KZMU News

Today we revisit an audio portrait of Mike Mewborn, known to locals as Marlow. We caught up with him on the shores of the Colorado River in June 2022. Thanks for listening!

// Original Broadcast:

https://www.kzmu.org/mike-marlow-mewborn-audio-portrait/

A dried-up side channel of the Colorado River just upstream of Sorrel River Ranch is finally receiving some water after six years of restoration work. We speak with Tony Mancuso of the Utah Department of Natural Resources about the collaborative effort to bring back the river’s wetland habitats. Plus we hear from our partners at KHOL that the Upper Snake River could look very different after federal officials recently cut water flow to the river by 80 percent. We also hear from a reporter at UPR about the millions of birds who use the Great Salt Lake during migration.

Photo: Last week, a dried-up side channel of the Colorado River was finally re-connected to the rest of the river. Within an hour, water was flowing through it. Photo courtesy of Will Tuttle, Utah Department of Natural Resources.

Show Notes:

//A video of water finally flowing through a previously dried-up side channel of the Colorado River.

https://fb.watch/kueCZYE544/

//KHOL: Faced with high snowpack, feds reduce flows from Jackson Lake Dam

https://891khol.org/faced-with-high-snowpack-feds-reduce-flows-from-jackson-lake-dam/

//UPR: Great Salt Lake is a 'pit stop' for 12 million birds

https://greatsaltlakenews.org/latest-news/utah-public-radio-upr/great-salt-lake-is-a-pit-stop-for-12-million-birds

Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent talks mosquitoes, Moab City returning to a traditional election method, and a new school dress code. Plus, after major flooding destroyed her home, a woman gets a new one with help from community members. And, how an unintentional printing error led to a profile of a legendary Grand County High School soccer player.

Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: It’s going to be a big mosquito year https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/its-going-to-be-a-big-mosquito-year/

// The Times-Independent: City returns to traditional election method

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/city-returns-to-traditional-election-method/

// The Times-Independent: New school dress code allows exposed midriffs, dyed hair, hats

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/new-school-dress-code-allows-exposed-midriffs-dyed-hair-hats/

// The Times-Independent: Doreen O’Connell is at (new) home again

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/doreen-oconnell-is-at-new-home-again/

// The Times-Independent: The greatest correction ever printed

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/the-greatest-correction-ever-printed/

Utah’s Third District Court temporarily blocked a piece of legislation that would have functionally eliminated access to abortion in the state. Today on the news, we speak with a Planned Parenthood staffer on how ongoing legal challenges and uncertainty has affected their licensed abortion clinics. Plus, the Environmental Protection Agency may add the first-ever Navajo Nation site to its Superfund National Priorities List. And, our radio partners profile a small-scale wildlife rehab center for fledging birds in our region.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Planned Parenthood attorney Hannah Swanson answers questions from the media at a press conference following a hearing at Utah's Third District Court. Credit Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.

// Planned Parenthood v State of Utah

https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-action-council-utah-inc/policy/lawsuits

// EPA: Lukachukai Mountains Mining District

https://www.epa.gov/navajo-nation-uranium-cleanup/lukachukai-mountains-mining-district-cove-lukachukai-and-round-rock

// KGNU: The Art and Heartbreak of Rescuing Baby Birds in Boulder County

https://news.kgnu.org/2023/04/the-art-and-heartbreak-of-rescuing-baby-birds-in-boulder-county/

The Moab UMTRA site is testing a new method for preventing contaminated groundwater from reaching the Colorado River. In April, scientists injected a mineral called apatite into the aquifer beneath the site to soak up uranium. We also hear from our partners at KSJD about recent changes to Arizona’s Medicaid program, which closed a loophole for sober homes that were taking advantage of Indigenous communities. Plus, we hear from KUNC about disappearing snow in the Rocky Mountains.

Show Notes:

Photo: Contaminated groundwater at the Moab UMTRA site is pumped out of the aquifer to prevent leaching into the Colorado River. That water is then sprayed on the tailings to prevent radioactive dust from becoming airborne. Now, scientists are experimenting with a more permanent solution for cleaning up the contaminated water. Photo by Emily Arntsen.

//Department of Energy: Moab UMTRA’s 5-Year Site Plan

https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/FiveYearSitePlanFY23.pdf

//KSJD: Arizona’s Medicaid program closed a loophole that enabled sober homes to exploit Indigenous people

https://www.ksjd.org/podcast/ksjd-local-newscasts/2023-05-08/ksjd-local-newscast-may-8-2023

//KUNC: Snow detectives are in the mountains wondering where all the snow is going

https://www.kunc.org/news/2023-05-04/snow-detectives-are-in-the-mountains-to-solve-a-mystery-wheres-all-the-snow-going

The state trust lands administration says they’re finalizing a land swap with the federal government. About one-third of the lands they want are in San Juan County; in areas with mineral potential, including lithium, uranium and copper. Plus, artificial intelligence technology is moving at a pace many of us can’t keep up with. A new film festival in Utah seeks to understand how AI will impact our lives. And, the Moab Sun News previews tonight’s city council meeting.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Green squares mark some of the federal parcels that may be swapped for SITLA lands in Grand and San Juan Counties. The state trust lands administration aims to exchange over 160,000 acres of land across the state, including in our region.

// SITLA Land Swap Draft Map (2022)

https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/fc/e5/00b8d66141efbde8747041aa6f8c/proposed-acquisition-targets-current-36x48-05182022-pro-051822.pdf

// AI International Film Festival

https://aifilmfest.org

// Moab City May 9th Meeting Agenda

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/1182?html=true

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. We hear stories from public and community radio stations in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Today’s show features reporting on black lung disease among Navajo miners, a new book about a landmark Title IX lawsuit against CU Boulder and a feature on a senior living center holding a 'senior prom' for residents.

The KZMU community is welcoming a new general manager…Barbro Rakos! She comes to the station with a lot of experience in community work, rural advocacy and media. It’s a unique a blend of skills that all come in handy for this particular leadership role. Says Barbro,

“there’s a common thread of advocacy and self-expression [in my work experience] and making sure everyone who has a story to tell can tell it.”

// Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses annexation negotiations between Grand County and the fire department, the school district walking back graduation changes and an ad campaign for summer tourism. Maggie McGuire of the Moab Sun News explains how river guides in Moab are gearing up for high water on the Colorado this spring and county approvals on new alternative dwelling overlay zones.

// Photo: Barbro Rakos is KZMU’s new general manager and executive director. Rakos comes to Moab via Salt Lake and Seattle, and has a passion for community-based work.

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Annexation advances into negotiation phase

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/annexation-advances-into-negotiation-phase/

// The Times-Independent: School district walks back graduation changes

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/school-district-walks-back-graduation-changes/

// The Times-Independent: County seeks sizzling summer tourism with $100k ad campaign

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/county-seeks-sizzling-summer-tourism-with-100k-ad-campaign/

// *Moab Sun News articles will be added when available online*

According to the American Welding Society, women make up just five percent of the total welding workforce. To USU-Moab welding instructor Chloe Wilson, that doesn’t mean women aren’t interested in the trade. It means there’s an accessibility gap. Today on the news, we learn more about the university’s first welding workshop just for women. Plus, Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioners made history yesterday when they approved the state’s final plan to reintroduce and manage gray wolves.

// Photo: USU-Moab welding instructor Chloe Wilson (second from right) prepares a bike rack for welding at the first ‘Women In Welding’ workshop. Students say learning alongside other women makes a huge difference in a traditionally male-dominated field.

// Show Notes:

// USU-Moab: Welding Technology

https://statewide.usu.edu/degrees/?id=226

// American Welding Society Data

https://weldingworkforcedata.com

// KDNK: Wolves set to return as CPW Commission makes history in Spring Valley

https://www.kdnk.org/local-news/2023-05-04/wolves-set-to-return-as-cpw-commission-makes-history-in-spring-valley

The Bureau of Land Management recently withdrew its approval for a lithium mine near the entrance to Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park following an appeal made by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. We also hear from our partners at KUNC about Colorado River levels. Plus, we hear from KHOL about changes to Wyoming’s laws about collecting elk antlers.

Photo: A view from Dead Horse Point State Park. The BLM recently withdrew its approval for a lithium mine near the entrance of the park. Courtesy of Duncan Rawlinson via Flickr.

//SUWA’s appeal stymies lithium mining project near Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park

https://suwa.org/suwas-appeal-stymies-lithium-mining-project-near-canyonlands-national-park-dead-horse-point-state-park/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

//KUNC: April snowpack looks strong as runoff starts

//KHOL: Out-of-staters descend on Teton County for annual shed antler hunt

https://891khol.org/out-of-staters-descend-on-teton-county-for-annual-shed-antler-hunt/

Over 700 people traveled to Green River this weekend for the annual Building Man festival at Jenk Star Ranch. Artists gathered to create sculptures out of found objects and naturally sourced materials. We also hear from our partners at KSJD about a water conservation program in Colorado whereby water users are paid to scale back. Plus, Maggie McGuire of the Moab Sun News previews today’s Grand County Commission meeting.

Photo: Tattoo artist Marie Gardner puts the finishing touches on her studio at Building Man.

Show Notes:

//Jenk Star Ranch

https://www.jenkstars.com/

//KSJD: Water conservation program pays users to scale back

https://www.ksjd.org/podcast/ksjd-local-newscasts/2023-04-28/ksjd-local-newscast-april-28-2023

//Grand County Commission Meeting 5/2/2023

https://grandcountyut.portal.civicclerk.com/event/9/overview