City Cast Salt Lake
City Cast Salt Lake is SLC’s daily news podcast. Join host Ali Vallarta and a bevy of smart and entertaining locals for conversations about the issues that matter most. City Cast Salt Lake will celebrate the city’s triumphs, explore its history, (try to) solve its mysteries, and it’ll help you feel more connected to the Wasatch Front – whether you’ve lived here for six months or six generations. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at saltlake.citycast.fm.
Episodes
January 30, 2026 • 46 mins
Utah is about to buy one of our biggest polluters, US Magnesium. Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Chandler Rosenberg discuss what this means for the Great Salt Lake. Plus, bills we’re watching and joyful picks of the week.
Resources and references:
Utah set to buy one of the state’s major polluters in $30M ‘commitment’ to Great Salt Lake [Salt Lake Tribune]
Cox calls...
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January 29, 2026 • 20 mins
Tourists are swarming Park City for Sundance’s last dance. But do they know the real mountain town? Executive producer Emily Means talks with Michael O'Malley, author of "Attitude at Altitude: The People's Guide to Park City and Summit County," about his best local tips and tricks.
This episode first aired on Oct. 16, 2025.
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January 28, 2026 • 30 mins
Is Salt Lake City's downtown gonna pop off in 2026? Host Ali Vallarta asks Blake Thomas, downtown advisor to Mayor Erin Mendenhall, what's on tap for the neighborhood this year.
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Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning ne...
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January 27, 2026 • 38 mins
Salt Lake City took to the streets this weekend to protest ICE after the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and newsletter editor Terina Ria talk about how local leaders responded. Plus, news from the first weekend of Sundance and local shoutouts.
Resources and references:
Utah officials react after federal agents kill second U.S. citizen in Minneapolis [Salt Lake Tribune...
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January 26, 2026 • 25 mins
Now that host Ali Vallarta is learning to ski, she asks More Perfect Union reporter Jordan Zakarin why Vail and Alterra had to ruin all the fun. And, if city-owned ski resorts are the future?
Listen more on how we could save Park City.
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January 23, 2026 • 36 mins
Four days of the Utah legislative session under our belts — just 41 more to go, but who's counting? Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Cassie Bingham talk about the highs and lows from the first week. Plus, joyful picks for your weekend.
Resources and references:
Anti-transgender bill among ‘most harmful and outrageous’ Utah LGBTQ+ advocates have seen [Utah News Dispatch]
...
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January 22, 2026 • 26 mins
Our Rocky Mountain Power electric bills went up last year, and they could go up again this year! But some cities are actually powering their own electricity. Host Ali Vallarta asks Mike Squires of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems if it's cheaper and what it would take for Salt Lake City to make the switch.
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January 21, 2026 • 34 mins
The feds are allegedly looking to build an ICE detention center on Salt Lake City’s west side. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down the response from local electeds. Plus, a fun surprise to celebrate our 1,000th episode and shoutouts!
Mentioned on today's episode:
Help us make a list of the 1,000 things we love about Salt Lake.
Cabaret for public media
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January 20, 2026 • 41 mins
Utah’s legislative session kicks off today! Senators and reps from around the state could pass more than 500 new laws over the next 45 days. Host Ali Vallarta asks Rep. Calvin Roberts, R-Draper, and Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, which ones will tackle the cost of living in Utah.
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January 16, 2026 • 41 mins
What can Salt Lake City government do about ICE? Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Kate Groetzinger discuss the city's response to our very pointed question. Plus, how to escape the inversion and picks of the week.
Some ICE-related resources:
Sign up for the business canvass this Saturday.
FICE is selling shirts to benefit La Red de Solidaridad.
Volunteer or donate t...
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January 15, 2026 • 28 mins
As gross air encircles the city, anxiety is high about the shrinking Great Salt Lake and its toxic dust. Host Ali Vallarta asks Save Our Great Salt Lake co-founder Chandler Rosenberg what phase of saving the Great Salt Lake (and ourselves) we are in right now, from upcoming legislation to a new report on water use.
Read the Great Salt Lake Strike Team’s 2026 report.
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January 14, 2026 • 22 mins
The Kem C. Gardner Institute published research claiming that “nearly half of Utah’s current young children do not read at grade level.” Host Ali Vallarta asks Salt Lake City School Board member Ashley Anderson about this shocking new data.
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January 13, 2026 • 37 mins
Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning for Utah’s last-ever Sundance Film Festival! Host Ali Vallarta and Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria have tips for making the most of it as a local. Plus, we give our own ‘Best of Sundance Awards’ and shout out great places.
You might also like ‘Sundance Tips From Former Staffers’ [City Cast Salt Lake]
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January 12, 2026 • 22 mins
Everyone's favorite medical drama, "The Pitt," is back for season 2 tonight! Each season is an intense depiction of one 15-hour shift in a downtown emergency room. Salt Lake emergency medicine Dr. Aly Smith tells host Ali Vallarta how the cases and the institutional issues compare to a real local ER.
This episode first aired April 30, 2025.
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January 9, 2026 • 27 mins
Flights From Home is sponsoring this episode, and they gave host Ali Vallarta her dream assignment: Plan four vacations for executive producer Emily Means using real Flights From Home deals out of the SLC airport. Here’s what to eat and see abroad on a shoestring budget in 2026 — take notes!
Explore this week’s free travel deals with Flights From Home, the sponsor of this episode.
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January 9, 2026 • 35 mins
Could Salt Lake County's 15% property tax increase be overturned? Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Andy Larsen talk about the citizen-led effort to put it to voters. Plus, the Poplar Grove "BioTower" and joyful picks of the week.
Resources and references:
Resident-led referendum on Salt Lake County tax increase qualifies for signature process [KSL]
Salt Lake City paus...
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January 8, 2026 • 12 mins
Two people are dead and several are injured after a shooting outside an LDS church in Salt Lake City Wednesday evening. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means share what we know so far.
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Subscribe to Hey Salt Lak...
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January 7, 2026 • 26 mins
SLC bartenders listen to everyone’s problems, even on holidays. But who is taking care of their mental health? Host Ali Vallarta asks One Small Miracle founder Matt Pfohl about a new program to help solve that problem in Utah.
Text Matt about One Small Miracle at 801- 419-7165.
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January 6, 2026 • 35 mins
Twenty-five new laws went into effect in Utah on Jan. 1. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down the biggest (and strangest) ones, so you stay out of trouble. Plus, our local predictions for 2026, heated Olympians, and the 9th annual Cage Week!
Here are 25 new Utah laws that went into effect on Jan. 1 [KSL]
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January 5, 2026 • 57 mins
Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers.
Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make ...
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