KZMU News

A natural gas plant operator in Utah has started mining a novel resource: cryptocurrency. KZMU’s Justin Higginbottom looks at a new type of extraction happening just outside of Moab. Plus, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is on the ground in Utah to visit Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments and meet with stakeholders. As our radio partners report, Haaland has only been in office for a few weeks – and she isn’t wasting time.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak with newspaper reporters and editors about the stories they most recently covered in our area. The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo (7:00)discusses retention issues at Moab’s police force, overuse impacts to the wetlands preserve, as well as vaccines and COVID-19. The Moab Sun News’ Maggie McGuire (16:00) talks ‘bypass blues’ as local elected officials want to remove the bypass from a regional transportation plan. And, the Community Artist in the Parks program has a new artist for 2021.

Show Notes:

Photo: A ‘Mobile Mining Unit’ from company EZ Blockchain. About the size of a shipping container, the units contain an off-the-grid mobile data center, a wall of fans, and a number of computers running complex algorithms. Courtesy EZ Blockchain.

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Moab PD loses 25% of officers

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-pd-loses-25-of-officers/

The Times-Independent: Another impact of tourism

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/another-impact-of-tourism/

The Times-Independent: Pavilion, acre of land burn at wetlands preserve

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/pavilion-acre-of-land-burn-at-wetlands-preserve/

The Times-Independent: Vaccinated people can continue testing for COVID-19 virus

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/vaccinated-people-can-continue-testing-for-covid-19-virus/

*Moab Sun News articles will be posted once available online*

Masks will still be required clothing in Grand County even as a statewide mask mandate ends this Saturday. The state is allowing local health departments and counties to set their own rules when it comes to masking, meaning Grand’s will stay in effect until June 15th. Plus, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is in Southeastern Utah this week to visit both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments. Her visit comes amid pressure to reverse the Trump administration’s decision to shrink the boundaries of both monuments. And, our radio partners report on a new law enforcement unit to put renewed focus on resolving the cases of Native Americans who are missing or have been killed, forecasts for the Colorado River, and the rise of anti-Asian racism in our region.

Show Notes:

Southeast Utah Health Department: COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling

https://www.seuhealth.com/vaccine-scheduling

Utah COVID-19 Vaccine Information

https://coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine

Salt Lake Tribune: After Thursday’s Bears Ears tour, Deb Haaland will visit Grand Staircase on Friday

https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2021/04/08/after-thursdays-bears/

UPR: Haaland Prioritizes Cases Of Missing, Murdered Native Americans

https://www.upr.org/post/haaland-prioritizes-cases-missing-murdered-native-americans

Mountain West News Bureau: Invisibility and Fragility – Asian Americans In Mountain West Reflect On Atlanta Mass Shooting

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/invisibility-and-fragility-asian-americans-mountain-west-reflect-atlanta-mass-shootings

Grand County is getting closer to finalizing several measures aimed at reducing noise impacts from ATVs and UTVs. At their meeting last night, the county commission considered a new noise ordinance and stricter requirements for ATV rental businesses. After hearing public comment, commissioners wanted more discussion time before voting on the proposed changes. Plus, another town in our region is feeling the pressure from ATV-related recreation. As our radio partners at KDNK report, the town of Marble, Colorado might be small – but noise impacts are getting bigger every season.

Show Notes:

Grand County ATV Related Proposed Changes Pages 401 – 448

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04062021-1321

KDNK: Marble Braces for ATV Season

https://www.kdnk.org/post/marble-braces-atv-season

If you draw a line on a map from Moab and head south, you’ll soon hit Sonora, Mexico. There, the Indigenous Comcaac Nation has long struggled for access to clean water. Members of the nation recently walked miles to a sacred site, demanding the Mexican government provide them with basic services. Plus, the arrival of spring is marked by warming temperatures, budding trees, and – migrating birds.

Show Notes:

Photo: With ceremonial sticks raised in a sign of victory and brotherhood, members of the Comcaac Nation from El Desemboque welcome their relatives and friends from Punta Chueca to Saaps, Sonora on March 27, 2021. Kendal Blust/KJZZ

KJZZ: Comcaac Nation In Sonora Demands Water With Historic Gathering

https://fronterasdesk.org/content/1671632/comcaac-nation-sonora-demands-water-historic-gathering?_ga=2.262334666.734586325.1617663352-384238978.1615335712

Mountain West News Bureau: The Birds Are Back In Town – Spring Migration Underway In The Mountain West

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/birds-are-back-town-spring-migration-underway-mountain-west

A Moab police officer is once again under scrutiny, this time for allegedly searching a subject illegally. According to Moab City, Officer Steve Risenhoover will be placed on administrative duties while an outside agency investigates his actions during a December search and seizure. The Grand County Attorney’s Office recently filed a motion to dismiss a case because of this questionable search as well as discrepancies between a police report and body cam footage. Plus, Utah’s Division of Water Rights says Moab can safely withdraw more water from its aquifer than the area currently does. But as our partners at The Times-Independent report, the issue over safe yield is still murky. And finally, it’s not quite summer, but wildfires are already here.

Show Notes:

Photo: A still from Officer Steve Risenhoover’s body cam footage on December 21, 2020 obtained by FOX13 News. The officer is under investigation for allegedly illegally searching a subject.

FOX13 Investigates: Moab Police officer investigated years ago searched suspect illegally, prosecutor says

https://www.fox13now.com/news/fox-13-investigates/fox-13-investigates-moab-police-officer-investigated-years-ago-searched-suspect-illegally-prosecutor-says

The Times-Independent Archive: June 22, 2017

‘Dispute continues over police officer’s active-duty status’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/dispute-continues-over-police-officers-active-duty-status/

The Times-Independent Archive: February 09, 2017

‘City vows to pursue source of leaked IA reports involving police officers’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/city-vows-to-pursue-source-of-leaked-ia-reports-involving-police-officers/

Moab City Police Department

https://moabcity.org/164/Police-Department

The Times Independent: ‘State – Moab could safely use more water’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/state-moab-could-safely-use-more-water/

The crew at Sand Flats Recreation Area often wear many hats – part visitor interpretation, part restoration specialist, part cashier, part front/back country ranger – and so, so much more. Today on the news, we shadow Sand Flats employee Sonja Nicolaisen for our second non-narrated audio portrait of people in the Moab valley.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak with newspaper reporters about the stories they most recently covered in our area. The Times-Independent’s Carter Pape (10:00) talks Jeep’s electric concept, controversy over development in Spanish Valley, and a search for community members for the TI’s editorial board. The Moab Sun News’ Maggie McGuire (21:00) discusses over-crowding at Matheson Wetlands Preserve and the soon-to-be-open Margaret L. Hopkin Middle School.

Show Notes:

Photo: Sand Flats employee Sonja Nicolaisen in her various roles as a recreation technician.

Audio Portrait Featured Music:

Dee Yan-Key, Go Down Moses Reprise

Lobo Loco, Sunday Picnic ID 719

If you have an idea for a future profile, reach out to [email protected].

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Jeep’s electric concept, charging stations on display at Walker Drug

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/jeeps-electric-concept-charging-stations-on-display-at-walker-drug/

The Times-Independent: Hedin, rural residents seek to prevent residential development

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/hedin-rural-residents-seek-to-prevent-residential-development/

The Times-Independent: The T-I wants you to serve on our editorial board

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/the-t-i-wants-you-to-serve-on-our-editorial-board/

Moab Sun News: Matheson Preserve closes gates due to overcrowding

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_fcb12c3e-93e8-11eb-be1d-93ea09f3b593.html

Moab Sun News: Hopkin Middle School building to open in April

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_7317d2ca-93f2-11eb-b2fe-c77644a9023f.html

Choreomania is KZMU’s original radio play about a medieval dancing plague written/directed by local Jenna Whetzel and performed in three-acts by a rollicking cast of characters. It’s also a 30-page comic book, illustrated by local artist Jon Gottschalk. Choreomania – the comic book – is released on Friday at Back of Beyond Books, and proceeds will support KZMU’s community-minded artistic endeavors, including future radio plays. Plus, in the arid West, scientists have many tools to figure out just how much water will be available every year. As our radio partners report, they’re not just looking above ground at snowpack and river flow, but also taking measurements beneath the surface.

Show Notes:

Photo: An illustrated panel from Choreomania, the comic book. It will be available at Back of Beyond Books on Friday and proceeds support future radio plays.

Choreomania – Playbill, Archive, and More!

https://www.kzmu.org/choreomania/

Aspen Public Radio: Looking To Learn About Water Availability, Some Researchers Find Clues in the Dirt

https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/post/looking-learn-about-water-availability-some-researchers-find-clues-dirt

In an attempt to improve wildlife habitat across the river system, the Utah DWR removed invasive carp from the Old City Park pond last week. With the carp now gone, they’re hoping community members won’t return with their goldfish. That’s because – in partnership with Moab City – the state agency wants to create a stocking area for native roundtail chub, currently listed on Utah’s Sensitive Species List. Plus from our radio partners – the U.S. Interior Department’s energy leasing review is in full swing, and economists increasingly say the climate crisis will flatline the global GDP if emissions aren’t reduced immediately.

Show Notes:

Photo: Justin Hart, Aquatics Program Manager at Utah DWR, inspects an invasive carp at Old City Park pond.

Moab City: Invasive Carp To Be Removed From Old City Park

https://moabcity.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=337

KUER: Interior Department Kicks Off Energy Leasing Review With Wide Range Of Voices

https://www.kuer.org/health-science-environment/2021-03-26/interior-department-kicks-off-energy-leasing-review-with-wide-range-of-voices

Tribes in the Colorado River basin are calling for more influence in how the climate-stressed river is managed. As negotiations kick off on a new set of rules for river management, tribal leaders are optimistic, but say they need concrete proof their perspectives will be heard. Plus, the Ute Mountain Ute tribe straddles the border of Colorado and New Mexico, at the heart of the Four Corners region. Our radio partners sat down with tribal chairman Manuel Hart to talk about vaccine distribution, reopening strategy, and education.

Show Notes:

Photo: The Colorado River weaves through the Sonoran desert near Yuma, Arizona. Luke Runyon/KUNC

KUNC: Colorado River Tribes Aim To Establish ‘One Unified Voice’ In Policy Talks

https://www.kunc.org/2021-03-29/colorado-river-tribes-aim-to-establish-one-unified-voice-in-policy-talks

KSJD: Ute Mountain Ute Chairman Manuel Hart Discusses Vaccines, Reopening and Education

https://www.ksjd.org/post/ute-mountain-ute-chairman-manuel-heart-discusses-vaccines-reopening-and-education#stream/0

After COVID-19 vaccines were made available to the general population in Utah last week, we checked in with health officer Bradon Bradford of the Southeast Utah Health Department. Bradford gives us the latest on the local vaccine rollout, and what people need to know once they’re fully vaccinated.

Show Notes:

Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment

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