You Still Here

[{"type":"text","text":"Not certain Bill was that interested in going fishing anyway..."}]

You still here 2 29 24

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

<title>You Still Here? Thursday, February 29, 2024 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Not really sure Bill was that interested in going fishing anyway...

You Still Here? Thursday, February 29, 2024

 Not certain Bill was that interested in going fishing anyway...

Coy Knobel

Don Day Weather

Chance of rain in much of Wyoming on Wednesday and overnight. Greater chance east of the divide and severe storms possible in the southeast. Highs from near 70 to upper 80s. Lows from near 40 to mid 50s.

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Slight chance of rain after 4 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 82 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Breezy, becoming partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain, a low near 52 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph.

Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 84 and mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a chance of rain mainly before 11 p.m., a low near 53 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph.

 Slight chance of rain after 4 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 84 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain, a low near 55 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

 Patchy smoke, slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., otherwise sunny today with a high near 85 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain before 9 p.m., patchy smoke and a low near 47.

  Slight chance of rain after 2 p.m., otherwise sunny and breezy today with a high near 89 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Breezy, gradually becoming partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain mainly before 9 p.m., a low near 51 and wind gusts as high as 31 mph.

Sunny and breezy today with a high near 84 and wind gusts as high as 28 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 46.

Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 79 and wind gusts as high as 30 mph. Gradually becoming partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain and a low near 42.

 Chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 88 and partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain after 5 a.m. and a low near 45.

  Slight chance of rain after 5 p.m., otherwise sunny and breezy today with a high near 82 and wind gusts as high as 31 mph. Gradually becoming mostly clear overnight with a slight chance of rain and a low near 41.

 Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 77 and partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 44.

  Slight chance of rain after 1 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 85 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain after 5 a.m. and a low near 45.

Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park

:  Partly sunny today with a high near 76 and partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 38.

Slight chance of rain after 2 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 82 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain and a low near 53.

:  Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 75 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Gradually becoming partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 50.

  Mostly sunny today with a high near 81 and gradually becoming partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain mainly after midnight, a low near 53 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

  Slight chance of rain after 11 a.m., otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 70 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 51.

  Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 73 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 48.

:  Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 69 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 49.

Chance of rain, otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 72 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain, a low near 48 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

  Chance of rain, otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 69 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 51.

:  Chance of rain, otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 72 and gradually becoming partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 50.

  Chance of rain (some storms could be severe), mostly cloudy today with a high near 79 and rain likely (some storms could be severe) overnight with a low near 55.

  Patchy fog before 8 a.m., chance of rain (some storms could be severe), otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 74 and rain likely (some storms could be severe) overnight with a low near 48.

  Slight chance of rain after 2 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 78 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain, a low near 50 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

  Patchy fog before 9 a.m., chance of rain (some storms could be severe), gradually becoming mostly sunny today with a high near 75 and rain likely (some storms could be severe) overnight with a low near 52.

  Chance of rain after noon (some storms could be severe), increasing clouds today with a high near 81 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain (some storms could be severe) and a low near 49.

  Chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 83 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 48.

  Chance of rain after 3 p.m., increasing clouds today with a high near 84 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 50.

  Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., increasing clouds today with a high near 87 and wind gusts as high as 25 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 49.

  Patchy fog before 7 a.m., chance of rain after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 82 and mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain and a low near 49.

Daycap no play 6 24 26

<title>Don Day's Wyoming Weather Forecast: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Don Day's Wyoming Weather Forecast: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Mac Watson

Daily Video News

It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming for Wednesday, June 24th.  I’m Mac Watson

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During a lengthy meeting that grew contentious, the Kemmerer City Council on Monday approved an ordinance establishing regulations for a possible man camp inside city limits. Cowboy State Daily’s Kate Meadows reports that despite resident’s objections, Mayor Robert Bowen says, “The groundwork’s been laid.

“The Kemmerer City Council was adamant at the meeting on Monday that there is no man camp guaranteed. The ordinance just lays this groundwork. One place that has gotten interest from potential developers for a possible man camp is an area near this Antelope Ridge subdivision. Multiple people were at this meeting who live in that subdivision saying we don't want this in our backyard. the main concerns are safety, one woman brought up, you know, when you have people in groups, strange things happen.”

Developers are proposing a temporary hub to house workers who will build the TerraPower nuclear power plant near Kemmerer.

The Wyoming Supreme Court denied a Cheyenne-based attorney’s request for an order appointing a special prosecutor to investigate Secretary of State Chuck Gray for handing sensitive voter data to the federal government on Tuesday. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that the high court also denied the attorney, George Powers’ request that it order Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz to recuse himself from this investigation since Kautz’s office has reportedly counseled Gray on the voter data transfer.

“George Powers had asked the Wyoming Supreme Court to make the Attorney General's office recuse itself from Fowler's requested investigation of Chuck Gray, and for the High Court to appoint a special prosecutor for that investigation itself. And now, while the Attorney General fired back last week, like we already got special prosecutors to look into this. The high court officially ended the case on Tuesday, saying George Powers, you didn't show that the Attorney General's office had shirked a clear duty here, so we're not going to make the Attorney General do certain things.”

The U.S. Department of Justice last year urged Gray to hand over unredacted voter rolls bearing driver's licenses or partial social security numbers. Gray did so, public records indicate. He’s since said repeatedly that Kautz’s office advised him in this, and approved the release.

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At a meeting in Denver on Tuesday, Wyoming's state engineer said 2026 is “one of the worst, if not the worst, hydrologic years on record.” Cowboy State Daily’s Mark Heinz reports the engineer added it’s due to the dire water situation in the Colorado River's Upper Basin states. 

“There's a representative from each of the four states, which are Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico. Our representative is our state engineer, Brendan Gebhart. Bottom line is looking really grim. I think Gebhart said, from a hydrological standpoint, it's one of the worst, if not the worst years we have on record for the Colorado River.  The commissioner from Utah mentioned that there's already towns there that have run out of water and are having to truck it in little towns in Utah.”

Members of the Upper Colorado River Commission expressed frustration during the meeting, saying water-management policy needs to shift away from legal wrangling and toward the realities of water availability. The commission didn’t make any policy decisions, and plans to meet again this summer.

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The Wyoming group that launched a civility movement after the killing of Charlie Kirk has gotten candidates to sign a peacemaker pledge to love their enemies. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that includes gubernatorial candidates Eric Barlow and Megan Degenfelder.

“They launched in September after the killing of Charlie Kirk, calling for civility in politics. They, this candidate, see this election season, they released a pledge for candidates to sign if they wish, where they're basically promising to love their enemies, stand on their principles, but not resort to cruelty. And as of Monday, 35 candidates had signed it, including two running for governor.”

Three of the 10 Republican U.S. House candidates have also signed the pledge: Senate President Bo Biteman, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, and Casper-based veteran Kevin Christensen. U.S. Senate candidate Jimmy Skovgard is also among the signers.

I’ll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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Cheyenne’s City Council moved a massive 3,500-acre data center annexation closer to approval Monday night, rejecting an effort to secure a $50 million community benefits agreement. Cowboy State Daily’s Renee Jean reports that Mayor Patrick Collins recently described as “extortion.”

“What are the impacts of that? Councilman Wolf felt that the city should be looking to get more out of the deal, so that it could handle or deal with those impacts, but the council did not agree. There were three votes for such seeking an agreement and the rest were against. It's a nine-member council. The mayor was absent, and so you know that went down to defeat. Some of the councilmen pointed out that they can still seek annexation agreements.”

The tract, roughly one-fifth the size of Cheyenne and adjacent to Microsoft’s existing data centers, is envisioned as a long-term expansion site where it would build its facilities out over the next 10 to 20 years. 

The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory confirmed Tuesday that a hydrothermal explosion occurred in Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin. Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi reports that Yellowstone authorities say they observed water spouting 30 feet into the air.

“When geologists went out there the next day, they found a 21-foot-wide crater filled with boiling water, a 60 foot long fissure, and several vents that were draining water into the nearby Fire Hole River.  I spoke with Mike Poland, the scientist in charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, and he said that this is evidence that these incidents are very shallow and they're very localized, that they only occur in individual thermal features rather than affecting an entire basin.”

Biscuit Basin has been closed since a similar explosion occurred at nearby Black Diamond Pool in July 2024.

Wyoming lawmakers started work on Tuesday to lift the upper limit on county prosecutors' salaries, topping out at $180,000. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that the bill would raise Wyoming Supreme Court Justices’ salaries and district court judge salaries as well.

“A lot of these salaries for prosecutors, judges were set like 18 years ago in state law, so that's a hard figure that remains rigid in state law, even as inflation and other factors take off, and so they're having a look at raising those, those amounts, and also maybe tying them to some kind of an escalator that hinges on economic factors like inflation and cost of living.”

If it becomes law, the bill now being drafted would raise Wyoming Supreme Court Justices’ salaries from $187,250 to nearly $225,000, district court judge salaries from $171,200 to almost $202,000, and circuit court judges from $153,700 to $180,000. Those figures would change over time based on economic metrics, as they’d be tethered to federal judge salaries, which have built-in escalators.

A Colorado woman, accused of stealing $2,000 worth of pyrotechnics from Artillery World along Interstate 25 in Cheyenne, is headed to district court. Cowboy State Daily’s Kolby Fedore reports that the woman allegedly drove toward store employees at high speed to avoid being detained.

“61-year-old Sandra Bafia loaded up her cart at a fireworks stand at Cheyenne, and then left without paying. As she was putting the fireworks into her car, two employees tried to stop her. Bafia scratched one employee, and then she pushed off the other one, got into her car, and then turned the car around and drove toward the employees as if to hit them. She missed them. If convicted, Bafia faces up to 10 years in prison. Anything over $1,000 in the state of Wyoming is considered a felony.”

Sandra May Bafia waived her preliminary hearing on Monday in Laramie County Circuit Court, sending the case to district court more than a year after the alleged theft. If convicted, Bafia faces up to 10 years in prison. 

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And that’s today’s news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on 

 - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our 

 channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app.  Thanks for watching - I’m Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

News image no play 6 24 26

<title>Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Wednesday's headlines include:
* Cheyenne OKs Microsoft Annexation
* Kemmerer Lays Groundwork For Man Camp
* Explosion Creates Boiling Crater In Yellowstone

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

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

Clair McFarland

Government & Politics

Politics

As of Monday, 35 Wyoming political candidates have sworn to love their enemies.

 after the public killing of conservative icon Charlie Kirk, and has since been working to restore the servant spirit and civility to the public arena in Wyoming.

The Tuesday after the May 14-29 filing period ended for political candidates, the group sent each candidate a pledge, group incorporator Matt Micheli told Cowboy State Daily.

“I will love my enemies, not just my friends. I will stand faithfully upon my convictions without giving into cruelty,” the pledge says. “I will call out wrongdoing without canceling people. 

"I will refuse to let the letters on someone’s hat or the hashtags in their bio mean more to me than the Gospel. I will not be swept up in the outrage cycle, but will instead step out of the chaos and boldly examine my own actions.”

The signers also commit to “bring the peace of Christ back into the public square — to show a divided world what it truly looks like to follow Him, not as a culture warrior but as a Kingdom person.”

The pledge invokes the group’s founding verse, Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Two of the three GOP candidates for governor had signed the document as of Monday: Sen. Eric Barlow and Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder.

So too had three of the 10 Republican U.S. House candidates: Senate President Bo Biteman, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, and Casper-based veteran Kevin Christensen. U.S. Senate candidate Jimmy Skovgard is also among the signers.

In the governor’s race, Barlow told Cowboy State Daily he doesn’t normally answer candidate questionnaires, but this one was “quite simple” and in line with the promise he made last year to run a clean campaign anyway.

“And whether we agree on issues or don’t, we can still be respectful and honoring of them as, you know, fellow human beings,” Barlow said.

Degenfelder in an email said she's a "devout follo

wer of Christ and certainly agree that politics has become increasingly unchristian."

"People of faith can and should do better following Christ’s teachings as we engage in debates about policy and Wyoming’s future," she said. "We can do this without compromising on our convictions. I will always take an unequivocal stand on issues that are black and white for me - like protecting the Second Amendment, defending the sanctity of life, reducing taxes, and promoting Wyoming’s legacy industries."

She said she completes other questionnaires from voter groups, the media and industry associations "whenever possible" and sees them as a way to be transparent. 

Another GOP gubernatorial candidate, retired Marine Col. Brent Bien, did not comment in response to an email and voicemail. His campaign

[{"type":"text","text":"Wyoming Can Use It"}]

Cowboy State Daily this pledge could be effective in Wyoming, and that he wants to help the group’s cause.

Another former lawmaker, Fred Harrison, was less optimistic about the pledge’s ability to curb vitriol in the state’s political arena. But he said each person should take the effort seriously.

[{"type":"text","text":"As for Micheli, he said the pledge is meant to be unique."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Wyoming candidates face a number of pledges and have for years."}]

In 2020, the group Wyoming Gun Owners launched a pledge-style survey to candidates and derided the political hopefuls who didn’t sign it with phrases 

, “(it’s) a very dangerous situation for gun owners,” or “we all know what that means.”

More recently, the Wyoming Republican Party and its county subgroups launched a candidate pledge based on the state party platform. 

Some candidates have pointed to inconsistencies in the platform wording and called the 

 Others have called it a much-needed revival call for Wyoming’s broad-based GOP.

Micheli said the Peacemakers pledge isn’t meant to be used as ammunition, because its wording discourages that.

“The goal of this is kind of the opposite of all these other pledges you see out there,” he said. “The other pledges are kind of putting people into tribes and trying to figure out what tribe you’re in.”

Micheli said this pledge, however, tells each candidate to “look inward” and improve instead of “hammering anybody else over the head with it.”  

[{"type":"text","text":"Might Just Work"}]

Peterson, who served in the Wyoming Senate from 2005 to 2018, lauded the effort.

[{"type":"text","text":"“I could certainly get behind a movement like that,” said Peterson."}]

Peterson had voiced similar goals one week prior on a live video interview on Cowboy State Daily's Morning Show With Jake, 

Though the effort is “the light at the end of the tunnel” in what Peterson cast as a darkening, exhausting political arena, people will have to refocus on one another as fellow human beings to make it work, he said.

“If you love the person that’s opposed to either your way of life or philosophy or way of thinking,” he said, “and in your mind, your core belief is this is a brother, a sister, a person — and I don’t know what life experiences they’ve had, what brought them to the beliefs they have — it at least gives (one) the courtesy to be patient and listen.”

It takes effort to see the person through the issues. It’s also difficult to ratchet people down from the fiery realms to which public discourse has risen, said Peterson.

“It’s hard work to listen to somebody yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs, random thoughts and things to be argumentative … and say, ‘Oh, I can see you’re very passionate about your belief but you’re not making any sense,’” he said.

Rules of decorum in public arenas, the humility to apologize to one another where necessary, and applying mental rigor toward the actual issues are the way back to civility, Peterson added.

If people avoid dehumanizing and screaming at each other, their conversation will also get smarter, he said.

[{"type":"text","text":"Starting With You"}]

Harrison wasn’t as optimistic as Peterson, but called the pledge’s mission a worthy undertaking for each individual regardless of what society does.

“I’m not seeing a willingness on both sides of the aisle to discuss (differences),” he said. “I appreciate what they’re doing. I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

But, he added, “I’m not sure it’s always going to work, but that doesn’t mean anything. What did Mother Theresa say? We’re called to be faithful, not successful.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Harrison served in the Legislature from 1983-1992."}]

He was a Democrat then. But, ardently pro-life and socially conservative, he parted ways with the party starting in about 1992 and is now Republican. He’s also grown more fiscally conservative, Harrison said.

Harrison now writes a regular column for Cowboy State Daily in which he often scrutinizes the current state of the judiciary and jurisprudence.

“People think my articles are pretty sharp,” he said with a chuckle. Yet on May 9, he penned a 

 against resorting to violence or violent sentiments against judges, saying that nullifies good arguments on the issues.

If people wish to apply the peacemaker group’s pledge, it will take honest discussion, he said. People also have to start taking the high road and stop de-humanizing each other, he added.

[{"type":"text","text":"The Signers, So Far"}]

Micheli told Cowboy State Daily the group didn’t give candidates a deadline to sign the pledge. So this list isn’t final. As of Monday, the 35 signers spanned the governor’s, congressional, state legislative, and county commission races. They are:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate

Update -  This story has been updated to include a post-publication comment by Megan Degenfelder. 

Mix Collage 23 Jun 2026 06 04 PM 252

<title>35 Candidates, Including Two Wyo Gov Hopefuls, Sign Love Your Enemies Pledge | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The Wyoming group that launched a civility movement after the killing of Charlie Kirk has gotten 35 candidates to sign a peacemaker pledge to love their enemies. That includes gubernatorial candidates Eric Barlow and Megan Degenfelder.

35 Candidates, Including Two Wyo Gov Hopefuls, Sign Love Your Enemies Pledge

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's business and tourism reporter, Renée Jean

Renée Jean

Energy

Microsoft officials said the company is willing to talk about 

a $50 million community benefits agreement,

 but after Monday night’s Cheyenne City Council vote it won’t be necessary.

The council voted to advance the annexation of a 3,500-acre tract of land into the city, but rejected the idea of a community benefits agreement on an 8-to-3 vote. Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins was absent from the meeting.

The tract, roughly one-fifth the size of Cheyenne and adjacent to Microsoft’s existing data centers, is envisioned as a long-term expansion site where it would build its facilities out over the next 10 to 20 years. Supporters have framed the move as key to jobs and the tax base, while opponents have said the city is giving up leverage and reshaping the community without locking in enough concrete benefits or fully understanding water, traffic and neighborhood impacts.

Councilman Larry Wolfe brought the amendment that sought the $50 million agreement, saying it was necessary because of the extraordinary scale of the annexation. 

Wolfe’s proposal outlined collecting $10 million annually for five years starting July 2027 to fund permanent improvements to Cheyenne. The agreement should also spell out an expectation, Wolfe has suggested, that Microsoft will use state-of-the-art technology to minimize water use, eliminate emissions, and set contractual guardrails on as many as 40 different items ranging from traffic and noise to wildlife and affordable housing. 

Collins called the proposal for a $50 million community benefits agreement “extortion” the first time Wolfe mentioned it.

Wolfe asked Microsoft executives whether there would be any harm in a four-month delay so the city could negotiate terms of the annexation. 

Microsoft’s land-development manager Rachel Irwing indicated the company is “willing to work with the city in whatever way is beneficial for both the city and this project” and is “open to discussions,” but added the company does want to move forward on the project as quickly as possible.

Microsoft spokesman Jonathan Noble, meanwhile, said that while the company’s timeline for the development is 10 to 20 years, they don’t plan to wait that long to start.

“That’s the reason why we’re eager to really lay the groundwork, establish the rules, work with city staff, make sure that we are all clear on the investment that is going to require,” Noble said. “That’s investment by Microsoft in conjunction with the city, various other folks, to build out the sewer, water, power, etcetera, and to make sure we are shouldering that cost completely. That takes time to design. It also takes time to build. Our hope is to start building well before that 10-year mark.”

The company could, Noble added, move forward under Laramie County, but felt it was better for the project and the community to proceed under the city. 

Councilman Pete Laybourn, meanwhile, wanted to know if the company had considered an annexation agreement similar to the one made for Sweetgrass, the only other comparably-sized property the city has annexed. 

Noble said the company is not looking for any exemptions from the city’s normal development processes, saying its existing structure has worked for the city and will work for Microsoft.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Growth Isn’t The Issue"}]

Public comments on Monday underscored a divide over how — not whether — Cheyenne should grow. 

While some residents completely oppose growth, most said they want clearer evidence the city is grasping the pace of development and guiding it to an appropriate landing.

“I’m not here to oppose growth,” long-time real estate broker Wendy Volk told the council. “Wyoming has always embraced innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunity. Economic development matters, and our state has a proud history of powering the nation through agriculture, mining and energy production.”

But even she finds the speed and scale of incoming industrial projects disconcerting.

“I believe we must ask some … broader questions about how we grow and who bears the cost,” she said. “We experience (these projects) cumulatively. We experience increased demands on shared roads. We see growing demands on water systems, emergency services, housing and public infrastructure.”

A key question, Volk added, is the character of southeastern Wyoming left for future generations. 

“Growth itself is not the issue,” she said. “The issue is whether we have a long-term plan and whether growth is paying for its share.”

Volk said it’s fair for the community to ask companies that will benefit from the growth to be stronger partners in building out infrastructure and mitigating impacts.

“Once the character of a community changes, it is difficult to restore,” she said. “I’m not asking for us to stop progress. I’m asking for us to guide it wisely, with transparency, thoughtful planning, and a commitment to ensuring that growth strengthens our communities rather than placing new burdens upon them.”

For Harmony Meadows resident Heather Madrid the lack of a defined plan ahead of approving the annexation is a red flag that says the city isn’t doing it’s job to mind the store.

“The lack of a plan is not a legitimate reason to forgo any kind of annexation agreement,” she said. “In fact it’s quite the opposite. It’s a reason to wait until Microsoft has some idea what they’re doing here.”

Madrid also questioned how the city can claim the annexation will benefit residents when there’s been no examination of how much water will be used, how many backup generators will be necessary, and whether city services such as police, fire, and EMS will be reasonably available.

Without those details, the property is “not ready to be annexed, plain and simple,” Madrid said, adding that “corporate philanthropy is not a substitute for proper planning.”

Those speaking for the data center’s annexation and against any postponement mostly came from building trade groups and from Microsoft itself.

Rob Turse, business agent for Local 192, was among them.

“The sooner we can get our local workers out to work on these projects, the sooner the middle class gets back to normal here in Cheyenne,” he said. “The middle class has been ... it's been hurting for a long time here in Cheyenne. It's been in decline. It really has.”

Multiple individuals talked about leaving volatile oil and gas or traveling construction jobs for steady data center work. That’s allowed them to be home with their families and make a high enough wage to support them.

Kevin Banish talked about growing up in Cheyenne believing there would never be a career for him in Wyoming. 

“Today, there’s hundreds of people building technology centers right here in Cheyenne,” he said. “Over the last 13 years, I’ve watched Microsoft’s presence in our community grow from a few facilities into a major contributor to our local economy.”

The beneficiaries are not buildings, he added, but the people who work there and are now able to make a living closer to home.

“Today, students in Wyoming can look at careers in technology, engineering, construction, operations, networking, and skilled trades, and know that those careers exist right here at home,” he said. “They no longer have to assume that opportunity only exists somewhere else.”

Data centers have made that possible, and Cheyenne has become a recognized leader in the industry, Banish said. 

“Approving this land addition will continue that momentum and position our community for future investment, future jobs, and future opportunities,” he said. “As a lifetime Wyoming resident and as someone who has worked in this industry since 2013, I believe this is a positive step in Cheyenne’s future.”

Councilwoman Kathy Emmons was among those who were displeased with Wolfe's motion, which was supported by Laybourn and Councilman Mark Moody, who earlier proposed a moratorium on data center development.

Moody said Cheyenne needs to more carefully consider the impact of so many data centers built all at once in and around the city.

Emmons said the community benefits agreement was just a new version of the proposed moratorium, which had already been voted down by the council after hours of testimony.

“We went through the whole process, we went through all the readings, we took all of the comment, we heard every single bit of it, we listened, we listened to both sides,” Emmons said. "This council took a vote to deny the moratorium and to move forward. So here we are again, doing the very same thing, which I find incredibly disingenuous.”

A four-month postponement won’t be productive, Emmons added.

“We’ll be in the very same situation, and we’ll just keep doing it over and over,” she said. “That’s not OK for the community who we’re supposed to be entrusted to represent. And it’s not OK for the people who have put in so much hard work on this issue, and we keep dangling this carrot in front of them. So I would encourage my fellow council members to vote no on this amendment.”

Councilman Jeff White said a community benefits agreement such as Wolfe proposed would set a bad precedent. 

“Does Microsoft have deep pockets?” he said. “You bet, but just because they’re a a multi-billion-dollar corporation doesn’t mean we should be treating them differently. The owner of the property wants to engage in a lawful business transaction with a willing buyer.”

Councilman Ken Esquibel suggested that those wanting to stop data centers have picked the wrong venue for their fight.

“If you really want to stop data centers, the building you need to go to is the one with a golden dome, about seven and a half blocks that way,” he said. “The reason data centers come here is because of tax laws, the tax structure in Wyoming, that get set at the state legislative level."

Cheyenne’s City Council moved a massive 3,500-acre data center annexation closer to approval Monday night, rejecting an effort to secure a $50 million community benefits agreement that Mayor Patrick Collins recently described as "extortion."

You Still Here? Thursday, February 29, 2024

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