TribTalk

Utah’s outspoken Democrat-in-Chief announced this week he’s stepping down from that post, citing undisclosed health reasons. But Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, says he’s well enough to continue serving in the Senate. Dabakis joins Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about his decision and his imprint on party politics and progressive causes in Utah.

Sen. Jim Dabakis is stepping down as Utah Democratic Party chair, a third of the women serving in the House and Senate will not run for office again and many candidates on the November will run unopposed. Political scientists Kelly Patterson and Damon Cann, Lindsay Zizumbo of the Hinckley Institute of Politics and Tribune political editor Dan Harrie join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk politics and what the upcoming political realignment means for voters.

Bribery, evidence tampering and official misconduct are among the crimes former Utah Attorney General John Swallow could face, according to a 214-page report released by House investigators. Rep. Jim Dunnigan, House Speaker Becky Lockhart and Tribune reporter Robert Gehrke join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to discuss the investigation and what prosecutors could do with the information.

A group supporting women's ordination asked the LDS Church for tickets to its upcoming all-male priesthood session. This week church officials said no. Kate Kelly of Ordain Women, blogger and author Julie M. Smith and Neylan McBaine of Mormon Women Project join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to discuss the church's response and what the Mormon feminist movement means to women within faith.

The prospect of connecting seven Wasatch Front ski resorts is back. Yesterday, Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, Brighton, Canyons, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort announced their plan to link the resorts to create an Alps-like experience. Nathan Rafferty of Ski Utah, Carl Fisher of Save Our Canyons and Tribune reporter Mike Gorrell join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the latest interconnect proposal and concerns about the impact on public lands.

Slightly more than 18 percent of Americans experienced a mental illness in the past year, but in Utah, that number was 22.3 percent, the highest rate in the nation. Other Rocky Mountain states have above-average rates too, prompting researchers to study whether high altitude might have something to do with it. Dr. Douglas Kondo of the University of Utah Brain Institute and Rebecca Glathar of NAMI Utah join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to discuss mental health in the Beehive State and the possible reasons why mental illness is so prevalent in an otherwise health-conscious place.

Jennifer Napier-Pearce talks with Tribune food writer Kathy Stephenson and food critics Heather King and Stuart Melling about St. Patrick’s Day fare, Utah’s small plate trend and recent reviews including Bistro 222, Faustina and Lugano.

On rented skis, Salt Lake Tribune photographer Chris Detrick hiked up the mountain during the Sochi Olympics, then skied down with 65 pounds of gear so he could capture Park City’s Ted Ligety grabbing gold in the giant slalom. Detrick and Tribune photo editor Jeremy Harmon join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about Detrick’s Sochi experience and the challenges of photojournalism.

Lawmakers are considering stiffer penalties for cock fighting, changing the activity from a misdemeanor to a felony for repeat offenders. But cock fighting does have its supporters. Cock fighting advocate Tim Fitzgerald and Carl Arky of the Humane Society of Utah join Tribune reporter Jim Dalrymple to talk about the cock fighting tradition and the movement to outlaw the practice.

Like newspapers across the country, The Salt Lake Tribune has grappled with its online comment boards. Defenders maintain the space is the ultimate free speech zone, a place where readers can gather to dissect the news of the day and offer a diversity of opinion and perspective. Opponents argue comment boards devolve into a space that’s rude and crass, a breeding ground for mudslingers and Web trolls. Tribune deputy editor Tim Fitzpatrick, web moderator Amy Lewis and UConn journalism professor Marie Shanahan join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to discuss the good, bad and ugly of online comments.