KZMU News

It’s the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times Independent discusses another local tragedy – the death of a Grand County High School student in a car accident. Plus, more discussion of water resources and raising trash and storm water rates. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks noise statistics from downtown special events, the 10-year anniversary celebration of Moab’s Captain Ahab trail, and the interesting crew of high school debaters. Plus, the Moab Sun News tells us ‘what happened’ at this week’s city council meeting.

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: GCHS student dies in highway crash

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/gchs-student-dies-in-highway-crash/

// The Times-Independent: ‘How to land the plane safely’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/how-to-land-the-plane-safely/

// The Times-Independent: City raises trash rates; storm water increase coming

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/city-raises-trash-rates-storm-water-increase-coming/

// Moab Sun News: How loud are Moab’s festival events?

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/03/02/how-loud-are-moabs-festival-events/

// Moab Sun News: Moab’s Captain Ahab trail turns 10

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/03/02/moabs-captain-ahab-trail-turns-10/

// Moab Sun News: Debate team members find identity – and victory

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/03/02/debate-team-members-find-identity-and-victory/

Grand County High School student Elexa VanArsdol died Tuesday in a collision on Highway 191. The 17-year-old's death is a devastating blow to the local student body, already in grief over another classmate who died in a hiking accident a few short weeks ago. Plus, states in the Lower Colorado River Basin are pushing back on a proposal from their Upper Basin counterparts. And, a state park in our region is working to change hiking for people with disabilities. Finally, a preview of our next issue of KZMU’s audio magazine Great Tape.

// Photo: The Green River flows beneath the Flaming Gorge Dam in Utah. After Upper Basin states voted to suspend some water releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Lower Basin states published a letter in response. Credit: Ted Wood/The Water Desk

Water levels in Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir on the Colorado River, are at a record low. To keep it from declining further, federal officials are ready to spend tens of millions of dollars to incentivize farmers and other water users in the river’s Upper Basin to conserve. But not everyone agrees that paying farmers not to farm is the way forward. Plus, a new federal grant program will subsidize clean energy projects on tribal lands. And, a report on the popularity of many National Parks in our region.

// Photo: Farmer Greg Vlaming is leading a local effort to promote the conservation program in the region. He lives in Lewis, Colorado. (Chris Clements/KSJD)

The White Mesa Uranium Mill imported over a million pounds of radioactive waste from Estonia this summer. And the public is only just hearing about it now thanks to a glitch in the state’s database. Although it’s not the first time the mill received radioactive waste from foreign countries, some people are concerned the recent deal sets a bad precedent for the future. Plus, states in the upper Colorado River Basin are asking the federal government to stop sending water downstream from a major reservoir to prop up Lake Powell. And later, our radio partners profile a Tewa Hopi musician’s recent performance in our region and the Moab Sun News previews the upcoming city council meeting.

// Photo: The White Mesa Uranium Mill. Courtesy Dom Smith/EcoFlight

// Music in the agenda preview is Coast 2 Most by Independent Music Licensing Collective

It’s the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses an arrest made in the anti-UTV sticker case as well as Grand County High’s latest state champion. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks Moab Community Theater, an art exhibit showcasing climate-stressed trees in our region and USU-Moab’s new welding program. Plus, Harford tells us ‘what happened’ at this week’s county commission meeting.

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Arrest made in anti-tourism sticker case

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/arrest-made-in-anti-tourism-sticker-case/

// The Times-Independent: State Champ!

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/state-champ/

// Moab Sun News: The resurrection of Moab Community Theater

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/02/23/the-resurrection-of-moab-community-theater/

// Moab Sun News: The plight of the trees

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/02/23/the-plight-of-the-trees/

// Moab Sun News: Welding students make bike rack for new brewery

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/02/23/welding-students-make-bike-rack-for-new-brewery/

// What Happened At The Meeting Mentions:

// Moab Sun News: New special event permit process – still working out kinks

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/02/23/new-special-event-permit-process-still-working-out-kinks/

// Moab Sun News: Sand Flats submits grant to pave road

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/02/23/sand-flats-submits-grant-to-pave-road/

Brine shrimp could soon become Utah’s official state crustacean. The little shrimp, otherwise known as sea monkeys, play a huge role in Utah’s ecosystem and economy. If the bill is approved by the Utah Legislature, brine shrimp will join the Sego lily, the Dutch Oven, and the beehive on Utah’s list of official symbols. And later, residents in Jackson, Wyoming say they would rather leave the state than face potential laws targeting transgender kids. Plus, some officials in our region want to ramp up American uranium production to power future nuclear reactors.

// Show Notes:

//Photo: Live brine shrimp. On a good year, these small but mighty shrimp bring in over $60 million in state revenue. Credit sdolgin/creative commons

// HB 132 State Crustacean Designation

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0137.html

// KHOL: ‘I don’t want to leave the state’: Jackson youth rally for transgender rights

https://891khol.org/local-youth-lead-rally-in-town-square-for-trans-rights/

Police have arrested a man they say caused $15,000 worth of damages to infrastructure, like public street signs. A recent home search recovered illicit narcotics and several assault-style weapons, as well as nearly 5,000 custom-made stickers. These are the same make and model of stickers found on local street signs in recent months, carrying anti-noise pollution and anti-UTV messaging. Today on the news, we speak with Moab City Assistant Chief of Police Lex Bell, on the months-long investigation into sticker vandalism and the suspect’s alleged threats to local officials.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: On Friday February 17th, local law enforcement recovered nearly 5,000 custom-made stickers, several assault-style weapons, and illicit narcotics from a home in Minor Court. The suspect is being charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors.

// Moab City Police Department 2/21 Press Release

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=544973781063280&set=pcb.544974307729894

A cross-section of the community gathered over the weekend to grieve and share memories of teenager Zoe Thompson, who died in a hiking accident this month. We have a report from her celebration of life. Plus, for the first time, a woman will serve as Navajo Nation tribal council speaker. And later, the Biden Administration recently announced over $700 million in investments to address the West’s drought. A large chunk of that money is for volunteer conservation programs.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: The community gathered to celebrate the life of Zoe Thompson. Friends and family described her as a caring and empathetic person.

// Funeral Expenses for Zoe Thompson

https://www.gofundme.com/f/belinda-thompson

// Crystalyne Curley

https://www.navajonationcouncil.org/speaker-crystalyne-curley-biography/

// Mountain West News Bureau: Feds announce more than $700 million in water investments in the West

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2023-02-17/feds-announce-more-than-700-million-in-water-investments-in-the-west

It’s the Weekly News Reel! We check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses the life of seventeen-year-old Zoe Thompson, who died in a hiking accident last week. She also talks TRT legislation, artwork for a statewide fresh air campaign, and updates on the re-development of mobile home parks. Maggie McGuire of the Moab Sun News discusses what the city’s legislative lobbyist is watching this session, the upcoming Trashion Show and celebrating 25 years of high school musicals. Plus, McGuire tells us ‘what happened’ at this week’s city council meeting.

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Moab mourns Zoe Thompson

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-mourns-zoe-thompson/

// The Times-Independent: TRT bill advances, likely dooms grant program

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/trt-bill-advances-likely-dooms-grant-program/

// The Times-Independent: A breath of fresh air

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/a-breath-of-fresh-air/

// The Times-Independent: Months after evictions, mobile home parks sit empty; developers are MIA

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/months-after-evictions-mobile-home-parks-sit-empty-developers-are-mia/

// Moab Sun News: What the city’s legislative lobbyist is watching this session

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/02/16/what-the-citys-legislative-lobbyist-is-watching-this-session/

// Moab Sun News: Trash, but make it fashion

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/02/16/trash-but-make-it-fashion/

// Moab Sun News: Celebrating 25 years of theater at GCHS

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/02/16/celebrating-25-years-of-theater-at-gchs/

Two years ago, state lawmakers approved a bill allowing Grand County to spend some transient room tax revenue on economic diversification. The experiment was set to expire in 2026. But now, some want to scrap the program by this summer. Plus, a recent poll found support for conservation policies in western states remains a top priority. And later, the first ever Queer Ball, a party for local LGBTQ+ youth, was held recently in Cortez, Colorado. Our radio partners report that the city has become a battleground over self-expression and queer rights.

// Photo: Rep. Phil Lyman is sponsoring a bill that would end Grand County’s ability to fund economic diversification efforts with transient room tax dollars. Lyman, San Juan County economic development director Elaine Gizler (middle) and business owner Lori McFarland (left) spoke in favor of the bill before the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

// H.B. 416 Transient Room Tax Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0416.html

// 2023 Conservation in the West Poll:

https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewest/2023.html