You Still Here

[{"type":"text","text":"Should've just walked away as narrated by MMA announcer, Steve Inman...."}]

Bonus 4 8 24

Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>You Still Here? Bonus: Steve Inman Edition | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Should've just walked away as narrated by MMA announcer, Steve Inman....

You Still Here? Bonus: Steve Inman Edition

 Should've just walked away as narrated by MMA announcer, Steve Inman....

Guest Column

Guest Columnists

The debate in Wyoming over the 4% cap on residential property valuation increases is often framed as a question of tax relief. In truth, it is a question of fairness—and whether we are willing to tolerate a new scheme that quietly advantages wealthier property owners at the expense of working Wyoming families.

The State Board of Equalization (SBOE) deserves credit for confronting that reality head-on. 

The Wyoming Constitution is unambiguous: Article 15, Section 11 states that property taxation must be “equal and uniform” based on “full value."

That standard exists so taxpayers in similar circumstances are treated equally, and so no one receives preferential treatment because of timing, circumstance, or political expedience.

[{"type":"text","text":"The 4% cap violates that principle."}]

By artificially limiting how much a property’s assessed value can increase each year, the cap creates a system where two homes of identical market value can be taxed very differently based solely on how long they have been owned. 

A longtime owner may see only modest increases. A new buyer pays taxes on a much higher assessed value. That is not uniformity. It is structural inequity written into the tax code. 

Who benefits most from that system? Increasingly, it is not longtime Wyoming families struggling to keep up with rising costs. It is affluent second homeowners and out-of-state investors who are best positioned to hold property long term and capture the advantage of artificially suppressed valuations.

In Teton County, where values have surged, the cap effectively locks in lower tax burdens for those who need relief the least—while taking a whopping 59% share of the statewide tax break. 

The result is an average benefit of more than $2,100 per household, with the largest breaks flowing to the highest‑value properties. Meanwhile, new buyers across the state—often working families trying to put down roots—are taxed much closer to full market value from day one. The system rewards wealth and tenure while shifting the burden onto those with fewer resources.

Critics say the Board of Equalization overstepped in challenging the cap, pointing to last week’s district court ruling granting a temporary restraining order. 

The judge was right to affirm that courts ultimately decide constitutional questions; that is how our system works. But that ruling does not erase the Board’s responsibility. The Board is not merely an administrative body checking boxes. 

It is charged with making sure Wyoming’s tax system complies with constitutional standards. That duty requires judgment, interpretation, and—when the evidence shows a law produces unequal, non‑uniform outcomes—action.

In this case, the evidence is clear. The 4% cap distorts property assessments, undermines uniformity, and shifts tax burdens in ways that are neither transparent nor equitable. It creates incentives that worsen our housing challenges and erodes public confidence in the system. And it contradicts the Constitution’s plain language. Ignoring those facts would not be restraint—it would be neglect.

Supporters of the cap often point to the need for predictability and protection against rapid spikes in valuations. Those are legitimate concerns—ones I shared in 2024 when the legislature overwhelmingly passed House Bill 45 to provide short‑term relief in the face of double‑digit residential property value increases. 

But a permanent cap is a poor substitute for long‑term reform now that voters have approved Amendment A and the state has other tools to target relief to primary, owner‑occupied homes without undermining equal taxation.

There is another irony: the 4% cap mostly reduces Teton County’s “excess” property tax that would otherwise help fund schools across Wyoming. Making a good education available to all is a core Wyoming value and a cornerstone of American self‑government. Funding public schools for every child is essential to preserving liberty and sustaining our democratic republic.

The Board of Equalization’s stance is, ultimately, a defense of those democratic principles. A fair tax system depends on rules that apply equally to everyone. When that principle is compromised, even with good intentions, public trust erodes. Wyoming has long prided itself on straightforward, principled governance. This is a moment to reaffirm that commitment. 

The courts will now decide the constitutional questions surrounding the 4% cap, as they should. But the Board of Equalization has done exactly what it was created to do: identify a problem, apply constitutional reasoning, and act in the interest of fairness. 

That is not overreach. That is accountability. If we believe democracy requires equality before the law, we should welcome—not resist—efforts to ensure our tax system lives up to that standard.

Liz Storer has represented House District 23 in Teton County since 2023 and is a member of the House Revenue Committee.

Liz storer 6 24 26

<title>Guest Column: The 4% Property Tax Cap Breaks Wyoming’s Promise of Equal Taxation | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Rep. Liz Storer writes, "By artificially limiting how much a property’s assessed value can increase each year, the cap creates a system where two homes of identical market value can be taxed very differently based solely on how long they have been owned."

Guest Column: The 4% Property Tax Cap Breaks Wyoming’s Promise of Equal Taxation

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's Feature Reporter, Andrew Rossi.

Andrew Rossi

Law Enforcement

An armed female suspect surrendered to law enforcement after a multi-hour standoff on Cody's upscale south side Wednesday afternoon.

Dawn Blaylock, 41, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass, property destruction, and interference with a police officer.

At 1:20 p.m., the Cody Police Department alerted residents of an active law-enforcement situation in the 700 block of Meadow Lane Avenue, near the Olive Glenn Golf Course.

“We responded to a residence following a report of criminal trespass,” Lt. Juston Wead with the Cody Police Department told Cowboy State Daily. “When officers arrived, they made contact with (Blaylock), who had entered the residence unlawfully and then barricaded herself in a portion of the residence armed with a firearm.”

Several streets in the area were blocked by vehicles from multiple responding agencies, including the Park County Sheriff’s Office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the Cody Volunteer Fire Department.

The Cody PD’s ballistic armored tactical transport vehicle, or “bearcat,” was on the scene as of 1:30 p.m. Officers in tactical gear and carrying firearms surrounded the residence, and an EMS crew from Cody Regional Health was on standby.

Meanwhile, locals were told to avoid the area and neighbors were told to shelter in place.

After several hours of negotiation, Blaylock surrendered and was taken into custody without incident around 4:45 p.m. Wead confirmed there were no injuries.

[{"type":"text","text":"“That was what we were hoping for,” he said."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"No other details were available at publication."}]

Cody standoff 6 24 26

<title>Armed Woman Arrested Near Cody Golf Course After Multi-Hour Standoff | Cowboy State Daily</title>

An armed female suspect surrendered to law enforcement after a multi-hour standoff on Cody's south side Wednesday afternoon. Dawn Blaylock, 41, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass, property destruction, and interference with a police officer.

Armed Woman Arrested Near Cody Golf Course After Multi-Hour Standoff

Heinz mark

Mark Heinz

Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is trying to determine why a black bear attacked a woman Sunday on a popular hiking trail, and then followed her for 30 minutes despite her shouting and throwing rocks at it.

“We don’t know for sure, because we haven’t found the bear,” Kara Van Hoose, CPW's northeast region spokeswoman, told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday.

The bear was thought to be a “yearling, or young adult,” she added.

Predatory attacks, in which a bear is deliberately stalking a person as prey, are extremely rare in both black bears and grizzlies.

Most bear attacks are defensive or territorial.

The consensus among bear biologists is that while grizzlies are more likely to attack humans, black bears are more likely to attack in a purely predatory manner.

While the bear’s behavior was alarming, CPW doesn’t think it was predatory, Van Hoose said.

“It makes us think more likely a food-conditioned bear, not a predatory black bear,” she said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Bear Wouldn’t Give Up"}]

The woman, who CPW did not identify, told wildlife agents that she was attacked from behind and suffered scratches on one leg at about 5:20 p.m.

She was on the Enchanted Forest trail in the 700-acre Apex Park near Golden in Jefferson County. CPW shut down the park after the reported attack.

The woman told investigators the bear continued to follow her despite her repeated attempts to intimidate and haze it by making herself look big, shouting, and throwing rocks and sticks.

Toward the end of the encounter, the woman was joined by two hikers who responded to her calls for help. Even with all three people shouting at it, the bear was undeterred, CPW reported.

Eventually, the bear turned down another trail, where it reportedly started following other hikers, according to CPW.

The woman is an avid hiker who has had previous bear encounters, and acted appropriately by trying to intimidate and haze the bear, Van Hoose said.

The woman gave CPW a short cellphone video she took during the encounter, which helped the agency identify the bear as relatively small and probably young, Van Hoose said.

CPW isn’t at liberty to share the video with Cowboy State Daily, she said.  

 reported the woman reached out and shared the video and details of the encounter but declined to be named in their report.

The woman told Denver 7 the bear was “circling” her.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Problems Human-Caused"}]

British Columbia bear researcher Lana Ciarniello told Cowboy State Daily she couldn’t comment on the specifics of the Colorado attack, but affirmed that predatory behavior is extremely rare in both black bears and grizzlies.

Most human-bear conflict is rooted in human mistakes, such as deliberately feeding bears or allowing them access to garbage or other food sources, she said.

People who recreate in bear territory should “take training courses” on avoiding close encounters, and what to do if one occurs.

And “carry bear spray,” Ciarniello said.

Van Hoose said it wasn’t known for certain whether the woman attacked in Colorado was carrying bear spray.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Time To Fight Back"}]

Ciarniello noted that a video tutorial, “Staying Safe in Bear Country”, was made years ago by the International Bear Association (IBA) but remains a “gold standard” bear-safety training tool.

In one segment, the difference is noted between defensive actions by bears versus deliberate approaches.

Bears that deliberately approach people might be driven by curiosity or food conditioning, according to IBA. In rare instances, bears see people as prey.

A predatory bear will move in “with its head up and ears erect, its approach is confident and persistent,” according to IBA.

If a predatory bear makes contact, it’s time to fight back because “you’re fighting for your life,” IBA states.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"What Happens To The Bear?"}]

It’s not certain what will happen to the bear once CPW finds it, Van Hoose said.

More information is needed before it can be determined whether it will be euthanized, or if other action is needed, she said.

Agents need to determine if it has persisted in following people or displayed other aggressive behavior, and whether it might be malnourished or suffering from disease, Van Hoose said.

Bear denver 6 24 26

<title>Colorado Wildlife Officials Uncertain Why Black Bear Attacked, Followed Woman | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Colorado wildlife agents are trying to determine why a black bear attacked a woman on a hiking trail in Denver and then followed her for 30 minutes despite her shouting and throwing rocks at it. The woman who took video of the encounter said it was "circling her."

Colorado Wildlife Officials Uncertain Why Black Bear Attacked, Followed Woman

Employee kate meadows cropped

Kate Meadows

Around Wyoming

A dispute over primitive outhouses on Amish-owned property in Crook County has prompted claims that some families are leaving northeast Wyoming’s oldest Amish community, though county officials say the issue has been resolved and was never intended to drive anyone away.

Sheridan rancher Pepper Fipps said he believes county enforcement efforts over wastewater disposal in the Hulett area have discouraged Amish families from remaining in the community.

“They wind up starting a little bit of a war,” Fipps said of the commissioners. “The community is dwindling.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Crook County Commission vice chairman Bob Latham disputes that."}]

“It’s all settled now. Everything is fixed,” Latham told Cowboy State Daily.

An estate moving sale earlier this month was held for two Amish families — Abe and Elizabeth Yoder and Rudy and Irene Borntreger. Records show Abe Yoder was among the landowners involved in the wastewater dispute.

About 40 Amish families live in the Hulett area, Fipps said. Founded in 2011, the Hulett Amish settlement is one of five in Wyoming.

Cowboy State Daily attempted to contact the families but did not receive responses before publication. Amish communities have traditionally relied on the U.S. mail for communication, and many members do not use cell phones or email.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sanitation Concerns"}]

The issue surfaced in October 2024, when Crook County officials learned some Amish landowners west of Hulett had dug pits to use as toilets without obtaining permits.

Crook County wastewater specialist Caleb Peters informed commissioners that Yoder had installed outhouses that did not comply with county regulations, according to reporting by the Sundance Times.

Latham said a hole in the ground used to collect human waste is considered an illegal outhouse because it poses a risk to groundwater.

Commissioners scheduled a hearing in January 2025, expecting Yoder to attend and discuss the matter, but he did not appear, according to the Times.

Peters and county planning director Tim Lyons determined conditions at some properties presented health concerns after observing graywater and blackwater drainage. The Times reported Peters found a chicken with its head inside blackwater drainage at one residence, along with what he described as an odor of rot. At another property, he reportedly discovered an abandoned outhouse occupied by animals.

Latham said county code requires human-waste receptacles to be portable, pumpable or connected to a septic system.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"No Fines Levied"}]

Fipps contends county officials threatened landowners with fines of up to $30,000 per day if they failed to comply with regulations.

He called the county’s rule about illegal outhouses “asinine, stupid."

“It is baffling to me because I haven’t ever seen an outhouse blow up,” he said, noting Amish families typically live on 160-acre parcels well away from town.

[{"type":"text","text":"Latham said fines were never a part of the county’s solution."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“To my knowledge, we never imposed fines,” he said."}]

Due to the challenge of communicating with Amish residents, County Attorney Joe Baron mailed letters to the landowners, Latham said. Peters also visited properties in person several times, he added.

“Some didn't want to talk to him,” Latham said. “Some did and were very cordial. The ones who didn't found out we're not going to quit, because it's about health and safety. It's something we take very seriously.”

After being notified of the violations, some landowners installed vault toilets that comply with county requirements, he said.

He credited Peters’ persistence with resolving the issue. 

“Caleb did a heck of a job of staying on it and getting things corrected,” Latham said. “Sometimes they feel like they can follow a different path. It was a lot of education and a lot of back-and-forth.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Government Overreach Or Public Health?"}]

Fipps said he believes the county's response amounted to government overreach.

Latham disagrees, saying Crook County is obligated to enforce regulations consistent with standards established by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

“Every time we have to knuckle down and say, 'This isn't right', we hear that,” he said. “We could have been a lot meaner about it. It was mainly getting an understanding of what the laws are.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Our biggest thing with that deal is their health and safety.” "}]

According to the Young Center at Elizabethtown College, Crook County is home to Wyoming's largest Amish settlement. The state's Amish population numbers roughly 500 people spread among five settlements.

[{"type":"text","text":"Smaller settlements have since formed near Newcastle, Buffalo and Powell."}]

“I've known them my whole life,” Fipps said of the Hulett settlement. “I've traded horses with them and done business with them.”

Outhouse 2 6 24 26

<title>Rancher Claims Outhouse Dispute The Reason Amish Community Leaving Hulett | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Sheridan rancher says an "asinine, stupid" outhouse crackdown is pushing Amish families out of the Hulett area. He said landowners were threatened with fines of up to $30,000 per day if they failed to comply with outhouse regulations.

Rancher Claims Outhouse Dispute The Reason Amish Community Leaving Hulett

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Government & Politics

Politics

Wyoming congressional candidate Reid Rasner, who works as a financial advisor, was “discharged” from his broker clearinghouse company in late April on allegations that he “engaged in unapproved outside business activity,” 

Reid Rasner is also running in a 10-candidate Republican primary race to win the party’s nomination toward Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat. Last year he announced, and later suspended, intentions to buy the tech giant TikTok amid congressional efforts to transfer the Chinese-involved company into American hands.

 also appears in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission profile, which says he started working through the investment clearinghouse LPL Financial LLC on March 1, 2019, and remained there until spring of this year.  

LPL Financial discharged Rasner on April 24 due to allegations he engaged in unapproved outside business activity, the profile says in a “disclosure” category. The disclosure doesn’t elaborate.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) profile of Rasner says he was registered previously as a broker “and is currently registered as an investment advisor.”

He’s held state registrations in New York and Wyoming, the profile says.

Before Rasner’s seven-year relationship with LPL Financial he was with Edward Jones for a year.

In 2019, the year Rasner’s work with LPL Financial began, he registered Wyoming Wealth Advisors LLC with the Wyoming Secretary of State’s office, and three years later he registered his business Omnivest LLC with the state.

“Our Website is currently under maintenance!” the banner says. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience.”

A disclosure brochure about OmniVest, dated June 15, says Rasner has a non-financial affiliated business as a congressional candidate.

“Approximately 10% of his time is spent on these activities. This does not present a conflict,” says 

LPL Financial did not respond by publication to an email inquiry to its press line.

[{"type":"text","text":"FINRA directed Cowboy State Daily to LPL."}]

Rasner, in response to an inquiry sent to his campaign team, said “In our industry, the transition of business relationships is a routine and common occurrence, particularly when professionals launch new firms.”

Rasner added, “I remain fully focused on growing my new firm, continuing to deliver exceptional service to clients, and helping bring investment, jobs, and economic opportunity back to Wyoming.”

As for what LPL Financial could have meant with the “unapproved outside business activity allegation,” Riverton-based financial advisor Mike Zirbel said, “It’s hard to narrow down.”

[{"type":"text","text":"That’s because financial advisors are tightly regulated, he said."}]

“There are so many things that would count as unapproved activities,” Zirbel added.

[{"type":"text","text":"A Little Background"}]

Rasner’s first-quarter Federal Election Commission report for his House campaign says he has loaned himself $1.2 million and contributed another $9,072 to his own campaign. That’s within a total of about $1.264 million in total receipts.

Rasner also ran an unsuccessful 2024 campaign against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Barrasso

[{"type":"text","text":"Barrasso defeated Rasner 70,494 to 25,427 in the 2024 GOP primary."}]

Rasner’s total receipts for that campaign finished off at $1.33 million, the 

[{"type":"text","text":"Rasner loaned himself $1.28 million in the 2024 campaign.  "}]

Reid rasner 6 24 26

<title>Wyoming Congressional Candidate Reid Rasner Fired By Clearinghouse | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Wyoming congressional candidate Reid Rasner, who works as a financial advisor, was “discharged” from his broker clearinghouse company in late April on allegations that he “engaged in unapproved outside business activity,” federal filings say.

Wyoming Congressional Candidate Reid Rasner Fired By Clearinghouse

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Courts

A Casper teen accused of attacking his mother led police to a hidden cache of stolen firearms tucked behind a secret wall in his bedroom. 

Honor Jason Wickert, 17, appeared Tuesday afternoon in Natrona County Circuit Court, where he was formally charged with four felonies and several misdemeanors, including interference, domestic battery, carrying a concealed weapon, and being a minor in possession of tobacco products. 

Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen confirmed Wednesday morning that prosecutors are charging Wickert as an adult.

Court documents paint a picture of a family dispute that escalated into a foot chase through Casper neighborhoods and ended with police uncovering several stolen firearms, credit cards, and more. 

The four felony theft charges alone carry a combined maximum penalty of 40 years in prison if served consecutively. Additional jail time could be imposed for the misdemeanor charges.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Family Fracture"}]

According to an affidavit, police were called June 20 after Wickert's mother reported her son had assaulted her during an argument over a cellphone.

She told investigators she was increasingly concerned about what Wickert was hiding inside his locked bedroom.

Days earlier, she forced her way into the room and found vape pens and what she believed could be a credit-card skimming or cloning device, according to court records.

Afterward, Wickert reportedly installed a new locking knob on the bedroom door.

The situation boiled over June 20 when the woman attempted to take his cellphone, says the affidavit submitted by Casper Police Officer Colton Lewis. 

The woman told investigators Wickert pushed her to the ground, pinned her with a knee to her back and caused injuries to her face, elbow and back. 

Officers documented bruising and redness consistent with her account, the affidavit states.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Backyard Sprint"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Wickert called the police himself."}]

According to court records, he reported that his mother was accusing him of stealing her belongings and kicking doors inside the home.

[{"type":"text","text":"Officers instructed him to wait for law enforcement."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Instead, he took off running."}]

Police allege Wickert fled through multiple backyards near South Forest Drive and Seminole Street, tossing two backpacks as officers searched for him.

One backpack contained a Springfield Armory 9mm handgun later confirmed stolen, along with ammunition, vape devices, gloves and a flashlight.

Another contained a wallet holding multiple bank and credit cards belonging to other people.

[{"type":"text","text":"Among the items recovered was a handwritten note that read:"}]

"Hi my sweet boy," the note read. "I don't know if you're gonna go to jail, but I want you to know that I will wait for you."

[{"type":"text","text":"Officers eventually took Wickert into custody. "}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hidden Arsenal"}]

With his mother's consent, investigators later searched Wickert's bedroom.

According to the affidavit, officers noticed an access panel in a wall that appeared unusual because several screws were missing.

After removing the panel, they discovered a pillowcase wrapped around a pipe inside the wall cavity.

Inside, police found four handguns, loaded magazines and ammunition, Lewis wrote. 

Investigators identified the firearms as two Ruger LCP pistols, a Springfield Hellcat Pro pistol and a Glock 43.

A Casper teen accused of attacking his mother led police to a hidden cache of stolen firearms and credit cards tucked behind a secret wall in his bedroom. Honor Jason Wickert is being charged as an adult with four felonies and several misdemeanors.

You Still Here? Bonus: Steve Inman Edition

In case you missed it

More in You Still Here

Today In Skydiving: Thursday, June 25, 2026

Today In Funny Signs: Thursday, June 25, 2026

Today In Lawyering: Thursday, June 25, 2026

Bonus Video 2: Thursday, June 25, 2026

Most read