It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming, for Tuesday, February 25th. I’m Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by the Wyoming Senior Olympics, thanking the participants, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors of the February winter games in Pinedale. Visit Wyoming senior olympics dot com!
–
Those walking through the Wyoming Capitol rotunda on Monday had to be careful not to step on a hand or foot. That was because around 20 protesters held a “Die-In At The Capitol,” an event protesting House Bill 172 legislation that would ban all gun-free zones in Wyoming.
Cowboy State Daily’s Leo Wolfson spoke to the organizer of the protest, who said the purpose of the event was to put pressure on the governor to veto the bill, an action he took on an almost identical bill last year.
“:34 A collection of about 20 students came to the event and laid down on the floor of the Wyoming capitol for about 30 minutes. They didn’t say much while they were laying on the floor, but some of them were wearing shirts with red paint splotched on them to kind of symbolize the blood that would have resulted from a mass shooting event….1:07 I spoke to the event organizer, Sophia Gomelski, who’s a student at the University of Wyoming, and she said the students want their voices to be heard. They feel like they’ve been left out and ignored during discussions on this bill… 1:29 Gordon came out and spoke to Gomelsi during the event for a few minutes. Gomelski told me that what he said that was that the Governor kind of warned her that even if he vetoes the bill, he could be overridden by the legislature.”
The bill is on the governor’s desk for consideration after passing through the House and Senate. He’ll have until Tuesday to veto it, sign it, or let it pass into law without his signature.
Read the full story HERE.
–
A Worland man is being charged with cruelty to animals, among other citations, after allegedly shooting his seven-month-old puppy six times.
Axel, a border collie mix, is recovering after being shot by his owner, 59-year-old Donald Wright. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that Wright was charged last week with cruelty to animals, using a gun to commit a felony, property destruction, two counts of breach of peace and three counts of stalking in connection with Axel’s shooting.
“The allegation is that the dog either killed some of his chickens or tore up his medication, or both, as he later told police, and he is accused of shooting it six times in an attempt to put it down. But multiple witnesses said he was drunk and raging at the time, and so then he goes back in the house, and he doesn't finish off the dog… one of the women living in the house next door found the dog under a porch and took it to the vet. So he didn't know that in the morning, and the allegation is that he was still raging and demanding this dog and yelling at the women.”
Though his front leg was shot, veterinarian professionals believe the dog will get to keep it. A bullet is still lodged in his hind leg, and he has two bullets still in his shoulder and another in his chest.
Read the full story HERE.
–
At least one Wyoming U.S. Postal Service worker doesn’t trust the outlook for Wyoming mail under the recently revised Delivering for America Plan.
Neither does U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, who has wasted no time in filing additional legislation that will prohibit closing even small post offices without substantial prior notice. Cowboy State Daily’s Renee Jean reports that her latest bill will require the USPS to notify the public that it plans to close or consolidate any sorting, distribution or processing facilities at least two months before taking action.
“She wants a 60 day notice for all postal services. That are being consolidated closed, basically to give residents time to appeal a decision to the Postal Regulatory Commission. This is sparked by, you know, just how delivering for America rolled out. We didn't get adequate notice. In some cases, people didn't realize there was a deadline to register for that virtual forum. They didn't get to speak… You know, Wyoming was a squeaky wheel, and we got some grease. But there are lots of other communities, including some capitals of different states, that are going to have slower mail than other cities within their state.”
Delivering for America proposed cutting costs by reducing mail services to locations 50 miles or more from a Regional Processing and Distribution Center. Wyoming will still not be getting a distribution center, and all of its communities are 50 miles or more away.
Read the full story HERE.
–
Sheridan broke a nearly century-old temperature record Thursday, reaching minus 27. On Sunday, the high in Sheridan was 58 degrees.
That’s an 85-degree swing in four days. Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi reports that the National Weather Service doesn’t track this kind of record, but it’s a tremendous swing.
“This is the time of year when Wyoming is prone to those kind of weather conditions, when you get these sub zero surges that send temperatures well below zero, and then you get a warm gust of Pacific Air, not necessarily wet, so there's not snow, but it warms things up very quickly, and that can create a lot of problems, because you can go from negative 27 which was a record setting low when shared in on Wednesday, up to 58 degrees in less than a week. That's an 85 degree swing within that time frame.”
The heavy snow and ice that fell during last week’s winter storm is rapidly melting. That can cause tremendous issues for home and business owners as they learn how well everything holds up under such extreme conditions.
Read the full story HERE.
–
A bill giving Wyoming homeschool parents freedom from submitting curriculum to local school boards will head to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk for final approval.
The Home School Freedom Act or House Bill 46 was passed on third reading by the Wyoming Senate on Monday by a 28-2 vote. Cowboy State Daily’s Dale Killingbeck spoke to the leader of the Wyoming Homeschool Association, who was celebrating the passage of the bill.
“They said they're looking forward to the governor signing the bill… It means that if somebody wants to homeschool in Wyoming, if they're just starting out homeschooling, and they don't have any kids in schools, it means that they don't have to contact the local school district at all. They can just start homeschooling their children… But all homeschool parents do not have to notify their local school district annually anymore. With a curriculum, they don't have to do that. It was an annual requirement, and now, as of July 1, if the governor signs a bill, it will go away.”
If Gordon signs the bill, the legislation would take effect July 1, in time for the fall school year.
Read the full story HERE.
–
A Douglas man who shot his former Green Beret cousin to death after a night of drinking has been sentenced to between 48 and 62 years in prison.
44-year-old Mark Helms killed his cousin, 38-year-old Nicholas Velazquez, on Sept. 13, 2023. At his sentencing, friends characterized Helms as a truthful man, a good friend, and a hard worker, urging the judge to consider Helms’ traumas and show mercy. However, Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that Velazquez’s loved ones disputed the intensity and merit of Helms’ military exploits, and said Velazquez was the real hero.
“He was trying to make the case that due to his military missions and service, he had too much PTSD and wasn't rationalizing his conduct the night he killed his cousin… loved ones testified, and their whole kind of, their vibe was actually Nick Velasquez, the victim was the true hero. Let me tell you about his service as a Green Beret. And so it got to this, you know, this kind of a layered talk about military service and some of the issues that can follow.”
Helms was given 516 days' credit for time he already spent in jail; and he was ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution as well.
Read the full story HERE.
–
A bill intended to prevent Wyoming’s prized trout waters from being mobbed by unregistered out-of-state fishing guides passed the Senate on Monday, a vital step toward Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk.
House Bill 5 would set up guidelines for regulating fishing guides. Cowboy State Daily’s Mark Heinz reports that fishing guides on both sides of the Wyoming-Colorado state line have voiced support for the bill.
“There's essentially no regulation over guided fishing in Wyoming. And so folks are saying that's pulling a lot of folks that are calling themselves, hey, I'm a fishing guide coming in from places like Colorado, and overcrowding the waters… I did talk to a guide from Wyoming, and I also talked to a guide from Colorado. They're both all for it… the guy in Colorado said, you know, I jumped through the hoops. I got my certification, I got my permit from the BLM. I think that anybody coming from Colorado should do what I did.”
Because some amendments were made in the Senate, the bill will go to concurrence, which is a process for House and Senate members to hammer out the differences before sending it on.
Read the full story HERE.
–
Fresh off of being named the NFL MVP earlier this month, Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen is in line for another notable commendation.
He was one of seven former University of Wyoming athletes named Saturday to the UW Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. Cowboy State Daily’s Justin George reports that Allen was one of seven athletes selected for this year’s honor.
“There were several athletes, a couple of football players and basketball players and other athletes that were on the list. What's interesting is Josh is the second Buffalo Bill on that roster this year… the second Buffalo Bill that was also picked was John Wendling. He he's from Rock Springs, and played in about 2003 through 2006 and was a safety… so it's… an honor for Josh. But you know, when you look at what he's achieved this year, he's kind of had some big, big, major awards. So when you have the NFL MVP and he proposed to his fiance Hollywood actress Hailee Steinfield, so he's on a quite a great run here since November.”
At UW, Allen threw for 5,066 passing yards and ran for 767 rushing yards. The two-time team captain scored 57 touchdowns, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social science and was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft -- the highest a Cowboys player has ever been drafted.
Read the full story HERE.
–
And that’s today’s news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. And remember to drop in on the Cowboy State Daily morning show with Jake Nichols, Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 a.m.! Thanks for tuning in - I’m Wendy Corr, for Cowboy State Daily.
