KZMU’s new project – Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility – continues today, bringing another storyteller to share their personal experience and reflections on our airwaves. We are hopeful Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility helps deepen understanding and empathy within our community and reinforces a sense of belonging.

Our second LGBTQ+ storyteller is Nicole Croke, a lover of art and the outdoors who has called Moab home for the past four years. Nicole uses she/they pronouns. They currently work in environmental conservation, managing logistics for field crews and hope that by showing up as a queer woman in a leadership role, they can help the field feel more accessible to a broader group of people. When they aren't teaching young adults to operate chainsaws or identify invasive species, they enjoy rafting, crafting, and soaking up desert sun.

Thank you Ginger Allen and Serah Mead, who co-produced today's piece.

Plus, the Weekly News Reel, where we check in with reporters on their latest local coverage. Carter Pape of The Times-Independent discusses the resignation of the Moab Area Travel Council chair, the Grand County Attorney’s effort to end the death penalty in Utah, as well as a new article on the double homicide in the Moab area. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News highlights the Walnut Lane affordable development returning to phase one, city council members’ concern over the city manager’s resignation, and the upcoming Green River Melon Days and the Moab Festival of Science.

Show Notes:

Photo: Nicole Croke is our second storyteller in KZMU’s Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility project. Nicole currently works in environmental conservation, managing logistics for field crews. They hope that by showing up as a queer woman in a leadership role, they can help the field feel more accessible to a broader group of people. Courtesy Nicole Croke

Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up/

Music featured in today’s newscast includes:

Guestlist by Podington Bear

Wallow by Ketsa

Only Knows by Broke For Free

Weekly News Reel –

The Times-Independent: Travel council chair – Grand ‘opts out’ of intent of law

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/travel-council-chair-grand-opts-out-of-intent-of-law/

The Times-Independent: Sloan joins effort to end death penalty in Utah

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/sloan-joins-effort-to-end-death-penalty-in-utah/

The Times-Independent: Warrant reveals additional details in double homicide

*Advisory: This Article Contains Graphic Details That Might Be Upsetting*

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/officers-discovered-slain-couple-partially-undressed/

Moab Sun News: Back to the drawing board at Walnut Lane – City Council frustrated as project returns to phase one

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_180d7752-1739-11ec-97ca-13008751bdf0.html

Moab Sun News: ‘Dysfunction’ between city council, administration – Council members concerned about communication after staff resigns

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_bbfbab90-1734-11ec-8014-9f3a394a99c0.html

Moab Sun News: Melon days are here again ¬ – Popular annual Green River Festival is back

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_f4721be8-1767-11ec-88df-2737a3bde0ee.html

Moab Sun News: Free five-day celebration of local science – Moab Festival of Science features keynote on climate change

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_2c2b9012-174c-11ec-b8cb-ef8cbded1456.html