City Cast Salt Lake

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of your to-do list. Today, we invite you to slow down and romanticize your Salt Lake life with us. Producer Ivana Martinez and Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria join lead producer Emily Means to share the little Salt Lake City things that bring them joy.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSL...

Cozy season incoming! The leaves and temperature are hinting at the arrival of fall in Salt Lake, and we can’t wait to curl up with the new book we got from an independent book shop. Looking to branch out from big-box stores? Provo-based author Whitney McGruder is on a quest to visit every locally owned bookstore in Utah and shares her top picks with producer Ivana Martinez. Whitney’s favorite boo...

Primary Election Day is here! Some Salt Lake County residents have municipal races on their ballots. But the big-ticket item — for Republican voters in Congressional District 2 — is the GOP primary to replace outgoing Rep. Chris Stewart. KSL Radio reporter Lindsay Aerts joins lead producer Emily Means to break down the differences between the three candidates and explain the significance of this r...

Salt Lake City has named an ambitious timeline for opening a new sanctioned campground: this winter. But where will it go? Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins lead producer Emily Means to round up the week’s news, including the far-off opening of a new cooperative food market. Plus, Taylor and Emily share their picks of the week. Listen to our conversations with the three mayoral candi...

Earlier this month, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts opened the Tatau: Marks of Polynesia exhibit, which explores the art, tradition, and history of tatau (Samoan tattooing). Lead producer Emily Means talks with Verona Mauga, cofounder of the Pacific Islander advocacy organization Le Malu, about this tradition and its revival, as well as her own tatau experience. The exhibit runs through December. You...

September gets a bad rap. It’s kind of an awkward month that’s bookended by the end of summer and the start of fall. But producer Ivana Martinez and host Ali Vallarta argue it’s one of the best times of the year. They round out their best bets for you to try this month to make this September one to remember.   Here are some of the events and places we talked about in this episode:  Utah State Fair...

From “oh my heck” to dropping our Ts, many Utahns have a special way of speaking. Lead producer Emily Means talks with theater professor and dialect coach Stacey Jenson about the origins of the Utah accent and what defines it. This episode originally aired Aug. 29, 2022. Take the Hey Salt Lake Utah phrases quiz. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC a...

The affordable housing crisis isn’t unique to Salt Lake City. In Park City, there are more jobs than residents, which means lots of people commute into town each day. So how will the city government get workers housed and out of traffic? KPCW reporter Parker Malatesta joins host Ali Vallarta to break down what housing projects are in the pipeline as well as other developments that could majorly ch...

Enjoy the primary election while it lasts, because the Utah GOP is forcing Republican voters to go to caucus night for next year’s presidential election. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the impacts of ditching primaries. Plus, Ali’s white whale — the Hoberman Arch — makes its triumphant return. And the new face of Utah-based Minky Couture is … a Backstr...

Sometimes the tears well up and you can’t control it! So, where are the best places in Salt Lake to comfortably cry in public? With help from City Cast listeners and Hey Salt Lake readers, newsletter editor Terina Ria and producer Ivana Martinez join host Ali Vallarta to compile a list and map of the best local spots to find comfort, or solace from strangers.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsle...

Salt Lake City has a brand new, 5-year housing plan: Housing SLC. Host Ali Vallarta asks Ruedigar Matthes, a policy manager for Salt Lake City’s Community and Neighborhoods Department, what the plan entails and how the city will execute on a bold vision amidst our statewide housing crisis. “Getting Paid to Pay Rent in SLC” by City Cast Salt Lake. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can...

The idea of gender affirming care has become increasingly politicized in Utah. But what does it actually mean? Al Fernandez recently underwent a breast reduction surgery that helped them feel more comfortable in their body. They join host Ali Vallarta to share tips for getting your insurance to cover this kind of procedure, and talk through the mythologies around gender affirming care. Subscribe t...

The Utah Department of Transportation has officially greenlit the controversial proposal to build a 22-tower, 8-mile gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Host Ali Vallarta asks Salt Lake Tribune enterprise reporter Julie Jag what this means for the next 10 years of recreating in the canyon — and whether it’s still a pipe dream. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagra...

Back to school season is raising difficult questions about back to school safety for legislators, educators, school board members, and students themselves. Plus, the sunscreen drama of TikTok has finally hit Utah. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen joins host Ali Vallarta to round up city news, and share picks of the week. Get tickets to this weekend’s Utah Beer Festival. Browse the Utah Jazz...

There’s lots of talk about how close the mountains are to Salt Lake City, but how many of us are really taking advantage of nearby trailheads? Prolific hiker Brandon Miller hiked 54 trails in 54 days, and he tells host Ali Vallarta the best local hikes for any occasion — from dog-afraid to dog-friendly, or with a 7-year-old in tow. Plus, we offer a few overnight hike suggestions, for the backpacki...

School starts next week for the Salt Lake City School District. Do you have back-to-school jitters? Host Ali Vallarta checks in with John Arthur, a 6th grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary, about school closures, new leadership at the district, and how teachers are feeling as they open their classroom doors. Help local teachers buy supplies for their classrooms. Listen to our conversation with J...

Starbucks employees in Cottonwood Heights made headlines when they became the first in Utah to formally unionize with Starbucks Workers United. But now, just one year later, some of those same employees are working with the National Right to Work Foundation to decertify their union. Host Ali Vallarta asks KUER politics reporter Sean Higgins what the hell happened to turn the tide. Subscribe to our...

Host Ali Vallarta is on a quest to go to every bar in Salt Lake County, and she decided to knock out every ‘Bout Time Pub & Grub in the valley in one day (there are nine) with her BFF Shireen Ghorbani. What makes this franchise so special? And which ‘Bout Time is best? They discuss.  Track Ali’s journey to visit every bar in Salt Lake County @everybarslc or via this spreadsheet. Subscribe to our d...

Salt Lake City Corporation plans to turn downtown Main Street into a pedestrian promenade, and they want to know how big we can dream. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down city business, read local gripes, and share picks of the week. Plus, you have homework: Send us questions for our mailbag episode! Take the city’s Main Street survey TODAY. Attend the opening of Tatau:...

Utah is known for a lot of things: the greatest snow on earth, fry sauce, national parks — and getting scammed. Year after year, Utah is named one of the top states for fraud and was even one of the first to set up a white collar crime registry because of this. Deseret News Features Writer Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to categorize Utah’s various scammers and figure out who’s to blame.  This...

As Salt Lake City grows, “gentrification” is often thrown around as a dirty word. But is it always a bad thing? Alessandro Rigolon, University of Utah professor of city planning, joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about what gentrification actually looks like in this city and how to lessen its violent impacts.  Learn more about Salt Lake City’s Thriving in Place plan. Subscribe to our daily morning n...

On Tuesday, the Utah Supreme Court is hearing arguments to determine whether the injunction currently blocking Utah’s abortion trigger law can be upheld under Utah’s constitution. While we won’t get an answer for weeks (or maybe months), the ongoing battle over the legality of abortion in our state is causing stress for patients and providers. Host Ali Vallarta asks Rachel Dyer, the executive dire...

The new mayor of Denver recently declared a state of emergency around homelessness to unlock more resources. Could — and should — Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall do the same? Plus, what plans are in the works for sanctioned camping? Andrew Johnston, Salt Lake City’s director of homeless policy, answers some of host Ali Vallarta’s burning questions about the city’s approach to our homelessness...

A Utah man has filed a ballot initiative to allow grocery stores to sell wine and spirits, as well as lower the 88% markup on alcohol sales. Does it have any chance of passing? Plus, what makes a bathroom extraordinary? Lead producer Emily Means and host Ali Vallarta roundup the top stories and share their picks of the week.   Vote for America’s Best Restroom before Aug. 11. Vote for City Cast Sal...

It’s been 30 years since Salt Lake City’s big debut as fake Los Angeles in the classic friendship movie “The Sandlot.” Never seen it? Seen it 100 times? Born-and-bred Salt Lakers lead producer Emily Means and newsletter editor Terina Ria join host Ali Vallarta to talk about whether this movie holds up and who its real heroes and villains are. Get tickets to watch the Sandlot at the sandlot with th...