Justin Higginbottom
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The U.S. Department of Energy is building up the country's strategic uranium reserve, and that means potentially more business for regional producers of the element.
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Federal agencies and five tribes signed a historic co-management agreement this month for Bears Ears National Monument.
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A partnership between governmental agencies and university researchers has modern-day trappers searching Utah for beavers. But they aren’t after pelts. Instead they’re using the large rodent to lessen the effects of drought.
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Dogs roaming the rural regions of the Navajo Nation have long been considered a problem. In fact, 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.
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Backcountry flying is becoming more popular, especially in Southeast Utah. A small but growing number of pilots are helping maintain the remote, historic airstrips that dot the countryside.
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The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act provides benefits to those impacted by the nuclear weapons industry. It's set to expire this summer and there are many alive that still qualify but haven’t collected.
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A 2018 murder shocked a small Navajo community just south of Bluff, Utah. Federal agents arrested a suspect later that year. But since then the victim’s family has lived without closure. And in fear.
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Four Corners K-9 Search and Rescue is the latest organization helping Native families find missing loved ones. They operate mostly in the Navajo Nation where resources for rescue are spare. KZMU’s Justin Higginbottom spoke with the founder of the group about what she and her two dogs find in the deserts of this region.
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Around the country, native groups and supporters have joined prayer runs to raise awareness for missing and murdered indigenous people. A multi-day run over hundreds of miles ended in San Juan County, Utah late last month. From KZMU in Moab, Justin Higginbottom spoke with participants about the crisis.
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The Navajo Nation has around 250 police officers for some 27,000 square miles. That’s an area just larger than West Virginia. Throw jurisdictional constraints for county police in the mix and it means many on the reservation can’t depend on a speedy response to crime.