KZMU News

Election results in San Juan County aren’t yet final. But it’s likely the county's three-person commission will return to a Republican majority. Jamie Harvey, one of those incoming Republican commissioners, is Navajo and from Montezuma Creek. He speaks with KZMU about issues impacting Native groups in San Juan County. Plus, over the summer the invasive Japanese Beetle was detected in Grand Junction, Colorado. The adult beetle feeds on more than 300 species of plants including those that are a major part of the Western Slope's agricultural economy such as sweet corn, peaches and grapes. Our partners speak with the plant health certification program manager for the Colorado Department of Agriculture about the pest.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Adult Japanese beetles feeding on a rose plant. (Melissa Schreiner)

// Salt Lake Tribune: At long last, the lights are on in Westwater

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/09/19/long-last-lights-are-westwater/

// KVNF: What you need to know about Japanese beetles on the Western Slope

https://www.kvnf.org/show/regional-news/2022-10-31/what-you-need-to-know-about-japanese-beetles-on-the-western-slope

Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services is threatening to revoke World Famous Woody's Tavern liquor license because the establishment closed for over 10 days without notifying regulators. Owner Shari Beck says that Moab will lose more than a bar if Woody's is shut down. Plus, city water providers from all over the mountain west put their supplies to a taste test at a recent event in Colorado.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Photo: "It's going to be one more little piece of Moab that's gone," says owner Shari Beck. KZMU

// Save Woody's Tavern petition:

https://www.change.org/p/moab-is-not-moab-without-woody-s-tavern?fbclid=IwAR0AOguwIRyN0J3oZCuEbJGfqsDyQtDkxIvck6yEZoKsza9n3do62_qXjF4

// KUNC: From ‘rubbery’ to ‘grassy,’ we tasted Colorado tap water like fine wine

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2022-11-07/from-rubbery-to-grassy-we-tasted-colorado-tap-water-like-fine-wine

As the uranium tailings pile north of Moab gets smaller and smaller, community visioning for the site’s future gets a little more exciting. The 480-acre parcel sits on the banks of the Colorado River, and local leaders currently have visions of a park, trails and gathering spaces. But they once again need the public to weigh in and update that vision. “This is the gateway to our town,” says mayor Joette Langianese. “And we want our community to look back on this and say, ‘I was a part of that.’” Plus, water lessons from Utah’s neighbor and a profile of ongoing recovery resources after the most destructive wildfire in Colorado’s history.

// Show Notes:

// Atlas Mill Site 2023 Community Vision & Survey

https://grandcountyconnects.com/site-futures

// Great Salt Collaborative

https://greatsaltlakenews.org

// KGNU: Navigating Disasters After The Marshall Fire

https://news.kgnu.org/2022/11/navigating-disasters-after-the-marshall-fire/

Preliminary election results show Curtis Yanito to be the new Navajo Nation Council delegate representing the Utah Strip. He says there's a regional challenge that has his attention: water rights. Plus, November 11th was Veteran’s Day. Many combat veterans still struggle with the trauma of their war experiences. There’s a large sculpture project taking shape in Boulder County, Colorado, that is helping veterans heal through art. And the Grand Canyon won’t see a beach-building flood this fall for the fourth year in a row due to low water levels in Lake Powell. Last, the Grand County Commission will meet on Tuesday. Our partners at the Moab Sun News give us a preview of the commission’s agenda.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: After nearly two decades of negotiations, a settlement this year with the federal government recognized the Navajo Nation’s right to 81,500 acre-feet of water from the San Juan River annually. (KZMU)

// Navajo Nation Unofficial Election Results

https://navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/

// KUER: Navajo Nation finally secures water rights as a part of landmark federal settlement

https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2022-05-27/navajo-nation-finally-secures-water-rights-as-a-part-of-landmark-federal-settlement

// KGNU: Boulder Sculpture Project Enlists Veterans

https://news.kgnu.org/2022/11/boulder-sculpture-project-enlists-veterans/

// Drought puts a stop to artificial floods that have helped restore habitat

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/13/1128860655/drought-puts-a-stop-to-artificial-floods-that-have-helped-restore-habitat

// The Moab Sun News

https://moabsunnews.com/

// Grand County Commission Agenda

https://grandcountyutah.net/1181/Agendas-Minutes

While on a little newscast break to attend the Rocky Mountain Community Radio conference, we connected with our local media partners for our Weekly News Reel! This week, Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses preliminary election returns in local races and an upcoming legislative audit of Grand and San Juan county government. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks about the $50 million lawsuit against the Moab City Police Department, a new version of Craig Childs’ book ‘Stone Desert,’ and Grand County High’s ‘Addams Family’ musical. Plus, a recap of what happened at this week’s Moab City Council meeting.

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Wiggins, Stocks, McCurdy win; Winfield, McGann probable

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/wiggins-stocks-mccurdy-win-winfield-mcgann-probable/

// The Times-Independent: Incumbents hold on in federal, state races

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/incumbents-hold-on-in-federal-state-races/

// The Times-Independent: San Juan County - Early returns show lead for commission challengers

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/san-juan-county-early-returns-show-lead-for-commission-challengers/

// The Times-Independent: State to audit Grand, San Juan counties

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/state-to-audit-grand-san-juan-counties/

// Moab Sun News: Petito parents sue Moab

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/11/10/petito-parents-sue-moab/

// Moab Sun News: Back of Beyond Books brings Craig Childs’ iconic book back to life

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/11/10/back-of-beyond-books-brings-craig-childs-iconic-book-back-to-life/

// Moab Sun News: Grand County High School puts on ‘The Addams Family - A New Musical Comedy,’ Nov. 17-19

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/11/10/grand-county-high-school-puts-on-the-addams-family-a-new-musical-comedy-nov-17-19/

Hi listeners, KZMU News is taking a brief break this week while we’re in Colorado attending the Rocky Mountain Community Radio conference. This coalition of stations partner with KZMU to air stories from the region, as well as spread our reporting across four states.

You can still hear the News Reel this Friday where we check in with local reporters on their most recent stories. Find past episodes of KZMU News at KZMU.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you so much for your support. We’ll be back soon!

The (preliminary) election results are in! This Election Day, local voters made changes in Grand County. We have reports on those results, as well as San Juan County races and the Navajo Nation.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Newly-elected Grand County Sheriff Jamison Wiggins (left) and Grand County Attorney Stephen Stocks. Preliminary election results reveal shifts in Grand and San Juan Counties.

// Grand County 2022 Election Results

https://electionresults.utah.gov/elections/county/grand

// San Juan County 2022 Election Results

https://electionresults.utah.gov/elections/county/sanjuan

// UT House District 69 Election Results

https://electionresults.utah.gov/elections/house/69

// Navajo Nation 2022 Election Results

https://navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/Portals/0/2022%20NN%20Candidate%20Ballets/2022%20NN%20ELECTION%20RESULTS/2022NNPresidentialResults.pdf?ver=tlS2mgRHRYMlzJ2N9OaYKw%3d%3d

It’s election day! For Grand County residents, that means a last chance to head to the polls. We visited the county’s courthouse this morning and chatted with voters. Election results won’t be known until likely late tonight. But the Grand County Republican Party has already alleged “unprecedented and historic levels of new voter registration and voting activity” and a “large amount of provisional ballots being requested with questionable to nonexistent identification documents.” We spoke with Grand's clerk to check those claims. Plus, the cutthroat trout — native to the Rocky Mountain region — is facing a variety of threats. Despite this, a subspecies of the Snake River in Wyoming is thriving.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: In 2018 there were 5,208 registered voters in Grand County. In 2020 there were 5,971. This year, as of Nov. 7th, there were 5,640. (KZMU)

// Check Utah's election results here:

https://electionresults.utah.gov/elections/

// KHOL: Snake River in Jackson Hole continues to be stronghold for cutthroat trout

https://891khol.org/snake-river-in-jackson-hole-continues-to-be-stronghold-for-cutthroat-trout/

Local campaign financial disclosures show candidates running in Grand County are largely supported by small individual donations as well as a few private businesses and partisan groups. Absent from contributions are organizations accused of exerting outsider influence, like the Rural Utah Project. Plus, a representative from the country’s last operating uranium mill responds to ongoing protests. And later, a preview of this week’s Moab City Council meeting.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Dalene Redhorse helps register voters across southern Utah as a field organizer with the Rural Utah Project. KZMU

// Grand County 2022 Campaign Financial Reports

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/907/Campaign-Financial-Report

// The Times-Independent: Legislature to audit Grand, San Juan counties

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/legislature-to-audit-grand-san-juan-counties/

// Grand County 2022 Election Information

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/612/Elections

// KSJD: Energy Fuels Responds To Uranium Mill Spiritual Walk

https://www.ksjd.org/2022-11-07/energy-fuels-responds-to-uranium-mill-spiritual-walk

// Moab City 11/8 Agenda

​​https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11082022-1151?html=true

// Music in the meeting preview is ‘Coast2Most’ by Independent Music Licensing Collective

The family of Gabby Petito is suing the Moab Police Department for $50 million, claiming officers' negligence led to Petito’s death. In a statement, Moab City says “it is clear that Moab City Police Department officers are not responsible Petito’s eventual murder” and that they will "ardently defend against the lawsuit." And increased demand for materials used in electric vehicles — and war in Europe possibly disrupting uranium supplies — means southeastern Utah could see more mining. We speak with Jonathan Thompson of High Country News about the potential mining boom in our region. Plus, the Moab Sun tells us "What Happened at the Meeting." Also, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses plans for land after the completion of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project, OHV testing in Moab, dark-sky compliance in Grand County and the Moab Museum's effort to help residents preserve old family photos. And Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News discusses Grand County election procedures and security, Moab’s new sustainability director and the upcoming Moab Trail Marathon.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Lisbon Valley is one area near Moab where mining companies are looking for metals used in electric vehicles. (BLMUtah)

// Salt Lake Tribune: Moab officer was ‘biased’ against Gabby Petito because of his past, her parents claim in new lawsuit

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/11/03/moab-officer-was-biased-against/

// High Country News: The green metal mining boom is on

https://www.hcn.org/articles/landline-the-green-metal-mining-boom-is-on

// The Times-Independent: As tailings dwindle, city, county relaunch visioning effort

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/as-tailings-dwindle-city-county-relaunch-visioning-effort/

// The Times-Independent: OHV test still applies to street-legal vehicles

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/ohv-test-still-applies-to-street-legal-vehicles/

// The Times-Independent: Ahead of Nov. 8, Woytek reviews election security

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/ahead-of-nov-8-woytek-reviews-election-security/

// The Times-Independent: Want to preserve old family photos?

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/want-to-preserve-old-family-photos/

// The Times-Independent: Becoming dark-sky compliant now easier in Grand County

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/becoming-dark-sky-compliant-now-easier-in-grand-county/

// Moab Sun News: Cast your vote! A look at election procedures and security

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/11/03/cast-your-vote-a-look-at-election-procedures-and-security/

// Moab Sun News: Q&A with Moab’s new sustainability director Alexi Lamm

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/11/03/qa-with-moabs-new-sustainability-director-alexi-lamm/

// Moab Sun News: Moab Trail Marathon

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/11/03/moab-trail-marathon-returns/