KZMU News

On Thursday, Judge Don M. Torgerson in the 7th District Court ruled that Propositions 16 and 17 can run on the 2020 Election Ballot. The propositions ask voters if they want to reduce the number of Grand County Commission seats from seven to five, and if they want to remove districts by electing all members at-large. In a lawsuit, plaintiffs asserted these propositions undermined a change of government process already in motion – the study committee recommendation, on the ballot as Proposition 10. Today on the news, we speak with Grand County Attorney Christina Sloan about the ruling, and questions left unanswered.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel! with the Moab Sun News and The Times-Independent, an opportunity to hear first-hand from newspaper reporters and editors about the unique stories they write and beats they cover in this area. First up, TI editor Doug McMurdo highlights surprising sales tax revenue, upcoming Arches Hotspot Committee meetings, and homecoming during the pandemic. Then, MSN editor Maggie McGuire unpacks the latest on a Moab nonprofit branching out their services after a public official in San Juan County raised the issue of ‘rape culture’ in the region’s schools.

Show Notes:

Oct 1 Judge Torgerson Ruling

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-10-01-Ruling-Order-on-Rule-65B.pdf

Oct 1 Plaintiff Clarification Request

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020.10.01-Ex-Parte-Motion-for-Clarification-RD.pdf

More Form of Government Coverage –

The Times-Independent: County prevails in form of government lawsuit

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/county-prevails-in-form-of-government-lawsuit/

Moab Sun News: Judge rules Grand County’s amendments can be on 2020 ballot

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_cfa440e0-0424-11eb-9e70-131e00bee22a.html

KUER: Grand County Wins Lawsuit, Giving Voters The Option To Keep Current Form of Government

https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2020-10-02/grand-county-wins-lawsuit-giving-voters-the-option-to-keep-current-form-of-government

Weekly News Reel! Mentions –

The Times-Independent: July tourist biz gained on same month in ’19, and had low COVID counts

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/july-tourist-biz-gained-on-same-month-in-19-and-had-low-covid-counts/

The Times-Independent: Parking solutions – Committee seeks input as it weights funding priorities

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/parking-solutions-committee-seeks-input-as-it-weighs-funding-priorities/

GCHS Homecoming: Games, parade & dance

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/gchs-homecoming-games-parade-dance/

Moab Sun News: Addressing ‘rape culture’

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_1b92d88a-0426-11eb-be6b-272c1514695a.html

Grand County recently received a surprise when the combined sales, use, and figures came in above 2019 levels for July. This revenue boost suggests the local economy could be stabilizing after a difficult spring, and supports anecdotal evidence from business owners noticing tourism is booming. And later, coronavirus response was a key focus in Tuesday’s Gubernatorial debate. Plus, the grassroots efforts of one stargazer helped a mountain town’s park receive International Dark Sky status.

Show Notes:

Grand County Budget Advisory Board: Oct 2nd Agenda

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10022020-1243

UPR: Coronavirus Response A Key Focus in Tuesday’s Gubernatorial Debate

https://www.upr.org/post/coronavirus-response-key-focus-tuesdays-gubernatorial-debate

KVNF: One man’s mission to protect dark skies in Lake City

https://www.kvnf.org/post/one-mans-mission-protect-dark-skies-lake-city#stream/0

In the past, you could bring your empty laundry detergent, glass bottles, and junk mail to the Community Recycle Center and feel confident that each item financially supported their recycling efforts. But in recent years, in part due to complicated global forces, Moab’s Community Recycle Center has operated in the red. The cost of processing recycling is simply outstripping revenue. Now, the solid waste district wants to know – will community members accept a sponsorship program to support the Community Recycle Center? Today on the news, we speak with solid waste district manager Evan Tyrrell to learn more.

Show Notes:

Residential Community Recycle Center Survey

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgWC0oWH-bU0_MwRRkvoEt5pVvRift0VrYKr_a_4uIWx2SvQ/viewform

Commercial Community Recycle Center Survey

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeImH7IKCjco3XrMGKaEAGnJnl-HHDkJK0IqArFBzUhrGzUzw/viewform

Solid Waste Special Service District #1

https://swssd1.org

Resource Recycling: From Green Fence to red alert: A China timeline

https://resource-recycling.com/recycling/2018/02/13/green-fence-red-alert-china-timeline/#Latest

A federal judge in Montana blocked William Perry Pendley from serving as the acting director of the Bureau of Land Management, finding he served unlawfully for over a year. Pendley was given the top spot at the BLM through a series of temporary appointments, and has been a controversial head due to his history opposing federal ownership of public lands. And, our radio partners report on the U.S. Forest Service’s volunteer wilderness ranger programs that help patrol the backcountry. Plus, members of the Northwest Band of the Shoshone Nation are working to restore sacred land at the sight of the Bear River Massacre with the help of students from Utah State University.

Show Notes:

Photo: Volunteer wilderness stewards like Joyce Fabre are a critical part of wilderness education, especially when managers have limited budgets for paid staff. Amanda Peacher/Mountain West News Bureau.

The Hill: Pendley court ruling could unravel Trump’s public lands decisions

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/518619-court-ruling-undercutting-pendleys-authority-could-unravel-trump

NPR: Federal Judge Ousts Trump’s Top Public Lands Chief

https://www.npr.org/2020/09/25/917116718/judge-ousts-trumps-public-lands-chief

Mountain West News Bureau: As Wilderness Areas Attract More People, Volunteer Rangers Hit The Trail

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/wilderness-areas-attract-more-people-volunteer-rangers-hit-trail

UPR: USU Team Working With Shoshone Nation To Restore Bear River Massacre Site

https://www.upr.org/post/usu-team-working-shoshone-nation-restore-bear-river-massacre-site

After this week, students, teachers, and staff at Grand County School District will have one month of experience being in school during a pandemic. For the past several weeks, they have adjusted to the 'new normal' – masks, social distance, extra cleaning protocols. Today on the news, we check in with principals Mary Marable, Cari Caylor, and Jill Tatton about ‘staying safe to stay open’ and the issues weighing on their minds as they look ahead to the rest of the school year.

Show Notes:

GCSD 20-21 COVID-19 School Reopening Plan

https://www.grandschools.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1897883&type=d&pREC_ID=2043894

Grand County High School Principal’s Message

https://gchs.grandschools.org/apps/spotlightmessages/9690

Grand County Middle School Principal’s Message

https://gchs.grandschools.org/apps/spotlightmessages/9690

Helen M. Knight Elementary School Principal’s Message

https://4.files.edl.io/6203/08/20/20/182441-5cefcd46-6648-4177-8392-1571672bb94b.pdf

The Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition recently outlined new goals for reducing suicide rates among the state’s LGBTQ+ community. Central to that aim is promoting social norms of acceptance and inclusivity for people of all identities. Today on the news, we hear an excerpt from a recent conversation with Molly McClish, someone who has long advocated for kindness as the means to create a safer world for everyone.

A note to listeners, this interview discusses suicide risk and prevention. If you or someone you know is at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255. The Trevor Project also has a 24-hour suicide hotline for the LGBTQ+ community at 1-866-488-7386.

And later, our new segment – Newsreel – where we hear from our print media partners. It’s an opportunity for us to hear first-hand from newspaper reporters and editors about the unique stories they write and beats they cover in this area. Today Moab Sun News editor Maggie McGuire highlights the latest on the Arches Hotspot committee. And, Times-Independent editor Doug McMurdo reviews local election coverage including county candidates and Moab City’s proposed Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) tax.

Show Notes:

Photo: Credit Moab Pride

The Salt Lake Tribune: First-of-its-kind report addresses ways to reduce suicide among Utah’s LGBTQ+ community

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/09/23/first-of-its-kind-report/

Utah LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Plan

https://www.scribd.com/document/476950516/UTAH-LGBTQ-SUICIDE-PREVENTION-PLAN#download&from_embed

Lily’s Hope for Kindness

https://lilyshopeforkindness.com

Necessary Components for Youth Suicide Prevention

https://lilyshopeforkindness.com/necessary-components

Moab Pride

https://www.moabpride.com/copy-of-festival-volunteers

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

The Trevor Project Lifeline

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/

Newsreel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Stocks, Walker compete for county’s At Large open seat

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/stocks-walker-compete-for-countys-at-large-open-seat/

The Times Independent: Hedin challenges Halliday for District 4 seat

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/hedin-challenges-halliday-for-district-5-seat/

The Times-Independent: Prop. 8 appears to have voters’ favor

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/prop-8-appears-to-have-voters-favor/

Moab Sun News: Arches Hotspot committee plans public engagement

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_2a59d470-fe9c-11ea-8d15-9bfadcc1bdb4.html

The Moab City Council heard comments from the public this week about their proposed Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) tax. If approved by voters, the sales and use tax could support facilities and programs like the Aquatic and Fitness Center, youth sports, and the Moab Arts and Recreation Center, which are currently subsidized entirely through the city’s general fund. And later, the Youth Garden Project held their 2nd annual Blue Ribbon Produce Exhibition last weekend. It was an opportunity for community members across the valley to display their homegrown goods and take home prizes. We speak with ‘Moab’s Rarest’ winner Claire Core about successfully growing dryland rice.

Show Notes:

Moab City 9/22 Meeting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVCSMO_xigI

KZMU News Extra: Proposition 8 – Recreation, Arts, and Parks Tax

https://www.kzmu.org/news-extra-proposition-8-recreation-arts-and-parks-rap-tax/

Moab City: Proposition 8 Info

https://moabcity.org/559/Proposition-8-for-Recreation-Arts-Parks

Youth Garden Project

https://www.youthgardenproject.org

As people flocked to the National Park system for pandemic-safe outdoor time, a team of researchers at USU-Moab started asking questions. They wanted to know how coronavirus safety guidelines influenced visitor behavior on and off the trails – and if National Parks like Arches were set up to deal with any potential impacts. On Monday afternoon, as a busy Arches National Park shut temporarily due to high demand, KZMU News spoke with Moab professor Wayne Freimund about this research.

Show Notes:

Photo: Cars parked near the Arches National Park entrance sign during a temporary closure on Sept 21st

NPS: Arches National Park Monthly Public Use Report

https://irma.nps.gov/STATS/SSRSReports/Park%20Specific%20Reports/Monthly%20Public%20Use?Park=ARCH

NPS: Arches Traffic & Travel Tips

https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/traffic.htm

When the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance makes the news, it’s usually because of legal challenges concerning public lands. The conservation organization has worked for decades to protect wilderness areas in Utah, which means they are often at the center of difficult – and sometimes divisive – conversations. But SUWA’s volunteer stewardship program aims to seek common ground with stakeholders…on the ground. Today on the news, we learn more about their resource protection work through restoration projects.

Show Notes:

SUWA’s Stewardship Program

https://suwa.org/join-service-project/

Schedule of SUWA Stewardship Projects

https://suwa.org/projectcalendar/

Last week marked some of the highest COVID-19 case counts in Utah since the beginning of the pandemic. State officials attribute much of the increase to the college population. Said Governor Gary Herbert in a statement, “not everyone is at high-risk for COVID complications, but we all are equally affected by an unwillingness to follow guidelines.” And later in the news, Senate Democrats pressure the Trump administration to immediately remove William Perry Pendley from his post as acting director of the Bureau of Land Management. Plus, researchers predict that climate change will reduce the number of aspens that make fall color in the Rocky Mountains so captivating.

Show Notes:

Utah COVID-19 Data

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

Southeast Utah Health Department COVID-19 Data

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

Moab Sun News: Moab sewage shows COVID spike

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_0defb5a4-f9c2-11ea-adda-d30f3311ef5c.html

Bennet Calls for William Perry Pendley to Leave BLM in Floor Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99RqgvQDdWg&feature=youtu.be

The Salt Lake Tribune: ‘Not going to happen’ – BLM’s acting director wants to prioritize wildfires and horses, not transferring public lands

https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2020/09/10/public-lands-boss-says/

H20 Radio: Fading Fast? Colorado’s Iconic Aspen Trees Decline with Climate Change

http://h2oradio.org/Aspen.html