KZMU News

KZMU welcomes Doug McMurdo, associate editor of The Times-Independent to discuss the paper's latest coverage. This week - in a special meeting, Grand County's council members removed overnight accommodations as a use by right. Their 5-0 decision was made after failing to take action earlier in the week. Then, an update on West Nile mosquitoes in the county and a fatality hits the skydiving community. Tune in.

KZMU welcomes Doug McMurdo, associate editor of The Times-Independent to discuss the paper's latest coverage. This week - in a special meeting, Grand County's council members removed overnight accommodations as a use by right. Their 5-0 decision was made after failing to take action earlier in the week. Then, an update on West Nile mosquitoes in the county and a fatality hits the skydiving community. Tune in.

“I had the feeling that it wasn’t good. I didn’t know just being a child, [but] I thought ‘why would they do that? Why would they send things up in the air?” These are the memories of Bonnie Deem, who lived through the era of nuclear testing in the 1950s. Her story, along with many others, is archived at the University of Utah, in a project called “Downwinders of Utah.” Through oral histories and interactive data, the archive documents the fallout – in all forms of the word – of nuclear radiation across the state. Learn more on today’s news.

[Photo: A 14-kiloton atomic explosion, from a 1951 US nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site. J. Willard Marriott Library/University of Utah]

“I had the feeling that it wasn’t good. I didn’t know just being a child, [but] I thought ‘why would they do that? Why would they send things up in the air?” These are the memories of Bonnie Deem, who lived through the era of nuclear testing in the 1950s. Her story, along with many others, is archived at the University of Utah, in a project called “Downwinders of Utah.” Through oral histories and interactive data, the archive documents the fallout – in all forms of the word – of nuclear radiation across the state. Learn more on today’s news.

[Photo: A 14-kiloton atomic explosion, from a 1951 US nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site. J. Willard Marriott Library/University of Utah]

A study in 2016 showed that lawns are the largest irrigated crop in America. There are over 40 million grassy acres in the continental U.S., and they take a lot of water to thrive. But in the West, where rainfall is less plentiful, many water providers have been offering rebates to residents willing to tear out turf and replace it with drought tolerant plants. The programs are working and thousands of gallons of water are being saved. So why are two major cities punting on the idea? Our partners at H20 radio have the story.

A study in 2016 showed that lawns are the largest irrigated crop in America. There are over 40 million grassy acres in the continental U.S., and they take a lot of water to thrive. But in the West, where rainfall is less plentiful, many water providers have been offering rebates to residents willing to tear out turf and replace it with drought tolerant plants. The programs are working and thousands of gallons of water are being saved. So why are two major cities punting on the idea? Our partners at H20 radio have the story.

U.S. Senator Cory Gardner announced yesterday that the Bureau of Land Management’s national headquarters will move to Grand Junction, Colorado. Gardner has argued for years to move the public lands agency’s top officials closer to the communities affected by their decisions. However, critics are calling this announcement little more than political theater. And later in the news, oil and gas lobby group Western Energy Alliance fundraises for maintenance projects at Canyonlands National Park. The group also intends to raise awareness about “Restore Our Parks” legislation which proposes to fund deferred maintenance projects at the nation’s parks with money generated from oil and gas royalties. Tune in.

[Photo: Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park/NPS]

U.S. Senator Cory Gardner announced yesterday that the Bureau of Land Management’s national headquarters will move to Grand Junction, Colorado. Gardner has argued for years to move the public lands agency’s top officials closer to the communities affected by their decisions. However, critics are calling this announcement little more than political theater. And later in the news, oil and gas lobby group Western Energy Alliance fundraises for maintenance projects at Canyonlands National Park. The group also intends to raise awareness about “Restore Our Parks” legislation which proposes to fund deferred maintenance projects at the nation’s parks with money generated from oil and gas royalties. Tune in.

[Photo: Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park/NPS]

As their respective six-month moratoria on new overnight lodging developments draw to a close, Grand County and Moab City are nearing decisions with new zoning ordinances. Both city and county planning commissions have made recommendations focused on regulating overnight development. Local officials have said they’re considering such regulations due to the lodging industry’s impacts to residential housing, quality of life, and economic diversity. And later in the broadcast, Public Lands Corner has a clarification on river permits as well as an extensive list of hazards possibly encountered while traveling through a river corridor.

As their respective six-month moratoria on new overnight lodging developments draw to a close, Grand County and Moab City are nearing decisions with new zoning ordinances. Both city and county planning commissions have made recommendations focused on regulating overnight development. Local officials have said they’re considering such regulations due to the lodging industry’s impacts to residential housing, quality of life, and economic diversity. And later in the broadcast, Public Lands Corner has a clarification on river permits as well as an extensive list of hazards possibly encountered while traveling through a river corridor.