KZMU News

Measles cases continue to rise across Utah, with more than 440 infections reported statewide since the outbreak began in June. In Moab, only three confirmed cases have been identified, but the virus has repeatedly appeared in local wastewater, suggesting infected people are still moving through the community. Health officials say tourism could increase the risk of transmission, even though vaccina...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear why moose populations are declining in the region and why Wyoming’s annual moose count is such an important event. We also dive into the mountain West’s unique sport of skijoring, which combines skiing and horseback riding. Later, we hear how a mountain community is building resilience in the face of climate change. And we round out the show with best-sel...

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Lizzie Ramirez, reporter at the Times-Independent, about a new cafe and shop that opened in town this week. We also discuss the county’s yearly trail maintenance volunteer weekend, which is scheduled for April 10 - 13. And we hear about an uptick in tourism trends in Moab this winter. - Show Notes - • The Press, Moab’s newest business opens March 19 https://www....

In southeastern Utah, mule deer fawns are dying at unusually high rates, and researchers are trying to understand why. A collaborative study in the La Sal and San Juan mountains has found signs that Chronic Wasting Disease may be affecting deer much earlier in life than previously thought, possibly even before birth. As infection rates climb in the Moab area, scientists say the disease could be pl...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear a report on the growing outdoor recreation economy, a look at an abortion doula program supporting patients in Western Colorado, and a feature on youth activists rallying at the Utah legislature in support of efforts to save the Great Salt Lake. The show also features a story about a new mobile food bank serving rural communities in Colorado, and explores...

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about construction on the bike path on River Road, WabiSabi’s new building, and a recent decision to allow Class 1 e-bikes on certain Moab-area bike trails. - Show Notes - • Colorado River Trail Gap construction begins March 9 https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/colorado-river-trail-gap-construction-begins-m...

At their next meeting, Grand County commissioners will make a recommendation to the U.S. Department of Transportation about which airline they hope will serve Moab for the next four years. The county's current contract with Contour Airlines expires in September. In the meantime, the airline plans to add a second daily flight to Denver starting in April. Contour is one of four airlines in the runni...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear about an animal sanctuary in Wyoming that looks after animals who used to spend their days in laboratories. We find out what happens to patients when a rural health facility closes. Then we meet a Navajo basket weaver who is keeping the tradition alive for the next generation. We round out the show with a story about a recent community event on Colorado's...

This week on the News Reel, we speak with Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about the responses from local business owners about the end of timed entry at Arches. Plus, we give a preview of Stoopfest, a performing arts festival that will take place in Moab this weekend. - Show Notes - • Moab's stoops becomes stages at new performance arts festival https://www.moabtimes.com/ar...

The Moab Police Department is investigating two recent scams that cost local victims more than $100,000. One case involved a business that lost a third of its cash reserves after a scammer impersonating a bank employee convinced a bookkeeper to transfer funds. Police say these kinds of scams are difficult to investigate because the perpetrators are often overseas, and they urge residents to contac...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear from Colorado State University professor Michael Childers about how ski resorts may need to adapt to increasingly dry winters. We visit Salida, to hear about Monarch Mountain ski resort’s expansion during a historically dry season. Then we travel to the small mountain town of Nederland, where a low-snow winter is raising climate concerns among residents a...

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about the end of the timed entry system at Arches National Park and what that means for Grand County’s economic assessment of the reservation system, which will cost the county $60,000. - Show Notes - • Arches National Park drops timed entry reservations for 2026 https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/arches-na...

Visitors no longer need a reservation to enter Arches National Park. The National Park Service announced last week that the timed entry program is discontinued for 2026. In a press release, federal officials said the decision is intended to “expand public access,” and similar reservation systems have ended at Glacier, Yosemite and Mount Rainier national parks as well. The change aligns with the go...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear about an art exhibit in Durango, Colorado, that centers Indigenous and Latinx artists. Then, we hear from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, who spoke last month in Aspen about a new initiative aimed at advancing equality through women’s sports. We also travel to southeast Utah to learn how the ancient craft of flint knapping is being preserved...

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about a recent lawsuit filed against the Lieutenant Governor’s office and developers of the Echo Canyon development over their status as a preliminary municipality. We also discuss the cleanup effort at the UMTRA site in Moab, which finally relocated all 16 million tons of uranium waste to Crescent Junction...

Having a reliable well is the only way a lot of people can live in rural Utah. But digging a well can be an expensive gamble. You could spend thousands to hire a hydrologist to point you in the right direction. Or, for a fraction of the price, you could hire a water witch. Today we speak to Jim Brandt, an excavation contractor and dowser who uses brass rods and a handsaw to "witch" for the perfect...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear how national tensions around immigration enforcement are playing out in Wyoming. We visit a tiny mountain community in western Colorado that has worked to provide services for its senior residents, and we round out the show with a conversation about the recent ski patrol strike in Telluride and how it continues to impact the community.

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about the region’s record-low snowpack this winter. We also discuss Grand County’s $60,000 study into the timed entry system at Arches National Park. And we close with an update about a possible new air service contract at the airport. - Show Notes - • Utah snowpack hits worst levels on record https://www.m...

Negotiators from the seven Colorado River Basin states will likely miss a crucial deadline this weekend to submit a new plan for how to divide the dwindling water source. Without an agreement, the federal government retains the right to impose a contract on the states. The Feb. 14 deadline comes as the region faces record-low snowpack coupled with unusually warm temperatures this winter. - Show No...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we bring you voices from ICE protests held across the region, along with reporting on Native Americans who say they’ve been stopped, and in some cases detained, by immigration agents. We also look at growing concern in Indigenous communities over the possibility that Congress could overturn the current resource management plan for Grand Staircase–Escalante Nation...

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Doug McMurdo, editor at the Times-Independent, about the ICE protest that took place in Moab last week. We also discuss a recent state audit of a former USU president who spent nearly $300,000 dollars renovating her office. And we finish with a quick update about funding for CFI’s youth program.

Today we speak to Greg Nunn, a master flintknapper from Castle Valley who crafts stone tools using an ancient technique. We discuss the ways he’s preserving, documenting and passing on the tradition and what the practice means to him personally. This episode is part of a KZMU series that highlights people in our community who are keeping Southwestern traditions alive. You can find more stories in...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we'll hear about the formation of a new federal agency: the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, and a report on so-called “death cards” found in abandoned vehicles following rumored ICE activity near Vail, Colorado. We’ll also check in on an avalanche training program in Wyoming, and efforts underway to reintroduce wolverines to Colorado. Plus, a look at the dismantling...

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Lizzie Ramirez, reporter at the Times-Independent, about a statement from Moab City officials in response to federal immigration officers shooting and killing two Americans in Minnesota recently. We also discuss a survey taking place in the area to assess homelessness. - Show Notes - • Moab mayor reaffirms support for immigrants: ‘We’re not going to let anything...

LeAnder Goldtooth is one of very few people his age keeping the art of Navajo basket weaving alive. At just 23 years old, he's become a master of the craft, harvesting his own sumac, reviving ancient patterns, and sharing his knowledge with the next generation. - Show Notes - • LeAnder Goldtooth on Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashkiiasaa.goldtooth/ Photo: LeAnder Goldtooth holds two baskets he's w...