KZMU News

Just a couple hours north of Moab, in a little town on the other side of the Book Cliffs, musicians have turned an old water tank into a performance venue and recording studio, simply called The Tank. Echoes last up to 40 seconds in this 65-foot steel cylinder, making it a unique sonic experience and a destination for musicians from around the world. - Show Notes - • The Tank, Center for Sonic Art...

This week on Regional Roundup, we explore the history of abortion in Colorado, follow a DACA recipient's journey to Mexico to reunite with family members, examine the transition from coal to renewable energy on the Navajo Nation, and look at a circus visiting Moab amid accusations of animal cruelty. Contributors to this week's show include Abby O'Brien and Halle Zander of Aspen Public Radio, Adam...

On Monday, KZMU News Director Emily Arntsen and Public Affairs host Christy Williams Dunton facilitated a two-hour forum with the eight candidates running for Grand County Commission. The conversation is separated into four 30-minute segments by district. - Time Stamps - • 00:00 - 00:30 — District 3: Incumbent Jacques Hadler & Howard Trenholme • 00:30 - 01:00 — District 2: Melodie McCandless & Jas...

This week on Regional Roundup, we meet a chainsaw sculptor from Zimbabwe who now calls Colorado home. We also hear from a community fighting for better athletic facilities in their region, and we get an update on the Navajo Nation's efforts to help tribal members who were lured to fraudulent treatment centers in Phoenix. Plus, we learn about the melting of permafrost and sea ice. Contributors to t...

On the News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent. We discuss the recent arrest of Grand County public defender Kristine Rogers for attempting to illegally evict tenants. We also talk about some possible plans to bring more water to the wetlands, which flood less and less as water levels drop on the Colorado River. And we finish up with an update on road construction...

Runners from around the world came to Moab last week to compete in an ultramarathon called the Moab 240. Participants had 117 hours to traverse a 240-mile loop from Moab to Indian Creek, up the Abajos, into the La Sals, and back to town. Most runners average about 90 minutes of sleep per night, and the extreme exhaustion causes many of them to hallucinate. We talk to runners Aum Gandhi and Alicia...

This week on Regional Roundup, it’s all about food. We hear from Jessica Hulse Dillon, senior director at the Soil & Climate Alliance, who spoke at a panel discussion called "The Election and the Future of Food on Your Table" at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies recently. We also meet a regenerative farmer on Colorado’s Western Slope, hear from an ecologist who calculates the carbon footp...

On the News Reel today, we talk to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about the candidates for the upcoming Senate and House races in this region. We also discuss the county’s tax revenue, which is still on hold after Grand County was late in submitting its 2023 annual report. We also hear from Kenny Fallon, editor and publisher of the monthly newsletter, the Green River Obser...

Today we have a little teaser about an upcoming series from KZMU News. Projects like these are made possible by the generosity of our listeners, and we thank you for supporting us! This week is Radiothon, and if you love the work we do here, consider donating to the station at kzmu.org. - Show Notes - - Donate to KZMU https://www.kzmu.org/ - Buy Merch & Premiums https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketi...

Last week, the Jordan World Circus performed at the Spanish Trail Arena in Moab. The circus has been protested for animal cruelty for years and was banned from using elephants in Salt Lake County in 2020. But last year, Utah passed an amendment that prohibits local governments from banning or restricting any enterprise that uses "working animals," including circuses. Last year, the state also chan...

This week on Regional Roundup, we hear about the intense Logan to Jackson bike race, a vintage car rally in Colorado, and an Indigenous art exhibit inspired by Star Wars. Plus, we hear from the best-selling author Bonnie Garmus during her visit to Colorado to accept the Freedom from Religion Foundation award. To finish up, we have a discussion with a former University of Colorado professor about t...

On the News Reel today, we talk to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about the upcoming Grand County commission race. In this week’s paper, eight candidates answer questions about public lands, affordable housing, Moab’s economy, taxes, and the county’s relationship with state lawmakers. Andrew gives us some background on each of the candidates and a brief overview of their a...

This week on Regional Roundup, we hear a story about the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, which is considering a move from Utah to Boulder, Colorado. Two other film festivals recently took place in the Rocky Mountain West: the Aspen Film Festival and the Crested Butte Film Festival. We also meet alien and Bigfoot enthusiasts who gathered in Vernal, Utah. Additionally, a recent festival in Ignac...

On the News Reel today, we talk to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about delays in Grand County’s 2023 financial report. We also discuss the upcoming county commission election and give updates about repairs needed at the library. Plus, we hear from Kenny Fallon, editor and publisher of the monthly newsletter, the Green River Observer. Fallon tells us about the annual Melon...

The fungus that causes a deadly bat disease called white-nose syndrome has made its way to Utah. Last week, Canyonlands National Park announced that the fungus was detected in an abandoned mine in the Needles District. White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in North America since it was discovered in 2007. Now, Utah has become the 44th state in the U.S. to test positive for the fungus. -...

On Sunday, the fall equinox ushered in a new season, and countless rock art panels near Moab lit up with corresponding displays of sunlight that one archaeologist has spent over 30 years documenting. Today, we look at a pictograph of a figure holding one end of a net. During the equinoxes, sunlight in the shape of a fang appears to hold the other end. We discuss with local archaeologist Rory Tyler...

This week on Regional Roundup, we'll offer tips on how to be ready for a natural disaster. We'll also hear from Colorado residents working on wildfire mitigation in hopes of keeping insurance costs down. Plus, some of the world’s fastest drivers gathered recently at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats to set speed records in their homemade hot rods, but the future of the World of Speed race is in questio...

Today on the Weekly News Reel, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the recent decision to nullify Amendment D from the Utah ballot prior to November's election. If passed, Amendment D would have given the Utah Legislature the power to repeal citizen-passed ballot initiatives. We also discuss Grand County's new planning and zoning director, Amy Weiser, who says land use...

Last year, Utah legalized unlimited, year-round hunting of mountain lions. Some argue that mountain lion numbers need to come down in order to help the state's dwindling deer population, despite no evidence to support this correlation. In fact, wildlife biologist Jim Keen recently published a paper arguing the opposite — that a healthy predator population is necessary to help deer numbers, especia...

On Friday, a new lithium mine in Green River announced that the Utah Division of Water Rights approved its application. The mine, owned by Anson Resources, was granted a flow rate of 19 cubic feet of water per second on the condition that all water used in the extraction process will be re-injected back into the aquifer after lithium has been removed. Following a drilling accident this spring, con...

This week on Regional Roundup, we hear how many of our beloved outdoor spaces are being loved to death as increasing numbers of tourists flock to the region. This show explores how local communities are grappling with the challenge of preserving their natural landscapes while sustaining their economies. From overcrowded trails to endangered ecosystems, this piece sheds light on the delicate balanc...

On the News Reel today, we talk to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about disagreements among commissioners on how the state’s audit of Grand County tourism funds was represented at a recent legislative meeting. We also discuss a report on National Park Service revenue in southeastern Utah during 2023. And we finish up with a story about Moab’s Taiko Dan group, which is cele...

The annual paranormal conference Phenomecon took place in Vernal, Utah, last weekend. UFO spotters, Bigfoot enthusiasts, and Skinwalker believers convened for four days of lectures and presentations about supernatural occurrences in the Uinta Basin and beyond. - Photo: Phenomecon attendees Audie Tackett and Gail Tackett show off a photo of what they believe are Bigfoot tracks spotted in the snow i...

For over a century, the world's fastest drivers have been coming to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah every year to set speed records in their homemade hotrods. But the future of the sport is uncertain as conditions of the speedway deteriorate from decades of mining on the salt flats. What will that mean for the next generation of racers? Photo: At 15 years old, Carson May is one of the youngest c...

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear an interview with the author of a new book, "The Western Horse: A Popular History of the Wild and Working Animal" by RMCR. We also hear a feature on the Churro sheep and its significance to the Navajo Nation, from the archives at KSJD/KSUT. Plus, a feature on Trumpeter swans in Wyoming, by KHOL. And an interview with the author of "Why Animals Talk: The N...