KZMU News
1,411 episodes - English - Latest episode: 17 days ago - ★★★★★ - 25 ratingsKZMU News features grassroots, independent journalism broadcast from the heart of Moab, Utah. A daily newscast with reliable coverage, local voices, and reporting that empowers community.
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Episodes
Monday March 21, 2022
March 21, 2022 19:50 - 7 minutes - 7.19 MBThe Russian invasion of Ukraine is having ripple effects across the globe, including the rural West. Natasha Erlandson and her husband Todd live in Southwest Colorado, but the two met years ago in Ukraine. And until just a few days ago, Natasha’s parents still lived there. But they had to escape their hometown and make their way across eastern Europe by car - as refugees. Now, her parents are preparing for the last leg of their journey - a flight to America, and eventually living in Cortez. T...
Friday March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022 18:36 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBA new report from the Grand Canyon Trust calls the White Mesa Mill outside of Blanding “America’s cheapest radioactive waste dump.” The environmental group and representatives of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe want the mill to be regulated like one. Plus, seven young Utahns filed a lawsuit this week against the state because of its policies related to fossil fuel development. And, researchers in our region have developed a remote-control robot that can alert safety inspectors of potential rocksli...
Thursday March 17, 2022
March 17, 2022 19:46 - 9 minutes - 8.5 MBThis week, Lake Powell dipped below its target elevation. With only 35 more feet before the Glen Canyon Dam stops generating hydropower, some locals are placing bets on the date these turbines will cease to work. Today on the news, we hear from two ‘heralds of the aridification of the desert Southwest’ on this predicted situation and what might come next. // Show Notes // Photo: The Glen Canyon Dam. Lake Powell dipped below its target elevation this week. The Bureau of Reclamation is expec...
Wednesday March 16, 2022
March 16, 2022 19:35 - 8 minutes - 7.72 MBThis month local and national organizations are helping to reduce fire risk around Moab. It’s called ‘Operation Slickrock’ and covers areas from the Slackline Park to Pack Creek. Today on the news, we visit a site to learn more about this important work and the people doing it. Plus, a resort industry giant will increase its minimum wage across its prosperities in the West. And, a report on Equal Pay Day, representing how far into 2022 women would have to work to make what men did on average ...
Tuesday March 15, 2022
March 15, 2022 22:15 - 10 minutes - 9.23 MBMore high-density housing is likely coming to Moab. The city’s planning commission has conditionally approved plans for an 80-unit apartment complex off 200 South. But the construction would displace current residents. Today on the news, a report on Moab’s continued growing pains. Plus, a Utah wolverine is now wearing a GPS collar for the first time in state history. Utah wildlife experts are ‘ecstatic’ about this opportunity to collect data on a famously elusive animal. // Show Notes // P...
Monday March 14, 2022
March 14, 2022 20:52 - 10 minutes - 9.56 MBThe Seven County Infrastructure Coalition will stop their environmental planning process for a controversial highway through the Book Cliffs – for now. Some see this turn of events as a victory and a window to set up permanent protections for the Book Cliffs region. Plus, Utah is taking new action to reduce the death of wildlife due to roads and highways. And, our partners have an audio postcard on nonagenarians Rex and JoAnn Coffman who recently sold their ranch to a Colorado land trust for ...
Friday March 11, 2022
March 11, 2022 20:54 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MB4Corners K-9 Search and Rescue is the latest organization helping Native families find missing loved ones. They operate mostly in the Navajo Nation where resources for rescue are spare. Today on the news, we speak with founder Bernadine Beyale about what she and her two dogs find in the deserts of this region. Plus, young people from tribes linked to the Grand Canyon can spend a week rafting down the Colorado River this summer. And, critics of a new reservoir taking shape in the Colorado Rive...
Thursday March 10, 2022
March 10, 2022 20:24 - 10 minutes - 9.38 MBThe city council will explore yet another option for creating workforce housing at Walnut Lane – a public-private partnership. Over the last few years, this development has run into some snags, and at least one council member is skeptical of being able to bring it to fruition. But today on the news, we speak to council member Luke Wojciechowski, who appealed to his colleagues this week to maintain the development for essential members of the Moab community. // Show Notes // 3/8/22 Walnut L...
Wednesday March 9, 2022
March 09, 2022 21:12 - 8 minutes - 7.69 MBLooking to include your dog in your mountain biking? There’s a growing sport that could be for you. Called bikejor, it’s like dog sledding without the snow. Today on the news, we visit the country’s first-ever singletrack bikejor race here in Moab. Plus, the Moab City Council is refining an ordinance that would require developers incorporate workforce housing in new multifamily developments. They’re under pressure to finish the ordinance as more high-end development threatens existing residen...
Tuesday March 8, 2022
March 08, 2022 22:04 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBRural Utah now has more than natural scenery to attract big film productions to the area. For the next two years, they have a new financial tool. Film productions can now receive a rebate if they produce 75 percent of their project in a rural county. According to state film industry reps, that means big productions – like Kevin Costner’s civil-war era project – will likely come to rural Utah. Plus, reverberations from Russia's invasion of Ukraine are being felt around the world, even the rura...
Monday March 7, 2022
March 07, 2022 20:56 - 10 minutes - 10.1 MBMany popular outdoors communities in the West are facing a housing crisis. Soaring prices and a limited housing stock can make finding a place to call home difficult. But as our partners at KOTO report, the town of Telluride, Colorado is trying something new – RV parking. Plus, winter is a critical window for water in the West, and the way we understand snow totals is changing. // Show Notes // Photo: Simon Perkovich is living in Telluride’s Town Park as part of a pilot program to provide R...
Friday March 4, 2022
March 04, 2022 21:24 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBAround the country, Native groups and supporters have joined prayer runs to raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous people. A multi-day run over hundreds of miles ended last weekend in San Juan County. Today on the news, we speak with participants about the crisis. Plus, state lawmakers approved a bill blocking local government from specially regulating ATV-related businesses. The moves comes as Moab-based ATV companies begin litigation against Grand County for its noise ordinance...
Thursday March 3, 2022
March 03, 2022 20:55 - 9 minutes - 8.52 MBOn the south end of town, an old Volkswagen Beetle has a new paint job. Sunflowers and roses – favorites of Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner – memorialize the couple, whose deaths in the La Sal Mountains last summer are still unsolved. Visible from Highway 191, the painted VW is linked to another effort to draw attention to the case – a future billboard. Plus, a recent study finds sandstone towers and fins resonate much like beams in buildings. // Show Notes // Photo: Sunflowers and rose...
Wednesday March 2, 2022
March 02, 2022 18:51 - 10 minutes - 9.78 MBA late-stage amendment to HB 146 would prohibit Grand County and Moab City from regulating ATV-related businesses. For weeks, the county’s elected officials have warned that this amendment might appear, which they say directly targets the Moab community. If passed as written, the legislation would essentially strip all local 2021 ordinances related to ATV businesses, including requirements related to noise. Today on the news, we speak with county attorney Christina Sloan, who is fighting this...
Tuesday March 1, 2022
March 01, 2022 20:30 - 9 minutes - 9.14 MBThe sculptor Ekaterina Tatarovich uses every material she can from her rustic workshop in old La Sal. And she hopes to one day turn her studio into an artist retreat for those interested in learning sculpting. For our latest audio portrait we hear her journey as an artist, from escaping the Soviet Union to working in Moab. // Show Notes // Photo: Sculptor Ekaterina Tatarovich in her workshop. She hopes to one day turn her studio into an artist retreat for those interested in learning sculp...
Monday February 28, 2022
February 28, 2022 20:36 - 9 minutes - 9.11 MBAfter a lot of public feedback, two noise demonstrations and a more accurate financial outlook, the Moab City Council is backing off from building pickleball courts at Old City Park. Said first-term mayor Joette Langianese, “I never thought in my wildest dreams that the first controversial issue that we'd be dealing with was pickleball.” Plus, a bill that would have eliminated Utah’s vote by mail system failed in committee last week. And, a new initiative in the Colorado Legislature would shi...
Friday February 25, 2022
February 25, 2022 19:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MB‘Let’s put the play in radio play.’ That’s been the unofficial motto of KZMU station manager Serah Mead as she created the concept for this year’s Radio Play Festival. It’s something new the station is trying for its 30th anniversary. Today on the news, we learn more about this effort to increase accessibility to the fun, quirky and artistic medium of radio. // And the Weekly News Reel, where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Doug McMurdo and Sophia Fisher ...
Thursday February 24, 2022
February 24, 2022 19:56 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBA local mining company is looking to recover a copper deposit in the Lisbon Valley. But they need to pump chemicals through an aquifer to do it, and those living above the groundwater are opposed to this method. A public comment period for the company’s proposal ended earlier this month. Today on the news, we visit a resident in the area to talk about what's at stake. Plus, the Ute Mountain Ute tribe is moving towards an economy driven by renewable energy production after historically relying...
Wednesday February 23, 2022
February 23, 2022 21:13 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBLocal climbers are working on restoring several handholds in the Big Bend Bouldering Area after a petroleum-based grease was smeared into them. “Someone…literally smeared it like you would spread cream cheese on a bagel over these holds,” said Friends of Indian Creek board member Lisa Hathaway. The group and others are carefully working on restoring the fragile sandstone sites. The BLM is currently offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the identification of those responsible for th...
Tuesday February 22, 2022
February 22, 2022 22:49 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBGrand County is testing all ATV-related rental and guiding businesses for noise ordinance compliance before the busy spring tourism season. Noise testing is part of a suite of requirements for ATV and UTV-related businesses that local government enacted last year. At a recent noise testing event, county staff interacted with owners and made recommendations on modifications that could make their vehicles quieter. Plus, a new report shows the impact of ‘speculative’ oil and gas leasing on wilde...
Monday February 21, 2022
February 21, 2022 21:46 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBDuring the height of the pandemic, Pete Sands was delivering essential goods to households across the Navajo Nation when he started noticing something – older people asking for translation help. “The elders would ask me, ‘do you speak Navajo? I can’t talk to my grandkids because the language isn’t there,’” he said. “People kept coming to me, [saying] ‘you got to save the language somehow – you’ve got to help somehow.’” After this experience, Sands is now producing a children’s show called Nav...
Friday February 18, 2022
February 18, 2022 19:44 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBSarah Fields is an expert in uranium. From her base in Moab, she's researched all things radioactive in Utah since 2006. Her one-woman organization Uranium Watch fights for environmental protection and clean-up around the region. “These were things that were affecting my life, affecting my family, affecting my community. And I just found I started learning about one thing and then I learned about something else,” says Fields. “…And it's been a big center of my life for several years.” Today o...
Thursday February 17, 2022
February 17, 2022 20:49 - 9 minutes - 8.77 MBThe Navajo Nation has roughly 250 police officers for some 27,000 square miles – an area slightly larger than West Virginia. Jurisdictional constraints for county police also mean that many on the reservation cannot depend on a speedy response to crime. In November 2021, Utah’s Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force heard tribal residents’ concerns over a lack of law enforcement. Today on the news, we visit areas within the Navajo Nation in southern Utah to hear about the ...
Wednesday February 16, 2022
February 16, 2022 21:39 - 9 minutes - 8.25 MBOn a windy day at Old City Park, Moab’s pickleball players demonstrated the sport for a large group of onlookers. A combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong, pickleball is played with a hard paddle and a plastic ball. That combination emits a noise that some community members are concerned is too loud for the atmosphere of the park, where the city is considering building courts. Said one pickleball player of the recent concerns, “we just want [courts] somewhere.” Plus, the new Amache Na...
Tuesday February 15, 2022
February 15, 2022 21:26 - 8 minutes - 7.95 MBRiver guides working on federal lands this coming season will receive a $15 minimum wage with overtime after a federal judge denied a request by outfitters that they be exempted from the rule. Today on the news, we hear from the executive director of a foundation providing counseling and scholarships to river guides about this ruling. And, a new bill seeks to end mail-in ballots and drop-off collection boxes in Utah. Critics say the measure is aimed at political organizers. Plus, grazing fees...
Monday February 14, 2022
February 14, 2022 21:14 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBA bill aiming to incentivize film production in rural communities has made it out of committee. Advocates are vying to bring feature films – and their money – to rural areas. Utah currently has film incentives, but most are used for productions on the Wasatch Front. Plus, Crested Butte, Colorado residents want their local government to be a leader in climate change resilience. But as our radio partners report, some residents were not happy with the purchase of a new electric vehicle for the l...
Friday February 11, 2022
February 11, 2022 21:21 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBThe northern skies of the Navajo Nation are clearer after the closure of the coal-powered Navajo Generating Station. But the region lost jobs and tax revenue. A proposed pumped storage hydropower plant that uses the generating station’s transmission lines could bring back revenue and thousands of jobs. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a preliminary permit for the project last year, but it’s still early days. Today on the news, a report on the legacy of coal-fired power on the N...
Thursday February 10, 2022
February 10, 2022 20:51 - 10 minutes - 9.18 MBThe Aneth Point Downs racetrack is a focal point for communities in southeastern Utah. “That’s pretty much what I do,” said horse trainer Broderick Lee, who was raised on the track. “As soon as I get off work, I come to the horse corral and start tying them up, grooming them, getting them ready to go exercise. And that's how I grew up – loving horses and everything.” Lee spoke to KZMU News for our latest audio portrait. Plus, after their regional paleontologist assessed the Mill Canyon Dinosa...
Wednesday February 9, 2022
February 09, 2022 22:31 - 10 minutes - 9.92 MBMoab-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’ th...
Tuesday February 8, 2022
February 08, 2022 21:32 - 10 minutes - 9.94 MBThe 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, Colora...
Monday February 7, 2022
February 07, 2022 21:06 - 10 minutes - 9.87 MBThompson 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 partner...
Friday February 4, 2022
February 04, 2022 20:06 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBOn 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...
Thursday February 3, 2022
February 03, 2022 21:03 - 9 minutes - 8.33 MBThe 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 observ...
Wednesday February 2, 2022
February 02, 2022 20:07 - 10 minutes - 9.92 MBThe 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 m...
Tuesday February 1, 2022
February 01, 2022 20:33 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBPaleontology 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...
Monday January 31, 2022
January 31, 2022 21:07 - 8 minutes - 7.99 MBIt’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 g...
Friday January 28, 2022
January 28, 2022 21:10 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBLast 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 // /...
Thursday January 27, 2022
January 27, 2022 20:00 - 9 minutes - 9 MBLiving 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 a...
Wednesday January 26, 2022
January 26, 2022 22:44 - 10 minutes - 9.45 MBUtahns can now send in their own designs and ideas for a new state flag. The redesign process aims to engage many diverse perspectives from all corners of the state. Today on the news, we dig into flag design and how a good one can spark a positive feedback loop between the flag and the people and place it represents. Show Notes: Photo: Utah’s state flag is known in flag communities as a ‘seal on a blue background.’ Lawmakers want to find a more distinctive design that could better represe...
Tuesday January 25, 2022
January 25, 2022 19:55 - 9 minutes - 8.75 MBIt’s often low-key and relaxed in downtown Moab on a winter afternoon. It can be so low-key and relaxed, that you might even notice a little music. It’s coming from Talan Wilhelm, playing his recorder in a few select spots. Today on the news, an audio portrait featuring Wilhelm and his musical ambiance. Plus, the Department of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management is turning their focus to abandoned uranium mines on tribal land. They are studying defense-related mines used for the U.S. nuclear...
Monday January 24, 2022
January 24, 2022 20:04 - 9 minutes - 8.56 MBIt’s been five months since Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte were found murdered outside of Moab. The community continues to grieve and look for answers. Over the weekend people gathered to see a sculpture dedicated to the couple. Plus, as the Biden Administration aims to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and combat climate change, many of the battles between conservationists and business interests are being waged over federal land across the vast Mountain West. Our radio partner...
Friday January 21, 2022
January 21, 2022 20:40 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MBCompanies have proposed a wave of glamping developments in Grand and San Juan County. Is it camping gentrification or increasing access to the outdoors? Today on the news, a report on the benefits and potential costs of these upscale options. And, mining has been an economic driver in the West since the late 1800s. But when a Southwest Colorado mine and power plant closed in in 2017, a number of communities were forced to reimagine a new economic future. Plus, the Weekly News Reel, where we ...
Thursday January 20, 2022
January 20, 2022 20:48 - 9 minutes - 8.7 MBAccording to local homeless council data, over 50 people actively receive services related to homelessness and housing instability each month in Moab. A local crisis response rep calls this a public health crisis that needs community-wide solutions. Plus, the Ute Mountain Ute tribe of Southwest Colorado is turning to solar generation to provide cheap electricity for its members and infrastructure. But the tribe also has solar ambitions that go beyond the community level. As our radio partners...
Wednesday January 19, 2022
January 19, 2022 21:53 - 10 minutes - 9.51 MBAt a White House press conference yesterday, infrastructure czar Mitch Landrieu said the Biden administration would focus on plugging abandoned oil and gas wells across the country. But one issue is finding out just how many of these abandoned wells exist. Today on the news, a report on how many orphaned wells Utah might have. And, on opening day of the 2022 Utah Legislative session, leadership outlined key focus areas including education, water, and maintaining ‘the Utah way.’ Plus, our radi...
Tuesday January 18, 2022
January 18, 2022 19:39 - 9 minutes - 8.42 MBA report on Moab Police Department’s response to a domestic abuse incident between Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie found officers made ‘several unintentional mistakes.’ After a search that captivated the country, Petito was later found dead in Wyoming, causing many to wonder if the tragedy could have been prevented here in Moab. Today on the news, we speak with an expert in domestic violence. Plus, the police department is looking to upgrade their equipment, including tech for body worn camer...
Monday January 17, 2022
January 17, 2022 19:37 - 9 minutes - 8.82 MBThis year, a group of mountain climbers hopes to make history as the first all-Black team to summit Mt. Everest. Known as Full Circle Everest, the team says they want to inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and mountaineers of color ‘to continue chasing their personal summits.’ Today on the news, our radio partners speak with team leader and southwest Colorado resident Phil Henderson about this historic planned ascent of the world’s highest mountain. Show Notes: Photo: The Fu...
Friday January 14, 2022
January 14, 2022 20:01 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBUtah is the fastest-growing and second-driest state in the country. We also have one of the nation’s highest per-capita rates of water use. According to a recent investigation by ProPublica, officials often push for costly new infrastructure over conservation. Today on the news, we speak with the author of that investigative report. Plus, a national and global effort to conserve 30% of public land and water by 2030 has a new, broad coalition of supporters in Utah. They say Utahans are directl...
Thursday January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022 20:12 - 10 minutes - 9.96 MBIn their first meeting of the year, the newly seated city council and mayor discussed a big question – how proceed on the Walnut Lane housing development. Council members voiced their commitment to making the project work in spite of ongoing challenges. Recent evictions in the Moab area peppered some urgency into this conversation. Plus, the state Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force is investigating high crime rates in San Juan County. In Utah, Native Americans are vict...
Wednesday January 12, 2022
January 12, 2022 20:13 - 8 minutes - 7.37 MBMoab’s affordable housing shortage is well known, but there’s another real estate-related crunch in the area – storage space. Today on the news, we speak with an owner of a local storage business about wait times and the disappearance of a ‘storage off-season.’ Plus, Seekhaven Family Crisis & Resource Center recently released a survey aimed at getting better data on sexual harassment in the local outdoor recreation and tourism industry. Staff says it’s a part of a strategy to make the local t...
Tuesday January 11, 2022
January 11, 2022 22:26 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBAs omicron spreads, some Utah counties are enacting mask mandates for public spaces – including schools. Today on the news, a conversation with the Southeast Utah health officer on why mask mandates are likely not happening in Grand County. Plus, coal-producing Emery County is one of the only regions in Utah to have seen a drop in population in the last decade. A new research facility wants to bring back revenue and jobs by experimenting with a number of new technologies. That includes a nucl...