In today’s political climate, it could be risky to encourage extemporaneous speech in a public setting. But local Marc Horwitz says soapboxing has an important place in the protection of free speech. “It’s not just about speaking your mind; it’s about respecting the other guy speaking his mind – even if you differ completely.” Today on the news, we report on the ‘citizen soapbox’ popping up at the Moab market, available for poem recitation, amusing anecdotes and even community announcements. Plus, Colorado River activists are calling on the federal government to make upgrades at the Glen Canyon dam. And later, our radio partners take a boat trip with longtime river runners to show us Lake Powell at historic lows.

// Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times Independent discusses Moab City’s workforce housing ordinance, flight cancellations at the Moab airport, speculations on lithium in Grand County and an open casting call for an upcoming western. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks about the return of the aedes aegypti mosquito, improv meet-ups in Moab and the Full Circle Intertribal Center finding a permanent office space.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Theresa King relates a personal story on the ‘citizen soapbox’ in Swanny City Park as Marc Horwitz adjusts the sound levels. The pop-up free speech platform occurs every first and third Thursday of the month during the Moab Arts & Ag market. KZMU/Molly Marcello

// Arts & Ag: A Moab Market

https://www.moabarts.org/arts-and-ag

// KUNC: One of the Colorado River’s most important dams could need upgrades to keep water flowing

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2022-08-03/one-of-the-colorado-rivers-most-important-dams-could-need-upgrades-to-keep-water-flowing

// KUNC: A mud-caked ‘terra incognita’ emerges in Glen Canyon as Lake Powell declines to historic low

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2022-08-04/a-mud-caked-terra-incognita-emerges-in-glen-canyon-as-lake-powell-declines-to-historic-low

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: City passes workforce housing ordinance

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/city-passes-workforce-housing-ordinance/

// The Times-Independent: Moab airport records 16 SkyWest flights canceled so far in 2022

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-airport-records-16-skywest-flights-canceled-so-far-in-2022/

// The Times-Independent: Lithium – Moab’s next extractive industry?

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/lithium-moabs-next-extractive-industry/

// The Times-Independent: ‘How exciting to have the movie industry in Moab’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/how-exciting-to-have-the-movie-industry-in-moab/

// Moab Sun News: Aedes aegypti is back

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/08/04/aedes-aegypti-is-back/

// Moab Sun News: ‘Wannabe Players’ bring improv to Moab

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/08/04/wannabe-players-bring-improv-to-moab/

// Moab Sun News: Full Circle Intertribal Center finds new home

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/08/04/full-circle-intertribal-center-finds-new-home/