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Miller Elementary School at 3501 Evans Ave. in Cheyenne would be closed in 2025, the first of eight elementary schools that would go offline in a Laramie County School District plan that also would rebuild Arp Elementary and two new schools.

Cheyenne School Board Votes To Close 8 Schools, Parents Want A Re-Vote

The Laramie County School Board voted this week to close eight Cheyenne elementary schools, rescue one and build another. But some parents want a re-vote of what amounts to a “massive overhaul” of the school district.

Clair McFarlandOctober 11, 2024

Crews from the Tongue River Fire Distict work to protect people and property from the Elk Fire.

Gordon: Wyoming Has Burned Through Two-Year Fire Budget, Needs More Money

Gov. Mark Gordon said Thursday that he’s asking the Legislature for authority to spend more money on fighting Wyoming wildfires. The state has already burned through its $39 million two-year emergency account, and then some.

Leo WolfsonOctober 11, 2024

Mike Parsley teaches dogs to recognize and avoid danger, like rattlesnakes. After hearing the story of a Wyoming dog caught in a beaver trap, he developed a course specifically for dogs to avoid them.

Wyoming Dog’s Death In Beaver Trap Inspires New Training Course

A Wyoming dog’s death in a beaver trap has inspired a first-of-its-kind training course for dogs. A trainer who already teaches dogs to avoid rattlesnakes and other dangers has added traps to the program.

Mark HeinzOctober 10, 2024

Gap Pucci on his Jackson Hole property.

Gap Pucci, Wyoming’s Spaghetti Western Cowboy, Dead At 89

Gap Pucci, a unique spaghetti Western cowboy and hunting guide, lived the Wyoming lifestyle he loved. He died Monday at age 89. He told Cowboy State Daily earlier this year he imagined Heaven as a place “with all the good horses I ever rode.”

Jake NicholsOctober 10, 2024

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Legislature Will Consider Potential To Store High-Level Nuclear Waste In Wyoming

A legislative committee advanced a bill this week that, if passed, would move toward allowing storing high-level nuclear waste in Wyoming. Opponents say it’s a disaster waiting to happen, while supporters say it’s “close-minded” not to consider.

Leo WolfsonOctober 10, 2024

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Judge Orders OK Of Controversial 195-Foot Cell Tower Just Outside Yellowstone

A federal judge has ordered the Park County Commission to approve a company's request to build a 195-foot cellphone tower in a scenic area just outside Yellowstone National Park — by Friday. The county is fighting the order in a higher court. 

Clair McFarlandOctober 10, 2024

Trae Spurlock tries to flee out the balcony door of his apartment and is tased in this still image from body cam video.

Casper Officer Cleared To Return To Duty After Not Charged In Shooting  

A Casper Police Department officer who won’t be charged for shooting and killing a domestic violence suspect has been cleared to return to duty, the CPD announced Thursday.

Clair McFarlandOctober 10, 2024

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Plan For Concealed Carry In Some Areas Of Wyoming Capitol Gets Green Light

If it holds up, people will be able to concealed carry firearms in some areas of the Wyoming Capitol under a draft rule passed Wednesday by the State Building Commission.

Leo WolfsonOctober 09, 2024

A team performing a hand-count test of ballots in Campbell County on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

Gillette Hand-Count Ballot Test Shows It Would Take Hundreds Of Counters, Cost Up To $1.3M

A test of hand counting election ballots in Gillette on Friday shows that it would take hundreds of volunteers to do and cost up to $1.3 million. Wyoming law also would need to be changed to allow more time for results.

Leo WolfsonOctober 10, 2024

This image from body cam video released by the Casper Police Department shows the moments right after an officer fired seven shots at suspect Trae Spurlock, hitting him six times. Spurlock's face has been intentionally blurred.

No Charges For Officer Who Shot, Killed Casper Man Who Talked About "Death By Cop"

Citing a shortage of evidence to support a criminal case, Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen decided this week not to charge a Casper Police Department officer who shot and killed Trae Spurlock, 26, in June.

Clair McFarlandOctober 10, 2024

Warren Tritschler is a guy with a water tank and a garden hose, determined to do whatever possible to protect his home and his property. The Buckhorn Travel Center owner has started a fuel fund for other Hillbilly Hotshots, to help them with the cost of fuel for their trucks and their water pumps.

Armed With A Hose And Weed Sprayer, Wyoming Man Defends His Home From Elk Fire

Warren Tritschler defended his home in the Horseshoe subdivision near Dayton from the Elk Fire with a garden hose and a weed sprayer. He’s one of the many so-called “Hillbilly Hotshots” determined to help fight the huge wildfire.

Renée JeanOctober 09, 2024

Jill Valley of KPAX news in Missoula, Montana, was at Steamboat Geyeser in Yellowstone National Park to capture video of one of its infrequent eruptions on Oct. 7, 2024.

Steamboat, World’s Largest Geyser, Erupts For Fifth Time This Year

Steamboat Geyser, the largest in Yellowstone and the world, erupted for the fifth time this year Monday. After six years of active eruptions, volcanologists say Steamboat seems to be losing some steam.

Andrew RossiOctober 09, 2024

A fire crew maps out a plan of attack as a column of smoke rises from the Elk Fire in northern Wyoming.

Firefighters Hold Off Elk Fire As It Threatens Sheridan’s Water Supply

As the 76,000-acre Elk Fire continues to be active and push southeast along the face of the Bighorn Mountains, it’s threatening Sheridan’s water supply. The fire made a run at the Big Goose Water Treatment Plant early Wednesday.

Greg JohnsonOctober 09, 2024

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Natrona County Finally Claims Road It Maintained For Decades But Never Owned

After decades of maintaining and treating Natrona County Road 505 on the back side of Casper Mountain as a public road, it finally is. County commissioners voted Wednesday to legally claim the road and end a dispute with private landowners along it.

Dale KillingbeckOctober 09, 2024

Firefighters attached to the Pack Trail Fire incident management team pore over a map of the fire, which clearly shows the Fish Creek Fire to the north and Pack Trail to the south that have merged into a single 66,000-acre fire complex.

Pack Trail Fire Still Growing In Northwest Wyoming, Now At 66,000 Acres

Much of Wyoming is watching the Elk Fire, which has threatened communities in Sheridan County. But the Pack Trail Fire started first in rugged northwest Wyoming. It’s at 66,000 acres and still growing.

October 09, 2024

Grazer has stuffed herself with so much Alaska salmon that she's been crowned the 2014 Fat Bear Week champion. She also won in 2023.

Gloriously Plump Mama Crowned Queen Of ‘Fat Bear Week’

Alaska brown bears gorge themselves on salmon for the upcoming winter, oblivious they’re competing for a coveted title — Fat Bear Week champion. This year’s winner is Grazer, a bulked-out bruin that ate her way to back-to-back titles.

Mark HeinzOctober 09, 2024

Ivan Posey of Fort Washakie, right, has announced he's running for the Wyoming Legislature for the House seat held by Rep. Sarah Penn, left.

Race To Represent Reservation Could Be Best Shot For Wyoming Dems To Turn A Seat

The Wyoming House race between incumbent Republican Sarah Penn and Democratic challenger Ivan Posey is one to watch. It could be the best shot Democrats have at turning a seat in the Legislature.

Leo WolfsonOctober 09, 2024

After 100 raccoons invaded a Washington woman’s property and drove her from her home, things could end badly for the raccoons. Wyoming wildlife experts say it’s a lesson on why you shouldn’t feed wild animals.

Mob Of 100 Hungry Raccoons Drives Woman From Her Home

After 100 raccoons invaded a Washington woman’s property and drove her from her home, things could end badly for the raccoons. Wyoming wildlife experts say it’s a lesson on why you shouldn’t feed wild animals.

Mark HeinzOctober 09, 2024

A glitch in the software of this electronic sign at Alpine Animal Hospital in Laramie, Wyoming, shows it's minus 196 degrees there in January 2024. If true, it would by far be the coldest place ever recorded on the planet.

No More “Wind Chill” In Wyoming’s Winter Weather Warnings, It’s “Extreme Cold”

The National Weather Service is getting rid of “wind chill” in its winter weather warnings, which sounds like good news for windy Wyoming. But it’s not going away, it’s just renaming the index as “extreme cold.”

Andrew RossiOctober 08, 2024

China Bosh of Gillette was stabbed eight times during an attack in her home Saturday, including five times in the arm, twice in the chest and once in her face. She says she now wakes up from nightmares when trying to sleep.

Stabbed 8 Times, Gillette Woman Wracked With Nightmares

A Gillette woman whose husband is accused of stabbing her eight times Saturday says she now has nightmares that keep her awake. She also has some hard-won advice for other domestic violence victims: “definitely get out.”

Clair McFarlandOctober 08, 2024

Weston county shot

Weston County Trying To Strongarm Legislature By Appointing Its Own Lawmakers

The Weston County commissioners believe that every county should be individually represented in the Wyoming Legislature. They are seeking to add two seats to represent just their county.

Leo WolfsonOctober 08, 2024

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Friday, October 11, 2024

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Greg Dougherty. Greg writes, "This sunrise photo was taken by one of our hunters on Whitetail Creek Ranch near Weston on 10/4/24."

Photo by Greg Dougherty

Today's question to Don Day

Mark James Mullins of Douglas
In regard to your thunderstorm season article, can you reassess the data on a per-capita basis, especially when considering population of the states? It could affect me as I own a hill on my property which I plan a communications tower and likely will have a lightning rod installed when it goes in.
Don Day
FEMA has a good lightning database that takes into account lightning risk, potential property loss, etc. based on population and lightning frequency. Data is available on a county by county basis. Lots and lots of lightning data available here which may help in quest for more lightning information. https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/lightning
DD

Opinion

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Cassie Craven:  University Of Wyoming Did The Right Thing In Forfeiting Volleyball Match

Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “Height. Weight. Size. These impact women’s safety. I will not keep quiet about them for a game of virtue signaling and placating yet another man’s emotions. And if one more man lectures me about how I should, I may need to provide a dissertation on childbirth and what it really means to be a woman.”

Cassie CravenOctober 06, 2024

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Rod Miller: Blooming Flowers & Political Hypocrisy In The Cowboy State

Rod Miller writes, "For my money, it is Cowboys (capital C) like Scott Harnsberger who may be the only thing that saves the Wyoming Republican Party from spiraling down into an authoritarian abyss of gnarliness that would make the Founders of the U.S. and Wyoming, both of whom cherished plurality and free speech, puke."

Rod MillerOctober 06, 2024

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Joan Barron: Wyoming's Gaming Growth Resembles Other Economic Booms

Joan Barron writes, "You could compare the explosion of the gaming industry to the development of coal mining in the Powder River Basin in the 1970s."

Joan BarronOctober 05, 2024

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