The Salt Lake City Council was busy this week with all sorts of land-use proposals. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to try to make sense of the municipal stuff. Plus, will we ever get more buses up the Cottonwood Canyons? And if you’re worried about flooding, Ali shares some action items to ease your anxiety. Listen to our episode on ADUs. Browse proposed changes to height requirements downtown. Adopt a storm drain. Check Salt Lake County’s floodplain map. Empanada Fest, Baby A...
Apr 07, 2023•31 min
It’s been fun to watch this winter’s snowfall break state records — most recently the all-timer at Alta Ski Area. But you know what they say about too much of a good thing? Meteorologist and forecaster Evan Thayer tells host Ali Vallarta why he is of two minds on all this snow and whether we could see another winter like this in our lifetimes. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake...
Apr 06, 2023•17 min
Host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means want to figure out if the interactive online robot, Chat GPT, is coming for their jobs. So, they decided to spend some time picking its “brain” about Salt Lake. Can it write a killer haiku about the proposed inland port? Not exactly. Can it analyze the experience of being a Salt Laker? Maybe. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Ch...
Apr 05, 2023•27 min
In a world full of acronyms, Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson is here to convince you to care about this one: ADUs aka accessory dwelling units. As the City Council takes up this heated debate, Taylor tells host Ali Vallarta how tweaks to Salt Lake City’s ADU ordinance could boost our housing supply — and maybe even bring back the “starter home?” Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Ca...
Apr 04, 2023•24 min
Driving down I-15 there are dozens of billboards advertising medical spa procedures for botox, face filler, and body sculpting. These med spas are Utahns' best kept secret, but why are we so obsessed with them? Deseret News features writer Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to get real about this cultural phenomenon. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for...
Apr 03, 2023•22 min
Academy Award winner and lifestyle influencer Gwyneth Paltrow is in Park City for what’s been dubbed “the trial of the century.” The spectacle has host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means wondering — for the first time in their lives — what the rules of skiing even are. They tackle that, downtown development updates, and spring sports during this week’s news roundup. Our conversation with Utah Falconz president and player Lacy Mile. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find ...
Mar 31, 2023•29 min
Athletes and enthusiasts have submitted a bold proposal for Salt Lake’s soon-to-be-vacant Smith’s Ballpark: build the first women’s sports complex in the nation. In a state that consistently ranks the worst for women’s equality, that’s a big deal! Utah Falconz football team president and defensive player Lacy Mile talks with host Ali Vallarta about what having a home field to play at could mean for her team and the trajectory of women’s sports. Salt Lake’s women athletes are totally crushing it....
Mar 30, 2023•23 min
The Salt Lake City Council recently approved the plan for a brand spankin’ new regional park in Glendale. It’s the site of the defunct Raging Waters Water Park and will have a ton of amenities. So, how hyped is the neighborhood? Salt Lake Tribune west side reporter Alixel Cabrera joins host Ali Vallarta to explain the potential impact of something called green gentrification. Get details on the Folsom Trail Mural Competition, which closes this Friday, March 31. Subscribe to our daily morning new...
Mar 29, 2023•20 min
A handful of Utah banks — including two in Salt Lake — have been put on a national watchlist for predatory lending practices. That has us worried! University of Utah law professor Chris Peterson, who specializes in consumer protection, joins host Ali Vallarta to break-down how Utah started exporting triple-digit interest rates — and whether it’s an indictment of FinTech. Read Christie Porter’s piece in Salt Lake Magazine about the potential impact of Silicon Valley Bank’s demise in Utah. Subscri...
Mar 28, 2023•22 min
This winter is one for the books. Utah’s snowpack broke a 40-year record, and we’re seeing increasing preparations around the valley in case of flooding. That, plus the third anniversary of the pandemic and Magna earthquake have us wanting to stock up on canned goods and put together a 72-hour kit. Emily Cottam, a Taylorsville prepper and mother of two, joins host Ali Vallarta to share her tips. Get sandbags at one of these “Stop and Fill” locations around the valley. Sign up for the Great Utah ...
Mar 27, 2023•17 min
The lineup for Salt Lake’s Twilight Concert Series was announced this week, and well, it’s gonna be a sad boy summer. Plus, the Utah Transit Authority isn’t on board with the Rio Grande plan, Davis School District might ban the Bible, and policing in Salt Lake County is up in the air. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the local stories of the week. Get tickets to Storytellers at Midnight Corner. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram...
Mar 24, 2023•25 min
The crescent moon was spotted on Wednesday night which means that thousands of Muslims across Salt Lake are now celebrating the holy month of Ramadan — which includes fasting from dawn to dusk! Nora Abu-Dan of the Emerald Project joins host Ali Vallarta to create a guide to being a good neighbor, manager, or co-worker over the next 28 days. This episode first aired on April 4, 2022. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Loo...
Mar 23, 2023•21 min
It’s been 19 years since riders and wranglers came to town to compete in Utah’s gay rodeo. But this summer, the Utah Gay Rodeo Association plans to break that spell by hosting the Crossroads of the West Regional Rodeo. UGRA trustee Kevin Hillman joins host Ali Vallarta to explore a resurgence in cowboy culture and explain where gay rodeo fits in the “Yeehaw Agenda.” Participate in the mini, indoor gay rodeo at Club Verse this Sunday, March 26, beginning at 3 p.m. (21+) Subscribe to our daily mor...
Mar 22, 2023•21 min
There is no Salt Lake as we know it without a vibrant LGBTQ+ community, and our drag scene reflects that. But like other places around the country, drag shows are under attack by lawmakers and right-wing extremists who say they aren’t appropriate for children. Salt Lake’s all-ages Bes-Teas show recently returned, after armed Proud Boys protested the event earlier this year. Now, Bes-Teas creator Tara Lipsyncki joins host Ali Vallarta to explain what’s at stake. Salt Lake’s 2022 municipal equalit...
Mar 21, 2023•21 min
From the triumphant return of the Utah Royals soccer club to the University of Utah Women’s basketball team taking home the PAC-12 championship, our women athletes in Salt Lake are absolutely crushing it. Women’s sports super fan Sarah Reale joins host Ali Vallarta to explain why this is more than just a moment — it’s an evolution in our local industry. Read the 2021 Deloitte TMT Predictions report on the monetization of women’s sports. Get tickets to the Utah Wild. Subscribe to our daily mornin...
Mar 20, 2023•22 min
It seems like there’s always new news from Salt Lake City’s Ballpark neighborhood. This week, “The Swarm” proposal is the buzz about town. Plus, we have good and bad news for our shrinking Great Salt Lake. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to make sense of the week’s news. Plus, Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria recommends a weekend of “maybe” events. See renderings of "The Swarm" proposal for Ballpark. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instag...
Mar 17, 2023•28 min
We recently asked Mayor Erin Mendenhall if Salt Lake City would consider rescinding its “no camping” ordinance, and she said no. That raised some questions for us, like how often are Salt Lakers going to court for camping? Taylor Hastings, an attorney with the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, talks with lead producer Emily Means about what other measures could keep folks out of the criminal justice system while trying to survive on the city's streets. Subscribe to our daily morning newslett...
Mar 16, 2023•23 min
We love our big parks here in Salt Lake: Liberty, Jordan and Sugar House Parks — all have a lot to offer. But this show isn’t about them. Today, we’re highlighting those tiny pocket parks you might never know about if you don’t know where to look. They’re scattered throughout neighborhoods and cover about two acres or less. Lead producer Emily Means talks with pocket park enthusiast Bryant Heath about his favorites. Plus, we hear from listeners on the ones they think are worth checking out. This...
Mar 15, 2023•18 min
Utah’s got a fever, and the only prescription is new flags. Salt Lake City’s redesigned banner has received glowing reviews from flag experts. And after a multi-year process and thousands of submissions, the Legislature approved a simpler design to rep the Beehive State — though some voters think there’s no school like the old school. Host Ali Vallarta talks with Ted Kaye of the North American Vexillological Association about what makes for a good flag and why it’s important to have one. Podcast...
Mar 14, 2023•22 min
One of the reasons we live in a city is the promise of accessibility, right? Disability advocate Shelby Hintze explains how the legacy of the late Barbara Toomer can be felt in how she gets around Salt Lake in a wheelchair. Plus, she shares the infrastructure improvements as well as day-to-day courtesies on her wishlist. Listen to our chaotic Women’s History Month playlist on Spotify. More info on Disability Activist Barbara G. Toomer Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on...
Mar 13, 2023•21 min
Let’s get municipal. The Salt Lake City Council was busy this week, taking hours of public comment on oodles of issues. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the week’s news, including permanently closing SLC’s Main Street to cars and ranked choice voting in this year’s municipal election. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for p...
Mar 10, 2023•30 min
Salt Lakers love a good commuter rail ride as much as the next transit nerd (see you on FrontRunner!). But our neighbors in Boise are frickin’ stoked about the idea of a possible Amtrak route from the Big Potato to the Big Salty. City Cast Boise lead producer Frankie Barnhill and host Emma Arnold join Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta to talk about why Boiseans are so pumped to ride the rails to SLC — and whether Salt Lakers return the feeling. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find u...
Mar 09, 2023•24 min
In just 45 days, Utah lawmakers passed nearly 600 bills. It’s a lot to take in. Fortunately, FOX 13 Capitol Hill reporter Ben Winslow was paying attention for us. Ben joins host Ali Vallarta to break down what legislators did about the issues Salt Lakers care about most — from housing and homelessness to the proposed gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Also: What the Legislature did about the Great Salt Lake, liquor, and health care. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on...
Mar 08, 2023•26 min
Utah lawmakers passed nearly 600 bills in just 45 days. Whew! It’s a lot to take in. Luckily, FOX 13 Capitol Hill reporter Ben Winslow was paying attention for us. Ben joins host Ali Vallarta to break down what legislators did about the issues Salt Lakers care about most — from the Great Salt Lake to liquor laws. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for pod...
Mar 07, 2023•23 min
We could all use a stiff drink now and then — bartenders especially. It’s a tough gig, with difficult customers, low wages, and bad tippers. Salt Lake mixologist Alexi Fisher joins host Ali Vallarta to explain what it’s like on the other side of the bar and break down when and how to tip service workers. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and ...
Mar 06, 2023•23 min
Happy Meteorological Spring, everyone! The days are (hopefully, maybe) getting warmer. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about the week’s stories, including funding to study burying Salt Lake City’s trains, Gov. Spencer Cox’s move to clear the air, and a confusing vote by the Salt Lake County Council. Learn about burying the rails through the Rio Grande Plan. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Loo...
Mar 03, 2023•25 min
It’s the freezing cold start to an election year, so this year we made a point of getting Salt Lake City’s candidates for mayor Rocky Anderson and Michael Valentine on the record about one of our most urgent issues: homelessness. Today, in the final installment of our three-interview series, host Ali Vallarta talks with current SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall about her record on this issue, including her position on sanctioned camping. A little housekeeping: These were not debates — each conversation ...
Mar 02, 2023•31 min
It’s the freezing cold start to an election year, so we wanted to get Salt Lake City’s candidates for mayor on the record about one of the city’s most urgent issues: homelessness. 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. A little housekeeping: Yesterday, candidate Michael Valentine gave his take on homelessness, and finally, curren...
Mar 01, 2023•27 min
It’s the freezing cold start to an election year, so we wanted to get Salt Lake City’s candidates for mayor on the record about one of the city’s most urgent issues: homelessness. In the first of three interviews, host Ali Vallarta talks with mayoral candidate Michael Valentine about how his experience with homelessness influences his policy proposals. A little housekeeping: Tomorrow, candidate Rocky Anderson gives his take on the issue, and finally, current Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall ...
Feb 28, 2023•23 min
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall recently announced plans to fund a new approach to affordable housing. The program would put money back into renters’ hands to help them buy a home in the future. Perpetual Housing Fund Co-Director Ashley Atkinson joins host Ali Vallarta to explain how this fits into solving Salt Lake’s housing puzzle. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Che...
Feb 27, 2023•21 min
