KZMU News

Although vaccination rates are up, Grand County is experiencing the highest rate of COVID-19 transmission in the state, likely accelerated by the B117 variant. Meanwhile, state law has ended Grand’s local mask mandate, leaving businesses and organizations to make their own public health decisions. We check in with health officer Bradon Bradford on these changes. His recommendation? Continue masking up and taking other safety precautions.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak to reporters about the latest stories they covered in our area. Times-Independent editor Doug McMurdo (8:30) reports on the death of a local tour guide, local Jayne Belnap’s admission to the National Academy of Sciences, and Moab City moving to ranked choice voting. Moab Sun News reporter Rachel Fixen (16:30) discusses how Utah’s drought might affect many areas of the state, as well as energy equipment operators failing to pay property taxes in Grand County.

Show Notes:

COVID-19 Info & Vaccine Scheduler

https://www.seuhealth.com

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Moab man falls to death near Canyonlands

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-man-falls-to-death-near-canyonlands/

The Times-Independent: Jayne Belnap admitted to National Academy of Sciences

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/jayne-belnap-admitted-to-national-academy-of-sciences/

The Times-Independent: City moves to ranked choice voting; Niehaus, Duncan won’t run in 2021

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/city-moves-to-ranked-choice-voting-niehaus-duncan-wont-run-in-2021/

Moab Sun News: Another dry year – Drought affects agriculture, recreation, and hydropower

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_da248cfa-ae83-11eb-b0ef-9b13dc2055f5.html

Moab Sun News: Two energy equipment owners delinquent on Grand County property taxes

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_e73a1214-ae94-11eb-9adb-a31e329dd328.html

Citing concerns over visitor experience and safety, city and county elected officials are once again asking the National Park Service to create a temporary timed entry system at Arches National Park. They say it should be implemented no later than September 1st. Local reps say visitor numbers have caused park officials to close the gates at Arches on a near-daily basis since mid-March. Plus, a state law is ending the local mask mandate while Grand County continues to have the highest rate of COVID-19 transmission in Utah. And later, our radio partners report on critical race theory education and staying ‘bear aware.’

Show Notes:

Letter to National Park Service re: Temporary Timed Entry

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TES-Letter-GC-FINAL-Approved-5-4-21.pdf

COVID-19 Information

https://www.seuhealth.com

KSUT: Be Bear Aware; Staying Safe in Colorado Bear Country

https://www.ksut.org/post/be-bear-aware-staying-safe-colorado-bear-country

Americans generated nearly 293 million tons of trash in 2018. While some of that material was recycled and composted, most ended up at landfills. Thinking about waste generated in Moab, the team at the MARC created an artist residency to “challenge the perception of waste culture.” Puppet artist Milissa Orzolack held a four-week residency in April doing just that. Plus, environmentalists are optimistic that key climate-change regulations on methane leaks – rolled back during the Trump administration – will soon be reinstated. And later, the effects of many mental health problems have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and rural communities have long struggled with a lack of resources to address them.

Show Notes:

Photo: ‘Walking Home’ is a kinetic sculpture puppeteer Milissa Orzolek created during her artist residency at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center.

Moab Arts Re-use Residency

https://www.moabarts.org/residency

Milissa Orzolek

https://www.milissaorzolek.com

EPA: Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling

https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials

KSJD: Axis Health’s Clinical Director Discusses Mental Health Issues And Care In Southwest Colorado

https://www.ksjd.org/post/axis-healths-clinical-director-discusses-mental-health-issues-and-care-southwest-colorado

Recently, destructive behavior like graffiti and vandalism on public lands has been the top issue in Moab. But what are other types of behavior that can have big impacts on our shared landscapes? NPS Ranger Karen Garthwait breaks down the seven Leave No Trace principles and their importance in safeguarding areas like Arches National Park. And, as vaccine availability continues to outpace demand in Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox says organizations – like churches or businesses – are now able to sign up to host mobile vaccine clinics. Plus, two tribal nations in our region are offering COVID-19 aid across international borders.

Show Notes:

Photo: A Missoula Boy Scout Troop collected seven pounds of micro-trash at Arches National Park in under an hour earlier this year. The micro-trash consisted of cigarette butts, bottle caps, broken glass and other items that NPS staff says can cause a health hazard for visitors and wildlife. Credit Arches National Park.

Leave No Trace: The Seven Principles

https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/

UPR: Businesses, Other Community Organizations In Utah Can Now Host Mobile Vaccine Clinics

https://www.upr.org/post/businesses-other-community-organizations-utah-can-now-host-mobile-vaccine-clinics

Vaccine event request

https://coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine-event-request

Utah Health Guidance Levels

https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels/

Schedule COVID-19 Vaccine

https://www.seuhealth.com

A virtual scrapbook chronicling a historic year in the local community is now live. ‘Moab’s Year of Pandemic Living’ was put together by the Grand County Public Library, and features entries from community members of all ages sharing their photos, poems, and drawings about how their life changed over the past year. Plus, the Lower Colorado River Basin is preparing for its first-ever water shortage declaration. And, a new study shows last year's wildfires may have played a larger role in the 2020 mass die-off of migratory birds across the western United States than previously thought.

Show Notes:

Moab’s Year of Pandemic Living: A Digital Scrapbook

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRgUjI-4XmojWF3tqeBY1DFzWHYmnaXI01aSS_F4n_C0lqcSK9rcv_5EVOuq3BzgAWDTU5U699EFmvo/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=10000&slide=id.g6ae26aa3b4_1_48

Unprecedented Migratory Bird Die: Off: A Citizen-Based Analysis on the Spatiotemporal Patterns of Mass Mortality Events in the Western United States

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8029984/

Environment for the Americas: World Migratory Bird Day

https://environmentamericas.org/programs/world-migratory-bird-day/

Bird Sounds and More: Audubon

https://www.audubon.org

The Bureau of Land Management completed some minimal emergency treatment on the Birthing Rock petroglyph panel on Wednesday. The site is at least 1,000 years old and was found marred by obscenities earlier this week. So what do conservators consider before attempting to mitigate damage at a cultural site like Birthing Rock? Today on the news, we speak with former BLM Moab archeologist Don Montoya. He currently works as a consultant with land management agencies and has plenty of experience in damage assessment. Montoya says this is not the first time the Birthing Rock panel has suffered vandalism.

And later, our Weekly News Reel where we speak with other reporters about the stories they most recently covered. Times-Independent editor Doug McMurdo (15:00) discusses local reactions to the Birthing Rock vandalism, the city’s new noise ordinance, an auction to help support women’s health at the Moab Free Health Clinic, and the new middle school move-in. Moab Sun News reporter Rachel Fixen (23:30) talks about the recent vandalism highlighting tensions in outdoor recreation and land management, Moab City’s strategies on sustainability efforts, and some highlights on local youth.

Show Notes:

Photo: Some minimal emergency treatment on the Birthing Rock petroglyph panel was done by the Bureau of Land Management this week.

Utah Division of State History: Archeology and Historic Preservation Month 2021

https://history.utah.gov/archaeology-and-historic-preservation-month-2021/

Tread Lightly: Respect and Protect Program

https://treadlightly.org/campaigns/respect-and-protect/

Utah Statewide Archeological Society

https://utaharchaeology.org

Utah Rock Art Research Association

https://urara.wildapricot.org

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Helping hands move into Margaret L. Hopkin Middle School

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/helping-hands-move-into-margaret-l-hopkin-middle-school/

The Times-Independent: Clinic’s jewelry auction to fund women’s health

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/clinics-jewelry-auction-to-fund-womens-health/

The Times-Independent: Birthing Rock vandalized; Moab community outraged

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/birthing-rock-vandalized-moab-community-outraged/

The Times-Independent: City approves new noise ordinance

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/city-approves-new-noise-ordinance/

Moab Sun News: Birthing Rock vandalism highlights tensions between public lands and Indigenous sacred places

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_65128e5c-a86c-11eb-aabc-73f2a847ff15.html

Moab Sun News: City strategizes on sustainability efforts – Water conservation, energy plans debated

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_0e834228-a89b-11eb-bf8d-dff66cb46ca1.html

Moab Sun News: Local youth to play baseball for college team

https://www.moabsunnews.com/sports_and_outdoor/article_b1d42dfe-a88f-11eb-bac7-379209390d89.html

Moab Sun News: GCHS student, Lillian Scott, joins library board

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_e7907da8-a8f8-11eb-8a91-a31e98a5abeb.html

Citing excessive noise and vibration as serious hazards to public health, the Moab City Council passed a noise ordinance this week aimed at quieting down the town. The noise ordinance becomes more strict at night between the hours of 8PM and 7AM . City council members said enacting these measures is not about penalizing a recreation group, but about respecting the citizens of Moab. Plus, our partners report that the Chaco Canyon area might offer some insight into the Biden administration’s environmental policy.

Show Notes:

Moab City Noise Ordinance

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Final-Ordinance-No.-2021-07.pdf

KJZZ: Chaco Canyon’s Fractured Landscape Holds Clues To Biden’s Administrations Policy

https://fronterasdesk.org/content/1676908/chaco-canyons-fractured-landscape-holds-clues-bidens-environmental-policy?_ga=2.10757364.1789341861.1619536894-384238978.1615335712

Indigenous leaders held conversations yesterday about the Birthing Rock vandalism, which includes the phrase ‘white power’ scrawled over petroglyphs estimated to be at least 1,000 years old. Many linked this recent vandalism to other acts of violence perpetuated against Indigenous people. The Bureau of Land Management is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible. Plus, two states in our region will gain a Congressional seat based on the results of the 2020 census.

Show Notes:

Photo: Vandalism at the Birthing Rock panel

BLM: Statement on Vandalism at Birthing Rock

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BLM-Utah-News-Release_BirthingRockFinal.pdf

The BLM is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the vandalism. If you have any information concerning this vandalism, please contact BLM Law Enforcement at 435-259-2131 or 800-722-3998. You can remain anonymous.

Access Fund Webinar: Climbing on Sacred Land

https://www.accessfund.org/news-and-events/news/webinar-climbing-on-sacred-land?fbclid=IwAR00zzVzBYn4nUXHegQo4nvWVs4iE_JkO_u9KQNd5Lh5xY7ZNAmg9T494YQ

2020 Census Apportionment Results

https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/dec/2020-apportionment-data.html

Offensive language and imagery were recently found scrawled over petroglyph panels on Birthing Rock, a piece of ancient human history the Bureau of Land Management estimates is at least 1,000 years old. The BLM is asking the public not to attempt to remove the vandalism as they are currently working with professional conservators to repair the site. This incident is the second, very public vandalism of petroglyph panels on Moab’s public lands in recent weeks. Plus, extended wildfire seasons are a reality across the West. Our radio partners have more about the decisive actions communities can take to protect themselves from those fires.

Show Notes:

Photo: Visitors at the Birthing Rock petroglyph panel near Moab on April 26th. The Bureau of Land Management has an active investigation into the recent vandalism of the site.

Photos of vandalism at the Birthing Rock Panel:

https://www.kzmu.org/tuesday-april-27-2021/

To report vandalism on public lands:

Bureau of Land Management, Moab Field Office: Anyone who sees illegal activities or suspected vandalism should report it to the local field office (435 259-2100). If you suspect a crime in progress and you cannot reach the BLM office, please contact the Grand County Dispatch (435-259-8115).

National Park Service: To aid an investigation or report something suspicious in any National Park Service site anonymously, visit www.nps.gov/ISB and click “submit a tip.” You can also call 888-653-0009 or email [email protected]. Message via Facebook @InvestigativeServicesNPS or Twitter @SpecialAgentNPS.

KDNK: PIO Kale Casey Prompts Decisive Action for Protection from Wildfire

https://www.kdnk.org/post/pio-kale-casey-prompts-decisive-action-protection-wildfire

Grand is the only county in Utah currently considered ‘high transmission’ in the state’s COVID-19 transmission index. Considering factors like COVID-19 variants – which more easily spread and are affecting roughly half of all Utah cases – state medical experts say it’s even more important to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Plus, Utah is not the only state where demographics on vaccinated individuals are revealing health equity issues. Our partners at KUNM report that the numbers in New Mexico highlight what the pandemic at large has put into sharp relief - structural racism interfering with public health efforts.

Show Notes:

Photo: Downtown Moab on Monday. Grand County is currently experiencing a high rate of transmission of coronavirus.

COVID-19 Transmission Index

https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels

Utah COVID-19 Case Counts

https://coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts/

Southeast Utah Health Department Vaccine Data

https://www.seuhealth.com/covid-vaccine-dashboard

KUNM: New Mexico Working To Solve Disparate Vaccine Rates

https://www.kunm.org/post/new-mexico-working-solve-disparate-vaccine-rates