KZMU News

When Sand Flats Recreation Area was established in 1995, managers made a promise that the local resource would be entirely self-sustaining. All revenue collected through fees directly funds operations. In order to keep that equilibrium - and Sand Flats in the black – staff say fees need to increase over the next five years. Plus, tens of thousands of people weighed in on the BLM’s proposed public lands rule during the public comment period. And, our partners at KUNC profile the Colorado River’s newest – and youngest – power player.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: A view in Sand Flats Recreation Area. Over the next five years, staff is slowly rolling out fee increases to cover higher operational costs.

// Sand Flats Draft Business Plan 2023

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2023-03/DraftSandFlatsBusinessPlanMarch2023.pdf

// KUNC: Meet the Colorado River’s newest and youngest power player

https://www.kunc.org/news/2023-07-06/meet-the-colorado-rivers-newest-and-youngest-power-player

Today we revisit a feature story on the growing field of archeoastronomy. This piece first aired around the summer solstice in June 2022. Thanks for listening!

// Original Broadcast

https://www.kzmu.org/the-people-chasing-sunlight-inside-the-growing-field-of-archaeoastronomy/

// Photo: A spear of light is seen on the summer solstice at McKee Springs in Dinosaur National Monument. Credit John Lundwall

Hey listeners, KZMU News is taking a little break today and tomorrow. In the meantime, you can catch up on our recent stories wherever you listen to the KZMU News podcast. We’ll be back on Monday with our usual programming. As always, thanks for tuning in and supporting community powered radio.

Until recently, lots of people, including scientists, thought fireflies only lived east of the Rockies. The Western Firefly Project is a citizen science initiative that’s studying firefly populations across the West, including in Moab. Today we also hear from our partners at KSJD about a land swap settlement in Bears Ears National Monument, a new conservation bill for the Dolores River, and a moratorium on oil and gas leasing within a 10-mile radius of Chaco Canyon National Park.

Show Notes:

//Photo: Moab is home to a different genus of fireflies than the rest of the state. Scientists are still stumped why. Photo via Flickr.

//Western Firefly Project

https://nhmu.utah.edu/citizen-science/fireflies

Horses, fire trucks and local elected officials were on display this morning during the Fourth of July parade. The event was part of the days-long Grand County Fair, which culminates this evening with family games and contests. Plus, Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute children are heading to Halifax, Nova Scotia this summer for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. And later, a new exhibit takes a deep dive into Telluride, Colorado’s festival history.

// Photo: Horses and their riders line up on 400 East to start off the local Fourth of July Parade.

It’s Regional Roundup Monday! Today we feature a new, biweekly production of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio Coalition, of which KZMU is a proud member. Today’s show includes a report from AstroFest here in Southeastern Utah, current threats to DACA amid ongoing uncertainty in the immigration system, and more.

Pride Month is a time to celebrate and honor the impact the LGBTQ+ community has on our shared history. So during this final week of June, KZMU News is revisiting Season 1 of Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility. We’ll hear many local stories and perspectives, including thoughts on creating and protecting queer joy in our community.

// Our final storytellers this week are Sylvia Bentley and Matthew A. Jonassaint. Sylvia was born and raised in Moab but left when she was 18 to pursue a degree at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah County. Later she found herself in the dry north coast of Peru digging up bones, which somehow landed her in the rainy north coast of Spain teaching English. She later returned to the desert where her essence, soul and DNA feels at home. Sylvia spends her time with family and loved ones and occasionally wanders the desert, wondering how to chase the horizon and put down roots at the same time. Matthew

was born in the Utah Valley to Caribbean parents. As an undergrad he co-chaired his university’s queer student association, and his capstone project involved archiving queer history, literature, philosophy and films. His work has been published in various places including peculiar – the first queer literary journal in Utah. He first landed in Moab during Pride Week in October 2012 and has been living here permanently since 2018.

// Lift Up Season 1

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up/

// Lift Up Season 2

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up-season-2/

Pride Month is a time to celebrate and honor the impact the LGBTQ+ community has on our shared history. So during this final week of June, KZMU News is revisiting Season 1 of Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility. We’ll hear many local stories and perspectives, including thoughts on creating and protecting queer joy in our community.

// Our fourth storyteller is Sallie Hodges, who moved to Moab in 2004, from Los Angeles, California. Born in Bristol, England, they gained a Communications BA honors degree in Film, Video and Photographic Arts, which ultimately led to the film industry. Sallie is now a self-declared artist specializing in tintype portraiture and film. They advocate for the acceptance and introduction of non-gendered bias in our institutions and culture in the hopes of a more equitable future for all.

// Lift Up Season 1

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up/

// Lift Up Season 2

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up-season-2/

Pride Month is a time to celebrate and honor the impact the LGBTQ+ community has on our shared history. So during this final week of June, KZMU News is revisiting Season 1 of Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility. We’ll hear many local stories and perspectives, including thoughts on creating and protecting queer joy in our community.

// Our third storyteller is Sam Van Wetter, an organizer, writer, and outdoorsman based in southern Utah. His work seeks the connection and coincidence of progressive leadership, rural autonomy, and community resilience. He is fueled by the instance that things truly splendid will inevitably eclipse the traumatic rot of our time. May it be our job to amplify and perpetuate all the very good things we live among.

// Lift Up Season 1

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up/

// Lift Up Season 2

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up-season-2/

Pride Month is a time to celebrate and honor the impact the LGBTQ+ community has on our shared history. So during this final week of June, KZMU News is revisiting Season 1 of Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility. We’ll hear many local stories and perspectives, including thoughts on creating and protecting queer joy in our community.

// Our second storyteller is Nicole Croke, a lover of art and the outdoors. They work in environmental conservation, managing logistics for field crews and hope that by showing up as a queer woman in a leadership role, they can help the field feel more accessible to a broader group of people. When they aren’t teaching young adults to operate chainsaws or identify invasive species, they enjoy rafting, crafting, and soaking up desert sun.

// Lift Up Season 1

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up/

// Lift Up Season 2

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up-season-2/