Hey, Salt Lake! The former home of Ralphael Plescia, the artist behind the now-demolished Christian School on State Street, is for sale. Plescia filled the bungalow with his signature sculptures, some of which are now displayed at Art Castle.
There’s a hole in the roof, but it might be the only SLC house for sale at $300K.
What Salt Lake's Talking About
The Egyptian Theatre in Park City for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Ali Vallarta/City Cast Salt Lake)
Last Sundance, No Egyptian Theatre
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival, the last to be held in Utah before moving to Boulder, Colorado, will not include the Egyptian Theatre. After decades as one of the festival’s most iconic venues, it’s reportedly “unavailable” next year. [Salt Lake Tribune]
We won an award for this podcast episode: “Is Sundance OK?” [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]
Rural Hospitals at Risk
Utah’s rural hospitals are bracing for major financial strain following the passage of the 'big, beautiful bill' that slashes Medicaid by up to $1 trillion over 10 years. While a new rural health grant program may soften the blow, state health leaders warn the cuts could lead leave thousands at risk of losing coverage. [Utah News Dispatch]
In Utah: Medicaid require you to apply for 48 jobs. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]
Firenado in Southeast Utah
A rare “fire vortex” damaged a fire engine but caused no injuries in southeast Utah over the weekend. The Deer Creek Fire has burned over 10,000 acres, remains 0% contained, and is one of several major wildfires across the state amid extreme heat and dry conditions. [KSL]
A Summer Food Bucket List
The latest restaurant closures, a summer bucket list for eating and drinking your way around the valley, and important questions like: should the borscht on 3300 South be served hot or cold? It’s all in our food news roundup. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]
Plan your next getaway in Walla Walla! Located in the heart of the Pacific NW in southeastern Washington state, Walla Walla Valley is home to more than 130 wineries offering great wines, vineyard experiences and more. Walla Walla – where wine is just the beginning. Plan your adventure today!
How To Be More Civically Engaged
Making friends in the voting center line. (Ivana Martinez/City Cast Salt Lake)
Did you vote in the last election? When was the last city council meeting you went to? New research shows Utahns across the board are participating less in their communities, and that has consequences. Here's what to know and some ways to flex that muscle.
Utah Slips in Civic Engagement
The Utah Foundation, a nonpartisan research group, recently released a report measuring the state's social capital, defined as "the ways in which individuals can leverage connections between people and social networks for the benefit of themselves or their community." One way to build social capital is through civic participation.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Utah isn't the powerhouse of civic engagement it once was. Here are the ways we're slipping nationally, according to the Utah Foundation:
🗳️ Voter turnout: We've dropped from 13th in 2018 to 26th in the most recent election.
🙋 Public meetings: Citizen attendance at public meetings has fallen from 3rd in 2019 to 10th in 2023.
💵 Advocacy funds: Utahns donate an average $0.30 to an advocacy organization for every $1,000 they earn, which puts us at 43rd.
What's the Impact?
We've got a real chicken-or-the-egg conundrum here, folks. One of Utah voters' biggest concerns, according to another Utah Foundation study, is politicians not listening to them. So, is it surprising that fewer people are turning out to vote or showing up to public meetings if they feel they're going to be ignored anyway?
At the same time, these are important ways to make your voice heard. The report says civic engagement has "significant implications" for how responsive government is to the needs of its constituents. Makes sense; how will they know what your priorities are if you don't tell them?
How To Get Involved
Sometimes the biggest hurdle to civic engagement is knowing where to start. Here are some resources to set you on your path:
🗣️ Public comment: Wanna weigh in on policy? We have a guide to commenting at your next SLC or Salt Lake County Council meeting. Plus, the Utah Legislature meets throughout the year to discuss priorities for their general session in January. It's a great time for you to share your thoughts.
🫶 Donate money or time: Find an advocacy organization working on issues you care about and volunteer your resources. It could be for anything: immigrant rights, the Great Salt Lake, street safety.
