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.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Wednesday March 15, 2023
March 15, 2023 18:00 - 8 minutes - 7.73 MBConservation organizations say the world’s smallest rabbit is at risk of extinction because of habitat loss and disease. They’re requesting protection for the pygmy rabbit under the Endangered Species Act. Plus, there’s a push for more diversity at some of the Mountain West’s most famous ski resorts. And later, new research on forest regeneration after wildfire. // Show Notes: // Photo: Conservationists are concerned about declining populations of the pygmy rabbit in Utah and other states ...
Tuesday March 14, 2023
March 14, 2023 21:04 - 10 minutes - 9.3 MBOn Thursday mornings, historian Stephan Zacharias takes visitors to key spots around town, telling the story of Moab before mining. It’s part of a new tour from the Moab Museum, focused on the cowboys of Southeast Utah and the long lineage of Spanish, Indigenous and African cultures that made them who they are today. Plus, Utah clean-air advocates are supportive of the EPA’s proposed soot standard, but want the federal agency to go further. And later, a report on Navajo coal miners suffering ...
RMCR Regional Roundup
March 13, 2023 21:59 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBDear listener, we are experimenting with Mondays! Today we are featuring a new program - the Regional Roundup. It’s a brand new, biweekly production of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio Coalition, of which KZMU is a proud member. Thanks for tuning in!
Friday March 10, 2023
March 10, 2023 20:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBWhat happened during Utah’s fast-paced 2023 Legislative session? For the past 45 days, the state’s political reporters worked at top speed to summarize key issues for Utahns. Today KUER’s Sean Higgins walks us through some of the biggest moments of the session. // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! We check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses the possible end of WabiSabi, Moab’s new transit program, and community garden beds....
Thursday March 9, 2023
March 09, 2023 20:44 - 9 minutes - 8.38 MBIn the final days of the legislative session, Utah’s lawmakers made some big decisions. One of them that didn’t receive a lot of attention, marks a historic first in the United States. And some say it has worrying implications for tourist towns like Moab. Plus, federal officials have suspended extra water releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir. And later, bison herd restoration and conservation on tribal lands gets an influx of federal dollars. // Show Notes: // Photo: A house for sale in a...
Wednesday March 8, 2023
March 08, 2023 19:54 - 9 minutes - 8.53 MBA Moab man charged with several second- and third-degree felonies including criminal solicitation and the threat of terrorism will now attend behavioral health treatment in northern Utah. On Tuesday, the 7th District Court ordered the defendant moved from jail to New Roads Behavioral Health on several conditions, including GPS monitoring and internet-use restrictions. In court proceedings, the defendant’s mental health came up for discussion. Plus, locals celebrated the opening of the new Moa...
Tuesday March 7, 2023
March 07, 2023 22:26 - 9 minutes - 9.11 MBPlans for a new uranium mill in Green River are underway. A Colorado-based energy company recently purchased a plot of land just west of town, and according to a press release, the permitting process for the mill has already begun. But some are skeptical of these plans because right now…uranium isn’t booming. Plus, a new report shows that public land conservation has lagged over the past decade in Western states. And later, a popular Instagram page is informing travelers about conditions on I...
Friday March 3, 2023
March 03, 2023 19:32 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBIt’s the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times Independent discusses another local tragedy – the death of a Grand County High School student in a car accident. Plus, more discussion of water resources and raising trash and storm water rates. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks noise statistics from downtown special events, the 10-year anniversary celebration of Moab’s Captain Ahab trail, and the interesting crew of high school debaters. Plus, the Moab Sun News tells us ‘what happ...
Thursday March 2, 2023
March 02, 2023 20:43 - 9 minutes - 8.74 MBGrand County High School student Elexa VanArsdol died Tuesday in a collision on Highway 191. The 17-year-old's death is a devastating blow to the local student body, already in grief over another classmate who died in a hiking accident a few short weeks ago. Plus, states in the Lower Colorado River Basin are pushing back on a proposal from their Upper Basin counterparts. And, a state park in our region is working to change hiking for people with disabilities. Finally, a preview of our next is...
Thursday March 3, 2023
March 02, 2023 20:43 - 9 minutes - 8.74 MBGrand County High School student Elexa VanArsdol died Tuesday in a collision on Highway 191. The 17-year-old's death is a devastating blow to the local student body, already in grief over another classmate who died in a hiking accident a few short weeks ago. Plus, states in the Lower Colorado River Basin are pushing back on a proposal from their Upper Basin counterparts. And, a state park in our region is working to change hiking for people with disabilities. Finally, a preview of our next is...
Wednesday March 1, 2023
March 01, 2023 19:15 - 9 minutes - 8.52 MBWater levels in Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir on the Colorado River, are at a record low. To keep it from declining further, federal officials are ready to spend tens of millions of dollars to incentivize farmers and other water users in the river’s Upper Basin to conserve. But not everyone agrees that paying farmers not to farm is the way forward. Plus, a new federal grant program will subsidize clean energy projects on tribal lands. And, a report on the popularity of ma...
Tuesday February 28, 2023
February 28, 2023 19:33 - 9 minutes - 8.95 MBThe White Mesa Uranium Mill imported over a million pounds of radioactive waste from Estonia this summer. And the public is only just hearing about it now thanks to a glitch in the state’s database. Although it’s not the first time the mill received radioactive waste from foreign countries, some people are concerned the recent deal sets a bad precedent for the future. Plus, states in the upper Colorado River Basin are asking the federal government to stop sending water downstream from a major...
Friday February 24, 2023
February 24, 2023 18:11 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBIt’s the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses an arrest made in the anti-UTV sticker case as well as Grand County High’s latest state champion. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News talks Moab Community Theater, an art exhibit showcasing climate-stressed trees in our region and USU-Moab’s new welding program. Plus, Harford tells us ‘what happened’ at this week’s county commission meeting. // Weekly News Reel Mentions: // The Times-Independent: Arrest made in anti-...
Thursday February 23, 2023
February 23, 2023 20:01 - 9 minutes - 8.44 MBBrine shrimp could soon become Utah’s official state crustacean. The little shrimp, otherwise known as sea monkeys, play a huge role in Utah’s ecosystem and economy. If the bill is approved by the Utah Legislature, brine shrimp will join the Sego lily, the Dutch Oven, and the beehive on Utah’s list of official symbols. And later, residents in Jackson, Wyoming say they would rather leave the state than face potential laws targeting transgender kids. Plus, some officials in our region want to r...
Wednesday February 22, 2023
February 22, 2023 22:59 - 8 minutes - 7.57 MBPolice have arrested a man they say caused $15,000 worth of damages to infrastructure, like public street signs. A recent home search recovered illicit narcotics and several assault-style weapons, as well as nearly 5,000 custom-made stickers. These are the same make and model of stickers found on local street signs in recent months, carrying anti-noise pollution and anti-UTV messaging. Today on the news, we speak with Moab City Assistant Chief of Police Lex Bell, on the months-long investigat...
Tuesday February 21, 2023
February 21, 2023 19:05 - 9 minutes - 9.11 MBA cross-section of the community gathered over the weekend to grieve and share memories of teenager Zoe Thompson, who died in a hiking accident this month. We have a report from her celebration of life. Plus, for the first time, a woman will serve as Navajo Nation tribal council speaker. And later, the Biden Administration recently announced over $700 million in investments to address the West’s drought. A large chunk of that money is for volunteer conservation programs. // Show Notes: // P...
Friday February 17, 2023
February 17, 2023 18:58 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBIt’s the Weekly News Reel! We check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses the life of seventeen-year-old Zoe Thompson, who died in a hiking accident last week. She also talks TRT legislation, artwork for a statewide fresh air campaign, and updates on the re-development of mobile home parks. Maggie McGuire of the Moab Sun News discusses what the city’s legislative lobbyist is watching this session, the upcoming Trashion Sho...
Thursday February 16, 2023
February 16, 2023 20:11 - 9 minutes - 9.08 MBTwo years ago, state lawmakers approved a bill allowing Grand County to spend some transient room tax revenue on economic diversification. The experiment was set to expire in 2026. But now, some want to scrap the program by this summer. Plus, a recent poll found support for conservation policies in western states remains a top priority. And later, the first ever Queer Ball, a party for local LGBTQ+ youth, was held recently in Cortez, Colorado. Our radio partners report that the city has becom...
Wednesday February 15, 2023
February 15, 2023 19:22 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBIn 2019, residents in the town of Paonia on Colorado’s Western Slope faced a nightmare that is particular to the arid west. They turned on their faucets…and nothing came out. The aftermath is the focus of a new KVNF documentary called ‘Silent Taps, Paonia’s Ongoing Water Moratorium.’ Today on the news, we hear from the reporter who breaks down the water crisis in this rural western town. // Show Notes: // Photo: Inside Paonia’s two-million-gallon water plant. In 2019, residents turned on t...
Tuesday February 14, 2023
February 14, 2023 19:29 - 10 minutes - 9.19 MBThe Moab community is mourning the loss of 17-year-old Zoe McKinney, who died in a hiking accident on Friday. Zoe’s friends, family and community gathered at a vigil in her honor at the high school last night. We hear from superintendent Taryn Kay on community-wide grief. Plus, a group of San Juan County residents is protesting a new resort development in Dry Valley, just north of Monticello. They believe the new accommodations would seriously deplete the area’s water resources and are callin...
No News Is Good News (For Now!)
February 13, 2023 20:12 - 57 seconds - 2.19 MBHey there listeners! I know you're used to hearing the voices of our award winning news department on Mondays and we're so grateful for your dedicated listenership. We ask for your patience and understanding as we scale back, just a bit, to bring our News Department back up to full capacity and keep it sustainable. You will still hear KZMU News Tuesday through Thursday and the News Reel on Fridays. Thank you for supporting KZMU News and Moab Community Radio!
Friday February 10, 2023
February 10, 2023 19:03 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBListeners, we are experimenting! While KZMU News aims to bring a reporter on board over the next few weeks, we’re shaking a few things up. On Fridays the Weekly News Reel will air solo for the moment. Thanks so much for sticking with us as we bring our news department back to full capacity and keep it sustainable. // Alright, let’s get into the News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses the Winter Rescue Team, the new solid waste manager, an update on new legislation from R...
Thursday February 9, 2023
February 09, 2023 19:05 - 9 minutes - 8.32 MBAfter August flooding revealed some sore spots in local emergency management response, Grand County hired a permanent emergency management director. The new director is Cora Phillips, who has a long history in emergency and disaster response. Today on the news, we speak with Phillips about her background and changes to emergency management planning, training, and alerts. // Show Notes: // Photo: Cora Phillips, Grand County’s new emergency management director, at KZMU. // Grand County Ale...
Wednesday February 8, 2023
February 08, 2023 22:46 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBMoab is one of the most popular destinations to highline, a sport similar to tightrope walking. Now, the first highlining guiding business in the United States will open here in March. Plus, Utah lawmakers have clarified what therapists can do under the state's conversion therapy ban. The bill garnered support from organizations on opposite sides of the political spectrum. And later, many Black travelers in the Jim Crow era used a guidebook to tell them which places would offer them lodging a...
Tuesday February 7, 2023
February 07, 2023 23:16 - 8 minutes - 7.8 MBSkiing and horses are two things the Mountain West has no shortage of. So why not combine them? Well, there’s already a sport for that. Today on the news, our radio partners report on a recent skijoring competition in Heber City. Plus, a group of physicians is voicing opposition to a new Utah law banning gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. And later, a report on bug-loving birds providing free pest control to farmers. // Show Notes: // Photo: Skijoring in Colorado. Credit ...
Monday February 6, 2023
February 06, 2023 19:05 - 10 minutes - 9.79 MBMobile home parks are one of the few remaining affordable housing options in the Mountain West. But many residents in these parks don’t own the land under their units. Today on the news, our radio partners report how one mobile home park in our region is trying to work around the system to secure their housing long-term. Plus, a federal appeals court has suspended 199 drilling permits in northern New Mexico, near Chaco Canyon and some politicians in our region are renewing calls to transfer f...
Friday February 3, 2023
February 03, 2023 20:34 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBThe town of Castle Valley is looking to update its water monitoring system in anticipation of a potential new tourism development. Town council members are hoping to conduct an aquifer study and install a parshall flume system as part of a larger plan to measure whether their water supply can accommodate more people. Plus, tribal leaders from the eight federally recognized tribes in Utah gathered at a news conference at the state capitol and called on state lawmakers to pass Utah's version of...
Thursday February 2, 2023
February 02, 2023 21:33 - 10 minutes - 9.73 MBUtah’s bigger cities have more money to address homelessness. It came from the legislature last year and can be spent on outreach and services for unhoused people, or on cops. But as Eric Peterson of the Utah Investigative Journalism project found, almost all of it went to funding police officers. Plus, a coalition of community members in our region is working with doctors from the Indian Health Service to provide medical support for the unhoused. And later, health officials in the Rocky Moun...
Wednesday February 1, 2023
February 01, 2023 20:38 - 8 minutes - 7.38 MBThe family of a Ugandan human rights activist killed at Arches National Park will receive more than $10 million dollars in damages. The amount was substantially less than the family of Esther Nakajjigo asked for, but their attorneys celebrated the judgement, noting it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. Plus, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing a rule to limit climbing and ban slacklining, skydiving, and other ‘aerial’ sports in Hell Roaring and Mineral Cany...
Tuesday January 31, 2023
January 31, 2023 22:38 - 9 minutes - 9.11 MBSome state lawmakers want to adjust judiciary rules in order to move Utah’s abortion ban forward. The joint resolution is the latest move in Utah’s political chess game around abortion. With the status of reproductive care in flux statewide, the Moab Abortion & Reproductive Rights Network aims to connect locals to information and resources. Plus, after Utah banned transgender minors from accessing hormone therapy or gender affirmation surgery, the ACLU of Utah plans to sue the state. And late...
Monday January 30, 2023
January 30, 2023 20:58 - 8 minutes - 7.94 MBThe Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a non-profit organization that tracks man-made threats across the globe, set the Doomsday Clock for 2023. The Clock, updated annually, marks the level of global existential threats, with ‘midnight’ as a symbol of total annihilation. Last year’s clock was set at 100 seconds to midnight. This year’s clock is even closer. Plus, the Ute Mountain Ute tribe is hosting a series of workshops for Native children to reconnect with Ute culture. And later, how the conce...
Friday January 27, 2023
January 27, 2023 20:33 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBFilming for Kevin Costner’s movie series Horizon wrapped up in Moab in November. Since the film is still in production, we can’t spoil anything about the plot of this 19th century Western. But today on the news, we hear from a few of the film’s extras about what it was like to turn back the clock and play make-believe in their own backyard. And later, our partners at KRCL review a new documentary at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and biologists celebrate the comeback of the razorback sucker ...
Thursday January 26, 2023
January 26, 2023 19:41 - 9 minutes - 8.81 MBSunday marks the 160th anniversary of the Bear River Massacre, where the United States Army attacked and killed hundreds of Shoshone men, women and children. This massacre, one of the largest in US history, occurred in northern Utah and is now being commemorated with ambitious restoration plans. Plus, Utah agencies are teaming up to make safer wildlife migration a priority. And later, the chairmen of the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes delivered their first annual address to the Colo...
Wednesday January 25, 2023
January 25, 2023 20:18 - 9 minutes - 8.4 MBUtah is one step closer to getting a new state flag. After receiving over 7,000 suggestions for new designs, the Utah State Flag Task force has narrowed it down to one finalist. State lawmakers will vote whether or not to adopt the flag during this legislative session. Plus, a controversial bill that would give Utah teachers a pay raise and create a voucher program needs final approval in the senate before going to the governor's desk. And later, our radio partners report on the Navajo Nation...
Tuesday January 24, 2023
January 24, 2023 21:16 - 9 minutes - 9.12 MBA presentation on Moab’s groundwater conditions drew a big crowd of community members last week. A geoscience professor says as the valley develops, more groundwater is in use and less is getting recharged due to climate change. Local experts hope groundwater modeling could simulate future changes based on development or climate. Plus, an AAPI focused organization is bringing reflection and celebration at the Sundance Film Festival. And later, Colorado wildlife commissioners are working on re...
Monday January 23, 2023
January 23, 2023 21:15 - 10 minutes - 9.53 MBThree bills aiming to restrict gender affirming care and gender self-identification for minors are moving swiftly through the state legislature. In emotional testimony before a committee last week, parents of transgender kids called gender affirming care ‘lifesaving.’ These Utah bills reflect a nationwide increase in anti-transgender legislation. Plus, as one of his last decisions in office, former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez vetoed a bill for helium extraction. And later, Wyoming re...
Friday January 20, 2023
January 20, 2023 19:46 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBEvery January, the City of Bluff hosts a hot air balloon festival, attracting pilots from across the country to fly over the red rocks of Cedar Mesa. As one ballooner put it, “flying a balloon is more of a zen form of aviation. Whatever nature gives you – you have to work with it.” Today on the news, we float in the skies and learn more about this unique pastime. // And later – the Weekly News Reel! The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo discusses a proposed bill that could hit public service...
Thursday January 19, 2023
January 19, 2023 20:51 - 10 minutes - 9.42 MBGrand County’s staff and elected officials are worried their budget will take a huge hit during Utah’s 2023 legislative session. Rep. Phil Lyman is entertaining repealing HB 247 (2021), which allows Grand County to spend more transient room tax dollars on tourism mitigation. If the bill is repealed, the county estimates a loss of $900,000 currently budgeted to law enforcement, search and rescue, and more. “I can’t hardly think of another bit of state legislation that could be more harmful,” s...
Wednesday January 18, 2023
January 18, 2023 20:39 - 9 minutes - 9.05 MBA proposed oil and gas highway through Nine Mile Canyon is attracting the attention of archeologists and rock art enthusiasts. Nine Mile Canyon is a world-famous archeology site with the highest concentration of petroglyphs and pictographs in the country. The proposal would shorten traveling distances for oil tankers through the Unita Basin, but opponents worry about the safety of historical resources. Plus, the Utah House and Senate opened the 2023 legislative session by highlighting their p...
Tuesday January 17, 2023
January 17, 2023 19:20 - 10 minutes - 9.52 MBResponsible for criminal and civil legal work, the Grand County Attorney’s office interacts with quite a few different people and departments. New Grand County Attorney Stephen Stocks says he’s mainly been in meetings during his first few weeks in office. Today on the news, we hear Stocks’ thoughts on his elected position. Plus, MLK Day as a continuum of protest, an uncovered boat from the shrinking shores of Great Salt Lake, and tribes waiting for the return of their ancestors’ remains. //...
Monday January 16, 2023
January 16, 2023 20:14 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBLocal politics seem especially active over the last few years in Grand County. Between COVID, housing and noise – there’s been a lot on the county’s plate. Helping lawmakers tackle these issues is Grand’s County Attorney. Christina Sloan spent four years in the position before losing her bid for re-election in November. Today on the news, we speak with Sloan about the issues that shaped her tenure, including state politics and gender. Plus, the Moab Sun News has agenda notes on the upcoming G...
Friday January 13, 2023
January 13, 2023 20:23 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBBlack bear hunting has been a controversial topic in Grand County since 2018, when two hunters in the La Sal mountains were caught abusing one. The hunters used hounds to chase the bear to exhaustion, caged the bear for two days, released it, and then let the hounds chase it again. Since this incident, Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources made changes to black bear hunting rules. But Grand’s lawmakers say there are still questionable loopholes. Plus, this week marked the inauguration of the ...
Thursday January 12, 2023
January 12, 2023 20:11 - 9 minutes - 8.67 MBIn a few months, Grand County’s Class of 2023 will participate in several graduation traditions. And they’ll create a new one. For the first time, all students will wear the same color graduation robe – red. Today on the news, we speak to two students who helped advocate for a more unified and inclusive commencement. And later, the Utah Food Bank has received funding for distributing what it calls more ‘culturally responsive’ foods. Plus, organizations around the world have a chance to win fu...
Wednesday January 11, 2023
January 11, 2023 21:14 - 10 minutes - 9.4 MBEnergy Fuels Inc., the company that owns White Mesa uranium mill just south of Blanding, will sell 300,000 pounds of uranium to the Department of Energy for $18.5 million. The sale is part of a larger initiative to create a domestic uranium reserve. Plus, sentencing in the largest body brokering case in the nation took place in U.S District Court in Grand Junction, Colorado. And later, our radio partners profile Moab Regional Hospital expanding services as well as recent efforts to remove a c...
Tuesday January 10, 2023
January 10, 2023 19:09 - 10 minutes - 9.94 MBThere’s a new sheriff in town. Jamison Wiggins has spent just over a week as Grand County’s recently elected sheriff. He caught up with KZMU News to give us some insight on a few changes he’s working on for the office, including a Major Crimes Task Force, code enforcement and grant writing. // Photo: Sheriff Jamison Wiggins (left) and Chief Deputy Sheriff Mike Palmer at the swearing-in ceremony on January 3rd. Courtesy Grand County Sheriff’s Office
Monday January 9, 2023
January 09, 2023 19:30 - 14 minutes - 13.2 MBAfter 30 years with the Grand County Sheriff’s Office – and 12 in the top job – Steve White is now entering retirement. Today on the news, White reflects on his tenure, including the cases that have shaped it. During his final week in office, the 2021 double homicide case that rocked the Moab community was declared closed. Retired Sheriff White talks about this case and others, as well as his personal history at the department. Plus, a preview of Tuesday’s city council meeting from our partne...
Winter News Break!
January 02, 2023 21:15 - 35 seconds - 550 KBHi listener, KZMU News is taking our semi-traditional winter news break this week. We will return Monday, January 9th! You can find nearly five years (!!) of our stories and special projects on the news tab at kzmu.org and wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you for your support and warmest wishes during this New Year. See you Monday!
Best of 2022 - Fear and Loss in a Remote Community
December 30, 2022 18:26 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBKZMU News is closing out our Best of 2022 week with a story that aired in March. In 2018 a murder shocked a small Navajo community near Bluff. Federal agents arrested a suspect later that year. But since then the victim’s family has lived without closure. We chose the piece due to Rebecca Green’s powerful story of loss and fear in this remote area of the Navajo Nation. // Original broadcast: https://www.kzmu.org/four-years-after-a-murder-a-rural-utah-navajo-community-looks-for-closure/
Best of 2022 - Cat Daddy
December 30, 2022 00:39 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBThis week, KZMU News reflects on another year of grassroots, community powered journalism. Today’s pick first aired in August. It brings us to the westside of Moab, where Travis ‘Cat Daddy’ Garcia looks after a group of community cats. This audio portrait was a listener and staff favorite, and we gave it a ‘best of’ for spotlighting a local driven by a tender heart. // Original broadcast: https://www.kzmu.org/travis-cat-daddy-garcia-audio-portrait/
Best of 2022 - River Guides Organize
December 28, 2022 18:49 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBAnother Best of 2022 at KZMU News! Today we rebroadcast a story that first aired in April. It’s about an anti-camping ordinance that threatened river guides’ homes. We thought it was worth highlighting due to the myriad issues it touched on here in Moab — worker housing and safety, unintended consequences of local regulations and civic participation. // Original broadcast: https://www.kzmu.org/friday-april-29-2022/