KZMU News

Moab-area locals share a valley governed by three political subdivisions: Moab City, Grand County, and San Juan County. And sometimes, planning decisions that can have implications valley-wide are made in these distinct political silos. But elected officials are hoping to encourage more cross-jurisdictional conversation. They’re creating a ‘Spanish Valley Working Group’ made up of representatives of the three governing bodies, aiming to foster more coordination. And, a contest to ‘re-wild’ the Colorado River wants engineering alternatives for the future of the Glen Canyon Dam. Plus, a new inter-agency task force supported by the federal government is aiming to address conservation issues across borders in the West.

// Show Notes //

Photo: Moab City. Moab-area locals share a valley governed by three political subdivisions: Moab City, Grand County, and San Juan County.

// Spanish Valley Working Group Resolution

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02082022-1469

// ReWilding The Colorado River

https://rewildingcoloradoriver.org

// Glen Canyon Unit

https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/gc/

The one-year anniversary of the January insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has come and gone. But anger among the far-right continues to simmer, especially in the West where extremists have been active for years. The Biden administration has taken a harder stance against domestic terrorism and far-right extremism in this country. But as our radio partners report, it hasn’t touched Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy yet, who has battled with the feds over the use of public lands for years. Plus, Colorado regulators are discussing whether oil and gas companies should put more money upfront to guarantee enough funds exist for cleaning up well sites.

// Show Notes //

Photo: Patrick Donnelly takes a photograph of a trespassing cow in Gold Butte National Monument in southern Nevada. Nate Hegyi/Mountain West News Bureau

// Mountain West News Bureau: Why won’t Biden touch the Bundys?

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/environment/2022-01-13/why-wont-biden-touch-the-bundys

// KVNF: COGCC considering higher bonds to guarantee reclamation after oil and gas extraction is complete

https://www.kvnf.org/news/2022-01-28/state-considering-higher-guaranteed-dollar-amounts-to-budget-for-orphaned-wells-cleanup

Thompson Springs is looking for a new water source. Under state guidelines, the small town is operating at a water deficit and their current spring is producing half of what it once did. Short term solution? Develop a second spring. Long-term solution? Their special service district has eyes on a pipeline drawing water from the Green River, currently serving the UMTRA project in Crescent Junction. Plus, for many in our region, winter recreation means hitting area ski slopes. Our radio partners have a story about a longtime Aspen, Colorado local who took on a ski challenge while facing imminent eviction from his home due to development.

// Show Notes //

Photo: Thompson Springs. The town is currently home to roughly 40 residents. Water is a limiting factor to any residential or commercial growth in the area.

// Thompson Water Presentation

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02012022-1467

// Aspen Public Radio: ‘We’re just going for one run at a time’ – Aspen local skis 66 laps in one day

https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/community/2022-01-25/were-just-going-for-one-run-at-a-time-aspen-local-skis-66-laps-in-one-day

On weekday mornings, community members gather to send whiffle-ball like objects flying through the air at the Center Street Gym. If you stick around, they’ll tell you how pickleball is not just a sport – it’s a lifestyle. And Moab’s passion for pickleball is not just a local trend. According to USA Pickleball, over 5 million people have a hankering for the sport. Moab City is now working on building dedicated pickleball courts for local and visiting players. Plus, kava is a plant used to make a traditional drink consumed throughout the diverse cultures of Polynesia. Our radio partners report on how it’s connecting cultures here in Utah, too.

// And, the Weekly News Reel where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses damages at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, a new housing development on Kane Creek, and a shortage of substitute teachers in Grand County schools. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks local reactions to the dinosaur tracksite damage, a mosquito researcher presenting at the last Science Moab on tap, and registration opening for spring youth sports.

// Show Notes

// Photo: A Moab pickleball player at the Center Street Gym. The sport is growing nationwide, and more communities – like Moab – are asking for dedicated courts.

// Moab Pickleball:

Players currently meet at the Center Street Gym on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 9AM. There are other groups who meet throughout the week at the tennis courts. Find out more by contacting Steve Russell at 435-210-0205 or Moab City Parks and Recreation at 435-259-225.

// USA Pickleball

https://usapickleball.org

// UPR: Kava traditions – how one drink connects people across cultures

https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2022-02-01/kava-traditions-how-one-drink-connects-people-across-cultures

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: BLM allegedly damages Mill Canyon tracksite

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/blm-allegedly-damages-mill-canyon-tracksite/

// The Times-Independent: ‘Some housing is better than no housing’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/some-housing-is-better-than-no-housing/

// The Times-Independent: Shortage of subs hurts schools impacted by COVID

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/shortage-of-subs-hurts-schools-impacted-by-covid/

// Moab Sun News: Bureau of Land Management damages dinosaur tracks

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_59d967e2-8514-11ec-a9f2-c736b80b0d1e.html

// Moab Sun News: Local mosquito researcher will present at last Science Moab on Tap

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_1e984c46-8520-11ec-a4a3-57697248da3b.html

// Moab Sun News: Registration opens for youth spring sports

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_df12a756-851f-11ec-a336-ff11523a987e.html

The Seven County Infrastructure Coalition is once again discussing a proposed highway through the Book Cliffs. It’s been touted as a tourist corridor, but critics say the road will actually divert tourism and hurt some communities. Plus, the public can send in comments on a luxury camping project aiming to bring high-end tents, a spa, and swimming pools to the Highway 191/313 area. And, the BLM says regional and state paleontologists will assess the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite after observers reported damage from an ongoing construction project.

Show Notes:

Photo: A single tent mock-up from Entrada Moab’s conceptual presentation. The company is proposing a 16-tent luxury campground with a spa and swimming pools for the Highway 191/313 area.

// Seven County Infrastructure Coalition

http://scic-utah.org

// Entrada Camps and Recreation Rezone Application

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02012022-1463

// Public Comment on Entrada Moab Rezone

435-259-1342

// Brian Engh on Twitter

https://twitter.com/BrianEngh_Art/status/1487940206976249856

// KZMU News: Tuesday February 1, 2022

https://www.kzmu.org/tuesday-february-1-2022/

The Utah Cold Case Coalition investigates unsolved murders and disappearances in the state. Last week, volunteers were here in Moab looking into a 30-year-old case. Today on the news, a report on Utah’s current slate of unsolved homicides. And, as the impacts of climate change worsen, many are turning their attention to the harmful greenhouse gas methane. Our radio partners profile a group of stakeholders working to capture a large amount of methane that’s been leaking out of abandoned coal mines above the town of Redstone, Colorado.

// Show Notes //

Photo: Mining-infrastructure expert Eric Edwards measures methane emissions seeping out of a closed mine portal during a stakeholders hike to Coal Basin in Colorado. Eleanor Bennett/Aspen Public Radio

// Utah Cold Case Coalition

https://www.coldcasecoalition.net

// Murder Accountability Project

http://www.murderdata.org

// Aspen Public Radio: Pitkin County exploring methane capture at abandoned Coal Basin mines above Redstone

https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/environment/2022-01-31/pitkin-county-exploring-methane-capture-at-abandoned-coal-basin-mines-above-redstone

Paleontology lovers and concerned community members are asking why heavy machinery appears to have been driven over a section of the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite. The BLM recently hired a contractor to replace a raised wooden boardwalk at the site. Many point to the absence of a paleontologist in the BLM Moab field office. If that position had been filled, they say damage to the 112-million-year-old site could have been avoided. Plus, a report on the annual homeless ‘point in time’ count in Moab.

//Show Notes//

Photo: Photos appear to show marks on dinosaur tracks at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite. Credit Jeremy Roberts

// 1/31/22 Center for Biological Diversity Cease and Desist Letter

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/pdfs/Mill-Canyon-Dinosaur-Cease-and-Desist.pdf

// Fox 13 Salt Lake City: Conservation group accuses Bureau of Land Management of damaging dinosaur tracks during construction

https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/conservation-group-accuses-bureau-of-land-management-of-damaging-dinosaur-tracks-during-construction

// Utah Friends of Paleontology: Gastonia Moab Chapter

https://utahpaleo.org/chapters/gastonia-chapter/

It’s hard to imagine a carbon neutral world without considering airplanes. Commercial aviation contributes about 2.5% of annual global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use. But, as our radio partners report, some airports are starting to find ways to bring down that number – through alternative fuel. Plus, an Indigenous woman facing federal charges for blocking construction of former President Trump’s border wall in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was found not guilty on religious freedom grounds. And, new rules from the Bureau of Land Management aim to stop adopted wild horses from being sent to slaughter.

//Show Notes//

Photo: A statue at the entrance to the Telluride Regional Airport. The airport is now integrating ‘sustainable aviation fuel,’ or SAF. Matt Hoisch/KOTO

//KJZZ: Indigenous activist found not guilty on religious freedom grounds in border wall case

https://fronterasdesk.org/content/1749038/indigenous-activist-found-not-guilty-religious-freedom-grounds-border-wall-case?_ga=2.7935989.695203216.1643318213-294039926.1631040151

Last year, we reported on a nursing shortage in the Moab area. But there’s another essential public employee in low supply: teachers. Today on the news, a report on school employee shortages across the state and Moab’s own unique challenges. They include – you guessed it – housing. Plus, the Moab valley could be approaching the limits of existing water resources. Moab City and other water utility providers will soon begin a collaborative planning process with the next 100 years in mind //

// And, the Weekly News Reel where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. The Times-Independent’s Sophia Fisher discusses a camping proposal for upper Mill Creek, police chief Bret Edge’s return in a ‘transitional role,’ and one local’s memories of Meat Loaf, who passed away this month. The Moab Sun News’ Alison Harford talks about winter art classes at the MARC, the return of the campy SYFY Movie Nights, and KZMU’s own upcoming radio play festival.

// Show Notes //

Photo: Workers put the finishing touches on the new Margaret L. Hopkin Middle School in April 2021. Finding enough staff to fill school needs is a concern of many in the district.

// Grand County School District: Employment Opportunities

https://www.grandschools.org/apps/jobs/index.jsp?start=10&uREC_ID=&type=&termREC_ID=&id=&hideMenu=&pREC_ID=

// Utah Foundation: Apples to Apples? How Teacher Pay in Utah Stacks up to the Competition

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.utahfoundation.org/reports/apples-to-apples-teacher-pay/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1643405171451059&usg=AOvVaw1o3IT1AFKjEy8LZ-wnShIU

// LFA Public Budget Base Budget Amendments: Public Education Budget Stabilization

https://le.utah.gov/interim/2022/pdf/00000198.pdf

// MOU: City of Moab, Grand Water & Sewer Service Agency, San Juan Spanish Valley Special Service District

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4468?fileID=5564

// Water Utility Resource Management Plan Potential Scope of Work

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4468?fileID=5565

// The Times-Independent: Camping on upper Mill Creek – Proposal stokes fear of fire, floods

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/camping-on-upper-mill-creek-proposal-stokes-fear-of-fire-floods/

// The Times-Independent: ‘To me, he was just this big guy from Texas’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/to-me-he-was-just-this-big-guy-from-texas/

// The Times-Independent: Edge returns as chief in transitional role

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/edge-returns-as-chief-in-transitional-role/

// Moab Sun News: Winter art classes include painting, paper making, jewelry

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_0ee199c4-8070-11ec-87d6-f77750547c87.html

// Moab Sun News: Giant ants, mutants and futuristic utopias ¬¬– SYFY Movie Nights returns with three films from the 1950s

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_0ef93358-8071-11ec-bb38-eb4aff6fcc4a.html

// Moab Sun News: Presenting KZMU’s annual radio play, starring you!

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_9bf67f8c-8070-11ec-b7dd-e71c205473cf.html

Living in rural Utah is a little isolating at times – seeing a doctor or going shopping can all be hours away. But now Grand and San Juan Counties have a new transportation option to get to the Salt Lake Valley. Today on the news, we speak to riders and operators of Salt Lake Express about making the region more connected. Plus, essential workers in Colorado are using eBikes paid for by the state. Our radio partners report on this new pilot program that appears to be a hit with participants and a positive step in the transition away from fossil fuels.

Show Notes:

Photo: Salt Lake Express stops to pick up passengers in front of the Chevron in Moab. The regional shuttle service goes north and west to Green River, Price, Spanish Fork – all the way to the Salt Lake City airport. KZMU/Justin Higginbottom

Salt Lake Express

https://saltlakeexpress.com

ScienceDirect: The climate change mitigation effects of daily active travel in cities

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1361920921000687?via%3Dihub