KZMU News

This week on Regional Roundup, we examine how a second Trump administration could affect the Rocky Mountain West. From public lands and energy policy to climate science research and the impacts on immigrant communities, the region faces potential changes on multiple fronts. We hear stories from RMCR, KGNU, and KHOL.

On the News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the dismissal of a lawsuit between the county and the city and OHV businesses regarding a noise ordinance that went into effect in 2022. We also discuss healthcare provider Angie Settle, who won an award for her work bringing dental services to low-income and uninsured patients. We finish off with a story about...

Artist Keith Jim visited the middle school on Tuesday during the Native American Club's after school program. Jim turns Dine creation myths into graphic novels. - Photo: A middle school student sketches during the after school program on Tuesday. Photo by Jeremy Spaulding.

At Tuesday's commission meeting, the county's planning director Amy Weiser said she was unable to locate the official zoning map for the controversial Kane Creek property. Organizers with Kane Creek Development Watch argue that the county made a mistake in recording a 1992 rezone of the property, prompting what’s become a months-long search for the 32-year-old map. The watch group claims that only...

This week on Regional Roundup, we hear about a former monastery near Aspen, Colorado, that community members are rallying to conserve. We meet runners who competed in a 240-mile race in southeast Utah, and a new book examines how horses forever altered the course of human history.

On the News Reel today, we talk to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about financial struggles at Grand County EMS and a recent request for funding for new ambulances. We also hear about the county commission's support for making a timed entry system at Arches permanent. Plus, we hear about Moab Solution's annual holiday fundraiser. - Show Notes - • Moab Solutions annual fund...

Today, we hear from KJZZ about an organization in Arizona that's fighting the black market trade of eagle feathers in the United States by legally selling feathers for Indigenous ceremonies. We also hear from the Mountain West News Bureau about shifts in wildlife migration as climate change progresses.

La Sal Mountains could see over 18 inches of snow as a storm passes through southeastern Utah all day Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. The Utah Avalanche Center warns backcountry skiers about early-season snow slide hazards. - Show Notes - https://utahavalanchecenter.org/forecast/moab

This week on the Regional Roundup, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month. We hear from a Diné musician who combines electronic music with traditional singing and drumming, a former Navajo ranger who recounts his experiences with the paranormal in a new memoir, and from the Native American Rights Fund about ongoing barriers facing Native voters.

On the News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the most recent ruling in the Gabby Petito case that found the Moab Police Department not liable for her murder under the Governmental Immunity Act of Utah. We also discuss a protest against the Kane Creek Development that took place last weekend. Plus, we give an update about changes to the speed limits on Hig...

Today, we hear about possible rollbacks in federal funding that was recently granted to two Moab businesses. We also hear about a group of conservationists who are protesting a lithium mine on the grounds that it could harm a rare species of snail. Plus, we have a story about Colorado River negotiations and Utah's youngest elected official.

Possums don't typically live in the Mountain West, but a couple weeks ago, a Moab resident caught one in a skunk trap in his backyard. North America's only marsupial has a high rate of reproduction and can quickly throw native ecosystems out of balance. The Division of Wildlife Resources suggests setting traps if residents see possums near their houses. You can report possum sightings to the DWR a...

Today, we hear about Arches National Park's timed entry system, which could become permanent. The public comment period for this plan ends on Nov. 23. We also hear about possible changes in the Department of the Interior that could affect how public lands are managed in Utah. Plus, a two-way about how rural voters shifted left in this past election in western Colorado.

This week on Regional Roundup, we take a look at President Biden's recent apology for federal Indian boarding schools, with reaction from tribal communities across the region. We also report on Indigenous voter turnout in southeast Utah and share a story about a round dance in Durango. This week's show features stories from KSJD, KRCL, KZMU and KSUT Tribal Radio.

On the News Reel today, we talk to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about an upcoming county commission hearing that will address zoning discrepancies at the Kane Creek Development. We also discuss free dental screenings at the elementary school. Plus, we hear about the county’s new administrator, Mark Tyner. - Show Notes - • Kane Creek zoning discrepancies set to be address...

A new horror filmed called Delicate Arch follows four college kids on a psychedelic trip to Arches National Park gone wrong. The movie, which was filmed in Moab, screened at Star Hall last week, followed by a Q&A with director, Matt Warren. In this newscast, we also hear from KUER about Navajo farmers near the San Juan River and a water settlement that could change their livelihoods. Photo: Charac...

Today, we hear a story from KUER about an indigenous variety of peach that's coming back in southeastern Utah thanks to the work of a group of Navajo horticulturalists. We also hear a story from KGNU about how immigrant aid organizations in Colorado are preparing for the new presidential administration.

Since 2011, the Utah Legislature has set aside nearly $6 million in public funds to support efforts to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species list and bring the animal's management under state control. A recent audit has found that over $5 million of those public funds have gone unaccounted for. We talk to Anastasia Hufham, reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune, about her recent story on this...

This week on Regional Roundup, we explore the legacy of Grizzly 399, Wyoming’s beloved bear, whose recent death has made national headlines and inspired memorials around the state. Then, we travel to southwest Colorado, where a Payment for Ecosystem Services program is reshaping conservation efforts by rewarding farmers who cultivate healthy ecosystems. In Lake City, we check out a powerlifting co...

On the News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent. We recap the election results and discuss the Moab Valley Fire Department's final annexation plan, which has been in development for years. We also talk to Kenny Fallon, editor of the Green River Observer, about a lawsuit that Green River residents and local non-profits filed against the State Engineer's Office regar...

Voter turnout has fluctuated in Indigenous precincts in San Juan County over the past decade. That's largely due to the county's switch to mail-in ballots in 2014. Navajo Nation residents aren't served by the USPS, the mail carrier that delivers ballots. This switch to mail-in voting prompted the Navajo Nation to sue shortly after for what it claimed was voter suppression among Indigenous voters....

Today on KZMU News, we review yesterday's election results across the county and the state. - Show Notes - • Election results: https://electionresults.utah.gov/results/public/utah/elections/general11052024

Polls are open in Grand County today until 8:00 p.m. at the Grand County Clerk's Office on Center Street in Moab, and in San Juan County until 8:00 p.m. tonight at The Montezuma Creek Dine Building, the Monument Valley Welcome Center, the Navajo Mountain Chapter House, the White Mesa Community Center, the Blanding Library, and the San Juan County building in Monticello. The deadline for returning...

This week on Regional Roundup, we look ahead to the elections and cover a recent Walk to the Polls event on the Navajo Nation. We also discuss a project that puts voters' concerns at the center of election news coverage. In addition, a former diplomat reminds us of our civic duties in his new book on democracy, and a psychologist explains how emotions impact the way we vote.

On the News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent. We discuss the city's plans to repair the bridge on 300 South after multiple floods damage infrastructure this summer. We also talk about a federal mandate to replace lead pipes in residential homes. We finish with a story about the state of homelessness in Moab as we look toward the colder months of winter. - Show N...