KZMU News

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.

// We begin with Laura DeFrain, a trauma-informed yoga, climbing, and mindfulness instructor. They have never considered themselves to be particularly ‘athletic’ but they developed a passion for intuitive movement on their own trauma-healing journey. They began teaching in an effort to help support others in healing and also cultivate more queer and non-binary representation in both climbing and yoga.

// Lift Up Season 1

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

// Lift Up Season 2

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

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a staggering 85 percent of the U.S. prison population either has a substance use disorder or was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their arrest. Local corrections officers report similar numbers in Grand County. They say they are tired of being a revolving door for substance use related issues. But now, Grand County’s Sheriff's Office is establishing a stronger partnership with local recovery services. Together – using principles of harm reduction – they aim to open new pathways to long-term recovery for current and formerly incarcerated community members.

// Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses a proposed change to the BLM that would enable the agency to classify public land for conservation as a formal “use,” a yoga class for first responders and a drop in Grand County residential taxes. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks about the lineup for Moab’s Free Concert Series, an upcoming talk by author David Gessner, who writes about climate change in Moab in his new book, and she previews the agenda for next week’s Grand County Fair.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Elements of a harm reduction safety kit include overdose reversal tools, wound care and fentanyl test strips. When people get released from the Grand County jail, they now have the option to take a safety kit.

// Moab Regional Recovery Center

https://mrhmoab.org/recovery-center/

// USARA

https://www.myusara.com/moab/

// Harm Reduction

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/harm-reduction

// Drug Overdose Death Rates

https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: BLM conservation rules causes barbs at commission meeting

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/commission-split-over-blm-conservation-rule-barbs-exchanged/

// The Times-Independent: The yoga class curated for first responders

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/the-yoga-class-curated-for-first-responders/

// The Times-Independent: Residences should see county property taxes drop, but businesses will hurt

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/residences-should-see-county-property-taxes-drop-but-businesses-will-hurt/

// Moab Sun News: Moab Free Concert Series lineup: Prepare for summer dance parties

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/06/22/free-concert-lineup-2023/

// Moab Sun News: David Gessner will visit Moab on tour with his new climate book

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/06/22/david-gessner-to-visit-moab/

// Moab Sun News: County Fair returns after 22-year absence

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/06/22/county-fair-returns-after-22-year-absence/

Last week, 48 Grand and San Juan County residents signed a letter petitioning a proposed wastewater treatment plant that could possibly serve a new development down Kane Creek Boulevard. For context, we talked to the public utilities director at the Moab Wastewater Reclamation Facility about how sewage is treated in Moab. Plus, we hear from our partners at KGNU in remembrance of Daniel Ellsberg, who protested a nuclear weapons facility in Boulder, Colorado. We also hear from our partners at KSJD about a new store on the Navajo Nation and a birth center in Cortez, Colorado, which will remain open after considering closing.

//Photo: About one million gallons of wastewater is treated at the Moab Wastewater Reclamation Facility every day.

//Show Notes:

//50 residents protest Kane Creek treatment plant

moabtimes.com/articles/50-residents-protest-kane-creek-treatment-plant/

Lift Up is a KZMU storytelling project intending to deepen understanding and empathy within our community and reinforce a sense of safety and belonging for all.

// Our next Lift Up storyteller is Zachary Johnson. A long-time Moab resident, Zachary grew up here and graduated from Grand County High School. He’s worked in Moab’s hospitality industry most of his life. He is fluent in Spanish, and loves that he’s able to speak the language with his coworkers everyday. Zachary enjoys hikes with his boyfriend and two dogs.

// This episode of Lift Up was produced by M.A. Russell with support from KZMU.

// Find Lift Up Season 2 here:

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

// Music in this interview is Confusion by Holizna, Childhood by Holizna, Oxford by Night by KOI Discovery, Deja Vu by Holizna, Lost in the Rhythm by Holizna, Retro Synths by Holizna, Timelines by Holzina. Lift Up intro music is Chicago by Scott Holmes Music and outro music is Only Knows by Broke for Free.

// Image Description: Zachary Johnson, a person with a long beard in a bucket hat, stands in front of a creek with two dogs.

This past weekend was AstroFest, an annual astronomy event held at three International Dark Sky Parks — Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park. We hear from rangers about a new supernova and what constellations can be seen in the summer season. We also hear from our partners at KGNU about a Colorado theater group’s work regarding undocumented immigrants.

//Photo: A photo of the Lagoon Nebula, which was taken from a telescope at Canyonlands National Park during AstroFest. Courtesy of Canyonlands National Park.

//Show Notes:

//Second Annual Southeast Utah AstroFest

https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=802F7766-B028-24B5-5DBEF708D8333ED2

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 features stories from Moab and Boulder, Colorado, about the role public libraries play in the those communities. We also hear from High Country News journalist Nick Bowlin about how western resort towns risk being loved to death. We conclude with a story from one man who was lost, trapped and rescued from Zion National Park.

Easy Bee Farm is opening a new farm stand on Saturday. We talked to the farm stand manager, Mel Eliason, about the storefront and other upcoming news on the farm. Plus we hear from our partners at KUNC about new laws regarding the Colorado River. We also hear from a reporter at KSJD about plans to compensate Navajo coal miners with black lung. Finally, our partners at KHOL report on one Jackson resident who plans to be the first Jordanian skier to compete in the Winter Olympics.

//Photo: Harvest season is in full swing at Easy Bee Farm. People can now purchase fresh produce at their new farm stand.

//Show Notes:

//Easy Bee Farm

https://easybeefarm.com/

//Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent reports on protests over a potential wastewater treatment plant, Moab City annexing three acres slated for housing. She also discusses how a recent, unofficial gathering of county commissioners likely did not violate the open and public meetings act. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News breaks down water use at the Moab golf course and discusses a new exhibit at the Moab Museum centered on weaving tradition in Navajo culture.

//Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: 50 residents protest Kane Creek treatment plant

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/50-residents-protest-kane-creek-treatment-plant/

// The Times-Independent: City approves annexation https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/city-approves-annexation/

// The Times-Independent: County commission likely did not violate open, public meetings act

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/county-commission-likely-did-not-violate-open-public-meetings-act/

// Web links from theMoab Sun News are currently unavailable. Check moabsunnews.com for any updates

For some of Moab’s local kids, summertime means perfecting backflips, pencil dives and yes – cannonballs. School was out for just a few days when KZMU News visited Moab City’s aquatic center. And kids were already making plans to hang with friends there all summer break. Plus, our radio partners report on how rural health systems might adapt to a hotter future. And later, some groups in Arizona want President Biden to make the Grand Canyon region and watershed into a new national monument.

// Show Notes:

// Moab City Aquatic Center

https://moabrecreation.org/141/Aquatics

// Sound heard in the aquatic audio portrait is Dive by bruno.auzet

Who lived here when Moab was an ocean? We went to the Paleo Aquarium at the Moab Giants museum to find out. Plus, we hear from our partners at KRCL about anti-BDS laws, and from KDNK about pride celebrations in Glenwood Springs.

//Photo: Kids learn about an ichthyosaur, a type of marine reptile that lived in Utah millions of years ago, in a 3D virtual aquarium.

//Show Notes:

//Moab Giants

https://moabgiants.com/

A new proposal in Grand County would allow developers to build up to 45 units per acre. But all of them – every single unit – must be restricted to households with very low to low median income. Today we speak with Elissa Martin, Grand’s Planning Director, on this proposal. Plus, numerous tribes encouraged a moratorium on drilling near Chaco Canyon. But the Biden Administration’s recent decision to do so has upset leaders of the Navajo Nation. And later, we preview the Moab City Council’s agenda.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Cinema Court Apartments in Moab City provides income-restricted housing for locals. Grand County is looking to incentivize similar multifamily development through a new zone.

// Grand County Connects: Future Land Use Planning

https://grandcountyconnects.com/future-land-use-planning

// Multi-Family Residential-45 Districts

https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/stream/GRANDCOUNTYUT/00fa8c52-560b-4086-b525-b3bfb27162b9.pdf?sv=2022-11-02&st=2023-06-13T14%3A28%3A56Z&se=2024-06-13T14%3A33%3A56Z&sr=b&sp=r&sig=ydR9ZN%2Fc4FWjQfUWZLPUF%2B9YPSaQgNQr2BJAkALYnLs%3D

and

https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/stream/GRANDCOUNTYUT/48017a96-b614-4ec5-b7d7-3ea0f203e587.pdf?sv=2022-11-02&st=2023-06-13T17%3A11%3A19Z&se=2024-06-13T17%3A16%3A19Z&sr=b&sp=r&sig=k%2B1Vm2Rby0Yde6hAAi%2FzOggSU8b6OVa8P0aIXobD1Rc%3D

// Moab City Council Meeting 6/13

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/1201?html=true