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 worl…

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'B…

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:…

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 me…

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. An…

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 hall…

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…

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 publishe…

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 KZMUhttps://www.kzmu.org/ - Buy Mer…

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," …

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…

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…

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 Vern…

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 Rive…

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 sta…

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 e…

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 t…

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 a…

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 pop…

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 remov…

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 ecosyst…

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…

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…

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 …

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 int…

KZMU News is on a break until early September. Tune in to KZMU News live every weekday at noon and 6:00 pm for regional news from our sister stations and rebroadcasts of some of our favorite stories from the past year. Talk to you in a couple weeks. Thanks for listening.بقلم KZMU News

On the News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about former Salt Lake Tribune reporter Zak Podmore’s new book, Life After Dead Pool. We also discuss the state’s most recent precipitation report, which found below average rainfall in Utah this summer. And we finish off with a story about Grand County Commission Cha…

Today on the Regional Roundup, we hear a two way on the impact of dehumanizing political rhetoric targeted at immigrants from RMCR, a two way with the founder of the Rocky Mountain Welcome Center and its work with recently arrived Venezuelans from KDNK, a two way on the history of Buffalo Soldiers in the Rocky Mountain West from KRCL, and a feature…

On the News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the city’s plans to improve Main Street in Moab, possible updates to the Moab Area Travel Council Advisory Board, and law enforcement’s recovery of the body of a missing woman who was killed in a flash flood. Plus, we hear from Kenny Fallon, editor and publisher…

The mining company Energy Fuels transported its first shipment of uranium ore from the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon to the White Mesa Mill in Blanding, Utah, on Tuesday. The company plans to transport six or more truckloads of ore to the White Mesa Mill daily for the next two years. The shipping route cuts through the Navajo Nation, whic…

After 51 years, the Moab Police Department has finally solved the murder of Ann Woodward, a local barkeep who was killed at Woody’s Tavern in 1973. For decades, law enforcement was stumped — who was the man that Ann beat at poker that night, the man sitting next to her smoking Camel cigarettes, the man with what one witness described as “devastatin…

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear a feature about using stilts to pick peaches in Palisade, Colorado, by Rocky Mountain PBS. We also hear a feature on catfishing in the moonlight by KGNU, a feature on a mounted patrol unit in Jackson, Wyoming, by KHOL, a feature on the recent Ute games for kids, by KSUT/KSJD, and a feature on river runners…

On the Weekly News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the county’s decision to postpone accepting a recent state auditor’s report that found the county misallocated over $4 million in tourism-related funds. We finish our discussion with a story about a recent tragedy involving a Moab resident who passed away…

Today we hear from our partners at KUER about a proposed shooting range near a residential neighborhood. We also hear from KSUT about an inter-tribal sports competition in Ignacio, Colorado. And we finish off with a story from KHOL about Jackson, Wyoming's volunteer crew of mounted police.بقلم KZMU News

Today on the Regional Roundup, we hear a two way with former Colorado Governor, Dick Lamm, who spearheaded the opposition to the Winter Olympics in Colorado. We also hear a feature on bird watching in Telluride. Plus, an audio postcard on fire flies, and an interview on Dark Sky communities. And we finish up with a two way on the Gunnison Valley Ob…

On the Weekly News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the Moab Police Department’s year-in-review report, which uses a new records management system that will hopefully make it easier to track 9-1-1 calls by category in the future. We also cover two tragedies that happened last week – two fatalities in Canyo…

Today we hear from our partners at KGNU about a traveling Smithsonian exhibit that is currently on display at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum in Green River. We also hear from Rocky Mountain Community Radio's Maeve Conran about western Colorado's approach to managing the spread of Japanese Beetles.…

Today we hear from KSUT about a new program to provide locally grown produce to Indigenous communities. We also hear from KGNU about Colorado's new Medicaid plan that includes doula services.بقلم KZMU News

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear a two way interview with best-selling author and Paonia native, Paolo Bacigalupi, produced by KBUT. We also hear a feature on finding solutions to polarized politics, a recent forum at the Aspen Ideas Festival, produced by Aspen Public Radio. And we finish up with a presentation on evaluating media in the …

On the Weekly News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the extent of the damage from two recent floods. We also discuss a scandal at the Utah State University satellite campus in Price, Utah, where an employee was paid $157,000 over two years without working. - Show Notes - • Moab’s recent flash floods: The e…

As of July 1, Grand County and the City of Moab are no longer accepting glass in single stream recycling. Residents can still recycle glass for free at the Moab Community Recycling Center. But now, Grand County will join the rest of the state and most of the country in cutting glass from single-stream recycling.- Show Notes - • Moab Community Recyc…

Today we hear from our partners at KVNF about a recent decision by a Colorado court to vacate the sentences against Sunset Mesa Funeral Home operators who were caught illegally selling body parts. We also hear from Aspen Public Radio about DACA recipients who are worried about whether they'll be able to continue living and working in the U.S. depen…

The Utah Investigative Journalism Project recently reported that Kane Creek developer Craig Weston donated over $40,000 to attorney general candidate Derek Brown's campaign in 2023. Reporter Eric Peterson connects the dots for us about why this relationship is relevant within the larger story of the controversial housing development in Moab. - Show…

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear a feature about students from Ignacio, Colorado, who headed to Space Camp in Alabama, produced by KSJD/KSUT. We also hear the keynote speech of the Aspen Psychedelics Summit about the intersection of psychedelics and neurodiversity, produced by Aspen Public Radio. And we finish up with an interview with a …

On the Weekly News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the city’s plans to repave Mill Creek Drive starting in August. We also talk about the proposed increase in property taxes, which have been set at 0% in Moab for over 30 years. We finish up with a story about a Texas couple who went missing during a flash…

KOTO’s Gavin McGough speaks with writers and long-time friends Hampton Sides and Kevin Fedarko about their new books. Fedarko's "A Walk in the Park" captures his 750-mile hike along the Grand Canyon, and Sides' "The Wide, Wide Sea" tells of map-maker Captain James Cook’s final journey to Hawaii.بقلم KZMU News

Today we hear from our partners at KDNK about Colorado's recently introduced wolf pack. We also hear from Utah News Connection about price gouging in the pork industry. We finish up with a story from KUNC about a federal program to pay Arizona cities to conserve water from the Colorado River.بقلم KZMU News

Today on the Regional Roundup, we hear a feature about using an augmented reality app to get kids outdoors, produced by KDNK. We also hear a two way on a non profit from Colorado Springs that turns guns into gardening tools, produced by the Rocky Mountain Community Radio. We finish up with a two way with a man from Kurdistan who now lives in Salt L…

On the Weekly News Reel today, we talk to Doug McMurdo, editor of the Times-Independent, about the state’s audit of Grand County, which found that over $1 million in tourism-related funding was misused. We also discuss the status of a sexual battery case involving former elementary school teacher, Bruce Hucko, and a 12-year-old student. - Show Note…

Grand County has multiple alert systems to warn residents and tourists of local emergencies. On Friday, all cellphones within the identified high-risk area were pinged with a flash flood warning from the county. Residents not within the high-risk area did not receive the notification, leading some to believe the warning system failed, an issue the …