David Condos
Southern Utah ReporterEmail: dcondos@kuer.org
David Condos is KUER’s southern Utah reporter based in St. George. He covers the dynamics shaping life in communities across the southern part of the state with a focus on environmental issues. His reporting has earned several prestigious honors, including three National Edward R. Murrow awards, six Public Media Journalists Association awards and seven Regional Edward R. Murrow awards. His radio stories have also regularly aired on NPR’s national programs Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Here & Now. Prior to joining KUER, Condos spent two and a half years covering rural Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. He grew up in Nebraska, Colorado and Illinois and graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
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“Anytime we have to ground resources because of unauthorized drones in a wildfire area, it delays the containment of that fire longer,” said one fire management officer. That can put nearby communities and firefighters at risk -
A booming population and changing climate have strained water supplies in St. George. The bet is that recycled wastewater can keep the city's taps flowing. -
The timing and intensity of desert monsoons are notoriously hard to predict. But signs point toward some rainy relief for Utah communities in the grip of drought. -
The Temple of Sinawava dam, built in 1957, kept native fish like flannelmouth suckers pinned downstream on the Virgin River. -
La Niña is over, but its counterpart, El Niño, hasn’t started either. The in-between conditions expected this summer may make predicting Utah’s seasonal weather extra tricky. -
Zion National Park’s staff numbers haven’t kept up with rising visitation, and the Trump administration’s federal hiring freeze hasn’t helped. Park officials say visitors should help prevent search and rescue operations by planning ahead. -
The amendment proposed by Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy would have sold more than 10,000 acres of federal land near St. George to local governments. -
“This major excavation of soil that is happening right now to create luxury developments, to create golf courses — that is also creating tremendous dust exposures,” said University of Utah epidemiologist Katharine Walter. -
Researchers in southwest Utah use the annual event to gather data about the elusive desert iguanas. It illustrates how community science could help a rare species survive. -
Local leaders want to shore up roads and water infrastructure for Washington County’s future growth. Conservationists worry it could open the door to privatizing Western landscapes. -
The iconic Ironman triathlon introduced southwest Utah to the world of endurance athletes. But population growth, high costs and “Ironman fatigue” led local leaders to cut ties with the race after 2025. -
Unlike other Utah cities, St. George’s growth isn’t driven by people moving from abroad. That could create future problems for filling local jobs.
