😤 What's your biggest SLC gripe?

The New Urban Hospital

Intermountain Health revealed plans for its urban hospital campus at the former Sears site on State Street in Salt Lake City. It will feature 12-story towers, extensive parking, and reserved space for the cherished 800 S. taco carts. While the plan aims to activate street fronts with hospital services and public spaces, some City Council members criticized the lack of street-level engagement and expressed concerns about rezoning. [Building Salt Lake]

• Related: As State Street changes, where will its beloved restaurants go? [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

Former U of U Basketball Star Signs With Nike

Alissa Pili, former University of Utah basketball player and Minnesota Lynx forward, has signed a brand deal with Nike N7, which is known for supporting Native American and Indigenous athletes. Pili, who is of Samoan and Inupiat descent, excelled in college, earning All-American honors, and was Lynx’s eighth draft pick. [Salt Lake Tribune]

SLC One of the Most Expensive Airports

A study ranked Salt Lake City International Airport as the third most expensive airport in the nation. The average airfare out of SLC is nearly $440. Only San Francisco and Washington Dulles international airports were pricier. We also saw the fifth-largest drop in affordability from 2022 to 2023. [Town Lift]

• Related: Maybe it’s time to check out the cheap flights out of Provo? [Hey Salt Lake 📰]
• Also: The future of SLC airport. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

The Scoop on Operation Jordan River

People have reported feeling unsafe on the Fairpark section of the Jordan River trail. And now, city, county, and state resources are being poured into a drug-busting operation there. But, have we seen this before? [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

On the Potential NHL Logos

Utah fans aren’t thrilled about the Utah Hockey Club:

“I honestly think it is ridiculous that they are not truly naming the team until the season after next. They are literally making double the work for themselves. They will need to come up with branding and jerseys and sell apparel for the ‘Utah Hockey Club’ and then just do it all over again the following year for the ‘Utah Yeti’ (which is what everyone seems to want the team to be called anyway).” — Austin H.

On SLC’s New Liquor Store

Is bigger always better? One Hey Salt Lake reader says, it depends:

“The big question for cocktail lovers: Is the two story liquor store going to carry an expanded offering of liquors? Or are we stuck with the same ole? No matter where you go in Utah (as far as I can tell) the approved state liquor list of booze doesn’t include things like crème de menthe or crème de cacao, among many others. If it doesn’t change, you could make the store ten stories and I wouldn’t go out of my way. Sad!” — Maxwell W.

Operation Jordan River? Sounds Familiar.

In response to local complaints, law enforcement is targeting drug operations on the Jordan River Trail. But, in an area where many unsheltered people live, crime and homelessness are often conflated. Executive producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to draw comparisons between the Jordan River situation and 2017’s Operation Rio Grande — and muse on lessons learned so we don’t make the same mess.