KZMU News

KZMU News is looking for freelancers! If you might be interested in reporting on issues important to Moab – we want to hear from you. Our rates are on a sliding scale, from spots to features to longer-term projects. And we’re encouraging a range of skill sets and ideas.

If you or someone you know might be interested, send an email to [email protected]. We are looking forward to expanding our voices. Consider lending yours!

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

Moabites are known for their interest – and enthusiasm – for home gardening. As we turn the corner into spring, local gardeners and farmers are beginning to sow seeds, from vegetables to medicinal plants and herbs. Today on the news, we interview several people from organizations like the Youth Garden Project, Moab Community Gardens, and Our Village Community Center on the importance of seed exchanges and local food resilience.

Show Notes:

Photo: Alison holds a bowl of seeds collected from the recent Community Seed Swap

Youth Garden Project

https://www.youthgardenproject.org

Moab Community Gardens

https://www.facebook.com/mocomgardens/

Our Village Community Center

https://www.ourvillagemoab.org

USU-Extension Grand County Office

https://extension.usu.edu/grand/

Moab Gardeners and Farmers

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2016428205164557

Moab Garden Club

https://www.facebook.com/Moab-Garden-Club-130885136950739/

Moab Bee Inspired Gardens

https://beeinspired.usu.edu/about/

SkyWest Airlines will begin offering flights from Moab to Salt Lake City – in addition to their Denver route – beginning in May. The new Salt Lake route was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which subsidizes air service in Moab. The airport’s director says this modification will open a regional connection to the state capitol not just for tourism, but business and economic development. Plus, county administrator Chris Baird walks us through a bill that changes how Transient Room Tax revenue can be spent in Grand County. Grand can now spend some of their TRT promotion revenue on economic diversification, and –over time – more money on mitigating the impacts of tourism.

Show Notes:

Canyonlands Regional Airport

https://www.facebook.com/iflycny

HB 247: Transient Room Tax Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0247.html

Last year, Utah experienced its worst drought in 20 years. Typically Utahns count on spring snowpack to remedy a dry year. But were big February snows enough to generate an average water supply? Plus, a World War II-era bomber crashed into Lake Mead in 1948. After several failed attempts to locate the plane, it was finally discovered in the early 2000s—still remarkably intact. Our partners at H20 Radio wonder – as lake levels fall, how will this piece of history be affected?

Show Notes:

Photo: An SRC diver assesses the B-29 in 2013/Credit Brett Seymour, NPS Submerged Resources Center

UPR: Utah’s 2020 Drought Likely To Impact Water Supply This Year

https://www.upr.org/post/utahs-2020-drought-likely-impact-water-supply-year

H20 Radio: The World War II Bomber at the Bottom of Lake Mead

http://h2oradio.org/B29.html

Utah’s 2021 legislative session wrapped up on March 5th. Over these past 45 days, KZMU News has mentioned multiple bills on the newscast, so today we look at how things shook out. From pandemic ‘endgames’ to transient room tax modifications and mineral lease amendments – we’ll feature several bills that will (or would have)uniquely affected Grand County.

Show Notes:

Photo: Senator Mike McKell, sponsor of SB 168, which would have allowed municipalities like Moab City to establish nighttime curfews for street-legal ATVs on local roads. The bill failed 14-15 in the state senate.

(00:30) HB 294: Pandemic Emergency Powers Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0294.html

(01:20) HB 257: Utah State Park Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0257.html

(01:40) HB 297: Colorado River Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0297.html

(03:10) SB 176: Mineral Lease Funds Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/SB0176.html

(05:25) HB 247: Transient Room Tax Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0247.html

(06:10) SB 168: Designated Vehicle Routes Amendments (failed)

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/SB0168.html

(07:00) SB 61: Outdoor Advertising Amendments (failed)

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/SB0061.html

and SB 144: Billboard Restrictions Amendments (failed)

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/SB0144.html

Musicians are uniquely affected by the pandemic, especially those who perform in front of a live audience. The Moab Music Festival wanted to find out what inspired musicians to continue creating – out of joy? Catharsis? Distraction? The result is the Pandemic Video Project, soon to be released next week – a conversation with musicians near and far, young and old. We hear clips from the submissions, and thoughts from festival coordinator Erin Groves.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak with journalists about their latest stories on our area. Utahraptor State Park will become a reality for the Dalton Wells area in Moab after the legislature passed a bill establishing and funding the park. (13:00) The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo and Carter Pape have more on dinosaur resources at Dalton Wells, the county’s stance on the High Density Housing Overlay Ordinance, and a profile of a Moab woman who passed away last year. And, a bill that would have allowed communities like Moab to impose a curfew on street-legal ATVS failed in the legislature last week. (23:00) The Moab Sun News’ Maggie McGuire has more on Senator David Hinkins’ vote against the bill, as well as a profile on Green River nonprofit Epicenter.

Show Notes:

Photo: Stills from Moab Music Festival’s Pandemic Video Project, to be released early next week on their YouTube page

Moab Music Festival Pandemic Video Project Info

http://www.moabmusicfest.org/pandemicproject

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Sen.Hinkins – ‘You get a new state park!’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/sen-hinkins-you-get-a-new-state-park/

The Times-Independent: Moab’s ‘megablock’ treasure trove of dinosaur fossils

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moabs-megablock-treasure-trove-of-dinosaur-fossils/

The Times-Independent: Against developers’ wishes, county passes HDHO rules

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/against-developers-wishes-county-passes-hdho-rules/

The Times-Independent: Remembering Stephanie

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/remembering-stephanie/

Moab Sun News: Sen. Hinkins discusses his vote against OHV curfew bill

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_9fcf8ae6-7f76-11eb-b306-2b7e17c309ea.html

Moab Sun News: Looking to the future, respecting the past - Green River Epicenter moves forward with affordable housing project

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_f3be93d8-7f74-11eb-8f63-27aee829b996.html

The Moab area will soon have another public lands asset – Utahraptor State Park. A bill creating the new designation for the Dalton Wells area is heading to the Governor’s desk to be signed. Grand County Commission Chair Mary McGann says she’s ‘very, very happy’ that this area will get long-needed protection through better management. Plus, plastic has been around for a century and its environmental impacts are getting more severe. Our radio partners report on this big problem and one small solution.

Show Notes:

Photo: A makeshift campfire ring in the Dalton Wells area. Lands will soon be managed through the state park system.

Utahraptor State Park Legislation (SB 257)

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0257.html

KDNK: Plant-Based Ski Wax Keeps Microplastics Out of Snowpack

https://www.kdnk.org/post/plant-based-ski-wax-keeps-microplastics-out-snowpack

Grand County and Moab City are strategizing methods to curb noise impacts associated with ATVs. One potential solution on the table – noise checkpoints, where law enforcement can perform stationary tests on tailpipes. Elected officials and staff say establishing a noise disturbance standard is complicated, especially in the state of Utah, but it’s time to start experimenting. Plus, before negotiations on future Colorado River policies can begin, the region’s leaders must first decide what’s on the table – and who’s sitting at it.

Show Notes:

Grand County Noise Ordinance (2019)

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/DocumentCenter/View/8715/Title-11---Noise-Ordinance-602-12-2019?bidId=

Moab City Noise Codes

https://moab.municipal.codes/Code/17.74

KUNC: In Rapidly Warming Colorado River Basin, The Negotiating Table Is Being Set

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2021-03-02/in-rapidly-warming-colorado-river-basin-the-negotiating-table-is-being-set?fbclid=IwAR0FDAJyDUfVpk9unFNQYvi6A1_sMbCQOPi5c8j9DvT8Xv60X9nhu0rs9Lo

Health officials say Grand County has a high rate of acceptance for the coronavirus vaccine, meaning – locals are very willing to get it. Today on the news, we speak with Southeast Utah Health Officer Bradon Bradford about the local vaccine rollout. Currently about 10 percent of those eligible in Grand County are fully vaccinated with their first and second doses. Learn more about the vaccination effort, who’s eligible, and where to schedule an appointment.

Show Notes:

Photo: Vaccination at the Southeast Utah Health Department/Credit Grand County School District

Grand County Vaccine Schedulers –

Southeast Utah Health Department

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

or call: 435-259-5602

Moab Regional Hospital

call: 435-719-3998

City Market Pharmacy

online: https://www.citymarket.com/rx/covid-eligibility

or call: 435-259-5181