KZMU News

Two wildfires burned almost 14,000 acres in Southwest Utah this July, ripping through protected Mojave Desert tortoise habitat. Our radio partners report that this is not the first time fire has scorched the land; and the tortoise’s fate depends on what people do next. Plus, the struggle to protect public lands from corporate exploitation is at the heart of a new documentary. It screens online with a local panel discussion this week.

Show Notes:

Photo: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve/Turkey Farm Road Fire 2020

KUER: Frequent Wildfires May Prove Too Much For The Threatened Mojave Desert Tortoise

https://www.kuer.org/news/2020-09-04/frequent-wildfires-may-prove-too-much-for-the-threatened-mojave-desert-tortoise

Red Cliffs Desert Reserve

http://www.redcliffsdesertreserve.com

Public Trust: The Fight for America’s Public Lands

Virtual Film Screening/Panel Discussion Sept 10th, at 7pm

RSVP: [email protected]

A potential road through the Book Cliffs in Grand County has come up yet again – this time, in the form of a right-of-way holder notice. The Grand County Commission has until the end of the month to send comments about how a 35-mile paved road connecting Interstate 70 in Grand County to Seep Ridge Road in Uintah County might affect their right-of-ways. One commissioner described the project as “a road [that] Grand County doesn’t want, to be built entirely within our county, by a coalition of seven other counties with taxpayer dollars.” And later, a new study suggests that when forests burn across the southern Rocky Mountains – they may never grow back. Plus, amidst the national conversation about racial injustice, Dixie State University officials are considering a permanent name change.

Show Notes:

BLM Right-of-Way Holder Notice, Seep Ridge Road

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BLM-ROW-Holder-Notice-Seep-Ridge-Road.pdf

Book Cliffs 9-1-20 Agenda Item

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Book-Cliffs-9-1-Agenda-Item.pdf

Eastern Utah Regional Connection: Seven County Infrastructure Coalition

http://scic-utah.org/projects/eastern-utah-regional-connection

KVNF: New study – Burned forests may never grow back

https://www.kvnf.org/post/new-study-burned-forests-may-never-grow-back

University of Colorado-Boulder: Many forests scorched by wildfire won’t bounce back

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200902182415.htm

UPR: Dixie State Officials Continue To Explore Options For Changing The School’s Name

https://www.upr.org/post/dixie-state-officials-continue-explore-options-changing-schools-name

Dixie Sun News: Faculty senate votes to support DSU name change

https://dixiesunnews.com/news/articles/2020/08/28/faculty-senate-votes-to-support-dsu-name-change/

A group of Indigenous runners travelled through Moab this week, offering prayers and healing to Native communities. Organized through SLC Air Protectors, the Running as Medicine Indigenous Youth Prayer Run will span 360 miles from Bears Ears National Monument to Warm Springs Park in Salt Lake City. Runners say they are dedicating their practice to Indigenous communities affected by COVID-19, as well as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Today on the news, we learn more about the tradition and practice of prayer running.

Plus (7:00 min), our roundup with The Times-Independent. Editor Doug McMurdo reviews some notable coverage in their paper this week, including back to school preparations, change of county government, and an interview with Monica Camey on the loss of her husband and son.

Show Notes:

SLC Air Protectors

http://slcairprotectors.org

Running as Medicine Indigenous Youth Prayer Run

https://www.facebook.com/slcairprotectors

The Times-Independent Mentions –

Opportunity, challenges greet school year when classes begin

https://moabtimes.com/2020/09/03/opportunity-challenges-greet-school-year-when-classes-begin/

Ken’s Lake? It’s more like a puddle

https://moabtimes.com/2020/09/03/kens-lake-its-more-like-a-puddle/

Support for commission choice seems in question

https://moabtimes.com/2020/09/03/support-for-commission-choice-seems-in-question/

Voters to decipher governance question

https://moabtimes.com/2020/09/03/voters-to-decipher-governance-question/

Monica Camey exemplifies dignity after February deaths of husband, son

https://moabtimes.com/2020/09/03/monica-camey-exemplifies-dignity-after-february-deaths-of-husband-son/

An open records request by The Salt Lake Tribune revealed that eight rural Utah counties have expressed interest in hosting a satellite inland port – Grand County among them. Those close to this project say it’s still in a ‘data gathering’ phase to explore the feasibility of port development in different areas of the state. Today on the news, some background on this issue and Grand’s involvement. And later, our radio partners interview a retiring wildlife manager about giving ‘voice to wildlife’ amidst continued development.

Show Notes:

The Salt Lake Tribune: Eight rural Utah counties are competing to host a satellite inland port

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/08/30/eight-rural-utah-counties/

Utah Inland Port Authority

https://inlandportauthority.utah.gov

Utah Association of Counties

https://www.uacnet.org

Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments, Regional Planning

http://seualg.utah.gov/index.php/community-development/regional-planning/

KVNF: After 33 Years, Renzo DelPiccolo Still Worries About Loss of Wildlife Habitat

https://www.kvnf.org/post/after-33-years-renzo-delpiccolo-still-worries-about-loss-wildlife-habitat#stream/0

Shortly after Grand County’s elected body made alterations to their name and the November ballot, some community members cried foul. In a petition to the 7th District Court, three plaintiffs assert that moving from the Grand County Council to the Grand County Commission was much more than a simple name change. They are seeking an injunction on this alteration, as well two propositions added to the ballot. Today on the news, more on the recent legal filing. Plus, our partners at UPR detail wastewater testing for SARS-CoV-2, which recently led to quarantining students at USU-Logan.

Show Notes:

Plaintiff Petition 8/24/20

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Plaintiff-Petition-8-24-20.pdf

County Attorney Christina Sloan 8/13/20 Legal Memo

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CA-813-Legal-Memo.pdf

Ballot Flow Chart

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Ballot-Flow-Chart.pdf

The Times-Independent: Form of Governance – County faces lawsuit over ballot questions

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/form-of-governance-county-faces-lawsuit-over-ballot-questions/

Approximately 225 people – many of them local teachers and school administrators – were tested for COVID-19 yesterday. The Southeast Utah Health Department was aiming to catch any asymptomatic cases before schools reopen to in-person instruction next week. The department says they do not have the resources or infrastructure to continue screening district employees at such a large scale throughout the year. However, Grand County’s school district superintendent says she is not giving up on such a plan, and is currently looking at other options for regular asymptomatic screening. Plus, the Mountain West has seen the largest increase in mask-wearing over the last few months over any other region, according to a new study.

Show Notes:

GCSD 20-21 COVID-19 School Reopening Plan

https://4.files.edl.io/cea3/08/05/20/201720-60036ee0-71bf-4fee-a60e-142ae4529bb4.pdf

Pew Research Center: More Americans say they are regularly wearing masks in stores and other businesses

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/27/more-americans-say-they-are-regularly-wearing-masks-in-stores-and-other-businesses/

When COVID-19 started sweeping across the Navajo Nation, one man noticed elders and others were unable to access water stations. So he purchased a water tank and started hauling water to them. Today on the news, our partners at KJZZ feature Water Warriors United. Plus, ‘bots’ often spread highly-polarizing political content across the internet that’s meant to provoke. But one Colorado man has found a way to use them for good – he’s set a network of bots loose to spread works of fine art.

Show Notes:

Photo: Zoel Zohnnie. KJZZ/MJ Harrison.

KJZZ Tribal Natural Resources: Navajo ‘Water Warrior’ Drives Miles During COVID-19 To Deliver To Those In Need

https://fronterasdesk.org/content/1612321/navajo-water-warrior-drives-miles-during-covid-19-deliver-those-need?_ga=2.37650979.22843794.1598478240-101729423.1594337169

KSUT: A Colorado man spreads art across the internet

https://www.ksut.org/term/art-bots#stream/0

When COVID-19 started sweeping across the Navajo Nation, one man noticed elders and others were unable to access water stations. So he purchased a water tank and started hauling water to them. Today on the news, our partners at KJZZ feature Water Warriors United. Plus, ‘bots’ often spread highly-polarizing political content across the internet that’s meant to provoke. But one Colorado man has found a way to use them for good – he’s set a network of bots loose to spread works of fine art.

Show Notes:

Photo: Zoel Zohnnie. KJZZ/MJ Harrison.

KJZZ Tribal Natural Resources: Navajo ‘Water Warrior’ Drives Miles During COVID-19 To Deliver To Those In Need

https://fronterasdesk.org/content/1612321/navajo-water-warrior-drives-miles-during-covid-19-deliver-those-need?_ga=2.37650979.22843794.1598478240-101729423.1594337169

KSUT: A Colorado man spreads art across the internet

https://www.ksut.org/term/art-bots#stream/0

When you observe bees buzzing around flowers and plants, it can feel like the ecosystem is in healthy harmony. But, dip your nose in these issues a little closer, and there’s often a lot more going on. Conservation groups like the Grand Canyon Trust are raising alarm bells about the impacts of commercial honeybees on native bees and their ecosystems. Earlier this summer, they filed a legal petition with federal public lands agencies asking to stop the placement of commercial honeybees on national forest lands without “proper environmental review” of such impacts. Today on the news, we learn more about these tensions.

Plus, our roundup with The Times-Independent. Staff writer Carter Pape reviews some notable coverage in their paper this week, including teacher salary raises, the sentencing of a Northern Utah man in a double fatal crash, and a lawsuit related to the county form of governance.

Show Notes:

Photo: Thomas Meinzen/Grand Canyon Trust

Grand Canyon Trust 7/29 Petition

https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/sites/default/files/resources/APA-Petition-to-Forest-Service-on-Apiary-CEs-7-29-20.pdf

Grand Canyon Trust Literature: Native Bees Need Your Help

https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/sites/default/files/resources/Bee_Flyer.pdf

Manti-La Sal National Forest Planning

https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning

The Times-Independent Mentions –

GCSD reveals budget errors

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/gcsd-reveals-budget-errors/

Teachers get raises: Increases exceed staff’s mentions

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/teachers-get-raises-increases-exceed-staffs-proposal/

Change the alarm clocks: School bells to ring a bit later as hours are cut

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/change-the-alarm-clocks-school-bells-to-ring-a-bit-later-as-hours-are-cut/

Northern Utah man sentenced is double fatal crash

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/northern-utah-man-sentenced-in-double-fatal-crash/

Form of Governance: County faces lawsuit over ballot questions

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/form-of-governance-county-faces-lawsuit-over-ballot-questions/

When you observe bees buzzing around flowers and plants, it can feel like the ecosystem is in healthy harmony. But, dip your nose in these issues a little closer, and there’s often a lot more going on. Conservation groups like the Grand Canyon Trust are raising alarm bells about the impacts of commercial honeybees on native bees and their ecosystems. Earlier this summer, they filed a legal petition with federal public lands agencies asking to stop the placement of commercial honeybees on national forest lands without “proper environmental review” of such impacts. Today on the news, we learn more about these tensions.

Plus, our roundup with The Times-Independent. Staff writer Carter Pape reviews some notable coverage in their paper this week, including teacher salary raises, the sentencing of a Northern Utah man in a double fatal crash, and a lawsuit related to the county form of governance.

Show Notes:

Photo: Thomas Meinzen/Grand Canyon Trust

Grand Canyon Trust 7/29 Petition

https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/sites/default/files/resources/APA-Petition-to-Forest-Service-on-Apiary-CEs-7-29-20.pdf

Grand Canyon Trust Literature: Native Bees Need Your Help

https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/sites/default/files/resources/Bee_Flyer.pdf

Manti-La Sal National Forest Planning

https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning

The Times-Independent Mentions –

GCSD reveals budget errors

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/gcsd-reveals-budget-errors/

Teachers get raises: Increases exceed staff’s mentions

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/teachers-get-raises-increases-exceed-staffs-proposal/

Change the alarm clocks: School bells to ring a bit later as hours are cut

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/change-the-alarm-clocks-school-bells-to-ring-a-bit-later-as-hours-are-cut/

Northern Utah man sentenced is double fatal crash

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/northern-utah-man-sentenced-in-double-fatal-crash/

Form of Governance: County faces lawsuit over ballot questions

https://moabtimes.com/2020/08/27/form-of-governance-county-faces-lawsuit-over-ballot-questions/