KZMU News

The Bureau of Land Management released a new Travel Management Plan for the Labyrinth Canyon Gemini Bridges area, closing OHV routes that conflicted with other uses, including riparian habitat. The plan was years in the making, and wilderness advocacy groups are applauding the federal agency’s decision. Plus, riparian restoration in the Southeast Utah Group of National Parks is getting some attent...

Researchers working with the Nature Conservancy's Dugout Ranch are studying how a breed of desert-adapted cattle fare in this region compared to Red Angus. So far, they've found the criollo prefer larger, more drought resistant forage than drought-sensitive grass. We also hear from our partners at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at CU Boulder about studying grassho...

LGBTQ+ artist and educator Cal Bulmash says they feel comfortable in rural spaces. But ‘rural’ is not traditionally associated with queer community. So drag performance in rural areas, with its playful exploration of the gender spectrum, is particularly meaningful to Bulmash. This Friday, Moab Pride will host them and other rural drag performers for an all-ages show, bringing the art of drag back...

After over a decade of deliberations regarding recreation use along the Labyrinth Canyon corridor of the Green River, the Bureau of Land Management will finally make a decision by the end of this week about whether it will close a portion of the motorized vehicle roads, and if so, how many. Plus, we hear from our partners at KSUT about whether an energy company can redeem its bond release after fa...

It’s Regional Roundup Monday! Today’s show features hummingbirds in the Rocky Mountains, an author interview about the new book 'The Last Ride of the Pony Express,' and details on the Salt Lake City mayoral race.

An Estonian oil company, Enefit, recently abandoned its plans to mine oil shale on federal land in the Uinta Basin and lost the authority to use its water rights for fossil fuel production. It’s a huge win for environmentalists who were fighting the proposal — the company was hoping to produce 50,000 barrels of synthetic oil daily and use about 11,000 acre feet of water per year from the Green Riv...

The last time the Bureau of Land Management made a comprehensive update to their oil and gas regulations, pop singer George Michael was topping the charts with his new hit song, Faith. So…it’s been awhile. But that’s changing. The federal agency is now poised to reform royalty rates, bonding requirements and even leasing preferences. Today on the news, we report on the local and regional responses...

In a world where there are near-infinite ways to disagree, there’s one thing that brings Moabites into consensus: a shared dislike of the tube popping, skin tearing noxious weed…the goathead. Today on the news, we check in with community members focused on eradicating puncturevine, also known as ‘goatheads,’ from our shared trails and walkways. And later, we hear from our radio partners on harmful...

Just west of Salt Lake City, there's a tropical fish habitat and scuba diving school called Bonneville Seabase. What will happen to the thousands of marine animals living in natural saline pools when the owners close shop? Plus, we hear from our partners at KUNC about invasive crayfish in the Upper Colorado River Basin. We also hear an audio postcard from KGNU about the country's largest gem and m...

The Regional Roundup is a now weekly production of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio Coalition, of which KZMU is a proud member. The latest show features interviews on book banning and censorship, as well as a feature on a book binding school in our region. Tune in!

Midweek at the large reservoir south of town, a place people enjoy swimming, paddle boarding, and fishing…it was quiet. New yellow signs dotted the shores of the lake reading ‘HEALTH WATCH. Harmful algae in water!’ This harmful algal bloom could be the first documented at Ken’s Lake, according to the Southeast Utah Health Department’s environmental health director Orion Rogers. Today on the news,...

Today we hear from our partners at KSJD about a new store in Cortez, Colorado, that sells seeds that are native to this region. We also hear from KSUT about an ongoing investigation opened by the New Mexico Attorney General into whether Native American students are disproportionately punished at schools compared to white classmates. Plus, we hear from Aspen Public Radio about what it's like to be...

In the summer of 1971, a young Hiroshi Nakanishi made a visit to the United States from Japan. As his family road-tripped across the West, he became fascinated with old American boxcars, freight equipment, and abandoned railway stations. Now a retired professor of design, Nakanishi wants to restore those personal memories. He’s building an exact replica of a place he passed through in 1971: Cisco,...

On Monday, state wildlife biologists released 30 roundtail chub into the pond at Old City Park as part of a project to boost native fish numbers. Once the population grows, biologists will release some of the fish back into the Dolores River, where they came from. We also hear from our partners at KHOL about a new mushroom survey happening in northwestern Wyoming. //Photo: Roundtail chub slowly ac...

The Regional Roundup is a biweekly production of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio Coalition, of which KZMU is a proud member. The latest show features stories on regional labor movements, a new podcast on Veterans and an audio postcard about a silent comedy movie festival in our region.

Imagine you’re a scientist, doing research in the middle of the ocean. But instead of collecting data, you’re confined to your own quarters with debilitating illness. This is the lived experience of former scientist now turned Moab-based science journalist, Amanda Heidt. Today on the news, we speak to her about a new essay collection titled ‘Uncharted: How Scientists Navigate Their Own Health, Res...

Federal approval for the Uinta Basin Railway was recently revoked by the U.S. Court of Appeals. The proposed 88-mile railway is intended to connect oil fields in eastern Utah to a larger network of railways, including a section of the Union Pacific Railway line, which runs through Grand County. With this new route, oil producers were hoping to transport an additional 350,000 gallons of waxy crude...

School districts across the country are grappling with transportation issues due to a shortage of bus drivers. That’s true even in Grand County, where driver shortages can turn bus scheduling into a ‘juggling act’ for local staffers. Today on the news, we speak to the school district’s director of transportation about what makes the job challenging to fill...but also unique and rewarding. And late...

Today we hear from our regional partners at KHOL about ongoing investigations into drink spikings at bars in Jackson, Wyoming. We also hear from KSJD about revived efforts on the Navajo Nation to legalize same-sex marriage. Finally, we hear from KDNK about a new artificial technology that can spot dangerous wildfires. //Photo: Earlier this summer, a woman suspects she had her drink spiked at The S...

Getting people on wheels is what the folks at Skate Moab love to do. From all-ages skate nights to themed events like ‘disco’ and ‘burning man,’ the group aims to bring the joy of skating to our local community. Today on the news, we revisit an audio portrait of the skater at the backbone of these community-focused events: Jazmine Duncan. // Original Broadcast: https://www.kzmu.org/wednesday-march...

Golf has come under some scrutiny recently in Utah because of how much water the courses use for irrigation. Earlier this year, a house bill was proposed that would have mandated that all golf courses publish how much water they use per year. The bill didn’t pass, but it did bring up some questions about Moab’s golf course, and whether the 18-hole course is worth the water. // Plus, the Weekly New...

Lift Up is a KZMU storytelling project intending to deepen understanding and empathy within our community and reinforce a sense of safety and belonging for all. // Our next Lift Up storyteller is Kaitlin Myers, a housing advocate, rafter, and glitter enthusiast. She moved to Moab as an Americorps VISTA from Tampa, FL and has lived here year-round for 7 years. She is currently the Executive Directo...

On Monday, a tanker carrying road chip oil rolled over on State Road 128, locally known as River Road. 3,800 gallons of chip oil spilled near Big Bend campground. Chip oil is the tar-like substance used to repair cracks in roads. No oil reached the Colorado River, according to Moab Valley Fire Chief TJ Brewer, who led the emergency containment crew. We also hear from our partners at KGNU about the...

Floods, fires and public health emergencies are just a few of the hazards that have hit Grand County in recent years. Local emergency management is now looking for public input on a plan to mitigate natural and manmade safety threats. Plus, the largest spill of radioactive material in U.S. history occurred 44 years ago in northern New Mexico. Members of the Navajo Nation are commemorating the even...

The Regional Roundup is a biweekly production of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio Coalition, of which KZMU is a proud member. The latest show brings us animal stories across our region from Burrofest to butterflies and beyond!