There are a lot of assumptions about Utah and the people who live here, but only a few of them are true. KUER politics reporters and State Street co-hosts Saige Miller and Sean Higgins join host Ali Vallarta to debunk some of the biggest Utah stereotypes and dig into how we’re pushing back against them.  Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support...

Medical Director of Utah Naloxone Dr. Jennifer Plumb explains exactly how to identify and reverse an opioid overdose by administering Naloxone. And, where Salt Lakers can get a Naloxone kit to keep on them. This episode originally aired on April 12, 2022. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for year...

In September, Salt Lake City and state officials announced the site of the state’s first-ever sanctioned homeless camp at 300 S. and 600 W. in downtown SLC. And though details are still being ironed out, one city council member has said they’re looking to Denver’s sanctioned camping program for inspiration. Host Ali Vallarta asks Denverite homelessness reporter Kyle Harris what lessons Salt Lake c...

Temperatures are dropping and people want to know — what’s Salt Lake’s winter homelessness plan? Plus, is downtown getting a makeover? Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the news and share their picks of the week. Volunteer with Unsheltered Utah this weekend. Learn more about the Point in Time Count, and sign up to volunteer in January 2024. Choose a proposal for downt...

We never thought we’d see the day when it’s more cost-effective to rent than buy a house, but here we are. Deseret News reporter Katie McKellar joins host Ali Vallarta to explain how renting pencils out better than buying in Utah’s current housing market, and Ali asks what that means for the American dream. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to supp...

There are 18 Black-owned banks left across the entire United States, and one of them is now in Holladay. Host Ali Vallarta asks Redemption Bank’s chairman and CEO Ashley Bell why the only Black-owned bank in the Mountain West will be in Utah — and what its $78 million NFL deal means for Salt Lake. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our wo...

What are funeral potatoes? What’s Salt Lake’s best bar deal? Where should you take your parents when they visit? It’s our first mailbag show, and you sent us some excellent questions. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to answer them. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to c...

The final steel beam has graced Astra Tower, the luxury apartment building that’s the newest addition to the Salt Lake skyline. But aside from being the tallest building in the state, what does it all mean? Host Ali Vallarta asks local realtor Mitch Finlinson how the Astra is already changing Salt Lake City’s downtown — for better or worse. Consider becoming a founding member of City Cast Salt Lak...