KZMU News

The family of a Ugandan human rights activist killed at Arches National Park will receive more than $10 million dollars in damages. The amount was substantially less than the family of Esther Nakajjigo asked for, but their attorneys celebrated the judgement, noting it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. Plus, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing a rule to limit climbing and ban slacklining, skydiving, and other ‘aerial’ sports in Hell Roaring and Mineral Canyons. The new rule is intended to protect the bighorn sheep and raptors that live in those areas. And later, our radio partners report on cutbacks in the Colorado River Basin and the commemoration of the Bear River Massacre.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Esther Nakajjigo, who died in 2020 after a freak accident in Arches National Park, was a reality TV star, Uganda’s ambassador for women and girls and a visitor at the Watson Institute in Colorado. (Friends of Europe)

// KZMU: Life and Death of Esther Nakajjigo

https://www.kzmu.org/friday-december-16-2022/

// BLM Proposed Rule for Mineral and Hell Roaring Canyons

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/01/31/2023-01694/proposed-supplementary-rule-for-the-mineral-and-hell-roaring-canyons-area-of-public-lands-and

// UPR: Bear River Massacre commemoration draws crowds despite winter weather

https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2023-02-01/bear-river-massacre-commemoration-draws-crowds-despite-winter-weather

Some state lawmakers want to adjust judiciary rules in order to move Utah’s abortion ban forward. The joint resolution is the latest move in Utah’s political chess game around abortion. With the status of reproductive care in flux statewide, the Moab Abortion & Reproductive Rights Network aims to connect locals to information and resources. Plus, after Utah banned transgender minors from accessing hormone therapy or gender affirmation surgery, the ACLU of Utah plans to sue the state. And later, some of the best snow in the nation right now is covering the Grand Mesa just outside of Grand Junction, Colorado.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: A collection of buttons at a fundraising event held by the Moab Abortion & Reproductive Rights Network. Abortion is once again up for debate at the Utah Legislature.

// HJR 2 Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Civil Procedure on Injunctions

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HJR002.html

// Utah Abortion Fund

https://utabortionfund.org

// Moab Abortion & Reproductive Rights Network

[email protected]

// KVNF: Grand Mesa’s Got the Snow

https://www.kvnf.org/2023-01-27/grand-mesas-got-the-snow

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a non-profit organization that tracks man-made threats across the globe, set the Doomsday Clock for 2023. The Clock, updated annually, marks the level of global existential threats, with ‘midnight’ as a symbol of total annihilation. Last year’s clock was set at 100 seconds to midnight. This year’s clock is even closer. Plus, the Ute Mountain Ute tribe is hosting a series of workshops for Native children to reconnect with Ute culture. And later, how the concept of disaster ecology impacts our region.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: The Doomsday Clock set at ‘90 Seconds To Midnight.’ Courtesy Jamie Christiani, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists

// The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists

https://thebulletin.org

Filming for Kevin Costner’s movie series Horizon wrapped up in Moab in November. Since the film is still in production, we can’t spoil anything about the plot of this 19th century Western. But today on the news, we hear from a few of the film’s extras about what it was like to turn back the clock and play make-believe in their own backyard. And later, our partners at KRCL review a new documentary at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and biologists celebrate the comeback of the razorback sucker in the Colorado River Basin.

// Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent talks about editorial reactions to a proposed bill that would limit local transient room tax spending, a cyber safety seminar for parents and water issues in Thompson Springs. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News highlights Moab City’s strategic planning session, the results of the local Christmas Bird Count and the upcoming ‘SyFy’ movie series.

// Show Notes:

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Opinion

https://www.moabtimes.com/category/opinion/

// The Times-Independent: MPD hosts cyber safety seminar for parents

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/mpd-hosts-cyber-safety-seminar-for-parents/

// The Times-Independent: Thompson water board chair - ‘There’s still a lot of water’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/thompson-water-board-chair-theres-still-a-lot-of-water/

// Moab Sun News: Highlights from the city’s strategic planning session

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/01/26/2023-strategic-planning-session/

// Moab Sun News: 2022 Christmas Bird Count saw 63 species

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/01/26/2022-christmas-bird-count/

// Moab Sun News: Travel through space and time at this year’s ‘SyFy’ movie nights

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/01/26/2023-syfy-movie-nights/

Sunday marks the 160th anniversary of the Bear River Massacre, where the United States Army attacked and killed hundreds of Shoshone men, women and children. This massacre, one of the largest in US history, occurred in northern Utah and is now being commemorated with ambitious restoration plans. Plus, Utah agencies are teaming up to make safer wildlife migration a priority. And later, the chairmen of the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes delivered their first annual address to the Colorado State Legislature.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Northwestern Shoshone spiritual leader, Rios Pachecos, shares Shoshone history at the current Bear River Massacre interpretive site. Courtesy Utah Public Radio

// UPR: Bear River Massacre site commemorates 160th anniversary with ambitious restoration plans

https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2023-01-23/bear-river-massacre-site-commemorates-160th-anniversary-with-ambitious-restoration-plans

Utah is one step closer to getting a new state flag. After receiving over 7,000 suggestions for new designs, the Utah State Flag Task force has narrowed it down to one finalist. State lawmakers will vote whether or not to adopt the flag during this legislative session. Plus, a controversial bill that would give Utah teachers a pay raise and create a voucher program needs final approval in the senate before going to the governor's desk. And later, our radio partners report on the Navajo Nation’s end to the long-running mask mandate and recently published book of poetry from a local queer author.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: The final design for Utah’s new state flag, which lawmakers will vote to adopt during the 2023 legislative session. The red rock valley represents southern Utah’s landscape.

// Utah Final Flag Design

https://flag.utah.gov/finaldesign/

// SB 31: State Flag Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/SB0031.html

// HB 215: Funding for Teacher Salaries and Optional Education Opportunities

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0215.html

// KUER: Utah lawmakers are working with startling speed on the teacher pay/school choice bill

https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2023-01-24/utah-lawmakers-are-working-with-startling-speed-on-the-teacher-pay-school-choice-bill

// KSJD: Cortez author publishes book of poetry exploring the idea of laziness in American culture

https://www.ksjd.org/2023-01-24/cortez-author-publishes-book-of-poetry-exploring-the-idea-of-laziness-in-american-culture

A presentation on Moab’s groundwater conditions drew a big crowd of community members last week. A geoscience professor says as the valley develops, more groundwater is in use and less is getting recharged due to climate change. Local experts hope groundwater modeling could simulate future changes based on development or climate. Plus, an AAPI focused organization is bringing reflection and celebration at the Sundance Film Festival. And later, Colorado wildlife commissioners are working on reintroducing wolves in the western part of the state. 

// Show Notes:

// Photo: An aerial view of Moab and Spanish Valley, from Dr. Tom Lachmar's ‘Moab and Spanish Valley’s Groundwater Conditions’ report.

// Moab and Spanish Valley’s Groundwater Conditions

http://www.moabwatersheds.org/docs/LachmarMAWPpresentation1182022.pdf

// Moab Area Watershed Partnership

https://www.moabwatersheds.org/index.cfm

// KPCW: Sundance welcomes the first official AAPI House to Main Street

https://www.kpcw.org/sundance-film-festival/2023-01-17/sundance-welcomes-the-first-official-aapi-house-to-main-street

// The Salt Lake Tribune: Colorado’s wolf reintroduction pan would put wolves at Utah’s border

https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2022/12/23/colorado-posts-draft-wolf/

// Colorado’s Wolf Reintroduction and Management Plan Public Engagement

https://engagecpw.org/hub-page/wolf-engagement

Three bills aiming to restrict gender affirming care and gender self-identification for minors are moving swiftly through the state legislature. In emotional testimony before a committee last week, parents of transgender kids called gender affirming care ‘lifesaving.’ These Utah bills reflect a nationwide increase in anti-transgender legislation. Plus, as one of his last decisions in office, former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez vetoed a bill for helium extraction. And later, Wyoming researchers are taking to the air to look after bighorn sheep at risk of catching pneumonia.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Utahn Drew Armstrong, co-founder of Dragon Dads, an online community for fathers of LGBTQ+ kids, speaks before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 18th. Armstrong opposes a bill that would restrict gender affirming care for youth in Utah.

// UPR: Three bills related to transgender minors are brought to the Senate

https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2023-01-19/three-bills-related-to-transgender-minors-are-brought-to-the-senate

// SB 16: Transgender Medical Treatments and Procedures Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/SB0016.html

// SB 93: Vital Records Modifications

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/SB0093.html

// SB 100: School District Gender Identity Policies

https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/SB0100.html

// KHOL: Facing a ‘die off,’ bighorn sheep get airlifted for a health checkup

https://891khol.org/facing-a-die-off-bighorn-sheep-get-airlifted-for-a-health-checkup/

Every January, the City of Bluff hosts a hot air balloon festival, attracting pilots from across the country to fly over the red rocks of Cedar Mesa. As one ballooner put it, “flying a balloon is more of a zen form of aviation. Whatever nature gives you – you have to work with it.” Today on the news, we float in the skies and learn more about this unique pastime.

// And later – the Weekly News Reel! The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo discusses a proposed bill that could hit public services, initial approvals of four alternative dwelling overlay properties, and a profile on Grand’s school district business administrator. The Moab Sun News’ Alison Harford talks about a new youth equestrian club, upcoming figure model sessions for local artists, and the jazzy Winterlude festival.

// Photo: Hot air balloons dotted the skies over Bluff, Utah this January. KZMU/Emily Arntsen

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Lyman bill could sink economic diversification, hit public services

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/lyman-bill-could-sink-economic-diversification-hit-public-services/

// The Times-Independent: Lyman connects TRT rollback to state

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/lyman-connects-trt-rollback-to-state-audit/

// The Times-Independent: Commission gives initial thumbs-up

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/commission-gives-initial-thumbs-up-to-4-ado-apps/

// The Times-Independent: School district loses business administrator following tragedy

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/school-district-loses-business-administrator-following-tragedy/

// Moab Sun News: Saddle up with Red Rock N’ Blue

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/01/19/saddle-up-with-red-rock-n-blue/

// Moab Sun News: Hone your drawing skills at community figure model sessions

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/01/19/community-figure-model-sessions/

// Moab Sun News: Q&A with jazz musician Alison Shearer

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/01/19/q-a-alison-shearer/

// Moab Sun News: 2023 Winterlude brings jazz to Moab

https://moabsunnews.com/2023/01/19/2023-winterlude/

Grand County’s staff and elected officials are worried their budget will take a huge hit during Utah’s 2023 legislative session. Rep. Phil Lyman is entertaining repealing HB 247 (2021), which allows Grand County to spend more transient room tax dollars on tourism mitigation. If the bill is repealed, the county estimates a loss of $900,000 currently budgeted to law enforcement, search and rescue, and more. “I can’t hardly think of another bit of state legislation that could be more harmful,” said strategic development director Chris Baird. Plus, our radio partners report on wet weather in the Colorado River Basin and an EPA public hearing on a proposed rule to reduce oil and gas methane pollution.

// Show Notes:

// Grand County Discussion Points Regarding HB 247 (2021) https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/stream/GRANDCOUNTYUT/e39a64bd-fad9-4aff-9783-55c4c0e55a37.pdf?sv=2021-10-04&st=2023-01-16T17%3A27%3A07Z&se=2024-01-16T17%3A32%3A07Z&sr=b&sp=r&sig=%2BBc6mU1uiLk0FBuSW75AerfO8x2o40ntf8SEjqCqxl4%3D

// HB 247 Transient Room Tax Amendments

https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0247.html

// EPA Proposes to Strengthen Air Quality Standards to Protect the Public from Harmful Effects of Soot

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-strengthen-air-quality-standards-protect-public-harmful-effects-soot