City Cast Salt Lake

Salt Lakers are concerned about police accountability, especially with the increased presence of federal troops in many cities. DC Council in Washington recently passed emergency legislation requiring local police to release body-worn camera footage of incidents involving federal forces they patrol with, and to collect the names of federal officers who make arrests. It’s a big shift in local policy, partially motivated by the fact that local cops have damaged their reputation by patrolling with feds. City Cast Chicago podcast host Jacoby Cochran talks with City Cast DC podcast co-host and executive editor Mike Schaffer about the political stakes involved, the effectiveness of body cameras, and how Washingtonians are dealing with the heavy federal law enforcement presence. Plus, Mike and Jacoby weigh in on public transit etiquette in their cities when it comes to people playing music out loud. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email us now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Utah’s congressional races are heating up. Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Chandler Rosenberg discuss which candidates are making waves and if you need to change your voter registration. Plus, Trump’s involvement with the Great Salt Lake and picks of the week.   Resources and references: Court-drawn map upends Utah primary elections, forces GOP shakeup and opens door for Democrats [Deseret News] The audacious plan to refill the Great Salt Lake [NBC]  Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.  Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  The Shop Utah Museum of Fine Arts Project Rainbow

Can astrology help us make sense of Salt Lake City’s past, present and future? Host Ali Vallarta asks Salt Lake Tribune reporter and astrologer Addy Baird what’s in the stars for the city, and she contextualizes recent events using this ancient practice.   Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  The Shop Utah Museum of Fine Arts Project Rainbow The Watch Party

Utah’s 2026 legislative session went up to midnight Friday, and today is part two of our recap. Host Ali Vallarta asks FOX 13 Capitol Hill reporter Ben Winslow what lawmakers did to your life — from gas prices to Salt Lake’s streets and LGBTQ+ healthcare. Listen to part one: What Lawmakers Did About Liquor Laws, Voting, and Great Salt Lake Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  The Shop Utah Museum of Fine Arts Project Rainbow

After passing a $31 billion budget and more than 500 bills, the Utah Legislature's 2026 session is finally over. Host Ali Vallarta asks FOX 13 Capitol Hill reporter Ben Winslow what lawmakers did to your life — from how we vote, to the booze we drink, to the air we breathe. Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  The Shop Utah Museum of Fine Arts Project Rainbow Cozy Earth - use code COZYSALTLAKE for up to 20% off

People are camping outside the courthouse for Kouri Richins’ murder trial — a Utah mom accused of killing her husband, who wrote a book to help her family grieve. Host Ali Vallarta asks KCPW reporter Connor Thomas and KSL podcast executive producer Amy Donaldson to lay out the facts and make sense of the cultural implications of the case.  Follow along with Connor's reporting of the case. Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  The Shop Utah Museum of Fine Arts Project Rainbow

With homelessness on the rise in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah, the state is moving forward with a divisive idea to try to solve the crisis. The plan is to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers. Mentioned on the show: Interrogating Controversial Homeless Policy Proposals (City Cast Salt Lake) Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

As we head into International Women’s Day, a shocking homicide case in southern Utah has our attention. Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Kate Groetzinger discuss what we know so far. Plus, the final day at the Legislature and some picks of the week to restore your faith.  Resources and references: Help us make a list of the 1,000 things we love about Salt Lake. How to Actually Make Utah Better for Women [City Cast Salt Lake] 4 Ideas To Fund Instead of More Jails Beds [City Cast Salt Lake]  Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.  Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  ICO Brickyard Boxing Canyon View Credit Union

We’re all trying to save money right now, without stunting our social lives. So can we have a fun day in Salt Lake for under $50? Host Ali Vallarta, Queen of SLC Kendall Rodriguez, and Salt Lake mom and Salon Pèttine owner Liz Farnsworth accept the challenge.    Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  ICO Brickyard Boxing Canyon View Credit Union

Do Utahns still say "dill" instead of "deal"? Host Ali Vallarta asks Lisa Morgan Johnson, professor of linguistics at Brigham Young University, how the Utah accent has changed and why.  Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.  Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  ICO Brickyard Boxing