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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>.

Airbnb's broader fight over regulations reaches Salt Lake City

The friction in Salt Lake City centers on the city's enforcement methods.

Airbnb&#x27;s opposition over how Salt Lake City is enforcing its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="short-term rental rules" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/07/01/short-term-rental-regulations-utah-limit" data-vars-content-id="f394a69f-f625-4a8d-b835-82c55da2ea4d" data-vars-headline="Airbnb&#x27;s broader fight over regulations reaches 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/2026/07/01/short-term-rental-regulations-utah-limit" target="_self">short-term rental rules</a> is the latest in a string of objections the company has made in communities around the U.S.Why it matters: Salt Lake City&#x27;s new regulations comes as local leaders aim to increase the city&#x27;s housing supply amid soaring costs and to improve neighborhood safety.

Salt Lake bucks "accidental landlord" trend

Sellers markets don't need to rent their inventory.

Around 1.5% of the Salt Lake metro&#x27;s rental listings on Zillow are from sellers the platform calls &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="accidental landlords" data-vars-click-url="https://www.zillow.com/research/accidental-landlords-36151/" data-vars-content-id="e56352b5-e07d-4de9-8f8a-e6565ac3d814" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake bucks &quot;accidental landlord&quot; trend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.zillow.com/research/accidental-landlords-36151/" target="_blank">accidental landlords</a>.&quot;Why it matters: That&#x27;s one of the lowest shares in the nation of people who pulled their homes off the market and rented them out instead.

$1,500 now gets you less apartment space in Salt Lake City

We landed in the middle of the pack nationally for how much space $1,500 a month can buy.

For $1,500 a month, renters can expect a 737-square-foot apartment in Salt Lake City, 2.35% less space than a year ago, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="RentCafe analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/rental-space-for-1500/" data-vars-content-id="5df121fd-09ac-47ad-9be5-ce6288d71f0d" data-vars-headline="$1,500 now gets you less apartment space in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/rental-space-for-1500/" target="_blank">RentCafe analysis</a>.The big picture: Utah&#x27;s capital ranked No. 120 out of 200 U.S. cities for how much space $1,500 a month can buy.

Salt Lake City tightens short-term rental requirements

The enhanced regulations will improve safety and reduce nuisances, city leaders say.

Beginning July 1, Salt Lake City will start requiring business licenses for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="short-term rentals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2022/07/06/utah-short-term-rentals-rising" data-vars-content-id="be666e35-3c25-4018-899f-9ea8a3a494d0" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City tightens short-term rental requirements" 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/2022/07/06/utah-short-term-rentals-rising" target="_self">short-term rentals</a> listed on Airbnb, Vrbo and other similar platforms.Why it matters: The enhanced regulations will improve safety and reduce nuisances, city leaders say.

Starter homes top $1 million in this Utah town

Alta is the only city in Utah where the typical starter home is valued at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1 million or more" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/20/starter-home-price-map-million" data-vars-content-id="2803a35b-b090-4b24-8742-d6e1966cf3ff" data-vars-headline="Starter homes top $1 million in this Utah town" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/20/starter-home-price-map-million" target="_self">$1 million or more</a>, according to new Zillow data shared with Axios.

When Salt Lake's 1st racist housing covenants took shape

First the contracts segregated neighborhoods. Then redlining punished those that weren't white.

<figure><img alt="A real estate ad from 1919 reads &quot;Only members of the Caucasian race are permitted to buy and hold property.&quot;" height="1768" id="4cc65947-5a33-48a6-9120-b57a90cf54fe" src="https://images.axios.com/HFrfCfT52tjzucWQbdKFcam_yRY=/2026/05/12/1778619957946.png" width="1556"/><figcaption>Part of a 1919 real estate ad from a Sugar House housing development, via the Deseret News. Image: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Utah Digital Newspapers Archive" data-vars-click-url="https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=25124477" data-vars-content-id="72c46581-ddfd-4641-b10f-059b24017f96" data-vars-headline="When Salt Lake&#x27;s 1st racist housing covenants took shape" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=25124477" target="_blank">Utah Digital Newspapers Archive</a>, the University of Utah</figcaption></figure>In the early 1910s, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sugar House" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/04/08/sugar-house-hotel-park-project" data-vars-content-id="72c46581-ddfd-4641-b10f-059b24017f96" data-vars-headline="When Salt Lake&#x27;s 1st racist housing covenants took shape" 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/2026/04/08/sugar-house-hotel-park-project" target="_self">Sugar House</a> was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="booming" data-vars-click-url="https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=2311294" data-vars-content-id="72c46581-ddfd-4641-b10f-059b24017f96" data-vars-headline="When Salt Lake&#x27;s 1st racist housing covenants took shape" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=2311294" target="_blank">booming</a> — and racist. <ul><li>This is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Old News" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/07/01/utah-history-story-collection-old-news-powell-bundy-olympics" data-vars-content-id="72c46581-ddfd-4641-b10f-059b24017f96" data-vars-headline="When Salt Lake&#x27;s 1st racist housing covenants took shape" 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/2024/07/01/utah-history-story-collection-old-news-powell-bundy-olympics" target="_self">Old News</a>, where we trace the maps of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Utah&#x27;s past" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/history" data-vars-content-id="72c46581-ddfd-4641-b10f-059b24017f96" data-vars-headline="When Salt Lake&#x27;s 1st racist housing covenants took shape" 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/history" target="_self">Utah&#x27;s past</a>.</li></ul>

HOAs gain ground in Utah

Utah has one of the highest rates of home listings with HOA dues, data shows.

Utah has one of the highest rates in the nation of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="home listings with HOA dues" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/03/12/salt-lake-hoa-fees-home-listings" data-vars-content-id="e3b03571-531e-4e41-82f8-b7b03aed5775" data-vars-headline="HOAs gain ground in Utah" 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/2025/03/12/salt-lake-hoa-fees-home-listings" target="_self">home listings with HOA dues</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Realtor.com" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" data-vars-content-id="e3b03571-531e-4e41-82f8-b7b03aed5775" data-vars-headline="HOAs gain ground in Utah" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a> data shows.Why it matters: Those dues are also rising, adding to housing costs just as prices <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="stabilize" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2026-01-07/utahs-housing-market-is-expected-to-be-running-in-place-in-2026" data-vars-content-id="e3b03571-531e-4e41-82f8-b7b03aed5775" data-vars-headline="HOAs gain ground in Utah" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2026-01-07/utahs-housing-market-is-expected-to-be-running-in-place-in-2026" target="_blank">stabilize</a> in Utah&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cooling market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2026-01-07/utahs-housing-market-is-expected-to-be-running-in-place-in-2026" data-vars-content-id="e3b03571-531e-4e41-82f8-b7b03aed5775" data-vars-headline="HOAs gain ground in Utah" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2026-01-07/utahs-housing-market-is-expected-to-be-running-in-place-in-2026" target="_blank">cooling market</a>.

Salt Lake rents begin to fall

A building boom across the Mountain West is starting to pay off.

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="building boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/21/new-apartment-construction-rent" data-vars-content-id="18b6ac4a-6b8f-4217-8c7b-02470dc113b0" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake rents begin to fall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/21/new-apartment-construction-rent" target="_self">building boom</a> across the Mountain West has cooled rents — but that relief could fade as new construction slows.Why it matters: Housing is unaffordable for many. Although the median U.S. rent for new leases is down 1.5% from a year ago, it&#x27;s still roughly 20% above pre-pandemic levels, at about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1,400" data-vars-click-url="https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/national-rent-data" data-vars-content-id="18b6ac4a-6b8f-4217-8c7b-02470dc113b0" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake rents begin to fall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/national-rent-data" target="_blank">$1,400</a> a month, per Apartment List.

Salt Lake City landlords flood the market with concessions

Buildings are trying to lure renters after thousands of new units hit the market in recent years.

Salt Lake City&#x27;s rental market is in concession mode as a wave of new apartments hits the city after an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unprecedented building boom" data-vars-click-url="https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/State-Of-State-Housing-Jul2025.pdf" data-vars-content-id="63469909-5e18-4ae8-8f9c-00723118b512" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City landlords flood the market with concessions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/State-Of-State-Housing-Jul2025.pdf" target="_blank">unprecedented building boom</a>.Why it matters: With landlords and property managers competing for tenants, renters are in a strong position to take advantage of one-time incentives that could shave off thousands of dollars from their housing costs.

Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City homeowners pay 33% more than renters.

Real Estate

Renting is cheaper than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="owning a home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" data-vars-content-id="127d4c58-95d6-4d77-83f0-5ca5ce36cd6d" data-vars-headline="Renting is cheaper than owning a home 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/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" target="_self">owning a home</a> in Salt Lake City, according to a LendingTree <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/comparing-rent-vs-owning-a-home-in-nations-largest-metros/" data-vars-content-id="127d4c58-95d6-4d77-83f0-5ca5ce36cd6d" data-vars-headline="Renting is cheaper than owning a home in Salt Lake City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/comparing-rent-vs-owning-a-home-in-nations-largest-metros/" target="_blank">analysis</a>.Why it matters: The same holds true for all 100 of the largest U.S. metro areas as housing costs have soared nationwide, with stubbornly high home prices and mortgage rates weighing on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="would-be buyers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" data-vars-content-id="127d4c58-95d6-4d77-83f0-5ca5ce36cd6d" data-vars-headline="Renting is cheaper than owning a home 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/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" target="_self">would-be buyers</a>.<ul><li>Nationally, homeowners with a mortgage now pay around 37% more per month than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="renters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/06/apartment-rent-prices" data-vars-content-id="127d4c58-95d6-4d77-83f0-5ca5ce36cd6d" data-vars-headline="Renting is cheaper than owning a home 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/2025/08/06/apartment-rent-prices" target="_self">renters</a>, researchers found.</li></ul>

A choropleth map shows the number of cities in the U.S. where a typical starter home is valued at $1 million or more as of April 2026. California leads with 105 such cities, followed by New York, with 41, and New Jersey, with 26. 19 states have fewer than 5 such cities and 24 states have none.

Number of cities where a typical starter home is worth at least $1 million

Data: Zillow; Map: Sami Sparber/Axios; Note: Starter homes are those in the bottom third of home values in a given region

Real Estate 🏠

Airbnb's broader fight over regulations reaches Salt Lake City

Salt Lake bucks "accidental landlord" trend

$1,500 now gets you less apartment space in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City tightens short-term rental requirements

Starter homes top $1 million in this Utah town