This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear songs of resistance from around the region that were part of the March 28 No Kings rallies. We look at new efforts to support local news outlets in Colorado, at a time when many are struggling to survive. And in Telluride, a first-of-its-kind skijoring event brought horses, skiers, and spectators together. Plus, a conversation about the growing threats facing salt lakes around the world, including Utah’s Great Salt Lake.

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about the record low water levels in Lake Powell that are threatening deadpool this year after scare snowfall this winter. We also recap the No Kings rally in Moab, and give an update about upcoming free medical screenings that will take place in town later this month.

Lake Powell is heading for a record low

No Kings protest draws 350 protesters in Moab

Moab Free Health Clinic to offer free breast and cervical cancer screenings

National park staff in Utah are reviewing dozens of signs after new federal orders call for the removal of any displays deemed critical of the government or American history. Leaked documents show the confusion this is causing among park staff nationwide who are questioning signs about climate change, mining, and Indigenous history.

Photo: A sign about writer and former park ranger Ed Abbey has been flagged in Arches National Park for possible removal. Photo courtesy of Tom Ryan.

This week on the Regional Roundup, we hear about community concerns over an ICE detention facility in Glenwood Springs, the impact of the abortion ban in Wyoming, and a possible reason for high mule deer death rates in southeastern Utah. We finish the show with a conversation with a tribal water attorney on the relationship between Indigenous communities and the Colorado River.

Today on the News Reel, we speak to Andrew Christiansen, reporter at the Times-Independent, about the county’s recommendation for a new airline service contract at the airport. We also discuss the new director for the county’s tourism office. And we finish with a story about recent vandalism at a petroglyph panel near Tusher Tunnel.

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 vaccination rates in Grand County are slightly above the state average. Medical workers are urging people with symptoms to call ahead before seeking care so hospitals can isolate potential cases safely.

Show Notes:

Utah Department of Health

Utah Wastewater Testing

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. And we hear about an uptick in tourism trends in Moab this winter. 

Show Notes: 

The Press, Moab’s newest business opens March 19 

Spring Spruce Up seeks volunteers

Register for Spring Spruce Up 

Winter tourism was good for Moab as city budget season arrives

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 playing a growing role in the region’s struggling deer populations.

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 free speech and censorship: from a Durango bookstore’s lawsuit to block police from accessing a customer’s book purchase records, to a conversation with a Colorado librarian featured in the documentary The Librarians, which examines the rise of book bans and challenges to libraries.