KUER Local News

A Geological Chronology of Our Ancestors

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As part of the Frontier of Science Lecture Series, Dean Francis Brown will deliver a talk tonight about his paleoanthropology field of study at the Skaggs Biology Building. Brown is the University of Utah's dean of the college of mines and earth sciences. KUER's Tasha Cook has this interview.

That's My Room

cjohnson@kuer.org — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

What does it take to hang onto a small business in this recession? For the owners of a children's furniture store in Salt Lake City - a chilly home, bag lunches, and a really positive attitude. KUER's Jenny Brundin reports.

Dan Nailen: Holiday Gallery Stroll

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Dan Nailen's always a fan of Salt Lake City's gallery stroll, but the approaching holidays make him even more enthusiastic.

One Town's Efforts to Rebuild Green

cjohnson@kuer.org — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

In May of 2007, a massive tornado swept through the Kansas town of Greensburg, killing 11 and wiping out 95 percent of the town's structures. Since then, Greensburg has gained national recognition for its determination to rebuild as one of the greenest communities in America. But as Mayor Bob Dixson tells KUER's Jennifer Napier-Pearce, starting over has not been easy.

Barzee Pleads Guilty

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

In 2002, Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake's Federal Heights neighborhood and found nine months later walking down the street in Sandy with her accused kidnappers. Tuesday, one of the suspects pleaded guilty to the crime. KUER's Jennifer Napier-Pearce was in the federal courtroom and filed this report.

Sundance Film Fest to See Changes

cjohnson@kuer.org — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

YouTube and cheap video cameras are putting their stamp on the venerable Sundance Film Festival. The 2010 festival is adding a new category for low-budget films called NEXT. KUER's Jennifer Napier-Pearce spoke with the festival's Operations Director Sarah Pearce about the changes.

Urban Farms Taking Root in Salt Lake County

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Growing crops in Utah's most populous county is more the exception than the rule. But a proposal to convert Salt Lake County's open space into farm land is starting to take root. KUER's Jennifer Napier-Pearce asked County Councilman Jim Bradley - who sponsored the urban farm plan - about the origins of the idea.

Dan Nailen: Emmylou Harris Headlines Zambia Benefit

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Emmylou Harris is coming to Salt Lake City November 19th to headline a benefit concert at Kingsbury Hall for Zambia's Scholarship Fund.

Utah's Low Property Taxes -- A Political Minefield

cjohnson@kuer.org — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Utah has some of the lowest property taxes in the country -- but politicians are reluctant to touch them, even though there's a lot of potential for new revenue.

Ethics in the Spotlight

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Political insiders say ethics reform could be one of the hot issues in the upcoming Utah legislature. But with budget shortfalls and an election coming up, will tightening a code of conduct really be a top priority for state lawmakers? KUER's Jennifer Napier-Pearce reports.

U Observatory Ready for First Light

cjohnson@kuer.org — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Scientists and students at the University of Utah are ready to begin using their new observatory at the top of Frisco Peak in southern Utah.

Books as Therapy

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Bookseller Betsy Burton often reviews the latest best sellers or books by local authors for KUER. But this week's essay is more personal.

Dan Nailen: They Might Be Giants

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Hard to believe They Might Be Giants has been around for 20 years, but that's the anniversary they're marking with a visit to Salt Lake City.

Bioelectronics in the Bionic Age

cjohnson@kuer.org — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Professor Cynthia Furse delivered a talk last night about the history and future of bioelectronics. Furse is associate vice president for research and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Utah. KUER's Tasha Cook spoke to Furse and has this interview.

Weblink: Cynthia Furse - Reynolds Lecture video link from November 4, 2009.

Downtown Rising

cjohnson@kuer.org — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As downtown economies sag nationwide, investment in Salt Lake City's central business district is expected to top $5 billion dollars by 2012. That's more than three times the investment during the run-up to the Olympic games. KUER's Jenny Brundin reports on progress so far in the city's "Downtown Rising" project.

Amelia Earhart's Landing in Eureka, Utah

cjohnson@kuer.org — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

It's not everyday a worldwide celebrity drops in unannounced in a small town on the west desert. But that's exactly what happened eighty years ago in Eureka, Utah. The celebrity was Amelia Earhart- the pioneering aviator who's daring life is recounted in a new movie. The renewed interest in Earhart convinced public radio reporter Annie Feidt to look into her own family's history hosting the pilot during Earhart's unexpected Utah layover.

Behind-the-Scenes at Nightmare on 13th

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

For 20 years running, actors have terrorized paying customers at Nightmare on 13th, one of Salt Lake's renowned haunted houses. Benjamin Bombard went behind the scenes there to find out what it's like to be a professional spook-house freak.

Dan Nailen: Reunited and It Feels So Good

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Alt-rockers Dinosaur Jr. are reunited and Dan Nailen says it feels so good. Here's Dan Nailen's weekend.

Bite-Size Poetry: Jacquelyn Osherow

cjohnson@kuer.org — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Our series of bite-size poetry - poems that can be read in a minute or less - continues this morning with a psalm. Utah Poet Laureate Katherine Coles tells KUER's Jennifer Napier-Pearce about the poet Jacquelyn Osherow.

Alexandra Cousteau to Speak in Salt Lake

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Alexandra Cousteau, the granddaughter of famed nature explorer Jacques Cousteau, is visiting Utah. She will speak this evening at Salt Lake City's Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. Cousteau is an environmentalist and water advocate. She plans to share stories from her one hundred day worldwide exploration of the world's water systems. KUER's Tasha Cook has this interview.

Confluence Touts "Slow Food"

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Everyone talks about food and some people write about it, too. Last weekend, the second annual Confluence Literary Festival in Moab hosted authors who have been trying to explain the "slow food" movement and alternatives to the corporate food chain. Jon Kovash reports from Moab.

Inside the Life of a Gang Member

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

KUER's Jenny Brundin brings us the final story in her series on refugee youth - "Caught Between Two Worlds." She profiles a Utah gang member.

Refugee youth vulnerable to gangs

cjohnson@kuer.org — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Since the 1980s, police have been confronting gang members who arrive in Utah as refugees. The newest group vulnerable to gangs are from Eastern Africa. As part of our series "Caught Between Two Worlds," KUER's Jenny Brundin reports.

Bridging the Information Gap in Public Health

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

There are many reasons for the disparities in health and health care between the poorest in American society and others. Professor Vish Viswanath of the Harvard School of Public Health believes communication is a critical component of addressing those disparities.

Parks and Rec Suffer Budget Cuts

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

As the national economy sputters, one of the first areas to feel budget cutbacks is parks and recreation. State parks and after-school rec programs are on the chopping block - at a time when demand for these services is shooting up. KUER's Jenny Brundin reports.

Flu Expert to Speak in Salt Lake

cjohnson@kuer.org — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

As part of the University of Utah's Frontier of Science lecture series, Robin Bush, a swine flu expert and science professor at the University of California, Irvine will be delivering a talk this evening at the University of Utah's Skaggs Biology Building Auditorium. The topic: "Why Can't We Eliminate the Flu?" KUER's Tasha Cook has this interview.

Against all odds

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Today we examine some of the programs that are creating success stories among Utah's refugee youth. We start with a young woman from the Sudan, who remarkably, despite tremendous odds, is moving forward in life to achieve her goals. KUER's Jenny Brundin reports.

Muhammed's Challenge

cjohnson@kuer.org — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

This month, we're examining the multiple challenges Utah's refugee youth face, and how some slowly become disengaged from school, and even from society. Today, we look at 16 year old Mohamed Ali from Sudan, and the intervention efforts to help him. KUER's Jenny Brundin reports.

Dan Nailen: Gallery Stroll

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Photographs of the Jordan River are high on Dan Nailen's "must see" list for Salt Lake City's monthly gallery stroll.

Crushed Bones Tell an Ancient Story

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

125 million years ago, large dinosaurs trampled the carcasses of others who had died next to a lake in what is now southern Utah. A paleontologist from Brigham Young University has pieced together the bones -- and the story.

At Home with Girard Habonimana

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

In part 2 of "Caught Between Two Worlds," KUER's Jenny Brundin takes a look at life at home of one refugee youth, and how his parents relate to him in this new world.

Refugee youth face challenges in school

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

KUER starts a multi-part series today on refugee youth. Some arrive disoriented and remain disconnected even after several years here. Jenny Brundin starts the series at Salt Lake City's Glendale Middle School to examine some of the immediate challenges refugee students face.

Dan Nailen: New Jersey Rocks

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Dan Nailen's favorite band from New Jersey arrives in Salt Lake City on Monday. Hint: It's not Bruce Springsteen.

Dan Schorr Reflects on NPR, Press Freedom

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

NPR news commentator Daniel Schorr is one of the featured speakers at the annual McCarthey Family Foundation Lecture Series: In Praise of Independent Journalism. His lecture is set for Saturday, October 10th at Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School. KUER asked him to reflect on the place NPR occupies in the media landscape and what he sees as the threats to freedom of the press.

Back to School: Part 2

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

As the economy worsens, some of the hardest hit populations are among the ones who can least afford it: Utah's immigrant and refugee populations. To rise to the challenge, they are taking the job of learning how to get a job seriously. In the second part of our series, "Back to School," KUER's Tasha Cook has this report.

Back to School: Part 1

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Utah community colleges and universities are becoming increasingly popular in the face of a jobless economy. Those shut out of the job market are opting to shore up their skills. KUER's Tasha Cook has this report.

Dan Nailen: New Theater Season

cjohnson@kuer.org — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Fall means a new season for theater in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake Magazine arts and entertainment editor Dan Nailen looks at a couple of productions.

Utah County program tackles illiteracy

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Thousands of Utahns struggle with illiteracy. Elena Gillis reports the steps some people are taking in Utah County to improve their lives and the lives of others.

Battle Over Gene Patents

cjohnson@kuer.org — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

A court battle is underway over the question of whether human genes can be patented. At the center is the company from Utah that holds the patent to a key gene that helps determine a woman's risk for breast cancer.

Parents can block teen texting, talking in cars

cjohnson@kuer.org — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Utah already bans texting while driving. But now, federal legislation is pending to force all states to make texting while driving illegal. That has firms racing to build technology to help enforce that policy. KUER's Jenny Brundin reports on a new product created in Utah that's aimed at distracted teen drivers.