Just a couple hours north of Moab, in a little town on the other side of the Book Cliffs, musicians have turned an old water tank into a performance venue and recording studio, simply called The Tank. Echoes last up to 40 seconds in this 65-foot steel cylinder, making it a unique sonic experience and a destination for musicians from around the world.

- Show Notes -

• The Tank, Center for Sonic Arts

https://tanksounds.org/

This week on Regional Roundup, we explore the history of abortion in Colorado, follow a DACA recipient's journey to Mexico to reunite with family members, examine the transition from coal to renewable energy on the Navajo Nation, and look at a circus visiting Moab amid accusations of animal cruelty. Contributors to this week's show include Abby O'Brien and Halle Zander of Aspen Public Radio, Adam Burke of KSUT, and Emily Arntsen of KZMU.

On Monday, KZMU News Director Emily Arntsen and Public Affairs host Christy Williams Dunton facilitated a two-hour forum with the eight candidates running for Grand County Commission. The conversation is separated into four 30-minute segments by district.

- Time Stamps -

• 00:00 - 00:30 — District 3: Incumbent Jacques Hadler & Howard Trenholme

• 00:30 - 01:00 — District 2: Melodie McCandless & Jason Ramsdell

• 01:00 - 01:30 — District 1: Incumbent Trish Hedin & Brittney Bohannon Melton

• 01:30 - 02:00 — At-Large: Brian Martinez & Ashley Korenblat

This week on Regional Roundup, we meet a chainsaw sculptor from Zimbabwe who now calls Colorado home. We also hear from a community fighting for better athletic facilities in their region, and we get an update on the Navajo Nation's efforts to help tribal members who were lured to fraudulent treatment centers in Phoenix. Plus, we learn about the melting of permafrost and sea ice. Contributors to this week's show include Ellen Mahone, KOTO's Gavin McGough, KSUT Tribal Radio's Crystal Ashike.

On the News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent. We discuss the recent arrest of Grand County public defender Kristine Rogers for attempting to illegally evict tenants. We also talk about some possible plans to bring more water to the wetlands, which flood less and less as water levels drop on the Colorado River. And we finish up with an update on road construction behind City Market in Moab.

- Show Notes -

• Grand County public defender charged in alleged illegal eviction attempt

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/grand-county-public-defender-charged-in-alleged-illegal-eviction-attempt/

• Moab city wrestles with 2 expensive plans to help wetlands preserve

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-city-wrestles-with-2-expensive-plans-to-help-wetlands-preserve/

• Moab begins work to improve road between City Market and middle school

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-begins-work-to-improve-road-between-city-market-and-middle-school/

Runners from around the world came to Moab last week to compete in an ultramarathon called the Moab 240. Participants had 117 hours to traverse a 240-mile loop from Moab to Indian Creek, up the Abajos, into the La Sals, and back to town. Most runners average about 90 minutes of sleep per night, and the extreme exhaustion causes many of them to hallucinate. We talk to runners Aum Gandhi and Alicia Jenkins-Browder about the physical and psychological tolls of a race like this.

Photo: Runners cheer for Trevon Hauth, the last runner to finish the race with just six minutes to spare before the cutoff.

This week on Regional Roundup, it’s all about food. We hear from Jessica Hulse Dillon, senior director at the Soil & Climate Alliance, who spoke at a panel discussion called "The Election and the Future of Food on Your Table" at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies recently. We also meet a regenerative farmer on Colorado’s Western Slope, hear from an ecologist who calculates the carbon footprint of what we eat, and we learn about a beloved Colorado chili.

On the News Reel today, we talk to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about the candidates for the upcoming Senate and House races in this region. We also discuss the county’s tax revenue, which is still on hold after Grand County was late in submitting its 2023 annual report. We also hear from Kenny Fallon, editor and publisher of the monthly newsletter, the Green River Observer. Fallon tells us about the city’s preferences on which types of industry they hope to entice with the Inland Port project. Plus, we hear about Green River’s new city manager.

- Show Notes -

• 2024 Senate District 26 Voter’s Guide

https://moabtimes.com/articles/senate-district-26-sen-david-hinkins-faces-challengers-corbin-frost-and-oran-stainbrook/

• 2024 House District 69 Voter’s Guide

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/house-district-69-voter-guide-davina-smith-faces-logan-monson/

• Grand County submits 2023 annual report, taxes still on hold

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/grand-county-submits-2023-annual-report-taxes-still-on-hold/

• The Green River Observer

https://thegreenriverobserver.substack.com/

Today we have a little teaser about an upcoming series from KZMU News. Projects like these are made possible by the generosity of our listeners, and we thank you for supporting us! This week is Radiothon, and if you love the work we do here, consider donating to the station at kzmu.org.

- Show Notes -

- Donate to KZMU

https://www.kzmu.org/

- Buy Merch & Premiums

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/643e1c51-c868-412e-8d74-b61d27ebde97

Last week, the Jordan World Circus performed at the Spanish Trail Arena in Moab. The circus has been protested for animal cruelty for years and was banned from using elephants in Salt Lake County in 2020. But last year, Utah passed an amendment that prohibits local governments from banning or restricting any enterprise that uses "working animals," including circuses. Last year, the state also changed its definition of animal cruelty. Circus animals are not protected in the criminal code.

- Show Notes -

• Utah’s amendments to animal enterprise laws

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/sbillenr/SB0113.htm

• Utah’s animal cruelty criminal code

https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter9/76-9-S301.html

• A circus show in Utah won’t feature exotic animals for the first time

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/01/28/circus-show-south-jordan/