It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when our famously mild-mannered and street-swept suburbs absolutely rock out for Halloween. Twelve-foot-tall skeletons grace Sugar House neighborhoods, Daybreak is a haunting wonderland, and Utahns are hyped for scary season. Deseret News features writer Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to explain why Utah goes so hard for Halloween.This episode originally aired Oct. 26, 2023.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re 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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  ICO Vote.utah.gov Stein Eriksen Lodge Sugar House Chamber of Commerce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Salt Lake City Council tries to explain their vote to increase our sales tax in support of the new downtown sports district, but did they convince anyone? Executive producer Emily Means and producer Ivana Martinez analyze their defense and ask if they’re rewriting history. Plus, we answer your ballot questions, an Election Day movie deal, and Real Salt Lake tailgating. Resources and references: Salt Lake City Council: We didn’t just make a deal for a sports arena, we invested in lasting public benefits for a vibrant downtown [Salt Lake Tribune] Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re 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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  ICO Vote.utah.gov Stein Eriksen Lodge Sugar House Chamber of Commerce Embodied Patience Live Crude - Get $25 off your facial by mentioning this ad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jordan River Trail has a bad reputation in Salt Lake City, but in the suburbs it’s an oasis for recreation. Salt Lake Tribune Westside reporter Jose Davila IV joins executive producer Emily Means to talk about how the river serves as a refuge for residents and what it would take to align SLC’s experience with the rest of Salt Lake County.Read the second story in Jose’s reporting series, and listen to our previous episode on the current state of the trail in Salt Lake City.Photo: Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake TribuneBecome a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re 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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  ICO Vote.utah.gov Stein Eriksen Lodge Sugar House Chamber of Commerce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s official: I-15 from Farmington to SLC is getting bigger. Executive producer Emily Means and KUER assistant news director Caroline Ballard break down the plan and its impacts to residents. Plus, ballots hit mailboxes this week, election pub trivia, and an outstanding restroom experience in SLC.Resources and references: Check out voter information breakdown and election coverage  Audit finds errors with nomination signatures but candidates still qualify [KUER] KUER Connects: 2024 Ballot Trivia Night Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re 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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  Vote.utah.gov Nightmare on 13th Embodied Patience Live Crude - Get $25 off your facial by mentioning this ad. Dr. Alexis Chiropractor - enjoy your first visit for just $60 (normally $210!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back by popular demand, City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from across the country to talk about what stories they're watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Hear from Salt Lake's own Ali Vallarta along with hosts from our daily local shows in Austin, Boise, Chicago, D.C., and Pittsburgh.City Cast is now in 13 cities across the country! Joining our member community is the best way to support what we do. Get all the details and sign up here.Looking to advertise on City Cast? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  Vote.utah.gov Nightmare on 13th Dr. Alexis Chiropractor - enjoy your first visit for just $60 (normally $210!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Salt Lake voters have a stacked ballot this year, but two races representing 1.2 million people have our attention. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down our interviews with the Salt Lake County mayoral candidates and at-large council contenders, and share the moments that made us go, “huh?”Find all of our candidate interviews — with transcripts! — on our elections page. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re 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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  Vote.utah.gov Nightmare on 13th Dr. Alexis Chiropractor - enjoy your first visit for just $60 (normally $210!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The section of the Jordan River Trail in Salt Lake City is more of a liability than an asset these days, especially for Westside residents. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Jose Davila IV tells host Ali Vallarta how we got here and what solutions are on the table. This is the first installment in a three-part series on the Jordan River, a partnership between City Cast Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Tribune.Read the first story in Jose’s reporting series.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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  Vote.utah.gov Nightmare on 13th Embodied Patience Live Crude - Get $25 off your facial by mentioning this ad. Dr. Alexis Chiropractor - enjoy your first visit for just $60 (normally $210) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Another thing on your ballot is void! Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down Amendment A’s journey to the trash. Plus, a 1,200-bed homeless campus, new roundabout at the capitol, and potential “blanket war.” Resources and references: Amendment A voided by court so votes on it won't count [Fox 13] Utah bucks homeless resource center model, will build a new centralized shelter [Salt Lake Tribune] Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re 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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  The Shop Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Vote.utah.gov Nightmare on 13th Embodied Patience Live Crude - Get $25 off your facial by mentioning this ad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The race is on for an open seat on the Salt Lake County Council! Host Ali Vallarta asks Democratic candidate Natalie Pinkney about her plans for homelessness, affordable housing, and criminal justice. Listen to our interview with Natalie’s opponent, Republican candidate Rachelle Morris.Scroll down to read the transcript of our interview with Natalie Pinkney.Learn more about Salt Lake County’s new homelessness plan.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re 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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  The Shop Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Vote.utah.gov Nightmare on 13th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The race is on for an open, at-large seat on the Salt Lake County Council! Host Ali Vallarta asks Republican candidate Rachelle Morris how she would approach this big role in homelessness, affordable housing, and criminal justice. Tomorrow, you’ll hear from her opponent, Democratic candidate Natalie Pinkney.Scroll down to read the transcript of our interview with Rachelle Morris.Learn more about Salt Lake County’s new homelessness plan.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re 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.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:  Zoo, Arts, and Parks Reauthorization and Preservation Committee  The Shop Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Vote.utah.gov Nightmare on 13th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices