Staying Alive in Chin State
More than two and a half years ago, the military in Myanmar ousted a democratically elected government. Attacks on civilians still continue. We hear from people in Chin state in western Myanmar.
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Finding Love in a Myanmar Scam Center
Crime enclaves have grown along Myanmar's border since the coup in 2021. These new cities are hubs for online gambling, drugs and lately online cryptocurrency scams. It's big money for criminal syndicates and the Myanmar military's allies who control the territory. How are the scams playing out and how are they linked to human trafficking?
Myanmar's Former Political Prisoners Find Healing Through Resistance
Since the military coup in Myanmar over two years ago that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the ruling military regime has arrested tens of thousands of people. We hear from former political prisoners, talk about the targeted killings of civilians and hear from displaced Rohingya in camps in Bangladesh.
The Life and Death of Esther Nakajjigo
In 2020 a horrible accident occurred in Arches National Park. One woman was left dead. A husband and family left grieving. And at the heart of a trial related to that incident — it’s not so much about that death, but about the life that was lost.
San Juan Horse Massacre
Dozens of wild horses have been found shot in San Juan County as drought exacerbates conflict over the area’s limited grazing feed.
Four Years After a Murder, a Rural Utah Navajo Community Looks for Closure
In 2018 a murder shocked a small Navajo community near Bluff, UT. Federal agents arrested a suspect later that year. But since then the victim’s family has lived without closure — and in fear.
Benefits for Those Harmed by the Nuclear Industry Are Expiring. Advocates Are Racing to Help as Many as They Can
Uranium created a lot of wealth in this region while helping the country build its nuclear arsenal during the Cold War. But it came at a price.
Audio Portrait: The Last Free Man
“I often say my life seems to revolve around three things – my dog, my bike and my laptop…And that’s the way I want it,” says Mike Mewborn, known to locals as Marlow.
Chasing Sunlight: Inside the Growing Field of Archaeoastronomy
There’s a growing number of observers finding a connection with solar events and some rock-art panels. The study of these interactions is called archeo-astronomy… or cultural astronomy… or ancient astronomy. And the field relies on the work of amateurs scouring the Southwest for examples. For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Justin Higginbottom reports from Moab.
Rory Tyler wasn’t in Moab for long before he had a hunch about “The Snake.” He had moved from Oregon in 1993 and soon after hiked with
Rory Tyler wasn’t in Moab for long before he had a hunch about “The Snake.” He had moved from Oregon in 1993 and soon after hiked with
Modern-day Trappers Are Using Beavers to Fight the Effects of Drought
At the chalky slopes of the Book Cliffs in Southeastern Utah, Christine Sandbach, a graduate student at Utah State University, has a beaver in a cage that she’s trying to get a read on.
“Whenever we interact with them we record their behavior. So she just kind of turned away when I opened up the cage cover. So that would be fearful,” says Sandbach, standing in a leafy oasis along the shallow Price River.
Sandbach is one a number of modern-day trappers searching the state for beavers in a partn
“Whenever we interact with them we record their behavior. So she just kind of turned away when I opened up the cage cover. So that would be fearful,” says Sandbach, standing in a leafy oasis along the shallow Price River.
Sandbach is one a number of modern-day trappers searching the state for beavers in a partn
River Guides Organize After Anti-camping Law Hits Home
An anti-camping ordinance in Grand County was meant to stop homeowners from renting out their yards and parking lots to tourists. But so far it’s impacted some of the town’s most vulnerable and needed residents. The county is kicking river guides off private land long used as a workers’ camp.
Can 'Molten Salt' Nuclear Plants Replace Coal?
Coal-producing Emery County is one of the only regions in Utah to have seen a drop in population in the last decade.
And those that remain have lost good paying jobs as the state transitions away from coal.
A new research facility wants to bring back revenue and jobs by experimenting with a number of new technologies.
One of those projects is a type of nuclear reactor some think could be the future of power.
And those that remain have lost good paying jobs as the state transitions away from coal.
A new research facility wants to bring back revenue and jobs by experimenting with a number of new technologies.
One of those projects is a type of nuclear reactor some think could be the future of power.
Backcountry Flying Is Taking Off in Southeastern Utah
Gary Hilley’s job as a mechanic usually keeps him grounded during the week. But when he’s free he heads above Southeastern Utah. Today Hilley is in his two-seat plane called a Supercub, a lightweight craft able to take off and land with only a few hundred feet of runway, flying over slot canyons and mesas, heading south with Canyonlands National Park in the distance.
“So all these orange dots are runways around us. But we’re probably going to go either to Mineral [Bottom] or Horseshoe [Canyon]
“So all these orange dots are runways around us. But we’re probably going to go either to Mineral [Bottom] or Horseshoe [Canyon]
Among Utah’s wild horses roam a “genetic treasure”
Among Utah’s wild horses roam a special breed with a history stretching back to Spanish colonialists.
They've remained isolated in a mountain range near the Nevada border for hundreds of years which helped keep their bloodline intact.
As the Bureau of Land Management rounds up the herd to protect rangeland health, some say this breed shouldn't be treated like your average mustang.
There’s nearly 100,000 wild horses and burros in the West, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
Utah alon
They've remained isolated in a mountain range near the Nevada border for hundreds of years which helped keep their bloodline intact.
As the Bureau of Land Management rounds up the herd to protect rangeland health, some say this breed shouldn't be treated like your average mustang.
There’s nearly 100,000 wild horses and burros in the West, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
Utah alon
The Meaning of 'Rez Dog' Is Changing on the Navajo Nation
It's hard to not notice the large number of dogs roaming the rural regions of the Navajo Nation. It's long been considered a problem as the animals can be aggressive or carry diseases. In fact that the Navajo Nation Council recently passed legislation that penalizes owners of animals that bite or attack people
But many of these animals also live a harsh life, and the culture around dog ownership in the area is changing.
But many of these animals also live a harsh life, and the culture around dog ownership in the area is changing.
A Natural Gas Operator Begins a Different Type of Extraction: Bitcoin
Operators at Wesco’s Blue Hills natural gas processing plant near Moab, Utah had a problem. After the Greentown pipeline was shut down by regulators who deemed it hazardous, Blue Hills’ gas was left stranded.
“And unfortunately, these oil wells are not like your kitchen faucet where you can turn it on and off at your pleasure,” said Steve Degenfelder, land manager and spokesman for Wesco Operating and Kirkwood Oil and Gas. “And so we had no other recourse than to flare the gas that would have o
“And unfortunately, these oil wells are not like your kitchen faucet where you can turn it on and off at your pleasure,” said Steve Degenfelder, land manager and spokesman for Wesco Operating and Kirkwood Oil and Gas. “And so we had no other recourse than to flare the gas that would have o
Audio Portrait: The Longest Ride
All over the world, people and horses compete in a sport called endurance riding, often on courses up to 100 miles long. One world record holder is Moab resident Christoph Schork, who breeds the special animals and trains would-be endurance riders locally.
CIA Paranormal Program Finds New Life In Utah
Paul Smith’s psychic school is located in an industrial park on the outskirts of Cedar City. It could be an accountant's office except for a decal of a pyramid and an all-seeing eye on the door.
It’s called Remote Viewing Instructional Services, and inside half a dozen students hailing from Colorado to Canada are practicing before their first session.
Remote viewing is a form of extrasensory perception, or ESP, where practitioners learn to describe an object, which might be on the other side o
It’s called Remote Viewing Instructional Services, and inside half a dozen students hailing from Colorado to Canada are practicing before their first session.
Remote viewing is a form of extrasensory perception, or ESP, where practitioners learn to describe an object, which might be on the other side o
Audio Portrait: The Revolutionary Hillbilly
Hy Thurman helped found Chicago's Young Patriots Organization in 1968. The group was made up of white Southerners looking for work, but who mostly found discrimination and poverty. They fought for affordable housing, health care and raised awareness of police brutality. They also joined with the Black Panther Party and Young Lords to form the Rainbow Coalition, an influential multi-racial network. Now, Thurman is based in Alabama where he runs an organizing school. And he’s started a second Rainbow Coalition.
From Polygamous Refuge To Tourist Town: Residents Adapt To The Transformation Of Short Creek
The community of Short Creek — made up of the twin towns of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona — lies at the shrubby base of a red-walled desert mountain called El Capitan.
For generations, the dramatic and isolated landscape on the Utah-Arizona border has been a refuge for people who practice polygamy.
“My grandparents moved to the area in the 1940s to get away from the persecution and practice their religion in peace,” said resident Esther Bistline. She belongs to the Fundamentalist Ch
For generations, the dramatic and isolated landscape on the Utah-Arizona border has been a refuge for people who practice polygamy.
“My grandparents moved to the area in the 1940s to get away from the persecution and practice their religion in peace,” said resident Esther Bistline. She belongs to the Fundamentalist Ch
Audio Portrait: Horse Racing in Indian Country
The Aneth Point Downs racetrack is a focal point for communities in southeastern Utah. “That’s pretty much what I do,” said horse trainer Broderick Lee, who was raised on the track. “As soon as I get off work, I come to the horse corral and start tying them up, grooming them, getting them ready to go exercise. And that’s how I grew up – loving horses and everything.”
The New Neighborhood Watch: After Protests, Utah Sees Birth Of Different Armed Movements
When Black Lives Matter protests kicked off in Utah in late May, John Sullivan noticed a lot of the leaders were white.
So the Black, 26-year-old, former speedskater decided to start his own organization. He called it Insurgence USA, and he immediately started organizing protests for racial justice.
When someone suggested they go to Provo, he thought it was a great idea. The event would give his group a chance to get out of downtown Salt Lake City, where protests were usually held.
“My though
So the Black, 26-year-old, former speedskater decided to start his own organization. He called it Insurgence USA, and he immediately started organizing protests for racial justice.
When someone suggested they go to Provo, he thought it was a great idea. The event would give his group a chance to get out of downtown Salt Lake City, where protests were usually held.
“My though
Less Oil and Gas Revenue Means Fewer Funds for Utah Communities
Revenue from oil and gas in Utah hasn’t recovered since plummeting earlier this year. That means government grants and loans that rely on energy royalties have less in their coffers, just when communities need it the most.
You can find Lee and Debbie Elmgreens ranch at a shrubby fork in the narrow canyons of the Book Cliffs. On a recent fall day the greens have a map of southeastern Utah spread across their dining room table.
Lee Elmgreen is
You can find Lee and Debbie Elmgreens ranch at a shrubby fork in the narrow canyons of the Book Cliffs. On a recent fall day the greens have a map of southeastern Utah spread across their dining room table.
Lee Elmgreen is
Audio Portrait: The Uranium Watcher
Sarah Fields is an expert in uranium. From her base in Moab, she’s researched all things radioactive in Utah since 2006. Her one-woman organization Uranium Watch fights for environmental protection and clean-up around the region. “These were things that were affecting my life, affecting my family, affecting my community,” says Fields. “And I just found I started learning about one thing and then I learned about something else. And it’s been a big center of my life for several years.”
