Happy Tuesday, and happy Autumnal Equinox! 🍁

• 🌧️ Today's weather: Chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 77.

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This newsletter is 885 words — a 3.5-minute read.

The Utah Transit Authority is considering a base fare hike that would bring the cost of a ride in line with New York City's.

Why it matters: It would be the transit agency's first fare hike since 2013 and could impact daily riders already facing cost-of-living challenges.

By the numbers: UTA is proposing a 20% increase, which would raise the base fare from $2.50 to $3.

• The fare change would apply to local buses, TRAX, FrontRunner and UTA on Demand.
• In 2011, UTA approved increasing fares over two years, bringing them from $2 to $2.50 by 2013.
• New York City raised subway and bus fares from $2.90 to $3 in January.

What they're saying: "Our proposed base fare adjustment really reflects the overall rising costs," Gavin Gustafson, a spokesperson for UTA, tells Axios. "It's the cost of steel for rails. It's the cost of a new AC unit for a TRAX train. It's labor."

• The fare increase would help support reliable service and continued investment in the transit system, he adds.
• Fares make up about 4% of UTA's revenue. Gustafson says the hike would generate an additional $10 million a year in revenue for operating costs.

Driving the news: UTA leadership is weighing the proposal after a public comment period that ran from August through September.

• Gustafson says feedback has been mixed, with some riders understanding the need for the hike and others opposing it.

Yes, but: Gustafson says comparing UTA's base fare with those of other major cities, like New York City and Seattle, is an "apples to oranges" comparison.

• Other transit systems may rely on different revenue structures to fund operations, he notes.

The big picture: About 40 million passengers rode UTA's system last year, with the majority using bus and light rail services.

What's next: Gustafson expects a decision in early 2027.

• If approved, the fare change would take effect in April.

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With Salt Lake consistently ranking near the top of Major League Baseball's projected expansion markets, we asked what you thought our home team should be called.

• You had lots of thoughts — and reader Natalie P. even sent the above mockups for logos to accompany her suggestions!

Here are your other ideas:

🐝 Christian M. wants to revive the Bees' former name: the Salt Lake Buzz, which is " built in local memory" and would make the "old hats become cool."

• "Buy whatever the old naming rights cost," he advised.

🐂 Jordan H. said, "Pioneers for sure makes the most sense. Runner-up — Golden Spikes."

🤩 "The Salt Lake Sensations" is Robert R.'s pick.

🪰 From Gavin D.: "Salt Lake Brine Flies."

⬅️ Flashback: When the campaign for an MLB team began in 2023, Mayor Erin Mendenhall proposed the Westsiders.

💭 Our thought bubble: Kim wants to cheer for the Salt Lake Stingers.

• I'm rooting for the Salt Lake Hot Pavement, which I consider to be our most threatening local feature.

Tell a hopeful fan

💣 A bomb squad detonated a grenade found Sunday by bowfishers at Pineview Reservoir, where low water levels have exposed long-submerged shores. (KUTV)

👋 Taylor Frankie Paul says she's not returning to Hulu's "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," citing strained relationships with other cast members. (Variety)

🚵 Adaptive mountain bikers are testing trails around Utah to learn which ones are suitable for access. (KUER)

Salt Lake City is requiring scooter riders downtown to park in designated zones before completing their rides.

Driving the news: The city launched a pilot program in August that prevents riders from leaving rental scooters wherever they want, KSL reports.

• Instead, riders must park the devices in assigned areas in order to end the ride or they'll receive an alert to move.
• The change is meant to improve accessibility and prevent scattered scooters from blocking sidewalks and roads.

By the numbers: The city logged almost 1 million scooter rides last year, per KSL.

Axios Chicago's Carrie Shepherd caught a whiff of Brach's candy's "Ode to Candy Corn" perfume.

The intrigue: As certified perfume junkies, we love a good seasonal scent — but we're not sure we're sold on what Carrie describes as "buttery" topnotes followed by a "carmelized sugar" drydown, "punctuated by vanilla."

The other side: I was pounding candy corn the other night with my kid. I truly cannot get enough.

Go deeper: Perfumes that smell like foods are called "gourmands" — and there are some great ones out there.

• I love Hypnotic Poison for its spicy plum and almond notes.
• Kim prefers the vanilla-forward Fancy.

Autunal scents: Musks and woody chypres and ambers also match the season. My faves are:

• Mitsouko: One of the most revered fragrances of all time, it's woody and powdery with wafts of peach and root beer.
• Narciso: Smells like horseback riding in fall.

More intel for the candy corn-curious

🍖 Kim made this smoked pulled pork recipe for dinner.

🛌 Erin's kid just used the verb "wear" to describe what is done with a blanket. Is that what we're calling it now?

This newsletter was edited by Astrid Galván.