City Cast Salt Lake

Survey says: We’re done griping about our growth and want to find smart ways to guide it instead. The Governor’s Office released results from the Guiding Our Growth survey this week. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the findings on housing, transportation, water, and open space. Plus, they share their picks of the week. Public comment for the I-15 expansion is open n...

Are you ready for the annular eclipse? On Saturday, Oct. 14, the sun will appear in the sky like a “ring of fire,” and southern Utah will be right in its path. The cosmic event will surely draw huge crowds, and Torrey Mayor Mickey Wright says his town is gearing up for a massive wave of visitors. Mayor Wright — who is also an astronomer — joins host Ali Vallarta to give us an astronomy lesson and...

Salt Lake City’s neighborhoods are far from identical — just ask the staunch defenders of their boundaries. But is it a real problem, or a realtor’s problem? Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins host Ali Vallarta to explain why we should care where our neighborhood starts and ends.  This episode originally aired Feb. 8, 2023. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on...

According to Salt Lake City’s housing dashboard, we’re currently short about 18,000 affordable housing units. So the City Council is exploring a slate of code changes and incentives to encourage affordable housing developments in every part of our city — not just the west side. From skyscrapers to density and fourplexes, SLC Council Chair Darin Mano tells host Ali Vallarta how these ideas could tr...

Salt Lake Tribune data reporter Andy Larsen is exploring how Salt Lake County incomes stack up against available rental units — and, just in time for Halloween, it’s frightening! He and host Ali Vallarta discuss how it all relates to an inflammatory text from one Salt Lake City Council candidate. Plus, producer Ivana Martinez lends ears to Ali’s big feelings™ about South Salt Lake’s proposed In-N-...

In 2018, the state of Utah was awarded three Michelin Stars. But the prestigious travel award is often associated with culinary excellence, and, on that front, Utah restaurants have not been awarded a single star! Host Ali Vallarta asks food writer and Gastronomic SLC founder Stuart Melling why we haven’t received the blessing, and what area restaurants should be on Michelin’s short list. Subscrib...

There are a lot of layers to the bombshell news surrounding Utahn Tim Ballard and his anti-human trafficking organization, Operation Underground Railroad. There’s the public rebuke by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; allegations of sexual misconduct against Ballard; a psychic providing intel for rescue missions; and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes’ connections to Ballard.  But ben...

The Salt Lake City School District is looking at closing a handful of elementary schools and changing boundaries for the remainder as it faces nearly a decade of declining enrollment. As Salt Lake reels over this decision making process, host Ali Vallarta asks SLC Schools Communications Director Yándary Chatwin some of our most burning questions. Like, whose opinion matters most in this process? S...

Lake Powell is a favorite summer destination for Salt Lakers, but the Colorado River water crisis is begging the question: Do we need to drain Lake Powell and decommission Glen Canyon Dam? Luke Runyon, co-director of The Water Desk at the University of Colorado, joins host Ali Vallarta to explain the proposal and make the case for why Salt Lakers should be invested in the fate of the Colorado Rive...

A Salt Lake City bookstore received bomb threats this week over an all-ages drag storytime event. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about it — because we think more people should be. Plus, we break down a potentially interesting development in the Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola saga as well as what’s going on with the ski bus this winter. Listen to our conversation with T...

Need to return something at City Creek? Don’t do it this weekend! Downtown will be crowded for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ General Conference. Architectural designer CJ Hellige tells host Ali Vallarta about the storied history of City Creek, and how Salt Lake City is still reckoning with its future over one sky bridge. This episode originally aired Dec. 12, 2023. Subscribe to...

If staring down colorful trees is not your idea of a good time, fear not! Autumn in Utah has so much more to offer than changing leaves. In the final installment of our Fall Getaway Guide, newsletter editor Terina Ria gives host Ali Vallarta tips for making the most of your weekends this season, whether you’re in the mood to pick apples, tour haunted sets, or chase salmon. Subscribe to our daily m...

It’s prime leaf-peepin’ time, people. Utah’s fall foliage is absolutely blushing right now, and you don’t want to miss the picture-perfect glory of our shortest season. In part two of our Fall Getaway Guide, producer Ivana Martinez joins host Ali Vallarta to share her top picks for enjoying the fall colors, plus tips for getting the perfect autumn photo. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter....

Fall is a great time of year to head to Southern Utah and visit our “Mighty Five” national parks. But did you know you can experience the beauty and wonder of the parks without ever stepping foot inside one? In part one of our Fall Getaway Guide, host Ali Vallarta joins lead producer Emily Means to share her recommendations for taking in this season’s glory in the shadow of the national parks, wit...

Get ready to open up, Utah, because we’re digging into the state’s most “critical vulnerabilities” as laid out in a new legislative audit. Plus, despite our wet winter and spring, the Great Salt Lake is still in trouble — though it has a new, very famous ally. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta for a therapy session to break down all of our most pressing crises as well as sharing th...

The final installment of this season’s Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series hits Gallivan Plaza Friday. Andrea Racine, head of artist relations at S&S and the voice of our theme music, joins host Ali Vallarta to lay down some ground rules for how to be a good concert goer. Get tickets to Rina Sawayama. This episode originally aired May 11, 2023. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find...

Salt Lake City recently resurrected a long-forgotten relic of the 2002 Winter Olympics: the Hoberman Arch. The 30,000-pound art installation has a new home near Salt Lake City International Airport — but it’s lived rent-free in host Ali Vallarta’s mind for years. Now that SLC has officially been blessed as the U.S. bid city for the 2030 or 2034 Games, Ali tells lead producer Emily Means the story...

Former “8 Passengers” vlogger and Utah mom-fluencer Ruby Franke has been charged with aggravated child abuse. How did this story evolve, and what are the lessons to be learned? Deseret News features writer Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to get candid about the money making business of “sharenting” online and how she grapples with posting about her family. Subscribe to our daily morning newslet...

Salt Lake City is about to get its first ever sanctioned homeless camp, at 300 S. and 600 W. And if you’re thinking that’s very near the site of the former Road Home shelter, so are we. Lead producer Emily Means got the details from the city and state and tells host Ali Vallarta what we know about this big neighborhood project. Sign up for future volunteer opportunities around the sanctioned camp,...

Sen. Mitt Romney announced in a video Wednesday that he will not seek reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2024. Host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means have big feelings about this decision and ask what the senator’s political legacy will be. Plus, Salt Lake City announces the site of a new sanctioned homeless encampment, and we share our picks of the week. Subscribe to our daily morning news...

You’ve found it: your special outdoor spot. But if you let people in on the secret, do you run the risk of drawing too much traffic to paradise? And if you don’t share those spaces, what kind of legacy are you enabling? Western Desk founder Madeline McGill joins host Ali Vallarta to examine gatekeeping of our natural lands and who writes the rules for navigating them. Where to watch the kokanee sa...

It’s a lot of work to get life-saving Medicaid coverage in Utah. Right now, the state is reviewing the eligibility of every single recipient — and advocates and legislators alike are alarmed by how many people are losing coverage. Consumer advocate Stephanie Burdick joins lead producer Emily Means to break down what’s happening and what she believes the state could do to keep Utahns covered.  Is y...

A new era is dawning for 300 W. in Salt Lake City’s Ballpark neighborhood. Road construction is over, and the city’s first ever food truck park is on its way. Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins lead producer Emily Means to give us the details on the new park and look ahead to what’s next for 300 W. Is Salt Lake City the next Austin? Take the Ballpark NEXT community visioning survey th...

If you’ve tried making an appointment with a health care provider recently, you’ve probably experienced an extremely long wait time to be seen. You’re not the only one. Salt Lake Tribune innovations reporter Sofia Jeremias joins producer Ivana Martinez to break down why Utahns are waiting several months to see a doctor.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @City...

Big news this week with a primary election, a lawsuit to protect the Great Salt Lake, and households with dogs outnumbering households with kids in Salt Lake City. Producer Ivana Martinez joins lead producer Emily Means to break it all down and share their picks of the week. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Learn about t...