Podcasts about Colorado River

On today's newscast: Colorado River negotiations continue, lawmakers want teachers to train with firearms, Attorney General challenges raising utility rates, and more.

A critically important source of water for seven western states, the Colorado River is now running out of water. To fix the problem a public lands access group has proposed an ambitious plan to build eight massive desalination plants off the California coastline, turning ocean water into fresh water for farming, and reducing demand on the ailing Colorado River. The question is, will it work? USA TODAY National Reporter Trevor Hughes joins The Excerpt to break down the issues and what's at stake.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rewriting history, as labor groups reconsider Cesar Chavez; We're having a heat wave; The debt we owe to the Colorado River; and more...

In this episode of Gangland Wire, retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective Gary Jenkins sits down with author Aaron Mead to discuss his gripping novel Body in the Barrel, a story inspired by a real-life discovery in Lake Mead that shocked the nation. In 2022, as water levels at Lake Mead dropped to historic lows, authorities discovered a body in a barrel with a gunshot wound to the head—a killing style that many investigators immediately linked to organized crime. The discovery triggered speculation that the remains could date back to the 1970s or 1980s, the heyday of mob activity in Las Vegas. Aaron Mead explains how this discovery sparked the idea for his novel. Although Mead is a longtime water engineer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the mystery of the barrel victim and the history of mob activity in Las Vegas inspired him to craft a fictional story grounded in real events. Gary and Aaron dive deep into the Chicago Outfit's influence in Las Vegas, discussing figures like Tony Spilotro and hitman Frank Cullotta, whose violent methods and stories helped shape the mythology of organized crime in the desert. They also explore the long-standing mob practice of disposing of bodies in barrels, including the infamous case of mobster Johnny Roselli, whose body was also discovered stuffed in a drum. The conversation examines several possible identities of the Lake Mead victim, including casino insiders and Outfit associates who disappeared during the era of casino skimming. Mead's novel follows a fictional mob associate named Lenny Battaglia, who becomes terrified when news breaks about the barrel discovery. The reason? He knows there's another barrel—with his victim—still resting somewhere in Lake Mead. The discussion moves beyond mob history into the psychological consequences of violence, comparing Mead's story to classic works like Crime and Punishment. Rather than focusing on a traditional “whodunit,” the novel explores what happens after the crime, examining guilt, fear, and the moral weight carried by those who commit violence. Gary and Aaron also discuss the broader context of violence in American culture, including parallels between organized crime murders and modern tragedies such as the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. Finally, the conversation shifts to Mead's professional expertise in Western water law and the Colorado River, explaining how drought and declining water levels at Lake Mead are literally revealing pieces of hidden history—sometimes including crimes buried for decades. This episode blends mob history, real crime mysteries, and fiction inspired by true events, offering listeners a fascinating look at how the past can resurface in unexpected ways. Click here to find Body in a Barrel Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to “buy me a cup of coffee” Subscribe to the website for weekly notifications about updates and other Mob information. To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent ‘Brothers against Brothers’ or ‘Gangland Wire,’ the documentaries click here.  To purchase one of my books, click here. [0:02]Introduction to Gangland Wire [0:00]Hey, all you wiretappers, good to be back here in studio of Gangland Wire. This is Gary Jenkins. You know, I’m a retired Kansas City Police Intelligence Unit detective. Now I have a podcast and I interview real crime mobsters, policemen, FBI agents, do authors that are doing true crime books. And I do authors that are doing novels that are based on true crime. Because we stick with true crime as close as we can here, guys. You know that. And today I have one of those authors that has written a book that is a novel, but it’s based on a lot of real events in Las Vegas. And we all know a little bit about Las Vegas and the Mafia. So Aaron Mead, welcome, Aaron. Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here. It’s great to have you on the show. Tell us a little bit about yourself, a little bit about your history. [0:47]Sure. Yeah, I’m actually I’ve been working as an engineer, a water engineer for 30 some odd years. And so I come by my writing habit as a sort of a side interest. I, I, yeah, I just, I got a very, I’ve got a varied educational background too. So I started out as a, as an engineer in my training and then just had a creative itch and went back to school, ended up doing a PhD in philosophy of all things. And while I was doing that, I, I thought I might be an academic. I thought I might be a professor at one time and through the job search, things didn’t really work out. I did find a job, but it just wasn’t going to pay well enough, consider moving my family across the country for it. So I ended up not going into academia, but I stuck with writing, which was my favorite part of the PhD, the dissertation. [1:31]And I just started writing different things, some nonfiction stuff related to my dissertation research, but then just got an idea for a story, wrote a novel. It’s still sitting in the drawer. I’m interested in publishing that someday. But this idea for the book related to kind of Las Vegas mob stuff actually came connected with my work as a water engineer. So I work for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. We import water to Southern California from the Colorado River. And so I track the Colorado River news pretty closely. And in 2022, the lake was dropping because of drought and overuse. And this body in a barrel showed up on the shore of Lake Mead. And there was a gunshot wound to the head. And this looked an awful lot like a mob hit to the authorities. And so this just piqued my interest and got me thinking about how did this barrel get there and this body and what’s the story behind it. And I started doing a little research and it turns out that the clothing on the body was pretty well preserved. [2:29]So the police dated it to the late 70s, early 80s potentially. And that’s of course the heyday of the mob activities in Las Vegas. It got me onto the Chicago outfit and, Some of the characters involved in the outfits activity in Vegas there. And so my story just went from there. But, yeah, I guess that’s a little about me and the story. So, yeah. Yeah. Those are the days when Tony Spolatro was really active out there. Chicago outfit man on the scene, if you will. And Body in a Barrel, another interesting Chicago link is they found a guy named Johnny Roselli, who was a highly placed mob guy who was connected to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He had been their guy before Spalatro. He had been their representative out in the West, and they found his body in a barrel down in Florida. Wow, okay. There’s some reference there. [3:21]I’d read a little that this is a pretty popular method of body disposal in various times. And Tony Spalatro was, I understand that they haven’t actually identified the victim yet, but the kind of style of killing they think is pretty connected with something Tony Spalatro might do. I guess the sort of low caliber gunshot wound was a popular way to dispose of it, to whack people just because it was a little less messy than a high caliber weapon. Yeah, this is one they call it a lupara blanca, which means white shotgun in Italian. And that means that you never find the body. In this case, they found the body. Every once in a while, they’ll find the body. Not very often, though. Usually they hide them pretty good. Now, who’d ever thought that Lake Mead would drop that much? Yeah, they dropped it at 100 feet of water, and I don’t think anybody expected it to drop that low. And it could go even lower in the next couple of years here, honestly. Really? Oh, really? It’s still dropping. I thought there’d been some more rain and some snow up in the mountains that were going to add to that. It’s going to be still dropping, huh? Yeah, there has been a fair bit of precipitation this year, but in the areas that count most, where you get most of the runoff, which is up in the mountains of Colorado and Utah, it’s really quite dry, actually. They’ve had some rain, but not much snow, and so they’re talking about a snow drought. Yeah, things could. It just depends. We’ll see how things develop, but it could get bad. Yeah, talk about that gun now. Chicago was noted. [4:40]For using these 22 caliber high standard i think they’re browning semi-automatic pistols with a silencer on it and they had them out there i believe and they also another interesting thing about the outfit in order to keep the sound down they would load their own shells and so they were had less powder in them and sometimes the shells didn’t do the job that they wanted to do now frank Kulata, who was in Las Vegas working for Tony Splattro during these years, he tells a story about trying to kill a guy with one of those guns and how he had such a hard time getting him killed. So I don’t know how many holes were in this guy’s head, but you got to get somebody just right in the head with that .22 caliber pistol. Yeah, they say it had to be pretty close range. You’re talking about the Jerry Listener murder, I think. Is that right? Yeah. I read about that one. That’s actually the kind of the murder in question in my book is based on that loosely. And so yeah, Kolata advises my main character, Lenny, to load his gun with half loads because they’ve lost their silencer or something. So that’ll keep the sound down. But yeah, I guess Lister ended up with multiple bullets to the head. And when they found them, more than you’d imagine would be necessary. [5:55]Really? There’s a guy that worked for the Stardust named Jay VanderWalk that disappeared at the time. It disappeared for a long time. Did you look at that one, too, as some of your source material? Yeah. So there’s this great article that’s been turned into a podcast on the Mob Museum website. I don’t know if you’re familiar with that in Las Vegas there. And they suggest there might be three potential victims. [6:21]VanderMark is one of the—is that the guy you mentioned, George VanderMark? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, they call him by Jay. That’s right. Yeah. So, yeah, he is one of the, he’s a missing person, right? From that era, had connections with the Argent company. So they think he, that’s one of the possibilities. He was running the skimming operation, at least in some of the casinos there for Argent. And I guess the, as the gaming control board in Nevada found out about the skimming operation, gradually, they were starting to talk to people. And I think that they were worried that he was going to talk or actually this is, I think the, the outfit suspected he was stealing money from him. I think it was a combination. Stealing money is worse than talking. Right, yeah. So I guess he took off to Mexico, maybe, I read, or Costa Rica even. But I think… He came back. I can’t remember the exact story, but yeah. Yeah. So from what I read, Nick Calabrese, who I guess was a hitman for the outfit, and then turned eventually and started talking to the feds. He suggested that, I guess, Vandermark ended up in a hotel in Phoenix or something, and the outfit sent a couple of hitmen after him and whacked him there. And then Calabrese said they buried his body in the desert. So that means, you know, if that’s true, then obviously it’s not the guy in the barrel, but he’s one of the ones they talk about because they never found his body. Yeah. And I guess the other one I read about was William Crespo. [7:40]I don’t know that story. Yeah. So the little I know of it is he was a drug runner [7:48]Stories of the Las Vegas Mob [7:45]involved with the outfit in Las Vegas. And he got caught kind of landing in the Las Vegas airport coming from Miami with $400,000 worth of cocaine on him. And the feds arrested him. He accepted an offer of immunity to become an informant. And he was set to testify about this drug ring that the outfit was part of. And he actually ended up testifying before a grand jury, got a bunch of folks indicted. I guess one of the names of folks who was indicted was Victor Greger, according to this article. He was a former Argent executive. But then when Crespo himself went to testify, he was set to testify in June 83. And they got to him before then and he never testified. So, he’s another kind of missing person they suspect could be in the barrel. But the article thought the most likely candidate was a guy named Johnny Pappas. I don’t know if you know him at all. Yeah, I don’t know the story of that. Okay. So, this is a Chicago native guy who was involved in some of the Argent Corporation casino work. And he was, I guess by the 70s, late 70s, he was managing this resort on the northern part of Lake Mead called Echo Bay Resort, which was an Argent Corporation Resort. [9:00]And it’s closed now. It’s not there anymore. It used to be like a hotel and a boat launch. And so he was at the lake at different times. He also owned a boat on Lake Mead. And so in 1976, the day he disappeared, his wife told authorities basically that he went to meet this guy at a restaurant who was interested in buying his boat at Lake Mead. And so they think it could have been a ruse set up by outfit folks luring him basically down to the lake to show him his boat. And then they knock him off and take him out on his own dang boat and drop him in the lake. The motive is a little less clear in this case, but it was around that time when stuff was coming out about the Argent Corporation and the skimming. And they could have just thought he was a liability, might be set to talk or something. Yeah, those are the three that I read about anyway. He just disappeared after this meeting to go sell his boat. Yeah, they found that theory makes sense. They found his car parked in the circus casino parking lot on the strip the next day. And yeah, he’s just gone, disappeared. [10:01]I’ll be darned. I hadn’t heard that story. That is a pretty likely scenario. Say, hey, I’ll drive and let’s run down there and let’s see that boat. I got the money right here. You show the guy a bunch of money and he’ll drop all caution. It’ll go to the wind. That’s how they do it. and got him isolated then. [10:18]Yeah. And maybe it’s a last minute deal. So nobody really knows who he’s meeting and where he’s going and that he’s even going. So that’s, that’s a classic in the mob. Yeah. Apparently he told his wife he was going to go sell his boat, but that’s about it. Yeah. I’ll be darned. Yeah. The, as Lake Mead’s gone down, has there been any other bodies or any other things that have been found out there recently? Yeah, there’s been some strange things turned up. One is a sort of a World War II era airplane, honestly, started coming out of the water. But that was known about for some time. You could see it, I guess, from aerial photos. But other bodies, yeah, there’s a few other bodies, just skeletons, nothing in barrels and no gunshot wounds. And so, people just, I think authorities have identified most of those and suspect they were just drowning victims, unfortunate boating accidents and whatnot. But nothing like this body in a barrel. I think they’ve been trying to identify that body. There’s lots of DNA evidence, right? You got still a pretty intact body. But the problem is back in that era, I guess they didn’t have the DNA database to be matching with. Yeah. So, it’s not borne a lot of fruit. I think it’s still an open case, honestly. Really? The chance they have is if one of that guy’s descendants goes to something like 23andMe and then does that. And I know they’ve come up with a deal where they can start running an unknown DNA through those… [11:44]Files and see if you can come up with a connection and then go back and say, okay, where would this guy have ever come across or be in this other person’s family tree, if you will, and then they can eventually get it. That’s fascinating. Amazing. Yeah, it is what they could do. I had a guy that used to be a professional criminal talking about it. He said, I don’t know why anybody does crime today. He said with the DNA and the cameras and the cell phones and all that, he said, there’s just way, way too many ways to get caught. That’s wild. Yeah. Oh boy. Yeah. I watch a lot of crime shows and I see a lot of that stuff. And everybody watches those crime shows. So they know about those tools out there. So first thing, you got to go get a burner phone. If you’re going to go do something, you better go get a burner phone. And then you better dress up in one of those suits in those English police movies, those white hazmat suits and your whole face covered. Crazy, crazy. Yeah. And then go do it. Don’t use your own car. You better go steal a car somewhere. Man, complicated. It’s too hard. Yes. And even then, if they look at you and say, your phone never moved for 24 hours, but yet you were seen over here or over there. How come you didn’t have your phone with you or your car? You parked your car here for 12 hours and then you came back and got it. What were you doing? [13:08]It is just crazy, isn’t it? Yeah. But tell us, what’s the storyline of your book? Don’t give too much away. You want people to buy it. I understand that. But tell the guys the storyline of your book. Sure, yeah. So the storyline is, it starts out with the true events of 2022, right? This headline that there’s a body in a barrel shows up on the shore of Lake Mead. And my main protagonist, who’s sort of made up from my imagination, his name’s Lenny Battaglia. [13:37]The Body in the Barrel [13:33]And he reads this headline. He’s an old time mob associate. He, at one time when he was young, was connected with the outfit, but ended up getting out of it barely. But he reads this headline and starts to get worried because he’s got a barrel with a body in it that’s his victim farther out in the lake. So this one that he reads about is not his. It’s actually his partners who, in my story, the partners loosely based on Frank Collada, actually. [14:01]And so he reads this headline, gets worried, goes out in his little boat to try to move his victim farther out into the lake because he’s concerned that his lake, the lake’s continuing to drop and the kind of the falling lakes acts like a ticking clock in my story in some ways. I think the Sopranos did something like this. They thought somebody was going to come up and buy some farm, and they had said, these guys have to dig this body up and move it. So that is not out of the realm of possibility, is it? No, no. But what is out of the realm of possibility is this old guy in his tiny little boat actually moving the barrel. So he goes out with just a gaff with a hook on it and tries to yank it out with his little outboard motor, and it just won’t budge. The thing’s really heavy. If you know anything about water, stuff under water is really heavy. Really heavy. Yeah. He’s wrestling with it and ends up falling in while he’s trying to pull this barrel farther out. And so it’s a big failure. And while he’s falling in, he has this flashback to the killing, basically. And so the story kind of goes from there, but it’s really focused on how he deals with what he’s done, basically. [15:10]Crime is no mystery from the beginning. it’s not a it’s not a traditional it’s not a traditional police procedural of where who done it yeah it’s not like that it’s more like kind of what is what’s the aftermath what’s the effect of, a terrible crime like this on even the perpetrator yeah yeah and as I said one of my characters is based on Frank Collada who so he was the story takes place in kind of two time frames right we’ve got the, contemporary time frame, but then we got flashbacks to his time at the mob and Frank was his partner in this hit. We’ve also got a character showing up who’s based on Tony Spolatro. I call him Tony Bonucci, named after one of my favorite Italian soccer players. [15:50]But yeah, so we’ve got this connection to the early 80s, late 70s, and then also this kind of contemporary period. And I understand Frank Collado was actually, he recently just died, right he was he did during covid times i think he he already had copd he was already everything he did he you’d see me to have his oxygen on and so he was already weakened then he got covid during uh during covid that’s a shame you know yeah i did some listening to a podcast he was on in researching my book and it was really fascinating to listen to yeah yeah he is he’s and he’s got his there’s a whole book out there that he mainly just told stories about his life during the whole book. It’s amazing. I did one with him and then added some more clips in from that a long time. One of my earlier ones, I got to know him real early because we had the mob con out there. I knew the guy that was getting it going and I went out to the guy that actually Denny Griffin who wrote the books with Frank Collider, wrote several books with Frank Collider and I’d gotten to know Denny and so Denny invited me to come out and do a program at the first mob conference and I met Frank then. I met him and a couple others after that. He was gruff, but he was a good guy. I mean, he was gruff, I’ll tell you. He wasn’t a guy that just, it was hard to joke around with him. Interesting. Okay, interesting. [17:12]Yeah, I got a bit of that vibe from the podcast of him that I was listening to. Yeah, it’s funny. Just genuine Italian Chicago, like to the core. Yeah, he was that. He was born and bred, born and bred from early his childhood. He was a Chicago mobster. There’s no doubt about that. That’s wild. [17:32]Yeah, Denny Griffin’s book was really helpful to me, actually, in my research. Yeah, the battle for Las Vegas in particular was. Yeah, that’s the one I used. Denny was that. Denny’s dead now. I don’t know if you knew that. I did know that, unfortunately. Yeah, I was pretty good friends with Denny. He helped me out a lot when I got started and got me out there. And he gave me for my first documentary, which was about the skimming, a lot about the skimming. He got me several people to interview, lined me up with them and verified, hey, this guy’s okay and work with him. And I flew out to Las Vegas and interviewed a bunch of people and interviewed him too. But he got me an employee of the Best Casino that knew Lefty Rosenthal really well. She gave us some really great sound bites. I get calls today or emails wanting to know if she’s still around. She’s died since. People are still trying to find her to get to interview her. That’s wild. That’s wild. That’s because old Denny Griffin, he was a good guy. He really was. That’s neat. His book was certainly good. Yeah. Interesting. So what else do you want to say about your book before we get out of here? Besides, go out and buy it. Go out and buy it. It’s on Amazon, I’m sure, and I’ll have a link to the Amazon site. I appreciate that. Yeah, it is on Amazon. What do I want to say about it? I guess the other thing to say is it’s got some, I don’t want to give too much away, but gun violence is really a big part of the book. Not only this single mob hit, but also it wraps in. [18:56]This mass shooting in 2017, the one where the guy was a shooter was in the hotel suites up high and he was shooting across the street into that country music festival. So it’s really funny. I compare it to two things, right? I compare it to Casino, which is this famous Scorsese film from that mobster era, which everybody knows about. And actually, Frank Collado was in. He had a cameo in that. Yeah, that’s funny. But then the other thing I compare the book to is Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, which is obviously this sort of towering literary novel. But the parallel is just dealing with this aftermath of violence, right? What happens when you kill somebody and what’s the sort of dealing with guilt and fear and the consequences. [19:44]Exploring Themes of Violence [19:40]So I’d say those are the sort of things I point to as parallels for the book. I don’t know. There’s a lot more to say. Like you’ve said, it’s grounded in true life crime, but it’s also definitely fiction. I’ve made up the better part of it. Yeah. [19:54]All right. Aaron Mead. The book is Body in the Barrel. Aaron, I really appreciate you coming on the show. And guys, I’ll have links to this book down below. Yeah, thank you so much for having me. It’s been a pleasure meeting you and hearing some of your stories. And I’m enjoying your podcast. And it’s been a privilege to be on here. So thank you. Okay. We like to hear that. Thanks a lot, Aaron. [20:17]Yeah, thank you. Okay. Okay. I’ll do a little extra here in a minute. I just want to tell you something. When I went to law school at the police department and my favorite class was water law and I did my, you have to do a 50 page publishable paper to get out of law school. I did mine on Western water law and it was just, I was fascinated by that Western water law and all the things that go into that, the Rio Grande Pact and all the different political entities that are trying to use that water and how they use it. And then how the EPA rules and figured in on using water out West. And the fact that out West, they treated water like they treated gold or some other mineral. If you found the source, you owned it. Whereas they had riparian interest in [21:06]The Complexities of Water Law [21:03]laws back East here, where you have plenty of water. You can use all the water you want as long as you don’t reduce it. But nobody owns that source of water. [21:12]If it’s a big source, it’s just a fascinating topic. Yeah, it is a bit of the Wild West, like applies to water out West. It’s that first in time, first in right thing. It’s pretty crazy. The Colorado River especially is so complicated. You got seven, seven states take water from it. You got the federal government running the dams there. You’ve got Mexico that takes a portion of it. You’ve got this whole hundred year history of law layered on top of each other. And even today, the rules on how the water gets distributed are about to expire in this year. And so we’re trying to come up with new rules. And it’s just so tough because… [21:49]There’s less water in the river than there used to be, and so the old agreements don’t quite work out, and we’re having to take reductions, and, you know, who takes what? It’s just sort of a big mess, honestly. We’re fighting over it. I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up in court, honestly. But that would be not a good outcome, but it seems potentially likely. Yeah. There’s a judge I heard say once that, you better make a deal outside of my courtroom. If you come into my courtroom, my decision is not going to hurt everybody’s feelings with my decision. Yeah. And inevitably, like the folks, the special masters or whatever the justices are that are making the decisions, they don’t know as much about water as we do. If we can’t work it out, it’s going to happen. I know. And there are just so many pressures that are on it. And it’s tough. And plus, one thing we haven’t mentioned is a huge growth in population over the last 20, 30 years out there. It’s true. Yeah, it’s true. Yes, unbelievable how many people have moved to Phoenix and Albuquerque and Las Vegas, especially Las Vegas, but just being such a huge growth in population out. And before it was desert that nobody really, they didn’t live, they didn’t want to live out there. [22:55]It’s true. Yeah. And surprisingly, like in a lot of these cities, actually, the demand for water has not increased. Like in Las Vegas, it’s actually gone down. Oh, really? They have done an incredible job of conserving water. Same in Los Angeles. The demands for water have gone down despite the population growth. The thing that makes it challenging is that the whole pie is shrinking and it’s the agricultural use that’s the highest. I think it’s something like 85% or 80% of the water in the Colorado Basin is agriculture. And so, those are the things you’re going to need to find conservation there, which is harder. [23:30]Like those Israelis did, it was something called drip irrigation where they used, they were more skillful in the way they used their water in their fields down in the desert. Yeah, and some of the folks that’s been, some of the agricultural folks have been converting to that kind of irrigation for quite some time now. So, it’s like we’re wringing out every sponge we got and running out of options. But, yeah, we’ll figure it out one way or the other here. Yeah, I’m sure we will. This is America, after all. [23:59]Or is it still America? It’s hard to know. Yeah, it’s hard to know. We’re going down that path. Looking a little different these days. Yes, it is. Yeah. Oh, my God. Okay, Aaron, I really appreciate it. I’ll get in touch with you whenever I send an email with the links after I put them up. It’ll be, I don’t know. It’ll probably be a month or more before I get it up. Sure. I stay way ahead. I’ve got quite a few kind of scheduled up for the next two weeks now or three. Smart. Two weeks now, one just went up today. So I put it up, video, I put them up on Sunday evening, and then the audio comes out like 4 o’clock in the morning on Monday morning. Okay. Don’t ask me why. I just started doing that. Yeah. No worries. It gets ahead of everybody. Then they can see it. Hey, I’ve got a question for you, if you don’t, if you don’t mind. No. Do you know about any contemporary organized crime activity in Las Vegas? Is there still stuff going on or is it? I don’t. I really don’t. Yeah. Okay. [24:59]Trying to think of a source for you. I’ll check with a source for you. Okay. I know it’s not Midwest folks from your era, but yeah. Yeah, no, probably something up there out at Los Angeles and people that moved out there a generation ago and stayed under the radar. And then, of course, international. Yeah. Those like Russians and people like that out of Phoenix or in Los Angeles, both. Anyhow, I’ll check on that. Okay. Yeah. If you think of something, that’d be great. I’d be interested. Okay. Okay. I will. All right. Thank you. Thank you again. Take care. All right. Bye-bye. Can you go ahead and do, can you exit the meeting? I’m going to do a little ending thing here. I will. Yeah. [25:40]That was interesting, folks. I did Waterlaw in, well, that was interesting, folks. I really liked Aaron and I think his Body in the Barrel book is going to be pretty darn good. [25:53]Concluding Thoughts on Crime and History [25:50]So I’d recommend you try it. I haven’t actually read it myself. I’ve read excerpts from it. I’ve got it here. I need to sit down and take some time and read it. I like when they base it on the real life people and some people that I know something about. It’s kind of like hearing stories about your hometown. Oh, yeah, I know that guy. Oh, yeah, I remember when that happened. And it’s an interesting thing, the lowering of Lake Mead. He and I, he’s a water engineer, and he and I talked a little bit more about it. I find it a fascinating topic, that Western water law and Western water rights and how that all works. It’s different than back east where we have plenty of water. So don’t forget, I’ve got videos on Amazon Prime for rent. Just use my name and mafia, Gary Jenkins Mafia on Amazon Prime, and you’ll find them. And I’ve got books there. Do the same thing. Gary Jenkins Mafia books. I’ve got three books on Amazon and I’ve got them on my website. And I always appreciate when people make comments on my YouTube channel or on my Gangland Wire podcast page. We’re just here to report mob history. That’s all we want to do is report mob history. And in this case, we got a fictional book that’s reporting mob history based on real mob history. I’ll do that every once in a while, too. [27:07]So thanks a lot, guys. I always appreciate doing this show. It’s a way to end my life out, if you will. I’m down to that last quarter, maybe down to the last two minutes one of these days, but we’ll get there. Thanks a lot, guys.

On today's newscast: Mechanical problem cited in fatal DPS helicopter crash in Flagstaff, Denver donates bison to Navajo Nation as part of annual transfer, forecast for Colorado River snowmelt concerning, and more.

Photo: A scenic overview of the Colorado River from the Navajo Bridge near Jacob Lake. (Gabriel Pietrorazio / KJZZ) The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has invited tribal leaders to testify on Capitol Hill today. As KJZZ’s Gabriel Pietrorazio reports, the Northeast Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act is the hearing's subject. This $5 billion deal would resolve claims for three parties, including the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe. For San Juan Southern Paiute President Carlene Yellowhair, this proposal is not just about securing precious water in the Southwest. If passed, it would also set aside 5,400 acres for a new reservation in Arizona. “We want to settle, because we want our land, our home, a place to build. We lost all of our elders. They started it and we just want to finish it.” The tribe has more than 300 members, including Vice President Johnny Lehi Jr. “You know, the land and the water, that's what we needed to become more sovereign.” Prisoner Mark Andrews is housed at Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo: Anne Hillman / Alaska Public Media) The Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments this month on whether prisoners can be forcibly medicated with psychiatric drugs — without a court hearing and the right to a lawyer. In the state corrections system, Alaska Native people are incarcerated at about twice the rate of white Alaskans. Alaska Public Media's Rachel Cassandra has more. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) brought the case against the Department of Corrections (DOC) on behalf of a prisoner, Mark Andrews. He says he has been unjustly drugged with powerful psychotropic medication for most of the last seven years, without due process or access to legal counsel. The Department policy currently allows prisoners to be drugged against their will if they are gravely disabled or are in imminent risk for harming themselves or others. Doron Levine is a lawyer for the ACLU. He argued at the hearing that the policy infringes on rights protected by the state constitution. “Few things are more personal than someone’s body, and arguably, nothing is more personal than a person’s mind. It’s the locus of a person’s identity, and it’s a last refuge of freedom for people who are incarcerated.” Under department policy, prisoners have the right to hearings every six months with department staff. And they have the right to appeal the decision to a department committee. The ACLU argues that Andrews did not have sufficient access to hearings or an appeal. Justice Jennifer Henderson questioned Kimber Rogers, the attorney representing DOC. Justice Henderson says the facts seem to suggest that the prisoner was denied the rights promised in the department's policy. Justice Henderson: How do you respond to that? Kimber Rogers: Your Honor, I agree that there were definitely some problems, and Mr. Andrews’ hearings, but I don’t think that that’s important. JH: There were more than some problems. There were long periods of time where there were no hearings, for example. KR: Well, Your Honor, I would dispute that actually. The ACLU lawyer argued that there should be a hearing in a courtroom because DOC staff may be biased to protect the institution over the person, but Rogers says a hearing inside prison is the best approach. When the Supreme Court issues a ruling, the decision could apply to the approximately 22 Alaska prisoners who are being forcibly drugged. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is applauding the House passage of the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act. The bill to improve access to homeownership for Native families on tribal trust land is led by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and passed last week. NAIHC executive director Rudy Soto says the bill improves coordination between the Bureau of Indian Affairs, lenders, and tribal communities, establishes timelines, and helps Native families, veterans, and tribal citizens who want to achieve homeownership. The Senate previously approved the measure and it now heads to the president's desk. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, March 11, 2024 – Michigan backs away from Boarding Schools report

Climate change could mean less water for Los Angeles, which currently gets the majority of its supply from Northern California and the Colorado River. But the city has plans to become more resilient—by making what's old, new again.

On today's newscast: Gallego opposes the new BLM nominee, train robbers near Joseph City, San Diego could send Colorado River water to Arizona, condors lay an egg, and more.

This episode was recorded live at the America Outdoors annual conference and is a conversation with three members from the Returning Rapids Project in Utah.  The Returning Rapids Project is documenting the changes and restoration happening to the reservoir-affected areas of the Colorado River and the San Juan River as Lake Powell continues to recede out of the river canyons it inundated with reservoir waters for the past several decades.  The deeper focus of this episode beyond this research project is the powerful observational ability of river guides who work on rivers day after day, year after year, and how they can notice the most minute changes.  In the case of the Colorado River and the Returning Rapids Project, it was this guide observation that witnessed a subtle shift to the river.  This observation has developed into a powerful project that is learning how rivers recover from life under a reservoir.  THUMBNAIL PIC  Stephen Martin@finding.stephen@explorewithmedia GUESTSThe Returning Rapids Project Isabel Adler Davide Ipolito Mike DeHoffMedia about Returning RapidsA Ledge in the River: New feature documented by the Returning Rapids Project Mike Fiebig, American Rivers CONFERENCE HOST America Outdoors2027 Conference Watch this episode on the America Outdoors Youtube Channel SPONSORS Giveaway: "Raft the Last Wild River Sweepstakes" live March 9, 2026   OARS@oars_raftingStillwater & Cataract Canyon HikerCataract Canyon Whitewater Rafting AMERICAN RIVERS@americanrivers   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Mention Texas and you might picture the Wild West — flat, dusty highways, and tumbleweeds rolling by. But head to Austin, tucked into the Hill Country, and you'll find something different. Right in the heart of the city flows Lady Bird Lake, a stretch of the Colorado River that has become a daily gathering place for runners, paddlers, and rowers alike. On its banks sits a true Austin institution: Texas Rowing Center. For owner Matt Knifton, this place isn't just a business, it's where his story unfolded. His ties to the lake reach back to the 1980s, and over the decades he's become not just an owner, but a steward — someone who has quietly shaped the culture of rowing in Austin, protected access to the water, and ensured that this shoreline remains a starting line for generations to come. In this conversation, we also explore how Matt is thinking about the future — and what thoughtful, sustainable growth looks like for a place so deeply rooted in community. . QUICK LOOK 00:00 - Intro 02:12 - Welcome and Matt's rowing week on a scale of 1-10: 6 (great weather!) 03:25 - The Huddle 04:35 - The Hot Seat 6:00 - Matt's rowing origin story started at the University of Texas 10:47 - How the University of Texas women's program got its start in Austin in the 1980s 11:30 - Matt's daughter Kate Knifton, an Olympic rower, only agreed to learn to row after seeing tall boys at Texas Rowing Center 14:38 - How Matt came to be the sole owner of Texas Rowing Center 17:01 - TRC member and rowing evangelist Napoleon Griffin 19:08 - The growth of rowing in Texas: Austin, Texas Hill Country, Lady Bird Lake, and the University of Texas  23:48 -  The synergy between competitive rowers and weekend SUPers at TRC  25:11 - Aha moments running TRC 27:25 - Daniel Velazquez: TRC's famous greater 30:22 - The “boathouse welcome mat” concept and TRC's commitment to inclusion and accessibility 36:20 - Rowing! Come try it! 39:06 - The vision: Make Austin a center of rowing in the United States. Mission accomplished. 40:47 - For Matt, rowing on Lady Bird Lake is rewarding 43:14 - Steady State Network news and notes . To see photos of Matt, Katie, and Daniel,  and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website. . This episode was made possible in part by RowSource and our Supporters. . Steady State Podcast is a production of Steady State Network. It is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is Open Mind by Soundroll. . SHOP SSN GEAR: www.steadystatenetwork.com/shop SIGN UP FOR THE SSN NEWSLETTER: www.steadystatenetwork.com/newsletter MAKE A DIFFERENCE: www.steadystatenetwork.com/support  CONNECT:  FB - /SteadyStateNetwork IG - @SteadyStateNetwork FB - /AllieswithOars IG - @AllieswithOars Connect on FB and IG with the hosts: Rachel Freedman - @RowSource Tara Morgan - @CmonBarber  

Route 66 through Arizona offers a lot of interesting history, sights, people and places that are well worth visiting, including the longest remaining unbroken stretch of original Route 66. We share our experience celebrating the centennial of Route 66 in this week's StressLess Camping RV podcast.  We drove from Kingman to Peach Springs, then on to Homolovi State Park. Along the way we saw a giant head, lots of old gas stations and cafes, and fun towns that really embrace Route 66 culture and history. We got to tour caverns and drive right down to the Colorado River on the western end of the Grand Canyon.   You can find this week's podcast at our home on the web or wherever you enjoy getting podcasts: https://www.stresslesscamping.com/podcast/0348 The StressLess Camping podcast is a weekly RV podcast with information, tips and tricks to help every RVer and camper enjoy some StressLess Camping.

Crews with the Salt River project are dumping thousands of fish into Phoenix-area canals in an effort to help keep them clean. Research has shown that the impact that created Meteor Crater in northern Arizona may have dammed the Colorado River. Thursday is one month since federal authorities raided more than a dozen sports bars and restaurants in metro Phoenix. Plus the latest education, Fronteras Desk and metro Phoenix news.

Funeral services for second trooper killed in Flagstaff helicopter crash, man dies in Hance Rapid on Colorado River trip, Nez gets boost in CD2 election, and more.

Clay joins journalist Jonathan Thompson, publisher of The Land Desk on Substack and author of Sagebrush Empire: How a Remote Utah County Became the Battlefront of American Public Lands. Thompson, who is currently living in Greece, begins by providing a European perspective on what is happening in the United States — the assault on NATO, the flirtation with taking Greenland from Denmark, the overreach of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement service, and European bewilderment about America's intended place in the world community. Most of the conversation is about the crisis of public lands in America — the push to open more of the public domain to resource extraction, the calls for privatizing parcels of BLM land in the West, and the recent revocation of grazing permits for the American Prairie Reserve in eastern Montana. And oh yes, the future of the Colorado River. This episode was recorded on January 28, 2026.

Ever wonder what resorts and businesses are doing to conserve water, or how Southern Nevada can continue to grow under drought conditions? Crystal and Bronson talk about those topics and more on this special episode of the Water Smarts Podcast, “TAP THE TRUTH: Crystal and Bronson answer your questions about all things water in Southern Nevada.”Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelkehttps://www.snwa.com/https://www.snwa.com/

You Can't Have ICE Without Water. That story and more on H2O Radio's weekly news report. Headlines: A plan by ICE to warehouse people doesn't hold water. Theodore Roosevelt would roll over in his grave if he knew of a new Trump administration plan. Lake Powell on the Colorado River could fall so low later this year it wouldn't be able to generate hydropower. Three athletes were disqualified at the winter Olympics—not for doping but for using a compound harmful to the environment.

Colorado River states missed a key deadline, insurers are being called out for allegedly denying mental health claims, and Gov. Joe Lombardo says he made a quiet pitch in D.C. to unstick stalled solar projects. On today's Friday News Roundup, host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by education advocate Patricia Haddad Bennett and Battle Born Progress Press Secretary Jacob Solis to break down whether “naming and shaming” 16 insurance companies will actually improve access to care and if political pull is becoming the price of doing business with Washington. Plus: the penny's slow demise and a surprising move from MGM Resorts International to round up cash change in customers' favor. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 20th episode: ⁠The Neon Museum⁠ Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on ⁠Instagram⁠, or email us at ⁠lasvegas@citycast.fm⁠. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter,⁠ Hey Las Vegas.⁠ Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠.

On today's newscast: Environmental groups warn of impacts after missed Colorado River deadline, ex-CAFMA assistant chief gets pension despite criminal conviction, West Flagstaff residents reflect on shootout, and more.

Seven states in the Colorado River basin failed to meet a key deadline February 14 on a plan to conserve their shared water supplies. University of Arizona Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences professor Laura Condon talks about the difficult choices ahead for water management in Arizona amid the ongoing drought. Laura Condon spoke with Leslie Tolbert, Ph. D. Regents Professor Emerita in Neuroscience at the University of Arizona.

Plus: The Timbisha Shoshone tribe protests the erasure of Indigenous history by Trump's Interior Department; and what to see, hear, and do in Nevada through the next week.

Let's talk about 7 states, 40 million people, and water supplies from the Colorado River....

The Weeping Woman - La Llorona | Paranormal Podcast This week, we explore the Weeping Woman - La Llorona, who wanders along rivers and lakes throughout Mexico, the American Southwest, and Latin America, forever crying out for her lost children with her signature wail of "Ay, mis hijos!" We trace the possible origins of this vengeful ghost back to the 1500s in Mexico City, examining connections to Aztec mythology including the Hungry Woman and the goddess Cihuacoatl, before diving into the most common version of the tale about a beautiful peasant woman named Maria who married a wealthy nobleman, had two children, but was ultimately abandoned for a younger woman—leading her to drown her children in a jealous rage and then take her own life in the same river. We discuss how La Llorona serves multiple purposes across different age groups: teaching young children not to misbehave or cry excessively, warning teenagers about staying out past curfew and the dangers of wandering at night, and representing deeper themes of regret, misogyny, and social pressure for adults. Then, we share four chilling real-life encounters including a Guatemalan family whose 3-year-old was found drenched in an outdoor sink with a mysterious woman figure, a Texas deputy who heard wailing near the Colorado River that would stop only when he shined his flashlight on the water, and an 11-year-old El Paso boy who woke at 4 AM to hear bloodcurdling screams of "Help, help, mis hijos" coming from a nearby ditch while all the neighborhood animals howled in response.

In this powerful episode of Unleashing Intuition Secrets, Michael Jaco sits down with California gubernatorial candidate Lewis Herms to discuss his bold vision for transforming California ahead of the June 2, 2026 primary. Running with No Party Preference, Herms shares his strategy for addressing corruption, restoring accountability, and implementing sweeping structural changes across the state. Herms outlines his proposal to eliminate “WHARF” — waste, abuse, redundancy, and fraud — which he believes could reduce government spending by up to 75–80%, allowing for the removal of property and income taxes while potentially lowering sales tax. He discusses his commitment to full financial transparency through a publicly accessible California budget and a proposed exposure.ca.gov platform to identify officials under investigation. The conversation also explores major issues shaping California's future, including combating human and child trafficking, election integrity, public safety reform, and holding leadership accountable. Herms describes plans for a statewide sheriff symposium focused on restoring law enforcement's mission to protect and serve, as well as strategies to reduce regulations, bring businesses back to California, and support farmers in producing cleaner, healthier food. Energy and infrastructure are also central to Herms' platform. He discusses lowering energy costs through emerging technologies such as small modular reactors and landfill-to-energy systems, along with long-term interest in advanced energy solutions. He also shares ideas for improving water security, including raising existing dams and exploring the creation of a major new lake system that could reduce reliance on the Colorado River. Herms explains that victory depends on reaching the millions of Californians who have disengaged from voting, emphasizing the importance of participation, transparency, and citizen involvement in shaping the future of the state. This episode offers insight into Herms' mission, policies, and vision for a restructured California focused on accountability, safety, and practical solutions. Learn More & Connect Lewis Herms: https://www.hermsforcali.com Michael Jaco: https://michaelkjaco.com

Travels With Randy Route 66 Episode 5 is here! Can I Borrow Your Burro? Arizona From Oatman To Ash Fork Route 66 and Oatman Attractions Bubba and Randy discussed the geography and attractions along Route 66, particularly around Oatman, Arizona. They talked about the Sidewinder Road, a paved but winding route leading to Oatman, known for its mining history and now primarily gift shops. Randy described the town's population decline and its current status as a tourist destination for its burros. They also discussed the nearby Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, where camping is free for up to 14 days. Randy highlighted Kingman as a thriving town with a milder climate compared to other areas in Arizona, and mentioned that they would ask Beth for her thoughts on the matter. Kingman's Route 66 Strategic Success The discussion focused on Kingman's success as a Route 66 destination despite the highway's decertification, with the town's strategic location at a major crossroads and its ability to blend modern amenities with Route 66 nostalgia being key factors. The conversation also touched on the historical evolution of rail routes in the area and Kingman's current amenities, including multiple Starbucks locations and a Cracker Barrel. The participants discussed plans to cover the section of Route 66 from the Colorado River to Ash Fork in the next two weeks, with Flagstaff as a midpoint destination. Route 66 Town Revitalization Challenges The discussion focused on the historical and current state of small towns along Route 66, particularly Truxton and Hackberry. Randy described Truxton as a ghost town with limited businesses, noting that the last motel owner had to close due to lack of traffic and her husband's death. They discussed Hackberry's transformation into a Route 66 gift shop, with the owner maintaining its unique charm over the past 19 years. Bubba mentioned missing a musical saw shop near Hackberry, and Randy shared details about an animal rescue in Valentine, operated by a former Vegas animal act performer who switched to rescuing mistreated animals. Route 66 Landmarks and Attractions The discussion focused on various landmarks and attractions along Route 66, including the Keepers of the Wild Nature Park, a non-profit that rescues exotic animals, and the Hualapai Indian Reservation, which manages the Grand Canyon's Western Rim and related tourism activities. They discussed the Grand Canyon Caverns and the historical mining of bat guano for nitrates in the 1950s. Bubba mentioned an urban legend about the origin of the name "Antares" in Star Trek, which supposedly came from a motel along Route 66. The conversation concluded with a reminder that listeners should verify the accuracy of the discussed information and correct any inaccuracies in the group or on the Facebook page. Route 66 Preservation Efforts - Interview With Mauricio Perez Randy shared the story of , Mauricio Perez, the son-in-law of Angel Delgadillo, known as the "Guardian Angel" of Route 66. Angel, a barber and musician from Seligman, Arizona, played a crucial role in preserving Route 66 after the federal government stopped funding its maintenance in the 1980s. He initiated efforts to declare the route historic, which helped revitalize the town and its economy. Currently, Angel is focused on raising funds for a $200,000 sign to draw more visitors to Seligman, and he sells handcrafted birdhouses to contribute to this cause. The group discussed the potential for Route 66 to be included in the national park system, which could happen around its centennial anniversary in November. Come join the conversation on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/travelswithrandypodcast Have a great idea for the guys?  Want to sponsor us?  Want us to sell something National Park or Route 66 related? Want to be a guest? Want to pay for both of us to go to Alaska? Want me to stop asking questions?   bubba@travelswithrandypodcast.com !!

On today's newscast: water managers predict Lake Powell could fall to historic lows by the end of the year, the federal government will impose its own Colorado River management plan, environmental groups oppose President Trump's pick to lead the National Park Service and the Indian Health Service will no longer treat tooth decay with dental fillings containing mercury.

The Endangered “Endangerment Finding” That story and more on H2O Radio's weekly news report. Headlines: The Trump administration took steps to rescind the “Endangerment Finding”—the basis for regulating tailpipe and smokestack pollution. There was no love lost between Upper and Lower Basin states of the Colorado River as the Valentine's Day deadline passed. Forecasters say we could see a shift from current La Niña conditions to El Niño later this year, which could trigger record global warmth. Why global warming could change the way male frogs serenade their mates.

A man is arrested after a fatal shooting in central Las Vegas, seven states will miss a federal deadline that affects how they share the Colorado River, the Aces visit Opportunity Village to spread love before Valentines Day and more on 7@7.

It's been an unusually warm and dry winter across the west, and that's bad news for the seven states and 40 million people that rely on water from the Colorado River. The water flowing into the river from snowmelt and rain is dwindling, partly because of climate change. The basin's two major reservoirs are at historic lows, and without a sudden influx of snowstorms, streamflow forecasts for the coming year aren't looking good. That adds stress to an already drought-stricken region where negotiations on how to share the river's water in the future are tense and stalled out.  “We're at a point where we have to make some serious long-term adjustment of expectations. In other words, people need to agree to take a lot less water than they've been counting on. And that is always really hard when water is scarce,” says Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. The federal government has given states a deadline of Feb. 14th to reach an agreement, after which the Bureau of Reclamation commissioner could divvy up the water between states as it deems fit. It's already released its draft environmental impact statement with possible alternatives. What's led to this point of crisis? What is keeping states from reaching agreement? And what will the cities, farmers and industries that depend on the river do as climate change leads to a lower volume of water in an increasingly hotter and drier future?   Episode Guests: Sarah Porter, Director, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/podcasts ********** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you'll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today at patreon.com/ClimateOne.  Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been an unusually warm and dry winter across the west, and that's bad news for the seven states and 40 million people that rely on water from the Colorado River. The water flowing into the river from snowmelt and rain is dwindling, partly because of climate change. The basin's two major reservoirs are at historic lows, and without a sudden influx of snowstorms, streamflow forecasts for the coming year aren't looking good. That adds stress to an already drought-stricken region where negotiations on how to share the river's water in the future are tense and stalled out.  “We're at a point where we have to make some serious long-term adjustment of expectations. In other words, people need to agree to take a lot less water than they've been counting on. And that is always really hard when water is scarce,” says Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. The federal government has given states a deadline of Feb. 14th to reach an agreement, after which the Bureau of Reclamation commissioner could divvy up the water between states as it deems fit. It's already released its ⁠draft environmental impact statement⁠ with possible alternatives. What's led to this point of crisis? What is keeping states from reaching agreement? And what will the cities, farmers and industries that depend on the river do as climate change leads to a lower volume of water in an increasingly hotter and drier future?   Episode Guests: Sarah Porter, Director, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/podcasts ********** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠Patreon⁠, you'll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today at ⁠patreon.com/ClimateOne⁠.  Ad sales by ⁠Multitude⁠. Contact them for ad inquiries at ⁠multitude.productions/ads⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Negotiators from the seven Colorado River Basin states will likely miss a crucial deadline this weekend to submit a new plan for how to divide the dwindling water source. Without an agreement, the federal government retains the right to impose a contract on the states. The Feb. 14 deadline comes as the region faces record-low snowpack coupled with unusually warm temperatures this winter. - Show Notes - • USDA Snow Water Equivalent Map https://nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/imap/#version=2&elements=&networks=!&states=!&counties=!&hucs=&minElevation=&maxElevation=&elementSelectType=any&activeOnly=true&activeForecastPointsOnly=true&hucLabels=false&hucIdLabels=false&hucParameterLabels=true&stationLabels=&overlays=&hucOverlays=&basinOpacity=75&basinNoDataOpacity=25&basemapOpacity=100&maskOpacity=0&mode=data&openSections=dataElement,parameter,date,basin,options,elements,location,networks&controlsOpen=true&popup=&popupMulti=&popupBasin=&base=esriNgwm&displayType=station&basinType=6&dataElement=WTEQ&depth=-8¶meter=PCTMED&frequency=DAILY&duration=I&customDuration=&dayPart=E&monthPart=E&forecastPubDay=1&forecastExceedance=50&useMixedPast=true&seqColor=1&divColor=7&scaleType=D&scaleMin=&scaleMax=&referencePeriodType=POR&referenceBegin=1991&referenceEnd=2020&minimumYears=20&hucAssociations=true&relativeDate=-1&lat=42.300&lon=-114.300&zoom=4.5

Episode Summary: In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast," host Chris Clarke discusses the pressing environmental issues faced by the American Southwest with guest Zak Podmore. The discussion centers around the potential for San Juan County, Utah, to become a storage site for nuclear waste. The conversation explores the environmental and social justice implications of such initiatives, pointing out the burden placed on historically underserved communities that have already borne a disproportionate share of impacts from the nuclear industry. The episode also explores the possibilities for the future of the Colorado River and the diminishing Lake Powell. Zak Podmore provides insights into what lower reservoir levels mean for the region's ecosystems and water management strategies. Encouraging discussions about restoring Glen Canyon and possibly decommissioning Glen Canyon Dam, the conversation transcends mere environmental discourse, hinting at a broader narrative of resilience and adaptation. Key Takeaways: Nuclear Waste Storage Concerns: The proposal to store nuclear waste in Southeast Utah raises significant environmental and social justice issues. Glen Canyon Restoration: Lower water levels in Lake Powell reveal the adaptive potential of natural ecosystems, opening doors for restoration opportunities like decommissioning the Glen Canyon Dam. Climate Change Impacts: The episode reflects the looming threat of climate change-induced drought in the Colorado River Basin and its implications for water management in the Southwest. Community Resistance: Zak Podmore emphasizes the importance of community awareness and resistance against potentially harmful environmental policies. Historic Environmental Advocacy: Insights into past environmental battles, including the roles of figures like David Brower, remind listeners of the enduring fight for ecological preservation. Notable Quotes: "These meetings were held, the nonprofits involved said they were just listening sessions. They said, we're not trying to actually bring radioactive waste to your area. We're just here to listen and provide information." — Zak Podmore "I don't think that's a very valid argument. But even if you really believe that, they still leave out the impacts from all the rest of the nuclear fuel cycle." — Zak Podmore "The ecosystems are incredibly resilient and they're recovering faster than anyone expected." — Zak Podmore "It's a dire situation for 40 million people who get water from the Colorado River throughout the Southwest." — Zak Podmore "If you give Glen Canyon, this famous place that was lost to the Glen Canyon Dam in the 1960s, a chance to recover, it will come back." — Zak Podmore Resources: Zak Podmore's Website Zak’s Substack "Life After Deadpool: Lake Powell’s Last Days and the Rebirth of the Colorado River" Listen to the full episode to engage deeply with these issues and explore further enlightening insights from "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast." Stay tuned for more episodes that continue to unveil the stories and voices of the desert. Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

the CAP board president, Terry Goddard, joins Arizona's Morning News to talk about how Arizona and six other states have until the end of tomorrow to reach an agreement on how to share the water in the Colorado River. Goddard explains that we are currently in the longest continous reduction of precipitation in the last thousand years.

On Today's newscast: Colorado River talks continue ahead of deadline, Mayes backs a bill to protect renters, Karrin Taylor Robson drops her bid for governor, and more.

The Colorado River is getting smaller thanks to climate change, and the states that use it are facing a deadline of this Saturday to agree on new rules about how to share water in the future. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality says it's working with communities outside the city of Globe and the town of Star Valley on projects to address PFAS in drinking water. The Paradise Valley Unified School District has fired its superintendent. Plus the latest business, metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk and politics news.

Arizona's water future depends on negotiations over Colorado River water that are coming to a head as states face a looming deadline. Are we headed toward mandatory conservation measures? Plus, a former Border Patrol agent on why she joined and why she quit.

The Trump administration cut funding to Hispanic-Serving Institutions, calling them racially discriminatory. How the cuts will affect Arizona universities. Plus, how the ongoing Colorado River talks could impact utilities' credit ratings.

Do you ever get those wild ideas about running a river in a unique way, but they just stay ideas, and you kinda always wish you had followed through?  This episode is about an idea that became a reality.  In November of 2001, 3 people zipped up their drysuits, pulled on their swim fins, strapped their dry bags to river boards, and slid into the Colorado River beginning a 300 mile trip where river boards were their only water craft.  Kelley Kalafatich, Julie Munger and Rebecca Rusch floated, swam, kicked and paddled their way in and down the Colorado River, successfully and joyfully, and they have a film documenting this story.  The film has just published and they joined The River Radius to have a reunion of sorts and tell their river boarding story 25 years later.  THE FILM:  "Three Women, Three Hundred Miles: Introduction by Meryl Streep"Producer: Carr CliftonGUESTSKelley Kalafatich TEDXKelley Kalafatich IRFJulie MungerRebecca Rusch websiteInstagramFacebookYoutube SPONSORDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusa EPISODE THUMBNAIL IMAGECarr Clifton ARTICLES"Grand Adventure: River Boarding the Colorado""Three Women, 300 Miles"RIVER BOARDCarlson River Board at NRSChurchhill Swimfins  THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

On today's newscast: Upgrades to the Aspen Recreation Center are going to cost more than the city expected; Colorado lawmakers are working on a package of policies that aim to help people who live in mobile home parks; and the seven states that use the Colorado River have until Saturday to present a plan to the federal government on how to divide up the system's water after 2026. Tune in for these stories and more.

A suspected biolab was discovered in an Eastside home, prompting a federal investigation that is still underway. What exactly was found in the home, and who are the major players here? Host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by filmmaker Shahab Zargari and newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess to talk about the latest developments. Plus, they also get into the judicial decision to ban prediction markets from Super Bowl speculation in Nevada, and why an ultra-marathon runner will be running the length of the Colorado River this summer.  Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

It's Super Bowl week! And while the game won't be in Arizona this year, a good share of the betting will be. Gov. Katie Hobbs says she's cautiously optimistic that Western states are moving towards a deal on the Colorado River. Mexico and the U.S. agreed to a sixty day action plan aimed at developing trade policies for critical minerals. Plus the latest business, indigenous affairs, politics, and metro Phoenix news.

Bats are an essential—and often misunderstood—part of the Grand Canyon ecosystem. In this episode, we explore the role bats play in the canyon, why they are so abundant along the Colorado River, and what that means for people camping overnight in one of America's most iconic landscapes. We'll discuss the real but often low-probability dangers associated with bats, including rabies exposure and accidental nighttime contact, and explain why sleeping in tents is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce risk while protecting wildlife. The episode also takes a closer look at white-nose syndrome, a devastating fungal disease threatening bat populations across North America, and how human behavior—from campsite choices to gear hygiene—can help limit its spread. Designed for river runners, backcountry travelers, and anyone curious about canyon wildlife, this podcast blends safety, conservation, and practical guidance for sharing the Grand Canyon responsibly after dark.

On today's newscast: The Glenwood Springs council is taking a closer look at the city's contract with a camera surveillance company called Flock Safety; some Roaring Fork Valley communities are embracing a new way to assess fire risk; and state Parks and Wildlife are calling in reinforcements to stop the spread of invasive zebra mussels in the Colorado River. Tune in for these stories and more.

With rim-to-rim still off the table, Brian heads off the corridor once again—this time down the historic Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa, joined by lifelong canyon hiker Joe Adlhoch, better known in the community as Facebook Joe.What starts as a “simple” day hike quickly proves otherwise.Grandview wastes no time, dropping more than 1,000 vertical feet in the first mile and never really letting up. Built in the late 1800s to access Pete Berry's mining claims, this trail is steep, narrow, rugged—and surprisingly easy to follow for those ready to respect it.Along the way, Brian and Joe explore:The dramatic cribbing and cliff-hugging construction of GrandviewAbandoned mining relics and the story behind Horseshoe MesaRadiation warning signs, historic mine shafts, and canyon ghosts of the pastWhy Grandview feels familiar to South Kaibab hikers—but hits very differently on the way back upA quiet, sobering reflection on Margaret Bradley and why the canyon must never be underestimatedOut on the edge of Horseshoe Mesa, standing atop the Redwall and looking down at the Colorado River far below, the canyon delivers one of those moments no camera can capture—it's one it forces you to earn.The episode closes with Coach Arnie's training tip, this time focused on the often-ignored hero of canyon hiking: the big toe—and why foot strength, gait, and intention matter more than most hikers realize.Steep. Historic. Quietly humbling.This is the Grandview Trail.*****Our new hiking packs are here! Our signature Rim2Rim Pack is back, along with the new Canyon Elite 25, which takes the same features that made the Rim2Rim Pack famous — namely its front pockets and insulated hydration pocket — and adds a much-requested hip belt to make it even easier to dial in your fit. Find out more and order yours at hiKin.club. Supplies are limited, so be sure to check it out today.*****Please join Hike Club Grand Canyon on Facebook by clicking here. This is the official group of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, and it's a judgment-free zone full of interaction, information, and inspiration—it's simply THE place to get the best information in advance of your Canyon adventure. Join Brian, Coach Arnie, and most of the guests you've heard on the show in an environment created to answer your questions and help you have the best possible experience below the rim. It's completely free.*****Bright Angel Outfitters is now hiKin, where hiking meets kinship to form a community of like-minded hikers dedicated to helping each other hike our best hike. It's about all of us. *****To reach Coach Arnie, you can call or text him (yes, really!) at (602) 390-9144 or send him a message on Instagram @painfreearnie.*****Have an idea for the show, or someone you think would be a great guest? Reach out to Brian anytime at brian@hikin.club.*****The Grand Canyon Shade Tracker is our gift to the Grand Canyon hiking community. This incredible interactive tool lets you see when and where you'll have precious shade on your Grand Canyon hike—every route on every hour of every day of the year. Check it out at gcshadetracker.com. Another free resource from hiKin aimed at making your Grand Canyon adventure the best and safest it can be.*****For more great Grand Canyon content, please check us out on the following platforms:YouTube (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for informative and inspirational videosInstagram (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for photos from the trailTikTok (@GrandCanyonHikerDude) for fun and informative short-form videosFacebook (@GrandCanyonHikerDude)

Significant policy shifts are reshaping water infrastructure investment across North America. Greg Goodwin, Bluefield Research Senior Research Director, joins host Reese Tisdale to discuss his latest semi-annual policy review covering regulatory changes, budget developments, and emerging frameworks in the U.S. and Canada. The conversation examines a two-speed regulatory environment where traditional pollutant standards face relief while PFAS enforcement intensifies. The episode explores critical deadline pressures around the Colorado River, where Seven Basin States missed their November target and face a February 14th federal intervention threshold. Greg also contrasts U.S. and Canada infrastructure approaches, highlighting Canada's CAD$54 billion supply-driven investment strategy that builds water capacity ahead of demand tied to housing targets. Key topics include: Two-speed regulatory reality: traditional pollutant relief versus PFAS enforcement intensification State veto power elimination and project acceleration across energy, agriculture, and transportation sectors Colorado River deadline crisis and potential federal intervention scenarios Canada's supply-driven infrastructure model and housing-tied water capacity expansion If you enjoy listening to The Future of Water Podcast, please tell a friend or colleague, and if you haven't already, please click to follow this podcast wherever you listen. If you'd like to be informed of water market news, trends, perspectives and analysis from Bluefield Research, subscribe to Waterline, our weekly newsletter published each Wednesday. Related Research & Analysis: U.S. & Canada Water Policy Review: Key Developments and Market Outlook, H1 2026

Arizona's governor is staring down a deadline on Colorado River negotiations and trying to protect our water future. How devastating it could be for the state and Arizona's major canals. Plus, meet a former Flagstaff geologist who is bound for outer space.

Canyon Ministries exists to help people encounter God in the outdoors, using places like the Grand Canyon as living classrooms. Through guided hikes, rim walks, backpacking trips, river adventures, and outdoor teaching experiences, they invite people to slow down, look closely, and reconnect with their Creator.   While Canyon Ministries is known for thoughtful creation apologetics, their deeper aim is relational—helping guests experience awe, ask honest questions, and recognize that nature is not just something to admire, but a place where God speaks. Whether someone comes curious, skeptical, or already grounded in faith, the goal is the same: to foster meaningful moments in wild places where hearts are stirred, faith is strengthened, and people walk away more aware of God's presence than when they arrived. Nate Loper is an outdoor educator, speaker, and veteran Grand Canyon guide with decades of experience helping people connect faith, science, and the natural world. He has spent years teaching in some of the most dramatic landscapes on earth, with the Grand Canyon serving as his primary classroom. Known for his clear communication and grounded approach, Nate blends geology, history, and Scripture in a way that is accessible, thoughtful, and rooted in real-world observation. Nate has played a central role in the growth and mission of Canyon Ministries, serving in leadership and guiding roles while helping shape its vision, teaching philosophy, and outdoor programs. Through leading and developing daily rim tours, inner-canyon hikes, multi-day backpacking trips, and Colorado River expeditions, he has helped thousands experience the canyon not just as a scenic wonder, but as a place that points clearly to the Creator. Beyond apologetics and geology, Nate's heart is for people. His work with Canyon Ministries has always emphasized relationship—creating space in the outdoors for honest questions, quiet reflection, and moments where God's presence feels unmistakably close. Whether standing on the rim at sunrise or sitting in a chair circle along the river, Nate sees the outdoors as one of the most powerful settings for spiritual clarity, renewal, and growth. www.canyonministries.org www.taurususa.com www.cva.com www.himtnjerky.com www.christianoutdoors.org www.citrusafe.com www.elimishieldhunt.com www.mossyoak.com      

On today's newscast: An unexpected high school closure in Glenwood Springs is being linked to a nationwide protest over immigration enforcement; Democrats in the state legislature are proposing some additions to Colorado's gun regulations; and governors from the Colorado River basin are heading to Washington, D.C., today for high-stakes talks with the Interior Department about the waterway's future. Tune in for these stories and more.

As a dirty high pressure ridge sits over the West, sending all the cold and snow to the east coast, the boys recount the past month and how it feels like an entire ski season has transpired. A grab bag of topics is covered this week including a Downieville mountain biker somehow getting lost on an out-and-back, the dying dream of the ski bum and instead take up wind sports in Florida, I-80 from San Francisco to Nevada ranking as the 8th most deadly highway in America and the ski patrol strike in Telluride ending with a whimper. Pow Bot asks, how long do you have to live somewhere to be considered a local? Core lords call in with some finders keepers stories and aggro locals in the lift line. A few DOPE or DERPs including drop bars on mountain bikes, Leadville 100, driving to the trailhead in ski boots, waxing your split board in one piece and poaching backcountry freshies at Sky Tavern. Also, Pow Bot pays tribute to the passing of Bobby Weir with the story of his very first Grateful Dead show at 16 years old. 3:00 – The last 25 days feels like the entirety of a full winter ski season, base build, pow, corn, melting and thinking about bikes again.5:30 – Colorado off to its worst winter snowpack in recorded history. Crazy dry across the American West.7:30 – Lack of Colorado River runoff could be devastating to the Southwest. Lake Powell and Lake Mead could go below minimum power pool, aka dead pool.11:45 – Mountain biker in Downieville gets lost riding and has to get helicopter rescued by CHP.13:00 – Pow Bot gets lost on an epic mountain bike ride in Montana.15:30 – Search and Rescue is getting overwhelmed by ill-prepared people who get lost.17:25 – Pow Bot's Florida Man adventure – don't move to an expensive ski town, move to an affordable place like Florida and get into wind sports.22:00 – The ski bum dream is dying, and season ski passes have become DERP.24:25 – Sugar Bowl mid-mountain lodge catches on fire.25:35 – Telluride ski patrol strike is over and patrollers did not get what they wanted.29:05 – Interstate 80 from San Francisco to Nevada is 8th most deadly highway in America.31:30 – Forest Service in Lake Tahoe legalizes 110-miles of non-motorized trail for Class 1 ebikes.32:50 – Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead passes. Tom tells his first Grateful Dead show story.45:45 – Core Lord Call-ins – Lee recommends Bridger Watches – Tom recommends OutMap.50:22 – More Finders Keepers in the backcountry.54:30 – Aggro local yelling at people in the lift line at Heavenly.57:00 – How long do you have to live in a place before you are considered a local?1:02:15 – Fritz comments on Sugar Bowl.1:06:20 – DOPE OR DERP – a packable backcountry rescue sled the size of a camping hammock.1:12:20 – DOPE OR DERP – waxing your split board in one piece.1:19:15 – DOPE OR DERP – driving to the trailhead in ski boots or snowboard boots.1:23:40 – DOPE OR DERP – poaching backcountry freshies at Sky Tavern.1:28:30 – DOPE OR DERP – drop bars on mountain bikes.1:36:30 – Making sure your feet are dialed in your ski boots on big hut trips.1:38:00 – How to set up a split board special mini-episode coming next week.

The Trump Administration recently announced plans to withdraw the United States from dozens of United Nations treaties and organizations including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty that was ratified by the US Senate in 1992 and is the key international forum for addressing the climate crisis. Marianne Lavelle, the Washington Bureau Chief for Inside Climate News, speaks about what this decision could mean for global climate progress. Also, the Colorado River provides water to seven western states, and there is not enough to go around. Recently the federal government ordered the states to agree on a plan on how to share what's left amid a worsening drought. Luke Runyon co-directs The Water Desk at the University of Colorado-Boulder's Center for Environmental Journalism and he joins us to discuss the challenges of allocating water resources when demand continues to outstrip supply. And mycorrhizal fungi form intricate and vital partnerships with plants through enormous underground networks that could help ecosystems and agriculture withstand climate impacts. But these fungi are threatened by habitat loss, nitrogen pollution and more. 2025 MacArthur Fellow Toby Kiers is leading fungi research and conservation efforts; he shares the wonders of fungi and why they're worth protecting.  —---- If you're not yet signed up for the Living on Earth newsletter, the start of the new year is a great time to join! Don't miss out on our weekly exclusive content and notes behind the stories you hear on Living on Earth. Just go to loe.org/newsletter to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on AirTalk: The latest on Iran (0:15) What’s with the billionaire tax? (16:40) Why is Gen Z not talking? (41:26) Colorado River check-in (51:16) Are influencers impacting policy and public support? (1:07:07) Favorite neighborhoods (1:32:56) Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency