KZMU News

On the Weekly News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about Grand County’s response to a state investigation into whether transient room taxes were misallocated during an economic diversification program that was cut short in 2023. We’ll also talk about the county’s reaction to a new state law that could give developers of a controversial housing project on Kane Creek the power to create their own municipality and bypass Grand County zoning codes. Plus, we’ll talk about uranium mining in southeastern Utah as the industry picks up amid recent import bans and an increased demand for nuclear energy. And we finish off with a quick story about a father and two sons who were rescued by Moab locals last week after the family’s kayak flipped on the Colorado River.

- Show Notes -

• As Utah’s uranium booms again, miners and land will be protected this time, industry vows

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/as-utahs-uranium-booms-again-miners-and-land-will-be-protected-this-time-industry-vows/

• Commission responds to state auditor’s draft report that claims financial mismanagement of TRT

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/commission-responds-to-state-auditors-draft-report-that-claims-financial-mismanagement-of-trt/

• What does SB258 do — and how did it slip by the commission?

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/what-does-sb258-do-and-how-did-it-slip-by-the-commission/

• Dad and sons rescued on the river after kayak flips

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/dad-and-sons-rescued-on-the-river-after-kayak-flips/

Today we hear stories about rural Utah’s greenhouse gas emissions, Colorado’s new laws to regulate the funeral industry following multiple malpractice cases, and Dine College’s new law program.

Today we hear from KUER about a recent candidate debate for Utah's U.S. Senate election. We also hear from KOTO about the ongoing controversy over a proposed monument to protect the Dolores River canyon.

Today we say goodbye to Molly Marcello who founded KZMU News in 2018. We reflect on the highlights of Molly's reporting and her accomplishments as News Director over the past six years. It's not goodbye for good, though. Molly will continue to work for KZMU developing a podcast about search and rescue. Emily Arntsen will take over as News Director.

Today on the Regional Roundup, we hear a two way interview with KZMU's Emily Arntsen about a three-part series on a cold case in Moab that may soon be solved. We also hear a two way with the Executive Director of the Earth Law Center in Durango, which works with Indigenous partners in the U.S. to enforce the rights of nature. We finish up with an interview with author Erica Berry about her new book Wolfish: Wolf, Self and the Stories We Tell about Fear.

On the Weekly News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about construction at the Kane Creek housing development, which was stalled briefly after the state cut off access to a well developers were using illegally. We also discuss Moab’s new title as a Dark Sky Community and what that will mean for businesses moving forward. We finish off talking about a public hearing scheduled for June 25 for Moab residents to tell the City Council how they want their new property taxes to be spent. We also talk to Kenny Fallon, editor and publisher of the Green River Observer, about potential changes to the funding structure at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum. We also discuss Lynn Jackson’s recent visit to Green River, and what the candidate for State Representative said to residents. We finish off with an update on the Inland Port Authority, which will vote later this month on a new location in the state.

- Show Notes -

• Property tax open house June 25; tentative date for public hearing is Aug. 6

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/property-tax-open-house-june-25-tentative-date-for-public-hearing-is-aug-6/

• State shuts down Kane Creek project water well

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/state-shuts-down-kane-creek-project-water-well/

• Moab Achieves Dark Sky Community recognition

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-achieves-dark-sky-community-recognition/

• The Green River Observer

https://thegreenriverobserver.substack.com/

Today we hear from KSUT about recent water rights negotiations between three Native American tribes, the state of Arizona, and the federal government. We also hear from KGNU about the financial hardships of drought on Southwestern farmers.

Today we hear from our partners at KUER about one Utah town’s solution to the housing crisis. We also hear from KSUT about Colorado’s new Seal of Climate Literacy designation for high school students. Plus, we hear from KUNC about an upcoming Colorado River conference during which key negotiators will make a plan about the waterway’s future. We also hear from the Utah News Connection about one county in Utah that’s hoping to conserve water through a new wastewater treatment facility. And we finish off with a story from KHOL about a new documentary that highlights the mental health crisis affecting ski towns across the country.

Today we hear from our partners at KSUT and KSJD about a weekend celebration of Navajo-Churro sheep weaving in southwestern Colorado. We also hear from KUER about a Utah mermaid performer who participated in the Swiss Mer-lympics last month.

Today on the Regional Roundup, we hear an interview with a survivor of a Japanese American prison camp in Wyoming about the need to remember this history, from KZMU. We also hear an interview with a refugee advocate who was part of a wave of thousands of Vietnamese refugees who came to Colorado between 1975 and 1990, from KGNU. We finish up with an interview about films featured in Māsima: Pacific Islands Film Tour, a recent film festival that took place in Salt Lake City, from KRCL.