City Cast Salt Lake

Latest Episodes:

What Can Westsiders Get from the MLB Stadium? May 06, 2024

Show notes

A brand new, unelected board will oversee the development of a big project near the Utah State Fairpark, hypothetically anchored by a Major League Baseball stadium. Westside Coalition President Dan Strong, the community representative on the board, joins host Ali Vallarta to talk through the best-case scenario for this neighborhood-altering proposal.

Resources and references:

What Can Taxpayers Get for $2B in Stadiums? [City Cast Salt Lake]

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Protest Violence at U of U, We Saved the Bees, and Amazon Cat Return May 03, 2024

Show notes

Police broke up pro-Palestine encampments and protests at the University of Utah this week. How does this jibe with the university’s legacy of campus activism? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means discuss how a generational moment is playing out in Salt Lake City and share picks of the week, from a local cat’s 500-mile journey to the bee Census.

Resources and references:

Police end University of Utah student pro-Palestine rally with riot gear and 19 arrests [Salt Lake Tribune]
University of Utah protests: Overnight camping has been allowed before — for ESPN’s College Gameday [Salt Lake Tribune]
U Origins: The U’s History of Student Protests and Activism [Daily Utah Chronicle]
“Know Your Protest Rights” by ACLU Utah [Instagram]
Stowaway cat from Utah shipped to California in Amazon returns package [Salt Lake Tribune]
Salt Lake County Free Pet Microchipping Service
“Honey We Saved the Bees” [Today, Explained]

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Life Advice From a Local Olympian May 02, 2024

Show notes

It’s graduation season for Salt Lake’s high schools and colleges; let the commencement advice commence! Olympic speedskater Erin Jackson is the keynote speaker for Salt Lake Community College’s ceremony, so host Ali Vallarta asked the gold medalist for guidance, from changing careers to overcoming your fears.

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Harmons Grocery
Epic Brewing
The Governor’s startup.utah.gov toolkit

Your Guide to May in Salt Lake May 01, 2024

Show notes

If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Salt Lake community.

May is the ultimate transition month in our city, where it’s not quite spring but not yet summer. Host Ali Vallarta and Deseret News columnist Meg Walter bring you a guide to what to expect and how to make the most of this month, from the end of school to the start of festival season. Plus, if you plan on hitting up one of the music festivals mentioned, don’t miss our episode on how to be a good concert goer.

For even more tips on how to make the most of May in Salt Lake, check out Hey Salt Lake’s take on what to do this month.

City Cast Salt Lake is made possible by our awesome sponsor, Living Traditions. We’re also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Salt Lake.

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Reach us at saltlake@citycast.fm.

SLC’s Transportation Strategy, New Local Bars, and a Fuel Spill Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Salt Lake City made a new plan to heal its east-west divide and guide how we get around. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means explain SLC’s transportation goals and how you can weigh in on May 7. Plus, a long-awaited bar reopening, Parleys diesel fuel spill, and the Great Salt Lake’s emotional toll.

Resources and references:

ACLU’s Bathroom Law Impact Assessment Survey
How Salt Lake City plans to heal its ‘single-largest transportation issue’ [Salt Lake Tribune]
How Many More Lanes Does I-15 Really Need? [City Cast Salt Lake]
Learn more about the Connect SLC transportation plan and comment at the May 7 SLC Council Meeting
DABS awards all remaining Utah bar licenses at February meeting [Gastronomic SLC]
Gastronomic SLC DABS reporting
Restaurant in 9th and 9th gets a liquor license; damaged Garage on Beck to reopen soon [Salt Lake Tribune]
Every Bar SLC on Instagram
Every Bar SLC Spreadsheet
Drinking water not impacted by fuel spill in Parley’s Creek, officials said [KSL]
Are the Great Salt Lake scientists all right? [High Country News]

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Harmons Grocery
Epic Brewing
The Governor’s startup.utah.gov toolkit

Lessons From SLC’s First Legal Camp Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

Salt Lake City’s microshelter community — the state’s first ever legal camp for unhoused people — was set to close this week, but that’s no longer the plan. Host Ali Vallarta asks Switchpoint executive director Carol Hollowell what the future holds for the temporary site and its 50 residents and what lessons will carry over to the next version of the project.

Resources and references:

SLC’s FAQ about the Temporary Microshelter Community
Abandoning Shelters for Permanent Supportive Housing [City Cast Salt Lake]

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Harmons Grocery
Epic Brewing
The Governor’s startup.utah.gov toolkit

NHL in SLC, Sticky School Topics, and Rattlesnake-Proof Your Dog Apr 26, 2024

Show notes

Hockey is here, and Salt Lake turned out bigtime to welcome the team. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means noodle on names for our newest sports franchise. Plus, Salt Lake schools tackle some sticky topics, a neighborhood tradition will go on, and consider rattlesnake training your dog.

Resources and references:

‘My best day in the NHL so far’: Salt Lake shows up for new hockey club [Deseret News]
Two New Trademark Applications Submitted For Utah NHL Team Name [KSL Sports]
Montreal Expos tweet
Salt Lake School District pauses student training on transgender bathroom law [Axios Salt Lake City]
Salt Lake City schools is the latest district to ponder what to do with smartphones [KUER]
How many ‘indecent’ books will be banned statewide after new Utah law takes effect in July? [Utah News Dispatch]
Resident’s backyard concerts will continue in 15th & 15th after striking deal with Salt Lake City [Building Salt Lake]
Rattlesnake Alert ($200) and Utah Rattlesnake Avoidance ($175)

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Epic Brewing

4 More Powerful Salt Lakers You’ve Never Heard Of Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Behind every sweeping decision affecting our day-to-day lives is a table full of unfamiliar yet influential faces. In the last episode of a two-part series, host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means introduce four more powerful individuals and organizations you’ve probably never heard of and explore their impact in our communities.

Listen to Part 1: Salt Lake’s Unknown Power Players.

Resources and references:

Utah's 'unelected governor': The political clout of Zions Bank CEO Scott Anderson [Salt Lake Tribune]
Utah’s new racial equity compact embodies the spirit of Christmas [Deseret News]
Billboard Wars, Did SLC Catch a Coyote? And Consignment Strategies [City Cast Salt Lake]
Utah Realtors Association a powerful lobby group [Deseret News]
Justice Department Says It Will Reopen Inquiry Into Realtor Trade Group [New York Times]

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Epic Brewing

Busting Salt Lake’s Air Quality Myths Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

Salt Lakers tend to think of our city’s battle with air quality as recent history — but that’s not really true. In fact, this might be the cleanest our air has been in a while. Dr. Logan Mitchell, a climate scientist and analyst with Utah Clean Energy, helps host Ali Vallarta understand some of the myths around the air you can chew, where we go from here, and how to keep our lungs safe.

This episode originally aired April 10, 2023.

Resources and references:

Check the daily air quality at air.utah.gov.
Digital exhibit: The History of Air Quality in Utah

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Epic Brewing

Canyon Construction, Cox vs. EPA, and Bad Parking Jobs Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

Spring in our canyons brings mountain bikers, dog walkers, and heavy machinery together. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means set your expectations for canyon construction, from Millcreek Canyon to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Plus, air quality is a top-10 issue for Utahns, so why would Gov. Spencer Cox sign a letter asking the Environmental Protection Agency to back off? Start your week with our SLC news roundup and some local shoutouts.

Resources and references: