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
News Break Spotlight - Radio Book Club
June 09, 2021 18:00 - 9 minutes - 9.1 MBListener, KZMU News is still on summer break this week. We return mid-June with our fresh, grassroots, community powered journalism. So, we’re taking an opportunity to spotlight some of the great public affairs shows produced and created locally at your community radio station. On Radio Book Club, staff from the Grand County Public Library and Back of Beyond Books give the latest on all things literary – think local events, bestseller lists, author interviews, and of course – the books hold...
News Break Spotlight - Great Wide Open
June 08, 2021 17:41 - 10 minutes - 9.97 MBListener, KZMU News is still on summer break, returning mid-June with fresh, local grassroots community-powered journalism. While we’re away, we wanted to highlight some of the great public affairs shows produced locally at your community radio station. Today we hear an excerpt from a recent episode of our outdoor-recreation focused show, Great Wide Open. Host Lisa Hathaway and climber/filmmaker Caroline Treadway discuss eating disorders in the professional rock-climbing community. This is ...
News Break Spotlight - This Week in Moab
June 07, 2021 19:11 - 9 minutes - 8.96 MBListener, KZMU News is still on summer break, returning mid-June with fresh, local grassroots community-powered journalism. While we’re away, we wanted to highlight some of the great public affairs shows produced locally at your community radio station. We start with our longest standing program, This Week in Moab. Hosts Howard Trenholme, Christy Williams-Dunton, and Molly Marcello discuss many topics with their guests, from local and regional civics issues, to community resources, and the e...
Friday May 28, 2021
May 28, 2021 19:42 - 30 minutes - 28 MBMasks will remain a classroom requirement for Grand County’s students and teachers through the end of the school year. Earlier this month, Utah Governor Spencer Cox surprised local school districts when he gave them the option to remove mask mandates during the last week of school. That left local school board members and administrators weighing public comment from teachers, parents, and community members. Ultimately, the board’s ‘masks on’ decision came down to the transmission rates in Gran...
Thursday May 27, 2021
May 27, 2021 18:41 - 8 minutes - 8.03 MBHelicopter tours in the sky space above national parks have been a source of controversy across the West for many years. And just recently, the Teton County Board of Commissioners and the Town of Jackson, Wyoming passed unanimous bans on commercial air tours over Grand Teton National Park. But as our partners at KHOL report, that doesn’t mean a private company operating scenic flights will stop anytime soon. Show Notes: Photo: A view of the Tetons from the Jackson Hole Airport tarmac. Wind...
Wednesday May 26, 2021
May 26, 2021 19:10 - 10 minutes - 9.29 MBNestled among the jagged peaks of the San Juan National Forest, the small town of Silverton, Colorado is known for its scenic vistas and old-time narrow gauge-railroad. But increasingly during the summer, residents say the town is gaining a different reputation – as an overrun destination with dust and noise from ATVs. Last week, Silverton’s Board of Trustees banned OHVs from traveling on town roads, which one elected official called the only solution to rectify quality of life issues. Plus, ...
Tuesday May 25, 2021
May 25, 2021 18:44 - 10 minutes - 9.84 MBGrand County has nearly $300,000 set aside from their transient room tax promotions budget for responsible trail messaging. Although the money was earmarked back in February, talks about ‘stay on the trail’ messaging stalled out. A county commissioner is hoping to re-start the conversation, and is welcoming citizen ideas and input. Plus, Arches and Canyonlands National Park staff want visitors to ‘pack their patience’ amidst expected traffic delays, crowded trails, and limited parking this Me...
Monday May 24, 2021
May 24, 2021 18:57 - 7 minutes - 6.86 MBOver course of a few days last week, a group of ten runners traversed 360 miles from Bears Ears National Monument to Warm Springs Park in Salt Lake City. The run wasn’t a competition, or some sort of adventure challenge. The young Indigenous runners were moving across the state for healing, unity, and resiliency. Today on the news, we speak with Lynda Jim, a Diné activist and board chair of SLC Air Protectors about the Running as Medicine event. Plus, declining levels at Lake Powell – the se...
Friday May 21, 2021
May 21, 2021 18:37 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBIt’s not unusual to see people flying through the air on 500 West – wheels up, soaring over hand packed mounds, flowing over pump tracks. These features at Anonymous Park are built and maintained by a group of passionate volunteers, like Paul Lehr. For our next audio portrait of people in the Moab Valley, we hang with Paul as he builds out some new areas of the park. Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak with reporters about the stories they most recently covered in our area. The Times-...
Thursday May 20, 2021
May 20, 2021 18:47 - 9 minutes - 8.26 MBGrand County’s commissioners want to work with U.S. House Representative John Curtis on a federal public lands bill for the Moab area. Rep. Curtis helped pass a federal bill in 2019 solidifying conservation, development, and recreation areas in Emery County. Although Grand’s administrator expressed concerns over competing planning processes, commissioners say they want to work on public lands legislation for Grand County ‘sooner rather than later.’ Plus, conservationists praise the Biden admi...
Wednesday May 19, 2021
May 19, 2021 19:49 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBGetting a noise ordinance on the books was a challenge for local elected officials. Now that the county and city passed their ordinances, enforcing them is another hurdle. Today on the news, we speak with Grand County Attorney Christina Sloan about the three facets of rolling out the noise ordinances this year – data collection, law enforcement training, and education. Show Notes: Thursday, May 27th Voluntary Noise Testing Event 9AM to 11AM at Sand Flats Recreation Area Vehicles who opt-...
Tuesday May 18, 2021
May 18, 2021 19:19 - 9 minutes - 9.12 MBGovernor Spencer Cox is passing off the decision to go ‘mask-less’ on the last week of school to local school boards. The surprise announcement last week put a final twist on a challenging school year. Grand’s superintendent, Taryn Kay, described it as “being tackled on the one yard line.” Local school board members will make their decision next week, with input from community members and health professionals. Plus, a Colorado work group is examining statewide investments in water rights. The...
Monday May 17, 2021
May 17, 2021 18:09 - 9 minutes - 8.45 MBGovernor Spencer Cox has said Utah will likely sue if President Joe Biden enlarges Bears Ears National Monument, but experts say that could be a hard case to win. Plus, Utah officials are cutting back on jobless benefits, a move critics say will hurt thousands of recipients. And, water is again flowing in the Colorado River’s delta in northern Mexico. Show Notes: Photo: Friends of Cedar Mesa Director Josh Ewing points to petroglyphs at Sand Island Campground. The area was taken out of Bear...
Friday May 14, 2021
May 14, 2021 18:46 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made some big announcements this week, including opening the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to people 12 years of age and older. We spoke to local health officer Bradon Bradford on vaccinating this population here in Southeast Utah. [You can schedule a vaccine appointment at seuhealth.com and citymarket.com.] Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak to reporters about the latest stories they covered in our area. The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo (1...
Thursday May 13, 2021
May 13, 2021 19:38 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBSearching for a viable pathway to get more renewable energy, Moab City, Grand County, and Castle Valley have teamed up with 20 other Utah communities across the state on the Community Renewable Energy program. Representing about 37 percent of Utah’s total electricity load, this coalition has pledged to have 100 percent renewable energy by 2030. How are they going to do it? By helping Rocky Mountain Power make it happen. Show Notes: Photo: Red Rock Bakery proprietor Howard Trenholme with hi...
Wednesday May 12, 2021
May 12, 2021 18:29 - 10 minutes - 9.9 MBResearchers are examining the walls of the Grand Canyon to understand how groundwater responds to climate change. Snowpack plays a big role in the West’s water supply, but groundwater – particularly in the Colorado River watershed – might be equally important. Plus, cries for police reform continue to ring across our region as Black and brown people die at the hands of police. Photo: Tourists, tribes and others in the Grand Canyon region must rely on groundwater for drinking water. Ron Dun...
Tuesday May 11, 2021
May 11, 2021 20:12 - 7 minutes - 6.85 MBLionsback Resort developers are seeking final master plan approvals for 34 casita dwellings – the first phase of their project off Sand Flats Road. Nearly $5 million worth of infrastructure is being installed at the site, which may eventually support a hotel, conference center, and restaurant. Although developers hope locals embrace the project, one of its longest opponents still questions the Utah agency that owns the land, saying the ‘develop-invest-repeat’ model will not help communities l...
Monday May 10, 2021
May 10, 2021 19:34 - 8 minutes - 8.23 MBLast week, Moab’s elected officials made clear they want a temporary timed entry system implemented at Arches National Park. Our radio partners report that for other National Parks with similar systems, tickets are going fast. Plus, a popular hiking trail east of Glenwood Springs has seen a lot of changes in the last few years – a visitor cap, the pandemic, and a wildfire. On its recent re-opening, our partners at KDNK document the changes to Hanging Lake Trail. Show Notes: Photo: Burned t...
Friday May 7, 2021
May 07, 2021 20:42 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBAlthough vaccination rates are up, Grand County is experiencing the highest rate of COVID-19 transmission in the state, likely accelerated by the B117 variant. Meanwhile, state law has ended Grand’s local mask mandate, leaving businesses and organizations to make their own public health decisions. We check in with health officer Bradon Bradford on these changes. His recommendation? Continue masking up and taking other safety precautions. Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak to reporter...
Thursday May 6, 2021
May 06, 2021 19:44 - 9 minutes - 8.31 MBCiting concerns over visitor experience and safety, city and county elected officials are once again asking the National Park Service to create a temporary timed entry system at Arches National Park. They say it should be implemented no later than September 1st. Local reps say visitor numbers have caused park officials to close the gates at Arches on a near-daily basis since mid-March. Plus, a state law is ending the local mask mandate while Grand County continues to have the highest rate of ...
Wednesday May 5, 2021
May 05, 2021 19:37 - 9 minutes - 8.95 MBAmericans generated nearly 293 million tons of trash in 2018. While some of that material was recycled and composted, most ended up at landfills. Thinking about waste generated in Moab, the team at the MARC created an artist residency to “challenge the perception of waste culture.” Puppet artist Milissa Orzolack held a four-week residency in April doing just that. Plus, environmentalists are optimistic that key climate-change regulations on methane leaks – rolled back during the Trump adminis...
Tuesday May 4, 2021
May 04, 2021 20:48 - 9 minutes - 8.77 MBRecently, destructive behavior like graffiti and vandalism on public lands has been the top issue in Moab. But what are other types of behavior that can have big impacts on our shared landscapes? NPS Ranger Karen Garthwait breaks down the seven Leave No Trace principles and their importance in safeguarding areas like Arches National Park. And, as vaccine availability continues to outpace demand in Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox says organizations – like churches or businesses – are now able to sign u...
Monday May 3, 2021
May 03, 2021 18:00 - 9 minutes - 9.04 MBA virtual scrapbook chronicling a historic year in the local community is now live. ‘Moab’s Year of Pandemic Living’ was put together by the Grand County Public Library, and features entries from community members of all ages sharing their photos, poems, and drawings about how their life changed over the past year. Plus, the Lower Colorado River Basin is preparing for its first-ever water shortage declaration. And, a new study shows last year's wildfires may have played a larger role in the 2...
Friday April 30, 2021
April 30, 2021 19:01 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBThe Bureau of Land Management completed some minimal emergency treatment on the Birthing Rock petroglyph panel on Wednesday. The site is at least 1,000 years old and was found marred by obscenities earlier this week. So what do conservators consider before attempting to mitigate damage at a cultural site like Birthing Rock? Today on the news, we speak with former BLM Moab archeologist Don Montoya. He currently works as a consultant with land management agencies and has plenty of experience in...
Thursday April 29, 2021
April 29, 2021 18:55 - 9 minutes - 8.76 MBCiting excessive noise and vibration as serious hazards to public health, the Moab City Council passed a noise ordinance this week aimed at quieting down the town. The noise ordinance becomes more strict at night between the hours of 8PM and 7AM . City council members said enacting these measures is not about penalizing a recreation group, but about respecting the citizens of Moab. Plus, our partners report that the Chaco Canyon area might offer some insight into the Biden administration’s en...
Wednesday April 28, 2021
April 28, 2021 18:50 - 8 minutes - 7.43 MBIndigenous leaders held conversations yesterday about the Birthing Rock vandalism, which includes the phrase ‘white power’ scrawled over petroglyphs estimated to be at least 1,000 years old. Many linked this recent vandalism to other acts of violence perpetuated against Indigenous people. The Bureau of Land Management is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible. Plus, two states in our region will gain a Congression...
Tuesday April 27, 2021
April 27, 2021 17:52 - 9 minutes - 8.89 MBOffensive language and imagery were recently found scrawled over petroglyph panels on Birthing Rock, a piece of ancient human history the Bureau of Land Management estimates is at least 1,000 years old. The BLM is asking the public not to attempt to remove the vandalism as they are currently working with professional conservators to repair the site. This incident is the second, very public vandalism of petroglyph panels on Moab’s public lands in recent weeks. Plus, extended wildfire seasons a...
Monday April 26, 2021
April 26, 2021 20:15 - 9 minutes - 8.4 MBGrand is the only county in Utah currently considered ‘high transmission’ in the state’s COVID-19 transmission index. Considering factors like COVID-19 variants – which more easily spread and are affecting roughly half of all Utah cases – state medical experts say it’s even more important to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Plus, Utah is not the only state where demographics on vaccinated individuals are revealing health equity issues. Our partners at KUNM report that the numbers in New Me...
Friday April 23, 2021
April 23, 2021 19:43 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBToday on the news, station manager Serah Mead ‘flips the mic’ and interviews news director Molly Marcello about the memorable past year at KZMU News. We hear about making the newscast flexible to meet the needs and interests of the local community, as well as some new opportunities for growth. It’s true community-empowered journalism. Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak with other reporters about the stories they most recently covered in our area. Times-Independent reporter Carter Pa...
Thursday April 22, 2021
April 22, 2021 19:37 - 8 minutes - 7.71 MBThe county commission finalized regulations on ATV related businesses and adopted a noise pollution ordinance. Some commissioners expressed uncertainty that the policies would make a big difference in quieting neighborhoods, and emphasized the need for data collection over the coming months. Plus, Grand County’s COVID-19 case rate remains steady as other counties drop off. It’s uncertain why this is the case, but the health department says there could be a correlation with the spring tourism ...
Wednesday April 21, 2021
April 21, 2021 18:29 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MBToday on the news, we tour the freshest development in the Moab valley, where workers are installing finishing touches for its soon-to-be inhabitants – local 7th and 8th grade students. With collaborative learning spaces, a lecture hall, double gym, and more, the brand-new Margaret L. Hopkin Middle School is a significant upgrade from the current building. We hear about how this new education facility will be used by the school district and the community. Plus, a jury convicted a former Minne...
Tuesday April 20, 2021
April 20, 2021 17:44 - 9 minutes - 9.11 MBConflicts over lands and mining are not unusual to our region. Today on the news, we hear from our partners at KJZZ’s Tribal Natural Resources Desk in Arizona. There, Oak Flat in the Tonto National Forest has become a centerpiece of conflict between Native American tribes who want to preserve their sacred land, and the mining companies who say they want to generate revenue and create jobs. Congressman Raul Grijalva has introduced legislation to ban mining at Oak Flat, but its success is uncer...
Monday April 19, 2021
April 19, 2021 20:13 - 7 minutes - 7.26 MBEarlier this year, the Moab City Council directed staff and their local water board to create policies aimed at water conservation, as well as make plans for future water shortages. But a big, pervasive question is often overshadowing policy discussion at the water board – how much water does Moab City actually have available? Plus, a new federal report shows the Colorado River’s biggest reservoirs are likely to drop to levels not seen since they were filled. And, during a virtual summit on E...
Friday April 16, 2021
April 16, 2021 20:03 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBOn the launch of KZMU’s spring radiothon fundraiser, we check in with station manager Serah Mead. She looks back on the station during ‘the pandemic year,’ and discusses the lessons she’d like to keep moving forward – as well as those she’s eager to leave behind. Plus, our Weekly News Reel, where we speak to reporters about the latest stories they covered in our area. Times-Independent editor Doug McMurdo talks OHV noise, commissioner Mary McGann’s visit with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, ...
Thursday April 15, 2021
April 15, 2021 18:49 - 7 minutes - 6.73 MBMany know the monarch butterfly is declining due to human expansion and the rise of global temperatures. But as our radio partners report, monarchs aren’t the only butterflies dealing with these threats. Plus, a new study is adding to the growing evidence that smoke from wildfire is more harmful to humans than pollution from other sources. And farmers and ranchers in the Colorado River Basin are preparing for what could be another dry summer. Show Notes: Photo: The Monarch butterfly is one...
Wednesday April 14, 2021
April 14, 2021 18:37 - 10 minutes - 9.39 MBVisitors have flocked to Western communities during the pandemic to soak in the region’s public lands. But…just how many visitors? Right now, we don’t have a good way to track that crucial data. Plus, members of Moms and Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America are holding a series nationwide actions to urge more robust background checks on gun purchases. And finally, grizzly bear populations in the Mountain West have rebounded since being listed as an endangered species about 50 years...
Tuesday April 13, 2021
April 13, 2021 17:23 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBAfter a special meeting with ATV outfitters and guides yesterday, the county commission has more to consider as it refines new policies aimed at reducing noise in the valley. Business owners had no issue with caravan limits on guided tours, but were united against any restrictions on their overall fleet size. Instead, most ATV business owners called for stricter enforcement of local noise ordinances. Plus, updates from our radio partners on the tiny mountain town of Marble, Colorado, where AT...
Monday April 12, 2021
April 12, 2021 18:55 - 9 minutes - 8.94 MBToday on the news, a conservation group in San Juan County is suing the Bureau of Land Management over land it leased to oil and gas developers in 2018. The lawsuit claims drilling between Bears Ears and Hovenweep national monuments could cause irreparable damage to cultural sites. And, to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected Utah women and girls, the Women’s Leadership Project at USU surveyed 3,500 women across the state. Plus, Wyoming lawmakers passed several bills aimed at ...
Friday April 9, 2021
April 09, 2021 20:08 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBA natural gas plant operator in Utah has started mining a novel resource: cryptocurrency. KZMU’s Justin Higginbottom looks at a new type of extraction happening just outside of Moab. Plus, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is on the ground in Utah to visit Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments and meet with stakeholders. As our radio partners report, Haaland has only been in office for a few weeks – and she isn’t wasting time. Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak wit...
Thursday April 8, 2021
April 08, 2021 20:08 - 10 minutes - 9.25 MBMasks will still be required clothing in Grand County even as a statewide mask mandate ends this Saturday. The state is allowing local health departments and counties to set their own rules when it comes to masking, meaning Grand’s will stay in effect until June 15th. Plus, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is in Southeastern Utah this week to visit both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments. Her visit comes amid pressure to reverse the Trump administration’s decision to sh...
Wednesday April 7, 2021
April 07, 2021 22:24 - 8 minutes - 7.85 MBGrand County is getting closer to finalizing several measures aimed at reducing noise impacts from ATVs and UTVs. At their meeting last night, the county commission considered a new noise ordinance and stricter requirements for ATV rental businesses. After hearing public comment, commissioners wanted more discussion time before voting on the proposed changes. Plus, another town in our region is feeling the pressure from ATV-related recreation. As our radio partners at KDNK report, the town of...
Tuesday April 6, 2021
April 06, 2021 18:03 - 10 minutes - 9.28 MBIf you draw a line on a map from Moab and head south, you’ll soon hit Sonora, Mexico. There, the Indigenous Comcaac Nation has long struggled for access to clean water. Members of the nation recently walked miles to a sacred site, demanding the Mexican government provide them with basic services. Plus, the arrival of spring is marked by warming temperatures, budding trees, and – migrating birds. Show Notes: Photo: With ceremonial sticks raised in a sign of victory and brotherhood, members ...
Monday April 5, 2021
April 05, 2021 19:26 - 8 minutes - 7.72 MBA Moab police officer is once again under scrutiny, this time for allegedly searching a subject illegally. According to Moab City, Officer Steve Risenhoover will be placed on administrative duties while an outside agency investigates his actions during a December search and seizure. The Grand County Attorney’s Office recently filed a motion to dismiss a case because of this questionable search as well as discrepancies between a police report and body cam footage. Plus, Utah’s Division of Wate...
Friday April 2, 2021
April 02, 2021 19:43 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBThe crew at Sand Flats Recreation Area often wear many hats – part visitor interpretation, part restoration specialist, part cashier, part front/back country ranger – and so, so much more. Today on the news, we shadow Sand Flats employee Sonja Nicolaisen for our second non-narrated audio portrait of people in the Moab valley. Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak with newspaper reporters about the stories they most recently covered in our area. The Times-Independent’s Carter Pape (10:00...
Thursday April 1, 2021
April 01, 2021 19:58 - 10 minutes - 9.96 MBChoreomania is KZMU’s original radio play about a medieval dancing plague written/directed by local Jenna Whetzel and performed in three-acts by a rollicking cast of characters. It’s also a 30-page comic book, illustrated by local artist Jon Gottschalk. Choreomania – the comic book – is released on Friday at Back of Beyond Books, and proceeds will support KZMU’s community-minded artistic endeavors, including future radio plays. Plus, in the arid West, scientists have many tools to figure out ...
Wednesday March 31, 2021
March 31, 2021 19:19 - 9 minutes - 8.32 MBIn an attempt to improve wildlife habitat across the river system, the Utah DWR removed invasive carp from the Old City Park pond last week. With the carp now gone, they’re hoping community members won’t return with their goldfish. That’s because – in partnership with Moab City – the state agency wants to create a stocking area for native roundtail chub, currently listed on Utah’s Sensitive Species List. Plus from our radio partners – the U.S. Interior Department’s energy leasing review is in...
Tuesday March 30, 2021
March 30, 2021 19:47 - 10 minutes - 9.83 MBTribes in the Colorado River basin are calling for more influence in how the climate-stressed river is managed. As negotiations kick off on a new set of rules for river management, tribal leaders are optimistic, but say they need concrete proof their perspectives will be heard. Plus, the Ute Mountain Ute tribe straddles the border of Colorado and New Mexico, at the heart of the Four Corners region. Our radio partners sat down with tribal chairman Manuel Hart to talk about vaccine distribution...
Monday March 29, 2021
March 29, 2021 18:25 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBAfter COVID-19 vaccines were made available to the general population in Utah last week, we checked in with health officer Bradon Bradford of the Southeast Utah Health Department. Bradford gives us the latest on the local vaccine rollout, and what people need to know once they’re fully vaccinated. Show Notes: Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment https://www.seuhealth.com/covid-vaccine
Friday March 26, 2021
March 26, 2021 19:59 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBToday on the newscast, our interview with Governor Spencer Cox on the social determinants of health, and why addressing them in Utah is a strategic priority of his administration. He speaks to how the pandemic has magnified gaps in health equity across the state, and how data and community collaboration could help close them. Plus, our Weekly News Reel, where we speak with reporters and editors about their latest local stories. From The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo (13:00), we hear more...
Thursday March 25, 2021
March 25, 2021 19:41 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBDuring his first two weeks as Governor, Spencer Cox made the social determinants of health a priority for his administration. The conditions in which we are born, grow, work and live are not naturally occurring phenomena – they’re shaped by political, social, and economic forces. Data shows that factors like safe housing, clean air and water, and a life without oppression have greater combined impacts on your health than individual behaviors. Today on the news, we speak with the Governor, his...