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
Candidate Debates! Grand County Commission & House District 69
October 18, 2022 21:25 - 2 hours - 157 MBToday, we once again have something special! The 2022 Candidate Debates with those running for Grand County Commission and State House District 69. Hosted by KZMU with support from the Southeast Utah League of Women Voters, this event broadcast live on Monday, October 17th from the Moab Arts and Recreation Center. Hear from candidates on a variety of issues including water, housing, elections and more! // District 5 (3:00)Steve Getz & Mike McCurdy, District 4 (32:00)Lori McFarland & Mary Mc...
Monday October 17, 2022
October 17, 2022 18:44 - 9 minutes - 8.93 MBMoab had a very special visit by theater troupe Bread and Puppet this weekend. They rolled into town in a painted school bus for their 30th stop on a three-and-a-half month tour across the country. Plus, a Navajo seedkeeper is preserving and sharing the foods of his ancestors with customers online. And we have a preview of this week's Grand County Commission meeting. // Show Notes: // Photo: Bread and Puppet was started by legendary artist Peter Schumann during the 60s counterculture moveme...
Friday October 14, 2022
October 14, 2022 23:04 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBListeners, it’s radiothon! And here at the newscast we take this opportunity to reflect on the stories and projects we've been working on for the past few months. KZMU News team Molly Marcello and Justin Higginbottom spoke with executive director Serah Mead live from downtown Moab about their reporting and the uniqueness of community radio. // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent talks ultramarathon running, election coverage, Arches’ entrance closures and a ne...
Thursday October 13, 2022
October 13, 2022 18:58 - 10 minutes - 9.46 MBFall and tourist season has arrived in Moab. And something else has returned — Arches National Park entry closures. The park has reached capacity every day since it ended a pilot reservation program on October 4th. Plus, the annual John Denver Celebration hit a 25-year milestone in Aspen, Colorado, this week, just before the anniversary of the singer’s death on October 12, 1997. But the gathering in this town that Denver once called home could soon be changing as participants get older and th...
Wednesday October 12, 2022
October 12, 2022 20:51 - 8 minutes - 8.06 MBFindings from the "Moab - Tomorrow Together" vision and action plan were presented to Moab City Council yesterday. That report comes from community surveys, workshops and focus groups that began in January. The results show locals are concerned about being left behind as the area continues to develop for tourism — but also full of ideas to help shape their community. Plus, a Western Slope state legislator is asking the U.S District Court to impose the maximum penalty in a “body brokering” ca...
Candidate Debates! Grand County Attorney & Grand County Sheriff
October 11, 2022 21:22 - 1 hour - 110 MBToday, we have something special! The 2022 Candidate Debates with those running for Grand County Attorney and Grand County Sheriff. Hosted by KZMU and ACLU Utah with support from the Southeast Utah League of Women Voters, this event broadcast live on Monday, October 10th from the Moab Arts and Recreation Center. Hear from county attorney candidates Christina Sloan and Stephen Stocks on issues including alternatives to incarceration, lawsuits, and community collaboration. Listen to sheriff can...
Monday October 10, 2022
October 10, 2022 19:19 - 9 minutes - 8.93 MBKZMU News recently released our first issue of an audio magazine we’re calling Great Tape. The theme of that show was “Off to the Races.” And during the program we checked in on personal races happening every week in Moab. One of those is the race to physically get Moab the news. After the Times-Independent prints the paper on their very own press, it’s delivered across town by people like AJ Long. For Long, newspaper distribution is a family business. Plus, Election Day is November 8th and U...
Friday October 7, 2022
October 07, 2022 19:36 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBThere’s a canyon in the Book Cliffs managed by the Natural History Museum, where researchers do experimental archeology. Over 500 archeological sites have been found among this high-elevation oasis in the desert, mostly from the Fremont civilization. The Range Creek Field Station has become a kind of outdoor laboratory, where researchers use ancient techniques to better understand how people may have lived here 1,000 years ago. // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Indepe...
Thursday October 6, 2022
October 06, 2022 18:17 - 10 minutes - 9.83 MBMonsoon season officially ended last week. We check in with a regional expert from the National Weather Service on Moab’s notable season. Plus, hear a sample from KZMU News’ first issue of audio magazine ‘Great Tape.’ And our partners report on a new requirement for Utah schools to provide free period products to students. // Show Notes: // Photo: Moab had a 'normal' monsoon season this year — which in this time of drought meant it was notable. (CEBImagery) // Great Tape: Off to the Races ...
Wednesday October 5, 2022
October 05, 2022 20:02 - 10 minutes - 9.8 MBThere was a steep increase in requested property tax relief for Grand County residents from 2018 to 2022. That's due largely to the dramatic rise in property values. Plus, our partners share a tribute to renowned mountaineer Hilaree Nelson who passed away in an avalanche while on an expedition in Nepal recently. And the Southern Ute tribe is conducting a new housing survey in Ignacio, Colorado. // Photo: Telluride, Colorado, local mountaineer Hilaree Nelson passed away in an avalanche while ...
Tuesday October 4, 2022
October 04, 2022 18:16 - 8 minutes - 7.95 MBFormations in a Wyoming cave that are hundreds of thousands of years old are helping scientists better understand the climate crisis. The research is paired with information gathered from neighboring lake sediment to help inform climate modeling. Our partners speak with High Country News about their story on this paleoclimate research. Plus, federal officials say they have a tool at their disposal to force a significant amount of water conservation on Lower Colorado River users. // Photo: Lo...
Monday October 3, 2022
October 03, 2022 20:12 - 10 minutes - 9.35 MBWildlife officers often investigate crime in far-reaching areas, traveling across mountains, lakes and streams. Now a Utah conservation officer drone team will use unmanned aircraft to conduct investigations, which a rep says should improve their effectiveness in solving crime. Plus, Friday was the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools, also known as Orange Shirt Day. And, a school superintendent in our region recently wrote an opinion piece detailing harassment that LGBTQ+ ...
Friday September 30, 2022
September 30, 2022 20:01 - 28 minutes - 26 MBBeginning Tuesday, visitors to Arches National Park will no longer need to secure a reservation to enter. At least for now. The 2022 temporary timed entry experiment is slated to end October 4th. Now park staff will pore over the data accrued during the program, to help make a final decision on implementing it again next season. // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses an OHV-related lawsuit against the city and county, the White Mesa Uranium Mill atte...
Thursday September 29, 2022
September 29, 2022 20:52 - 9 minutes - 8.98 MBMustangs from the Sulphur herd in Utah trace their ancestry to the Iberian peninsula. Brought to North America by the Spanish in the 1500s, they've since roamed free among an isolated mountain range near the Nevada border. We visit a ranch with Sulphur horses to find out what makes these animals a "genetic treasure." Plus, the average cost of keeping a roof over your head in Utah's metro areas is a lot more than it used to be — if you're renting. // Show Notes: // Photo: A Sulphur horse wit...
Wednesday September 28, 2022
September 28, 2022 18:56 - 8 minutes - 7.91 MBYesterday there was an open house event showcasing the first eight finished homes of Arroyo Crossing. The public was allowed a peek inside that new affordable housing development built with help from the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah and Moab non-profit Community Rebuilds. The neighborhood will provide homes for local workers who would otherwise likely be priced out of the housing market. Plus, an off-highway vehicle advocacy group is suing Moab elected officials over recent noise an...
Tuesday September 27, 2022
September 27, 2022 20:05 - 10 minutes - 9.99 MBSchool district leaders across the country say they are having trouble finding enough substitutes to cover teacher absences. That’s certainly the case in Grand County, where school librarians, behavioral health specialists and principals are covering classes. Current staff are reaching out to community members with a substitute teacher sales pitch. One of the rewards of the job? Their immense gratitude. Plus, as the Great Salt Lake gets saltier, researchers are predicting brine shrimp will be...
Monday September 26, 2022
September 26, 2022 19:17 - 9 minutes - 9.02 MBA recent study in the Journal of Animal Ecology shows that predators can help regulate wild ungulates in the desert. For example, mountain lions keep a wild donkey population in Death Valley out of precious wetlands. We speak to a biologist about potential lessons for southeastern Utah from this research. Plus, norovirus is a nasty stomach bug that’s usually associated with cruise ships and restaurants. Our partners report on an outbreak in the Grand Canyon. And conservation groups say more n...
Great Tape: Off to the Races
September 23, 2022 19:13 - 1 hour - 97.9 MBToday we have a special program — the first issue of Great Tape, an audio magazine from KZMU News. We’re telling personal stories of the West and providing audio snapshots of what it’s like to live and work here — all in the creative spirit of an alternative weekly (except it won’t be weekly, at least not yet). Every show will have a different theme which we’ll explore in a bunch of ways. And our first theme is “Off to the Races.” In this episode we jump from one daily race to another in M...
Thursday September 22, 2022
September 22, 2022 18:24 - 8 minutes - 8.07 MBThe Grand County Commission held a public hearing this week to consider an alternative dwelling overlay ordinance. That would create a pilot program to allow non-traditional housing — like RVs, tiny homes and longer-term camping — potentially within residential areas. The goal is to provide more housing for the local workforce. Plus, our partners report on an annual hot air balloon bonanza which brought dozens of colorful vessels to Snowmass Village in Colorado. And we get an update on local ...
Wednesday September 21, 2022
September 21, 2022 18:11 - 8 minutes - 7.99 MBIt’s Banned Books Week, and libraries and bookstores across the country are celebrating the freedom to read. It’s a pressing issue, as books dealing with race, gender, and sexuality continue to be challenged. Today on the news, we speak with local librarians and booksellers in Moab on the power of books and the importance of accessing information in our democracy. // Show Notes: // Photo: The banned books display at Back of Beyond Books. The bookstore and Grand County Public Library are hi...
Tuesday September 20, 2022
September 20, 2022 18:59 - 9 minutes - 8.68 MBA developer with the state trust lands administration is making progress on their residential Aggie Townhome and Apartments project, adjacent to USU-Moab’s new campus. Housing here has been in the works here for decades, but staff say they can now see a finish line – the first phase is on track to be complete by 2023. Plus, nonprofits have seen reductions in lodging opportunities to house guests and seasonal staff they bring to the region. This challenge is part of the housing crisis familiar...
Monday September 19, 2022
September 19, 2022 20:15 - 10 minutes - 9.31 MBThe film crew of 'Horizon: An American Saga' were honored in Moab over the weekend by representatives of several Native American tribes. Written and directed by Kevin Costner, the film series aims to tell a more truthful story of the clash between settlers and Indigenous peoples in the 19th century. After receiving gifts including blankets and an antique rifle, Costner told the crowd that he has thought about the cultural conflict at the heart of the film his entire life. And later, new data ...
Friday September 16, 2022
September 16, 2022 21:17 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBThere’s a vital race that happens across the country – everywhere there’s a paved road. It’s the reason you have ripe tomatoes or ice cream or paperclips. Those in Moab know the race well. Trucks move over 70 percent of the nation’s freight by weight, and Moab is on the trucking routes supplying products across the Southwest. Today on the news, we hear from truckers passing through our community hauling goods. // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent talks skunk ...
Thursday September 15, 2022
September 15, 2022 20:29 - 7 minutes - 6.64 MBMoab Free Health Clinic staff made progress this week on their 200 South building, holding a ‘demolition party’ to make way for the clinic’s updated design. The old USU campus is being transformed into a health center that will house the clinic, health department and socially oriented nonprofits. Staff say this campus will help address the social determinants of health. Plus, the Supreme Court will be reviewing a case that could overturn landmark legislation that protects Indigenous youth. An...
Wednesday September 14, 2022
September 14, 2022 19:45 - 10 minutes - 9.81 MBAfter an August flood tore through downtown, Moab City has stayed pretty busy. They are tasked with working on infrastructure repair - and figuring out how to pay for it. Today on the news, a rundown on the numbers. Plus, the Colorado River is drying up, and the major cities in the West that depend on it are scrambling to boost their supplies and keep taps flowing. Climate change is already cutting into the amount they get from mother nature, which leaves those cities to turn to reusing the w...
Tuesday September 13, 2022
September 13, 2022 20:49 - 8 minutes - 7.58 MBThe Interior Department has approved a list of replacement names for nearly 650 geographic sites – including 50 in Utah – that included a racist and sexist slur. In her comments on the name changes, Secretary Deb Haaland said she felt obligated to use her platform to ensure public lands are ‘accessible and welcoming.’ The Moab area has new geographic names in the Manti La Sal National Forest, Canyonlands National Park and near the confluence of the Dolores and Colorado Rivers. Plus, players w...
Monday September 12, 2022
September 12, 2022 19:12 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBRepresentative John Curtis visited Moab over the weekend. He represents Utah's 3rd Congressional District which includes Grand and San Juan County. The occasion was a candidate meet and greet for Republican and independent candidates. The representative took some time to chat with KZMU about what impact Congress can have in rural Utah. Plus, our partners report on the Ute Mountain Ute’s annual Bear Dance held at White Mesa. // Show Notes: // Photo: Representative John Curtis spoke at the Gr...
Friday September 9, 2022
September 09, 2022 18:57 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBFor a growing number of people, Labor Day means more than just time off work. According to an August Gallup poll, 71 percent of Americans now approve of labor unions – the highest approval rating since 1965. Labor is having a moment, including here in Utah, where two Starbucks have unionized in the state. Today on the news, we chat with organizer Jacob Lawson on lunch break at Starbucks in Cottonwood Heights. // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Sophia Fisher of The Times-Independent discusses fl...
Thursday September 8, 2022
September 08, 2022 19:22 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBNew research has highlighted the fascinating history of Moab pioneer William Grandstaff. We speak to a genealogist, composer and museum curator helping to map Grandstaff’s life from slave to frontier cowboy. Plus, A 25-year-old river guide from Colorado is racking up hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok explaining the megadrought in the Colorado River basin. The reasons for it, and potential solutions, can be hard to wrap one’s head around, but Western Water Girl makes it snarky and fun. ...
Wednesday September 7, 2022
September 07, 2022 17:57 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBVolunteers continue to clean-up Mill Creek Parkway this week. Moab’s August 20th flood sent large amounts of debris through the creek bed, leaving piles of sand and vegetation in its wake. Community members are doing what they can to clear this debris so city employees can focus on big infrastructure repair and improvements, damages that are currently estimated at $10 million. Hear the details on the clean-up events from Grand County Trail Mix Board Chair Colin Topper, who also talks about th...
Tuesday September 6, 2022
September 06, 2022 21:09 - 9 minutes - 9.06 MBEarlier this summer, two horsemen traveling with pack animals appeared in the northern corridor of Highway 191. As artistic silhouettes, the riders commemorate the history of the Old Spanish Trail and the cultural, social and economic situations that brought more people to the Moab area during the mid-1800s. The trail snaked roughly 1200 miles from California to New Mexico and Moab’s geology provided an important river crossing. Plus, Utah is suing the Biden administration over its expansion ...
Monday September 5, 2022
September 05, 2022 19:59 - 8 minutes - 7.62 MBDuring Interstate 70 construction in the 1980s, more than 100 structures were found near Sevier, Utah, dating from the 10th and 11th centuries. After hundreds of thousands of artifacts were excavated, the actual village site was destroyed by the freeway’s construction. Fremont Indian State Park was established to preserve the site’s treasures. Plus, an Arizona tribe plans to pull out of a deal meant to prop up the Colorado River’s largest reservoir. And later, a group of scientists and nonpro...
Friday September 2, 2022
September 02, 2022 22:15 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBThe Grand County commission has approved using transient-room tax funds to support businesses impacted by the August 20th flood. Plus, our partners report on villainized snakes in the West. And food banks across the country are grappling with two major problems: demand from customers is up and supplies are down. // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses using tourism tax funds for non-marketing ends, the state of Moab's emergency alert system, alternativ...
Thursday September 1, 2022
September 01, 2022 20:54 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBSwanny City Park is a place for Moab residents to practice a range of different hobbies — as well as meet others that are into what they’re into. On a Wednesday afternoon, a small group gathered to practice handstands and talk about the struggle to be inverted. Plus, our partners report on mushroom hunting after monsoon storms around Telluride. And tribal nations across the country will be receiving funding for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program put forth by the Department of Commerce....
Wednesday August 31, 2022
August 31, 2022 18:32 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBA mining company and regulators failed to clean up waste from a uranium processing mill in a small New Mexico community. Now the company wants to hand the site over to the Department of Energy — they just need to get rid of the residents first. KZMU speaks with investigative reporter Mark Olalde of ProPublica about his reporting on this story. // Show Notes: // ProPublica: A Uranium Ghost Town in the Making https://www.propublica.org/article/new-mexico-uranium-homestake-pollution // John B...
Tuesday August 30, 2022
August 30, 2022 18:29 - 9 minutes - 8.26 MBA close call at Up the Creek Campground during a flood on August 20th has local officials sounding the alarm — over a lack of an alarm. Moab doesn't have a real-time flood warning system. And an alert system on the county level wasn't activated during the area's recent historic flooding. // Show Notes: // Photo: The 18-site Up the Creek Campground has been in Moab for 30 years. After a devastating flood, the owners are unsure about reopening. KZMU // Sign up for Grand County alerts here: h...
Monday August 29, 2022
August 29, 2022 20:29 - 8 minutes - 7.83 MBMoab continues to clean up after last weekend's historic flooding. Businesses, streets and residences were impacted — as well as some of the area’s bike trails. That includes the Robin Groff Memorial Skills Park off Mill Creek. That creek became a raging river, cutting new channels and flooding nearby land. On Saturday over 40 people, five earth movers, two chainsaws and a dog showed up to restore the park. Plus, our partners have an update on this summer's strong monsoon season in the Colora...
Friday August 26, 2022
August 26, 2022 21:24 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBIn this week's News Reel, Sophia Fisher from The Times-Independent discusses the aftermath of Moab's historic flood. Many businesses spent these last days surveying damage and shoveling mud. One of those businesses especially impacted was Up the Creek Campground. The popular site is located in town, on the banks of Mill Creek — which became a raging river on Saturday night. Also, Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News discusses our community's emergency alert system or lack thereof. Most here le...
Little News Break
August 24, 2022 02:00 - 31 seconds - 496 KBHi listener, KZMU News is taking a brief summer break this week. Thank you so much for your support and we’ll be back soon!
News Extra! Moab City's Mayor and Manager on Major Flooding
August 23, 2022 02:10 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBIt’s a KZMU News Extra! Moab City Mayor Joette Langianese and City Manager Carly Castle jumped on the airwaves during This Week in Moab on Monday to discuss the major flooding event that disrupted local infrastructure. Learn more about the incident response, as well as their thoughts on the future. “All the climate models indicate there will be more severe storms [and] that we’ll get our precipitation kind of all at once,” says Castle. “So we might be reckoning with a new normal. And that mea...
Monday August 22, 2022
August 22, 2022 18:31 - 8 minutes - 8.06 MBLocal volunteers spread out over Moab’s streets on Sunday, cleaning up after a major flood event that caused Mill Creek to overtop some downtown bridges and send water into properties around Main Street. Using shovels, wheelbarrows and their own hands, community members moved debris in hard hit areas. Moab City and Grand County have each made emergency declarations, which could help make funding available for those affected. Public works employees, along with local city and county officials, ...
Friday August 19, 2022
August 19, 2022 20:15 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBWith his white van full of cat supplies, local Travis Garcia looks out for community cats living in and around the Walnut Lane trailer park. He feels for these animals, especially those who have suffered from disease or infection. “As I get older, I sympathize with everything a little bit better, you know? I got a real tender heart.” Today on the news, we have an audio portrait of Garcia, also known as ‘Cat Daddy.’ // Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discuss...
Thursday August 18, 2022
August 18, 2022 20:31 - 10 minutes - 9.76 MBWith drought and increased risk of wildfire in our region, restoration work has never been more important. That includes seeding native plants or improving the health of wetlands. It turns out that Utah does restoration a bit differently than the rest of the country. And our state’s model could be the future. Plus, water cuts are coming to some users along the Colorado River next year. They’re not enough to keep the river’s largest reservoirs from declining though. The federal government prom...
Wednesday August 17, 2022
August 17, 2022 19:09 - 10 minutes - 9.19 MBNutrition advocates say the nationwide ‘free meals for all’ program helped address food insecurity and childhood hunger for millions during the first two years of the pandemic. But that’s going away this school year. Now families who are above certain federal income thresholds will once again have to pay for their children’s lunches. And experts say that can be tricky in Moab, where these income thresholds don’t necessarily reflect the cost of living here. Plus, ancient human footprints were ...
Tuesday August 16, 2022
August 16, 2022 20:14 - 9 minutes - 9.15 MBOver the weekend, a group traveled into the La Sal Mountains to observe one year passing since the murder of Moab locals Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner. A suspect has been named in that case, but the investigation is still open. As we report in today’s news, some are still looking for closure. Plus, an environmental nonprofit is offering Utahns a new perspective on the challenges facing Great Salt Lake by giving them a birds eye view of its shrinking shoreline. And, a new push to further Na...
Monday August 15, 2022
August 15, 2022 20:51 - 9 minutes - 8.45 MBIn June, the Department of the Interior told states that use the Colorado River’s water they had to save two-to-four-million-acre feet within months. Now, tribes are asking for a bigger say in the negotiations over how to do it. Although they are senior water rights holders along the Colorado, they have historically been left out of decision making about it. Plus, now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, and some states in our region are moving to ban abortion, some young women are more seri...
Friday August 12, 2022
August 12, 2022 21:06 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBMaybe nothing can unite a community quite like fury against a common enemy. For Moab, that enemy is known as the goathead. “This is nature at war with anything that is able to carry these little these little puncture sticker weeds,” says goathead slayer Randall Lewis. He and others are part of a grassroots community effort to control this invasive plant in common spaces. Armed with their favorite gardening tools and a passionate fury, local goathead slayers fight every season in the name of b...
Thursday August 11, 2022
August 11, 2022 20:21 - 8 minutes - 7.68 MBMoab Community Childcare has really taken off this year. Aiming to improve the availability of high-quality childcare in the valley, the nonprofit is opening new infant care services while also supporting other childcare providers in Moab. “The speed at which we've been running is because people keep giving us water and cheering us on,” says board chair Rob Walker. “The support has been awesome.” Plus, an annual report on childhood well-being rates Utah among the best in the country. But advo...
Wednesday August 10, 2022
August 10, 2022 19:22 - 9 minutes - 8.53 MBGabby Petito’s parents intend to sue the Moab City Police Department for $50 million, wanting to prompt changes in how police here and elsewhere respond to domestic violence. They claim Moab’s police could have prevented their daughter’s death. Plus, the Senate passed policy changes for the oil and gas industry operating on public lands. And later, the migratory monarch butterfly makes a red list of threatened species and new federal legislation aims to protect parts of the Dolores River Cany...
Tuesday August 9, 2022
August 09, 2022 20:12 - 9 minutes - 8.45 MBThe Canyonlands Research Center offers a paid summer internship to Native American students interested in conservation. Today on the news, we visit students as they tour Dugout Ranch on the border of Canyonlands National Park. Used by the Ute and Navajo tribes and later by white ranchers, the land now helps educate and train the next generation of conservationists. Plus, a county in Southwest Colorado is working with an unusual partner to tackle the area’s noxious weeds – goats. And later, a ...