Moab Sun News The Grand County High School softball team clinched their seventh victory in their last eight games with a decisive 6-1 win against the San Juan Broncos on Saturday It was a taste of redemption for the Red Devils who had previously lost to the Broncos 4-3 in April Chloe Byrd dominated the mound for all seven innings allowing just one unearned run on two hits and striking out 12 batters the Red Devils saw hits from four different players Hope Shumway made a significant impact by going 1-for-3 Bailey Altoff also shone with a 2-for-3 performance The Red Devils’ recent performance has propelled them to a 17-8 record thanks in large part to a solid pitching lineup that has averaged only 2.9 runs allowed in recent games Grand County will clash with Duchesne who have their own five-game winning streak See more information about Grand County High School sports That’s how my relationship with this place began: confused But the desert has a strange way of working on you Alexis Greenwood please take my body to Nordstrom.” It made me laugh and think that if I ever kick the bucket in Salt Lake don’t bother with Nordstrom just haul me to Moab instead But I’ll be honest: it wasn’t love at first sight I grew up surrounded by a very different kind of natural beauty — the European sort — green forests that look like they belong on postcards and lakes that glisten like polished emeralds.  I found out in the morning that it was just a cow It took me a while to warm up to the beauty of the red desert and those monumental rock formations I can’t help but daydream about those rocks being real towers and fortresses from millennia ago standing stoic as layers of sculpted sediment But I do know something about dogs and hiking So when others are packing up their bikes or lining up their jeeps I’m packing my dogs and plenty of dog food getting ready for the 3.5-hour drive from Salt Lake to Moab which even has a stream running through it Nothing beats  a wet playground for the pups and a few minutes of meditation by the water One of my favorite trails is the Bar-M Loop but there’s enough space for everyone: bikers and there are patches of slickrock that make you feel like you’ve landed on another planet Poison Spider Trail is the ultimate off-roading experience and it’s one of those things that’s equally baffling and impressive to me like an army of metal ants navigating the boulder-strewn landscape guiding the driver — carefully calculating every inch — advising him how to get over some gigantic boulder “Why?!” Even at my snail’s pace I’m faster on foot than any of those jeeps Some folks complain that off-roading isn’t nature-friendly but I’ve met plenty of jeep enthusiasts who are out here to escape the daily grind following the rules about where to go and how to behave they’re just trying to get a little closer to the wild some of these trails were never meant for recreation Originally carved out to reach uranium deposits back in the 1950s it’s now one of the most famous off-road and biking routes in the region You’ve got 103 miles of rugged terrain where mountain bikers and jeeps trace the old mining tracks sharing stories of grit and glory along the way Another old mining route turned iconic trail is the Porcupine Rim Trail where cyclists navigate rocky descents and cliffs with views that drop your jaw That 142-mile beast from Colorado to Moab is part rugged path It’s where bikers and jeepers alike challenge themselves against the harsh landscape but it was used to test motorcycles back in the day it’s a proving ground for mountain bikers who want to see how much traction they can squeeze out of their tires on those petrified dunes It’s the kind of trail where you either fall in love with biking or swear off it forever (so I heard) if you really want to see Moab’s off-roading culture at its peak plan to be here during the annual Easter Jeep Safari this nine-day event in April turns the town into a hub of four-wheel-drive madness it’s set for April 12th to April 20th.  You’ll see jeeps of every kind crawling through trails like Golden Spike and Hell’s Revenge guided by folks who seem to have nerves of steel and a passion for dust and diesel It’s one of those times when Moab feels like the heart of the off-roading universe you can’t help but feel caught up in the energy of it all After a day filled with the exhilarating roar of engines and rugged trails there’s nothing quite like unwinding at a tranquil spot by the river letting the gentle sounds of flowing water soothe the senses.  perhaps stemming from my upbringing in a quaint town spread over nine rivers One of the most charming riverside retreats I’ve discovered is Red Cliffs Lodge Perched on the banks of the Colorado River this rustic getaway offers serene views and a tranquil atmosphere It also welcomes dogs — a crucial factor for me when traveling with my four-legged companions Moab has grown on me like an acquired taste I can’t imagine not making that trip a few times a year and that familiar pull toward the land where the desert meets the sky A hiking accident in Israel could have been the end of an adventure it was the beginning of something extraordinary That moment sparked a journey that led to the creation of Magnum Bikes a thriving e-bike company transforming transportation in Salt Lake City and beyond Years of addiction and homelessness had pushed him to the brink he stands as a testament to transformation coaching others through the same dark paths he once walked From living on the streets to guiding others toward a brighter future Brian’s story is nothing short of miraculous—and it raises a compelling question: can the Other Side Village replicate this success for others Utah’s housing market presents mounting challenges for Gen Zs Real estate expert Asha Klarich offers insight into navigating affordability from ADUs to creative strategies that make homeownership possible in this competitive landscape “They’re not resistant; they’re underserved,” says Bernie Hart challenging misconceptions about homelessness his free Tai Chi program in Utah has provided a space where individuals failed by traditional systems find balance and renewed purpose through movement and community 2025Moab is one of the most popular destinations for outdoor lovers in the United States but with a vast number of trails and things to do This guide will help you figure out what to do and where to stay when visiting this mountain bike playground The Mesozoic-aged sedimentary sandstone of Moab creates some of the most recognizable trails and is a must-visit destination for mountain bikers with so many options for riding in the area especially if you are only in town for a couple of days I recently took a trip down to the red dirt of Moab and put together this quick guide for anyone looking to maximize their time in what was once called the Uranium Capital of the World One of the many great things about Moab is how much camping there is Most of it is pretty private and much cheaper than staying in a hotel Thanks to the abundance of public lands near Moab and if you don’t mind dispersed camping there are some great BLM campgrounds or National Park options bring plenty of extra water to cook and stay hydrated The La Sal Mountains watching over me at Sand Flats Campground and the temperatures were moderate during the day and dropped to the low 40s / high 30s at night I stayed in the Sand Flats Campground with an RV for the weekend and was impressed with the trail access to Slickrock and Above Abyss on the first day I pedaled up from camp to Porcupine Rim and the Raptor Route Sand Flats ($15)Located just outside of town and the gateway to Porcupine Rim this is a great place to park the car and pitch a tent if you want to ride from camp during your visit featuring vault toilets and lacking potable water Big Bend ($15)Located about 20 minutes from Moab Big Bend campground can be found along Hwy 128 It sits on the banks of the Colorado River offering great spots for kicking back at the end of a long day of riding The Porcupine Rim trailhead is just a few miles away so you can ride back to camp after shuttling or climbing up to the top Klondike Bluffs ($15)Enjoy great views of Arches National Park and Klondike Bluffs trails from this spot so don’t expect to be scrolling TikTok while out here Klondike Bluffs Road is about 15 miles from Arches National Park and slightly further to Moab The road has rocky sections but is passable by most vehicles with the first eight spots having space for larger RVs and trailers Another primitive site features vault toilets first-served basis or reservations for group spots Willow Springs ($15)Recently incorporated into the Utahraptor State Park this rustic site will blow your mind with views and access to the Klonzo trail system right up the road There is a lot of space for RVs and bigger vehicles here and you will find pit toilets and no potable water This is a bit further out of town and should only be considered if you have provisions for a few days and want to be really unplugged I rode past this spot on a ride and realized it would be a great place to park a camper for a few days to soak up some amazing views and be able to ride right out of camp Juniper campground is close to the Rim trailhead and there are even more dispersed spots as you head up the road This is a unique option for someone who wants to remain fairly central to Moab proper but still wants to save a bit of coin on lodging This is tucked away despite being right in town and you will be shaded by trees next to a stream that keeps things cool It ranges from $28 for a single camper to $49 for a party of 4 with an extra $2 charge per night on Friday and Saturday Up The Creek Campground entrance in Moab and many of them can be exceptionally technical but there are still plenty of trails that can be fun for all skill levels These are some of the most popular trails in the Moab area that you should aim to ride while in town but I implore anyone to explore the massive trail maps for themselves to find all the hidden gems in the area Porcupine Rim (Difficult)Porcupine Rim Trail One of the most iconic trails in the area is full of technical moves and mind-blowing views Porcupine Rim descends for 11 miles and ticks off just over 3,000 feet of elevation drop There are plenty of shuttle options for this iconic trail and most shops in Moab will offer weekday and weekend shuttles You can also make a big day of it and pedal up for the Whole Enchilada route or you can pedal up Sand Flats Road.  Captain Ahab (Difficult/Extreme)One of the great trails in Moab Upper and Lower Ahab are located in the Amasa Back area with the lower section being the real test of skill and technical ability for advanced riders HyMasa gets you down with fewer heart-stopping features you are looking at a 4-mile journey that drops almost 1,400 feet Slickrock (Difficult)The otherworldly views of Slickrock This is one of the most popular trails in the area It takes you through a range of different features above the city of Moab and is an excellent introduction to riding in Moab Approximately 10 miles and nearly 1,000 feet of up and down throughout this is a great way to see what riding the area's rocks is all about Raptor Route (Moderate)It's essential to stop and soak up the views during every ride on this list What could be considered the easy alternative to Porcupine Rim making for a 12-mile ride back to Sand Flats road and Moab proper Shuttling this will get you almost 2,800 feet of descending with a few quick technical climbs sprinkled in to keep you on your toes Above Abyss (Moderate)The incredible and alternate route if you want more Slickrock vibes This alternate route for the Slickrock trail gives you a great option to explore some other terrain and get new perspectives of the area This cut-off is found right before you get into the proper Slickrock route and offers slightly easier terrain and less mileage it connects back into the clockwise direction of Slickrock Klonzo Trails (Mostly Easy)The primarily blue Klonzo trail network outside of Moab One of the more tame trail systems in the area Klonzo holds more blue and green trails that are easily accessible and rideable for less skilled mountain bikers They are still incredibly fun have something to offer for everyone and are located just up the road from Willow Springs camping Where To Eat in MoabIf you’re riding hard and Moab has plenty of places to satiate the hungry bellies of mountain bikers you’ll be as impressed with the food as you are with the riding in the area While these are just a few of the spots I recommend there are many other places to satisfy your cravings GilibertosOne of 3 burritos I ate over the weekend from Gilbertos and a broad menu with something for everyone and Tortas with a horchata are bussin’ after a long day of riding Don’t overlook their breakfast menu DoughbirdMouth-watering goodness You don’t want to skip on these donuts if you’ve got a sweet tooth and the chicken sandwiches are also pretty spectacular if you get there after 11 am Milts Stop & EatI wish I had taken pictures of the food After 70 years in the business of serving hungry travelers it’s one of the must-try places here and floats that can bring you back to life The Gringo Burger with onion rings left a positive impression on my mind and stomach with its brisket and BBQ sauce blanketing BluPig BBQPhoto: Blu Pig A mouthwatering BBQ joint with live music seven nights a week A full bar and tantalizing food menu elevate Blu Pig among many other BBQ places I’ve been to and I inhaled my plates before I could even take a picture so a good grocery store was a must on my trip Moonflower Co-op is an excellent spot for fresh fruits and vegetables and a fantastic deli with a hot bar and bakery.  The local bike shop is an essential part of the mountain biking ecosystem in Moab and there are plenty of great shops to choose from and world-class service if you go rubber-side-up on a ride get beta on trail conditions and local recommendations for must-ride trails Poison SpiderAs you enter Moab from the north this is one of the first bike shops that catches your eye When the speed limit on Highway 191 drops to a manageable 25 mph in town the shop’s striking storefront—featuring a somewhat eerie mural on its south-facing wall—invites you into the mountain biking paradise of Moab Check out our Shop Local article with owner Scott Newton to learn more about his iconic shop's history and anything more you could need for a day on the trails Stop by and check out the wide selection of bikes parts The friendly and helpful staff is happy to supply you with trail advice Rentals are loaded and ready for a shuttle at Moab Cyclery Chile Pepper Bikes has developed into one of Moab's leading bicycle shops and is an authorized dealer for Giant Following a change in ownership in March 2023 Chile Pepper persists in upholding a legacy characterized by fervor and expertise in mountain biking and gravity racing A profound appreciation for the mountainous and desert terrains of the Western United States is fundamental to their operation and even shuttles throughout the week.  UtahMenu{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nature/utah/state-park-worth-the-visit-ut/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nature/utah/state-park-worth-the-visit-ut"},"author":{"name":"Melanie Johnson","url":"https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/authors/mjohnson","@id":"https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/#/schema/person/dXNlcjoyOTI="},"headline":"We Love Our National Parks highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems but her passion for writing is the only thing that fuels her soul she writes because it's her freedom...it brings her joy She has 4 years of professional writing experience and when she's not crafting articles for OnlyInYourState she is writing and editing for her online publication on Medium.com but This Utah Park Is Just as MagicalSkip the national park crowds to experience jaw-dropping adventure at this outdoor playground in Moab breathtaking views of the mighty Colorado River this state park is just as magnificent as any of our national parks and is worth visiting and be blown away as the gorgeous hues paint the sky stargazing while marveling at the glowing night skies you’ll want to take your own pics at this picture-perfect overlook The park has nine easy-access overlooks providing different views of the scenic area you’ll see why this playground is a photographer’s dream come true.  The rewards are just as mesmerizing as the national park counterparts without the extra effort.   What’s more? There is a world-class mountain biking trail — Intrepid Trail: Big Chief Loop — with sections suitable for beginners and families Expert riders will find adventure on this eight-mile rugged trail that winds around high cliffs and features spectacular views of the river below Since biking is limited in many of the national parks in the area Don Cerney/AllTrailsAside from the jaw-dropping vistas visitors can’t get enough of the camping at Dead Horse and nothing beats waking up to incredible views of the vast desert landscape which is a bonus feature at this outdoor playground.  So, why visit this bucket-list-worthy destination in Utah? You can skip the crowds of the national parks without sacrificing too much of the adventure. I'd also recommend adding Canyonlands National Park to your visit to experience the best of both parks What is your favorite state park in Utah? Do you think it’s worth visiting? Tell us all about it on our nomination page Want to explore more of the awe-inspiring terrain of Southern Utah? If so, soar across the sky on this unforgettable Moab’s Best Arches Airplane Tour. It’s a bucket-list adventure that you’ll love.  Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! Moab sits in a valley surrounded by dreamlike sandstone foundations with the La Sal mountains towering to the southeast of the city Arches and Canyonlands National Parks are nearby as well as petroglyphs and Bureau of Land Management land The soil under your feet feels ancient and new at once The stars look so bright and heavy at night that you have to wonder how the sky doesn’t come crashing down I normally write this column about television but who has time for television when surrounded by a landscape like this You’re going to tell me that the local residents undoubtedly have time for television and you would be correct – I find plenty of time to watch TV back home in Colorado Springs another dramatically beautiful tourist destination Of course you don’t have time for something as mediated and carefully crafted as TV I’m not much of a travel writer at this point in my life so I’m not going to bore you with a long list of Moab attractions to check out Suffice it to say that nothing can really prepare a visitor for the dramatism of Arches or for the perfect simplicity of the Moab Diner What I do want to talk about are dinosaurs Places like Willow Springs Dinosaur Tracks and the Poison Spider Dinosaur Tracksite The petrified tracks of long-dead animals should not be this haunting with the world perpetually in crisis and the end of the human race always around the corner I get a chill down my spine when I realize that a species has once dominated this earth with tourists like me now tracing its routes while tiny shivers run down our collective spines Will the human species drown in history too one day will someone else trace our tracks – and whatever else we manage to leave behind – with this endless fascination I consider this question in light of other cultures that existed long before the United States of America was created and expanded which are attributed to the Fremont People before the place was ever known as Poison Spider A local legend states that a little girl died at the site from a spider bite thousands of years after the petroglyphs came to be and millions of years after a dinosaur walked through the landscape The layers upon layers of stories intersect but the intersections are hard to pin down and distill into a single narrative It’s places like Moab that most readily reveal this It makes me wonder how the people of my time here on Earth will be remembered – will there be awe Interacting with ancient history is humbling and not just because it makes you feel small (although it can be very freeing to feel this way) It’s because ancient history only reveals itself in bits and pieces told me that he has been thinking about what the dinosaurs were doing when they were making tracks in the area – hunting Enjoying the sunlight and the wind as we have been It’s no wonder the American West has inspired so much of it One of the latest iterations is Netflix’s American Primeval (here I go talking about television which is very bloody and savage when it comes to retelling more recent Utah history My more important recommendation is just to see Utah for yourself Images: Flicka, BLMUtah, Luca Galuzzi Carolina is a journalist and a university professor. She has more th... Mohamad Roshan is a journalist living in Iran Nikola Mikovic is a Serbian freelance journalist whose work has ... Edgary Rodríguez R. is a Venezuelan writer, journalist and video producer. Senior Film Writer Mark Farnsworth teaches Film in East London an... Nasser Ali Khasawneh graduated in law from Oxford University, and hol... Philippa Willitts is Editor in Chief of Global Comment. She is a British ... Natalia Antonova is a DC-based writer and editor Global Comment is independently owned and operated and could use your help We consistently bring you perspectives from around the world that you don't get anywhere else and we want to be able to continue supporting the work of the excellent writers you see here Don't miss our latest interviews with sharp readers and thinkers on issues that matter to you Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Soundcloud Philippa Willitts is Editor in Chief of Global Comment. She is a British freelance writer who specialises in writing about disability She also enjoys covering politics and LGBTQI-related topics She can be found on Twitter and Instagram @PhilippaWrites Nasser Ali Khasawneh graduated in law from Oxford University and holds a Masters in Law (LL.M) degree from University College at the University of London Nikola Mikovic is a Serbian freelance journalist whose work has been published around the world and political developments in the Balkans.Previously Nikola was a reporter at the Politika daily newspaper the oldest such newspaper still in circulation in the Balkans Carolina is a journalist and a university professor She has more than a decade working for both print and audiovisual media Her main goal as a Venezuelan journalist is to tell interesting and inspiring stories Senior Film Writer Mark Farnsworth teaches Film in East London and is currently working on two screenplays, The Mysteries and Fair Access. He also writes the Oh/Cult section for Brokenshark.co.uk Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Instagram TikTok Please consider a one-time donation in any amount you choose You'll get special content straight to your inbox that no one else gets to see: outtakes from interviews We appreciate all the help and support from the readers who have kept us going since 2001 A Subaru Outback and Crosstrek conquered some fierce Moab trails to prove they are the ultimate adventurer’s car Owners Milton Salguero and Carey Lando took their Subaru cars on an epic adventure with the two cars having covered 200,000 miles each in their lifetimes rocky and perilous terrains greeted the two as they went on their journey yet both were able to complete the journey What the cars showed was that even the highest milers can accomplish some pretty impressive things DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars Some seriously difficult terrain faced the two Subaru cars on their journey a 6.5-mile terrain recommended only for experienced drivers with advanced equipment Even so, the two Subarus managed to bypass this bit of terrain and some modifications aided the two off-roaders the trickiest trail attempted is known as the Top of the World Salguero’s car was the one that completed the trail and is highly likely to be the first Subaru ever to do so The fact that one completed the trail and the other reached 80 percent of it shows how solid the two vehicles are the two off-roaders conquered other trails as well Fins and Things was another of the Moab paths the Outback and Crosstrek had to navigate This is a 10-mile run with lots of elevation change Some websites rate the trail’s difficulty as Level Six It proved that these two heavily modified and well-driven machines had what it took for some crazy adventures. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carey (@mtnsubi) The pair posted images on their Instagram accounts Salgeuero shared a photo of their Subaru after it reached the top of the Top of the World trail So if you were thinking of spending a fortune on a highly versatile off-roader Maybe all you need is a slightly modified, jacked-up Subaru instead Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience having written for various publications since 2017 Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives To demonstrate the flexibility of the Bronco SUV is revealing two project vehicles to enthusiasts who want to pimp up and personalize their Broncos for off-road excitement as part of the Bronco Stampede at Moab in Utah Ford will showcase two vehicles: Bronco Off-Roadeo: Arches Project Vehicle and the Bronco Off-Roadeo: Cliffhanger Project Vehicle This is the first year Ford has held the Bronco Stampede which is a three-day event for Bronco owners across the nation to see what's new with Bronco It is held in Moab because the site is famous for its difficult off-road trails "This is to demonostrate what you can do with the Bronco platform," Turkus said They are designed to show off what the platform is capabile of for an owner to create." Turkus did not know how many people may attend the Bronco Stampede, but every year at about this time Ford's crosstown rival, Stellantis-owned Jeep, shows off some off-roading concept vehicles at the Easter Jeep Safari, now in its 59th year It is also a homage to off-roading held in Moab and said to attract more than 20,000 enthusiasts Seven wild Jeep concept vehicles have been created for it The Arches and Cliffhanger ProjectsThe first Bronco project vehicle Its name is derived from the red rock arches found in the Moab area and at nearby Arches National Park The vehicle was envisioned as an ultimate all-around option Ford said it is designed to haul five people along Moab’s grueling trails It gets more extreme with the Bronco Off-Roadeo: Cliffhanger Project Vehicle Ford said its team sets out to level up a two-door Bronco for low "It starts with a monster set of 40-inch BFGoodrich Baja T/A Evo 3.0S tires and Fox Live Valve shocks," Ford descibed in a release these special upgrades help provide more ground clearance and an even more capable off-road experience 18-inch beadlock-capable Method wheels and custom fender flares and wheel arches help visually plant the Cliffhanger Project Vehicle on nearly any trail Ford said the Arches and Cliffhanger Project Vehicles are meant to pay homage to Moab’s beauty which includes public land and trails that Ford works to preserve through its Bronco Wild Fund and Tread Lightly sponsorship The names: Off-Roadeo Arches and Off-Roadeo Cliffhanger are meant to celebrate the Moab area and Bronco Off-Roadeo Moab Ford includes the Off-Roadeo experience with the purchase of any Bronco, Bronco Sport or Bronco Raptor model. The Off-Roadeo experience teaches owners of all skill levels how to safely off-road Moab is the gateway to Arches National Park Cliffhanger is a grueling off-road trail south of the city The area features "red slick rock" that Ford said inspired its Bronco Color and Materials Design team to wrap both Off-Roadeo project vehicles with a distinct matte protective film that’s similar to the factory-applied matte clear film now available on production Bronco four-door models Orange accents around the vehicles were inspired by the stone arches around Moab Ford said its designers saw a connection between Moab’s unique geologic arch formations and the Bronco’s open-air design so it "accented the roof rails Code Orange as well The Cliffhanger project vehicle is even airier which the design team updated with color accents and a unique graphic plate." Both the Bronco Off-Roadeo project vehicles will be on display at the Bronco Stampede all week Ford will be offering ride-and-drive opportunities on a custom off-road course at Hi Performance Ford in the center of Moab and Bronco Nation will be hosting trail drives around Moab More: Looking for a car deal at pre-tariff pricing? Here's what's out there. More: Jeep unveils 7 concepts for annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab University Affairs By Marcus Jensen | April 28 USU graduate Rae Lynn Mason gives a speech at the 2025 USU Moab commencement ceremony Utah State University Moab is proud to have celebrated its class of 2025 on Thursday April 24 as part of USU’s 138th commencement ceremony The class of 2025 had 36 individuals who completed the requirements for a degree and/or certificate This year’s class earned 13 undergraduate certificates “Tonight is a celebration of your success in completing your degree or certificate,” said Kristian Olsen senior associate vice president for USU Moab “There are many factors that contribute to the quality of USU Moab Most important is the quality of our students who exemplify perseverance and the ability to engage in self-directed learning.” USU Moab celebrated the graduates with a ceremony at Element Hotel Olsen welcomed the graduates and introduced the student speaker who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in integrated studies specializing in social sciences and human services Mason applauded her fellow graduates for not giving up She told the graduates to celebrate their achievement but to continue to work for their next dream I also challenge you—never stop striving,” Mason said no matter how long it takes or how many times life may try to get in the way.” Crane– president and CEO of Desert Rivers Credit Union Crane began by sharing several stories: his start at the credit union and it’s rough beginning the fight to get healthier even through hardship He then shared with the graduates three life lessons from those experiences He then told graduates to start with a big vision His final lesson was that you can’t pour from an empty cup He closed by challenging the graduates to envision the best version of themselves and strive for it “Close your eyes and picture your best self—ten years from now,” Crane said “What does that version of you look like Because you have the power to make it real.” Crane closed his remarks by telling the graduates that they control their own journey Let go of the old version of you—and step boldly into the person you are becoming Because you’ve got more mountains to climb And I promise you—the view from the next peak is even better.” Smith then shared a short message and conferred upon the students their degrees Once the graduates received their diplomas delivered a welcome address from the USU Alumni Association Comments and questions regarding this article may be directed to the contact person listed on this page USU has announced a new Net Price Calculator — a modern mobile-friendly platform that helps students and families understand what they may pay to attend college The class of 2025 consists of 365 individuals earning 184 associate UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HEALTH & WELLNESS A Century of Impact is a 192-page hardbound treasure celebrating NPCA’s first 100 years of protecting America’s national parks The announcement of Chuckwalla National Monument makes historic contributions to conservation in the Southwest Spanning roughly 18 million acres and stretching 600 miles from Utah to California the Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor is the largest connected and protected landscape in the contiguous U.S the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem comes in at No This corridor connecting the Mojave Desert to the Colorado Plateau may appear as a patchwork of protected lands but it weaves together wildlife habitats and is a crucial bridge between ecosystems It also protects history and cultural traditions tied to the landscape and supports regional economies The Chuckwalla landscape just south of Joshua Tree National Park With the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument this week and additional national monuments during his administration President Joe Biden has added over 2.8 million acres of protected public land to this corridor making historic contributions to conservation in the Southwest It also links four national parks — Canyonlands Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree — with five national monuments as well as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Mojave National Preserve NPCA has worked for decades to champion the protection of national parks and support new monuments that form the heart of this corridor more than 22 million people visited these parks to see the breathtaking red rocks in Canyonlands Park visitors brought $2.08 billion in visitor spending to local communities and supported more than 25,000 jobs A map of the protected lands that create the Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor But this corridor isn’t just a space for people — it’s a lifeline for wildlife providing unbroken pathways for species such as desert bighorn sheep The corridor enables them to migrate between lower and higher elevations to find food and safety as they move nesting in higher elevations of the Colorado Plateau and wintering in the warmer Mojave Desert wildlife more and more will need the ability to migrate for survival as they adapt to rising temperatures and drought The Colorado River flows through this corridor and is essential for millions of people and countless species who rely on these waters By protecting lands upstream of key reservoirs and along tributaries new monuments such as Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni are helping to protect clean water maintain water flows downstream and preserve habitats for native fish The Colorado River in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area The Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor builds on a legacy of locally led conservation in the Southwest set the stage for the century of conservation efforts that have followed have been bipartisan victories that support the Southwest’s natural resources and heritage This region includes traditional homelands of dozens of Tribal nations economies and sovereignty remain deeply connected to the landscapes Navajo and Chemehuevi have stewarded these landscapes for millennia Chuckwalla National Monument is named for a type of lizard found in the Southwest This newly designated monument expands one of the largest desert preserves in the world found in the California desert This area is critical for protecting migration routes for desert bighorn sheep ensuring they can thrive amid growing threats from habitat loss and climate change The Castle Peaks in Nevada’s Avi Kwa Ame National Monument Avi Kwa Ame, meaning Spirit Mountain in Mojave, is sacred to 12 Tribes, including the 10 Yuman-speaking Tribes that pay reverence to Spirit Mountain as the center of their creation. This monument, established after decades of Tribal advocacy sweeping Joshua tree forests and critical habitat for desert tortoises The landscape within Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument Named in the Hopi and Navajo languages, this monument protects culturally significant sites like Red Butte and borders Grand Canyon National Park The monument helps protect the Grand Canyon watershed and the Colorado River as the area was at risk for decades from threats such as uranium mining which put the Canyon’s creeks and waterways at risk The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition led advocacy efforts to establish this national monument and this designation ensures Tribal collaboration in its management and honors thousands of years of Indigenous history and culture Restored by President Biden, these monuments safeguard cultural landmarks, cliff dwellings, vital habitats and world-renowned geological wonders Tribal nations led the movement to protect this landscape It marks the first monument that will be managed in collaboration with Tribal nations a momentous shift in the federal government’s approach to management of public lands Presidents from both political parties have used the Antiquities Act to preserve natural and cultural resources Here’s a top-10 list of presidents who have created national monuments on public lands This first-of-its-kind management plan emphasizes the full connected ecosystem and reasonably balances public access and use of the monument It not only protects the land’s cultural and natural resources but also helps the monument share a fuller history of who has cared for this land for thousands of years — making historic progress in placing Tribal collaboration and communities at the forefront of land stewardship these protections link a story of climate and cultural resilience and connection — between ecosystems communities and the national parks of the Southwest the Antiquities Act has been used by all but three presidents to establish roughly 160 national monuments These designations have a long history of protecting public lands and cultural and historical sites for all Americans to experience Data was acquired from the US Protected Areas Database We recognize the Indigenous Tribes represented on the map as the land’s ancestral caretakers since time immemorial the autonym of the Tribe or Indigenous place name is used first then followed by the federally designated name in parentheses Research for names was primary referenced from Tribal government websites there may be discrepancies and please contact the authors to update the information The place names are the intellectual and cultural property of the Indigenous people in whose territories they are located Caitlyn Burford joined NPCA in 2023 as a communications manager representing the Northwest along with NPCA’s work on national energy policy Amy is a cartographer and science communications specialist who directs NPCA’s cartographic mapmaking and science-based storytelling on national park landscapes She finds creative ways to develop cartography and geospatial solutions that strengthen the connection of science and advocacy Nik is a landscape conservation and science communications expert who directs the organization's databases and geographic information systems to best empower the connection of science and advocacy he leads geospatial science for NPCA's priority national park landscapes work threatened conservation rules and censored our nation’s history But we think there’s still time to reverse course NPCA works to preserve landscapes and wildlife in the East’s last fully connected wilderness with its Safe Passage initiatives The National Park System’s breathtaking landscapes and cultural and historic sites serve as living laboratories for science and discovery that help safeguard our nation’s legacy The Moab Hard Enduro at Area BFE is only in its second year but has quickly become one of the most popular races for the US Hard Enduro series on the West Coast Led by USHE athletes Mesa Lange and Joe Nemeth and only 15 minutes south of the off-road mecca of Moab this venue offers challenging terrain for all levels of hard enduro racers and canyon boulder fields that are considered some of the toughest 4x4 trails in the United States 4-times USHE Champion Trystan Hart returned to face a stacked field including round three winner Rockstar Husqvarna’s Ryder LeBlond coming off his first USHE win at the Grinding Stone Hard Enduro Cody Webb using his knowledge of Area BFE to his advantage after winning this event last year Sherco USA’s Will Riordan and IRC Beta’s James Flynn who have been pushing up front all season Day one’s a six-mile Prologue race set the row positions for the main race on Saturday which served as an introduction to the unique high desert terrain for the racers and also gave some extra riding time to the Amateur racers which some Amateurs used the entire duration of for the first day of racing they hosted a kid’s E-Bike race with mini enduro obstacles and Cody Webb announcing The kids had a blast and gave the future generation some well-deserved limelight the Moab Hard Enduro invited the top-20 Prologue finishers to race a cash paying Shootout at their main event area which is like a natural terrain skatepark for hard enduro Four groups of five riders battled it out in front of the cheering spectators going up big splatters and traversing up and down the sandstone course it was Cody Webb who won the final race of the Shootout which gave him starting row priority for Saturday’s main race The main event consisted a three-lap race within a six-hour time limit with multiple splits throughout the course and more difficult sections being added on laps two and three and the rows were off at minute intervals and the six riders up front were only 20 seconds apart through the first check which laid the framework for a really tight race ahead Hart was leading Riordan and Webb by 30 seconds Lap two brought more excitement and changes in the lead as Amateurs were working their way through their first lap creating some lapped traffic for the lead pack a treacherous canyon that added a mile of steep hills and big boulder canyons with Webb coming into his third lap only six seconds ahead of Hart The lead was swapped a couple of more times on the third lap with Webb and Hart battling back and forth through even more traffic Black Flag opened up a last lap gate that took racers up the steepest and most treacherous section of the course on this final lap.  Webb entered it with a 90 second lead on Hart but Hart made a push and was right behind Webb at the final rock slab Webb held his lead through the finish to win the Moab Hard Enduro Watch Cody’s onboard of the main race here: Cody Webb onboard battle for the win at Moab US Hard Enduro 2025 This was Cody Webb’s first win of the 2025 US Hard Enduro season and also Yamaha and IRC Tire’s first USHE Premier Championship victory as partners of Webb Webb and his team have built up an impressive YZ250X program after hundreds of hours of development and testing Webb put in long hours and rebuilt several critical components under his own tent which made his victory that much sweeter after the long hours working on his own fleet Louise Forsley won the Pro Women’s class with Pebs Madolora and Addy Albrecht rounding off the podium There were over a dozen women racing the Moab Hard Enduro with IRC Tire donating a Gekkota tire to each female in the Amateur Women’s class with Coran Calvert and Maverik Thaxton rounding off the Amateur podium The Amateurs seemed to have a great experience on this course with most leaving exhausted and many smiles across the board Mesa Lange and Joe Nemeth put on another great event at Area BFE and really did a great job bringing the hard enduro community together The next USHE Premier Championship race will go back to the East Coast for the Battle of the Goats at the Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park in North Carolina on April 26-27 For full results: http://www.moto-tally.com/USHE/Results.aspx More information: www.ushardenduro.com Create a personal Enduro21 account to access our new forum receive exclusive competitions and money saving offers Enduro21 is all about motorcycle enduro and off-road riding. Read more Donations to Enduro21 can make a huge difference to what we do Learn more We're on the lookout for writers, photographers, videographers and enduro enthusiasts, from all around the world. Read more This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse Jeep recently unveiled seven builds for their Easter Safari in Moab Utah and it looks like Ford is feeling a little left out they’ve created two new concepts that draw inspiration from “Moab’s natural wonders.” The first is known as the Bronco Off-Roadeo Arches Edition and it’s based on a four-door Badlands They’re joined by a 2-inch (51 mm) lift kit and 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels wrapped in 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KDR2 tires More: Ford Bronco Stroppe Is A Colorful Throwback With Notable Upgrades The Bronco Off-Roadeo Cliffhanger is similar but slightly more extreme as it wears larger 18-inch wheels shod in 40-inch BFGoodrich rubber Rounding out the highlights are custom fender flares and wheel arches there are petroglyph-inspired graphics as well as Recaro seats in the Cliffhanger Ford’s marketing team phoned it in, so there’s no word on performance specs. However, the 2025 Bronco is available with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that develops 300 hp (224 kW / 304 PS) and 325 lb-ft (440 Nm) of torque Customers can also get a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with 330 hp (246 kW / 335 PS) and 415 lb-ft (562 Nm) of torque There’s also the range-topping Raptor variant which sports a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 packing 418 hp (312 kW / 424 PS) and 440 lb-ft (596 Nm) A “skinny budget” is a short version of a full federal budget with recommendations from the White House But that budget isn’t official yet — it starts a months-long process where Congress debates the final spending bills Usually the approved budget is voted on in September The 2026 proposal includes a $163 billion reduction in most government spending—a 22.6% cut—while increasing defense spending by 13% to over $1 trillion according to White House documents released Friday So what is cut in these recommendations— how would these cuts impact our community in Moab and Grand County Got something to say? Send us a question, a comment, or a letter to the editor. Among the most significant proposals is the complete elimination of the Community Development Block Grant program, according to budget documents. CDBG dollars have funded several transformative projects in Grand County in recent years In the past decade, these grants have supported multiple affordable housing developments including Arroyo Crossing CDBG grants typically provide flexible funding that communities can use for infrastructure The program requires that at least 70% of funds benefit low- and moderate-income persons through activities directed toward neighborhood revitalization and improved community facilities and services The budget also proposes eliminating the USDA Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants, which have funded the construction of hundreds of homes in the Moab area through projects from the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah and Community Rebuilds This program enables low- and very-low-income families to build their own homes contributing “sweat equity” through construction labor with technical assistance from organizations overseeing the project The proposed budget outlines reductions to the Federal Emergency Management Agency including eliminating the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance programs The administration claims that by focusing on core disaster response rather than pre-disaster mitigation grants These programs have provided funding for infrastructure to prevent the damaging and dangerous flash floods Moab has experienced in recent years The 2026 skinny budget proposes a 12% reduction to the Department of Interior’s overall funding. The National Park Service is slated for a $1.2 billion cut where Arches and Canyonlands national parks drive tourism revenue these cuts could translate to reduced visitor services national monument designations and protections the US Forest Service and other public lands and natural resource programs The Department of Education would see a 15% funding cut according to budget documents, while the Department of Health and Human Services faces substantial reductions These cuts could affect programs supporting low-income and at-risk students as well as healthcare services in Grand County While the White House preliminary budget says that the Trump Administration prioritizes supporting “rural communities’ air transportation needs,” the budget includes a $308 million reduction in funding for the Essential Air Service programs which subsidize commercial air service to rural areas like Moab That’s a reduction of over 50% to the program’s current budget Moab’s Canyonlands Regional Airport currently receives millions of dollars in EAS subsidies to support Contour Airlines’ service Details of where the cuts to the EAS program will come haven’t been released The White House has defended the proposed cuts as part of a broader effort to reduce federal spending and shift responsibilities to state and local governments Administration officials argue that programs like the Community Development Block Grant are better managed at the local level The White House has also been public in targeting federal spending as “woke and wasteful.” The administration has prioritized defense and border security spending instead which has the ultimate authority over federal spending and eventually pass appropriations bills that may look quite different from this initial proposal While the final budget will likely look different from this initial proposal the skinny budget signals potential challenges ahead for rural communities like Moab that rely on federal programs and public lands.The Moab Sun News is reaching out to local elected officials nonprofits and other organizations that impact the lives of Grand County residents to find out how they’re reacting to the budget proposals and working with our area’s congressional representatives to protect our community the folks at Jeep get to show off their creative side with some off-roading concept vehicles that also double as eye candy said to attract more than 20,000 enthusiasts Seven wild Jeep concept vehicles have been created by the Stellantis brand this year The vehicles are scheduled to be on display April 17 and 18 at Walker Drug where a Jeep consumer display is planned as well during the week of April 14-18 More: Meet Ineos, the newbie SUV and truck brand with classic looks, zero gadgets and a pedigree Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters Local AmeriCorps workers serving at Community Rebuilds and the City of Moab were notified of their immediate termination this week after an order from the quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) canceled $400 million in AmeriCorps grants nationwide The Youth Garden Project lost grant funding for its Community Garden Development VISTA position The City of Moab lost funding for two VISTA positions—one for a sustainability specialist and one for a housing specialist who were scheduled to begin their terms in coming weeks. The most affected organization local affordable housing organization Community Rebuilds was informed of lost grants for nine staff members—over 50% of the organization’s total crew “From drafting affordable housing plans to outreach and project management these service members directly filled our objectives,” Community Rebuilds Executive Director Rikki Epperson said “Not to mention being the hands on our construction sites.” The organizations received emails from AmeriCorps stating “your [grant] award no longer effectuates agency priorities,” and requesting immediate termination of grant-funded volunteers Other organizations in Moab have AmeriCorps workers but were not included in the cuts The abrupt announcement left the organizations scrambling to make contingency plans early this week in an effort to soften the blow for affected workers “We’re doing what we can to support the members like going out on a limb to cover free rent for May,” Epperson said “We are offering work exchange with increased food stipends but can’t match AmeriCorps stipends on our own.” Two dozen states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday over the cuts alleging the Trump administration is trying to “dismantle” the volunteer service organization Utah is not one of the plaintiff states as yet nor have state officials commented on the cuts DOGE’s stated aim is to reduce wasteful or fraudulent government spending a priority set by President Trump’s administration in its first 100 days Everyone’s mad and sad and feels unsafe.” Epperson mentioned working with directors of other impacted organizations to tally up the total financial loss from cuts and hunt for alternative funding sources Moab locals familiar with the AmeriCorps program say that the volunteer-based program should be low on the list of cuts “I don’t think sad even illustrates what I’m feeling,” Emily Niehaus Community Rebuilds founder and former Moab mayor “I’m at the point where it’s so awful I want to come up with a new emoji You’d think the low-paid volunteers of our community would be safe.”  AmeriCorps was founded in 1993 as a homeland version of the international Peace Corps program talented graduates to build gap-year work experience while providing services to the underserved at local organizations.  AmeriCorps is the federal agency for “national service and volunteerism,” the program’s mission statement reads Volunteers are assigned to diverse projects including mentoring students Niehaus emphasized how the program used public spending to solve complex social issues which the private sector can’t tackle as readily “Our senators and congressmen need to step in and say we’re trimming muscle instead of fat,” Niehaus said “We’re going to end up an unhealthy nation in the name of falsified fiscal responsibility.”  and abuse need to be cut down,” Kaitlin Myers “But the way this administration is going about it is short-term catastrophic to local business models.” If finding cost savings within the government is the goal “service workers making less than $20k a year aren’t an effective cut.”  Another point of concern for Myers is that Moab and other rural areas may lose the workforce development tool that AmeriCorps has become—attracting public servants who eventually become community leaders.  Myers became the first AmeriCorps VISTA worker in Housing and Economic Development for the Grand County Planning Department in 2016 she leapt into local leadership as the Moab Area Community Land Trust’s executive director and elected city council member Several of her colleagues at the City of Moab also came to the area as AmeriCorps volunteers and all of Youth Garden Project’s permanent staff also began their careers in Moab as AmeriCorps “There will be an immediate negative impact,” Myers said which means there will be a reduction in services Nonprofits are going to have to look at budgets and decide how to move forward.”  DOGE cuts impacted AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps services—traveling teams of volunteers who often contributed to local projects run by organizations like Rim to Rim Restoration.  “Watching this play out in Moab is frustrating because it’s the people at the bottom—the people in service working the hardest—being impacted,” Myers said. “They’re not targeting the bloated middle part of the government.” Karen Pieces is one of nine Community Rebuilds apprentices who have been laid off Pieces said that she sold her house and almost all belongings to join CR’s build team in Moab working alongside my peers and the homeowners has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she said Now her future—and that of the program—is up in the air For more information or to contribute privately, go to www.communityrebuilds.org and www.youthgardenproject.org An official website of the United States government The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project has achieved another 1-million-ton cleanup milestone Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management for the year Office of Environmental Management haul trucks carry sealed steel containers of uranium mill tailings up to the hillside rail bench where they are loaded on train cars and transported 30 miles north to the disposal cell at the Crescent Junction site MOAB, Utah ― The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project has achieved another 1-million-ton cleanup milestone, checking off a priority of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) for the year As of mid-October, the Moab UMTRA Project has removed and shipped a cumulative 15 million tons of uranium mill tailings from the Moab Site to a nearby disposal facility “Each year our team meets EM’s priority through innovation Removing the mill tailings from the Moab Site protects the beautiful Colorado River and the Moab community and allows EM to advance its cleanup and closure mission at Moab,” said Moab Federal Project Cleanup Director Matthew Udovitsch “It’s exciting to see years of community and project partnership get the site so close to completion and ready for its next evolution.” About 1 million tons of the contaminated soil and debris remain to be disposed of in an engineered disposal cell in Crescent Junction The material resulted from legacy uranium milling operations EM is partnering with the community to determine an end state for the site and plan for its future use To receive the latest news and updates about the Office of Environmental Management By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Ford is paying tribute to Moab’s legendary red rock trails with two new Bronco concepts: the “Arches” and the “Cliffhanger.” Debuting under the Bronco Off-Roadeo banner both models aim to showcase the capability and style of the modern Bronco The Cliffhanger concept is the more extreme of the two it’s equipped with massive 40-inch BFGoodrich Baja T/A tires mounted on 18-inch Method wheels — the largest ever fitted to a Bronco a wider track for better stability and tube-frame doors Warn winch and rear seat delete complete the build while Code Orange accents and Uranium arch graphics nod to the terrain that inspired it Utah — A team of veteran's joined forces with local state and federal crews to work 'Operation Prepare Moab' in early April a veteran-led humanitarian organization serving communities across the world came back to Grand County for their seventh time since 2018 working on wildfire mitigation more than 20 members of Team Rubicon worked with area partners to clear nearly seven acres of invasive species that pose significant wildfire risk to homes along the wildland urban interface (WUI) but bring a specific skillset valuable to the overall humanitarian mission of Team Rubicon "This group here - We've got people from Utah we've pulled from all over the place," said Jeff Mulcahy a volunteer and incident commander with Team Rubicon "Basically to create defensive space between the homes and the creek; the fire hazard that's here." Along with staff from Utah Division of Forestry Moab Valley Fire Department City of Moab and Rim to Rim Restoration; Rubicon volunteers put in the hard work clearing brush and removing hazardous fuels Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker I’ve been wondering how everyone spent their time without any electricity I couldn’t help but worry about you all with your sub-par human vision despite your lack of chatoyant eyes.  Were you able to stay warm and keep yourselves entertained Did you light candles and read books or play board games Did you go outside and admire the brilliant night sky I had plenty of kibble and fresh water on hand stocking up on extra flashlight batteries and non-perishable food is a great idea I suggest you level up your game at the Grand County Public Library We have a ton of great resources to help you stay safe and have fun during a power outage Ask any librarian to help you find books for kids and adults on star gazing There’s even a book about how to make cool shadow puppets with just your hands and a flashlight or lantern (one of the few advantages of having hands rather than paws) such events can be an opportunity for adventure And the library is always ready to help!   local leaders will decide the land’s future Today, US Senator John Curtis and Representative Mike Kennedy introduced a new bill that would give the Moab uranium cleanup site to Grand County when the environmental work is finished The Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action project started in the early 2000s and since then workers have removed millions of tons of radioactive uranium waste from near the Colorado River and Arches National Park The 480-acre site lies in a highly desirable area along the river at the edge of Moab along Highway 191 “This bill will give Grand County and the City of Moab the tools they need to transform the site of the former toxic “pile” of radioactive waste the federal government left behind into a thriving community center,” said Representative Mike Kennedy The bill would allow the Department of Energy to give the land to Grand County once it’s designated as safe The federal government would still keep some water rights and access to check on groundwater The bill also bans Grand County from selling any of the land to private companies or nonprofit groups.The legislation now moves to committee review in both the Senate and House the bill will advance to floor votes in both chambers before potentially heading to the President’s desk for signature The UMTRA site has a long history tied to America’s Cold War uranium boom in Moab The Atlas Mill was built in 1956 by Uranium Reduction Company which operated until 1962 when Atlas Minerals Corporation took over producing “yellowcake” that was sold to the U.S Atomic Energy Commission for national defense programs until 1970 it left behind a massive tailings pile—over 90 feet tall at its highest point—and pollutants from these tailings began leaching into the nearby Colorado River Congress designated the site for cleanup in 2001 shipping the waste away from the water supply to a disposal site near Crescent Junction the site announced that more than 95% of the estimated 16 million tons of uranium tailings have been moved The cleanup itself is projected to be complete by 2029 Editor’s Note: You can find the full bill text and support letters on Senator Curtis’s website Utah — With its continued focus on serving Grand County and the surrounding communities Utah State University Moab is pleased to share the following key campus updates USU Moab has been given permission to explore student housing options The process is still in the early research phase and no university housing is currently being built by USU Moab A private development is under construction across the street but it is not affiliated with the university or designated for student use A new traffic light is being installed at the intersection of Highway 191 and Aggie Boulevard USU Moab has partnered with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) The long-awaited improvement is expected to enhance safety for students The project is expected to be completed by late spring to early summer 2025 Welding & Nursing Programs Continue to Excel USU Moab’s Welding and Nursing programs continue to serve as pillars of career training The nursing program has achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX—the national board exam required for registered nurses—for the past three years left a substantial financial gift to USU Moab His generous contribution will fund much-needed scholarships– particularly in Technical Education– helping more students access high-quality learning opportunities USU Moab faculty member Roslynn McCann was recently published in Community Science Her work focuses on co-creating a climate change module by and for Indigenous people embracing the framework of cultural humility to ensure representation and respect in environmental education USU Moab is partnering with the Grand County School District to establish scholarships for students and paraprofessionals pursuing teaching careers This initiative aligns with USU Moab’s commitment to “growing our own” educators in Grand County The first scholarships are expected to launch by Fall 2025 Water-Wise Cactus Garden to Promote Conservation In collaboration with a local horticulturist and USU Extension USU Moab is developing a water-wise cactus garden This garden will serve as a campus showpiece demonstrating how homeowners and businesses can create beautiful sustainable landscapes using native plants USU Extension will also offer Master Gardener classes to further promote water conservation efforts USU Moab invites community members to visit the campus, learn more about degree programs, explore ongoing projects, and get answers to any questions. For more information and to schedule a campus tour, visit moab.usu.edu the Moab Area Housing Task Force launched the Moab Area Housing Data Dashboard The interactive online tool gives people easy access to local housing data and the task force’s recommendations.  “We realized a big chunk of data just wasn’t being captured,” said Laura Harris member of the task force and affordable housing development manager at the Moab Area Community Land Trust Census data doesn’t really reflect the nuances of Moab’s unique housing landscape including people living in vehicles and employer-housing living arrangements.  “We needed a tool that could fill those gaps and better represent what people are actually experiencing here in Moab,” Harris said The housing task force designed and ran a survey for six weeks over the summer of 2024 asking participants 22 questions that centered around four key areas: affordability for renters and homeowners housing burden — the percentage of income spent on rent or mortgage—and stability and security of rental housing They received around 500 responses that captured quantitative and qualitative data points from roughly 5% of Grand County’s population Now that the data is featured on the dashboard with visuals that provide further insights into the survey results residents can view and learn more about the overall housing quality Those insights include the following key learnings to come out of the survey and uniquely reflect the rental experience in Moab:  “The dashboard has a twofold purpose,” Harris said.  to increase public awareness of the local housing crisis and how it impacts everyday lives it serves to offer regional organizations and government entities the data they need to design more effective programs and advocate for real change The findings are already informing local initiatives and supporting efforts like a proposed “Good Landlord Program,” which would incentivize property owners to establish fair lease agreements and support tenant stability Harris says that by creating a centralized hub of housing information they aim to build a feedback loop between the community “This dashboard won’t solve everything overnight,” Harris said, “but it’s a step toward accountability, awareness, and smarter decisions for the future of housing in Moab.”The Moab Housing Data Dashboard can be viewed at moabhousing.com/data A Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project ceremony held late last year commemorated the removal of a cumulative 15 million tons of radioactive uranium tailings Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management 2024 priority EM crews began removing tailings from the Moab Site in 2009 they have transported approximately 1 million tons of tailings for disposal per year resulting in an accelerated closure schedule the site is projected to reach cleanup completion in 2029 with DOE looking at beneficial reuse plans for the land The ceremony was held in downtown Moab and was open to the public. Guest speakers included local community leaders and representatives from EM and DOE’s Office of Legacy Management The highlight of the celebration was the moving of a tile inscribed with the date that the 15th million ton was reached — Oct. 14, 2024 — from one plaque to another. The plaques are a set, representing the project’s two worksites: the Moab Site with the uranium tailings pile, and the Crescent Junction Site with the disposal cell The tile was moved from the Moab Site plaque to the Crescent Junction Site plaque by Mary McGann, chair of the Moab Tailings Project Steering Committee Utah (KUTV) — Authorities have positively identified human remains that were discovered in San Juan County in late March as a Texas man who went missing with his wife during Moab flash flooding in 2024 The Grand County Sheriff's Office in a Thursday statement said Raymond Ankofski's body was discovered 37 miles away from where his wife's remains were ultimately found Raymond and his wife Maranda Ankofski disappeared June 21, 2024 while on a UTV ride in the Steel Bender Trail area along Millcreek in Grand County making annual trips for the past four years Maranda was located later located in Millcreek Canyon following their disappearance. The search for both individuals had continued for days after their UTV was found abandoned. Raymond's remains were discovered approximately 37 miles from the couple's wrecked vehicle The flooding on June 21 prompted numerous rescues with Grand County Search and Rescue crews successfully evacuating 20 people who became stranded in nearby Grandstaff Canyon during the same storm system By June 28, search and rescue efforts had transitioned to a recovery mission based on evidence found at the scene with officials noting the change was aimed at "shifting towards closure for the family and friends of Ray and Maranda Ankofski." The search involved more than 1,100 man-hours and multiple agencies including the San Juan County Sheriff's Office and the Utah Department of Public Safety "We extend our sincere gratitude to the San Juan County Sheriff's Office and the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner for their invaluable assistance in the location and identification of Raymond Ankofski," Sheriff Jamison Wiggins said in Thursday's statement Matthew Jacobson reported from Salt Lake City It looks like nothing was found at this location Utah (KUTV) — A nurse is accused of sexually abusing a senior patient at the Canyonlands Care Center was arrested on suspicion of forcible sexual abuse a second-degree felony; intentional abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult an officer with the Moab City Police Department met with a woman and her husband The woman said a nurse touched her 92-year-old mother her ability to recall events is reported to last between 30 and 60 seconds," the affidavit states The woman said she installed a nanny camera in her mother's room to keep an eye on her Sudbury had his back to the camera and appeared to be touching himself as well The affidavit states there was no medical reason for the nurse to be touching the victim that way The officer and a sergeant responded to the care center to speak with the administrator who said she put Sudbury on suspension pending an internal investigation She also said she planned on terminating Sudbury The administrator said she asked Sudbury to provide her with a detailed account of his encounter with the victim Sudbury reportedly told her he removed a patch from the victim's shoulder and massaged her He said he then sat at the edge of her bed and listened to her talk about her past The police department obtained evidence from the victim's room They also investigated Sudbury and found a report that showed allegations against him for inappropriately touching a patient in January Sudbury was placed in handcuffs at his home and taken to the Grand County Jail he had no idea it would trace his roots to Chief Skenandoa a towering Oneida warrior who helped shape early America Blaine Reniger From camo-clad coworkers to Browning shotguns Al Sachrov steps into the shoes of a panhandler for two hours to understand what it’s really like to depend on the kindness of strangers These top spring gardening tips will kickstart your season with easy veggies and cover crops that feed your soil as they grow Are you making food for your dog?” Armando Guerrero channels his grandmother’s fiery words as he revolutionizes Mexican cuisine in Salt Lake City at House of Corn 2025 at 09:02 PM · She so creative and accomplished and motivated This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments Violinist.com is made possible by.. Shar Music Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Colburn Chamber Music Intensive Find a Summer Music Program Violinist.com Shopping Guide Larsen Strings Los Angeles Philharmonic Peter Infeld Strings JR Judd Violins Dimitri Musafia, Master Maker of Violin and Viola Cases Pirastro Strings Juilliard 2025 Starling-DeLay Violin Symposium ARIA Academy Bobelock Cases Violin Lab Barenreiter Bay Fine Strings Violin Shop FiddlerShop Fiddlerman.com Johnson String Instrument/Carriage House Violins Southwest Strings Metzler Violin Shop Los Angeles Violin Shop Violin-strings.com Nazareth Gevorkian Violins Discover the best of Violinist.com in these collections of editor Laurie Niles' exclusive interviews Violinist.com Interviews Volume 1, with introduction by Hilary Hahn Violinist.com Interviews Volume 2, with introduction by Rachel Barton Pine your humble correspondent and newly-minted elephantophile we’re getting excited about all things pachyderm It is commonly understood that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I just learned that elephants purr to express contentment Doesn’t matter: animals are just cool no matter what Elephants can also use their trunks like a snorkel to breathe while swimming underwater (Probably can’t take credit for that one.)  the Grand County Public Library has an exciting event coming up: An Evening with Elephants with Miss Linda the Zoo Lady This STEAM-focused program is happening on Tuesday So mark your calendars and start getting excited to hear all about these captivating pachyderms!  Miss Linda is a beloved volunteer at Grand County Public Library who worked in several famous zoos teaching visitors all about animals Perhaps the only career more fun than being a Library Cat It’s a real treat to have a fellow animal expert in the house but they really don’t know that much about the quadruped lifestyle We’re all planning on learning a lot about these smart and gentle giants from this talk!  It’s my feline duty to remind you that cats remain superior to all other animals but I’ll admit that elephants are amazing as well They’re remarkably intelligent with excellent memories and complex social structures Maybe you’ve heard the myth that elephants are afraid of mice: not true This originated from some ancient Greek fables (and was likely perpetuated by elephants themselves to avoid being assigned barn duty you can leave it to the experts).  Want to know more “An Evening with Elephants” is free and is geared towards elementary-aged children everyone is welcome: just bring your curiosity!  Dorothy dedicated much of her life to serving her community as the Grand County Assessor her greatest passion was always her family A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Dorothy served faithfully in many capacities including as a teacher Her faith and service to others were a guiding light in her life and she touched countless hearts with her kindness and generosity giving soul who poured her love into raising her four children and later played a vital role in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and unwavering support will be deeply missed by all who knew her Archie Roland “Skeeter” Stocks; her mother Eola Elizabeth Graham-Stocks; her siblings and Bonnie Lew Stocks-Hammer; and her grandson and Alene Elizabeth Stocks-Inman; her children and Cheryl Lynne Gough-Zwahlen (Phillip Joseph Zwahlen); her longest and best friend Merlene Mosher-Dalton; as well as twenty-four grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren and service that will continue to inspire those fortunate enough to have known her at Spanish Valley Mortuary (386 North 100 West at the Moab LDS Stake Center (701 Locust Lane) with a viewing one hour prior to the service Interment will follow immediately after the funeral family and close friends are invited to gather for a meal in her honor Family and friends are invited to share tributes online at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com Charles (Charlie) William Nelson was born September 13 1926 in his Auntie Bea’s home in Alton she said: “He’s not a pretty baby but he’s a good baby.”He went peacefully home to heaven on March 14 He spent the last months of his life joyfully living with his son Ed and daughter-in-law Debbie Jean in Dewey Arizona.Charlie attended a one-room schoolhouse graduated from Jersey County High School and then joined the U.S having served as a Sea Bee on the island of Guam he was never interested in taking a cruise.Returning home Charlie hit the highways and byways following the wheat harvest in Kansas with his brother He got a job hauling cars out of Hazelwood In the thirteen years that he worked for Associated Transport he earned a “million mile pin.”Charlie married the love of his life incorporating Pioneer Construction Company and building many homes in Illinois.Charlie and Lucy raised their seven children moving numerous times between the two towns of Alton and Godfrey Lucy would hardly get the boxes unpacked (or not) when someone would want to buy her new house!In 1974 where they purchased King’s Bottom Ranch and the “Egg Ranch.” Lucy’s “Strictly Fresh Eggs” were sold to all the restaurants and grocery stores in Moab they worked together sellingnew and used mobile homes they owned and operated several mobile home parks and developed the Kane Springs Campground.He will be sadly missed by his children Colorado; as well as numerous grandchildren nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents A celebration of his life for family and friends will be held at a later date Moab Toddler Time will host its first dance party on March 21 from 6 to 9 p.m and a curated playlist for young dancers at the Center Street Gym (203 E The special event builds on the program’s regular twice-weekly gatherings that have become a cornerstone for parents and caregivers of young children in Moab “We want them to walk in and think they’re at the club,” said Marlee Giron Giron and Jennifer Wenzel are two of the volunteer organizers for the program which is entirely volunteer-run and community-funded.  and a variety of glow accessories including necklaces and “frilly sticks.” Organizers have arranged for professional sound equipment borrowed from the Moab City Parks and a glow-in-the-dark photo backdrop where families can capture memories A carefully curated playlist will include child-friendly versions of dance music alongside traditional children’s favorites some parents have suggested artists like Lenny Pierce who creates techno versions of classic children’s songs like “Wheels on the Bus.”  The twice-weekly Toddler Time meetups started to address the limited activities available for Moab’s youngest residents but have evolved into an important source of community for local families “One of my main goals when I started doing the fundraising is that I didn’t want any family or child to feel like they couldn’t come to something because they couldn’t afford it,” Giron explained What began as a simple playgroup now boasts an impressive collection of toys stored in a dedicated shed at the Center Street Gym The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday morning volunteers share information about other child-friendly activities in the community organize food trains for families going through difficult times and coordinate seasonal activities like group swimming during summer months with admission costs covered by Moab Toddler Time funds the true value lies in the connections formed Marlee Giron reports seeing “moms and even dads and caregivers make friends–good friends!–not just the kids making friends.” “I wouldn’t be her bestie if it wasn’t for Moab Toddler Time!” she said “I’ve seen a lot of these moms that come in with their toddlers…and they know that they’re not alone,” Giron said “We’re all going through similar things at different times or the same time and we can bounce ideas off each other and ask for advice.” The organizers hope the dance party not only provides a fun evening for local children but also encourages more families to join their growing community “We just keep adding and growing and we want to create some awareness about it,” Wenzel said “So that way the moms and kids aren’t sitting home alone on a Tuesday and Thursday morning We want them to come in and we want them to come play.” For more information about the Dance Party or regular Toddler Time sessions It’s been just a few weeks since Michael Black took on the role of city manager for Moab transitioning from the position of community development director Black discussed his new job—he’ll stay connected to some of the projects he’s been working on while passing some responsibilities off to other staff—as well as the city’s main priorities right now including disaster resilience and housing stock This interview has been edited for length and clarity Moab Sun News: What does this transition look like—what are some things you’re stepping away from and what are some new responsibilities you’re taking on sustainability and housing—I’ll still be doing some of that stuff Cory Shurtleff [current Moab City Planning and Zoning Administrator] is going to be stepping up and taking some more responsibility there We’re not going to refill the Community Development position just yet; Cory will come up into what will be similar to what I was doing We’ll still work really closely together I think every city manager should have some community development responsibility and it’s a good background for me to get in there and really still be involved as city manager There’s a lot of day-to-day involved with community development where people have questions they’re trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B and sometimes it’s not always that clear I always saw myself as kind of the problem-solver… That’s what Cory will be doing Cory’s going to step in with housing as well But there’s a couple of project-type things [Walnut Lane is a mobile home park that Moab City purchased in 2018 with the intention of building new The project has hit multiple roadblocks and the new housing has not yet been built residents received notice that they would have to leave the property because the city’s gap insurance provider ended its coverage of the homes Black: I think it makes sense for us to really consider everything to not move too fast on that because we’ve tried it twice now and it hasn’t worked out but it was also necessary because the condition of everything We want to just make sure we know what we’re doing that the Council feels good that it’s going to be in the best interest of the public and that it’s going to serve the purposes that they purchased it for The reason why the last one fell apart is because we couldn’t get to the point with the developer where the Council felt like it was affordable enough—that the new stuff was going to be affordable enough for it to actually be a benefit to people see how we’re going to move that forward We don’t have the game plan just yet but I think it’s good to take a little bit of a break to make sure that we don’t try and follow up too quickly and end up in the same kind of situation they are going to be talking about it in the next few months and trying to come up with the direction that they want to see on that.  MSN: What are the city’s priorities right now Black: Disaster response and recovery and community resilience is probably the biggest priority We’ve not been lucky this year—we’ve been hit a few times With changing climate and weather patterns we’re just going to keep on dealing with it I told [the Council] that I felt like the Council needs to adopt another pillar for the Strategic Plan and that pillar should be community resilience to natural disasters we understand how earthquakes affect buildings we know we need to build up higher so that when your property floods But with changing weather and everything—did Asheville ever think they were going to get hit by a hurricane So we need to focus on all of those things—response recovery and mitigation—because the mitigation might be there but the thing may happen different than we expected because of the way the weather has changed there’s a statewide project going on; Bowen Collins was hired by the state to take a look at all the flood zones The state has [also] agreed to pay for flying Lidar where they fly over and they can get really super-accurate topography and we compare that with what it was [when the data was last collected] and that will help influence the flood mapping as well We don’t get to control how much it rains or when it rains and things like that that’s what we need to do—we can’t move the town MSN: Are there specific strategies the city is considering to mitigate flooding Black: It’s too early to get into what proposals there are—there’s these ideas out there that haven’t been investigated enough to make them into proposals because dredging sounds like you’re just going to go and make the creek deeper in order to increase the capacity—and that’s what they’re talking about increasing the capacity of the creek—you have to [widen the creek from side to side] too And then you have to probably build up the sides as well because we’re dealing with elevations—the elevation of the river has to be lower than then the elevation through town in order for the water to get to the river.  and doing concrete through town on the base of the creek as well is an option There’s lots of different things and we’re going to we’re going to do this in this area and that and that area.’ One thing I should say is that as we’re looking at this and anything you do here could affect everywhere You can’t just address one area without affecting all of the areas Some of the things I can tell you that we’re focusing on and we have plans for moving forward on: Third South bridge We will be redesigning that bridge with the idea to replace it and we’re actually getting the contract approved for the design We’ve split up the creek into different areas so we can do studies on this area and then we’ll link to the study we’re doing in [other areas of the creek corridor] the former engineer and city manager put into play a lot of planning based on that flood but a few months ago we were starting to get the plans for those and we’re actually building those things now that one is being armored and riprap is being put in and we’re removing a lot of sediment from that area to increase the flow of the channel and the capacity under the bridge That’s happening now—but it took a year and a half for the engineers to get the plans together and everything we needed to go to bid We’re also doing gabion baskets in several places along the river to protect the areas where it’s scouring We’ve got engineers working on designs for the areas where we lost sidewalk But… you can’t just go put a sidewalk back We have to build the structure back up to protect against scour on that curve and then build the sidewalk on top of that We’re looking at all of our pedestrian pathways and how vulnerable they are and also if they’re designed appropriately to actually handle the levels of the flood that we’re expecting to see We’re constantly meeting about all of this… things are moving we’re trying to stay on top of this and keep moving as fast as we can We can empathize with everybody who’s been affected by the floods because we’ve been affected by the floods as well MSN: Are there other natural disasters the city is working to build resilience against Black: We’re focusing on flooding; obviously fire is a big issue as well We are partnered with a nonprofit [Rim to Rim Restoration] and the fire department and working on fuels reduction We’re focusing mainly on [flooding and fire] because they’re imminent threats We’ve seen a lot of fires in the West over the last 10 So we’re we’re looking at our vulnerabilities with Kara [Kara Dohrenwend director of Rim to Rim Restoration] and saying but we have this [wildland/urban] interface and how do we keep that interface from the town getting burned And how do we manage that interface?’ And then when you have these creek channels these natural corridors that run through town you also end up with all these invasive species that can bring fire right into the town the fire department’s working really heavily with that We will get some work done from that; we may even get some staffing where we have staff in Public Works who are doing fuels reduction on a day-to-day basis MSN: What are some other priorities the city is working on Black: Housing continues to be a priority—we definitely are not where we want to be with housing We know how many units we need in order to meet the housing demand thanks to work that we’ve done with the Moab Area Housing Task Force So we’ve got this plan—it’s a great plan there’s a lot of data… now we need to build it we don’t really build—you saw what happened with Walnut Lane Housing is a difficult thing for cities to do—it’s really hard And we don’t mind admitting that there are agencies that do it way like the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah and the housing trust [Moab Area Community Land Trust -ed.] How do we get them to the point where they’re actually building houses?’ And we have hundreds and hundreds of units that are permitted I met with a developer this week who wants to buy part of the Aggie Village plans for apartments that were already approved up there that haven’t been built [Aggie Village is a proposed housing development near the Utah State University Moab campus -ed.] We’re trying to relate to them We want you to build these,’ because they’re going to be rentals is rentals—they’ll be more responsive to the local market If we can get all of the units that we have permitted It’s a hard time for developers because of finance costs But with the Fed just announcing that interest rates are coming down more we’re seeing more developers kind of getting geared up and ready to go Parking is an issue—even with all these new parking spots The pedestrian experience downtown is another really big issue and we’re working towards plans that will make that a much better experience and safer experience for people but also the aesthetic and how it feels and how it functions and how it looks A lot of cities are moving away from parking requirements and things like that And a lot of people who are coming to Moab are in more than one car Parking is going to be a big part of our city for a long time I’m just excited and honored to be able to do this My goal is to be a service in the community That includes service to the people in this building and our employees the work that they do They’re the ones who do the work that everyone notices and my goal and hope is to provide them with the things that they need so that the public gets the services that they’re used to and maybe even enhance those services and look forward to getting more involved with the community