KZMU News

Lake Powell is in crisis. So reports KUNC’s Alex Hager, who covers the Colorado River – the most important water body for 40 million people across the Southwest. He says the nation’s second largest reservoir is strained by more than two decades of drought. Just last month, water in Lake Powell dipped below its target elevation. Today on the news, we speak to Hager about region-wide implications. Plus, sanctions and supply disruptions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are sure to have ripples throughout the global economy. One of these ripples might reach to Potash Road in Moab.

// Show Notes

// KUNC (4/15/22) Lake Powell is critically low, and still shrinking. Here’s what happens next

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2022-04-15/lake-powell-is-critically-low-and-still-shrinking-heres-what-happens-next

// KZMU (3/17/22) Lake Powell Dips Below Target Elevation

https://www.kzmu.org/thursday-march-17-2022/

// Intrepid Potash

https://www.intrepidpotash.com

The US Department of the Interior announced late last week that it will resume offering leases on public lands for oil and gas production – with changes. Today on the news, a report on what this reform means for Utah. Plus, Utah is seeing record housing prices for homeowners and renters alike, especially in tourism-heavy economies. Our radio partners report on the situation in Kanab, a small community between the region's biggest National Parks.

// Show Notes

// Photo: Energy development on federal lands in Utah. The Interior Department recently announced it will resume offering oil and gas leases on public lands with some changes. Credit Utah BLM

// US Dept of the Interior (4/15): Significantly Reformed Onshore Oil and Gas Lease Sales

https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-significantly-reformed-onshore-oil-and-gas-lease-sales

// US Dept of the Interior (Nov 21): Report on the Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Program

https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-significantly-reformed-onshore-oil-and-gas-lease-sales

// KUER: Kanab is caught between a housing crunch and a tourist boom

https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2022-04-11/kanab-is-caught-between-a-housing-crunch-and-a-tourist-boom

It’s been eight months since local couple Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner were found murdered near their campsite off the La Sal Mountain Loop Road. Law enforcement say they have ‘persons of interest’ in the case but have not yet identified a suspect. A grassroots effort is hoping a billboard will collect evidence for a breakthrough. The 15-foot vinyl sign will soon hang along Highway 191 with some important dates, phone numbers and a photo of the couple to jog memories of passerby and bring more visibility to the case. Plus, students at USU’s main campus held a silent march to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. And later, a report on a new nuclear design that is going to be assembled in our region.

// Photo: Sean-Paul Schulte and Elise Khols unfurl a 15-foot vinyl sign that will hang along Highway 191. The billboard aims to help collect breakthrough evidence that will lead to an arrest and conviction in the double homicide of Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner.

// Show Notes

// Kylen & Crystal Billboard/Signage Donation

https://www.gofundme.com/f/syezh3-homicide-expense?qid=bc89db592995328bf0896fd97d90bf82&fbclid=IwAR1SN0Qe-tGS2vm6eH_2wmgUT5j3N2P9adl1UF1ACRlBdH48AXx5TSNDSNw

// 1/19/22 GCSO Press Release

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Double-Homicide-Final-Press-Release-1-19-2022.pdf

// UPR: USU students lead silent, peaceful march to show support for LGBTQ community

https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2022-04-15/usu-students-lead-silent-peaceful-march-to-show-support-for-lgbtq-community

// KZMU Support During Radiothon

https://www.kzmu.org/give/

and

https://www.kzmu.org/shop/

For the past three decades, this wild and woolly radio station has provided the soundtrack to the Moab experience, kept listeners informed and fostered connections to community. There are so many people who have helped the station grow, create, change and thrive, including every person listening right now! So on the first day of our spring radiothon, we check in with executive director Serah Mead. We’ll hear about celebrating of 30 years of KZMU and how to vision for the next three decades.

// Plus, the Weekly News Reel, where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Sophia Fisher from The Times-Independent discusses Moab City’s new police chief and city manager, as well as the latest on workforce housing. Alison Harford from the Moab Sun News talks ownership changes at Back of Beyond bookstore, staffing changes at city hall and an injured horse getting passionate treatment at the Moab vet clinic.

// Show Notes

// Photo: KZMU’s executive director and station manager Serah Mead addresses the crowd during KZMU’s 30th birthday celebration on April 2, 2022.

// KZMU Merch Corner

https://www.kzmu.org/shop/

// Donate to KZMU

https://www.kzmu.org/give/

// KZMU Survey: Share your listening habits!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpfalH7ALADRRhk7YG5jyetiPEdjpP5NVJxhjWbSeSw2zR0Q/viewform

// Weekly News Reel Mentions

// The Times-Independent: Garcia tapped to head Moab Police Department

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/garcia-tapped-to-head-moab-police-department-2/

// The Times-Independent: Moab gives ‘thumbs up’ to Castle as city manager

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-gives-thumbs-up-to-castle-as-city-manager/

// The Times-Independent: What’s next on workforce housing?

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/whats-next-on-workforce-housing/

// Moab Sun News: Former city manager returns to Moab to head bookstore

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_5f785f48-bc1c-11ec-b5e7-5fabe3def03d.html

// Moab Sun News: Staffing changes in City Hall

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_0dc35eb8-bc1d-11ec-b8b2-5fb54a3b5531.html

// Moab Sun News: Saving Adaline – Despite challenges, Moab Vet Clinic helps animals persevere

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_b594b342-bc1a-11ec-84fd-1b2cc390b7d3.html

Residents of Moab aren’t the only ones dealing with an affordable housing crisis. It’s a problem across the country – especially in the West. Utah Senator Mike Lee has introduced a bill that he thinks will help. Today on the news, a proposal to privatize public land to provide more space for housing. Plus, Utah Highway Patrol captain Jared Garcia will become Moab’s next chief of police as Carly Castle officially takes the helm as city manager. Later, the U.S. Department of the Interior is considering emergency cutbacks to keep water in Lake Powell.

// Show Notes

// Photo: Recently appointed city manager Carly Castle and new chief of police Jared Garcia

// Moab City: City of Moab Hires New Chief of Police

https://moabcity.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=382

// Moab City: Castle Named New Moab City Manager

https://moabcity.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=383

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was first passed in 1990. It provides benefits to those impacted by the nuclear weapons industry, including uranium mine workers and those downwind of atomic testing. But the act will expire on July 10th of this year, and there are people still alive who qualify but haven’t yet collected. Proponents are racing to pass a new bill that would expand coverage. Today on the news, we hear from those impacted by radiation exposure about the support they’re hoping for.

// Show Notes

// Photo: The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project is a reminder of the legacy of the uranium industry, its impact on the landscape and people. The project is cleaning up uranium tailings left by the former Atlas Minerals Corp Mill.

// US Department of Justice: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

https://www.justice.gov/civil/common/reca

// HR 5338: Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2021

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5338?s=1&r=2

// New York Times: US Atomic Tests in 50s Exposed Millions To Risk

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/29/us/us-atomic-tests-in-50-s-exposed-millions-to-risk.html

On a recent cool morning, a small crew of volunteers hoisted what looked like an oversized metal volleyball net across Pack Creek. They were installing steel netting to capture sediment during big monsoon events, with the goal of raising the channel's elevation over time. “It’s essentially analogous to a beaver dam,” said an onsite Forest Service hydrologist. Funded through a local t-shirt campaign for restoration work in the aftermath of the Pack Creek Fire, the project will be repeated in other areas across the watershed if this experiment proves successful. And later, our radio partners report on funding wildfire mitigation and give a sediment update for Lake Powell.

// Show Notes

// Photo: A crew of volunteers recently helped install steel netting in two areas along Pack Creek. The project was funded through local donations and facilitated by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance in partnership with the Forest Service. Credit SUWA/Laura Borichevsky

As USU-Moab exits their downtown campus for a new building across town, they’re creating an opportunity for another organization – the Moab Free Health Clinic. The nonprofit has plans to turn the three-acre downtown property into a one-stop shop for community health. Said the clinic’s executive director, “with this campus, we have the opportunity to bring in other socially oriented nonprofits…all in one place.” Plus, our radio partners report on a growing music festival in our region attempting to maintain an indie and non-commercial feel.

// Show Notes

// Photo: Doug Caylor and Kate Jagla of the Moab Free Health Clinic stand in front of their organization's new property on April 8th, 2022. KZMU

// Moab Free Health Clinic

https://www.moabfreehealthclinic.org

// To support the Moab Community Resource Center, contact Kate Jagla at [email protected] or 435-259-1113

KHOL: 10 Years in, Treefort Music Festival is Evolving on its Own Terms

https://891khol.org/10-years-in-treefort-music-festival-is-evolving-on-its-own-terms/

What’s the perfect thing that you could come across by accident at night driving down a two-lane highway? For fans of folklore its Desert Oracle Radio – created / written / produced / and performed by the one Ken Layne. His home desert is Joshua Tree, California but KZMU listeners may have caught him live here in Moab over the weekend. The writer visited canyon country to share stories live in person and over the airwaves. Today on the news, we hear some thoughts on community radio from this longtime radio artist.

// Plus, the Weekly News Reel where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent talks timed entry at Arches National Park, USU-Moab’s grand opening and a state-level objection to local housing plans. Maggie McGuire of the Moab Sun News discusses a new incentive that could attract more film projects to rural Utah and amazing local students like the Grand County sterling scholars.

// Show Notes

// Photo: ‘The Voice of the Desert’ aka Ken Layne live performing Desert Oracle Radio at KZMU on April 2nd.

// Desert Oracle Radio

https://www.desertoracle.com/radio/

// MSN: KZMU presents its radio play festival, radiothon

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_a6fa0efc-b6d1-11ec-914f-f7c9fb060962.html

// Weekly News Reel Mentions

// The Times-Independent: USU-Moab open for business

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/usu-moab-open-for-business/

// The Times-Independent: ‘We were in…within five minutes’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/we-were-in-within-five-minutes/

// The Times-Independent: Lawmakers, Realtors object to city’s workforce housing plan

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/lawmakers-realtors-object-to-citys-workforce-housing-plan/

// The Times-Independent: Kovash appointed to commission

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/kovash-appointed-to-commission/

// Moab Sun News: New incentive could attract more film projects to rural Utah

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_366674ce-b6d5-11ec-b72c-4fb6bf4efa6a.html

// Moab Sun News: Grand County Sterling Scholars reap rewards with hard work

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_013ef85a-b6d2-11ec-b1ae-4b5fef34d954.html

A conservationist air force takes journalists and policy makers on trips above sensitive areas. Their latest flight looked at the country’s last uranium mill, located in southeastern Utah. Today on the news, we take to the skies with the organization. Plus, it’s the first week of reservations at Arches National Park. We hear from visitors about their experiences.

// Show Notes

// Photo: Tim Peterson, cultural landscapes director of Grand Canyon Trust boards a flight over the White Mesa Mill near Blanding on April 4th.

// EcoFlight

https://ecoflight.org

// Arches National Park: Make Your Reservation

https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/timed-entry-reservation.htm