KZMU News

Hi listener – KZMU News is taking a quick break so staff can attend the 2021 Rocky Mountain Community Radio Coalition Conference! This gathering is an opportunity to strengthen connections with our regional community radio partners. We are excited to learn and exchange ideas over the next few days. Thank you for your continued support, and we will be back on Wednesday, November 17th.

Music Featured is Little Grass Shack by Voodoo Suite

In June, the Pack Creek Fire destroyed homes and raged through the forest just outside of Moab. After a summer of intense wildfires throughout the West, the need for fire management seems greater than ever. Today on the news, we go out with a team from the Bureau of Land Management on a prescribed burn meant to make fire season a little less intense. Plus, tribal leaders sound the alarm about the disproportionate impacts of climate change on their communities, the infrastructure bill contains billions for Western water projects, and a report on Utah’s dinosaur fossils.

Show Notes:

Photo: A team member with the Bureau of Land Management works on a prescribed burn on Ray Mesa on Monday, November 8th. These prescribed burns are meant to reduce future wildfire risk. Justin Higginbottom/KZMU

Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands: Homeowner Education

https://ffsl.utah.gov/fire/wildfire-community-preparedness/homeowner-education/

Utah Davison of Forestry, Fire & State Lands: Wildfire Community Preparedness

https://ffsl.utah.gov/fire/wildfire-community-preparedness/

KZMU: Fighting Fire with Fire – Prescribed Burns on the Local Ecosystem

https://www.kzmu.org/fighting-fire-with-fire-prescribed-burns-on-the-local-ecosystem/

UPR: Utah – A Gold Mine for Fossil Discoveries

https://www.upr.org/post/utah-gold-mine-fossil-discoveries#stream/0

There are a few notable changes around oil and gas extraction on public lands. They include the BLM considering ‘social costs’ of greenhouse gas emissions as well as new rules aimed at limiting methane emissions. Today on the news, a conversation with experts on how these changes might impact oil and gas extraction in Utah. Plus, our radio partners examine a new project aimed to provide relief for an ongoing affordable housing crisis in Ridgway, Colorado.

Photo: Oil and gas development on federal lease managed by BLM California. Credit BLM

KZMU: Considering 'Social Costs' of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Utah

https://www.kzmu.org/considering-social-costs-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-in-utah/

All over the world, people and horses compete in a sport called endurance riding, often on courses up to 100 miles long. One world record holder is Moab resident Christoph Schork, who breeds the special animals and trains would-be endurance riders locally. Today on the news, an audio portrait of a recent visit to Schork’s ranch. Plus, another round of Moab election results rolled in on Friday afternoon, bringing a little more clarity to the tight city council race.

Show Notes:

Photo: Moab resident Christoph Schork trains horses and people in endurance riding at his local ranch. Justin Higginbottom/KZMU

Moab City Election Information

https://moabcity.org/236/Election-Information

Audio Portrait Featured Music/Sounds:

‘Night Owl’ by Broke For Free

‘Horse Whinny, Close, A.wav’ by InspectorJ

If you have an idea for a future profile, reach out to [email protected].

Grand County children aged 5 to 11 can now get their Pfizer vaccine as early as next week. The Southeast Utah Health Department is hosting two by-appointment clinics Monday and Tuesday at HMK Elementary School, with more in the works. Now that vaccines are available to most school-age children, the schoolwide mask mandate will likely come to an end early next year. Plus, freelancer Holly Lammert files an audio essay on the concept of abundance, featuring highlights from the Youth Garden Project’s 2021 Harvest Festival.

Plus, the Weekly News Reel, where we speak with reporters about their latest stories of the Moab area. The Times-Independent’s Carter Pape talks election results – and tight city council races – as well as the sentencing of a driver in a fatal DUI crash. The Moab Sun News’ Alison Harford highlights their election coverage, the Moab Police Department's recent violation of an open records law, and a profile on the 2021 Community Artist in the Parks.

Show Notes:

Photo: Homegrown herbs at the Youth Garden’s 2021 Harvest Festival. Courtesy Youth Garden Project

Sign Ups for Pfizer 5-11 Clinics at HMK

Monday Nov 8th and Tuesday Nov 9th:

https://www.schedulista.com/s/lqk2p-to176?business_code=seuhd&fbclid=IwAR32fqbk2TBFbr8fycg4dPU-6hrBZiKsKcZvqV_JLP52H9JoP_ogfhKCAAk

Southeast Utah Health Department:

https://www.seuhealth.com

Abundance Audio Essay Question Contact:

Youth Garden Project:

https://www.youthgardenproject.org

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

**NB: Moab City released a 3rd round of preliminary election results as of 3PM on November 5th. Find the breakdown here: https://moabcity.org/236/Election-Information?fbclid=IwAR2EvfaE7ZMtKTXO3rviOlID-MzpHqLgwrR5dHMunBnqyt0VocbvzN6MPjc **

The Times-Independent: Moab elects Langianese mayor; council race too close to call

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-elects-langianese-mayor-council-race-too-close-to-call/

The Times-Independent: Driver in fatal DUI crash gets 1-15 years in prison

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/driver-in-fatal-dui-crash-gets-1-15-years-in-prison/

Moab Sun News: Moab preliminary results – Langianese elected mayor, Taylor poised to take council seat, close race between Wojciechowski and Kovash

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_3a883880-3cd7-11ec-8957-dbec794f2264.html

Moab Sun News: Moab Police refund $3K in mischarged fees – Charges violate state open records act

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_7a23e35e-3dae-11ec-89da-37283dccbe37.html

Moab Sun News: Creating art within Arches and Canyonlands ¬– Julia Buckwalter wraps up term as Community Artist in the Parks

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_d95e7428-3daf-11ec-a9ec-0bf5813bd574.html

Wildlife biologists are proposing backcountry skiing closures of some Grand Teton National Park terrain. The hope is that the move would help protect locally endangered bighorn sheep, but as our radio partners report, their recommendations are drawing some backlash. And, a new survey shows a major increase in camping on national public lands in the past decade, with a notable spike during the pandemic. Plus, a new report from the Government Accountability Office says the federal government isn’t doing enough to tackle the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Show Notes:

GAO: Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women – New Efforts Are Underway but Opportunities Exist to Improve the Federal Response

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-104045

Center for Western Priorities: The Camping Crunch

https://westernpriorities.org/the-camping-crunch/

KHOL: Skiers and Conservationists Search for Compromise on Backcountry Terrain to Protect a ‘Sacred Animal’

https://891khol.org/skiers-and-conservationists-search-for-compromise-on-backcountry-terrain-to-protect-a-sacred-animal/

Preliminary election results are showing Joette Langianese as Moab’s new mayor and Luke Wojciechowski and Jason Taylor as new city council members. The final election canvass will occur within two weeks. Today on the news, we have more details on the election, which included several rounds of ranked choice voting. Plus, our radio partners report on the activists pushing to change Utah’s congressional districts.

Show Notes:

Photo: (from left) Preliminary election results are showing Joette Langianese as Moab’s new mayor and Luke Wojciechowski and Jason Taylor as new city council members.

Moab City 2021 Preliminary Election Results

https://moabcity.org/236/Election-Information

Ranked Choice Voting Visualization:

Mayoral Race

https://rcvis.com/visualize=moab-mayor-en-json

City Council Seat 1

https://rcvis.com/visualize=moab-council-1st-en-json

City Council Seat 2

https://rcvis.com/visualize=moab-council-2nd-en-json

KUER: Why rural and urban Utahns are divided on how to draw new political boundaries

https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2021-11-01/why-rural-and-urban-utahns-are-divided-on-how-to-draw-new-political-boundaries

A week after coming to office, President Biden signed an executive order calling for a Civilian Climate Corps. It recalls a New Deal-era program which put millions of young men to work in the outdoors during the Great Depression. Today on the news, a report about ongoing conservation work in Moab that could dovetail into a new – and improved - climate mission. Plus, our radio partners profile how accessory dwelling units could address the dual problems of high housing costs and low housing stock.

Show Notes:

Photo: Jake Deslauriers (far right) is the projects and partnership coordinator for the Utah Conservation Corps. He says their work could dovetail with the new Civilian Climate Corps.

Utah Conservation Corps

https://www.usu.edu/ucc/

Since 2010, local nonprofit Community Rebuilds has worked on building affordable and efficient housing while educating natural builders in the process. As part of a collaboration between the Solutions Journalism Network and Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KZMU highlights this affordable housing solution in Moab. Plus, with reservoirs in the west at record-low levels, many are hoping for a wet winter. But as our radio partners report, even a snowy winter won’t be enough to ease more than two decades of drought.

Show Notes:

Photo: Community Rebuilds’ intern bunkhouse in Moab. The organization has built 52 strawbale homes since 2010. Justin Higginbottom/KZMU

Community Rebuilds

https://www.communityrebuilds.org

KUNC: The West needs a lot of snow to escape drought. This year, that’s unlikely

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2021-10-26/the-west-needs-a-lot-of-snow-to-escape-drought-this-year-thats-unlikely

For the past decade, Ross High has lived in a unique house blasted into the side of a rock along Kane Creek Road. But Ross and his neighbors must now quickly look for other housing after a development company served them with eviction notices. Today on the news, we spend time with Ross and his daughter Kate, who tell the story of the close-knit ‘Charlie-wood’ community currently becoming displaced.

And, the Weekly News Reel, where we speak with reporters about their latest stories of the Moab area. Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent details an ongoing complaint from a local victim about Moab City Police Chief Bret Edge. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News discusses their profile on the Kane Creek evictions, and the upcoming ‘movie mash’ and folk festival.

Show Notes:

Photo: Kate High and her father Ross High describe the neighborhood along Kane Creek road as ‘Charlie-wood,' for the previous owner Charlie Nelson, who ran a chicken egg ranch there.

KZMU News: Facing Eviction Along Kane Creek Road, Locals Worry Over Housing Options

https://www.kzmu.org/facing-eviction-along-kane-creek-road-locals-worry-over-housing-options/

Moab Sun News: Kane Creek development leads to evictions – Developers promise community benefit, but first tenants must leave

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_51f006e0-383d-11ec-a744-674f74c55c6a.html

The Times-Independent: Kane Creek projects leaves some residents in lurch

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/kane-creek-project-leaves-some-residents-in-lurch/

The Times-Independent: Kane Creek’s future – ‘A research and innovation hub’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/kane-creeks-future-a-research-and-innovation-hub/