Friday October 2, 2020

On Thursday, Judge Don M. Torgerson in the 7th District Court ruled that Propositions 16 and 17 can run on the 2020 Election Ballot. The propositions ask voters if they want to reduce the number of Grand County Commission seats from seven to five, and if they want to remove districts by electing all members at-large. In a lawsuit, plaintiffs asserted these propositions undermined a change of government process already in motion – the study committee recommendation, on the ballot as Proposition 10. Today on the news, we speak with Grand County Attorney Christina Sloan about the ruling, and questions left unanswered.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel! with the Moab Sun News and The Times-Independent, an opportunity to hear first-hand from newspaper reporters and editors about the unique stories they write and beats they cover in this area. First up, TI editor Doug McMurdo highlights surprising sales tax revenue, upcoming Arches Hotspot Committee meetings, and homecoming during the pandemic. Then, MSN editor Maggie McGuire unpacks the latest on a Moab nonprofit branching out their services after a public official in San Juan County raised the issue of ‘rape culture’ in the region’s schools.

Show Notes:

Oct 1 Judge Torgerson Ruling
https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-10-01-Ruling-Order-on-Rule-65B.pdf
Oct 1 Plaintiff Clarification Request
https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020.10.01-Ex-Parte-Motion-for-Clarification-RD.pdf

More Form of Government Coverage –
The Times-Independent: County prevails in form of government lawsuit
https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/county-prevails-in-form-of-government-lawsuit/
Moab Sun News: Judge rules Grand County’s amendments can be on 2020 ballot
https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_cfa440e0-0424-11eb-9e70-131e00bee22a.html
KUER: Grand County Wins Lawsuit, Giving Voters The Option To Keep Current Form of Government
https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2020-10-02/grand-county-wins-lawsuit-giving-voters-the-option-to-keep-current-form-of-government

Weekly News Reel! Mentions –

The Times-Independent: July tourist biz gained on same month in ’19, and had low COVID counts
https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/july-tourist-biz-gained-on-same-month-in-19-and-had-low-covid-counts/
The Times-Independent: Parking solutions – Committee seeks input as it weights funding priorities
https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/parking-solutions-committee-seeks-input-as-it-weighs-funding-priorities/
GCHS Homecoming: Games, parade & dance
https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/gchs-homecoming-games-parade-dance/

Moab Sun News: Addressing ‘rape culture’
https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_1b92d88a-0426-11eb-be6b-272c1514695a.html