Utah wildlife officials report that Moab’s rare melanistic deer – nicknamed ‘Coal’ by some locals – died of Chronic Wasting Disease. Since July 2019, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has confirmed 16 positive cases of CWD, six of them occurring near Moab. The disease is highly contagious among the species and state officials worry that locals feeding urbanized deer may make the situation worse. And later in the news, where does the resignation of Moab City’s Sustainability Director leave the pending Sustainability Action Plan? Plus, Utah’s 2020 Legislative Session kicks off with some warning remarks about “governing by referendum.” Tune in.

Show Notes:

Chronic Wasting Disease in Utah (Map) -

https://wildlife.utah.gov/diseases/cwd/2018-positive-distribution-map.pdf

2019 Sustainability Action Plan (Draft) –

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019-Sustainability-Action-Plan-Executive-Summary-Final-2.pdf

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Sustainability-Report-FINAL-6.21.19.pdf

Signature Totals for Utah Referendum –

https://voteinfo.utah.gov/initiatives-and-referenda/