One year after the World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Spencer Cox says all Utahns should be able to sign up for a vaccine by April 1. He also urges residents to remain cautious and respectful of one another. Plus, Deb Haaland’s road to become Secretary of the Interior has been rocky – at one point this week, Republican Senators placed a hold on her nomination, citing concerns about her positions on fossil fuel industries. But as our partners report, some tribes dependent on fossil fuels are looking to Haaland to help them diversify.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel, a discussion with reporters on some of their latest stories. The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo (7:00) has highlights on a bill that allows Grand County to spend some of its Transient Room Tax revenue on economic diversification, Utah’s mask mandate, and a new Moab school for ‘twice-exceptional’ students. Moab Sun News editor Maggie McGuire (15:30) then discusses the latest efforts to curb noise impacts at Moab City, as well as a GCHS student participating in the first-ever girls’ wrestling state championship.

Show Notes:

Photo: Governor Spencer Cox during his Thursday press briefing

UPR: Cox Urges Mutual Respect As Mask Mandate Is Set To Expire

https://www.upr.org/post/cox-urges-mutual-respect-mask-mandate-set-expire

Mountain West News Bureau: In Haaland, Republican Senators See A Threat To Fossil Fuels. Tribes See An Opportunity To Diversify

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/haaland-republicans-see-threat-fossil-fuels-tribes-see-opportunity-diversify

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Grand County gets the tax reform it wanted

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/grand-county-gets-the-tax-reform-it-wanted/

The Times-Independent: Utah mask mandate ends April 10; Grand’s may not

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/utah-mask-mandate-ends-april-10-grands-may-not/

The Times-Independent: Heron School for ‘twice-exceptional’ students

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/heron-school-for-twice-exceptional-students/

Moab Sun News: So where do we go now? Moab City Council discusses noise mitigation possibilities

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_42c7f870-82cc-11eb-b46f-2be19bfd20f1.html

Moab Sun News: ‘She’s ready to rumble:’ GCHS student participates in first-ever girls’ wrestling state championship

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_47055d66-82d0-11eb-ac7c-db89c2a276f4.html