KZMU News

Much like any other business, Moab City has struggled to attract and keep qualified employees amid the housing crisis. Aiming to secure transitional housing for their employees, elected officials approved the purchase of a duplex on 200 South for $825,000. City staff say the house will help outside hires get settled in, with the expectation those employees will find more permanent housing within six months. Plus, climber and BASE jumper Steph Davis speaks with our radio partners about risk, sustainability and inspiration in the outdoors.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Moab City will manage a duplex on 200 South as transitional housing for new employees, or those who need housing mid-employment.

// Moab City Purchase Study

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/5439?fileID=7369

After the pandemic travel surge and increased publicity for Bears Ears National Monument, it seems more visitors than ever have explored the canyons and forested mesas of southeastern Utah. That can mean more vandalism, theft or disturbance of Ancestral Pueblo artifacts and ruins. Archeologists in the state are racing to survey areas before something is lost. Plus, four states along the Colorado River are getting closer to finalizing details of a program to pay water users to conserve. And last week Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser pushed for a judge to block Albertsons’ $4 billion payout to its investors while the company’s merger with Kroger is under review. Weiser’s office is leading a multistate investigation of the proposed grocery chain merger. Last, the Navajo Nation Police Department has received numerous missing persons reports that they have traced to addiction treatment centers in Arizona.

// Show notes:

// Photo: Archaeologist Allison Aakre has seen vandalism of Ancestral Pueblo sites in remote National Forest areas in southeast Utah. KZMU

// See the 'Pledge to Protect the Past' campaign for information on visiting sensitive sites responsibly

https://history.utah.gov/take-the-pledge-to-protect-the-past/

// KUNC: Some water users could get paid to conserve as Upper Colorado River Basin program gets planned reboot

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2022-12-08/some-water-users-could-get-paid-to-conserve-as-upper-colorado-river-basin-program-gets-planned-reboot

// KSUT: Navajo Nation Police Department warns tribal citizens about recruiters

https://tribalradio.org/navajo-nation-police-department-warns-tribal-citizens-about-recruiters/

// KSJD: Colorado AG to lead a multi-state investigation of proposed Albertsons/Kroger merger

https://www.ksjd.org/2022-12-08/attorney-general-weiser-to-lead-multi-state-investigation-of-albertsons-kroger-merger

After recent noise mitigation strategies caught some community members by surprise, Grand County’s planning commissioners are aiming to bring them more closely into the discussion. The planning commission will create a temporary committee made up of representatives from noise making businesses as well as affected residents to work on noise-related ordinances. Plus, our radio partners profile the Glen Canyon Dam, once a mighty piece of Western infrastructure, now possibly unable to function. And later, two Southern Ute tribal council members were sworn into their positions last week at a ceremony.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: An ATV tour company situated along Highway 191 also borders a Moab subdivision. Grand County’s planning commissioners are now aiming to work on noise mitigation strategies by bringing noise making businesses and affected neighbors together.

// Grand County Connects: Noise Impacts

https://grandcountyconnects.com/noise-impacts

// Grand County Temporary Committee on Land Use Noise:

https://civicclerk.blob.core.windows.net/stream/GRANDCOUNTYUT/e139674b-74a9-430f-b5ab-56ead7dc2c2f.pdf?sv=2018-03-28&sr=b&sig=FGIA0vx0SpXedEV3OTB64UjANnmswiJx2WtUgXyGWzQ%3D&st=2022-12-12T15%3A46%3A38Z&se=2023-12-12T15%3A51%3A38Z&sp=r

// KUNC: The ‘power of aridity’ is bringing a Colorado River dam to its knees

https://www.kunc.org/2022-12-09/the-power-of-aridity-is-bringing-a-colorado-river-dam-to-its-knees

// KSJD: Marvin Pinnecoose and Marjorie Barry sworn into Southern Ute Tribal Council

https://www.ksjd.org/2022-12-08/marvin-pinnecoose-and-marjorie-barry-sworn-into-southern-ute-tribal-council

Utah, like much of the West, is facing a prolonged drought. And there’s been a lot of discussion of water conservation in urban areas. But agriculture uses at least four-fifths of water diverted in the state. And around 68 percent of that water is used for alfalfa and other hay products. We spoke to a reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune about the paper’s new series on this important crop. Plus, the Moab City Council will meet on Tuesday. The Moab Sun News has a preview of their agenda.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Alfafa, seen at this farm in Nephi, is Utah’s most popular crop. But about a third of it’s value is exported overseas. (Creative Commons: inkknife_2000_)

// The Salt Lake Tribune: One crop uses more than half of Utah’s water. Here’s why.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2022/11/24/one-crop-uses-more-than-half/

// The Salt Lake Tribune: Why it’s time for Utah to buy out alfalfa farmers and let the water flow, Editorial Board writes

https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/editorial/2022/12/04/why-its-time-utah-buy-out/

// Moab Sun News

https://moabsunnews.com/

// Moab City Council

https://moabcity.org/151/City-Council

Locals gathered last week at Swanny City Park for the annual tree lighting event. In addition to the colorful lights, cookies and hot cocoa, one of main attractions each year is a guy with a white beard and red suit. Kids lined up to speak with this man, telling him what they are wishing for this holiday season. Plus, rescue crews responded to the scene of a helicopter crash on Mount Tukuhnikivatz in the La Sal Mountains Thursday morning. And, a new currency is gaining popularity in several states in our region.

// And later, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses Grand County’s attempt to regulate takeoffs and landings at airstrips, challenges to building workforce housing and ‘skyrocketing’ student lunch debt. Rachel Fixen of the Moab Sun News talks about an animal cruelty incident prompting calls for policy changes, a future plaque to commemorate local WWII history, a local’s recent loss of their home to a fire and a new homeless outreach coordinator at Moab Solutions. Plus, the Moab Sun News tells us ‘what happened’ at this week’s Grand County Commission meeting.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Local kids waited in line to see Santa during the annual tree lighting event in early December, held by Moab City and the Moab Chamber of Commerce. KZMU

// Music in today’s newscast is ‘The Christmas Song (Piano)’ by Zight

// Music in ‘what happened at the meeting’ is ‘Paris Gipsy Swing’ by Dieter van der Westen

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: County’s attempts to control noise brings loud response

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/countys-attempts-to-control-noise-brings-loud-response/

// The Times-Independent: Prime roadblock to affordable housing? A lack of land

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/prime-roadblock-to-affordable-housing-a-lack-of-land

// The Times-Independent: Student lunch debt skyrockets

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/student-lunch-debt-skyrockets/

// Moab Sun News: Animal cruelty incident in La Sals prompts calls for policy change

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/08/animal-cruelty-incident-in-la-sals-prompts-calls-for-policy-change/

// Moab Sun News: WWII bridge guards honored

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/08/wwii-bridge-guards-honored/

// Moab Sun News: Moab local loses home, memories to fire

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/08/moab-local-loses-home-memories-to-fire/

// Moab Sun News: Q&A with Moab Solutions Homeless Outreach Coordinator Win Bludworth

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/08/qa-with-moab-solutions-homeless-outreach-coordinator/

Inflation in this country reached a 40-year high this year, hitting consumer products like gas and groceries. Food banks across the country report a growing demand for food-related assistance. We report on one local pantry serving the Moab community. And winter is certainly upon us, but there’s a lot that has to happen before the snow really starts piling up. For the White River National Forest in Summit County on Colorado’s Western Slope, one important item to check off its to-do list is a logging project.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: St. Francis Episcopal Church has run a food pantry in Moab for over three years, serving between 800 to 1,000 people per month. KZMU

// US Bureau of Labor Statistics: 12-month percentage change

https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-by-category.htm

// Episcopal Church of St. Francis: Food Pantry Fridays from 4pm - 6pm

https://moabepiscopalchurch.org/

// Grand County Food Bank

http://seualg.utah.gov/index.php/community-services/food-banks/

Food Pantry Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am - 12pm

// Utah Food Bank

https://www.utahfoodbank.org/

The Grand County Commission discussed an ordinance yesterday to prohibit aircraft from taking off and landing outside of approved areas. Spurred by social media, the county has become increasingly popular for backcountry piloting. At that county commission meeting, a number of pilots and aviation experts expressed their concern over the proposed ordinance. Plus, dozens of students at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, are creating awareness of missing and murdered indigenous relatives with an exhibition presented by the Center of Southwest Studies. And eight big-game animals were killed and left to rot in San Miguel County, Colorado, over the past month, prompting an investigation.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Small, fixed-wing aircraft make use of old airstrips left from mining. This is a view from Moab local Gary Hilley's two-seat Supercub flying above Grand County. KZMU

// KZMU: Backcountry Flying Is Taking Off in Southeastern Utah

https://www.kzmu.org/backcountry-flying-is-taking-off-in-southeastern-utah/

// KSUT: Fort Lewis College students honor missing and murdered Indigenous relatives

https://www.ksut.org/news/2022-12-02/fort-lewis-college-students-honor-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-relatives

Moab doesn’t have an official ice rink. But there are tons of places to skate on ice if you hunt for them outdoors. Ian Jewell is one of those hunters, traveling in and around the La Sal Mountains in search of perfect ice for the ‘Moab Ice Rink’ community. Plus, with a trigger ban looming, providers at a women’s clinic in Jackson, Wyoming are gearing up for more restrictions on reproductive freedoms. And, an Arizona Court of Appeals has sided with the San Carlos Apache Tribe in its latest bid to prevent a copper mine construction near a sacred site.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Ian Jewell at Oowah Lake in October 2022. “Obviously if there were an indoor skating rink, I would go and skate there. But skating outdoors is so much more beautiful and wonderful and pleasurable and fantastic.”

// Moab Ice Rink

https://www.facebook.com/groups/770357166424678

// KHOL: Inside the only clinic providing abortions as Wyoming’s trigger ban goes to the state supreme court

https://891khol.org/inside-the-only-clinic-providing-abortions-as-wyomings-trigger-ban-goes-to-the-state-supreme-court/

// KJZZ: AZ Court of Appeals sides with San Carlos Apache Tribe in copper mine case

https://kjzz.org/content/1826229/az-court-appeals-sides-san-carlos-apache-tribe-copper-mine-case

Cities and counties around the West are incentivizing residents to ditch their lawns in favor of more drought-resistant landscaping. States like California and Nevada are usually thought to be leading this effort. But this Spring, Utah will have the first state-wide rebate program in the country. Plus, LGBTQ issues provoke strong opinions from conservative and liberal residents in Cortez. We hear from one liberal activist in the Southern Colorado town who was recalled from his seat on the school board over those issues. Also, federal officials are sounding the alarm on dire new projections for the Colorado River’s reservoirs. And the Grand County Commission will meet on Tuesday. Our partners at the Moab Sun News has a preview of their agenda.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Jeff Adams of Terra Sophia works in water-conscious landscaping around Moab. He designed this area of Moab Arts and Recreation Center. KZMU

// Terra Sophia

http://www.terrasophia.com/

// Utah Water Saving Rebate Program

https://utahwatersavers.com/

// KSJD: Recalled Cortez school board member continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights

https://www.ksjd.org/2022-12-02/recalled-cortez-school-board-member-continues-to-advocate-for-lgbtq-rights

// Moab Sun News

https://moabsunnews.com/

// Grand County Commission Meetings

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/134/County-Commission

Is the defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton pulling a Ticketmaster with public land fees? The billion-dollar company won a 10-year, $182 million contract to manage Recreation.gov in 2017. Since then it has collected varying processing fees from users. But some compare the charges to those “junk fees” customers face for hotel bookings to airline tickets. Plus, November 29th marked another anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre. Our partners share a report about that mass murder of at least 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people by U.S. troops in 1864. And conservation groups are pushing to keep federal protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.

Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses a proposed noise buffer between residential and commercial properties in Grand County and plans for a new 80-unit apartment complex in Moab. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks about the saving of World Famous Woody’s Tavern, a new community space at Adobe Garden Apothecary and the return of Science Moab on Tap.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Most visitors had to rely on Recretion.gov to visit Arches National Park in Moab during a pilot timed-entry reservation program. The $2 processing fee collected for those reservations went to Booz Allen Hamilton. KZMU

// Matt Stoller: Why Is Booz Allen Renting Us Back Our Own National Parks?

https://mattstoller.substack.com/p/why-is-booz-allen-renting-us-back

// Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title16/chapter87&edition=prelim

// The President’s Initiative on Junk Fees and Related Pricing Practices

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/blog/2022/10/26/the-presidents-initiative-on-junk-fees-and-related-pricing-practices/

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times Independent: Proposed noise noise buffer zone vexes OHV operators

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/proposed-noise-buffer-zone-vexes-ohv-operators/

// The Times-Independent: Plans for 80-unit apartment complex move forward

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/plans-for-80-unit-apartment-complex-move-forward/

// Moab Sun News: Woody’s Tavern keeps bar license

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/01/woodys-tavern-keeps-bar-license/

// Moab Sun News: The new community tea shop

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/01/the-new-community-tea-shop/

// Moab Sun News: Science Moab on Tap returns

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/12/01/science-moab-on-tap-returns/