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 January 10, 2022
January 10, 2022 19:08 - 10 minutes - 9.75 MBThe Cocopah Indian Tribe has lived along the Colorado River Delta in Arizona for centuries, watching drought and development transform this stretch of the river. Now, there’s an effort aiming to restore this vital waterway. Plus, checking-in with government teachers on how national polarization is playing out in classrooms. And, a new study documents the rising mental health crisis in rural western communities. Show Notes: Photo: Cocopah Cultural Resource Manager Justin Brundin stands at th...
Friday January 7, 2021
January 07, 2022 21:52 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBPresident Biden ordered outfitters operating on federal lands pay their guides a $15 minimum wage. And outfitters aren’t happy, including those here in Moab. There’s even a lawsuit by an industry association to stop the order. Today on the news, we speak with guides about their pay, an outfitter about their costs, and whether our rivers can provide workers with real careers. Plus, the Weekly News Reel where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Doug McMurdo of ...
Friday January 7, 2022
January 07, 2022 21:52 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBPresident Biden ordered outfitters operating on federal lands pay their guides a $15 minimum wage. And outfitters aren’t happy, including those here in Moab. There’s even a lawsuit by an industry association to stop the order. Today on the news, we speak with guides about their pay, an outfitter about their costs, and whether our rivers can provide workers with real careers. Plus, the Weekly News Reel where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Doug McMurdo of ...
Thursday January 6, 2022
January 06, 2022 19:01 - 9 minutes - 8.52 MBThe omicron COVID-19 variant is spreading “kind of like a wildfire right now,” according to Moab Regional Hospital CEO Jen Sadoff. She says we are just at the beginning of a wave here in Moab. Today on the news, we get her perspective about protecting ourselves and others from the virus, and what Utah hospitals are expecting in the coming weeks. Show Notes: COVID-19 Vaccine Information https://www.seuhealth.com/covid-vaccine COVID-19 Testing Information https://mrhmoab.org/covid-19-inform...
Wednesday January 5, 2022
January 05, 2022 19:54 - 10 minutes - 9.58 MBMore evictions are hitting Moab residents this winter. Last month, the owners of a tract of land with 10 occupied trailer homes told families they need to leave by the end of January. The property’s real estate agent says the owners are in the process of selling. But finding housing on short-term notice for local families is proving an immense challenge. Plus, sagebrush habitats are in peril from fires, mining, and oil and gas development. But some areas are now getting help from an unexpecte...
Tuesday January 4, 2022
January 04, 2022 21:37 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBToday on the news, a pinwheel of ‘firsts’ for the New Year in Moab – launching the first reservation system at Arches National Park, the first day back at school without a mask mandate since 2020 and the first day in office for two council members and mayor. Plus, some states are facing water shortages as Colorado River levels have been dropping. But some Navajo Nation members have been living without easy access to water for years. Our radio partners report on the remaining challenges of the...
Monday January 3, 2022
January 03, 2022 19:11 - 9 minutes - 8.35 MBDevelopers on Kane Creek Boulevard said they would work with the people they are forcing from their homes. But one resident is facing eviction this week - with nowhere to go. Today on the news, we speak with Ross High, who doesn’t know where he will be living on Wednesday. And, federal officials are ramping up recovery efforts after a fire destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in Colorado. Plus, the Colorado River Basin is now operating under mandatory cutbacks for some water users and the Biden admin...
Best of 2021 – Welcome to Moab, A Service Story
December 31, 2021 20:57 - 55 minutes - 51 MBOur final ‘Best Of’ KZMU News pick is here! As we look back on another year of grassroots, community-powered journalism, we reflect on our biggest and most ambitious piece yet – ‘Welcome to Moab, A Service Story.’ Lightly narrated, this 45 minute radio special prioritizes the experiences of locals working in Moab’s restaurant industry. Abstract terms like ‘worker shortages’ and ‘the housing crisis’ get deeply personal as interviewees share stories about burnout and mental health, wondering ho...
Best of 2021 - Nursing in Moab
December 31, 2021 00:08 - 10 minutes - 10 MBThis week, KZMU News reflects on another year of grassroots, community powered journalism. Today’s piece first aired earlier this month, profiling how the national nursing shortage combined with the local housing crunch is affecting Moab’s healthcare industry. We gave it a ‘best of’ for uplifting an important subject – rural healthcare. Original Broadcast https://www.kzmu.org/friday-december-10-2021/
Best of 2021 - Short (and Long) Term Solutions at Walnut Lane
December 30, 2021 00:34 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBBest of KZMU News week continues! We’re reflecting on another year of grassroots, community powered journalism. Today’s featured story first aired in October, not only on KZMU but on community radio stations across our region as part of a collaboration between the Solutions Journalism Network and Rocky Mountain Community Radio. We gave it a ‘best of’ for its collaborative approach, and for trying something new (to us) - digging into a response to a problem, aka solutions journalism. Origina...
Best of 2021 - Kane Creek Displacement
December 28, 2021 19:00 - 9 minutes - 8.67 MBThis week, KZMU News reflects on another year of grassroots, community powered journalism. Today’s featured piece first aired in October, after we learned that residents along Kane Creek Boulevard were facing evictions due to future development. We gave it a ‘best of’ for its straightforward approach - prioritizing local voices directly affected by this situation. Original Broadcast https://www.kzmu.org/facing-eviction-along-kane-creek-road-locals-worry-over-housing-options/ Close-knit ‘Ch...
Best of 2021 - Thoughts from a Pack Creek Area Resident
December 27, 2021 18:44 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBIt's Best of KZMU News week! We're reflecting on another year of grassroots, community powered journalism by airing some of our favorite stories of 2021. Today’s piece first aired in June, shortly after a fire broke out in the Pack Creek day use area. It’s a pretty raw interview, an extended conversation with a Pack Creek local who shares their experience watching the fire grow into the mountains. We gave it a ‘best of’ for its community radio power – locals informing locals during a difficul...
Wednesday December 22, 2021
December 22, 2021 19:00 - 10 minutes - 9.69 MBFor nearly a century, Colorado’s North Fork Valley relied on coal for high-paying jobs and a thriving economy. But as mines close their doors, they leave behind a troubling legacy: leaking methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is about 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and global leaders are taking it seriously. One entrepreneur is a step ahead, using his business to address methane emissions while also tackling other environmental problems. Plus, more and more people headed into ...
Tuesday December 21, 2021
December 21, 2021 22:44 - 9 minutes - 8.6 MBOver the weekend, Davina Smith rode on horseback to a spot in Monument Valley where her family buried her umbilical cord, a Navajo tradition tying her to the area. It’s that area she hopes to serve in Utah’s House of Representatives. Smith recently announced her candidacy for Utah’s newly redrawn House District 69, which includes all of San Juan and Grand Counties. Plus, Moab City recently updated their water conservation plan, outlining action items to achieve regional water goals. The plan ...
Monday December 20, 2021
December 21, 2021 00:14 - 10 minutes - 9.68 MBUtah ranks near the bottom for school nurse to student ratios. Today on the news, we speak with the only nurse in the Grand County School District about her work and why it’s so important. Plus, archaeologists found a monument at a Utah internment camp that imprisoned Japanese Americans. The prisoners there built it for a man killed by a guard. But earlier this year, the Topaz Museum removed it with a forklift before informing the former prisoners and their descendants. Our radio partners rep...
Friday December 17, 2021
December 17, 2021 19:54 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBToday on the news, an interview with activist Hy Thurman, who helped found Chicago’s Young Patriots Organization in 1968. The organization fought for affordable housing and health care, and later joined with the Black Panther Party and Young Lords to form the Rainbow Coalition, an influential multi-racial network. As labor issues heat up around the country, Thurman shares some lessons for rural areas like Southeastern Utah. Plus, the Weekly News Reel where we discuss stories about the Moab a...
Thursday December 16, 2021
December 16, 2021 21:52 - 9 minutes - 8.25 MBAfter staff condemned the Pack Creek footbridge behind the Episcopal Church earlier this year, the city council has decided to fund its replacement. The bridge is used by local bicyclists and pedestrians as a shortcut from Kane Creek Boulevard to Main Street. Replacing the bridge to modern standards will take time and an estimated $300,000. Plus, the state of Colorado reached a $1.6 million settlement this week related to the Gold King Mine spill. And, federal law enforcement arrested a Tellu...
Wednesday December 15, 2021
December 15, 2021 21:12 - 8 minutes - 7.78 MBIn just a few weeks, Moab’s new mayor and two new city council members will assume their offices. Today on the news, we check in with Moab’s mayor elect Joette Langianese as she prepares for her new role in the community. Langianese discusses why she decided to run for mayor, and outlines her priorities during her first few months in office, which include stabilizing city hall and supporting workforce housing. Show Notes: Photo: Moab’s mayor elect Joette Langianese will assume office on Jan...
Tuesday December 14, 2021
December 14, 2021 23:08 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MBAcross the nation, almost half of tribal homes don’t have steady access to clean drinking water. The Colorado River Basin is home to many of those, where families depend on bottled water, trucked in from faraway cities. And as our radio partners report, even in the few communities that have seen substantive improvements, the road to getting clean water is lined with hurdles. Plus, what will be the country’s largest wind farm is being stalled by a federal agency. Show Notes: Photo: Frank Pa...
Monday December 13, 2021
December 13, 2021 19:40 - 9 minutes - 8.55 MBGoing to Arches National Park next year? Don’t forget your ticket. National Park Service staff recently released details on the timed entry reservation system running April through October in 2022. The NPS hopes to reduce overcrowding – and the strain on park resources – caused by increasing visitation. Plus, the EPA has ruled the White Mesa Mill in San Juan County can no longer accept radioactive waste from Superfund sites. KZMU News speaks with a lawyer who fought for this decision. And, so...
Friday December 10, 2021
December 10, 2021 20:10 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBAn aging workforce, burnout from the pandemic, and more competitive salaries elsewhere are contributing to a shortage of nurses in rural areas like Moab. And here, a lack of housing is preventing hiring from outside the community. Today on the news, a report on this trend and its impact on local healthcare. Plus, a town in our region is hoping to ease the housing crunch by purchasing a hotel and converting it into apartment units. And later, the Weekly News Reel, where we check in with repo...
Thursday December 9, 2021
December 09, 2021 19:33 - 10 minutes - 9.82 MBA recent investigation by High Country News found that the National Park Service buried an internal report that documented widespread harassment within the agency. The Voices Tour Report was completed in 2018 but kept quiet until a parks employee leaked a copy in early November. Our partners at KHOL spoke to reporter Lyndsey Gilpin, who broke the story, to learn more about her reporting and the lack of major changes within the park service thus far. Show Notes: Photo: More than a third of N...
Wednesday December 8, 2021
December 08, 2021 19:00 - 9 minutes - 8.6 MBAvalanche forecaster Eric Trenbeath hopes skiers and snowmobilers headed into the backcountry will pack some knowledge this season. That’s because weak snow layers are once again likely to plague winter recreation, increasing avalanche risk in certain areas. And later, our radio partners report on how some service providers are attempting to curb chronic homelessness by offering housing - without conditions. Show Notes: Photo: Weakened snowpack in the La Sal Mountains will likely plague wi...
Tuesday December 7, 2021
December 07, 2021 19:26 - 8 minutes - 7.67 MBWhat does fish food have in common with methane flaring? More than you’d think, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. Today on the news, a researcher has a novel use for methane in our state. Plus, Utah was ranked the worst in the nation for women’s equality four years in a row. Now USU’s Women & Leadership Project has recommendations to improve women’s equality statewide. And, environmental groups are calling on Colorado River states to tighten their belts as they discuss...
Monday December 6, 2021
December 06, 2021 18:51 - 8 minutes - 7.66 MBMany towns in our region are under pressure to enact solutions to the affordable housing crisis. But how might college life fit into this particular puzzle? Today on the news, a report on Durango’s Fort Lewis College, where both student and workforce housing is strained. Plus, snowpack numbers in every part of the Colorado River basin are lower than average for this time of year. And, Utah healthcare reform advocates are pressing the US Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act to improve M...
Friday December 3, 2021
December 03, 2021 20:39 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBUtah State University recently celebrated the construction of a traditional Hogan at its Blanding campus, where nearly 70 percent of students are Native American. The Hogan will be used by students as a place to practice traditional ceremonies and find peace and meditation. Today on the news, a report on the structure’s importance for the college and the community. Plus, a Home of the Brave artist shares some of their musical creations during their residency in Cisco. And, the Weekly News Re...
Thursday December 2, 2021
December 02, 2021 19:14 - 9 minutes - 8.29 MBAfter months of delay, work has finally begun on the first affordable homes in the Arroyo Crossing development. The 40-acre parcel off Spanish Valley Drive will eventually house a mix of single family, townhomes, and apartments – all deed restricted and perpetually affordable to locals. Today on the news, we check in with Audrey Graham, chair of the Moab Area Community Land Trust board, about the project. Plus, an important national voter registration document will be available for the first ...
Wednesday December 1, 2021
December 01, 2021 20:59 - 10 minutes - 9.29 MBAs the price for goods increases around the country, rural Americans have been hit especially hard. Today on the news, we visit with local farmers and ranchers about how the combination of drought, COVID shortages, and commodity rallies have impacted them. Plus, our radio partners report on how the only shelter for people experiencing homelessness in the Cortez area fits into the complicated housing crisis. Show Notes: Photo: Cunnington Farms is a local sheep ranch, whose owner says feedin...
Tuesday November 30, 2021
November 30, 2021 21:28 - 9 minutes - 8.67 MBA surge of people visited Arches National Park during the Thanksgiving holiday week. This visitation coincided with an increase in hand-drawn graffiti along the trail to Balanced Rock. Today on the news, we check in with park staff who say graffiti and vandalism at Arches is a constant challenge. And, when the town of Crested Butte declared a housing emergency last summer, it opened the door to new and unique solutions. The first action item on the list was to purchase a local bed and breakfa...
Monday November 29, 2021
November 29, 2021 21:44 - 10 minutes - 9.7 MBThe era of large-scale uranium mining around Moab is over for now. But there is still a market for the ore on a much smaller scale. Today on the news, a conversation with modern-day prospectors about who’s buying their radioactive wares. And, two scientists tracking the numbers on drought share thoughts on dryness in the Colorado River Basin. Plus, one Native American tribe is proposing a novel solution to combat climate change. Show Notes: Photo: Zack Slizewski sifts through rocks near Mo...
Welcome to Moab - A Service Story
November 26, 2021 23:51 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBIt’s a KZMU radio special! Welcome to Moab - A Service Story. On today’s menu is the housing crisis served with a side of worker shortages. Comes with free burnout. It’s clear that the housing crisis turned worker shortage is threatening to gut employment sectors at every level in Moab. In this special, we zero in on our local restaurants, arguably the most public-facing businesses in our service industry. You’ll hear from restaurant employees across different types of eateries talk about th...
Thursday November 25, 2021
November 25, 2021 19:51 - 10 minutes - 9.18 MBThe Grand County Local Homeless Council is launching Project SOL (Safe Outdoor Living) this holiday season. The project will serve as a repository of supplies aimed at making people experiencing homelessness safer and slightly more comfortable, like sleeping pads, campstoves, and grocery gift cards. Today on the news, we speak with a representative from the homeless council who says homelessness in Grand County is very complex and very real. Plus, this weekend marks the official start of the ...
Wednesday November 24, 2021
November 24, 2021 21:12 - 9 minutes - 8.66 MBLabor shortages and supply chain issues have caused inflation across the country, hitting meat products hard. Today on the news, we speak with a local butcher who’s feeling the pinch. And, the Great Salt Lake continues to shrink but online maps have been slow to catch up. A new effort aims to raise awareness of declining lake levels. Plus, dozens of natural landmarks bear the names that highlight our nation’s racist history. There are signs of change, but government action can be slow. Show...
Tuesday November 23, 2021
November 23, 2021 21:46 - 9 minutes - 9.04 MBDocumentary filmmakers have spent over ten years following a changing community on the Utah-Arizona border, once governed by the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-day Saints. Today on the news, a conversation with the makers of the soon-to-be-released film ‘Keep Sweet.’ They speak about the lessons they learned from reporting in a divided community. Plus, a new multimillion-dollar road improvement project has been approved by the Navajo Nation Council. And, our radio partners report on ‘eco-anx...
Monday November 22, 2021
November 22, 2021 23:04 - 9 minutes - 8.89 MBOrganizations say collaboration is key to the ongoing Pack Creek Fire recovery work. Just last week dozens of volunteers gathered to help the Forest Service and Rim to Rim Restoration hand-seed native grasses and wildflowers in burned areas of the Pack Creek watershed. And, a workshop last month reflected on how coordination helped the initial response to the fire and managing its aftermath. Plus, with rents at mobile home parks rising across the West, some residents are taking matters into t...
Friday November 19, 2021
November 19, 2021 19:38 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBThe group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility says the Bureau of Land Management ignores damage to public lands caused by overgrazing. They say some 40 million acres fail to meet the federal agency's own health standards for water and vegetation. While wild horses contribute to habitat degradation, they’re pointing out another culprit – livestock. Plus, an Indigenous protestor awaits sentencing over a 2020 border wall demonstration. And, supply chain issues are impacting the ava...
Thursday November 18, 2021
November 18, 2021 20:42 - 8 minutes - 8.14 MBPresident Joe Biden recently signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill into law. This legislation includes funds for Utah and the Navajo Nation, where many residents currently lack running water. Plus, a one-vote margin is triggering a recount for Moab’s city council race. And, a Wyoming city hopes a new nuclear plant can ease their transition away from coal. Show Notes: Photo: Boundary marker of the Navajo Nation near Cameron, Arizona. New federal funding provides more than $200 million ...
Wednesday November 17, 2021
November 17, 2021 22:51 - 9 minutes - 8.34 MBGovernor Spencer Cox approved the state Legislature’s new election boundaries, signing into law state house and state senate districts. But it was the approval of new congressional districts that drew the most pushback from the public. And, Grand County’s commission plans to decide new local election district boundaries before the end of the year. Plus, today the humpback chub moves from an endangered species to a threatened species. And, our radio partners profile some unique research helpin...
Little Newscast Break!
November 11, 2021 18:03 - 51 seconds - 802 KBHi 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
Wednesday November 10, 2021
November 10, 2021 18:04 - 9 minutes - 8.48 MBIn 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...
Tuesday November 9, 2021
November 09, 2021 23:17 - 9 minutes - 8.42 MBThere 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 fe...
Monday November 8, 2021
November 08, 2021 20:08 - 8 minutes - 8.21 MBAll 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 ...
Friday November 5, 2021
November 05, 2021 19:03 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBGrand 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 Proje...
Thursday November 4, 2021
November 04, 2021 17:44 - 9 minutes - 8.9 MBWildlife 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 is...
Tuesday November 3, 2021
November 03, 2021 18:23 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBPreliminary 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 L...
Tuesday November 2, 2021
November 02, 2021 20:35 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MBA 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 st...
Monday November 1, 2021
November 01, 2021 20:27 - 10 minutes - 10 MBSince 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 d...
Friday October 29, 2021
October 29, 2021 21:46 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBFor 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 Mo...
Thursday October 28, 2021
October 28, 2021 22:04 - 8 minutes - 8.14 MBWhen a trailer park housing low-income residents went up for sale in downtown Moab, local elected officials worried it would get bulldozed for a new hotel. So, the city bought it. Today on the news, a report on Moab’s ongoing plans to safeguard workforce housing and develop affordable apartments at Walnut Lane. Show Notes: Photo: Trailer homes in the Walnut Lane neighborhood. Moab City says there are a total of 27 trailers in the park, all fabricated before 1976. Walnut Lane Apartments...
Wednesday October 27, 2021
October 27, 2021 21:21 - 9 minutes - 8.99 MBToday on the news, COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available for several eligible groups in Grand County. And, western states are suffering from a lethal surge in overdoses of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Plus, our radio partners have a profile on how one community collaboration created the first net-zero affordable housing project in Colorado. Show Notes: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Info: For individuals who received a Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eli...