KZMU News

Few species are equipped to handle a hot and dry climate better than the desert tortoise. The ancient creature inhabits some of the harshest areas of the American southwest. But with climate change making their home hotter and drier, how are they coping? To find out, our partners at KUNC take a hike in the Mojave Desert.

[Photo: U.S. Geological Survey ecologist Todd Esque holds a tortoise shell in the Mojave Desert, south of Las Vegas. Luke Runyon/KUNC]

Few species are equipped to handle a hot and dry climate better than the desert tortoise. The ancient creature inhabits some of the harshest areas of the American southwest. But with climate change making their home hotter and drier, how are they coping? To find out, our partners at KUNC take a hike in the Mojave Desert.

[Photo: U.S. Geological Survey ecologist Todd Esque holds a tortoise shell in the Mojave Desert, south of Las Vegas. Luke Runyon/KUNC]

A referendum campaign seeking to overturn recent changes to Utah’s tax laws declared an early and unofficial victory Tuesday night. If this campaign is successful, the state’s voters would decide whether to enact or repeal the legislation on the November ballot. And later in the news, federal wildlife officials say a rare Colorado River fish – the humpback chub – is pulling away from the brink of extinction. Plus, protestors took to the streets in several Western cities over the weekend as part of the 2020 Women’s March and Rally.

[photo: KDNK/Amy Hadden Marsh]

Show Notes:

Utah tax referendum signature totals –

https://voteinfo.utah.gov/initiatives-and-referenda/

Humpback Chub Reclassification –

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/22/2020-00512/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-reclassification-of-the-humpback-chub-from-endangered

KDNK, ‘More than 200 Attend Chilly Women’s March in Glenwood Springs’ –

https://www.kdnk.org/post/more-200-attend-chilly-womens-march-glenwood-springs

A referendum campaign seeking to overturn recent changes to Utah’s tax laws declared an early and unofficial victory Tuesday night. If this campaign is successful, the state’s voters would decide whether to enact or repeal the legislation on the November ballot. And later in the news, federal wildlife officials say a rare Colorado River fish – the humpback chub – is pulling away from the brink of extinction. Plus, protestors took to the streets in several Western cities over the weekend as part of the 2020 Women’s March and Rally.

[photo: KDNK/Amy Hadden Marsh]

Show Notes:

Utah tax referendum signature totals –

https://voteinfo.utah.gov/initiatives-and-referenda/

Humpback Chub Reclassification –

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/22/2020-00512/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-reclassification-of-the-humpback-chub-from-endangered

KDNK, ‘More than 200 Attend Chilly Women’s March in Glenwood Springs’ –

https://www.kdnk.org/post/more-200-attend-chilly-womens-march-glenwood-springs

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service; observed each year to celebrate the Civil Rights leader’s life and continued legacy. In that tradition, Moabites volunteered across the community, completing diverse and varied projects – cooking soup for a free community lunch, re-painting a well-loved gathering space, and cataloging insects from the La Sal Mountains. And later on the news, our partners at Utah Public Radio have a reflection on the mental health benefits of nature. Tune in.

Show Notes:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service –

https://www.nationalservice.gov/serve-your-community/mlk-day-service

https://www.facebook.com/mlkday

Utah Public Radio Wild About Utah –

https://www.upr.org/programs/wild-about-utah

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service; observed each year to celebrate the Civil Rights leader’s life and continued legacy. In that tradition, Moabites volunteered across the community, completing diverse and varied projects – cooking soup for a free community lunch, re-painting a well-loved gathering space, and cataloging insects from the La Sal Mountains. And later on the news, our partners at Utah Public Radio have a reflection on the mental health benefits of nature. Tune in.

Show Notes:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service –

https://www.nationalservice.gov/serve-your-community/mlk-day-service

https://www.facebook.com/mlkday

Utah Public Radio Wild About Utah –

https://www.upr.org/programs/wild-about-utah

Local supporters of a state referendum on tax reform have met and exceeded their signature-collecting goals in Grand County. This local success is not necessarily reflective of results statewide, where other counties are struggling to meet percentage goals – some by the tens of thousands – by tomorrow’s deadline. But bipartisan coalition members against Utah’s new tax legislation are reporting much closer numbers as they continue to host signing events throughout the state. And later in the news, Public Lands Corner features a look at the past, present, and future of a salinity control project along the Dolores River near Bedrock, Colorado.

Show Notes:

Statewide signature totals –

https://voteinfo.utah.gov/initiatives-and-referenda/

Statewide signature events –

https://www.easymapmaker.com/map/utah2019tax?fbclid=IwAR25h9O1wxuVMZQ2qDPcAzmbmji7DRW5imG_fMHKQ_YBFl0elR39m-viMjo

December polling on tax reform –

https://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/22541-poll-utahns-overwhelmingly-opposed-to-elements-contained-in-tax-reform

Public Lands Corner –

https://www.usbr.gov/uc/progact/paradox/index.html

https://the-journal.com/articles/162485

https://www.ksl.com/weather/snowpack

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/current/?type=flow

Local supporters of a state referendum on tax reform have met and exceeded their signature-collecting goals in Grand County. This local success is not necessarily reflective of results statewide, where other counties are struggling to meet percentage goals – some by the tens of thousands – by tomorrow’s deadline. But bipartisan coalition members against Utah’s new tax legislation are reporting much closer numbers as they continue to host signing events throughout the state. And later in the news, Public Lands Corner features a look at the past, present, and future of a salinity control project along the Dolores River near Bedrock, Colorado.

Show Notes:

Statewide signature totals –

https://voteinfo.utah.gov/initiatives-and-referenda/

Statewide signature events –

https://www.easymapmaker.com/map/utah2019tax?fbclid=IwAR25h9O1wxuVMZQ2qDPcAzmbmji7DRW5imG_fMHKQ_YBFl0elR39m-viMjo

December polling on tax reform –

https://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/22541-poll-utahns-overwhelmingly-opposed-to-elements-contained-in-tax-reform

Public Lands Corner –

https://www.usbr.gov/uc/progact/paradox/index.html

https://the-journal.com/articles/162485

https://www.ksl.com/weather/snowpack

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/current/?type=flow

As station manager of KZMU, Serah Mead is helming rocket-ship Moab Community Radio through its 28th year. More than just live and local sounds, she says the station actively cultivates community – through music, events, and conversation. On the extended newscast, we hear from Mead on the where our small but mighty station is headed in 2020.

Get Involved at KZMU –

https://www.kzmu.org/become-a-kzmu-dj/

As station manager of KZMU, Serah Mead is helming rocket-ship Moab Community Radio through its 28th year. More than just live and local sounds, she says the station actively cultivates community – through music, events, and conversation. On the extended newscast, we hear from Mead on the where our small but mighty station is headed in 2020.

Get Involved at KZMU –

https://www.kzmu.org/become-a-kzmu-dj/