KZMU News

KZMU welcomes Doug McMurdo, the associate editor of The Times-Independent, to discuss the paper's latest coverage. New this week - Grand County's elected officials may see a large pay raise, a petition challenging the funding method for the middle school project fails, and Judge Don Torgerson heard oral arguments in the change of government case. Also discussed is confusion and controversy surrounding a new overnight lodging rule in Moab City. Tune in!

KZMU welcomes Doug McMurdo, the associate editor of The Times-Independent, to discuss the paper's latest coverage. New this week - Grand County's elected officials may see a large pay raise, a petition challenging the funding method for the middle school project fails, and Judge Don Torgerson heard oral arguments in the change of government case. Also discussed is confusion and controversy surrounding a new overnight lodging rule in Moab City. Tune in!

Utah patients can now legally obtain and use medical marijuana. But that doesn't mean that the controversy is over just yet. In a special legislative session on Monday, state lawmakers replaced a voter-passed initiative with their own bill - the Utah Medical Cannabis Act. Some praise the bill as a hallmark of compromise, others denounce it as blatantly upending the will of the voters and making cannabis access unreasonably restrictive to patients. Two pro-cannabis groups are now seeking to re-invoke the ballot initiative, alleging that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints unconstitutionally interfered with the state's functions when it comes to the medical cannabis legislation.

Utah patients can now legally obtain and use medical marijuana. But that doesn't mean that the controversy is over just yet. In a special legislative session on Monday, state lawmakers replaced a voter-passed initiative with their own bill - the Utah Medical Cannabis Act. Some praise the bill as a hallmark of compromise, others denounce it as blatantly upending the will of the voters and making cannabis access unreasonably restrictive to patients. Two pro-cannabis groups are now seeking to re-invoke the ballot initiative, alleging that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints unconstitutionally interfered with the state's functions when it comes to the medical cannabis legislation.

Utah patients can now legally obtain and use medical marijuana. But that doesn't mean that the controversy is over just yet. In a special legislative session on Monday, state lawmakers replaced a voter-passed initiative with their own bill - the Utah Medical Cannabis Act. Some praise the bill as a hallmark of compromise, others denounce it as blatantly upending the will of the voters and making cannabis access unreasonably restrictive to patients. Two pro-cannabis groups are now seeking to re-invoke the ballot initiative, alleging that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints unconstitutionally interfered with the state's functions when it comes to the medical cannabis legislation.

The effects of mining pollution are the subject of a new state and federal government-led study in Lake Powell. Sediment at the bottom of the reservoir will undergo analysis to understand what impact mining runoff, including that of the Gold King Mine spill, has on the river basin.

For the Glen Canyon Institute, a non-profit working to restore its namesake flooded by the reservoir’s creation, the study adds another element to understanding the future of Lake Powell. Our partners at KSJD in Cortez, Colorado recently interviewed Eric Balken, the institute’s executive director. He spoke about what this study could mean for the discourse on the reservoir’s necessity.

[photo: flickr]

The effects of mining pollution are the subject of a new state and federal government-led study in Lake Powell. Sediment at the bottom of the reservoir will undergo analysis to understand what impact mining runoff, including that of the Gold King Mine spill, has on the river basin.

For the Glen Canyon Institute, a non-profit working to restore its namesake flooded by the reservoir’s creation, the study adds another element to understanding the future of Lake Powell. Our partners at KSJD in Cortez, Colorado recently interviewed Eric Balken, the institute’s executive director. He spoke about what this study could mean for the discourse on the reservoir’s necessity.

[photo: flickr]

The effects of mining pollution are the subject of a new state and federal government-led study in Lake Powell. Sediment at the bottom of the reservoir will undergo analysis to understand what impact mining runoff, including that of the Gold King Mine spill, has on the river basin.

For the Glen Canyon Institute, a non-profit working to restore its namesake flooded by the reservoir’s creation, the study adds another element to understanding the future of Lake Powell. Our partners at KSJD in Cortez, Colorado recently interviewed Eric Balken, the institute’s executive director. He spoke about what this study could mean for the discourse on the reservoir’s necessity.

[photo: flickr]

Forest health specialists converged in San Juan County last week to investigate dying juniper trees on Alkali Ridge and Cedar Mesa. Reports of dying as well as "browning" junipers have alarmed residents throughout the Four Corners region. Last week, the team found drought stressed trees susceptible to secondary pests. Public lands agencies plan to continue working together on this issue, as specialists study the recently collected data.

[photo: A forest health protection specialist shows collections of wood boring insects. These are typically secondary pests, meaning they attack already weakened or stressed trees. Courtesy of the BLM]

Forest health specialists converged in San Juan County last week to investigate dying juniper trees on Alkali Ridge and Cedar Mesa. Reports of dying as well as "browning" junipers have alarmed residents throughout the Four Corners region. Last week, the team found drought stressed trees susceptible to secondary pests. Public lands agencies plan to continue working together on this issue, as specialists study the recently collected data.

[photo: A forest health protection specialist shows collections of wood boring insects. These are typically secondary pests, meaning they attack already weakened or stressed trees. Courtesy of the BLM]