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
Thursday August 19, 2021
August 19, 2021 18:56 - 8 minutes - 7.85 MBThe Moab community is remembering the lives of local couple who were found deceased in the La Sal Mountains after being reported missing for several days by friends and family members. Local coworkers and friends of Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte describe feeling shocked and devastated to lose what they describe as a ‘joyful, shining lights.’ Plus, masks are mandatory for Grand’s elementary school students, who return to school today. And, the USFS releases its plan for nearby national fore...
Wednesday August 18, 2021
August 18, 2021 18:15 - 8 minutes - 7.68 MBThe prospective candidates for mayor and city council are in…and there’s a lot of them. Seven candidates will vie for the mayoral seat, and six candidates for the two open council seats in a new ranked choice voting system. Current mayor Emily Niehaus and council members Mike Duncan and Karen Guzman-Newton are not seeking reelection. Plus, for the first time in history, the Bureau of Reclamation declared a water shortage for the lower Colorado River Basin. And, how one southwest Colorado comm...
Tuesday August 17, 2021
August 17, 2021 19:44 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBGrand County’s head of economic development and tourism is moving on – to San Juan County. Elaine Gizler says she wants to help build a responsible recreation economy in San Juan, an area that she says is looking for more opportunity. In an interview with KZMU’s Ashley Bunton, we hear Gizler’s thoughts on her new position and her time in Grand County – including the ‘turning point’ that spurred her office to focus on sustainability messaging. Show Notes: Grand County Employment: Economic D...
Monday August 16, 2021
August 16, 2021 20:13 - 9 minutes - 8.26 MBIf you live on the west side of town, chances are your state representative is different from your friend's living near Spanish Valley Drive. This split is even more pronounced in the Holyoak neighborhood, where the dividing line of Duschene Avenue separates voting districts. And Grand’s commission is tired of this. As the Utah legislature embarks on a statewide redistricting process, local elected officials are asking that Moab become whole – and retain its voting power. Plus, recent census ...
Little News Break - We're Back on August 16th!
August 09, 2021 16:00 - 1 minute - 958 KBHey there listeners - KZMU News is taking a short midsummer reporting break for catch-up and future planning. Regular coverage will resume August 16th. We appreciate your support keeping this small and mighty news department going! Thanks, as always, for listening.
Friday August 8, 2021
August 06, 2021 18:58 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBThe Matheson Wetlands Preserve is a unique ecosystem in the Moab valley - a marshy, riparian zone home to an estimated 200 species of birds, amphibians, and mammals. The nearly 900 acres of wetlands are co-managed by The Nature Conservancy and Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources. Today on the news, reporter Nathan Wynn takes a walk with the conservancy’s Linda Whitham, who oversees the wetlands. She gives us an audio tour of the preserve, it’s history, and her outlook on the challenges of i...
Friday August 6, 2021
August 06, 2021 18:58 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBThe Matheson Wetlands Preserve is a unique ecosystem in the Moab valley - a marshy, riparian zone home to an estimated 200 species of birds, amphibians, and mammals. The nearly 900 acres of wetlands are co-managed by The Nature Conservancy and Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources. Today on the news, reporter Nathan Wynn takes a walk with the conservancy’s Linda Whitham, who oversees the wetlands. She gives us an audio tour of the preserve, it’s history, and her outlook on the challenges of i...
Thursday August 5, 2021
August 05, 2021 21:16 - 8 minutes - 8.16 MBMoab City's elected officials are considering raising the property tax rate from zero for the first time in 30 years, citing future infrastructure projects and law enforcement staffing needs. And last night during a public hearing, Moab residents had an opportunity to tell those officials what they thought. Many expressed a similar sentiment - that the property tax is yet another burden on an already stressed community. Plus, a shelter for people experiencing domestic violence is reopening in...
Wednesday August 4, 2021
August 04, 2021 19:43 - 10 minutes - 9.47 MBMoab Regional Hospital’s CEO says it’s becoming more difficult to find ICU beds for their patients who need them. Normal, summertime increases in ICU utilization are compounded by staffing shortages and COVID-19 patients infected with the highly contagious Delta variant. Under new CDC guidelines, wearing masks in indoor public spaces is currently recommended for everyone regardless of vaccination status in high transmission areas. But whether or not Grand County is in high transmission depend...
Tuesday August 3, 2021
August 03, 2021 20:25 - 10 minutes - 10 MBHeavy rainfall on burn scars is sending flash floods and large debris flows across the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The Moab area continues to experience flooding events, and forest service staff are reminding recreators to be mindful of creeks and streams, as well as steep slopes and narrow canyons that can create increased risk. Plus, members of Congress are considering whether National Parks are being loved to death by an influx of visitors. And, an audio postcard from the hottest place i...
Monday August 2, 2021
August 02, 2021 20:08 - 10 minutes - 9.78 MBRight now, the only employee of Utahraptor State Park is its manager - Joshua Hansen, who recently spoke at a Utah Friends of Paleontology meeting in Moab. Hansen expects the park to cover around 8,000 acres in the Dalton Wells area, bringing a visitor center and developed campgrounds - including water and other utilities - to the site. Today on the news, we speak with Hansen and others about this new state park effort for the Moab area. Plus, our partners at KHOL report that many pandemic-er...
Friday July 30, 2021
July 30, 2021 21:27 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBOrganizers of the first annual Red Sand Powwow, slated for mid-September in Moab, say they aim to foster healing and unity through traditional dance and community gathering. SLC Air Protectors, a Native-American led organization that raises awareness about ongoing environmental crises in Utah, is collaborating with local nonprofit Full Circle Intertribal Center on the event. Today on the news, we hear from their executive director, Jacob Crane. Plus, the Weekly News Reel where we check in w...
Thursday July 29, 2021
July 29, 2021 21:55 - 13 minutes - 12 MBMoab City leaders are looking at several short and long-term housing solutions to solve a burgeoning crisis. Potential paths forward could include seasonal camping, tiny home villages, and modifications to zoning densities. Public officials say Moab’s housing shortage is getting more intense this year. Their evidence? The workforce shortage is also getting more intense. Plus, major flooding throughout Moab kept public works crews and emergency responders busy last night. Show Notes: Photo...
Wednesday July 28, 2021
July 28, 2021 18:33 - 9 minutes - 8.97 MBA bill that would ban uranium mining permanently in the Grand Canyon region has passed the US House and is now in the Senate. Conservationists say the bill is necessary to protect groundwater in the region, but as our partners at KJZZ report in a two-part story, at least one mine could still go into production. Slush funds, environmental concerns, the cold war – all play into the history of uranium mining on the Arizona strip. Show Notes: Photo: The Pinyon Plain mine, formerly known as the ...
Tuesday July 27, 2021
July 27, 2021 18:23 - 10 minutes - 9.92 MBA community along the Utah-Arizona border once known for religious fundamentalism is now positioned to become a go-to for outdoor recreation. Our partners at KUER report on how the area is changing and what that means for residents. Plus, communities across the US are suing major opioid makers and distributors in one of the biggest federal lawsuits of all time. Our partners at KSJD look at what that means for one rural county in Southwest Colorado. Show Notes: Photo: Zion Mountaineering Sc...
Monday July 26, 2021
July 26, 2021 18:39 - 7 minutes - 7.2 MBCommunity members gathered along the Pack Creek drainage yesterday evening to witness a flash flood driven by rains in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The soft trickle of Pack Creek became rushing, muddy waters full of debris, which some say smelled like burned earth. The Pack Creek Fire burned 9,000 acres in the mountains this June, and experts familiar with burn scars said there could be potential for increased flooding in the area. Plus, Lake Powell reaches its lowest point yet, the Nava...
Part-Time Staff Reporter!
July 23, 2021 23:19 - 34 seconds - 542 KBWe’re looking for a resourceful, multi-talented journalist to join our news department. The part-time staff reporter will help produce our Monday through Friday newscast. We are noncommercial, independent, and community supported. Check out the full job description, qualifications, and how to apply at kzmu.org and in the link below! https://www.kzmu.org/now-hiring-part-time-news-reporter/
Friday July 23, 2021
July 23, 2021 18:08 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBAs federal managers consider a water shortage declaration throughout the Colorado River Basin, the region’s reservoirs are beginning emergency releases to prop up a stressed Lake Powell. KUNC water reporter Luke Runyon is covering this troubled scenario and explains what it could mean for the 40 million people who rely on the river in the short and long term. Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we chat with reporters about their most recent stories of the Moab area. The Times-Independent’s Dou...
Thursday July 22, 2021
July 22, 2021 20:25 - 10 minutes - 9.92 MBLuxury rail-tour company Rocky Mountaineer will launch their Denver to Moab passenger service in mid-August, yet questions still hang over their plans for unloading passengers. The Canadian-based company say they will disembark passengers on Union Pacific and Intrepid Potash- owned land near state highway 313. But Grand County has yet to see a site plan. That’s because the company is arguing in US District Court that they are not subject to local rules like going through a county permitting p...
Wednesday July 21, 2021
July 21, 2021 19:12 - 10 minutes - 9.93 MBTop federal water officials say they’re trying to find new ways to help the West adapt to droughts made worse by climate change, including spending millions on financial relief for farmers and ranchers. Plus, the effect of drought and climate change on ag workers’ mental health is increasingly concerning healthcare providers. And, a report on the canals, tunnels, and pipelines along the Colorado River that keep water flowing to cities outside the watershed. Show Notes: Photo: Farmer Mike ...
Tuesday July 20, 2021
July 20, 2021 19:58 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBThirty years ago, Moab’s elected leaders faced an economic crossroads. Transitioning to a tourism economy, they set the property tax rate at zero – providing some financial relief while also incentivizing growth. Now for the first time since 1992, city officials are re-considering that rate. They say sales tax is no longer covering important needs like deferred maintenance projects, the police department, and shoring up rainy-day reserves. Today on the news, we hear an excerpt from last night...
Monday July 19, 2021
July 19, 2021 18:38 - 9 minutes - 8.31 MBThree months ago, racist graffiti was found scrawled over petroglyph panels at Birthing Rock near Moab. This incident was called ‘egregious’ by staff at the Bureau of Land Management, and deeply upset community members. As their investigation into the vandalism continues, the federal agency is still waiting to hire a professional conservator to complete restoration work at the site. Plus, for people with compromised immune systems, low vaccination rates in our region are making life more dang...
Friday July 16, 2021
July 16, 2021 18:22 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBThe Bureau of Land Management initiated a wild horse gathering for the Onaqui Herd Management Area this week. The Onaqui herd roams in northern Utah and is often seen near the Pony Express Trail in Skull Valley. The BLM plans to remove about 300 horses due to concerns over limited forage. Our radio partners report on the ongoing struggle between maintaining an ‘iconic’ symbol of the West and sustainability. Plus, the federal government is planning emergency releases of water from reservoirs i...
Thursday July 15, 2021
July 15, 2021 20:13 - 10 minutes - 9.22 MBMoab City staff are calling for a ‘radical’ approach to water management, one that will require new, formal coordination between all water providers in the Moab and Spanish Valley area. In a detailed presentation to the city council this week, staff outlined a plan to address current and ongoing threats to the water supply like development pressures, climate change, drought, and aging infrastructure. Plus, a lack of affordable housing is contributing to workforce shortages in gateway and reso...
Wednesday July 14, 2021
July 14, 2021 18:32 - 9 minutes - 8.44 MBHave you seen a long-whiskered, webbed-footed carnivore swimming in the river lately? The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is calling on boaters, anglers, and other water-based folks to let the agency know about any sightings of the northern river otter. The information will help draft an updated management plan for the animals, who are notoriously secretive but a good indicator of the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Plus, it’s been over ten weeks since Moab City and Grand County passed mo...
Tuesday July 13, 2021
July 13, 2021 19:59 - 9 minutes - 8.49 MBMuch of the Mountain West is experiencing smoke impacts from widespread fire activity in places like Arizona, Idaho, and Oregon. As larger wildfire events happen more frequently, air quality degradation in the West is also expected more often. Today on the news, we speak to a University of Utah researcher who is studying the connection between wildfire events and air quality. Plus, our partners at KHOL report on a mountaineering duo that heads into the hills each summer to play music in some ...
Monday July 12, 2021
July 12, 2021 19:41 - 8 minutes - 7.71 MBSome college students are finding help during the pandemic through a traditional Native American practice. Our radio partners report on how the talking circle is helping students solve problems and provide healing in a virtual space. Plus, a Utah committee is asking communities to help draw new voting district maps and American’s fossil fuel use dropped to its lowest point in three decades last year. Show Notes: Photo: Eagle feathers and dried sage in a seashell are among the sacred items ...
Friday July 9, 2021
July 09, 2021 19:07 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBWhen visitors embark on Moab’s most popular trails, they’re not only carrying snacks, water and sunscreen, but also different levels of knowledge about stewardship and the desert ecosystem. Grand County is hoping to increase visitor understanding of trail systems and how to care for them through a trail ambassador program planned for launch this fall. Trail ambassadors will be stationed at Mill Creek and other popular destinations to answer questions and educate recreationists. Today on the n...
Thursday July 8, 2021
July 08, 2021 18:39 - 8 minutes - 7.49 MBThe Colorado River is tapped out. Another dry year has left the waterway that supplies 40 million people in the Southwest parched. A prolonged 21-year warming and drying trend is pushing the nation’s two largest reservoirs to record lows. For the first time this summer, the federal government will declare a shortage. Our radio partners traveled the 1,400 miles of the river to get a sense of how those who rely on it are coping. Plus, Utahns appear to have heeded firework warnings and decided t...
Wednesday July 7, 2021
July 07, 2021 20:30 - 10 minutes - 9.76 MBAfter a 4-3 vote from Grand’s commissioners last night, law enforcement can now cite slackliners for attaching ropes between bridges, communication towers, and any other essential infrastructure on public lands in the county. Encouraging others to engage in any illegal activity on public lands would also violate the county’s newly refined code. Commissioners were divided on the latter provision, as some worried it would have unintended consequences. Plus, the cost of housing has been rising i...
Tuesday July 6, 2021
July 06, 2021 19:41 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MBAfter burning 9,000 acres in the Manti-La Sal National Forest and destroying several homes and structures, fire managers report that the Pack Creek Fire is now 100 percent contained. The blaze started on June 9th in the Pack Creek day use area, reportedly from an abandoned campfire. Work is still ongoing and closure orders on many recreation areas are still in place. Plus, the Colorado River’s two main reservoirs are at historic lows. Our partners at KDNK spoke with the Colorado River Water C...
Monday July 5, 2021
July 05, 2021 19:49 - 9 minutes - 8.83 MBDeb Haaland recently announced the launch of a new effort to investigate the loss of human life and lasting impact of former federal Indian boarding schools. Our partners at KHOL spoke to educator Frank No Runner, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation, about the generational trauma inflicted by the schools. Plus, an off-roading advocacy group is warning campers about road closures on public lands. And, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a pair of Arizona ‘voter security’ laws that have expert...
Friday July 2, 2021
July 02, 2021 18:12 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBAs firefighting work nears completion on the Pack Creek Fire, another team is analyzing the severity of the burn. Today on the news, we speak with Jess Clark from the Forest Service’s Burned Area Emergency Response team. In recent days, this multidisciplinary team made an initial assessment of the Pack Creek Fire and he tells us what they found. Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak to reporters about their latest stories of our local area. The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo (12:30) h...
Thursday July 1, 2021
July 01, 2021 19:35 - 10 minutes - 9.74 MBGovernor Spencer Cox and other elected officials are pleading with Utahans to forgo personal fireworks during the July holidays. The Governor says if he had the legal authority to ban personal fireworks in Utah entirely – he would. Some communities in Utah have already done so, in lieu of action from the state Legislature. Plus, Moab City is running into problems with the contractor slated to build the first phase of the affordable Walnut Lane Apartments. And, as the demand to live in Western...
Wednesday June 30, 2021
June 30, 2021 18:55 - 7 minutes - 6.91 MBThe school district’s free summer lunch program is offering meals to all kids in Grand County through the end of July. The district’s nutrition director hopes more kids and parents take advantage of the program, which is available to families regardless of income levels. Plus, the State Flag Task Force met for the first time to discuss the redesign of Utah’s flag. And, the Interior Department is asking Congress for 17.6 billion dollars next year – that’s about $2.5 billion more than this year...
Tuesday June 29, 2021
June 29, 2021 18:25 - 9 minutes - 8.99 MBIn neighboring Colorado, Mesa County is making headlines as the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 increases local infection and hospitalization rates. According to Mesa County Public Health data, hospital beds are nearly full and the overwhelming majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated. Our radio partners spoke with a Grand Junction-based watchdog who says misinformation around vaccines within the local right-wing culture has contributed to this situation. Plus,...
Monday June 28, 2021
June 28, 2021 18:03 - 8 minutes - 7.73 MBMoab’s mountain biking community is feeling the effect of the Pack Creek Fire, which has closed popular trails like portions of the Whole Enchilada. Reporter Ashley Bunton has a brief on how some are coping with the impact. Plus, as firefighting crews increase containment of the Pack Creek Fire, another team is assessing impacts of the burn scar. We speak with the new fire information officer about this multidisciplinary analysis. Show Notes: Photo: A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) ...
Friday June 25, 2021
June 25, 2021 20:32 - 25 minutes - 23 MBA local water official says a clogged diversion gate caused portions of Mill Creek to temporarily dry to a trickle last week. The gate was lowered to allocate more water to Ken’s Lake for firefighting resources. After an investigation this week, Utah biologists could not find evidence of wildlife damage due to low water flows. Plus, a community collaborative is making several recommendations to mitigate heavy visitor use in the Mill Creek area. They include moving the primary parking area for...
Thursday June 24, 2021
June 24, 2021 18:56 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBAs we reported on Wednesday, things are wrapping up for the Great Basin team on the Pack Creek Fire. With 73 percent of the fire contained, the team will hand leadership back to the Manti-La Sal National Forest on Friday. In our final update with fire information officer Nick Howell, we get the latest on what resources and crews will remain. Plus, our partners at KHOL report on how climate change is affecting wildflowers and consequently the birds, butterflies and bears that rely on them for ...
Wednesday June 23, 2021
June 23, 2021 18:38 - 8 minutes - 7.76 MBToday on the news, fire information officer Nick Howell gives us a tour of the ‘mini-city’ at the Old Spanish Trail Arena. As firefighters continue making gains on the Pack Creek Fire’s containment, Howell and the rest of the Great Basin Team #4 are preparing to hand over leadership to local agencies at the end of the week. The team reports that this fire could have been much worse without the mitigation efforts of local fire fuels management. Show Notes: Photo: Fire information officer Ni...
Tuesday June 22, 2021
June 22, 2021 18:48 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBIn the early days of the Pack Creek Fire, Moab community members wrote ‘elegies’ to the La Sal Mountains across their social media platforms, expressing their connection to the local alpine landscape and how it feels to watch it burn. Some of these words are now collected into a small ‘chapbook’ put together by the staff at Back of Beyond Books. Today on the news, we speak to a wildfire social scientist on the concept of ‘solastalgia,’ a term that describes the emotional distress caused from ...
Monday June 21, 2021
June 21, 2021 18:53 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBResources from the Pack Creek fire responded to a new wildfire start yesterday – the Sego Fire near Thompson Springs. We hear the latest on the response and get an update about the Pack Creek Fire from the local fire information officer. Plus, as the Four Corners region experiences wildfires this season, our partners at KSJD report on ways to mitigate negative health effects from smoke. Show Notes: Photo: Pack Creek Firefighters, US Forest Service – Manti-La Sal National Forest Pack Creek...
Friday June 18, 2021
June 18, 2021 18:22 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBFavorable weather helped firefighters make gains on containment of the Pack Creek Fire on Thursday. Although the blaze is now 36 percent contained, there’s still a lot more work to do. As fire information officer Nick Howell says, the crew has now entered what they call 'the grind' of suppression work. Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we chat with local reporters about their latest stories. Carter Pape at The Times-Independent (7:00) discusses the early days of the Pack Creek Fire, as well ...
Thursday June 17, 2021
June 17, 2021 18:47 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBMany community members have expressed a feeling of helplessness as they watch the La Sal mountains burn. Today on the news, we speak to a local with extensive experience in fire mitigation, who has several ideas on how to counter that feeling. They include reaching out to neighbors, volunteering, and showing support to firefighters. Plus, our daily conversation with the Pack Creek Fire’s information officer. The over 500-person crew has brought containment to 30 percent as of this morning. ...
Wednesday June 16, 2021
June 16, 2021 19:16 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBTeam leaders working on the Pack Creek Fire spoke last night in a virtual meeting on its progression and response to suppression efforts. The fire is roughly 8,500 acres in the La Sal Mountains and 26 percent contained. Incident commanders said the steep and rugged terrain presents a series of challenges, especially combined with volatile fuel conditions brought on by persistent drought. Plus, we get the latest information on wildfire stats across the state of Utah. Show Notes: Photo: June...
Tuesday June 15, 2021
June 15, 2021 20:08 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBThe Manti-La Sal National Forest enters Stage 1 fire restrictions on Friday, as staff cite record dry conditions and extreme fire danger. There are new restrictions on building a fire, discharging fireworks, and smoking near vegetation. Plus, our daily update with fire information officer Nick Howell on the Pack Creek Fire’s progression and firefighting efforts. And, high severity mountain fires are known to impact watersheds. We get some thoughts from a USU hydrologist and geomorphologist on...
Monday June 14, 2021
June 14, 2021 19:02 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBWith fuel moisture at record lows and temperatures at record highs, personnel working on the Pack Creek Fire say the public should prepare for a long fire fight. Today on the news, we get an update from Great Basin fire information officer Nick Howell. Says Howell, “I’ve been in this business for 21 years, we’re definitely at record levels for fire danger – it’s really kind of a scary time for Utah and the West in general.” Plus, an interview from reporter Ashley Bunton on the impacts of the ...
News Extra - Thoughts from a Pack Creek Area Resident
June 11, 2021 19:56 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBAs of this morning, crews are estimating the Pack Creek Fire has grown to nearly 5,000 acres in the Manti-La Sal National Forest near Moab. Containment right now is at 0 percent. The fire started on Wednesday, ignited by an unattended campfire. We had the opportunity to speak with Pack Creek area resident Jeff Gutierrez this morning, who is currently evacuated and watching the blaze from a nearby mobile command center with other local residents. For more information on the Pack Creek Fire an...
News Break Spotlight - Special Local Programs
June 11, 2021 18:00 - 9 minutes - 9.15 MBListener, KZMU News is still on summer break this week. We return mid-June with our fresh, grassroots, community powered journalism. So this week we’re spotlighting some of the great public affairs shows produced and created locally at your community radio station. Here at KZMU, Mondays from 4PM to 6PM are the place for conversation. If a public affairs show is on hiatus – like Thought for Food or The Brainstorm – we often feature special programming in those time slots. Sometimes we featur...
News Break Spotlight - Art Talks
June 10, 2021 18:00 - 10 minutes - 9.78 MBListener, KZMU News is still on summer break this week. We return mid-June with our fresh, grassroots, community powered journalism. So this week we’re spotlighting some of the great public affairs shows produced and created locally at your community radio station. Host Richard Codd took the helm of the long-running Art Talks program last year. And he’s been exploring issues in arts and cultural community of Moab and throughout the state. On a recent episode of the show, he spoke with sever...