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Rogan podcast doesn't paint the full picture of homelessness in SLC

Comedian Shane Gillis said he chased down by "ten homeless guys" when he was starting out in SLC's comedy scene.

Politics

Despite the viral Joe Rogan clip zeroing in on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Salt Lake City&#x27;s homelessness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/07/utah-homelessness-falls-chronic-mental-illness" data-vars-content-id="510bddcf-803b-4079-be61-e92c12b8a880" data-vars-headline="Rogan podcast doesn&#x27;t paint the full picture of homelessness in SLC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/07/utah-homelessness-falls-chronic-mental-illness" target="_self">Salt Lake City&#x27;s homelessness</a>, new data shows it&#x27;s actually declining.Why it matters: Homelessness is down in Utah for the first time in six years, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="barriers to affordable housing" data-vars-click-url="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/07/21/home-prices-salt-lake-county-break-record/" data-vars-content-id="510bddcf-803b-4079-be61-e92c12b8a880" data-vars-headline="Rogan podcast doesn&#x27;t paint the full picture of homelessness in SLC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/07/21/home-prices-salt-lake-county-break-record/" target="_blank">barriers to affordable housing</a> remain.

True crime TV series highlights missing Utah man

News

A Utah missing person case from 2009 is getting another look with the Freeform <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="true crime" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/07/15/my-favorite-murder-podcast-to-tour-in-slc" data-vars-content-id="2bcfe0cd-9e59-4f1b-9f87-e69ba8bf8419" data-vars-headline="True crime TV series highlights missing Utah man" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/07/15/my-favorite-murder-podcast-to-tour-in-slc" target="_self">true crime</a> series &quot;Somebody Knows Something,&quot; streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.Driving the news: A 42-minute <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="episode" data-vars-click-url="https://www.disneyplus.com/play/effca214-e61a-4d19-abf3-d24f0409368a" data-vars-content-id="2bcfe0cd-9e59-4f1b-9f87-e69ba8bf8419" data-vars-headline="True crime TV series highlights missing Utah man" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.disneyplus.com/play/effca214-e61a-4d19-abf3-d24f0409368a" target="_blank">episode</a> released this week reviews the disappearance of then-30-year-old Steve Koecher, a St. George man who was last seen Dec. 13, 2009 on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surveillance footage" data-vars-click-url="https://news3lv.com/news/local/the-search-for-man-who-went-missing-in-henderson-in-2009-continues" data-vars-content-id="2bcfe0cd-9e59-4f1b-9f87-e69ba8bf8419" data-vars-headline="True crime TV series highlights missing Utah man" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news3lv.com/news/local/the-search-for-man-who-went-missing-in-henderson-in-2009-continues" target="_blank">surveillance footage</a> in Henderson, Nevada.

Exclusive: Defense contractors unveil collaborative in Utah

The group could make smaller businesses more competitive in an industry where startups often don't have the resources to wait years for a big government payday.

Aerospace

Utah defense contractor CenCore has launched a coalition of businesses that plan to work together to win defense and intelligence agency contracts.Why it matters: The group — dubbed the Integrated Warfighter Ecosystem (IWE) — could make smaller businesses more competitive in an industry where startups often don&#x27;t have the resources to wait years for a big government payday, CenCore CEO Adam Fife tells Axios.

Inside the U.S.'s 1st Knoops in Salt Lake City

Knoops founder tells Axios that the brand is well-suited in Utah, where its products appeal to people who avoid coffee and alcohol.

Food and Drink

Knoops, a British cafe serving chocolate-infused drinks, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="opens its first U.S. location" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/06/knoops-chocolate-first-us-store-opening" data-vars-content-id="184085dd-3f64-44b4-9710-dd1c35891764" data-vars-headline="Inside the U.S.&#x27;s 1st Knoops in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/08/06/knoops-chocolate-first-us-store-opening" target="_self">opens its first U.S. location</a> in Salt Lake City Friday — and Axios got a behind-the-scenes look inside.The big picture: Knoops&#x27; arrival comes as artisan cocoa-based beverages <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gain steam" data-vars-click-url="https://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article313138672.html" data-vars-content-id="184085dd-3f64-44b4-9710-dd1c35891764" data-vars-headline="Inside the U.S.&#x27;s 1st Knoops in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article313138672.html" target="_blank">gain steam</a> nationally, fueled by viral social media trends and greater consumer demand for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ethically sourced chocolate" data-vars-click-url="https://rawmanticchocolate.com/blogs/rawmantic-chocolate-blog/why-consumers-are-switching-to-artisanal-chocolate?srsltid=AfmBOoqbXIGK-PcA7cuGpftZibFJFRcXBilas1XhQgfHNUnemqaFupnz" data-vars-content-id="184085dd-3f64-44b4-9710-dd1c35891764" data-vars-headline="Inside the U.S.&#x27;s 1st Knoops in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rawmanticchocolate.com/blogs/rawmantic-chocolate-blog/why-consumers-are-switching-to-artisanal-chocolate?srsltid=AfmBOoqbXIGK-PcA7cuGpftZibFJFRcXBilas1XhQgfHNUnemqaFupnz" target="_blank">ethically sourced chocolate</a>.

Utah's wildfire season reaches historic extremes

As of Wednesday, 838 fires had burned more than half a million acres in Utah in 2026.

Utah&#x27;s wildfires are scorching woodlands and forest at an unprecedented pace, according to a new University of Utah <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/utahs-historic-fire-season-of-2026/" data-vars-content-id="7e7e0634-69c8-4bbd-8ce6-0fc3ee189d05" data-vars-headline="Utah&#x27;s wildfire season reaches historic extremes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/utahs-historic-fire-season-of-2026/" target="_blank">analysis</a>.Why it matters: We&#x27;re only halfway through the state&#x27;s wildfire season, leaving time for more potential blazes exacerbated by Utah&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="poor snowpack" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/02/11/storm-brings-hope-utah-snowpack" data-vars-content-id="7e7e0634-69c8-4bbd-8ce6-0fc3ee189d05" data-vars-headline="Utah&#x27;s wildfire season reaches historic extremes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/02/11/storm-brings-hope-utah-snowpack" target="_self">poor snowpack</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="blistering temperatures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/07/29/salt-lake-city-heatwave-weather-temperature-weekend" data-vars-content-id="7e7e0634-69c8-4bbd-8ce6-0fc3ee189d05" data-vars-headline="Utah&#x27;s wildfire season reaches historic extremes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/07/29/salt-lake-city-heatwave-weather-temperature-weekend" target="_self">blistering temperatures</a>.

Salt Lake City will see "very little relief" as heatwave persists

Salt Lake City shattered a heat record earlier this month after recording an all-time high of 109°F.

Salt Lakers may want to crank up the A/C or head to a public pool to cool off this week as an ongoing heat wave keeps temperatures in the upper 90s and low 100s through the rest of the week, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="forecast" data-vars-click-url="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.758478&amp;lon=-111.888142" data-vars-content-id="94e33fba-0ba1-4fda-914f-c0af015cc9b9" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City will see &quot;very little relief&quot; as heatwave persists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.758478&amp;lon=-111.888142" target="_blank">forecast</a>.What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;There&#x27;s just going to be very little relief from the heat, which is particularly problematic for people who have a higher risk for heat sensitivity,&quot; Sam Webber, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service&#x27;s Salt Lake City office, tells Axios.

Nearly 30K households in Salt Lake County lacked A/C in 2023

Nationally, just 6.9% of U.S. households did not have air conditioning as of 2023.

About 6.6% of Salt Lake County households lacked air conditioning in 2023, according to newly released Census data. Why it matters: That&#x27;s 30,000 households with no A/C and we&#x27;re expecting triple-digit heat this summer.

Utah braces for "dangerous" wildfire season

Severe, extreme or exceptionally dry conditions prevail across much of the West.

Most of the state is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions as above-average temperatures persist this year, setting up a &quot;dangerous&quot; fire season, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told reporters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pbsutah.org/pbs-utah-productions/series/governors-monthly-conference/" data-vars-content-id="f8e2e369-2a4e-495d-971a-073f28a14a24" data-vars-headline="Utah braces for &quot;dangerous&quot; wildfire season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pbsutah.org/pbs-utah-productions/series/governors-monthly-conference/" target="_blank">told reporters</a> last week.The big picture: Following long stretches of low precipitation, dry conditions prevail across much of the West, South and Southeast, per the U.S. Drought Monitor, Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/28/wildfire-season-2026" data-vars-content-id="f8e2e369-2a4e-495d-971a-073f28a14a24" data-vars-headline="Utah braces for &quot;dangerous&quot; wildfire season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/28/wildfire-season-2026" target="_self">reports</a>.

Pollution persists along the Wasatch Front despite slight gains

Salt Lake and Uintah counties ranked among top 25 U.S. counties with the worst ozone pollution.

Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem ranked as the 13th worst U.S. metro for ozone pollution, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="improving four spots" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/04/23/salt-lake-provo-orem-ozone-pollution" data-vars-content-id="09000d83-d6e2-42bd-a809-daa22c8176d7" data-vars-headline="Pollution persists along the Wasatch Front despite slight gains" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/04/23/salt-lake-provo-orem-ozone-pollution" target="_self">improving four spots</a> from last year, according to a new study.Why it matters: The American Lung Association&#x27;s annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="State of the Air report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lung.org/research/sota/key-findings" data-vars-content-id="09000d83-d6e2-42bd-a809-daa22c8176d7" data-vars-headline="Pollution persists along the Wasatch Front despite slight gains" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lung.org/research/sota/key-findings" target="_blank">State of the Air report</a> comes as the Trump administration moves to block <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="penalties against Utah" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/04/22/trump-ozone-limits-utah-international-pollution" data-vars-content-id="09000d83-d6e2-42bd-a809-daa22c8176d7" data-vars-headline="Pollution persists along the Wasatch Front despite slight gains" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/04/22/trump-ozone-limits-utah-international-pollution" target="_self">penalties against Utah</a> for failing to meet federal ozone standards.

Nordic Valley Ski Resort temporarily closes amid snow drought

Ski resorts across the western U.S. are facing one of their worst seasons in decades.

Nordic Valley Ski Resort closed temporarily last week amid <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Utah&#x27;s unusually warm winter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/02/11/storm-brings-hope-utah-snowpack" data-vars-content-id="06c74561-5e6b-489d-94c2-0fddeb14280c" data-vars-headline="Nordic Valley Ski Resort temporarily closes amid snow drought" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/02/11/storm-brings-hope-utah-snowpack" target="_self">Utah&#x27;s unusually warm winter</a>.Why it matters: February is typically peak time on the slopes, but ski resorts across the western U.S. are facing one of their worst seasons on record.

Winter storm brings hope for Utah's snowpack

It's good news for Utah's snowpack, which hit a record low on Feb. 1 amid an unusually warm winter.

A winter storm this week that will last through Thursday morning is expected to bring much-needed snowfall to Utah&#x27;s mountains, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Weather Service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.weather.gov/slc/" data-vars-content-id="22516e2b-9fa4-43cd-ace8-9c011d340d92" data-vars-headline="Winter storm brings hope for Utah&#x27;s snowpack" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.weather.gov/slc/" target="_blank">National Weather Service</a>.Why it matters: Utah&#x27;s snowpack hit a record low on Feb. 1 amid an unusually warm winter, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Utah Division of Water Resources" data-vars-click-url="https://water.utah.gov/snowpack/" data-vars-content-id="22516e2b-9fa4-43cd-ace8-9c011d340d92" data-vars-headline="Winter storm brings hope for Utah&#x27;s snowpack" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://water.utah.gov/snowpack/" target="_blank">Utah Division of Water Resources</a>.

Sundance doc follows scientists racing to save Great Salt Lake

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jimmy Chin are attached to the documentary as executive producers.

A documentary that premiered Thursday at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sundance Film Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/12/10/sundance-2026-final-utah-lineup-film-festival" data-vars-content-id="51da6257-6b21-41f6-aabc-d13bff500c34" data-vars-headline="Sundance doc follows scientists racing to save Great Salt Lake" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/12/10/sundance-2026-final-utah-lineup-film-festival" target="_self">Sundance Film Festival</a> follows two Utah scientists scrambling to sound the alarm about the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Great Salt Lake&#x27;s potential collapse" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2022/09/01/low-water-levels-prompt-great-salt-lake-rowers-search-elsewhere" data-vars-content-id="51da6257-6b21-41f6-aabc-d13bff500c34" data-vars-headline="Sundance doc follows scientists racing to save Great Salt Lake" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2022/09/01/low-water-levels-prompt-great-salt-lake-rowers-search-elsewhere" target="_self">Great Salt Lake&#x27;s potential collapse</a> and convince state leaders to act before it&#x27;s too late.Why it matters: &quot;The Lake,&quot; directed by Abby Ellis, is a rare glimpse at the balancing act the scientists, Bonnie Baxter and Ben Abbott, have to manage as they carefully weigh their research with advocacy efforts in a deep-red state.

Report: Curtis voted against solar subsidy he previously used

It's the Utah Republican's second vote against the tax credits that he availed himself of.

Utah Sen. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="John Curtis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/22/john-curtis-senate-utah-romney-lee" data-vars-content-id="4acff7ea-8f44-4624-9548-4f20a005ac3c" data-vars-headline="Report: Curtis voted against solar subsidy he previously used" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/22/john-curtis-senate-utah-romney-lee" target="_self">John Curtis</a> is one of three Republicans who availed themselves of federal solar energy subsidies that they later voted to end, according to a new report.The intrigue: Curtis <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="founded the Conservative Climate Caucus" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/13/john-curtis-us-climate-progress" data-vars-content-id="4acff7ea-8f44-4624-9548-4f20a005ac3c" data-vars-headline="Report: Curtis voted against solar subsidy he previously used" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/13/john-curtis-us-climate-progress" target="_self">founded the Conservative Climate Caucus</a> and has positioned himself as an environmental maverick within the GOP.

Salt Lake City's first freezes arrive later

The first freeze is arriving later into the season in nearly 90% of the 204 U.S. cities analyzed.

Salt Lake City&#x27;s freezing temperatures are creeping deeper into fall, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: It&#x27;s yet another indication that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fall is warming amid climate change," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/02/fall-warming-temperatures-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="d2e029f2-096c-4ae3-8ecb-f7da6f48454b" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City&#x27;s first freezes arrive later" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/02/fall-warming-temperatures-climate-change" target="_self">fall is warming amid climate change,</a> which affects farmers, gardeners and allergy sufferers.

Axios What's Next

A choropleth map of the United States showing the estimated share of households without any form of air conditioning, by county, in 2023. Overall, 6.9% of households in the U.S. lacked AC. Rates were much higher in Alaska, Hawaii, the west, and Appalachia. The county in the contiguous U.S. with the highest share without AC was San Francisco County in California, at 65.4%. The county with the highest number of households without AC was Los Angeles County, at 702 thousand.

Estimated share of households without any form of air conditioning, 2023

Data: U.S. Census; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals

A map showing drought conditions in the United States as of April 21, 2026. Much of the country is at least abnormally dry, with parts experiencing moderate to exceptional drought.

Climate 🌿

Utah's wildfire season reaches historic extremes

Salt Lake City will see "very little relief" as heatwave persists

Nearly 30K households in Salt Lake County lacked A/C in 2023

Utah braces for "dangerous" wildfire season

Pollution persists along the Wasatch Front despite slight gains