Fontenelle Creek and Warren Bridge Campgrounds Open for Summer
The Fontenelle Creek Recreation area is approximately 35 miles north of Kemmerer, Wyoming and 10 miles south of La Barge, Wyoming. The area’s facilities include 55 campsites, paved access roads, three vault toilets, three flush toilets, and a boat ramp. Designated campsite fees are $7 per night. A dump station is available for a $3 fee. The Warren Bridge Campground is approximately 20 miles west of Pinedale, Wyoming. The site’s facilities include 16 pull-through sites, three vault toilets, trash service, a day use area, and a dump station. Designated campsite fees are $10 per night and the dump station fee is $5. Scab Creek Campground is also open to the public, but drinking water is not currently available. The BLM expects to turn on the campground’s water system in mid-June. ... more
Public gleans little of PAPO budget, annual planning
“In lieu of an in-person meeting, the BLM Pinedale Field Office has made Pinedale Anticline Project Area planning updates available online. Documents typically presented during a meeting, including wildlife, air, water, operator and agency reports, are available at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/77515/510.”... more
BLM plans prescribed fires in Sublette, Lincoln counties
Prescribed burns will take place in two distinct project sites. The Burdick prescribed fire project is located about 13 miles west of La Barge on the east face of Miller Mountain, south of the La Barge Creek drainage. Within this area, 470 acres of slash and standing conifer are targeted to burn. The Deadline Ridge prescribed fire project is located approximately 12 miles northwest of La Barge, on the east face of Deadline Ridge. The BLM has targeted 396 acres of slash and standing conifer to burn on this ridge. ... more
Avalanche infrastructure maintenance will cause traffic delays in Hoback Canyon
Crews will be utilizing helicopter operations in the Stinking Springs area of Hoback Canyon to do some general maintenance of the avalanche infrastructure known as the O’Bellx units. These units use explosions to trigger smaller, controlled avalanches to prevent dangerous, uncontrolled conditions. ... more
Game and Fish, BLM close winter ranges to vehicles
In the Pinedale Field Office area, these areas are closed: The Ryegrass, Bench Corral, Deer Hills, Calpet and Miller Mountain winter ranges including lands north of Fontenelle Creek, east of the Forest Service Boundary, west of U.S. Highway 189 and south of Horse Creek. The Mesa winter range east of County Road 110/East Green River Road, north of County Road 136/Paradise Valley Road, west of the New Fork River and south of U.S. Highway 191. ... more
Sorority sisters reveal names in lawsuit
“Plaintiffs (Jaylyn Westenbroek, Hannah Holtmeier, Allison Coghan, Grace Choate, Madeline Ramar and Megan Kosar) have chosen to level accusations of impropriety against Defendants. They must now shoulder the burden of those accusations and walk in the public eye,” he wrote.... more
Pronghorn, mule deer tags slump, predator tags may bump
Commissioners decided to ax 765 licenses for hunters looking to bag “any antelope” in that herd, and another 1,225 doe and fawn licenses. Some hunters questioned why the department was still planning to offer “any antelope” tags, concerned they might lead to unsustainable levels of doe killing. ... more
Utility asks to increase customer rates 7.6 percent
The change in electricity prices would vary across rate classes under the utility’s proposal. Residential customers would see the smallest increase, at 5.1 percent, with the average residential bill going up by about $3.52 per month, according to the utility. That percentage rises to between 5.6 percent and 8.4 percent for general service users and between 6.4 percent and 9.2 percent for all other categories. ... more
Thriving elk, struggling deer: Coincidence? New research suggests not
“More is not always better,” University of Wyoming ecology professor Kevin Monteith told WyoFile. “In this situation, with deer and elk, we may not be able to have our cake and eat it too. We may not be able to have robust, large populations of elk and robust, large populations of deer.” ... more
DEQ Air Quality Awareness Week
DEQ will celebrate throughout the month of May with outreach efforts that inspire Wyoming citizens to take action and consider incorporating air quality knowledge and conservation practices into their daily lifestyles.... more
Governor's proclamation encourages teachers to take their students outside
As a part of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Affiliate Network, the Wyoming Alliance for Environmental Education has launched a pledge campaign called Outside for 5 encouraging teachers and educators in Wyoming to engage in outdoor learning for at least five minutes a day, five days a week, or any meaningful amount of time. This is part of a national campaign that calls upon teachers to support student wellness by learning outside.... more
Bozeman man pleads guilty to felony charge
An investigation initiated by U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations in April 2021, revealed Joshua Anders Rae of Bozeman, Montana, was collecting shed elk antlers outside legal dates for areas west of the continental divide in Wyoming. In April 2021, Law Enforcement Officers patrolling a winter range closure outside Jackson, WY encountered Rae hiding illegally collected antlers under the cover of darkness. The longstanding closure was established to protect wintering deer and elk. Rae, who entered the closure by traveling cross country a significant distance, was present in the area the day before the legal opening date, thus depriving numerous shed hunting enthusiasts of equal enjoyment and opportunity during the highly regulated opening day event outside Jackson, WY.... more
Wyoming Range mule deer deaths rising
About 30 percent of the does in the Wyoming Range Mule Deer Herd had died by late March, when Gov. Mark Gordon convened a town hall-style meeting in Pinedale about winter’s dire effects on ungulate populations in portions of Wyoming. At the time, biologists explained that survival rates could continue to plummet — and their warnings proved prescient. In the two weeks that followed, another 20 percent of the adult female deer in the Wyoming Range succumbed to starvation and other winter stressors, a state biologist told WyoFile on Friday. ... more
Select Yellowstone National Park roads open to public April 21
On Saturday, April 22, entrance fees will be waived in celebration of National Park Week.... more
UW Wool judging team wraps up successful 2023 season
Members of the 2023 wool judging team were Kristy Benjamin from Pinedale; Bailey Arends, Brighton, Colo.; Kirby Hales, Laramie; Hadlee Hollinger, Casper; Joe Mills, Peyton, Colo.; Todd Paisley, Wheatland; Megan Perez, Aurora, Colo.; Emi Ramirez, Steamboat Springs, Colo.; and Morgan Stratman, Stromsburg, Neb.... more
2023 spring bicycling between Yellowstone National Park’s West Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs begins April 7
Beginning Friday, April 7, bicyclists willing to brave the unpredictable weather of spring in Yellowstone National Park can ride 49 miles between the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana, and Mammoth Hot Springs. ... more
Spring season kicks off with partial opening of Teton Park Road to recreational activities
The 14-mile section of road will open to motor vehicle traffic on May 1, weather permitting.... more
Winter crushes Wyoming Range mule deer fawns
Both species are dying from starvation due to snow that’s buried their favorite shrubs, a lack of wind that usually clears hillsides for foraging, and persistent below-zero temperatures that have caused the animals to use up the fat stores that get them through winter — with at least a month of snow cover left.... more
Gov challenges EPA’s ‘arbitrary’ deferral of state ozone plan
“Wyoming is not a significant contributor to ozone pollution in our neighboring states. Data support the work that went into our state plan,” Gov. Gordon stated. “This is yet another example of this Administration picking and choosing examples which are intended to punish fossil energy-producing states.”... more
Judge: Lawmakers can’t ‘legislate away a constitutional right’
The group of women asserts that the new abortion law, albeit more detailed than last year’s ban, still contravenes many of the same constitutional protections cited previously. Those include Wyomingites’ rights to make their own health-care decisions, privacy, religious freedom and equal protection under the law, among others named in the state constitution.... more
Yellowstone National Park 2023 road improvement projects
All four projects will cause delays (Lewis River Bridge, Old Faithful to West Thumb, Yellowstone River Bridge and Northeast Entrance Road).... more
Feds, Wyo. split over Hageman's bill to delist grizzlies
Hageman, however, pushed back, walking Servheen through provisions in an agreement between Wyoming, Idaho and Montana establishing a population goal for grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: About 932 animals, a number intentionally set to well exceed the 500-animal federal recovery threshold.... more
Feds seek public input on pending oil and gas lease sales
The oil and gas industry, as of September 2021, held more than 9,600 onshore federal oil and gas permits while the BLM was still processing 4,400 additional permit applications to drill federal parcels under contract — more than enough to support robust drilling programs, according to a November 2021 Interior Department report. Industry officials insist they need a surplus of permitted federal lease parcels to fund drilling programs, but the practice threatens to prioritize future drilling over other uses for those public lands, according to the Interior.... more
Grand Teton officials: 'No reason to believe' 399 won't emerge from den
“I felt she was quite healthy,” he said. “If she did actually go to den, she’ll probably have two or three cubs.” Schwabedissen also said the last confirmed sighting of 399 was in mid-September of last year. He said there were more reported sightings afterwards that were “likely to be her.” Without a GPS collar, 399’s exact whereabouts are unknown. “However, we fully expect that she is denned up,” Schwabedissen said. While 399 is “at the upper end of a grizzly bear’s lifespan,” her body condition “did look good” last fall, he said.... more
As grizzles emerge from dens, wildlife managers ask public to help keep bears wild
Residents and visitors in Wyoming, Montana northeast Washington, and northern and eastern Idaho should be prepared for a grizzly encounter and work to prevent conflicts by following the tips below – preventing a conflict is always easier than dealing with one. ... more
WYDOT initiates project for WY 22 corridor between Jackson and Wilson
WYDOT originally had planned to start the environmental and design project in 2026 but decided to advance the project to start sooner. Bob Hammond, WYDOT’s Resident Engineer, said that daily traffic on WYO 22 has increased by 20 percent over the last 10 years. He added that traffic growth during peak travel hours were even higher during this timeframe, with approximately 30 percent growth in the morning peak hour and 17 percent in the evening peak hour. ... more
Cattle producers watching for change in labeling rule
“Our organization has always favored voluntary country of origin labeling,” he said. “I think this is a step in the right direction. Currently, a label that says 'Product of the USA' is very deceptive from our perspective; it could be entirely produced in another country, and only processed in the U.S.”... more
State biologists warn of high CWD prevalence in Park County
“We’ve never known an animal to survive CWD. They all succumb to it,” he told a crowd at the department’s season setting meeting Monday night in Powell in the Yellowstone Building on the Northwest College Campus. “Typically deer succumb to it in about 18 months — we usually say somewhere between 18 and 24 months.” ... more
First grizzly bear sighting of 2023 in the Jackson Hole area
Adult male grizzly bears typically emerge from hibernation in March, while females with young typically appear between April and early May. The first grizzly bear sighting of 2022 in the Jackson Hole area occurred on March 13 in Grand Teton National Park. When bears emerge from their dens, they search for any available foods and often scavenge animals that died during the winter.... more
Winter weather, disease whack wildlife
Near Pinedale, an outbreak of a rare respiratory disease is moving through the Sublette herd of pronghorn, a group of nearly 40,000 antelope. A few hundred of its members migrate north to Grand Teton National Park in the summer. Mycoplasma bovis infections that cause serious cases of pneumonia have killed some 200 animals in the herd since mid-February.... more
Winter still abounds on the Bridger-Teton
When individuals access closed winter range, they cause animals using the area to become stressed or flee to new locations. This retreat requires animals, especially ungulates like deer, elk, and moose, to use energy they cannot spare. Further, it can place them in areas less suitable for grazing and/or browsing, preventing them from gathering the food sources they need to survive. This leads to a weakened condition, which can have a direct effect on the animals’ ability to defend itself, making it more susceptible to predation and disease, and can lead to future reproduction problems in individual animals. ... more
Fewer Wyoming resident deaths, births recorded in 2022
Among the reported overdose deaths in 2022, 29 percent were linked with prescription drugs, 59 percent with illicit drugs and 10 percent involved a combination. Opioids, which can be either prescription drugs or illicit drugs, were connected to 72 of the reported overdose deaths last year. Fentanyl was linked with 48 of the deaths and methamphetamine with 47.... more
G&F plans season-setting meetings in Pinedale, Jackson
Pinedale Region season-setting meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 22 – 2023 season-setting meeting, at the Pinedale Game and Fish office, 432 Mill St., Pinedale, from 6 to 8 p.m. For those unable to attend one of the season-setting meetings in person, there will also be presentations posted to the Game and Fish website by March 17, highlighting proposed changes from the 2022 hunting seasons by each biologist district. ... more
Keeping our mule deer wild
Each winter, well-intentioned people begin to feed wildlife, under the assumption it will ensure their survival through winter. Unfortunately, feeding of any kind causes more harm than good to mule deer and only furthers their decline. Mule deer are adapted to their environment and specifically to the plants they rely on to survive. Throughout the summer they eat highly nutritious plants to build up their fat stores. Through the winter they eat less overall and transition to eating woody plants that are less nutritious while they utilize their fat stores for energy and survival. Unlike elk, mule deer are highly selective foragers due to their specialized digestive system. Mule deer digestive systems contain specific bacteria that help break down only the plants they eat and are adapted to. The bacteria adjust slowly to match their diet through each season, and in the winter their gut contains the appropriate bacteria to digest only their winter diet of woody materials. Any human-provided food sources, including hay, apples, corn, etc. are simply not digestible and cause an abundance of lactic acid, acidosis, dehydration, and ultimately death. Fed mule deer often die from starvation with full stomachs of food they cannot digest.... more
‘Good medicine:’ Buffalo delivered to home on the reservation
On a clear October morning on the Wind River Indian Reservation, Eastern Shoshone tribal member Jason Baldes stood in front of a semi trailer parked on an expanse of patchy dirt surrounded by agricultural lands, snow-crusted outcroppings and pale blue sky. ... more
Dems, GOP in pitched battle over special COVID legislative session
Wyoming lawmakers are deeply divided along party lines over the need for, and structure of, a forthcoming special legislative session called to fight proposed federal COVID-19 vaccination and/or testing rules.... more
As closure nears, miners grapple with next steps
With four weeks left before Wyoming’s last underground coal mine shutters, the employee transition is well underway. ... more
Out-of-state contributions boost Cheney campaign
An unprecedented amount of out-of-state money is pouring into Rep. Liz Cheney’s reelection effort, as she campaigns in one of the nation’s highest-profile congressional races. ... more
Critical race theory won’t be taught in Carbon County
The Carbon County School District No. 2 Board of Education has passed a resolution that prevents the critical race theory concept from being taught in the district’s seven schools. ... more
Businesses to state lawmakers: No more mandates
“No more regulations or mandates on Cheyenne businesses” was the clear message from the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce on Friday as state legislators gear up for a special session this week to discuss ways to fight federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates. ... more
Wyoming sugar beet harvest strong despite delays
Despite losing about 300 acres of sugar beets in the spring, Wyoming Sugar’s 2021 crop should push 32 tons per acre and finish above 19 percent in sugar content. ... more
Ongoing testing program tracks UW COVID-19 spread
University of Wyoming students and faculty may experience a new kind of pop quiz this fall semester. A random 3-percent sample of on-campus UW students and employees is being tested each week for COVID-19 as part of the university’s COVID-19 response.... more
COVID-19 hospitalizations hit all-time high
Wyoming hospitals treated 249 COVID-19 patients on Thursday — the most at any point during the pandemic. At the height of last year’s surge in November, 247 people were hospitalized with the virus, while active cases neared 12,000 — roughly 2 percent of the state. ... more
Commitment to conservation leads volunteers to extreme locations in effort to save trout
An effort that’s saved hundreds of thousands of fish from local canals began with a fisherman with a big heart accompanying a ditch rider on the Cody Canal. ... more
Sholly grapples with record Yellowstone visitation
Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly has every square foot of pavement mapped out in the 2.2 million acre Park. He’s scrutinizing the 1,750 acres of pavement in the hope of finding answers to the rising traffic congestion.... more
Ambushed hunter kept his composure after grizzly mauling
Jeremy Dickson is known for his calm demeanor. Wife Carmen says he’s even analytical in his thought processes. Even after being mauled by a grizzly bear.... more
Former Air Force pilot becomes oldest to paraglide
Fred Miles doesn’t speak much, but he can hum his way around a melody, and the one coming out of his mouth this past summer as he looked down from the top of the Bridger Gondola at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort was “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” by John Denver.... more
Simpson remembers Powell as patriot
Former U.S. Sen. Al Simpson has many fond memories of the late U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, but none more prominent than the way he heard Democrat Robert Byrd, a 51-year senator from West Virginia, speak of Powell after he heard him give a speech.... more
Residents angry over end of public comments at commission meetings
The Campbell County Commission has suspended public comment at their meetings until further notice, but that didn’t keep people from speaking up and speaking out against the commissioners Tuesday.... more
Wyoming still most hesitant state for vaccination
Wyoming remains the most vaccine hesitant state in the nation, according to the latest numbers from U.S. Census Bureau polling. Wyoming children ages 12 to 17 now fall into that category as well.... more
Wyoming aims to expand sports betting by end of year
The first month of legalized sports betting in Wyoming wrapped up only a few weeks ago, but the state’s gaming commission is already anticipating expansion in the near future.... more
Scientists optimistic about Mullen Fire recovery
Late in the summer of 2020, as hunting seasons ramped up and the world reeled from the COVID pandemic, a fire ignited in southeast Wyoming’s Snowy Range. ... more
Oil and gas industry continues to show signs of recovery in Wyoming
Wyoming’s oil and gas industry continues to show signs of recovery from the 2020 pandemic shockwave that drove the price of oil below $0 per barrel, spurred layoffs and stalled production.... more
Land swap would create 38,000-acre public block in SE Wyo
An Albany County land exchange proposed by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management would consolidate a 38,000-acre block of public land around the Mule Creek Ranch 50 miles southeast of Casper.... more
Cheney v. Trump: House race raising, spending at record clip
Hailed as the marquee event of the 2022 midterm elections, the campaign of incumbent U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, versus a field of challengers is already on track to be by far the most expensive in state history.... more
Evanston school district asks parents’ help to end TikTok pranks
Uinta County School District No. 1 has asked for parental help in putting a stop to students attempting to pull off school pranks modeled after challenges circulating on the social media app TikTok. ... more
Oil prices may increase as Converse County rig count jumps to 10
Is $80-plus a barrel the new normal for oil prices in the country right now? How about $100 per barrel by mid-2022? ... more
Poll: Medicaid expansion popular
A new poll commissioned by four nonprofits shows significant support for Medicaid Expansion in Wyoming, a government health insurance assistance program for those who can’t afford insurance and aren’t offered it by their employer. ... more
Campbell County Commission not allowing public comment on library issues
The Campbell County Commission will no longer be taking public comment relating to the Campbell County Public Library.... more
COVID spikes in state prisons
Cases of COVID-19 at Wyoming prison facilities have spiked to their highest total since the start of the pandemic.... more
Tribes shorted on federal funds due to joint-powers structure
The Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes have missed out on multiple federal funding opportunities because of the cooperative government structure imposed upon them by the federal government, state and tribal officials said this month. ... more
Teton areas eyed as off-limits to help bighorn sheep population
An interagency collective of biologists is recommending that 21,233 acres of high-quality winter habitat in the Teton Range be made off limits to humans to help an imperiled, declining herd of bighorn sheep stage a comeback.... more
Barrasso: ‘I’m pro-vaccine and anti-mandate’
While some Wyomingites and Republican officials have been hesitant to endorse the COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso has no such qualms.... more
Wyoming gambling overgrown, says tribal leader
Wyoming’s gambling is overgrown, according to Northern Arapaho Business Council Chairman Jordan Dresser. ... more
Man who killed friend sentenced to prison
A Gillette man who shot and killed his friend in 2020 will serve three to 10 years in prison.... more
Legislature to hold special session on mandate
The Wyoming State Legislature has voted to hold a special session to combat federal vaccine mandates, but another obstacle remains. ... more
Changes in state economy affect education system
As the economic landscape of Wyoming changes, so does one of the most equitable education systems in the country.... more
Laramie woman sets up Free Little Pet Pantry
Angel seemed excited as she sniffed at the now-familiar converted kitchen hutch filled with pet food, treat, toys and other items.... more
County jails are unintended fallback for people with mental illness
Dennis Gross is sitting in the Teton County Jail, where nearly everyone involved in his case agrees he shouldn’t be.... more
Facebook group offers place to recollect and share Casper’s history
When Roy Barnes left Casper at age 16, he didn’t look back. ... more
Lawmakers advance $25M cost-of-living hike for teachers
Wyoming teachers and staff may see an annual cost-of-living adjustment as lawmakers advanced a $25 million hike that would start in 2022. But it’s unclear how far that might go toward bringing salaries in line with a national average that has outpaced the state in recent years.... more
EPA backs Bighorn Forest’s plan for aerial herbicide spraying
Aerial spraying of chemicals — including one banned in Europe — to kill sagebrush and invasive plants appears to be “the most-reasonable option” for the Bighorn National Forest to meet range and habitat goals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says.... more
Groups seek to elevate young voices on Wyoming’s future
Several groups are encouraging young Wyoming residents to get more involved in local and state civic matters, and endeavoring to involve more youth in shaping the state’s future.... more
Federal jury convicts three in NuTech securities fraud
A federal jury in Cheyenne returned guilty verdicts against three men related to a stock fraud involving NuTech Energy Resources Inc., a company that claimed to operate coalbed-methane wells in Wyoming.... more
UW unveils latest restructuring recommendations
University of Wyoming administrators have published the latest recommendations for restructuring the state’s sole public four-year university, amended with input from faculty and college deans.... more
Senators introduce new gun legislation
A group of Republican senators introduced a bill earlier this week that would allow individuals to carry firearms on lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including Wyoming’s two delegates.... more
UW provost recommends reconfiguring with cuts
A reconfiguration of University of Wyoming academic programs, including elimination of some degree programs, has been submitted to the school’s board of directors.... more
Crook County treasurer resigns
A civil trial that was to consider the removal of Mary Kuhl from her position as Crook County Treasurer will no longer be necessary because her letter of resignation was accepted by the county commissioners on Friday, Oct. 8.... more
Committee approves bill giving tribes access to grants
Lawmakers advanced a bill draft Friday that would make Wyoming Business Council grants as accessible to local tribes as they are to other governments.... more
Health officials encourage flu vaccination
Following an unusually quiet 2020-21 flu season, a Wyoming Department of Health official says the need for flu shots remains important to help protect Wyoming residents from influenza as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.... more
Legislators prepare bills fighting vaccine mandate
Some Wyoming lawmakers are already working on bills for the impending special session aimed at fighting the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for all companies with over 100 employees.... more
‘Defiant Five’ win temporary freedom in wild horse roundup
Their manes and tails flying in the air, the wild horses trot, canter and gallop ahead of the buzzing, weaving helicopter.... more
Petito strangled weeks before body was found, officials say
Hundreds of thousands of people watched live and millions reacted as Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue announced in a video press conference Tuesday that Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, 22, died by strangulation.... more
Lawsuit alleges abuse of grade school student on bus
Facing claims that its bus driver and superintendent did not react properly to sexual abuse on a school bus, Fremont County School District 14 is being sued in federal court. ... more
Wyoming hospitals report critical staffing shortages
Four Wyoming hospitals have recently utilized crisis standards of care, and more than half a dozen have sought information on those standards from the state health department, though no hospital was actively in crisis care as of Tuesday afternoon, health department spokesperson Kim Deti said via email.... more
Legislators recommend $72 million adjustment to schools
The Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Education Interim Committee voted Monday to recommend adding an external cost adjustment worth more than $72 million to the state’s next K-12 education budget.... more
West puts ‘West Ranch’ up for sale
Kanye West’s ranch is now for sale, symbolizing the likely final page in the hip-hop and fashion mogul’s saga in Cody.... more
Park County GOP declines to discipline member over email
Leaders of the Park County Republican Party have decided not to take action against a precinct committeeman for a vulgar email he sent to a state lawmaker last month.... more
Trooper chief says shooting is evidence of challenges for officers
The fatal exchange of gunfire between a Lander man and a state trooper on Sinks Canyon Road in June is just one among many signs of increasingly challenging times for law enforcement, according to a state police leader.... more
Cheney campaign sees second-highest fundraising quarter
Rep. Liz Cheney’s House reelection campaign enjoyed its second-biggest fundraising quarter ever this summer, a Cheney aide told the Star-Tribune. The donations came on the heels of Cheney’s all-time fundraising record, which occurred one quarter earlier.... more
Congress considers new fees on hardrock mining
The federal reconciliation debate is plodding backward, and hardrock mining royalties are back on the bargaining table.... more
Man sues Cheyenne police over DUI testing
A Cheyenne man is suing three Cheyenne police officers in federal court for allegedly violating his civil rights, after a municipal court judge ruled that one of the officers lied to a judge about the man’s refusal to take a blood alcohol level test.... more
12-year-old Powell farmer is youngest crop insurance holder
It’s been a busy year for Tag Thompson. He bought his first tractor, using money he earned from selling his steers. He farmed his first field, signing a contract with Briess Malt & Ingredients for his 10 acres of barley. He also paid off a loan that had helped finance the purchase of his first two cows while continuing to raise cattle through his own company.... more
Independent film very much alive in Cheyenne
It may not seem like there’s an independent film scene in Cheyenne, but there is – you just have to look for it.... more
Sheridan boy gets time on ‘jumbotron’
Kasen Kaeding is a typical 7-year-old boy with an abiding love of golf, football, hibachi steakhouses and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”... more
More information needed on missing, murdered Indigenous people, leaders say
Recent data suggests Indigenous people continue to make up a disproportionate amount of Wyoming’s homicides and missing persons cases, but tribal members say even the best numbers are not telling the full story.... more
Standoff over mask requirement forces lockdown of school
Laramie High School was locked down for about 90 minutes Thursday morning during a showdown of wills between school administration and a 16-year-old junior who was arrested and removed from the school in handcuffs.... more
Vaccine mandate spurs hospital staffing worries
Crook County Medical Services District is starting to see difficulties with staffing on the horizon. CEO Micki Lyons last week shared her concerns over the impending federal vaccine mandate with the board of trustees.... more
Vehicular homicide trial vacated as of now
Jay E. Van Wagoner, of Casper, is scheduled to go to trial in 9th District Court next month based on four felony cocaine charges.... more
Sheridan school board rejects call for resignations over masks
The Sheridan County School District 2 Board of Trustees responded to calls for board members to either voluntarily resign or be recalled, with board members unanimously approving a motion at their regular meeting Monday to reject petitions filed by a concerned group of citizens.... more
Commissioners continue to field library comments
For the past three months, Campbell County commissioners have gotten used to fielding public comments at their meetings regarding the Campbell County Public Library.... more
Mine reclamation at risk with coal fee lapse
Entangled in the congressional infrastructure debate, Wyoming’s biggest source of mine cleanup funding expired last week, raising questions about the future of reclamation.... more
DCI makes missing persons site easier to use
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation now has an easier-to-find list of the state's missing persons.... more
State to help coal communities compete for economic diversification funds
The Wyoming Energy Authority and Wyoming Business Council have joined forces to help coal communities compete for federal stimulus dollars aimed at diversifying their economies. ... more
Wild horse advocates cry foul on enormous roundup, removal
Federal contract wranglers plan to round up 4,300 wild horses in southwest Wyoming — permanently removing about 70 percent of them — starting Thursday in an undertaking that culminates years of conflicts among land and wildlife managers, ranchers and horse advocates.... more
Wyoming may seek grizzly delisting on its own
The state of Wyoming is prepared to petition for the authority to manage grizzly bears on its own, without support from neighboring states in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.... more
School board rejects contract for company with ties to superintendent
A contract to hire an education consulting company connected to then Cody superintendent Peg Monteith was pulled from a Cody School Board agenda in early June after board members received information revealing the personal relationship.... more
Committee examines possible business tax
Trying to make Wyoming less reliant on mineral wealth, legislators are considering a new tax for businesses in the state.... more
Special prosecutor picked to look into library allegations
A special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate whether criminal charges should be brought against the Campbell County Public Library for allegedly spreading obscene materials.... more
Man charged in Cheyenne woman’s murder ruled unfit for trial
Another delay has occurred in the prosecution of a former Cody man accused of first degree murder as he was recently determined still mentally unfit to stand trial.... more
No regrets for teacher fired over mask requirement
Amanda Smith probably won’t be returning to her classroom at Henry A. Coffeen Elementary School, not after Sheridan County School District 2 terminated her for refusing to comply with the district’s mask requirement.... more
Uncertainty surrounds first lease sale since December
Scoping is over for the first oil and gas lease sale since December.... more
Gold, copper mine could mean millions for state
A plan for a potential gold and copper mine near Cheyenne is steadily progressing, with a company putting forth vast community outreach efforts in recent months for a project that could bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to Wyoming.... more
Tribes, enviros pan Wyo wolf kill policy in ESA petitions
Several conservation organizations and numerous Native American tribes are citing Wyoming’s wolf predator zone — the roughly 85 percent of the state where wolves can be killed at any time by any means — as evidence of the need for renewed federal protection of the gray wolf.... more
Gillette library reviews book challenges during ‘Banned Book Week’
During a week designed to focus on books being challenged for being inappropriate, the staff at the Campbell County Public Library were spending some of their time responding to more than a dozen forms challenging books in the library’s collection.... more
Tourism boom fuels increase in taxable sales
After declines in five consecutive quarters, total taxable sales in the state expanded 12.1 percent in the second quarter of 2021 compared with 2020, largely due to the record-breaking boom in tourism at Wyoming’s national parks, according to a year-by-year comparison recently released by the Wyoming Department of Revenue.... more
Game and Fish tracking deer, pronghorn disease
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced earlier this month that it’s tracking outbreaks of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in white-tailed deer and pronghorn in eastern Wyoming. ... more
Since 2013, Summer of Hope program has resulted in 21 adoptions in Gillette
If you ask Allison Carsrud when, back in 2013, she knew her family would adopt a 7-year-old boy from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she’ll tell you it was instantaneous.... more
Laramie man leaves house, everything in it to local hospice
Jerry Bucher led a fascinating life. ... more
Rodeo queen wants to bring attention to missing and murdered Indigenous people
Shayla Conner was only a teenager when her cousin Hanna Harris went missing. Nine days later, authorities found Harris’ body on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation rodeo grounds in Montana.... more
Rude comments led to end of Jackson mask complaint site
At first, submissions to the Teton County Health Department’s COVID-19 complaint form were helpful. On Sept. 1, for example, an anonymous tipster wrote that Cultivate Cafe didn’t have public signage announcing the county’s mask mandate, according to records obtained by the Jackson Hole Daily.... more
State says tribes not eligible for Business Council money
Wyoming’s Attorney General says local tribal entities are not eligible for grants and loans through the Wyoming Business Council Business Ready Community Program, WBC staff told the Wyoming Legislature’s Select Committee on Tribal Relations last month. ... more
Campbell school vaccine incentive program criticized
Members of the public, including some teachers, came to tell the Campbell County School District’s board of trustees that they were not happy with the decision to offer district employees a $300 incentive for getting the COVID-19 vaccination.... more
Committee rejects proposed energy tax structure
Sen. Cale Case on Thursday proposed a new energy tax structure that would be shared across all electricity producers. But a motion to have a bill drafted for the plan failed by a vote of 4–9 in the Joint Revenue Committee.... more
Missing and murdered Indigenous people issue continues to plague Wyoming
With all the national coverage of her disappearance and the discovery of her body in Wyoming, the name of Gabby Petito is familiar to most.... more
Crook County Treasurer objects to new charges
County Treasurer Mary Kuhl has objected to new charges filed against her in the civil case that seeks her removal from office, complaining in a response filed with District Court that it’s unfair to add new information so close to the date of her trial.... more
Determining the need for affordable housing in Saratoga
Is there a need for affordable housing in Saratoga?... more
Interest in parasitic medicine for cattle on the rise; health officials urge caution
In one year, the number of calls to the regional poison control center doubled from the five previous years on complications related to ivermectin. ... more
Rep. Sommers: Game and Fish won’t let 400 Dell Creek elk starve
A Sublette County legislator is confident Game and Fish Department personnel “will work their butt[s] off” to ensure some 400 elk that depend on the Dell Creek Feedground don’t starve this winter. Rep. Albert Sommers (R-Pinedale) made his comments after U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal ruled the wildlife agency has no permit to operate the feedground.... more
Ranchers face difficult choices after brutally hot, dry summer
Prolonged drought conditions, intensified by record-breaking heat, have prompted Wyoming cattle ranchers to either buy supplemental feed at higher-than-normal prices or cull their herds.... more
Wyoming loggers fear extinction as federal forest policy evolves
The Pearson family is as much of a fixture in this corner of Crook County as Devils Tower.... more
‘Nightmare’ elk hunt turns heads on the levee
If Bob Geringer had another shot, he says he wouldn’t have pulled the trigger.... more
Campbell County Commissioner says county should stop funding the library
A Campbell County Commissioner said he does not believe the Campbell County Public Library should receive funding from the county.... more
Converse County hospital battles nursing, employee shortages and surge in COVID-19 cases
A longtime Memorial Hospital of Converse County nurse known for not ever complaining looked wearily at CEO Matt Dammeyer as he checked in with her Friday. ... more
Park County GOP official apologizes for letter, won’t resign
A Park County Republican Party official who sent an obscene message to a state lawmaker about vaccine mandates has apologized for language he used. However, the Powell resident says he will not resign his position within the party — pushing back against calls from the state’s legislative leaders to step down — and has doubled down on his criticism of state Sen. Tara Nethercott.... more
Gillette hospital sends mandate protest to Biden
In addition to airing out the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming federal vaccine mandates expected to affect Campbell County Health employees next month, hospital trustees decided to send a formal response to the man in charge himself.... more
BLM to round up half of Wyoming’s wild horses
The Bureau of Land Management will round up most wild horses in five herd management areas in southwestern Wyoming, beginning as soon as Oct. 7, the agency said Friday.... more
After dry summer, ag producers likely need extra feed for winter
After a second hot, dry summer in a row, Wyoming’s cattle producers are concerned about heading into winter without enough feed. ... more
More Wyoming residents eligible for boosters
A wider swath of Wyomingites is now eligible for Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized the additional inoculations.... more
Prosecutors express concern about State Bar charge against D.A. Manlove
A group composed of the state’s county and district attorneys has raised concerns about the Wyoming State Bar’s formal charge against Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove.... more
To vaccinate or staff? Gillette hospital board fields public concerns over vaccine mandates
People came out in droves this week to lament the impending federal vaccine mandates that are expected to affect Campbell County Health employees next month and may lead to a significant loss of staff.... more
COVID survivor asks community to vaccinate
The symptoms for Kristi and Andy Gabriel came on at the same time. From the beginning, Kristi had it worse.... more
Problems persist with illegal killing of Greater Yellowstone wolves
The way Lane Bunner tells it, the wolf was chasing his Jack Russell terrier, had closed to within 40 yards or so, and he had to make a split-second decision.... more
Federal court issues arrest warrant for Laundrie
The U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued a federal arrest warrant Wednesday for Brian Christopher Laundrie, the boyfriend of Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, whose body was found this past weekend near Grand Teton National Park, according to the FBI.... more
Wyoming’s crypto sector’s fate up to federal regulators
After years of laying groundwork, the future of Wyoming’s cryptocurrency banking industry now lies in the hands of federal regulators, officials with Wyoming U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis’ office told lawmakers Tuesday.... more
Low enrollment sinks UW’s projected revenue by $2.3 million
Small freshman classes the past two years, and a wait-and-see approach to attendance during the pandemic, have pushed enrollment at the University of Wyoming down 6.3 percent from the fall of 2019.... more
Legislative committee considering bill to limit non-compete agreements in Wyoming
Legislators have voted to delay until their next meeting a bill that, if passed, would void all future non-compete clauses in the Wyoming marketplace.... more
First rulings issued in Wyoming Gun Owners suit
A court issued two rulings in the case of a prominent gun rights group versus some of Wyoming’s top elected officials.... more
Protesters urge noncompliance with COVID vaccine mandates
Dozens of residents gathered in Cody on Saturday to rally against the mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations proposed by President Joe Biden’s administration.... more
Governor suspends Crook County treasurer
Governor Mark Gordon has suspended Mary Kuhl from her position as Crook County Treasurer in an order filed with the county on Thursday. ... more
On anniversary of Antelope’s death, community expresses mixed opinions of groups using him as figurehead
Two of the late Anderson Antelope’s immediate family members have opposed using him as a social justice figurehead.... more
Legislative leaders ask Bray to step down
Tory Bray, a precinct committeeman for the Park County GOP has resigned his position as secretary for the Park County Republican Men’s club after he was asked to, but still remains a committeeman.... more
Strong, expensive Sam Adams brew can be sold in Wyoming
Good news for Wyoming beer drinkers.... more
Plan would use poison to restore Yellowstone cutthroat trout
Wyoming has launched a long-range plan to restore Yellowstone cutthroat trout to the Bighorn Basin and make parts of five watersheds the sensitive species’ exclusive domain.... more
Anti-vaxxers commandeer committee meeting to protest mandates
A group of activists that included healthcare workers commandeered a meeting of the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Committee on Labor, Health and Social Services Thursday to demand legislative action against COVID-19 vaccination requirements at medical facilities around the state.... more
Petito’s death ruled homicide
The search for Brian Laundrie continues three days after his partner Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito was found dead near the Grand Teton National Park boundary at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area.... more
Layoffs from Bridger mine closure not surprise
When the Bridger Underground Coal Mine shuts down in November, 92 workers will lose their current jobs, down from the 94 reported by the mine’s owner earlier this month.... more
National Guard deployed to help hospitals with surge
Amid a surge in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, Gov. Mark Gordon announced Tuesday that he had activated members of the Wyoming National Guard to assist with mostly non-medical tasks at hospitals in the state.... more
Trial delayed in fatal abuse case
A trial has been delayed for a Cody man and woman who stand accused of fatally abusing a 2-year-old child earlier this year. ... more
State works to address unemployment insurance increase
When it comes to recent changes in unemployment insurance taxes, the numbers are staggering and, for many small businesses, unsustainable.... more
Park County GOP official lashes out at legislator in email
A Republican official in Park County told Sen. Tara Nethercott in an email that if he was as “despicable a person as you, I would kill myself.”... more
Investigators focus on cause of Petito death
An autopsy was scheduled Tuesday for the remains found Sunday in a dispersed camping area bordering Grand Teton National Park that match the description of Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito — a 5-foot-5-inch, blond-haired, blue-eyed adventure blogger who hadn’t been seen or heard from since late August.... more
Neighbors, history buffs want to save Swinging Bridge
At first Jason Dewey said that “more than half” of the reason he bought a property and built a home along a four-lane highway — five, if you count the turn lane in the middle of Highway 89 — was the view of Swinging Bridge just to the east.... more
Man survives and recovers after rescue from truck fire
The last thing Shane Fortner remembers is driving by the last big hill before entering Gillette.... more
Laramie businessman sees new potential in antiques
It’s the larger-than-life wide eyes and goofy grin that first get your attention.... more
UW readies to comply with Biden mandates despite Gordon’s opposition
Just minutes before Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday unveiled a “two-pronged plan” to combat a federal mandate for large employers to either vaccinate or regularly test all workers for COVID-19, University of Wyoming trustees directed administrators to budget for compliance with the directive. ... more
Trooper acted properly in shooting, report says
A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper who was shot by and returned fire on a Lander man on Sinks Canyon Road in June acted within the law, according to a Friday statement by Fremont County Attorney Patrick LeBrun.... more
Bill to allow ‘tourism improvement districts’ moves ahead
During a Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee meeting in Sheridan earlier this month, legislators agreed to forward a piece of legislation authorizing the creation of tourism improvement districts.... more
Vaccine mandates questioned
Twelve Wyoming hospitals reported a critical staffing shortage to the federal government Friday, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, though COVID-19 infections are largely driving those shortages, according to officials at hospitals across the state.... more
School nurse resigns over quarantine rules
Kay Dersham says she no longer wants to put her nursing license or her ethics on the line after the recent decision made by the Laramie County School District 2 Board of Trustees.... more
Balow cites student’s notes in backing anti-critical race theory bill
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow is backing proposed legislation to deter public schools from teaching aspects of critical race theory, citing one student’s notes as evidence of the threat to the state’s education.... more
Remains of kayaker missing since 1995 recovered
The bones of a 24-year-old Pennsylvania man who drowned while kayaking the Hoback River 26 years ago have been found in Palisades Reservoir and confirmed to be those of the missing man.... more
Balow, Racines among first women to participate in One-Shot Hunt
Seven women — two of whom have strong Fremont County ties — have made history as the first women selected to compete in the One-Shot Antelope Hunt, which began Wednesday and runs through Saturday. ... more
Pneumonic plague case found in Wyoming
A rare case of the potentially deadly pneumonic plague was recently detected in a northern Fremont County resident.... more
Wyoming to ask for delisting of grizzlies
Wyoming will petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove federal protections from grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Gov. Mark Gordon said Thursday.... more
Lawmakers mull adding judges to alleviate court backlog ‘crisis’
Wyoming may expand its district court system to address case backlogs and staffing shortages in several counties around the state. ... more
Crook County Treasurer responds to charges
Crook County Treasurer Mary Kuhl has responded to the verified petition filed against her by Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill, which seeks to suspend her from office.... more
Feds consider relisting wolf as endangered species
Responding to concerns from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday that it will study whether gray wolves in Wyoming and elsewhere in the West should be relisted as a threatened or endangered species.... more
Campbell County School District to offer $300 incentive for staff to get COVID-19 vaccine
The Campbell County School District will offer a one-time $300 incentive for district employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.... more
State plots 2-front vaccine mandate fight; Gordon plans legal action, possible special session
Gov. Mark Gordon is planning to combat President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate through legal action from the state attorney general and a special legislative session, he announced Wednesday.... more
Researchers look for clues as toxic blooms plague Wyo waters
It can look like green paint spilled on the surface of a lake. Or like cottage cheese. Or grass clippings.... more
Game and Fish now requires CWD sampling from some hunters
For the first time ever, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is requiring some hunters to collect samples from deer they kill to help monitor the spread of fatal, incurable chronic wasting disease.... more
Bucking statewide trend, Teton County GOP still accepts Liz Cheney as a Republican
Teton County’s GOP will continue to recognize U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney as a Republican.... more
Sheridan school board approves termination of staffer for not wearing mask
At least one Sheridan County School District 2 staff member has been officially terminated for not wearing a mask to work.... more
WEA president responds to new transparency bill aimed at critical race theory
Grady Hutcherson, president of the Wyoming Education Association, has mixed feelings on the Civics Transparency Act, a bill recently introduced by state Sens. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, and Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, to address concerns about critical race theory being taught in Wyoming K-12 classrooms.... more
Tourism bounces back as nation looks to travel
CASPER —Sales and use tax collections for Wyoming’s hospitality and leisure sectors experienced significant growth this summer compared to last year, state reports show.... more
Hate crime draft bills voted down
Two draft bills addressing bias motivated crimes, or hate crimes, failed to be sponsored Tuesday by the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Interim Committee.... more
Pro Pot Push: Petitions for medical marijuana and decriminalization initiatives now circulating
A small group of people gathered at Dalbey Memorial Park Saturday evening in what may be the start of a more large-scale movement toward less restrictive marijuana laws throughout Wyoming.... more
Judge: No choice but to release suspect in eye-gouging
New insight has emerged regarding the June release of an accused eye-gouger from the Wyoming State Hospital. The elderly victim of the suspect’s attack on Thanksgiving Day died two weeks later. ... more
Gordon, lawmakers talk about fighting vaccine mandate
Gov. Mark Gordon is working with Wyoming legislative leaders and the state’s attorney general to explore what options are available to fight back against President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for companies that employ over 100 workers, a Gordon spokesman said Monday.... more
Balow leads fight against critical race theory in Wyoming
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow showed her full support Friday morning for legislation designed to fight back against critical race theory in state schools.... more
Hundreds turn out for homecoming of Marine McCollum
The remains of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, the Jackson native and U.S. Marine who was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 26 in a terrorist attack, touched down at Jackson Hole Airport at 4:07 p.m. Friday.... more
Pressure builds for candidates to drop from House race
Pressure is building for challengers of U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, to drop out of the race following former President Donald Trump’s Thursday endorsement of new entrant and former Republican National Committee member Harriet Hageman.... more
Bouchard meme suggests Fauci execution
Wyoming Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, posted a meme on his congressional campaign’s Facebook page accusing White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci of lying and suggesting that Fauci should be executed.... more
Flood of complaints prompts removal of Teton Co. mask violation page
An online form that people could use to report possible violations of Teton County’s mask order was taken down this week after people trolled the form.... more
Fremont County central to redistricting talks
State lawmakers are considering several proposals to alter the makeup of the Wyoming Legislature, with Fremont County central to the discussion.... more
Wildfires burning higher, study says
Western wildfires are spreading farther. They’re burning hotter. And now they’re climbing higher.... more
Laramie students protest Albany Co. mask mandate
Cheering back as a chorus of honking horns sounded support, about two dozen Laramie High School students protested Friday afternoon at the southwest corner of Boulder Drive and Grand Avenue.... more
Cheney calls Hageman entry into race ‘tragic opportunism’
U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., called former Republican ally Harriet Hageman’s challenge for her seat “tragic opportunism” in a Friday morning call with Wyoming media.... more
Company woos WyoTech students with jaunt on private jet
Those weren’t rock stars or major social media influencers you may have seen boarding a private jet at the Laramie Regional Airport on the morning of Sept. 1.... more
Stolen truck recovered, but not returned
Earl and Elizabeth Elliott were fast asleep when the police called.... more
Police officers looking for supportive communities moving to Casper
After the nation erupted in months of protests following George Floyd’s death last year, Andrew Lincowski knew he wanted to go back into law enforcement.... more
Lawmakers advance runoff election legislation
Wyoming lawmakers advanced a proposal Thursday to shift the state’s elections to a runoff system. Conservative activists favor runoffs as a way to avoid the type of vote-splitting they believe has helped elevate more moderate candidates in Republican primaries.... more
Illegal political robocalls rankle Wyoming voters
In the wee hours of Aug. 30, phones across Wyoming began ringing.... more
Wyo sage grouse counts fall again, marking a 5-year trend
Wyoming’s 2021 count of male greater sage grouse declined 13 percent compared to 2020, extending the downward trend of the troubled bird’s key population indicator to five years.... more
Gordon says state ready to challenge vaccine mandate
Wyoming is prepared to challenge a federal vaccine mandate in court, Gov. Mark Gordon declared in a statement Thursday.... more
Laramie school trustees adopt mask mandate after heated meeting
Another week, another school board meeting, another extension of the mask mandate in local schools.... more
Trump endorsement in hand, Hageman announces House bid
Cheyenne attorney Harriet Hageman announced her candidacy Thursday for Wyoming’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, launching her bid to oust current Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.... more
Central Wyoming College mask mandate reinstated
A mask mandate was reinstated Wednesday at Central Wyoming College to guard against the spread of COVID-19.... more
Sources say Trump will endorse Hageman against Cheney
Former President Donald Trump is preparing to endorse Harriet Hageman in a bid against Rep. Liz Cheney in the 2022 House race, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the matter.... more
Marine’s body to be returned to Jackson Friday
The body of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, the local U.S. Marine who was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 26, is scheduled to return to Jackson on Friday around 4 p.m.... more
Laramie school mask debate boils over
An unruly and disruptive group of local residents nearly derailed Wednesday’s Albany County School District Board of Education meeting minutes into it.... more
Cheyenne school trustees adopt mask mandate
Mask use will be required effective immediately. Thursday morning, students and faculty who are not outdoors on district property must wear a mask.... more
Fraud case rocks Lander, Catholic College
Many were impressed with his fresh ideas and unbridled enthusiasm about the future of the ambitious young college, as well as his vision of the business potential of his new hometown.... more
Bighorn Forest plan for weeds, sagebrush sparks battle
Conservationists are criticizing a plan by the Bighorn National Forest to use aerial spraying to kill mountain big sagebrush and larkspur, native plants the critics say shouldn’t be destroyed to improve grazing for domestic stock.... more
The ‘Cowboy Catholics’ and federal funds
In 2015, tiny Wyoming Catholic College made a big splash on the national education front by refusing to participate in federal student-aid programs, claiming that accepting federal money would impinge on the school’s academic and religious freedoms.... more
Tourists change the way they use of Grand Teton Park
Zach Kariya and Cailey Baker were quite certain of the number of hikers they’d passed since the last checkpoint on their way down from an eight-hour hike to Amphitheater Lake and Garnet Canyon.... more
New community college trustees gather info
Less than a month into the Gillette Community College District’s existence, trustees are still in the “information gathering” phase, in regard to forming a budget, appointing a district president/CEO and beginning the accreditation process.... more
More Wyoming residents seek vaccination
Nearly 8,800 people in Wyoming received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within the last two weeks. That’s the highest amount statewide since this spring, when the shots first became available to the general public.... more
Mask mandate approved for Torrington schools
The Goshen County School District approved a motion for K-12 mask mandates during a special meeting. ... more
Protest and passion mount around via ferrata proposal
Protest and passion continue to mount around a proposal to build a via ferrata in Sinks Canyon State Park, dividing the central Wyoming outdoor recreation community.... more
No plans for inquest into 2019 shooting, coroner says
Fremont County’s new coroner says he has no plans to initiate an inquest into the fatal 2019 shooting of Anderson Antelope by a Riverton police officer.... more
Sheridan residents rally against mask requirements
More than 120 people packed the council chambers and adjacent hallway last week at Sheridan City Hall to organize and oppose mask requirements being adopted by local school districts.... more
Woman works to establish missing persons database
In 2019, Desirée Tinoco started a Facebook group after hearing about two men missing in Wyoming, whose cases weren’t getting much coverage.... more
COVID-19 infections, controversy disrupt first days of school
Less than two weeks after opening their doors, school officials around Wyoming are finding that hygiene protocols and mask and vaccine recommendations may not be enough to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks and keep students in classrooms.... more
Afghanistan becomes flashpoint in race to oust Cheney
U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, has an extensive foreign policy record.... more
Dayton mayor relieved of duties
In a special meeting Thursday, the Dayton Town Council voted 4-1 to relieve Mayor Norm Anderson of many responsibilities, essentially reducing him to figurehead status.... more
Legal sports betting goes live in Wyoming
Gambling sports fans in Wyoming are no longer required to bet through sketchy offshore websites to win, or lose, a quick buck.... more
Attempts to remove Cheney from conference continue
Far-right House members continue to push to oust Rep. Liz Cheney from the Republican Conference following her appointment Thursday as vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 Select Committee.... more
Health officials fight ‘two pandemics’ amid COVID misinformation
When COVID-19 began to take over public consciousness in the U.S. around March 2020, public health departments set to work, tasked with providing the best information, resources and preventative care possible at the time to their communities.... more
Gillette teens interview authors for Library of Congress
What did two Gillette teenage girls share in common with Washington, D.C., man, born in 1983, who happens to be a best-selling author of young adult books and has sold more than 6 million copies since 2014?... more
COVID patient raises money for CNA’s shoes
Bob Vines went to the emergency room at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center on July 17 with COVID-19.... more
Group works to save heritage of primitive weapons
For most of his life, Ned Dunn has been shooting black powder muzzleloader weapons. The Powell resident loves everything about the guns first developed in the 16th century, from pouring his own musket balls to the smell of the powder burning. Dunn is trying to preserve the traditions of the Wyoming mountain man, but, as he puts it, he’s running out of time.... more
Water board votes against big wells in troubled Ogallala Aquifer
The state engineer should not authorize eight high-capacity groundwater wells in the diminishing High Plains Aquifer east of Cheyenne, a Laramie County board recommended with a 4-1 vote Tuesday.... more
Teton commissioners extend mask mandate to Dec. 31
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 Thursday morning to extend Teton District Health Officer Dr. Travis Riddell’s mask mandate through the end of 2021.... more
Officials say oil rebounding, but work with feds needed
A year after its prices dropped below zero, oil seems to be on the rebound, but a lot of work remains to be done under the Biden administration.... more
Nearly one-third of WMC patients in for COVID
Nearly 30 percent of patients at Wyoming’s largest hospital are being treated for COVID-19. The majority of them are under 65 years old.... more
Bill changing absentee ballot counting rules gets committee nod
At least one bill related to elections will be introduced by committee during Wyoming’s 2022 legislative session, while the fate of two other proposed bills is murky. ... more
SCSD9 prepares to accept lawsuit
The federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Jane Doe and parents against Big Piney School District officials is undergoing amendments that will see it served, one way or another, on of before Sept. 14.... more
Hundreds of Laramie County School District No. 1 students quarantined
Less than two weeks after the start of the new school year in Laramie County School District No.1, there have been 466 quarantines mandated on students and faculty.... more
In Sheridan: Families withdraw students, teachers suspended following school district vote to require masks
The decision by Sheridan County School District No. 2 to require masks not only has some residents upset but withdrawing their children from district schools and has reportedly led to the suspension of at least two teachers who chose to defy the policy change.... more
Moorcroft woman arrested for child abuse, aggravated assault
A Moorcroft woman has been arrested on 16 separate counts of child abuse as well as one of aggravated assault and battery. ... more
Albany County school board gets an earful on mask mandates
Wednesday’s special meeting of the Albany County School District 1 Board of Education to listen to public input on a potential extended mask mandate for students and employees soon found a rhythm reminiscent of a State of the Union address.... more
Governor: No mask mandate ahead
Gov. Mark Gordon stressed Wednesday that he will not be issuing a statewide or K-12 mask mandate like he did last year, even as schools opened and COVID cases surged across Wyoming. ... more
Rylee McCollum: A Jackson kid, a lifelong Marine
Rylee McCollum, born Feb. 26, 2001, loved to wrestle.... more
Pine Bluffs school board member: ‘I think they’re prepared to have sick kids’
In response to nearly 10 percent of students in Laramie County School District 2 being quarantined after the first week of school, as well as nine staff members, the district's Board of Trustees held a special meeting Monday night that lasted more than three hours.... more
PacifiCorp holds course to exit Wyoming coal
Wyoming’s largest utility, Rocky Mountain Power, will decommission its entire coal-fired power fleet in the state by 2039 while continuing to add wind, solar and battery storage to its six-state operating system, according to preliminary details of its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan.... more
Wiggins Construction customers complain of shoddy and incomplete work
In the spring, Wiggins Construction LLC began aggressively pushing a new promotion, offering a free AR-15 rifle with the purchase of a new roof. The campaign generated a lot of praise and controversy on social media and elsewhere, and it received local and national media coverage.... more
Former Jackson police lieutenant claims wrongful termination, sues town for $1 million
A former Jackson Police Department lieutenant who was at the center of a controversy last year because of what many viewed as an offensive Facebook post is suing the town of Jackson for $1 million, claiming he was “wrongfully and forcefully” terminated by the town without being afforded constitutional due process.... more
Group marches in Sheridan, reminds citizens to stay abreast of election law changes
In light of continued allegations of voter fraud during the 2020 election, the Wyoming Legislature, like many state governments, is rethinking some of its election statutes.... more
Oil and gas lease sales set to resume next year
The Biden administration on Tuesday set an end date for its pause on federal oil and gas leasing. The first onshore lease sale since December will be held by early 2022.... more
'In a blink:' Gillette reflects on 20 years in Afghanistan erased
When Jonathan Decker first stepped foot in Afghanistan in 2013, the status of the War on Terror was in a malaise between the purpose it began with and the debacle it is in now.... more
COVID hospitalizations continue to rise
The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Wyoming rose to 195 on Monday — the most since Dec. 10. ... more
Cheyenne man pleads not guilty to first-degree murder, child abuse charges
In his first appearance in Laramie County District Court, a man accused of killing a local 2-year-old and putting his body in a dumpster pleaded not guilty to 11 felonies Monday afternoon.... more
Oversight panel debates harm of sage grouse hunting
Wyoming should adopt a species-specific permit system for sage grouse hunting to better account for the fall take, a university professor recently told a state panel.... more
‘Mock inquest’ held to review man’s 2019 death
A mock theater inquest into the 2019 killing of Anderson Antelope by a Riverton police officer took place without incident this month despite concerns about safety expressed beforehand by members of the community.... more
Former Jackson student among Marines killed in Afghanistan
A former Jackson student was one of the 170 people and 13 U.S. Marines killed in Afghanistan after a suicide bomber attacked Hamid Karzai International Airport Aug. 26.... more
Barrasso criticizes Biden on economy, immigration, Afghanistan
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., had a late start to the August Congressional recess, but is making up for lost time by crisscrossing Wyoming and listening to the public’s concerns about the economy, immigration and Afghanistan.... more
Cheyenne COVID cases spike after first week of school
As of Friday afternoon, just five days into the new school year, there were more than 170 active coronavirus cases and exposures in Laramie County School District 1 schools.... more
Artist leads students in painting huge mural
Standing two steps up on an 8-foot ladder, face-to-face with white paint strokes beginning to form the head of a buffalo, Hannah Mooney stood where she stood for the better part of the summer, focused and facing the wall turned canvas turned mural on the front of the AVA Community Art Center.... more
Rafting guides rescue dog from hole near Shoshone River
When Cody resident Nick Hummel went down to the bank of the Shoshone River on Aug. 17, he saw a scrappy, 10-pound dog he never expected to see again.... more
Swift fox populations growing in Wyoming
Wyoming swift foxes also seem to even be expanding beyond their historic range into higher-elevation areas like Big Piney and Pinedale.... more
Teton County puts mask mandate back in place
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, all Teton County residents, workers, and visitors are required to wear face coverings in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status.... more
Judge reduces fines for those who get vaccinated
A Natrona County judge is offering a unique form of community service to help people pay off court fines — getting a COVID-19 vaccination.... more
Supreme Court refuses to limit scope of Manlove charge
The petition, filed by Attorney General Bridget Hill on July 29, said complaints related to an alleged violation by Manlove of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as accusations that the district attorney created and fostered a toxic work environment within her office, fell outside the jurisdiction of the State Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility.... more
Officials face growing pressure to audit Wyoming elections
Wyoming officials are facing mounting pressure to audit the 2020 election from pro-Trump activists asserting, without evidence, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from the former president through widespread voter fraud.... more
Man accused of gouging out woman’s eye freed
The man accused of gouging out a woman’s eye on Thanksgiving Day at Lander SageWest Health Care has been released from the Wyoming State Hospital, back into the community under the care of his wife.... more
State seeks removal of Crook County treasurer
On the instruction of Governor Mark Gordon, the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office has filed a civil case with District Court that could see County Treasurer Mary Kuhl removed from office.... more
Campbell County LGBTQ complaints shift to school board
School trustees were the latest of local public boards to hear complaints about LGBTQ issues Tuesday night.... more
Unvaccinated staff in Wyoming prisons leads to rise in cases
According to an official update released Friday, the most recent round of testing found 24 positive results across three facilities. Of those, 15 were staff and the rest were inmates.... more
Wyo preps for less water as drought creeps up Colorado River
As federal water managers declared the first-ever official Colorado River water shortage last week, a top official said he’s confident Wyoming will responsibly implement its plans to store and divert even more flows from the troubled waterway.... more
A tale of two taxes
Voters in Campbell and Johnson Counties weighed in last week on an issue that has long divided voters in Wyoming: whether to tax themselves for government services.... more
School official: Some kids ‘absolutely’ will contract COVID-19
Gov. Mark Gordon’s office, elected school boards and an apparent majority of the Wyoming public have decided that’s an acceptable risk.... more
Teton County ready to implement mask mandate
Teton District Health Officer Dr. Travis Riddell is planning to issue a countywide mask mandate effective Thursday.... more
No single reason for hospitality employee shortage
By Labor Day and the official end of the summer tourism season, the Best Western Sheridan Center may be fully staffed.... more
Rocky Mountain Power completes wind power initiative
Rocky Mountain Power has officially completed its Energy Vision 2020 initiative.... more
Standardized test results normal through pandemic
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow described the 2020-21 state assessment results as “overwhelmingly normal” Tuesday, despite a school year that was anything but.... more
Former Jackson resident recovers $6M in ‘unclaimed propery’
A former Jackson resident has recovered the largest sum of unclaimed property ever possessed by the Wyoming State Treasurer’s Office.... more
Judge rules against stalking claim
Two outspoken local residents sparred head-to-head in Park County Circuit Court on Monday over alleged stalking activity.... more
Campbell Co. officials bemoan lack of state guidance
Campbell County officials are disappointed that there seems to be no guidance from the state level as far as what’s next for Wyoming.... more
Invasive weed continues to spread
Tom Durst noticed the weed years ago in a place called Walleye Bay in Pathfinder Reservoir. It was green and leafy and made it hard for him to fish for the walleye the bay was named after.... more
Legislators begin redistricting process
To protect the honored “one person, one vote” rule, the number of people within each voting district in any given state should generally be the same as in any other.... more
Gillette residents: move — don’t remove — controversial library books
Campbell county commissioners listened to another round of public comment on the library controversy at their meeting Tuesday. There were a few new faces, as well as some familiar ones.... more
State vaccination rates rising
More Wyomingites received a first COVID-19 vaccine dose in the last two weeks than in any two-week period since mid-May, state figures show.... more
Forest Service cabins provide rural getaway
The Sheep Mountain Fire Outlook has one set of bunk beds and one vault toilet. There is no running water, indoor plumbing or electricity.... more
With 50 years behind them, Lewis and Clark Expeditions is still paddling
James Peck and Karen Youngblood had fantasies of a celebratory summer paying homage to the 50th anniversary of Lewis & Clark River Expeditions, a business the married couple has jointly run for the past 28 years.... more
Cheyenne city attorney asks AG office to prosecute abuse case
Cheyenne’s city attorney has filed a petition asking the Laramie County District Court to request that the Wyoming Attorney General’s office investigate, and potentially prosecute, a case declined by Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove.... more
State hospitals feel staffing strain; 5 Wyoming facilities report critical shortage over the last 4 days
By the time Wyoming hit its COVID-19 hospitalization peak last November, nearly 250 people were being treated for the virus statewide. The physicians who were caring for them were largely working without days off, filling in for colleagues who had either tested positive or been exposed to the virus themselves.... more
Crook County treasurer returns to work
Despite deciding that the charges against Crook County Treasurer Mary Kuhl merit binding her case over to District Court, Judge Wendy Bartlett of the Circuit Court of the 6th Judicial District determined on Thursday that Kuhl should be allowed to return to the office.... more
Grizzly bear deaths on the rise in 2021
It’s been a tough year for grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.... more
Cheyenne man pleads no contest to voluntary manslaughter, other felonies
A man accused of shooting two people, killing one of them, pleaded no contest Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter and several other felony charges in Laramie County District Court. ... more
'I can't wait': Supporters react to college district passing
On Tuesday night, the long-awaited fate of Gillette College was decided.... more
Vaccine incentive programs to launch
Albany County and the city of Laramie are partnering with other local organizations to boost the area’s COVID-19 vaccination rate, and they’ve put their money where their mouths are.... more
In Yellowstone, Haaland recognizes threats to park, ecosystem
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has a responsibility to work with Yellowstone National Park’s ecosystem neighbors to resolve vexing cross-boundary conservation problems like climate change, wildfire, crushing visitation and wildlife that “don’t see borders,” she said Friday.... more
Aging dam above Douglas called ‘catastrophic’ threat
A pair of engineering firms contracted by the state warn that cracks in the 112-year-old concrete LaPrele dam, along with deterioration in its geologic foundation, could result in catastrophic failure. ... more
Multi-billion dollar Natrium nuclear project inches forward
A progress report to members of the Joint Committee on Minerals, Business & Economic Development in Laramie Thursday offered mostly good news to proponents of building a first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor in Wyoming.... more
Sacrifices, scars and service
Military veterans carry a lot of scars, said Scott Ratliff, a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe who served in Vietnam, and there’s no magical balm to fix them. ... more
Wyo. board tours state-owned land in Jackson Hole, hears from its guardians
Wyoming State Treasurer Curt Meier stood in the sagebrush near the east edge of Grand Teton National Park overlooking the Tetons, his feet planted on some of the most valuable land possessed by his state.... more
COVID boosters advised for vulnerable
The Wyoming Department of Health is following guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in promoting an additional COVID-19 booster shot to certain populations at an increased risk amid the rise of the more contagious and likely more dangerous delta variant. ... more
Gillette college district passes in special election with 70% of vote
Gillette College will become its own community college district.... more
Interior secretary pledges support for national parks
While some dignitaries drop into Yellowstone National Park by helicopter, new Secretary of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland wound up being escorted by bison on her drive in, experiencing the park in the same way as most tourists.... more
Lawmaker looks to layer on AIS penalties
A Cheyenne lawmaker is drawing up new penalties to safeguard in-state waters from record-breaking numbers of watercraft easing down Wyoming boat ramps.... more
Cheyenne man gets life in prison for killing 2, injuring 2 others
A man accused of killing two people, injuring two teenage boys and shooting at another man was sentenced to life in prison Monday afternoon in Laramie County District Court.... more
Gordon: No COVID mandates
Gov. Mark Gordon made clear Monday afternoon that his office would not be enacting any sweeping virus mitigation policies, deferring instead to the federal government and local officials. ... more
Crypto industry laments failure of Lummis-backed amendment
Wyoming’s cryptocurrency sector is concerned for its future after a Sen. Cynthia Lummis-backed amendment to new tax reporting requirements failed to be attached to a sweeping $1 trillion infrastructure package the Senate passed earlier this week.... more
More than 1 million visit Yellowstone in July
For the first time in its 149-year history, Yellowstone National Park has surpassed the threshold of a million visitors in a month.... more
Interior secretary visits Fremont Co., tribes
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Fremont County on Thursday to meet tribal and state leaders. ... more
Campbell library board tells people to follow procedure
If people have a problem with certain books in the Campbell County Public Library, they need to go through the proper channels to challenge those books.... more
Energy Authority unveils strategy
Wyoming plans to chart its path to net-zero emissions with an all-of-the-above approach. ... more
Rancher survives after being struck by lightning
Jack Corson was moving heifers when the lightning struck. ... more
Laramie crossword builder’s work appears across country
The New York Times’ crossword puzzle is a cultural fixture and a daily habit for millions of Americans, with completion of the week’s hardest edition, published on Saturdays, a sign of crossword puzzle mastery.... more
Man builds giant guitar for public display
Laid out across the large floor space inside of the Area 59 workshop — and taking up a lot of it — was about 22 feet of giant guitar.... more
Clearmont school board to vote on CRT
Members of the Sheridan County School District 3 Board of Trustees took another step forward in voicing their opposition to Critical Race Theory, or CRT, being taught in local classrooms.... more
Wyo drilling rig count triples during Biden leasing pause
The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil and gas in Wyoming tripled since President Joe Biden announced a pause on leasing federal minerals for development more than five months ago.... more
Delegation unanimously opposes infrastructure bills
Wyoming’s congressional delegation is unanimously opposed to both infrastructure bills advancing through Congress, citing costs and the inclusion of what they deemed “far-left” policies in the two packages that total over $4.5 trillion if passed.... more
Census shows Wyo population up 2.3%
America’s least populated state is growing, though much slower than most of the nation.... more
UW to require face masks until Sept. 20
Face masks will be required indoors until at least Sept. 20 at the University of Wyoming.... more
Wyoming revenue outlook improves, state leaders still cautious
Wyoming’s current revenue is well ahead of where economists predicted it would be earlier this year, but that positive development could be temporary.... more
State Bar opposes limit to Manlove review
The Wyoming State Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility has rejected the claim by the Wyoming Attorney General’s office that allegations involving personnel in its formal charge against Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove fall outside the board’s jurisdiction.... more
Climate change, wildfires cause bird die-offs
Only time will tell the full effects of severe droughts and large wildfires plaguing 2020 and 2021. But the impact for one species has been immediate.... more
Masks will be optional for most Wyo students as schools reopen
School districts across the state are taking a wait-and-see approach to updating COVID-19 safety guidelines and protocols as students and staff prepare to return to classrooms amid a surge in infections of the Delta variant in Wyoming.... more
Wyo’s economic recovery lags behind nation
Wyoming’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been slower than most other states, according to state and federal data, with numerous indicators hinting the state’s economy may not reach its pre-pandemic strength by the time the Legislature meets this winter.... more
Near Togwotee Pass, Continental Divide Trail gets a reroute
Some 550 miles of the Continental Divide Trail — the iconic thru-hiking route that rides the spine of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico — unfurl across Wyoming. The trail passes through Yellowstone National Park, skips over wind-scoured ridges of the Wind River Range and traverses sagebrush seas in the southern reaches of the state. ... more
Game and Fish asks public to help solve elk, CWD, feed ground puzzle
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department last week wrapped up a six-town tour aimed at launching stakeholder groups to generate “new ideas for management” of Wyoming’s 22 elk feedgrounds, where chronic wasting disease threatens some 14,000 elk.... more
Grizzy 399, cubs move south again
As five grizzly bears swam, wrestled and bounded across her manicured lawn along the Snake River, Brooke Combs shrieked and literally jumped with joy.... more
Fremont GOP joins in rescinding Cheney recognition
The Fremont County Republican Party Central Committee voted Monday in support of the move, which is emblematic of the far right’s sustained frustration with the congresswoman’s criticism of former President Donald Trump and her vote to impeach him.... more
Judge rules for Cheyenne officer in lawsuit
A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit against a Cheyenne Police officer that alleged unlawful seizure and excessive force.... more
COVID outdoor visits keep game wardens busy
On the lakes, rivers, in the woods, parks and the desert, business has been brisk. People are rediscovering the great outdoors, one of the positive developments from health officials’ recommendations to be socially distant amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ... more
Two county GOP parties rescind recognition of Cheney as rep
Republicans in two Wyoming counties have voted to rescind recognition of Rep. Liz Cheney as a member of their party.... more
Fire season, pandemic travel contribute to fuel shortage
For 18 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains, affecting everything from toilet paper to gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel.... more
Wyo Dems retool strategy for 2022
The 2020 elections weren’t fruitful for Wyoming Democrats.... more
Committee looks to solve absentee, truancy woes
“Disconnects” among the school absenteeism and truancy laws in the state are being addressed in a bill being drafted by Wyoming’s Joint Education Committee. ... more
Enzi’s funeral celebration of faith, family, friends, fishing
It never ceases to amaze just how quiet a large group of people can be. More impressive still is when they stop talking suddenly, as if a switch got flipped and turned them off.... more
Letter details frustration with Laramie Co. DA
A five-page letter sent by the Cheyenne Police Department’s Detective Bureau commander to Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove details his frustration with Manlove’s office after she reportedly declined to charge a suspect in a sexual abuse of a minor case.... more
Impact of Wyoming abortion brief unclear
Gov. Mark Gordon announced last month that Wyoming joined more than 20 other states in filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that states should be left to regulate elective abortions.... more
Young pianist’s skill takes him to state performance
Becky Smylie can’t remember which company’s commercial it was. She racks her brain, pillaging through the blurred memories of the past 13 years to no avail. ... more
Jackson renters booted from homes in boom market
It’s a seller’s market, and property owners are cashing out of Jackson Hole at unprecedented rates. For renters, that rapid turnover often means a terminated lease and uncertain future in a state where tenants have limited rights and few options for legal recourse.... more
Solar arrays not as popular as wind farms in Wyoming
Wind farms have been popping up all over Wyoming. Solar arrays, for the most part, haven’t. ... more
Officials reexamine guidelines, decline mandates as Delta variant spreads
Circumstances have changed with the COVID-19 Delta variant’s incursion into Wyoming, health experts say, prompting officials to issue new recommendations and many to ask whether more needs to be done to increase the state’s vaccination rate and slow the virus’ spread. ... more
Election audit bill fails
Wyoming lawmakers rejected a proposal Wednesday by State Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, to give the Wyoming Legislature the power to audit elections.... more
Wyoming’s fish are in hot water; anglers can help
In the last 60 days, temperatures in portions of northern and southwestern Wyoming have run up to 8 degrees above normal. And that isn’t just highs.... more
Wyoming unprepared to grab federal coal community lifeline, experts say
Wyoming stands to receive millions in federal stimulus dollars aimed at helping coal- and energy-reliant communities survive industry downturns and diversify their economies. The state, however, is currently unprepared to capitalize on the opportunity, stakeholders say.... more
Report says oil and gas moratorium effect minimal
The Biden administration’s pause on federal drilling leases alarmed the oil and gas industry. But a new report argues that its economic impacts will be negligible — even for Wyoming.... more
Jackson Republican fundraiser prompts protest
At 73, Jorge Colon had never been to a protest.... more
Grizzly 399 back in the southern valley, this time in peak summer
A beloved 25-year-old grizzly bear raising four cubs is once again outside her usual Grand Teton National Park home range and has been on the go through subdivisions and ranchland.... more
Wyoming's congressional delegation, Sen. Mitch McConnell to attend Enzi's funeral
Wyoming’s congressional delegation of U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, as well as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, are expected to attend former senator and Gillette mayor Michael B. Enzi’s funeral services, which begin at 1 p.m. Friday.... more
Supreme Court upholds Wapiti man’s murder conviction
Citing the “overwhelming” evidence against him, the Wyoming Supreme Court has upheld a Wapiti man’s years-old murder conviction.... more
Wyoming’s COVID hospitalizations continue to climb as Delta variant takes hold
Wyoming hospitals are treating as many COVID-19 patients now as they were in early January, which experts say is a concerning trend as a more contagious and likely more dangerous variant of the virus circulates through the state. ... more
Greene, other Trump supporters to fundraise in Jackson
Some of former President Trump’s most ardent allies — U.S. House Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Jordan and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows — will be in Jackson Hole to fundraise Thursday for some of the House GOP’s most conservative politicians.... more
Pronghorn population, hunting tags down due to habitat, climate woes
Fewer archers and shooters will pursue pronghorn in the forthcoming hunting season after snowstorms and drought prompted Wyoming Game and Fish Department to significantly reduce the number of licenses it issued this year.... more
Stumbles, stakeholder displeasure led to revenue chief’s ouster
A series of high-profile stumbles and the resulting displeasure of key interest groups led to the forced resignation last month of long-serving Wyoming Department of Revenue Director Dan Noble.... more
UW eyes federal relief funds to ease reorganization
In the wake of drastic budget cuts and significant restructuring plans, the University of Wyoming’s trustees hope American Recovery Plan Act funds can provide a lifeline for certain programs.... more
PAC backing Cheney challenger Gray funded solely by his father
State Rep. Chuck Gray’s father is the sole funder of a secretive political action committee that is boosting Gray’s bid to oust U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney in next year’s Republican primary.... more
Sheridan council says proposed tobacco ordinance not ready
An ordinance requested by Sheridan County School District 2 that would have significantly increased the fines for underage tobacco use in the city of Sheridan, died on first reading in a 4-3 vote Monday night.... more
State’s renewable energy capacity grows
Last year, renewable energy development broke records in Wyoming — and nationwide.... more
School board meeting over COVID stopped after disruption
The Laramie County School District 1 Board of Trustees shut down public comment early Monday night after a resident began yelling at trustees and refused to give up the mic when his allotted public comment period was over. ... more
Constitutionality of new sobriety law questioned
A new program intended to promote public safety and reduce incarceration rates is coming under fire for potentially violating the constitutional rights of people ordered to participate in it.... more
It takes a village to combat Crater Ridge Fire
Thirty miles northeast of Lovell off U.S Highway 14, a makeshift town of trailers and yurts appears out of nowhere.... more
Experts split on whether state has hate crime law
Wyoming is widely regarded as one of the last states without a hate crime law, but that assertion is not as straightforward as one might think. ... more
2021 finally brings short uptick for thermal coal
Given the choice of what to hear first, good news or bad news, Powder River Basin coal producers and the thousands of people who work the mines are used to asking for the good news —only to be told there is none.... more
We’ve been here before: Wyoming nuclear project echoes of past
When state officials unveiled in June that a nuclear demonstration project is slated for Wyoming, they touted it as an advanced technology. But critics of the Natrium project say we’ve been here before — with the same technology and the same assurances made — only to see hopes dashed and massive public investments go to waste.... more
Testimony to JAC: In-state meat industry growing but has more to do
Wyoming’s meat processing industry is growing, a development Central Wyoming College is watching closely. ... more
AG filing seeks to limit scope of Manlove charge
A Thursday court filing by the Wyoming Attorney General’s office seeks to prohibit the Wyoming State Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility from considering or adjudicating certain allegations set out in its recent formal charge against Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove.... more
Wyoming leads on variant testing
As COVID-19 variants emerge globally, Wyoming is by a wide margin leading the nation in work to identify those mutations. ... more
Gillette team offers band of pack goats for wilderness adventures
Who in the world wants to go on a mountain excursion with a bunch of pack goats? Chances are you do, but you just might not know it yet. The father-and-son team of Shawn and Zach Dorr want to change that.... more
Six years after coin shop murders, police and family hope for closure
No suspects have ever been arrested or publicly identified by law enforcement, and the investigation remains open. ... more
Supaman to the rescue
By the time hip hop artist Christian Takes Gun Parrish, a.k.a. Supaman, took the stage Friday, he had already danced his way into the hearts of visitors at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West while sharing his messages of hope. ... more
Guides allege mismanagement of Snake River
Snake River Angler owner Will Dornan says there’s never been anything like the current level of interest in hiring a fly-fishing guide to take a day’s float in Jackson Hole.... more
No charges to be filed in election fraud allegations
The special prosecutor appointed to investigate whether or not criminal charges should be filed in the case of alleged illegal voting at the Uinta County Republican Party leadership elections in March has declined to prosecute. ... more
Health officer recommends mask use inside
State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist is recommending vaccinated residents in areas with moderate to high COVID-19 transmission wear face masks in indoor public settings, she told the Star-Tribune on Thursday.... more
Wyo charge against ‘Dating Game Killer’ dismissed
A first-degree murder charge filed against Rodney Alcala, a man known as the Dating Game Killer, will be dropped in Sweetwater County following his death. ... more
A perfect storm: contractors struggle to adapt to a host of issues
Local contractors are facing an unheard of set of circumstances: volatile prices, increased transportation costs, material shortages and a rapid rise in new construction.... more
Deer Creek 2 wildfire grows to 3,000 acres
A 3,000-acre wildfire is burning across three Wyoming counties with little containment as of Wednesday afternoon. ... more
Crook County treasurer arrested
Crook County Treasurer Mary Kuhl was arrested on Friday on criminal charges related to her conduct as an elected official.... more
Campbell County library board receives both support and calls for resignation
The latest chapter in the Campbell County Public Library controversy may have been the most heated one yet.... more
Education committee prefers ‘incremental’ steps to K-12 funding crisis
Lawmakers last week, bolstered by an improving revenue forecast, said they continue to favor spending cuts and tapping Wyoming’s “rainy day fund” to temporarily address an estimated $270 million education-funding deficit. Forecasters had previously predicted a $300 million deficit.... more
Wyo looks to store, divert more water as Lake Powell dries up
As Lake Powell dropped to its lowest-ever level Friday — a decline that has forced dam tenders to unexpectedly release 125,000 acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir — Wyoming stood behind five projects that could divert tens of thousands more acre-feet from waterways in the troubled Colorado River Basin.... more
Proposed ordinance would raise fee for underage vaping on school grounds
Next week, Sheridan City Council will proceed with the first reading of an ordinance increasing the financial penalty for juveniles vaping tobacco on school grounds.... more
Microbes in Yellowstone pools add new branch to the tree of life
It’s not often that scientists get to discover a new form of life, but a team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have recently found not just one new species, but a whole group of novel organisms, some of which can be found in Jackson Hole’s backyard.... more
Public notice exemptions spark legal challenge
A judge will decide whether recent ordinances passed in Bar Nunn and Mills exempting the municipalities from publishing certain public notices in the newspaper are valid, after a petition was filed in Natrona County District Court this week.... more
Colleagues remember Mike Enzi as passionate leader, family man
Former U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., sent his longtime colleague Max D’Onofrio an email last month that got lost in a folder somewhere. By the time D’Onofrio discovered it, he realized he’d never get to respond.... more
Enzi dies after bicycle accident
Former U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi died late Monday after being seriously injured in a bicycle accident in Gillette on Friday.... more
Rancher’s request rejected by G&F
A Crandall rancher had his more than $120,000 request in reimbursement for cattle losses caused by grizzly bears and wolves in 2020 mostly rejected by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on July 15.... more
Jackson’s water use spikes as drought deepens
Teton County is falling further into a severe drought, but the tourism-charged community is simultaneously using more water than ever.... more
Hydrogen projects get funding
All three hydrogen projects chosen as grant finalists by the Wyoming Energy Authority two weeks ago have been awarded full funding, the agency said Friday.... more
Enzi hospitalized after bicycle accident
Former U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi is hospitalized after a Friday bicycle accident.... more
State focusing remaining CARES dollars on business tax relief
Wyoming’s plans for more than $1 billion in federal recovery funds related to the COVID-19 pandemic took on more definition Monday with an emphasis on tax relief for businesses.... more
Company proposes state’s largest solar farm near Riverton
A Wyoming-based public company plans to build a 640-acre solar farm east of Riverton.... more
Delta variant now dominant COVID strain in Wyoming
The highly contagious Delta variant of the novel coronavirus is now the dominant strain in Wyoming, according to the state health department. ... more
Half of Wyoming inmates vaccinated
Last week, when three positive COVID-19 cases were detected at the Wyoming Honor Farm near Riverton, Justin Albertson started getting worried.... more
Bridger-Teton Forest becomes home for hundreds
A soupy mix of beans, rice and quinoa down the hatch, Erica Robertson prepared to get cozy last Thursday evening at one of her favorite places to call home: Curtis Canyon.... more
Couple turning school bus into home
With the whir of power tools bouncing off the neighboring peaks, a Wapiti couple is transforming a school bus from transportation for kids into the recreational vehicle of their dreams.... more
Gillette residents share passion through YouTube
Magic can happen on a lake. If that weren’t true, not nearly as many people would try their luck casting lines and hooks about trying to catch elusive fish that would prefer not to be caught.... more
Bill to mandate ‘equality’ curriculum, thwart critical race theory, fails
Wyoming should clarify and impose its own instruction standards regarding “equality and equal rights” rather than anticipate federal mandates to teach critical race theory, according to Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper.... more
Family of woman attacked in hospital files lawsuit
The daughters of a woman who died about two weeks after her eye was gouged out last year, reportedly by another patient at SageWest Health Care in Lander, have sued the hospital. ... more
After wearing bracelet for 30 years, Sheridan woman attends Krogman services
For Sheridan resident Donna Roberts, it’s a simple story. It’s also one that has impacted her life and that she’s literally worn on her wrist, on and off, for 30 years.... more
Man faces life in prison after Green River shootout
A man the Green River Police Department alleges started a shootout with officers July 6 is facing nine felony charges that could lead to a lifetime in prison.... more
Jackson nonprofit looks for place to put free house
Land is hard to come by in Jackson, but if you’ve got some, Esther Judge Lennox will drop a free house on your lot.... more
Delta variant poses threat to businesses navigating already tricky summer
Last summer, businesses across Jackson sporadically put up signs: “Closed due to COVID-19 exposure.” Even if staff members weren’t sick, they were quarantined because of their proximity to the coronavirus.... more
Community debate over library performer continues
Sue Knesel, who worked at the library for 33 years, most of it in youth services, said Gillette has a problem that has bubbled to the surface in recent years. She said that for decades, she promoted her community as a good place to live and raise a family.... more
Gordon issues rule to increase fuel supply
Record-breaking travel and tourism coupled with efforts to combat an early fire season are straining the state’s fuel reserves. But a shortage of available drivers has prevented the state from increasing its access to fuel.... more
Laramie County DA Manlove denies misconduct in response
Manlove also rejected the suggestion that one of three investigations undertaken by the State Bar was prompted by an “unprecedented” letter signed by all of Laramie County’s district and circuit court judges.... more
Hula hoop dispute elicits Sheridan City Council, law enforcement attention
Sheridan City Council and local law enforcement are looking into an instance in which a longtime Sheridan resident was denied access to a free public event last week.... more
Falcons, a via ferrata and the clash of recreation v. conservation
It’s not yet 9 a.m., but the sun shines hot on a July morning near the mouth of Sinks Canyon State Park in central Wyoming. With a spotting scope trained on the cliff across the canyon, Bob Oakleaf sits on a grassy knoll amid whining grasshoppers.... more
Grizzlies on treadmills: Research illuminates bear, human run-ins
Years ago, after lugging a heavy backpack about a dozen miles over Ishawooa Pass in northwest Wyoming, I dropped into a place called the Thorofare.... more
Laramie County COVID hospitalizations reach “concerning” level before CFD
With the city’s largest event right around the corner, Laramie County still accounts for the vast majority of delta variant COVID19 cases in Wyoming – accounting for 74 percent of the state’s delta cases last week, Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Director Kathy Emmons said during Tuesday’s Board of Health meeting.... more
Trump to meet with House candidates; former president will make endorsement ‘in the next few months’
Former president Donald Trump signaled Tuesday that he is making significant moves in his effort to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney.... more
Ranchers demand more money for grizzly-killed stock, again
Wyoming Game and Fish commissioners backed agency staff last week and approved compensation for trophy game damage to stock that amounted to $388,696 less than two ranchers claimed.... more
Man caught with very large amount of meth near Cody
A recent transplant to the Cody area is facing multiple felony charges after he was allegedly caught with some $20,000 worth of methamphetamine last week, plus heroin and marijuana. ... more
Church of pastor critical of magic show vandalized
The graffiti cost about $200 to clean up.... more
Virtual education grows by 300%
Before the coronavirus pandemic reached Wyoming in March 2020, just over 1,000 students statewide were enrolled in a virtual education program.... more
Jackson sees more than 50,000 visitors a day
It’s midsummer in Jackson Hole and bumper-to-bumper traffic on Broadway, Snow King Avenue and Highway 22 has felt worse than ever before.... more
Wyoming elementary students well below nationwide PE averages
Most elementary-aged students in Wyoming receive less physical education than kids in other states — roughly two times per week, well below the national average of 2.5 times per week — according to the first-ever statewide survey of its kind.... more
Gordon responds to drought conditions
Gov. Mark Gordon is convening a Colorado River Working Group that will meet regularly to discuss important Colorado River matters and monitor potential impacts to Wyoming, according to a news release from his office Friday.... more
Changes in Hathaway Scholarship open for comment
The state-sponsored Hathaway Scholarship for college-bound high school students received another update this legislative session, but the public will get to weigh in on how the new rules are written.... more
How national parks use social media to track down miscreants
Sandwiched between staff promotion and visitation tips, Yellowstone National Park’s Instagram page has a screenshot from a video taken by park visitor Darcie Addington.... more
Sheridan’s Little Free Libraries: Service about more than sharing books
Little Free Libraries are popping up all around Sheridan and here, just like around the world, the phenomenon is about more than sharing books.... more
Riverton woman key voice for missing and murdered Indigenous persons
At all hours of the day, Nicole Wagon gets calls, texts, emails and Facebook messages.... more
Spare a pair? Couple paying for adoption with shoes
Mikelle Schmit stared at the pile of transparent plastic bags that has only grown taller and wider since May. She inhaled the humid garage air and exhaled relief that she still has more than a month to meet her goal.... more
Grand Teton experiments with ‘augmented reality’
Moose don’t predictably appear in the height of summer along the most bustling trails in all of Grand Teton National Park.... more
Wyoming near bottom in ranking of child health
Although Wyoming ranks fourth in the nation for economic well-being, the state ranks 17th in the nation for child well-being and overall health.... more
Wyoming coal production falls by 21% in 2020
Coal production in Wyoming plummeted 21 percent in 2020 as the U.S. saw its lowest yield since 1965, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Wednesday.... more
Magician, others react to threats, canceled show in Campbell County libraries
Magician and comedienne Mikayla Oz and library staff were threatened and harassed to the point where the performances were called off as a safety concern.... more
Hydrogen project finalists chosen
Three proposed hydrogen pilot projects have been chosen as finalists for grant funding by the Wyoming Energy Authority, pending approval from the state Energy Resources Council. ... more
Groups impress value of vaccinating employees
As COVID-19 case numbers rise in Laramie County and across the state, bolstered by a variant that made up more than half of cases last week, the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department is offering to send staff to local businesses to vaccinate employees. ... more
Healthcare center struggles to hire primary care physicians
Health care facilities nationwide are experiencing a shortage of primary care physicians, and Johnson County Healthcare Center is no exception.... more
Lack of standards invites politics into Wyo civics classes, critics say
One afternoon this spring, educators around Wyoming logged onto Zoom for a voluntary lesson on 20th Century U.S. history featuring a “live presentation from an esteemed scholar expert.”... more
Fewer ‘recapture’ districts spell trouble for school funding
For the first time in decades, Campbell County will not send excess revenue to the state’s School Foundation Program, the primary statewide school fund.... more
Commissioners reject coroner nominees, candidate says vetting process ‘disgrace’
After receiving a list of three candidates for the Fremont County Coroner mid-term replacement, the Fremont County Commission chose Tuesday not to select a new coroner from the nominees submitted.... more
Albany commissioners approve wind project
The Albany County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday night to approve ConnectGen’s application for a wind energy conversion systems permit for the Rail Tie Wind Project.... more
UW proposes 75 layoffs, program changes
The University of Wyoming on Tuesday proposed sweeping changes at the institution, including budget cuts that would lay off 75 positions — some tenured, a reorganization of a slew of academic departments, and the formation of a school of computing — among other additions.... more
Judge orders author to ‘write’ wrong after Yellowstone misbehavior
You might call it making the punishment fit the crime. A federal judge has sentenced a former Yellowstone National Park safari guide, blogger and author to put his respect for national parks in writing.... more
Yellowstone National Park attendance increases over holiday
Fewer people entered Yellowstone National Park through the East Gate over the Independence Day holiday, but local leaders say it continues to be a strong year for tourism in Park County.... more
Gore slams spying allegations
Susan Gore, a wealthy conservative donor and founder of the Wyoming Liberty Group, broke her silence Monday regarding accusations she funded a political spying operation, stating the allegations amounted to “disinformation.” ... more
Take Back Our Republic launches new Wyoming chapter
Take Back Our Republic officially launched its Wyoming chapter on July 1 with a kickoff party at Powder River Art Gallery.... more
Jackson Lake poised for steep drawdown
When longtime Signal Mountain Marina manager Bill Wood returned to his administrative cabin overlooking Jackson Lake after taking last weekend off, he could immediately tell the water had changed noticeably in just 48 hours.... more
Biden administration slated to pick new Wyoming judge
Nancy Freudenthal, U.S. District Judge for the District of Wyoming, announced in June she will be assuming senior status, a phase of semi-retirement that will likely bring the judge to the final chapter of a lengthy and distinguished career in Wyoming.... more
First-of-its-kind approach to coal reclamation bonding in the works
Wyoming lawmakers are considering a new option for coal mine reclamation bonding that could reduce risk for the state in the event of insolvency. Both environmental and industry advocates have identified advantages to the proposal, which could also help the financially troubled industry.... more
Campbell library under fire for ‘Rainbow Book Month’ posting
The Campbell County Public Library is under fire after a post on the library’s Facebook page promoting its LGBTQ collection, and among the suggestions of dealing with it is censoring books.... more
Former coroner alleges Health Department changed death certificates
Former Fremont County Coroner Mark Stratmoen has alleged that the Wyoming Department of Health has changed and issued inaccurate death certificates in the last several months.... more
CLIMB celebrates 35 years of helping single moms
Over the last 35 years, thousands of single moms gained skills to improve their own lives and the lives of their children with the help of Climb Wyoming.... more
Cheyenne youth wins national poetry championship
Jayden Roccaforte has been asked too many times in his life “What are you?” to actually keep count.... more
Fisheries experts urge caution as temperatures rise
The Green River is usually between 2,000 and 10,000 cfs this time of year. Right now it’s around 700 cfs. The Green River as it flows through its namesake town had been hitting up to 75 degrees during the day and dropping back down into the high 60s at night in mid-June.... more
Woman plans surprise wedding for fiance
For four months, Clarice Grekoff kept an important secret from her fiancé.... more
Idaho officials ask Teton County to pay for impact study
Elected officials trying to guard against runaway growth in Teton Valley would like to see their Jackson Hole counterparts pay more attention to the effects of proposals to expand terrain and build out the base area at Grand Targhee Resort.... more
Rancher found after being pinned under ATV for nearly two days
Frank Reynolds considers himself fortunate because not all search and rescue efforts have happy endings.... more
Former college CFO accused in $15 million fraud
A lawsuit filed in federal court in late June alleges that Paul McCown, the former chief financial officer at Wyoming Catholic College, defrauded an investment firm out of $15 million.... more
New task force dives into hunting controversies
Wyoming legislators, government leaders and citizens from across the state were picked for the panel among many applicants, being chosen jointly by the governor and legislative and Game and Fish leaders. ... more
Hay prices causing issues for stockgrowers
The high hay prices, which started in the county during last summer's drought, have continued this year, according to Jason Watts, owner of local hay brokerage HayWerks.... more
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations up in Laramie County
What’s more troubling is these numbers are paired with a significant presence of the Delta variant, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says spreads faster and is less treatable.... more
Taxable sales fall in first quarter
Despite skyrocketing fuel demand driving oil and gas prices to highs not seen since 2014, Wyoming’s energy sector continues to chart a slow recovery from its pandemic lows.... more
Grizzly conflicts central to new Upper Green River grazing debate
Bridger-Teton National Forest is weighing 3,256 comment letters, many of which oppose a plan to allow cattle to graze new areas in grizzly country near the Upper Green River.... more
Psychedelics dealer shelters in Burning Man-style tent, awaits Wyoming Supreme Court appeal
On a grassy field south of Victor, semifamous LSD chemist Casey Hardison is camped out under a makeshift birch tree tent with his partner, Victoria Clemente.... more
Effort on at all levels to transform Powder River Basin into nation's Carbon Valley
Going carb-free may be the diet du jour for people looking to drop a few pounds, but when it comes to re-imagining the Powder River Basin’s coal-dependent economy, many believe in carbon-loading.... more
Officials: Pandemic isn’t over
Wyoming has all the tools it needs to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror, health officials say. But residents here aren’t taking advantage of those resources.... more
Campaign data illustrates Gore’s growing influence in Wyo politics
When Susan Gore arrived in Wyoming more than two decades ago, the heir to the Gore-Tex fortune was a minor player in the state’s politics.... more
Residents of Glenrock hope it’s chosen as nuclear reactor site
Some communities would balk at the idea of a company building an experimental power source on the edge of town. Glenrock is not one of them. ... more
Mussel-infected boat intercepted in Yellowstone
For Sue Mills, it was simultaneously concerning and reassuring for her staff to find a quagga mussel attached to a boat that was about to hit the water in Yellowstone National Park.... more
Visits swell at national parks; tourism increases as pandemic subsides
If you visited one of Wyoming’s national parks recently, you’re hardly alone. ... more
Lawsuit with Clark teen centers continues
A class-action lawsuit filed by about 25 class action members and four listed plaintiffs against Clark troubled teen centers Trinity Teen Solutions and Triangle Cross Ranch has received pushback from these entities in federal court.... more
Wyoming GOP official asked congressmen for help ousting Cheney
Breaking with the longstanding norm of intraparty candidate neutrality, a Wyoming Republican Party official asked members of Congress for help vetting potential challengers to U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney in next year’s Republican primary.... more
Sweeping redesign of state’s mental health services policy underway
House Bill 38-Community behavioral health-priority populations passed during the 2021 legislative session, requires the Wyoming Department of Health to reconsider the state-funded mental health and substance abuse system. ... more
Documentary details repatriation of Northern Arapaho boys
What does it mean for a Native American tribe to bring home ancestral remains that have been buried in a faraway cemetery for more than a century?... more
State could have more flexibility with COVID funds
The reduction in revenue Wyoming has experienced over the past year may allow the state to use federal COVID-19 relief money more freely. ... more
Tribal leaders eye mascot ban, tuition discount
Maine became the first state to ban Native American mascots in 2019. Colorado has followed suit and six other states are considering similar legislation.... more
Archaeology dig near Tie Siding yields extensive artifacts
The southern Laramie Valley has served as a travel corridor for as long as humans have been crossing the plains, from Native American routes to the Cherokee Trail, Overland Stage Route, Union Pacific Railroad, Lincoln Highway and Interstate 80.... more
Teton County ranked 13th healthiest in nation
There are 3,143 counties and county equivalents (parishes, independent cities and the like) in the United States.... more
Inspired by media teacher, three friends headed to film school
Four years ago, Garrett Deary had no idea what kind of career he wanted to pursue. As a freshman at South High School, Deary decided to take a TV/Media class because he’d heard it could be an easy A. ... more
Wedding season rebounds in 2021 after COVID-19 upended ceremonies in 2020
The big day was originally supposed to be in May 2020. Tiffany Schatz and Luke Ely got engaged in August 2019, and nine months seemed more than enough time to plan a wedding.... more
Years-long restoration launches to keep 'Pink House' from fading into Grand Teton National Park history
When Kate Birmingham looks at the cracked stucco, fading pink exterior walls of one of Mormon Row’s trademark relic residences, it’s easy for her to imagine the home’s history.... more
Is LGBTQ Pride political? Schools struggle with the answer
The final days of the 2020-21 academic year for most Wyoming schools landed in June when, in addition to graduation and other end-of-year celebrations, many Wyoming students celebrated Pride Month.... more
Snake River at historic low levels
Although the substantial flows in view from the Highway 22 bridge suggest otherwise, the Snake River’s water year is looking increasingly, exceedingly grim.... more
Group works to redesign behavioral health system
A bill approved this spring created a “seismic shift” in the way the state’s behavioral health system functions, according to Wyoming Department of Health Chief Data Analyst Franz Fuchs.... more
Pelosi picks Cheney to serve on Jan. 6 committee
Rep. Liz Cheney will serve on the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced in a Thursday press conference.... more
Sublette County’s long, bumpy road to build its first hospital
Ten days after delivering a baby girl by cesarean section in April 2019, Sublette County resident Ashli Tatro was home nursing her newborn around midnight when she suddenly knew something was wrong.... more
Group says BLM whistleblower enduring ‘torture of the damned’
Public Employees for Environmental Ethics calls Walter Loewen a whistleblower who is being unfairly sacked after he sought to protect nesting raptors during the approval of the Delaware-sized Converse County Oil and Gas project.... more
Mule deer study raises red flags
There are still six months remaining in the three-year study to better understand why the population of the Upper Powder River mule deer herd is in decline, but already biologists have identified concerning trends.... more
Power company confident it can meet demand
Rocky Mountain Power is confident it can handle the heat.... more
Pharmacies worried for future without change in rules
Craig Jones, the owner of Basin Pharmacy and part-owner of Greybull Drug, and his daughter, Camilla Hancock, a doctor of pharmacy at Basin Pharmacy, have spent the last several months warning residents of the threat posed by PBMs, as they are known.... more
Douglas looks to change controversial document fees
The Douglas City Council last week informally instructed its attorney, Mike Armstrong, to start crafting changes to its controversial public records policy, which currently mandates that the public and press be charged for printed or emailed copies of city documents.... more
Will Wyoming voters override politicians to legalize marijuana?
Thirty years ago, Kemmerer native Madonna Long’s life changed forever.... more
Cheyenne man charged with murder in toddler’s death
Wyatt Dean Lamb, a suspect in the death of 2-year-old Athian Rivera, has been charged with the toddler’s murder, the Laramie County District Attorney’s office announced late Monday afternoon. ... more
Uinta County treasurer explains problematic issues with new mineral tax legislation
Enrolled Act 9, which originated as Senate File 60, deals with ad valorem taxation of mineral production in the state.... more
Converse County valuation plummets $620 million
Converse County’s assessed valuation took a major hit this year, and while local officials are concerned, they remain hopeful things will start to turn around. ... more
Officials to NRA: Move to Wyoming; group yet to respond to letter from Gordon, secretary of state
Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Ed Buchanan have invited the National Rifle Association to relocate from Virginia to Wyoming, they said in a joint letter released Tuesday. ... more
Conservation effort protects cutthroat trout in Soldier Creek
Surrounded by a tall steel jack fence, laborers planted more than 1,100 cut and pre-rooted willows on the banks of Soldier Creek in the Bighorn Mountains last week.... more
Riverton man sentenced to 20-25 years for killing his friend last year
Mario Mills was sentenced on Wednesday to 20-25 years in prison for second-degree murder.... more
State scores highly for children’s well-being
The economic and family well-being of Wyoming’s children are among the best in the nation, according to a new report. But while the state excels in some categories, our youth are among the least healthy in the U.S.... more
Supreme Court won't hear coal port lawsuit
Gov. Mark Gordon calls a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to not take up a lawsuit challenging Washington state's denial of a coal export terminal "extremely frustrating."... more
Man killed, trooper wounded in shootout near Lander
An exchange of gunfire Friday afternoon during a traffic stop left the driver of the stopped vehicle mortally shot and a Highway Patrol trooper wounded.... more
Legislators say they were targeted by infiltration operation
Two Wyoming lawmakers and a former state representative say they were targeted as part of an undercover operation performed by conservative operatives to infiltrate political campaigns and progressive groups during the 2020 election cycle. ... more
Stun and dismay follow political espionage revelations
Wealthy conservative donor Susan Gore was a key financier of a years-long effort to spy on Wyoming Democrats and Republicans, an article published Friday by the New York Times revealed, shining a light on the lengths to which the Gore-Tex heiress and Wyoming Liberty Group founder has gone to influence the state’s politics.... more
Secretive PAC with Trump ties backing Gray in 2022 primaries
A secretive political action committee with distant ties to former President Donald Trump appears to be supporting state Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, in the race to defeat U.S. Congresswoman Liz Cheney in next year’s Republican primary.... more
Former Pavillion clerk charged again with stealing from town
Originally charged with stealing more than $34,000 from the Town of Pavillion, the municipality’s former clerk was charged again last week, after more unexplained expenditures were discovered. ... more
Drought forces ranchers into tough, desperate decisions
A cloud of dust kicked up as Cass Hurley shuffled down a small hill in the middle of the 320-acre ranch she and her husband operate off North Heptner Road in Rozet. It’s not far beyond where the county stops maintaining the road.... more
Tribes take ownership of reservation oil field
After decades of leasing Circle Ridge Field, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho have taken full ownership of the oil and gas field on the Wind River Reservation.... more
Towns exempt selves from public notice rules
Two Natrona County municipalities passed ordinances in recent months exempting themselves from publishing public notices in newspapers, council filings show.... more
Sale of Jackson Hole Twin Cinema marks 'end of an era’
It was December 1996, just before Christmas, and projectionist Doug Hagen had just started playing “The Preacher’s Wife” at the Jackson Hole Twin Cinema.... more
In sickness and in health: woman remarries dying ex-husband
Patty Edwards had spent her morning like most days that month: thinking longingly about her ex-husband. But this January day, something was different.... more
Rock Band Camp wows crowd after just a week of practice together
Hayden Young’s first performance in a rock band was Friday night.... more
Researchers hunt for clues behind decline of Wyo’s largest turtle
Up close, the spiny softshell turtle looks a little like a leather pancake, but few people get that kind of glimpse.... more
Who is the Florida man trying to defeat Liz Cheney?
A Florida resident who has become an odd player in the campaign to replace Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney says controversial statements he made in the past, like those related to the QAnon conspiracy theory, were part of an effort to discredit a liberal media that was poised against him.... more
Feds to stock cows in lieu of sheep
The Bridger-Teton National Forest is making moves to allow cattle to graze four eastern Gros Ventre Range allotments that were cleared of domestic sheep because of the threat they posed to wild bighorn sheep.... more
Rig count slowly recovering
The average monthly rig count varies widely by year: 54 in 2015, 27 in 2016, 11 in 2017, 22 in 2018, 33 in 2019 — and eight in 2020.... more
Recent Wyoming data illustrates vaccine success
According to the Wyoming Department of Health, data gathered from Wyoming residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent months illustrates the success of the safe, free and effective vaccines authorized to fight the virus.... more
Wildlife Task Force holds its 1st meeting
Nearly a dozen Wyomingites from different backgrounds gathered in Lander last week for the first ever meeting of the Wildlife Task Force.... more
Campfire restrictions coming in northwest Wyo
Discussions are ramping up about prohibiting campfires outside campgrounds as the wildfire danger continues to climb in northwest Wyoming.... more
Montana man arrested, accused of starting Robertson Draw Fire
A Bridger, Montana, man was arrested Wednesday on allegations that he started the 28,600-acre Robertson Draw Fire while off-trail on his motorcycle. ... more
Thousands descend on Sheridan for motorcycle convention
As more than 3,000 members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association descend on Sheridan this week, it’s still something of a shock for Rachel Webb.... more
Highly contagious COVID variant found in Wyoming
The highly contagious delta variant of the novel coronavirus has been identified in Wyoming, according to state data.... more
UW faculty stretched thin after latest budget cuts
The University of Wyoming will enter the 2022 fiscal year with a wide array of new financial constraints after the school’s board of trustees finalized roughly $16.5 million in reduced spending on June 16.... more
Problem grizzly or problem people? A Togwotee Pass standoff
A two-week effort to haze a popular mother grizzly bear and her cubs away from Highway 26/287 over Togwotee Pass where they have been attracting hundreds of gawkers is showing results, a top federal wildlife official said Monday.... more
Reviving the Red Desert’s ancient stories
Sitting in the verdant shade of an aspen grove on Steamboat Mountain — which rises out of the Red Desert in southern Wyoming — Jason Baldes talks about buffalo.... more
Experts: Wyo juvenile justice lacks adequate data, consistency
Reform advocates last week pushed the Wyoming Legislature to reduce the county-by-county inconsistencies, and fill the outcome-tracking holes that have long plagued the state’s juvenile justice system.... more
Low statewide vaccination raise concerns of future COVID-19 spikes
Despite the best efforts of public health officials, Wyoming still ranks 48th among states for the percentage of adults who have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and 47th for those who are fully vaccinated.... more
Budget cuts to impact community mental health centers, hospital
Despite a record-high need for mental health and substance abuse services, the Wyoming Department of Health, which provides support for community mental health centers across the state, faces a $7.5 million budget reduction, effective July 1. ... more
Cercy accuser files lawsuit
The woman who accused former Casper businessman Tony Cercy of sexually assaulting her in 2017 filed a federal lawsuit against him Tuesday alleging assault and battery.... more
Robertson Draw Fire slows after nearing 30K acres
The Robertson Draw Fire north of Clark expanded to 29,474 acres as of Sunday night with 45-percent containment reported. Sunday morning marked the first time since the fire started that any containment had been reported.... more
Weaver murder trial date still uncertain
It's still up in the air whether the trial of a man accused of fatally shooting two adults and injuring two children will go forward in August.... more
State officials share job cut details
Almost a year ago, Gov. Mark Gordon announced that hundreds of state jobs would be eliminated as part of sweeping budget cuts. Only a fraction of the cuts resulted in layoffs — most of the positions were vacant. ... more
Redistricting ramps up. Here’s what to expect
Wyoming lawmakers have begun the lengthy and involved process of redrawing legislative district maps for the next decade.... more
Legislators study early count of absentee votes
State legislators plan to consider allowing county clerks in Wyoming to process absentee ballots before election day. ... more
Campbell Co. valuation down by one-fifth in one year
Campbell County’s assessed valuation has dropped to a level not seen since the mid-2000s.... more
Legislators struggle with lack of juvenile justice data
Lawmakers received some of the first available data on juvenile justice in Wyoming during a joint judiciary meeting last week, but large blind spots still remain.... more
Report says transition for coal workers possible
As jobs in the coal industry dwindle, the central question persists: Where will its workers go?... more
Permitting work for new wind project to begin
The permitting process for the proposed Rock Creek Wind Project is set to begin this summer, and if all goes according to plan, construction on the 590-megawatt project could start as soon as 2023.... more
54 years MIA, Worland veteran’s remains coming home
It has been over 50 years since Worland native and Vietnam veteran Alva R. Krogman, better known as Ray, disappeared over Laos, and in about a month, he will return to Worland for his final resting place.... more
Jackson businesses turn to unconventional means to tackle housing, staff shortages
When May hit, Hannah Pollat started to throw in the towel.... more
Toy library offers new toys bi-weekly for young children
So many good things rose from the devastation of the COVID pandemic: fiscal resilience, societal reflection and several new businesses, including the used-toys lending service The Nest Toy Library. ... more
Mission to hug cops in all 50 states brings 11-year-old to Cheyenne
There were more hugs than usual June 11 at the Wyoming State Capitol.... more
Judge prevents drilling-site work, citing threats to sage grouse
A federal judge has prevented drilling and construction on 449 oil and gas leases covering 334,762 acres in Wyoming, saying the federal government didn’t examine potential effects to imperiled greater sage grouse when it leased those lands in 2017.... more
Working group formed to look into fire pension plan
Time is of the essence for the plan, which serves 266 pensioners and their beneficiaries, including 25 Sheridan residents. If nothing changes, the fund will be exhausted sometime in 2026.... more
Six new wind farms planned for Wyoming
If built, the 19 wind, solar, battery storage and transmission proposals that made PacifiCorp’s shortlist would span four states with a collective capacity of 3,200 megawatts.... more
Big gatherings, low vaccination blamed for Laramie Co. COVID spike
A recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Laramie County can be traced back to a few large gatherings and still-too-low vaccination rates, said Kathy Emmons, executive director of the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department.... more
UW Board of Trustees consider a $260 million bond for campus construction
The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees met early Wednesday morning to discuss a resolution that authorizes the issuance of $260 million in bonds for the construction of new housing and parking facilities on campus.... more
Active fires challenge area agencies
Amid high winds and triple-digit temperatures, wildland fires have exploded in northern Wyoming and southern Montana.... more
Judge’s ruling spurs optimism
Wyoming’s energy industry reacted with cautious optimism Wednesday to a court ruling blocking the Biden administration’s freeze on new oil and gas leasing on federal lands.... more
State bar charge filed against Laramie County DA
A formal charge against Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove was filed Friday with the Wyoming State Bar’s Board of Personal Responsibility, detailing what it called “incompetence and lack of professionalism.”... more
Laramie County ranching families fear loss of springs, creeks, way of life
Tim Rutledge says he’s already seen the damage large water wells can do to the Donahue Spring, a sweetwater fount that bubbles to the surface a short stroll from the front door of his ranch home.... more
School districts’ uses of federal relief funds worry lawmakers
Some lawmakers are worried that school districts are using federal pandemic-relief and recovery funds to add new positions and purchase equipment that might add to ongoing costs for the state.... more
Supreme Court: Lying officer’s name stays in hemp-case record
The Wyoming Supreme Court last week rejected a motion by the Attorney General’s Office to remove from the record the identity of a law enforcement officer whom the court found lied during testimony against Albin hemp farmers.... more
Barrasso critique of BLM nominee said to politicize bureaucratic post
Wyoming’s senior U.S. Sen. John Barrasso offered harsh criticism of President Joe Biden’s nominee to run the Bureau of Land Management last week, underscoring what experts describe as an increasing politicization of the typically bureaucratic role.... more
Campbell County commissioner suggests dissolving cemetery district to help fund college
Campbell County voters will decide Aug. 17 whether they want Gillette College to become its own community college district.... more
Gordon strategizes use of ARP funds
Gov. Mark Gordon and the Wyoming Legislature are playing the long game when it comes to American Rescue Plan relief funding, mapping out a three-pronged plan that is centered around serving future generations of Wyomingites. ... more
Hate crime bills draw support; state lawmakers vote to draft legislation after emotional testimony
State lawmakers voted Tuesday to pursue expanded hate crimes protections in Wyoming, after hearing impassioned testimony from residents and state leaders who say tougher measures are needed to safeguard vulnerable groups.... more
UW event to explore anti-racist education
The University of Wyoming Black Studies Center will hold a virtual symposium July 2 called “What to the Slave’s Children is the Fourth of July?” focused on anti-racist education and the national debate around teaching critical race theory in American schools. ... more
Liz Cheney: ‘I don’ t feel any real downside ’ to losing chair position
If there’s one thing Liz Cheney never expected, it was to be called a RINO.... more
Legislature revives tourism improvement district discussions
The Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions committee may provide an additional source of funding for the state’s tourism industry.... more
Lawmakers mull major election changes
Wyoming lawmakers are weighing a significant overhaul of the state’s elections.... more
Expert: Reactor will be safe; Nuclear proposal incorporates molten sodium technology
After the recent announcement that Wyoming would be getting a nuclear power plant, many Wyomingites had a similar question. Is it safe? ... more
Creating a more resilient landscape; Officials outline objectives of fire management plan
Officials from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the city of Cheyenne spoke favorably Wednesday about a 15-year forest management plan that covers much of southeastern Wyoming. ... more
CDC awards state $38M; Money is to be used to bridge pandemic health disparities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded Wyoming $38.3 million to address health disparities in the state’s pandemic response.... more
Pot advocates introduce ballot initiatives
A number of cannabis advocates and members of the Libertarian Party made history Friday as they submitted two marijuana-related ballot initiatives, kicking off a campaign that will last until next November. ... more
Improved conditions may not replenish hay supply
While last summer's drought conditions created difficulty for many Johnson County hay producers — cutting the crop for some to as little as one-third of the normal yield — hay conditions are so far improved.... more
Bill would limit vaccine mandates
A bill that forbids employers from requiring staff to show proof of vaccination in most cases gained near-unanimous support from a Wyoming legislative committee Thursday.... more
Officials predict “fairly significant” fire season
For the second half of July and all of August, an above-normal fire season is expected.... more
Gillette residents help reunite lost dog with Nebraska owner
Losing a pet can leave a hopeless feeling. It brings about a surge of adrenaline in those first few moments of searching, which turns to a dull ache as the hours stretch into days. ... more
Group encourages use of lead-free ammo, tackle
A new Wyoming hunting group wants to prove the value of switching ammo and tackle to local sportsmen and women. They know success won’t come easy, but the journey will be worth it if they can keep poison off your plate.... more
Documentary focuses on runner following deer migration route
A documentary combining outdoor adventure and mule deer migration is now available for viewing online.... more
Legislators clash over election bill pledge
An interim meeting of the Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee became the unexpected venue for a discussion of ethics on Monday.... more
Mental evaluation ordered for Torrington murder suspect
A case against a former Park County resident accused of murdering a Torrington woman has been put on hold, after questions were raised about his competency.... more
Confession rejected as evidence in murder trial
A woman’s murder confession will not be allowed in evidence because she was not granted an attorney during her police interview after requesting one.... more
Groups pursue pot initiatives for election
The state and national Libertarian Party as well as Wyoming community leaders will deliver two marijuana ballot initiatives to the Wyoming secretary of state Friday.... more
Budget casualties: Mental health and substance abuse services
After 15 years serving adults living with severe mental illness and homelessness, a supervised group home in Campbell County has closed its doors because of state-level budget reductions.... more
Barrasso bill would protect 14% of study areas as wilderness
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso’s proposed legislation to protect 20,381 acres of wilderness in four Wyoming counties disappoints conservationists who say its official designation of about 14 percent of eligible areas it addresses is flawed.... more
Autonomous buses debut in Yellowstone
Even in the twilight years of life, Walt McMahon isn’t one to eschew a technological innovation when he sees one.... more
Converse Co. officials weigh possibility of nuke plant
Will Bill Gates’ Natrium modular nuclear reactor find a home in PacifiCorps’ soon-to-be-retired Dave Johnston coal-fired power plant? ... more
Wyoming youth vaccination rate trails nation
Wyoming youth have at least one thing in common with their parents; they are among the least vaccinated groups in the nation.... more
Supreme Court allows tribal law enforcement to search non-tribal members
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that tribal law enforcement officers can search non-tribal offenders on public roadways that pass through Indian reservations.... more
JBS Foods cyber attack highlights need for more local processing capacity
JBS controls 25 percent of the meat processing in the U.S. so a prolonged shutdown can have far-reaching impacts on producers. ... more
Strengthening stockgrowers: Lummis speaks at WSGA conference in Sheridan
Farming has long played a key role in Wyoming’s history, and it remains one of the driving forces of the state’s economy and culture. ... more
Voting changes gain support
A state legislative committee voted Monday to pursue two bills that would significantly change the way Wyoming’s statewide elections are run as soon as next year. ... more
Nuclear announcement expands state's reputation as energy capitol of the nation
A prototype nuclear facility promises to bolster Wyoming’s status as the nation’s leader in energy production even as the state’s once-dominant thermal coal mines continue a prolonged meltdown.... more
Grassroots and global players: The crowded campaign to oust Cheney
In a Cheyenne strip-mall banquet hall, Scott Presler — a nationally recognized conservative activist and Donald Trump loyalist best known for organizing post-protest community cleanups in liberal cities — whipped up the crowd.... more
Inside the campaign-finance ‘end run’ that earned GOP an FEC fine
The Wyoming Republican Party secretly supported a 2016 Trump campaign “end run” around donation limitations without securing requisite authorization, according to a former official involved in the matter.... more
Life sentence issued in boy’s murder
Christopher James Nielsen has been sentenced to life in prison without parole on first-degree murder charges for the death of a 5-year-old boy in his care.... more
Schools begin planning to spend COVID relief money
Wyoming school districts have begun receiving much-needed federal pandemic relief dollars, and are planning how to spend promised dollars not yet received.... more
Special legislative session plans canceled
In an unexpected turn, there will not be a special legislative session in mid-July, Gov. Mark Gordon and statehouse leaders announced in a joint statement Friday. ... more
Laramie rancher sues over COVID recovery program
Leisl Carpenter, a sixth-generation rancher and owner of the Flying Heart Ranch in the Big Laramie Valley, has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, claiming the $4 billion American Rescue Plan Section 1005, which targets “socially disadvantaged” farmers and ranchers, violates equal protection laws under the U.S. Constitution and blatantly discriminates against white farmers and ranchers.... more
Upper Wind River tributaries proposed for instream flow rights
Wyoming fisheries managers are taking steps to ensure that water remains in a handful of Wind River tributaries that provide crucial habitat for the watershed’s struggling native Yellowstone cutthroat trout.... more
Gillette officials excited about nuclear power plant
Gillette's potential as a site for a new nuclear power plant excites local officials.... more
Gun rights group sues state officials
Wyoming Gun Owners filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan and Attorney General Bridget Hill claiming that Wyoming’s electioneering communications law is unconstitutionally vague under the First Amendment. ... more
Albany County sheriff’s officer resigns
A short, straight-forward news release from the Albany County Sheriff ’s Office early Thursday morning came as a welcome sigh of relief for many members of the Laramie community.... more
Treasurer seeks delay in monthly ad valorem payments
Newly passed legislation appears to be causing headaches for county treasurers throughout Wyoming before it has even taken effect.... more
Hotels, motels short of workers
For owner Brenda O’Shea, a good summer at A Western Rose Motel requires a certain factor no matter how many customers she gets: employees.... more
Wyoming towns eager to host nuclear plant
Four Wyoming communities are in the running to play host to a new nuclear reactor coming to the state.... more
Albany commissioners take up wind project
After five hours of sometimes heated testimony regarding the proposed Rail Tie Wind Project, the Albany County Board of Commissioners closed the public hearing Tuesday night without making a decision.... more
Demo nuclear plant to be built in Wyoming
Wyoming will become the site of a novel nuclear energy plant in a move announced Wednesday by Gov. Mark Gordon that could diversify the state’s economy and put the nation on a path toward a carbon-free electricity grid by 2035.... more
Wyoming’s own Tyrannosaurus: Lee Rex may be the first specimen of its kind to stay in state
Next to the Tate Geological Museum at Casper College, there’s an unassuming garage.... more
Artist turns recycled pallets into a whimsical sculpture in Jackson Hole
Where once there were pebbles, now sits an enormous troll.... more
Graduating senior reconnects with police officer present at her birth after almost 18 years
Rachel Rasse and Dan Stroup had met once before, but don’t know each other. Not really.... more
Wyoming holding course despite lagging vaccination rate
Wyoming’s Covid-19 vaccination rate remains among the lowest in the nation, yet the state has declined to set quantifiable goals, offer incentives or otherwise modify its approach to address the underperformance.... more
Barrasso bill aims to resolve in-limbo wilderness study areas
A statewide effort to reach a consensus about what to do with Wyoming’s wilderness study areas is being revived legislatively more than two years after it ended with an outcome that left many conservationists disgruntled.... more
Casper police shooting facts still in dispute
The city of Casper is trying to end a years-long lawsuit over a police shooting that killed a man walking down 15th Street in 2018.... more
Laramie County School District sued over public meetings access
A group of Laramie County residents, including a state lawmaker from Cheyenne, is suing Laramie County School District 1, its Board of Trustees, the superintendent and assistant superintendent for allegedly holding school board meetings that were not compliant with state public meetings law.... more
Wyoming’s infrastructure wishlist
Wyoming, like the rest of the country, has an infrastructure problem.... more
No zebra mussels detected in Wyoming waters
Although a highly invasive and harmful mussel was unexpectedly found in aquarium decorations at Wyoming pet stores earlier this year, wildlife officials say they have not yet detected the zebra mussels in state waters.... more
State board considers name change for the ‘Squaw Teats’
Although Park County commissioners want a pair of local buttes to continue to be known as “Squaw Teats,” a state board may not.... more
Influencers get a legislative hand on federal lands filming
New legislation spearheaded by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso proposes to do away with permit fees for small film crews and social media influencers shooting video on most federal land.... more
Judge sides with Game and Fish, limits grizzly-killed livestock award
A judge decided Monday to reduce by $205,483 an arbitration panel’s award to a Hot Springs County rancher for cattle lost to grizzly bears.... more
Outdoor onslaught: Officials brace for huge summer crowds
Campsites, trailhead parking spots and outdoor reservations in Wyoming will likely be harder than ever to snag this summer as public land managers expect an even larger flood of visitation than 2020’s. ... more
Man accused in eye gouging moved to State Hospital
Lander Circuit Court Judge Robert Denhardt prepared and released the file on Patrick Rose, born 1967.... more
Unemployment rate rises slightly
Wyoming’s unemployment rate rose slightly from 5.3 percent to 5.4 percent in April, according to new numbers by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. ... more
Construction companies deal with low material supply
Excalibur Construction used to order its building materials on a per-house basis. This year, they’re ordering per semi-truck.... more
Jackson startup brings wearable technology to beef industry
In Melissa Brandao’s vision, every cow in Wyoming will soon sport a new high-tech earring, transferring real-time data via Bluetooth on the animal’s location and biometrics.... more
Cam-Plex prepares for international ‘Camporee’
Of all the multi-million dollar facilities at Cam-plex, ones costing about $600 have generated the most interest recently.... more
Man saves friend who had COVID-19
Ray Maple found his friend John Treese lying naked on the floor nearly unresponsive.... more
Powell company makes history with sage grouse hatching
Locked away in a small, isolated room in the back of a shop at Diamond Wings Upland Game Birds, a sleep-deprived Karl Bear watched history being made. ... more
Jackson fireworks become flashpoint in ongoing funding debate
Town Councilor Jonathan Schechter caused a stir in the last week after he sent a snappy email to the Teton Board of Realtors, saying he wouldn’t support giving it $12,000 in town and county funds.... more
Committee revives controversial gun bill in surprise vote
The Joint Agriculture Committee Tuesday revived a controversial gun rights bill on a split-second, unannounced vote moments before the committee adjourned in a move lambasted by critics for its lack of transparency.... more
UW athletes learn about brand building
With name, image and likeness legislation becoming more prevalent around the country, the University of Wyoming has teamed up with one of its own to start preparing its student-athletes accordingly.... more
Woman avoids prison in $400K embezzlement
Moments after pleading guilty to nearly half a million dollars in thefts, Laura Burleson was sentenced Wednesday morning to probation, with a suspended prison term of five and-a-half to seven years.... more
Wyoming just got $500M from Biden’s rescue plan. Now what?
Wyoming received the first $500 million installment of its billion-dollar share of American Rescue Plan funds last week, setting the stage for a July special legislative session dedicated to appropriating the money.... more
Video bloggers involved in some commercial ventures now able to film in national parks without prior approval
A federal judge recently found the permit and fee requirements for filming video on National Park Service properties are unconstitutional. ... more
Feds weigh in against coal port
In her brief, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued that because the Millennium Bulk Terminal project is dead, there is no legal controversy for the nation’s highest court to consider. ... more
"Gotcha" exercise creates internet stir
Two self-proclaimed “First Amendment auditors” came to Sundance last week on a mission to “prove” that local law enforcement goes beyond its remit and encroaches upon citizens’ right to freedom of speech.... more
Wyo Business Council recruit pays $5.6M federal fraud settlement
Wyoming Business Council recruit Tungsten Heavy Powder — a California defense contractor with Laramie-based manufacturing — has agreed to pay the federal government $5.6 million to settle fraud allegations from the Department of Justice.... more
Officials struggle with drone harassment of bears
Policing places where wildlife and humans overlap has always been a challenge, and documents show drones adding to the increasingly tense situation on Togwotee Pass. Now law enforcement is cracking down on crowds.... more
Stores, shooters still dealing with ammo shortage
Despite reports that gun and ammunition manufacturers are back to running at or near full capacity, shelves at local sporting goods stores often remain bare.... more
UW plans return to full capacity for football games
If everything goes according to plan, Wyoming will play its home football games inside a full War Memorial Stadium this fall.... more
COVID hospitalizations highest since January
In Laramie County and across Wyoming, hospitalizations connected to COVID-19 have reached their highest levels since late January, though this week’s numbers remain well below the peaks seen in November and December last year.... more
Suit against new tribal counsel adds allegations
Keith Harper began serving the tribe as an attorney in 2019, through Atlanta-based law firm Kilpatrick, Townsend and Stockton. ... more
Judge rules in favor of commissioners, denies motion to delay enactment of horse racing resolution
On Friday, a district judge denied a motion for a preliminary injunction against a recently passed county resolution that essentially gave 307 Horse Racing control over off-track betting within 100 miles of Gillette.... more
Bouchard will remain in U.S. House race
It’s unclear whether Bouchard will face repercussions in the Wyoming Legislature, but one member of legislative leadership left open the possibility. ... more
Group complains about gifts to Game and Fish
A cease and desist letter was sent Friday by one of the former commissioners in the group’s sights.... more
Jail drug smuggling operation involved deoderant, greeting cards
A drug-smuggling conspiracy involving deodorant and greeting cards was discovered last month, when jail staff found opiates glued in the stacked back paper of a card.... more
Committee examines fuel tax again
A fuel tax increase is again being considered by the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee to address the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s structural funding deficit.... more
Statewide public health orders reach expected final phase
The Wyoming Department of Health on Friday announced the likely final phase for statewide public health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the immediate removal of one of the two remaining orders.... more
Bouchard announces he impregnated, married girl as teen
U.S. House candidate Anthony Bouchard had a relationship with and impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18, he told the Casper Star-Tribune late Thursday, hours after he disclosed the relationship in a Facebook Live video to his supporters.... more
Craftsmanship shines for first graduates of gunsmithing class
Douglas Macdonald, 66, took great pride in showing off the craftsmanship of his rifles to the people who visited his table. One of them was a rifle he designed using a dark, smooth slab of English walnut wood. ... more
Eastern Wyoming College student survives horrific accident
On Saturday, March 6, Samantha Hill was headed to her parents’ house in Colorado for the weekend. However, instead of seeing her family in Colorado, they would be coming to see her in Nebraska after a life-changing accident. ... more
Rental car shortage grinds gears in Teton County
At the R Lazy S Ranch, the dude ranch sitting just below the quieter, southern entrance to Grand Teton National Park, people pay an all-inclusive weekly rate for food, lodging, horseback riding and on-ranch fishing: about $2,000 per person, on the lower end.... more
Gillette man officially becomes U.S. citizen after long delay due to COVID-19
Just after 4 p.m. May 7, 2021, Valerie Bahige realized a dream.... more
What does Bitcoin’s bust mean for Wyo’s cryptocurrency sector?
Cryptocurrency values plunged over the past week, with Bitcoin — the most prominent digital currency — losing roughly one-third of its value in a single month.... more
Saratoga housing shortage prompts affordable housing discussion
As houses seemingly fly off the market and rentals are non-existent in the Platte Valley, the topic of affordable housing appears to be ever more prevalent. ... more
Woman argues she was too drunk to confess to killing husband
Strock had a .144 BAC at 2 a.m. on Christmas day – hours after her husband was found dead in their home. ... more
Medicaid expansion would create almost 2,000 jobs, study says
The report predicts major economic gains for states that leverage a temporary federal incentive to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income residents.... more
Barrasso, Lummis criticize Jan. 6 commission
Cheney, who lost her GOP leadership position last week due to her ongoing criticisms of former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, was among those who backed the commission.... more
Getting clean: Addiction medicine program sees success in Sheridan County
He tried everything to get clean. Chris Evans attended in-patient substance abuse treatment 11 times.... more
Man pleads not guilty to 31 counts of aggravated child abuse
The maximum penalties for each count of aggravated child abuse is 25 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.... more
Report: 25 percent of state residents skeptical of COVID
A new national survey aims to answer not just whether people will accept a COVID-19 vaccine, but why they might not. ... more
Wyoming high court censures Cheyenne lawyer, former assistant DA
The case, which charged four people with multiple felonies related to allegedly growing marijuana on their hemp farm, was later dismissed.... more
Report: Coal’s decline hits Powder River Basin mines differently
Powder River Basin mines that supply lower-heating-value coals — including several operated by newcomers Eagle Specialty Materials and Navajo Transitional Energy Co. — might be at greater risk of closing sooner, according to a new report.... more
Forest Service moves to weaken bighorn protections in Wyo Range
The Bridger-Teton National Forest is proposing to allow domestic sheep “restocking” by amending its management plan. It is seeking input by June 7 on issues it should address.... more
Wyoming GOP resoundingly re-elects leadership
The Wyoming Republican Party on Saturday resoundingly re-elected Chairman Frank Eathorne to an additional term, solidifying populist conservatives’ hold on party leadership in the lead-up to what is expected to be a contentious 2022 primary season.... more
Parks could see busiest summer ever
Grand Teton National Park’s new superintendent felt the inflection point come the last week of April.... more
Companies plan 63 new wells in Converse County
Three major players in the oil industry have confirmed they are planning to drill 63 wells (cumulatively) in Converse County in 2021.... more
Gillette College campaign heats up
As summer begins and the August special election nears to decide the future of Gillette College, the campaigns for and against the vote to form an independent community college district in Campbell County are gathering steam.... more
Sheridan businesswoman to challenge Cheney
Belinskey has her own business organizing people’s homes in Sheridan, where she has lived with her four kids for roughly 30 years. ... more
Lawmakers discuss funding fix for emergency communications system
With money expected to run out by next summer for the state’s emergency communications system, known as WyoLink, lawmakers discussed potential ways to fund the radio system during a committee meeting Tuesday.... more
County ambulance prospects keep an eye on Medicaid expansion in state
Prospective ambulance contractors for Fremont County might be waiting to see if Wyoming adopts Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Expansion could make ambulance service attractive financially for an ambulance provider. ... more
After six months, Cheyenne Police Department civilian review board members have gained insight, seek improvements
According to law enforcement officials, it was the first agency in Wyoming to include citizens on a use-of-force review board.... more
Wrongful arrest case may head to jury
The case of a man who says he was wrongfully arrested when Casper police came to his work looking for another man may be heading to a jury, recent court filings suggest. ... more
Medicaid expansion revived despite flood of misinformation
If adopted by the full Legislature, the bill would take advantage of $120 million in new funding over the next two years from the Biden Administration to establish the program, and provide insurance to an estimated 24,000 individuals in Wyoming who lack it.... more
Restoring the ancients; native Wyo fish reclaim some waters
Wyoming’s Powder, Bighorn and North Platte rivers serve as headwaters of the Missouri River. ... more
Cheney’s ouster mirrors battles within Wyoming’s GOP
Many of those in Wyoming loyal to Trump, including her opponents in the 2022 election, reveled in her removal and touted their ongoing support of the former president, who is now considered by many to be the de facto leader of the Republican Party. ... more
Campbell commissioners sued over horse racing
The lawsuit accuses the commissioners of playing favorites.... more
Wind River tribes look at legalizing marijuana
Meanwhile the Northern Arapaho Tribe voted last weekend in favor of decriminalizing marijuana.... more
Barrasso encouraged after infrastructure bill meeting
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., was among a handful of GOP senators who met at the White House on Thursday to discuss President Joe Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal, and he was encouraged that the president could be willing to scale down his spending package.... more
Students excel on Mars and at sea; Gilman’s art classes are far beyond art
This year, the Powell High School senior art class did some double duty because, after COVID-19 closed school after spring break last year, there was still a project to complete. ... more
Scientists strive to map global migrations before they’re gone
Matt Kauffman was at an Italian conference and talking over coffee with fellow ecologists when he got to thinking that the challenges facing Wyoming’s migratory deer, elk and pronghorn are shared by wildlife around the world.... more
Stimulation technology helps Overman fight Parkinson's
While he has both good and bad days, the treatment has allowed him to live a little more normally again. ... more
State GOP backs local party as Williams and others deny they voted illegally
A response has been filed in the civil suit claiming the March leadership elections of the Uinta County Republican Party were conducted illegally. ... more
Supreme Court: Traffic stop unlawful
William Mahaffy and his wife were pulled over in December 2019 after he dropped a lit cigarette out of a car window.... more
Proposed land exchange raises questions of access, value, process
The Columbus Peak Ranch, LLC land exchange proposes trading 628.35 acres of privately-owned land located east of Dayton for 560 acres of state trust land located northwest of Dayton.... more
Cheney will continue to 'fight for the truth,' says GOP can be fixed
About 24 hours removed from being voted out as the GOP conference chair, the No. 3 leadership position in the U.S. House, the Wyoming Republican said she remains a believer in her party and that a deep divide caused by Trump can be fixed.... more
LCCC study: Wyo residents can afford more taxes
That study found Wyoming could generate more than $800 million in new revenues per year without hurting the state’s competitiveness with states, all of which have seen substantially higher population growth over the last decade.... more
Big Horn commissioners collect input on Second Amendment proclamation
More than 120 county residents packed the Weed & Pest building outside of Greybull to voice concerns about federal government overreach. ... more
Tolerance key to grizzly conservation, state says
Education is the top priority in Wyoming’s $55 million, decades-long battle to recover and conserve grizzly bears. ... more
Campbell schools won’t ‘recapture’ for first time in decades
Both Sublette school districts were among those recaptured.... more
Tribunal recommends disbarment for former prosecutor
Hinckley was charged with failing to seek court-ordered records, disobeying a direct order from a judge, lying in court about the status of those records, sharing a letter from the defendant with local media and making inappropriate comments during the trial.... more
Cheney supporters, critics offer reaction to ouster
Cheney, who has served as Wyoming’s sole House representative since 2017, voted to impeach Trump in mid-January for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, stating at the time that there has “never been a greater betrayal” by a U.S. president than the actions taken by the former president.... more
Lawsuit over health orders dismissed
Judge Edelman ruled that petitioners lacked standing in the case because there is no direct connection between the health orders and any alleged injuries plaintiffs may have suffered, among other reasons.... more
Legislature to guarantee remote meeting access through 2021
The policy, which only impacts the 2021 interim, also allows lawmakers to participate in meetings remotely without being docked pay.... more
Groups want federal budget to allow sage grouse assessment
Any rider “blocks FWS from carrying out its basic responsibilities under the ESA,” the groups wrote in a two-page letter dated May 4.... more
FEC fines Wyoming GOP $52,000
The Federal Elections Commission fined the Wyoming Republican Party $52,000 for a campaign finance violation stemming from former President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.... more
Wolf numbers about flat in Wyoming range
State legislatures in Montana and Idaho have recently earned headlines for going over wildlife managers’ heads and adopting policies that require wolf populations be cut by as much as 90 percent.... more
Camping area closed by dam concerns
LaPrele Irrigation District President Colt Rodeman is highly concerned about people camping at Ayres Natural Bridge Park overnight while spring snowmelt runoff is quickly filling the crack-ridden LaPrele Dam that sits a mere 10 minutes upstream. ... more
Ramoco mine could be open by fall, CEO says
After years of permitting review and promised timelines that have come and gone, Ramaco Carbon CEO Randall Atkins said Wyoming's first new coal mine in more than four decades could be operational as early as this fall.... more
Committee revives Medicaid expansion
When the legislation does make it on to lawmakers’ session agenda, it will be a familiar discussion. The bill the committee has sponsored is the same that died less than two months ago.... more
Former Buffalo Bill Center employee sues museum
A former employee of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West has filed suit against the museum in U.S. Federal Court.... more
Couple pleads not guilty to murder in child’s death
At a court appearance last week, a Cody man and woman formally denied allegations that they fatally abused a 2-year-old child. ... more
Former Gillette resident returns to challenge Cheney
Denton Knapp, who now lives in California but is moving back to Gillette, said he’s wanted to go into public service since high school and that “now is a good time to do it.”... more
Former prosecutor admits negligence
The Wyoming Supreme Court, in a 2017 decision reversing Black’s case, also said there was “no question” that there was prosecutorial misconduct during Black’s trial.... more
Federal grants add momentum to Wyo carbon capture movement
The United States Department of Energy last Friday announced $99 million in grants to study technology that removes carbon from industrial exhaust and uses it for other purposes, like manufacturing.... more
Sage grouse hunters shot about 7,600 birds in 2019
Hunters shot an estimated 7,615 greater sage grouse in 2019, a biologist told Wyoming’s grouse team Wednesday as a key stakeholder challenged the state’s notion that regulated hunting does not harm the population.... more
National group eyeing Buchanan as Cheney replacement
State Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, has also mounted a primary challenge against Cheney. It is unclear if Club for Growth contacted him.... more
Legislature’s remote meeting option will continue into interim
The pre-approved locations are limited to more populous areas of the state, however, and fail to cover some more rural areas of Wyoming. ... more
Young grizzly cast off, finds trouble, hauled north
It’s well known that grizzly bears that grow up roadside in Grand Teton National Park tend to habituate to being around people.... more
Darin Smith announces run against Liz Cheney for U.S. House seat
Standing in front of the Wyoming Capitol, Smith said he’s “sick and tired of politics as usual.”... more
Gordon prohibits vaccine passports
Gov. Mark Gordon signed a directive Friday prohibiting state entities from requiring “vaccine passports.”... more
Closed rest stops to reopen
Nine Wyoming rest stops that were closed last year due to budget cuts will reopen later this month, Gov. Mark Gordon’s office announced Thursday. ... more
Construction resumes on wind project that has generated national attention
Construction on the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project in Carbon County started again for the season on April 12, and the project has generated its fair share of national attention in recent months.... more
Gillette students modify books for students in Guatemala
Heidi DeStefano, now an educational author after more than a decade as a kindergarten and first grade reading recovery specialist with the Campbell County School District, took a vacation with her husband to Guatemala.... more
Powell’s drive-in debut: The American Dream Drive-In was Wyoming’s first — and is its last — outdoor movie theater
Pokey Heny always gets opening night jitters.... more
Former St. Jude CEO turns private collection of military vehicles into sprawling museum in Dubois
In 2010, Dan Starks got a patriotic idea.... more
B-T Forest eyes revision to allow domestic sheep to graze
Jonathan Ratner wasn’t pleased to read a public notice that the Bridger-Teton National Forest is looking to change how it protects wild bighorn sheep from catastrophic diseases spread by domestic sheep.... more
Park Co. declared ’Second Amendment Preservation County’
The elected officials said they were passing the resolution “to defend the rights and liberties of the citizens of Park County.”... more
National PAC sought challengers to Cheney
Club For Growth’s presence in the state is a signal that the race may not be limited to the current candidates facing Cheney, state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, and state Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper.... more
Physicians ask Cheyene schools to keep mask mandate
A group of local health care providers is asking Wyoming’s largest school district to keep its mask mandate in place through the end of the year.... more
Federal policy could undermine Wyo cattle ID legislation
The policy may erode a recent victory by Wyoming’s ranching industry that earned them more autonomy over tracking their animals, and industry groups are watching developments closely. ... more
Jackson, Teton County agree to spend money on housing
The final go-ahead will come when town and county budgets are approved in June.... more
Anti-semitic, threatening email sent to UW staffer
The identity of the sender cannot yet be confirmed, as it is still under investigation by UW police; however, it was revealed that the sender, “Miley Lucas” was in no way affiliated with the university.... more
Lawsuit filed over death of DOT employee
Shirley Samuelson died in August when a street sweeper she had just parked on Highway 22 in Teton County rolled downhill and ran her over. She was 62.... more
After hunters kill 874 sage grouse hens, Wyo’s hunt questioned
In the Southwest Wyoming region, for example, hunters dropped 294 yearling or adult female greater sage grouse wings in area barrels last year.... more
Drought monitor: 95% of state abnormally dry or worse
Only parts of Sheridan, Johnson, Big Horn and Park counties are at or above normal moisture levels.... more
Balow rejects ‘critical race theory’ teaching
Last month, the U.S. Department of Education published its proposed priorities for American history and civics education, which include “projects that incorporate racially, ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse perspectives into teaching and learning.”... more
Housing director wants to spend $13 million on housing 'crisis'
April Norton, director of the Jackson/Teton County Housing Department, wants to spend $13 million to build homes and expand housing programs in the upcoming fiscal year.... more
Cheney, Trump at odds again
Monday saw three public exchanges between Cheney and the former president.... more
ITC in Gillette chosen for $52M CO2 capture project
Gov. Mark Gordon announced Friday afternoon that the ITC, attached to the Dry Fork Station coal-fired power plant about 10 miles north of Gillette, will host one of two large U.S. Department of Energy CO2 capture research projects.... more
Analysis: Four Wyoming takeaways from new census numbers
As the Mountain West experienced a population boom over the last decade, Wyoming’s growth lagged, according to U.S. Census numbers released this week, with the Equality State among the slowest-growing states in the country. ... more
Management Council weighs change that could limit public access
The Wyoming Legislature’s Management Council, which sets priorities for the body, is weighing a policy change that would give committee chairs the authority to decide whether the public can participate in their meetings remotely. ... more
‘Love it and leave:’ The choices facing Wyoming’s youth
In their communities, where aging populations held power and resisted change, they felt there was an unspoken expectation for kids to “love it and leave it.”... more
Portraits of Wyo youth: Six visions of a future in the state
Wyoming stands at the crossroads of a permanently shrinking coal industry and a historic budget crisis as its dominant conservative politics move further to the right on several issues.... more
Q&A: Locked up kids and government transparency in Wyoming
From now until the 2022 legislative session, the Joint Judiciary Committee will study the state’s handling of kids who run into legal trouble with an eye toward improving Wyoming’s juvenile justice system. ... more
Former legislator arrested in trafficking sting, pleads not guilty
A former Wyoming legislator from Green River entered not guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of solicitation of prostitution and interference with a peace officer Friday afternoon.... more
Man convicted in mother-in-law’s death murder
A jury on Friday convicted a Casper man of murdering his mother-in-law in 2019.... more
Gordon plans to avoid cuts in next state budget
Gov. Mark Gordon’s office will develop the bulk of the next state budget without cuts thanks to improved revenue projections released last week, an official said Friday.... more
Democratic leaders say session lacked vision
Senate Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss and House Minority Leader Cathy Connolly, both D-Laramie, held a Facebook Live forum Thursday night to discuss the general session, which concluded in early April. ... more
Wyoming, Idaho among bottom five for first COVID shots
Wyoming and Idaho boast two of the lowest rates of residents who have received their first shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.... more
Tabletop games, like Dungeons and Dragons, foster a sense of community
On a Friday afternoon in February, just after classes had dismissed for the weekend at Campbell County High School, there was a party in the classroom of social studies teacher Matt Woodard.... more
Not your grandma’s meatballs: An inside look at jail food in Teton County
From behind a glass partition in the visiting room at the Teton County Jail, inmate Zach Ladnier describes one of the best meals he’s ever had.... more
After 15 years, Project Prom is still making "Cinderella" moments happen
Marie Town didn’t quite know what to expect when she arrived at Jean Richardson’s house earlier this month.... more
Housing, staffing both a struggle for social service providers
Jackson Hole’s cost of living is putting up a roadblock for Teton County nonprofits that provide senior care, shelter for teens in crisis and subsidized mental health care, among other services.... more
Peabody loses $77 million in Q1; PRB mines 'extremely strong' in quarter
Despite losing more than $77 million in the first quarter of 2021 and a prolonged COVID-19 hangover affecting U.S. thermal coal, Peabody Energy Corp.’s Powder River Basin mines were a bright spot for the company.... more
Lummis: Democrats aiming to “fundamentally change the American social structure”
Just over 100 days into her six-year term in Washington, D.C., the senator criticized the Biden administration’s spending policies, the Democrats’ infrastructure proposal and the overall climate in the Capitol.... more
Game and Fish commissioners embrace wildlife tourism
Gay Lynn Byrd couldn’t quite recall the last time she’d laid eyes on the Tetons, but her best guess was that it had been nearly 30 years.... more
Big Horn commissioners study Second Amendment sanctuary status
Rep. John Winter, Sheriff Ken Blackburn and Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Kirk participated in the discussion on April 20 that led to the commissioners agreeing to schedule the listening session.... more
Torrington murder suspect is former Cody resident
Sean L. Pettus, 32, has also been formally charged with crimes alleging that he set his Torrington business ablaze and stole a vehicle on the morning of April 20. ... more
Former judge sentenced to jail, probation in sex assault cases
Disbarred attorney and former municipal judge Gregory Lee Knudsen has been ordered to report to the Goshen County Detention Center in Torrington on June 1 at 5 p.m. after he chose to enter into a plea agreement with the prosecution on April 27.... more
Cheney critical of Biden administration 100 days in
A few hours before President Joe Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress, U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., gave a strong rebuke to the president’s policies and approach in his first 100 days in office, stating he had laid out the most liberal agenda of any commander-in-chief since Lyndon B. Johnson.... more
Climbing conflicts: Forest Service intervenes in Tensleep Canyon
Tensleep Canyon, a breathtaking landscape of cliffs and sky near the base of the Bighorn Mountains, was once a little-known diamond in the rough.... more
Wyo Dems re-elect leaders despite lackluster 2020 results
The vote came in the wake of lackluster results in the 2020 elections.... more
Ozone pollution earns Sublette an F from American Lung Association
The American Lung Association gave Sublette County an F for ozone pollution, underscoring a persistent health danger believed to be caused by gas-field emissions, snow cover, little wind, winter sunshine and other factors.... more
Climate study predicts life-altering changes for Greater Yellowstone
The changes threaten to upset traditional land uses and commerce for a region that has seen its population more than double in the past 50 years.... more
Drinking stayed high but shifted from bars to liquor stores amid pandemic
Despite a long career working in the retail liquor industry, Dave Erickson has never witnessed anything like what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.... more
WEA to mobilize in search of K-12 funding solutions
Although state lawmakers adjourned earlier this month without addressing Wyoming’s dire K-12 funding outlook, the Wyoming Education Association is determined to keep a solutions-oriented conversation alive.... more
Health Department data breach exposed info of 164K Wyomingites
A data breach at the Wyoming Department of Health publicly exposed COVID-19, influenza and blood alcohol test data from more than a quarter of Wyomingites and some out of state residents, the department announced Tuesday.... more
State establishes mussel ‘strike team’
After years of diligently manning aquatic invasive species checkpoints with trained inspectors, testing water systems and preparing for the worst, invasive zebra mussels were delivered to Wyoming via first class mail. ... more
Airport manager predicts return of airport district bill
By the time Senate File 4 passed the Wyoming Senate on third reading March 8, Sheridan County Airport Manager John Stopka was convinced of its value.... more
Casper parents, students protest school mask requirement
More than 100 parents and students protested the Natrona County School District’s mask requirement Monday night, despite the board of trustees’ announcement Saturday it would request an exemption to the K-12 mandate. ... more
Wyoming population up by 2.3% from 2010
Despite losing many people to out-of-state opportunities, Wyoming’s population grew by roughly 2.3 percent from 2010 to 2020, marking the slowest growth rate in the state since the 1980s, according to preliminary data released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau.... more
The other mussels; Wyo’s native species play vital roles
Resting on the bottom of the Bear River in southwestern Wyoming is a palm-sized mussel pushing 100 years old. ... more
Wyo Game and Fish issues 2K new elk tags as herds exceed goals
Elk populations in Wyoming’s major herds are nearly 30 percent over objective Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel revealed as their governing commission approved hunting seasons and nearly 2,000 additional licenses Wednesday.... more
Charter school bill becomes law
A bill that allows applications to create charter schools in Wyoming to circumvent school districts has passed into law without Gov. Mark Gordon’s signature. ... more
Trio launches project to help soil, climate
Leave it to a former children’s TV producer, a rodeo clown and a former vice president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming to come up with a solution to reduce carbon dioxide in the air, improve soil health and increase climate awareness.... more
Wyoming businesses asked to return millions in COVID-19 relief funding
Nearly a year after the COVID-19 pandemic began in Wyoming, thousands of businesses statewide have received a boost through funding that arrived via last year’s federal CARES Act.... more
Man pleads ‘no contest’ in child’s murder
Christopher James Nielsen pleaded no contest April 22 to first-degree murder charges for the death of a 5-year-old boy in his care. ... more
Gillette family burns COVID in effigy
A 23-foot body made of chicken wire and cloth hung outside the Daly Ranch Saturday night.... more
Jackson man dances daily for a year on Town Square
It began simply. The town of Jackson was going into a COVID-19 lockdown. And Tim McLaurin was bummed about not being able to see people and work.... more
Student draws on humor to expand vocational, life skills
In early 2016, Trevor Deming, then a freshman at Douglas High School, had a meeting with Temple Grandin, the prominent American scientist and activist. ... more
Lawsuit filed in Uinta County GOP dispute
The conflict within the Uinta County Republican Party concerning whether leadership elections held earlier this year were conducted legally has made its way to the courts, with a lawsuit filed in Third District Court on Monday, April 19, petitioning for those elections to be declared null and void.... more
State joins lawsuit over greenhouse gas ‘social cost’
Wyoming joined a 10-state lawsuit Thursday against the Biden administration over an executive action seeking to cut greenhouse gases, arguing that one of the president’s recommended metrics for gauging environmental damages constituted “job-killing executive overreach.” ... more
Delegation opposes DC statehood
The three federal delegates from Wyoming, a state often mentioned in discussions of whether to grant statehood to Washington, D.C., have come out strongly opposed to a bill the House of Representatives passed Thursday that would make the U.S. capital the nation’s 51st state.... more
State passes on internal GOP election fraud allegation
The Wyoming Secretary of State’s office will not pursue allegations of election fraud filed by a Uinta County man against the Wyoming Republican Party, arguing the alleged fraud is a local, not state, issue.... more
Drought leads to game rule changes, fire preparation
Drought is affecting most western U.S. states, including Wyoming. The National Drought Mitigation Center says that’s resulting in multiple responses — from changes in regulations to preparations for an early and long fire season. ... more
Helicopter service gets permit despite criticism
Jackson Hole Airport Board President John Eastman showed Tony Chambers a map of where he said he’d fly his helicopter alongside overlain lines that displayed where he actually flew.... more
Wyoming has highest rate of in-person learning in nation
Wyoming had the highest percentage of students enrolled in fully in-person learning of any state this past February.... more
Weston commissioners blame saw mill closure on forest mismanagement
Weston County Commissioner Tony Barton expressed concerns on April 6 over the recently announced closure of the Hill City Saw Mill, saying the U.S. Forest Service is “drastically reducing timber sales” in the Black Hills. ... more
Proposed project would trap, move, track lamb-hunting eagles
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is backing a plan to trap 16 sheep-hunting golden eagles and move them up to 400 miles away, including out of Wyoming.... more
Legislators to study Medicaid expansion in 2021 interim
Wyoming lawmakers will give Medicaid expansion a hard look in the 2021 interim after two attempts to pass the measure failed in the Wyoming Senate in the recent session.... more
The historic revenue crisis facing Wyoming’s state, county and municipal governments is threatening to claim yet another casualty: universally available ambulance service
The historic revenue crisis facing Wyoming’s state, county and municipal governments is threatening to claim yet another casualty: universally available ambulance service.... more
Oil and gas industry waiting for boom
The price of oil and natural gas and their long-term stability will be the single biggest factor in whether Converse County and other spots in Wyoming will see another boom this year. ... more
Tax expert: Latest federal stimulus package brings temporary “reprieve” to Wyoming
The federal stimulus money headed to Wyoming later this year will buy some additional time for lawmakers to sort through the state’s structural revenue challenges, and that period of respite should be used to determine precisely what kind of stable tax structure would best suit the state.... more
Wyoming activists react to Chauvin verdict, say there’s more work to do
All eyes were on a Minneapolis courtroom Tuesday, where a jury delivered guilty verdicts on all counts against former police Officer Derek Chauvin, convicting him of the murder of George Floyd. In Wyoming, local activists say there’s still a long way to go until justice is really served. ... more
Company’s rifle promotion generates controversy
A Powell contractor’s promotion has generated some controversy. From now until the end of the year, Wiggins Construction is offering a free AR-15 rifle with every new home or commercial roof. ... more
State firefighter pension plan faces depletion in five years
A Wyoming Retirement System plan currently serving 273 retirees and their beneficiaries, including 25 from Sheridan, will likely be exhausted sometime in 2026, according to the Wyoming Retirement System.... more
Wyoming unemployment rates remain on the mend
A little more than a year into the pandemic, Wyoming’s unemployment numbers remain better than the national average, according to a March report released on Monday by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research & Planning Section.... more
Parents at state’s largest school district debate mask mandate
More than two dozen parents offered dramatic commentary Monday night about the perceived negative effects of the mask mandate Wyoming’s largest school district has in place.... more
Shed season, winter closure ending align in ‘21
Federal and state agencies have sorted out discombobulation that led to an awfully confusing 2020 onset to the popular antler gathering season in western Wyoming.... more
Woman accused of killing husband wants confession stricken from evidence
A woman accused of killing her husband with a knife in their Pavillion home on Christmas Eve has asked to have her confession removed from trial evidence. ... more
Seidel envisions UW’s connection to DEI
Since the racist Zoom attack in February, the University of Wyoming has been buzzing with conversation about how to improve current methods of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) on campus and curtail racism.... more
Carbon XPrize winners announced
A pair of projects that promise to revolutionize the construction industry while helping solve the world's carbon dioxide emissions problem has won the top awards in the NRG COSIA Carbon XPrize.... more
COVID changes large carnivore education methods
The past 12 months have been tough for Dusty Lasseter. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of his efforts at a critical time in the grizzly bear education business.... more
ITC could lead CO2 research breakthroughs
What may have seemed more like science fiction less than a decade ago could soon become science fact.... more
UW launches online training for outdoor guides
A new online course created by the University of Wyoming offers training and enrichment for outdoor guides. ... more
Cheney rails against plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan
Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney on Tuesday criticized plans by the Biden administration to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan before this year’s 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.... more
Sheridan County Medicaid advocates continue fight after death of expansion bills
Sheridan advocates for Medicaid expansion in Wyoming are used to disappointment.... more
Judge says Rodriguez’s wife can testify
A Casper man accused of murdering his wife’s mother cannot block his wife from testifying in his trial, a Natrona County District Court judge decided Thursday. ... more
Fish population, migration examination in second year
The further west the caravan of state-green trucks traveled Tuesday, the harder the snow fell.... more
School funding bill death shows House, Senate differences
The demise of House Bill 173, which would have changed the way the state funds its school districts, served as a reminder of the deep philosophical differences between the two chambers in the state legislature, according to Rep. Jamie Flitner of Shell.... more
Wyoming counties top list of most vaccine-hesitant in nation
Wyoming is home to the 11 most vaccine-hesitant counties in the nation, according to statistical modeling conducted by an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ... more
Wyoming elected leaders largely opposed to Biden infrastructure plan
Wyoming’s federal delegates have largely come out in opposition to President Joe Biden’s roughly $2 trillion infrastructure plan, even as a few details of how the plan could impact the state were released by the White House earlier this week.... more
Wyo emerges from session with no long-term budget, ed solutions
The Wyoming Legislature entered the 2021 legislative session with a lofty agenda to cut education spending, stall revenue declines and guide a Wyoming economy battered by COVID-19 to a sustainable future.... more
Groups appeal plan to pump oilfield waste into aquifer
Conservation groups are challenging Wyoming’s approval of an energy company’s plan to inject oilfield waste into an underground aquifer, telling federal regulators the state plan fails to meet Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.... more
Killer of three sentenced to 45 years to life
In emotional statements given before Judge John Fenn in 4th Judicial District Court Tuesday, family members of victims killed in a triple homicide March 29, 2020, asked for a sentence “as severe and as permanent as the crime.”... more
Wyoming keeps two health orders in place
Wyoming’s two remaining statewide public health orders will remain in place for at least two more weeks, the Wyoming Department of Health announced Tuesday.... more
Hunting group challenges charity hunting licenses
A lawsuit has been filed in Teton County District Court challenging whether the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association is eligible to receive complementary, open-slated hunting licenses to auction off for fundraising.... more
Cheyenne sees opportunity in Amtrak partnership
It could take many years before a passenger rail stop comes back to Cheyenne, but the city is looking ahead at ways to make it happen eventually.... more
Drought conditions persist despite record-setting snowstorm
Close to a month after a record-breaking snowstorm pummeled Wyoming and dropped more than two feet of snow in several areas throughout the state, drought conditions are back to severe, extreme or abnormally dry throughout the state.... more
Future of pandemic free lunch program unknown
In a year when many faced hunger for the first time, school employees stepped up, serving meals to more children than ever under unprecedented circumstances. ... more
Cody couple charged with murder in girl’s death
Following the death of a 2-year-old Cody girl, the child’s caregivers are each facing a charge of first-degree murder.... more
Barrasso outlines concerns over Biden administration actions
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso spoke at the Cody Rotary Club on April 8, discussing his concerns with President Joe Biden’s plans for infrastructure, management of the border wall, the national debt, election security and coronavirus relief.... more
Campbell County has lowest percentage to get vaccine
Months into Wyoming’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Campbell County lags behind all other counties in the state with its percentage of population fully vaccinated, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.... more
State leaders criticize Biden gun restrictions
President Joe Biden responded to a wave of gun violence throughout the country by announcing executive actions Thursday to curb the growth of homemade “ghost guns” and 3D-printed firearms without serial numbers, and require stabilizing braces to be subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act. ... more
Public defender cuts put agency on edge of crisis
With the signing of the state’s supplemental budget bill on April 1, Gov. Mark Gordon finalized nearly $3 million in budget cuts to the Wyoming Public Defender’s office.... more
Lawmakers weighing study of public lands transfer in 2021
On the final Friday of the 2021 Legislative Session, members of the Joint Agriculture Committee met to map out goals for the coming months. ... more
West Wyo a grouse stronghold in grim report of decline
Western Wyoming emerged as a stronghold for greater sage grouse in a grim federal report that estimates an 81-percent decline in the species over the last 53 years.... more
Yellowstone grizzly population jumps with count revision
Federal scientists who track grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are revising a key criterion that underlies how they count bears, with the effect being a 34 percent to 43 percent jump in the population estimate.... more
Laramie council creates police working group
In a special session on April 7, Laramie City Council voted to adopt Resolution 2021-18, which establishes an ad hoc working group for police and community. ... more
Gordon disappointed by K-12 funding impasse
Gov. Mark Gordon addressed a range of issues, primarily K-12 education funding and the state’s long-term fiscal outlook, during a media briefing Thursday afternoon, a day after the Wyoming Legislature adjourned from its 2021 general session.... more
Cheyenne graduate finds power of music in Irish heritage
Ciara Thompson’s life has been filled with music and serendipity.... more
Laramie company manufactures workwear for women
In 2005, back when she worked on a wildland fire crew on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Emily Parsons remembers spending her downtime one day staring at the sky and pondering the unisex pants issued to crew members.... more
Harvesting road kill will be legal in July
Thousands of times a year, motorists inadvertently smash into Wyoming wildlife like mule deer, elk and pronghorn antelope, littering highway right-of-ways with carcasses that sometimes include dozens or hundreds of pounds of fresh, lean, edible meat.... more
Game and Fish Department unveils mapping project
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department quietly unveiled a new online mapping project last month, identifying and explaining every priority habitat issue in the state.... more
Vaccine may help relieve long-haul COVID-19 symptoms
Health-care providers in Crook County are seeing an increase in patients who appear to be suffering from long-haul symptoms of COVID-19, according to Sundance physician Dr. Heith Waddell.... more
School funding measure collapses
A bill that would have found slight cuts to Wyoming’s $300 million education funding shortfall died Wednesday after Senate leadership declined to continue negotiating with the House of Representatives. ... more
State lawmakers reach compromise on public health order bill, send it to governor
The Wyoming Legislature gave its final approval Wednesday to a bill that would slightly alter the state’s public health order process, after the House and the Senate reached a compromise to not involve lawmakers in the process.... more
As police reform hits national stage, Wyo lawmakers kill two measures
As a restless nation took to the streets for police reform in 2020, then-statehouse-candidate Karlee Provenza — a Laramie Democrat — traveled the streets of Wyoming’s third-largest city on a campaign of her own.... more
Sheridan students, parents march for end to mask mandate
Sheridan County School District 2 officials will be seeking a variance to the state’s mask order for schools possibly as early as this week.... more
New COVID variants detected in Wyoming
Two “California” COVID-19 variants have been identified in Sublette County, according to health officials there.... more
In the 2021 Legislature, major fights have mostly fizzled out
Early in the 2021 Legislative Session, Wyoming seemed positioned for a pivotal year in its state history.... more
Feds recommend grizzlies stay on endangered list
In a five-year status review, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended that grizzly bears in the lower 48 states remain protected under the Endangered Species Act — drawing immediate complaints from officials in Wyoming and western states. ... more
Bill creating airport districts dies
A bill that would have let county commissioners set up tax districts to fund local airports has died in a tie vote in the Wyoming House of Representatives. ... more
Balow warns K-12 funding could still collapse
During the final days of the 2021 legislative session, Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow expressed both praise for an imminent K-12 school funding deal and concern for the long-term future of the state’s school funding model.... more
Cheney, Arkansas Rep. promise to keep fighting for fossil fuels
Fossil fuels have been targeted by environmental groups and political policy for years, and things could get worse as President Joe Biden’s administration works through its priorities. That’s why it’s important that lawmakers, the state of Wyoming and fossil fuel industries work together and push back.... more
Wyoming takes second shot at rent assistance
In 2020, the Wyoming Community Development Authority got $15 million of federal CARES Act money to help renters and mortgage holders pay off debts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of December, just $1.7 million of that had been distributed. The rest went back to the state. ... more
Amended K-12 education funding bill passes the Senate, awaits House concurrence vote
After adopting amendments to change some key aspects of the bill, the Wyoming Senate gave its final approval Friday to legislation outlining the state’s K-12 education funding model with the inclusion of an estimated $45 million in cuts.... more
Lawmakers have succeeded in advancing three bills aimed at defending Wyoming’s coal industry
A bill intended to slow the closure of Wyoming coal-fired power plants appears poised to clear the Legislature, after securing two votes in the Senate last week. ... more
Amended public health order bill approved by the Wyoming Senate
The Wyoming Senate gave its final approval Friday to a bill that would alter how public health orders are issued in the state, after adopting an amendment to give state lawmakers some oversight in the process.... more
How the Wyoming Senate killed Medicaid expansion, again
The Wyoming Senate Committee on Labor, Health and Social Services voted Wednesday to kill a House-sponsored effort at Medicaid expansion.... more
Barrasso calls immigration situation ‘overwhelming’
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo, visited Laramie Wednesday to offer praise and encouragement to the students and faculty of Slade Elementary for their Blue Ribbon achievement — a program that recognizes public and private K-12 schools and their academic excellence.... more
Legislature approves voter ID bill
A bill requiring Wyoming citizens to present specific forms of photo identification when casting their ballots in elections sailed through the Senate on Thursday and will now head to the governor’s desk for review.... more
Gordon signs supplemental budget bill
After the Wyoming Legislature gave its final approval earlier this week to a supplemental budget that includes roughly $430 million in cuts, Gov. Mark Gordon signed the budget bill into law Thursday evening, largely commending state lawmakers for their work on it.... more
College board discusses future
A lot of things still have to happen before Gillette College can become its own college district, but the Gillette College Advisory Board has started thinking about what’s next for the institution.... more
Gillette fifth grader among 155 selected nationwide for recognition by NASA
“Imagine you’re in NASA’s spacecraft for three days straight, with nothing to do but think about traveling to the moon.”... more
Women on a mission: Sheridan-made quilts spread needed message around the world
You hear the quilters of Trinity Lutheran Church before you see them, before you’ve descended the stairs to the church basement. You hear pieces of conversation, favorite old stories and lots of laughter. Laughter most of all. ... more
Back Country horsemen train next generation
While Cole Rutherford guided his white mule through a maze of obstacles set out for training purposes, his mom, Megan, was beaming with pride as she watched from the shadows of the Silver Spur Arena. At 8, her youngest of three boys was confident in his commands.... more
Yellowstone proposes installing fiber optic cable
Yellowstone National Park’s telecommunications system currently consists of an array of outdated antennas and dishes scattered across the park’s backcountry and developed areas.... more
Bill for new college district wins final House OK
A bill proposing the formation of the Gillette Community College District in Campbell County passed its third reading in the state House of Representatives on Wednesday.... more
Seat belt legislation dies
A missed procedural deadline last week marked the end for a bill that would have allowed law enforcement to pull over drivers solely for not wearing a seat belt.... more
All over 16 now eligible for COVID vaccine
Any Wyomingite age 16 or older is now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Mark Gordon’s office announced Wednesday.... more
Senate committee kills Medicaid expansion
After clearing the House in a historic vote last week, a bill authorizing the expansion of Medicaid coverage to an estimated 24,000 residents in Wyoming was defeated by a Senate committee Wednesday morning.... more
Lawmakers tackle ed funding, Medicaid, net metering and more
The Wyoming House and Senate are close to a final deal on the supplemental budget, leaving just two major issues for lawmakers to resolve before the session adjourns April 7 — capital construction and the state’s education budget.... more
Legislature strips Game and Fish of elk feedground closure power
The Wyoming Legislature on Monday passed a bill that strips the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission of the authority to close any of Wyoming’s 22 winter elk feedgrounds and gives that power to the governor.... more
Republicans accuse Wyoming GOP of election fraud
Jon Conrad was done with sitting on the sidelines.... more
Workplace death blamed on carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide poisoning likely killed a man who worked at Chiller Ice and Matt’s Custom Meats, according to investigators.... more
Legislature strikes budget deal
Wyoming’s 66th Legislature began its final full week of the 2021 general session by agreeing on a supplemental budget.... more
I-80 tolling bill tabled by House committee
A bill that would have authorized a long-term plan to set up an Interstate 80 tolling program was tabled by a legislative committee Tuesday, meaning the proposal will not be considered on the House floor during the remainder of the Legislature’s general session.... more
Wyoming’s economic recovery slowed by mining decline
Wyoming’s economy is rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic better than previously anticipated, but much of the economic recovery has been slowed by a significant decline in the mining industry, according to Wyoming Economic Analysis Division Chief Economist Wenlin Liu.... more
Elk feeding on refuge ends two weeks early
The National Elk Refuge’s big rigs spewed out alfalfa pellets for the last time in 2021 on Monday, marking the end of a feeding season that has been abridged by about two weeks to meet management goals.... more
Pandemic adds to stress for college students
Already dealing with a barrage of stressors – moving somewhere new, away from friends and families, paying for school, often navigating what it’s like to be on their own for the first time – college students are struggling more with anxiety and depression, and the pandemic has only made it worse.... more
Bill creating legal defense fund for coal passes first Senate hurdle
A proposal to set aside over a million dollars in funding for Wyoming to sue other states divesting from coal cleared an initial vote in the Senate on Monday afternoon.... more
Sales tax increase removed from school funding bill
A proposal to address a $300 million shortfall to Wyoming’s K-12 education funding model is headed to the Senate floor, but a sales tax hike won’t be a part of the possible solution.... more
Lawmakers leave dozens of bills to wither on the vine
Dead bills are a fact of life in the Wyoming Legislature.... more
Gun bills playing outsized role in already gun-friendly Wyo politics
Sen. John Kolb, a freshman Republican from Rock Springs, had something to say.... more
Wilderness film reviews Palisades debate, seeks resolution
A wilderness advocacy group seeks to resolve the fate of a quarter million acres of untrammeled National Forest land on the Wyoming-Idaho border, using a film to restart a stalled conversation.... more
Alcohol sales in Wyoming increased in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched on for more than a year now, greatly disrupting lives everywhere.... more
UW announces fall semester will be ‘traditional’
The University of Wyoming has decided to return to on-campus learning and activities this fall semester. ... more
Wyoming deaths spiked in 2020
Wyoming recorded significantly more deaths in 2020 than in the prior year, new figures from the Wyoming Department of Health show.... more
Mother and daughter face breast cancer together
The call from the doctor didn’t shock Brenda Holden.... more
Yellowstone fishing license cost doubles
The cost of a day of fishing in Yellowstone National Park is more than doubling this year, partly to direct needed funds toward removing non-native lake trout and controlling the spread of aquatic invasive species.... more
Program mentors aspiring hunters
It’s doubtful that Brice Peters will ever forget harvesting his first pheasant.... more
Wyomingites restore sheep wagons
Somewhere between the lonely sheep herder and the tourist who books an Airbnb on a whim lies the mystery of the sheep wagon.... more
High school students dream up restaurant menu items
When you eat at your favorite fast-food restaurant, you might think of the menu items you’d create if given the opportunity to get in the restaurant’s kitchen.... more
Johnson County attorney seeks dismissal of health order lawsuit
Last week, Johnson County Attorney Tucker Ruby filed a motion to dismiss the class action lawsuit filed against County Health Officer Dr. Mark Schueler, county health officers from all 23 counties and state health officials, including Dr. Alexia Harrist and Gov. Mark Gordon, seeking the elimination of all COVID-19-related health orders.... more
State sues over Biden leasing moratorium
Wyoming is taking its objection to President Joe Biden’s moratorium on issuing oil and gas leases on federal lands to the courts.... more
Education funding bill clears House
After debating for much of the afternoon, the Wyoming House of Representatives passed a bill to fund K-12 education Tuesday. ... more
Bill protecting gun rights from federal rules passes Senate
A bill intended to exempt Wyomingites from future federal restrictions on gun rights passed the Senate floor Wednesday with a 24-6 vote.... more
House approves health order bill
The Wyoming House of Representatives gave its final approval Wednesday to a bill that would slightly alter the process through which public health orders are issued in the state, sending the proposal along to the Senate for possible consideration in the coming days.... more
Medicaid expansion bill wins final House approval
In an unprecedented vote, the Wyoming House of Representatives gave its final support Wednesday to a bill authorizing the expansion of Medicaid coverage to an estimated 24,000 low-income residents in the state, marking a level of support among lawmakers that has not been seen since the program was first offered to the state nearly a decade ago.... more
Grant advances stalled plans for 280-foot-high dam
Wyoming’s efforts to build a 280-foot-high dam above the Little Snake River near the border of Colorado are “picking … back up,” after backers received a $1.2 million federal grant, the director of the Wyoming Water Development Commission said last week.... more
Legislature eyes special session to allocate federal relief funds
What can cash-strapped Wyoming do with $1.3 billion from the federal government?... more
Judge tosses lawsuit over biking in Bridger-Teton
A federal judge has dismissed a legal challenge to the Bridger-Teton National Forest that took aim at mountain biking in the Palisades Wilderness Study Area.... more
UW, Laramie at odds over water bill
The City of Laramie and University of Wyoming leadership are currently engaged in a conflict regarding a piece of legislation introduced to the Wyoming House of Representatives earlier this month.... more
Marijuana, fuel tax, seat belt bills die in Legislature
With about a week and a half left in the Wyoming Legislature’s general session, a slew of bills addressing everything from marijuana to seat belt use failed due to them not being considered by Monday night, their swift deaths brought about by a procedural deadline.... more
House kills bill for sale of ‘pure gold’ inholding
“Pure gold” is how Natrona County Rep. Steve Harshman described state lands in Teton County while explaining a proposal that doomed a potential sale of 640 acres near Kelly to the National Park Service.... more
Cody billboard leads to heated debate
A new billboard on the north side of US 14-16-20 East has exposed political and ideological tension among Cody residents and those taking an interest in the city.... more
Angler discovers rare winter algae bloom
Paul Langevin first noticed the unusual substance beneath the ice on Keyhole Reservoir in December.... more
Bills to slow coal plant closures clear House
An effort by lawmakers to defend Wyoming’s leading industry gained ground Monday after a pair of bills aimed at slowing coal plant closures cleared the House.... more
Medicaid expansion clears first House hurdle
A House bill to expand Medicaid in Wyoming and give an estimated 25,000 additional residents health insurance passed an initial vote Monday after lawmakers in the Senate killed a similar proposal a few hours earlier.... more
Historic blizzard moves needle on drought conditions
During a monthly weather briefing last week, Cheyenne National Weather Service Meteorologist Jared Allen talked about the “welcome moisture” last weekend’s record-breaking snowstorm had on Wyoming’s drought.... more
Legislature takes aim at foundation of Wyoming abortion law
Reproductive rights advocates worry two bills among a slate of abortion-related measures working their way through the Legislature could erode the foundation of state law regulating the practice.... more
Lummis touts blockchain during legislative appearance
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., addressed the Wyoming House and Senate on Friday morning, using the platform to advocate for the role the state could play in technological innovation.... more
Senate approves I80 toll bill
Wyoming’s Senate approved a bill on Friday morning that would allow the state to charge drivers a toll when trekking across Interstate 80. ... more
Gordon calls for federal carbon capture support
Wyoming’s governor urged members of Congress on Friday to back federal legislation that could help speed up carbon capture infrastructure development across the country.... more
Shield law proposal rejected by Senate committee
A bill to protect journalists from having to disclose their anonymous sources during lawsuits was defeated by a Senate committee Friday morning, meaning Wyoming will remain one of two states without some version of a shield law in place.... more
House, Senate offer competing school funding proposals
With roughly two weeks left in the Legislature’s general session, lawmakers in the state Senate and House of Representatives have been working on proposals to address a structural funding shortfall in Wyoming’s K-12 education system, with substantial differences between the chambers’ approaches.... more
Wyoming school funding model threatened
Annie Good and her co-teacher have made their fifth grade classroom a homey space for their 33 students.... more
Lawmaker suggests there were two sides to story of slavery
A freshman Wyoming legislator suggested Wednesday that there are two sides to the history of American slavery, and that Black Americans are “stuck” in a mentality he called “worse than slavery itself.”... more
Wyoming’s longest-serving elk feeder pitches for wildlife
There’s a simple formula to the day’s start for John Fandek, the longest-serving feeder on Wyoming Game and Fish’s 22 winter elk feedgrounds.... more
Death penalty repeal bill killed in Senate
Lawmakers voted to defeat a bill to repeal Wyoming’s death penalty on Thursday evening, following a passionate debate on the Senate floor.... more
Medical marijuana report bill moves out of committee
A second Wyoming bill related to marijuana advanced out of the House Judiciary on Thursday after a 6-3 vote.... more
Medicaid expansion bill approved in House committee
A bill to authorize Medicaid expansion to low-income residents in Wyoming gained approval from a House committee Thursday evening, as some lawmakers push for the state to take the federal government up on its offer of new incentives to the 12 states that have declined to extend coverage over the past decade.... more
Culwell pleads not guilty to marijuana sale
A Pinedale woman charged with possessing and delivering marijuana pleaded not guilty to both at her 9th District Court arraignment on March 18.... more
Wyomingites turn to an app and their own kitchens for pandemic relief
When the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic first began to impact Wyoming last spring, Kasi Hartsoch took them in stride.... more
Community bands together to find rides for snowed-in hospital staff
Two hours after DeAnna Rose, a certified nursing assistant at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, finished her shift Saturday, she got a call that completely changed the course of the next 24 hours.... more
Feds unjustly firing Converse oilfield whistleblower, group contends
A watchdog group challenged the proposed firing of a federal environmental analyst Tuesday after he criticized plans to allow the Converse County Oil and Gas Project to degrade raptor nesting sites.... more
Rescuers take advantage of mental health services during tragic year
The call came in just before sunset. Lincoln County Search and Rescue needed help retrieving the body of a snowmobiler who had died in an avalanche.... more
Gun rights bill approved by committee
A bill intended to protect Wyoming gun owners from potential federal restrictions will be discussed on the Senate floor after passing unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.... more
Man leads authorities on chase through two states
A man who led deputies on a lengthy chase through Park County was apprehended in southern Montana on Tuesday morning after officers disabled his vehicle and he crashed into a tree.... more
I-80 tolling bill gains initial support from Senate
A bill that would set in motion a long-term plan to set up a tolling program for Interstate 80 gained initial approval from the Wyoming Senate on Wednesday afternoon, as lawmakers search for ways to remedy a funding deficit for the state’s roads and bridges.... more
Trustees receiving vaccinations with teachers raises eyebrows
At a Feb. 20 teacher mass vaccination clinic a few attendees spurred consternation among some.... more
Douglas charges $25 minimum for public records
The City of Douglas last week charged the Douglas Budget $37.60 for a copy of City Administrator Jonathan Teichert’s contract, a public document.... more
Storm delays vaccine shipments
Vaccines headed for Wyoming will be delayed as residents emerge from a record-setting winter storm that dumped more than two feet of snow on parts of the state this weekend. ... more
Budget proposals finalized in House, Senate
After two days without meeting due to the historic winter storm that hit southeast Wyoming last weekend, state lawmakers will return to the Capitol Wednesday with a divide between the House and Senate budget proposals that the bodies will attempt to resolve in the coming weeks.... more
Sales tax expansion, real estate transfer tax bills fail in committee
The House Revenue Committee was again disinterested in new taxes last week as it voted down a real estate transfer tax and an expansion of the sales tax from goods to services.... more
Considering the cost: Study examines trade-offs in energy development
A study conducted by the University of Wyoming found that Wyomingites are open to renewable energy and diversifying the economy.... more
Wyoming at standstill after historic storm
Southeastern Wyoming was at a standstill Monday in the aftermath of a record-breaking storm that left 30 inches of snow on Cheyenne.... more
Teton goats down to 29
Aggressive efforts to hunt the Teton Range’s nonnative mountain goat population out of existence are having the desired effect: As few as 29 animals remain.... more
Legislature wants to use $1.2 million to help coal
A proposed bill to set aside $1.2 million for Wyoming to sue other states divesting from coal received a warm welcome from lawmakers at a committee meeting on Friday morning.... more
Marijuana legalization bill gains committee approval
Wyoming is one of six states where marijuana remains fully illegal without any sort of decriminalization.... more
Runoff bill would take effect later
A bill to transition Wyoming to a runoff election system received initial approval from a legislative committee Thursday.... more
Global conservation, COVID response defined Wallace’s Interior stint with Trump administration
Rob Wallace’s first official move in the inner circle of decision-making at the U.S. Department of the Interior was to help Mongolia protect a critically endangered species of antelope called a saiga.... more
After lengthy discussion, lawmakers likely to weigh hate crime legislation over the next year
After lengthy discussion of the proposal, state lawmakers decided Thursday to delay a bill aiming to combat bias-motivated crimes in Wyoming, moving to take up hate crime legislation as an interim topic later this year.... more
Special exhibitions gallery helps students engage in unique ways
It’s difficult for college instructors to break the mold (or Zoom window, rather) in the era of COVID-19, but teachers at the University of Wyoming are using a medium that wouldn’t typically be in every syllabus: art. ... more
Sleeping Giant turns a profit for first time in years
The parking lot at Sleeping Giant Ski Area has been overflowing and folks have been streaming to the mountain outside of Yellowstone National Park; they’re unloading the families anywhere they can find a spot, including out on the highway.... more
Teen turns passion for fashion into profit
In his parents’ basement on a frigid Friday afternoon, Buffalo High School senior Kollen Milmine sorted through a cardboard box he described as his college fund.... more
Powell to launch virtual school
Park County School District 1 is getting ahead of the curve when it comes to virtual schools.... more
Bill creating new college district clears Senate
The bill proposing an independent community college district in Campbell County centered around Gillette College is headed to the House after passing the Senate.... more
Bill to keep fossil fuel plants open approved by committee
A bill to prevent Wyoming fossil fuel plant closures cleared a legislative committee on Wednesday, despite opposition from the public, consumer advocates and several utility companies.... more
Bill giving lawmakers health order oversight clears Senate
The Wyoming Senate gave its final approval Wednesday to a bill that would give lawmakers and locally elected bodies more authority over public health orders issued in the state, moving the proposal to the House of Representatives for further consideration.... more
Task force recommends more review of Jackson police interactions
A law enforcement committee made up of government officials, nonprofit leaders and residents told county commissioners on Monday that Teton County should support a continued effort to look at interactions between police, human services and people in crisis.... more
Police won’t cite residents for obscene anti-Biden signs
The Town of Greybull will not be directing its police officers to cite residents who fly flags or post signs with obscene language, citing as the reason the protection of free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment.... more
Lawmakers to debate marijuana legalization
Supporters of a sweeping bill to legalize and regulate marijuana anticipate a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Friday, where they hope to dispel myths and stereotypes held by resistant lawmakers.... more
As researchers clone ferrets, Wyoming scientists emphasize habitat
In late February, the San Diego Zoo announced news that took the endangered species world by storm: Researchers successfully cloned the first black-footed ferret.... more
Homeowner told to stop feeding wildlife
A longtime resident of the Solitude subdivision has been officially warned that her backyard moose feeding operation violates Teton County zoning regulations and that an enforcement case may unfold if she doesn’t stop.... more
Trial begins in case of man charged with killing friend
With a sworn jury and a team of attorneys, Mario Mills has begun his trial for first degree murder.... more
Budget to dominate legislative discussions
Learning how to balance a budget for a family can be tricky. Imagine attempting to build a budget for the entire state.... more
Bill limiting health orders moves to House floor
Wyoming lawmakers advanced a bill Monday that would require additional approval for certain public health orders to last longer than 10 days, as the search for appropriate legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues in the state Capitol.... more
Public notice bill dies on third Senate reading
On third reading Friday, the Wyoming House defeated a bill some legislators said would limit government transparency by moving public notices out of newspapers.... more
Legislators offer bills to save coal
State lawmakers have unveiled more than a half dozen bills to help Wyoming’s coal sector stay afloat.... more
Medicaid expansion bill approved by committee
With new federal incentives being offered to the 12 states that have declined Medicaid expansion over the last decade, a bill to expand coverage in Wyoming to the state's low-income residents was advanced by a legislative committee Monday morning.... more
State to end mask mandate March 16
Starting next week, Wyomingites will no longer be required to wear masks in most public places and — for the first time in nearly a year — bars, restaurants and theaters will be allowed to return to normal operations.... more
Teton County to seek own mask requirement
Wyoming’s mask mandate and many other coronavirus restrictions will be eliminated next week, but Teton County health officials will try to put a local mask order back in effect.... more
Bill to repeal death penalty in Wyoming advanced by legislative committee
A bill to repeal the death penalty in Wyoming was advanced by a Senate committee Thursday evening, setting the proposal up for debate in the chamber where it was defeated two years ago.... more
Western-sponsored bill looks to increase hunting access
If you’ve ever walked an extra 10 miles just to access a piece of public land while hunting, Rep. Cyrus Western, R-Big Horn, feels your pain.... more
Supreme Court rules search of Gillette man's home was unconstitutional
The Wyoming Supreme Court has reversed a decision against a Gillette man and remanded the case back to District Court because a search of his home violated his constitutional rights.... more
Zebra mussels found in Wyoming pet stores
An invasive mussel that wildlife officials have been trying to keep out of Wyoming waters has been found in four pet stores across the state, a Wyoming Game and Fish Department official said Friday. ... more
Suspect in toddler death held without bond in Laramie County jail
Wyatt Dean Lamb, a suspect in the death of 2-year-old Athian Rivera, appeared Thursday morning in Laramie County District Court in relation to a domestic violence incident from February 2020.... more
Reluctant ranchers: Tax benefits keep landowners herding cattle, haying
Upon hearing Laura Meadows utter their names, Norman and Handy pushed off toward the Linn family’s small pasture pulling a sleigh full of hay.... more
Medicaid expansion is on Legislature's docket, again, but with $120M incentive
Medicaid expansion is again before the Wyoming Legislature, but this time it comes with an incentive of $120 million.... more
Lawmaker revives suicide prevention training bill
Freshman Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, is reviving a bill that requires school districts to provide suicide prevention training to students after a previous bill was defeated in February’s brief virtual session.... more
Meeteetse school ‘just one big family’
If you were to walk down the halls of the Meeteetse School with a clipboard bearing the names of all 140 or so enrolled students (though only about 100 are seated within the bricks and mortar) and compared it to the names of the teachers outside each door, you would find more than a few matches.... more
Gaming pays off for communities as Legislature eyes expansion
Jodie Warlow sat in Wyoming Downs on Wednesday afternoon, watching as various symbols spun across the screen. She hoped to win big.... more
Film to tell story of Shoshoni actress
A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame honors Isabel Jewell, an actress and Shoshoni native with dozens of film credits for classics including “Gone with the Wind,” “A Tale of Two Cities” and “Northwest Passage.” ... more
Commission: Grizzly bears have ‘more than recovered’
Wyoming’s Congressional delegation is again pushing to remove federal protections from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s grizzly bear population.... more
Lawsuit seeks to halt health orders
A lawsuit against Park County’s public health officer and the governor seeks to immediately stop all current state COVID-19 health order restrictions.... more
Voter ID measure clears House
Wyoming voters may need to show a photo ID before casting their ballots in future elections.... more
Committee advances bill giving Legislature some authority in health order process
A proposal to give the Wyoming Legislature more oversight in the process through which statewide public health orders are issued was advanced by a legislative committee Wednesday morning.... more
Lawmakers push constitutional convention
It’s been 234 years since the Constitutional Convention, and some Wyoming lawmakers think that’s long enough.... more
Sheriffs in stand-off over Second Amendment bill
All 23 of Wyoming’s sheriffs have registered alarm at the damage a bill under consideration by the Legislature could do to policing in this state. ... more
Sanford's receives warning from Health Department over orders
Less than a month after publicly refusing to follow the state’s public health orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanford’s Grub and Pub has been issued a warning letter from the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department.... more
Game and Fish eyes backups should courts shut elk feedgrounds
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is making contingency plans to replace winter elk feedgrounds that might be shut by a court order, the agency’s director told a legislative committee last week.... more
A virus hangs over the Capitol
In normal years, the first day of the legislative session in the Wyoming Capitol has certain hallmarks.... more
Wyoming Legislature considers repealing gun-free zones
Wyoming lawmakers will consider a new law allowing people with concealed carry permits to take guns into areas where firearms were previously prohibited, such as schools and legislative meetings.... more
Bill would allow removal of racist language in real estate deeds
Many real estate contracts across the country still have racial covenants, or discriminatory text barring people of color from owning or occupying houses. ... more
Gordon emphasizes post-COVID economic recovery, education funding in State of the State address
Gov. Mark Gordon emphasized better days lie ahead as Wyoming recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, while encouraging lawmakers, in his State of the State address Tuesday, to pursue ways to enhance the state’s economic recovery instead of producing “politically oriented legislation.” ... more
Gordon outlines tough decisions in State of the State
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon reflected on a turbulent year and outlined priorities in his 2021 State of the State address Tuesday.... more
Man faces felonies after three alleged car thefts
Three stolen vehicles, two near-miss collisions, a deployed spike strip, and one black eye later, Garret Bailey is now in custody at the Park County Detention Center.... more
COVID concerns delay Medicaid fraud trial
Citing the threat posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a federal judge has delayed the trial of three local men who are accused of defrauding Medicaid out of millions of dollars.... more
Voter ID bill wins initial House approval
A bill requiring citizens to present specific forms of photo identification when casting their ballots in elections passed its first vote in the Wyoming House of Representatives on Monday.... more
Committee adds sales tax increase to school funding bill
Funding for the state’s K-12 education system took center stage Monday as the House Education Committee continued to work on a school funding recalibration bill and agreed to add a conditional sales tax increase to the proposal.... more
Ramirez’s mother seeks to make grand jury proceedings public
Attorneys for the mother of a Laramie man slain by an Albany County Sheriff’s deputy opened a new front in their legal battle this week, asking a judge to release records from a grand jury investigation of the shooting.... more
Bill would regulate power grid for reliability
A new piece of legislation could give coal-fired power plants a lifeline.... more
UW president promises change in wake of ‘Zoom bombing’
Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood District was home to more Black millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. in the early 1900s. It was a neighborhood of concentrated, generational wealth for Black communities. And in 1921, it was bombed and burned to the ground by a mob of white Tulsans in an event known today as the Tulsa race massacre.... more
Legislature to face tough budget, education decisions
When state lawmakers gavel in at the state Capitol for their month-long session starting today, they will have a lot on their plates.... more
UW collaborators help transcribe early modern manuscript
If you would like to learn what food recipes and medicine were like in early modern life, now you can.... more
Court cans low-impact film permits in Grand Teton, Yellowstone parks
The National Park Service has changed its permitting requirements so that commercial filmmakers no longer have to pay fees or gain clearance as long as shoots are small and not in the wilderness.... more
Foes claim Wyoming death penalty expensive and ineffective
As the state faces major expenditure cuts, abolishing capital punishment has resurfaced as a feasible means to cut costs. ... more
Cowboy State to re-examine online sports betting
People in the Cowboy State could legally place bets on a sporting event if a proposed bill gets through the Legislature.... more
Wyoming’s senators vote against Biden energy pick
Sen. John Barrasso cast a vote against President Joe Biden’s pick for energy secretary Thursday over concerns former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s leadership would “crush” Wyoming’s economy built on fossil fuels.... more
Disney family Jackson Hole property subject of legal battle
Trustees for two grandchildren of Walt Disney have taken the first steps leading to development on Fall Creek Road property that is the object of a legal battle.... more
Black-footed ferret kit first cloned endangered species
An endangered species has been cloned for the first time, using cells from a black-footed ferret found in Park County more than three decades ago.... more
Industry likely to play role in COVID vaccination
Few workers at the bentonite mine in Casper have been vaccinated against COVID-19. But Larry Madsen has. ... more
Gov. Gordon dials back more restrictive health orders
Restrictions on personal-care services completely removed.... more
Gros Ventre sage grouse rescue rejected
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has again turned down local biologists’ proposal to add birds to a tiny, isolated sage grouse population that dwells up the Gros Ventre River basin in order to avert its total collapse.... more
Company eyes abandoning bankruptcy owing county $20 million
As a creditor called for greater oversight and the judge set hard deadlines, the lawyer for coalbed methane company US Realm Powder River wrote in a filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming, that it would be best to just call off the company's now-15-month bankruptcy altogether.... more
Permitting process slows rural broadband effort
Wyoming awarded TCT more than $10 million in federal CARES Act money last year for a number of projects to expand broadband access to rural areas of the Big Horn Basin.... more
Committee approves voter ID bill
A state legislative committee advanced a bill Wednesday to impose a requirement for voters to show photo identification at the polls, all but guaranteeing it will pass when it goes to the floor next month.... more
Panelists ponder future of state finances
With the decline in the coal, oil and natural gas industries, and Wyoming’s reliance on those industries, state lawmakers and residents will have a choice to make in the near future.... more
2020 grizzly count slips; humans involved in most deaths
The Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population fell by 10 bears from 2019 to 2020 and now numbers 727, according to new estimates from an interagency team of scientists.... more
Spate of deaths point to backcountry danger
Several snowboarders and snowmobilers have gone into the backcountry in western Wyoming in recent days and not come home.... more
Women make up growing share of prison inmates
Compared with 14 years ago, a lot more women are in prison.... more
NWCCD president opposes bill for new college district
As a bill that would push the creation of a new community college district in Campbell County to a public vote sits with the Legislature, previous expressions of support from the Northern Wyoming Community College District are waning.... more
Cheyenne police identify suspect in toddler death
Cheyenne Police have a suspect in the death of Athian Rivera, a 2-year-old found dead Friday in a dumpster in the 400 block of Desmet Drive.... more
Distribution of federal rent assistance begins
For months, Ruth Rubeling didn’t know she’d had COVID-19.... more
Teton commissioners declare county a ‘hate free zone’
Teton County has passed a resolution affirming the “values of diversity, equity and inclusion” and declaring the county as a whole a “hate free zone.”... more
Report says indigenous people make up 21% of murder victims
Over the last two decades, Indigenous people have made up 21 percent of homicides in Wyoming, despite accounting for only about 2.7 percent of the state’s population, according to a new report discussed this week.... more
Panel speakers say voter fraud very rare
Voter fraud is exceedingly rare in the United States.... more
Racist UW incident tied to Maryland internet provider
An investigation into racist interruptions during a virtual Black History Month event last week at the University of Wyoming has found that one of the perpetrators was using a Maryland internet provider, a university official said Monday. ... more
Owner of Powell group home charged after teen suffers frostbite
The owner of a Powell area group home for troubled teenage boys is facing a criminal charge of child endangering, after one of the teens in his care reportedly suffered severe frostbite last fall. ... more
Cheyenne chamber CEO pushes back against state senator's claims over gun group case
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce CEO Dale Steenbergen pushed back against claims made last week by state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, that the chamber is seeking a list of Wyoming gun owners in an ongoing case being weighed by the Wyoming Attorney General’s office.... more
Employment, production losses continue to chase PRB coal
As Powder River Basin coal continues to take a pounding with production down about 22 percent last year over 2019, the local industry quietly passed a milestone that represents the importance of thermal coal to the region.... more
