It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming for Friday, September 19th. I’m Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom… Brought to you by Wyoming Interventional and Vascular Associates. WIVA offers the best solution for treating tired, aching and swollen legs, at Wyoming's only IAC-accredited vein facility. With virtually no downtime and minimal risks, if you’re ready for relief, see what WIVA can do for you. Schedule a consultation at Casper Medical Imaging dot net, forward slash WIVA.
–
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Thursday toured a Jackson-area school, championing state control of education while advocating for an end to her own department’s role in managing K-12 schools.
Accompanied by Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, McMahon’s visit came as part of her 50-state “Returning Education to the States Tour.” A department spokesperson told Cowboy State Daily’s Jackson Walker that the tour is intended to, quote, “empower families and hear from students, teachers, and leaders on best practices in their own communities.”
“I asked her specifically why she decided to make this move, given that in the U.S., Donald Trump has been very vocal about limiting the power of the Department of Education and instead giving education rights back to the state. She argued that this doesn't represent dismantling the Department of Education, but instead just allowing states to do what they're already doing, which is improving the education of their students…Governor Mark Gordon…said he would continue to do what Wyoming does best. He thinks that Wyoming has an independent spirit, and it's a place that needs to control its own rules, instead of having federal governments get involved.”
She will travel to Montana to visit another educational institution Thursday before departing to attend the funeral of the late political influencer Charlie Kirk.
Read the full story HERE.
–
The fatal shooting of a Rock Springs man during a March 12 arrest involving two Wyoming-based U.S. Marshals Service deputies were justified and did not violate federal or state laws.
Uinta County’s top prosecutor made that determination regarding the shooting of 34-year-old Steven Sheesley, who died a few minutes after he was shot in the chest by one of the deputy marshals. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that the prosecutor’s conclusion was based on a DCI investigation into the incident.
“This one, this was unique. This one also grappled with a federal crime against depriving people of their rights, willfully depriving people of their rights. And the prosecutor concluded, no, they didn't willfully deprive this man of his Fourth Amendment right against excessive force, because they weren't they. They were acting within their duties.”
Wyoming self-defense law says that a person may take self-defensive action if the circumstances are such that a reasonable person in his position would believe a real threat is imminent – even if a real threat is not imminent.
Read the full story HERE.
–
The California Supreme Court officially ended the drawn-out legal battle holding up development of an export terminal in West Oakland on Wednesday, refusing to hear the city of Oakland’s appeal and effectively paving the way forward for the project.
Cowboy State Daily’s David Madison reports that coal producers in Wyoming are watching this project closely, because it could offer access to Asian markets.
“The California Supreme Court has refused to hear the case brought by the city of Oakland on appeal trying to reverse lower court decisions that have paved the way for this coal export facility to proceed in West Oakland. Word came down on Wednesday, and folks in Wyoming were listening…The political fight probably isn't over, but logistically speaking, the developers can now proceed with getting this coal port, and it's not just a coal port, I'd say, with getting this commodities shipping facility up and running.”
One of the project’s developers, Phil Tagami, estimated there’s around two and a half years’ worth of permitting and other work ahead, but the first cargo ship could leave the new Oakland port sometime in 2028.
Read the full story HERE.
–
A grisly crash involving at least two semitrailers has left at least one person dead, another seriously hurt, and the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins closed for hours Thursday afternoon.
Cowboy State Daily’s Greg Johnson reports that the Wyoming Highway Patrol reported the crash near Arlington shortly before noon, and that I-80 eastbound was expected to be closed for around six hours.
“We still don't know much about what caused these two semis to collide. We don't know how the collision happened, whether one was parked on the side. It's interesting, looking at the photo, that both front ends seem pretty, pretty much obliterated. There's debris all over the road, and it took a good four hours, maybe four and a half, to really get it off of the road. They got it opened within their timeline.”
What may have caused the crash wasn’t initially reported, but the Highway Patrol’s investigation is ongoing.
Read the full story HERE.
–
I’ll be back with more news, right after this.
–
Hunters found separated human bones scattered in a remote area near the Sweetwater Guard Station Campground earlier this month, the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that the sheriff’s office responded to the area for a report of human remains discovered by hunters, along with a tent and personal items that appeared to have been in the area for about five years.
“They know more than they're saying, because they say they found an ID card, but they haven't positively confirmed the identity. You know what that means is anyone's guess, but they are asking for information from anyone who found bones or personal effects in that area.”
The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who’s visited the Sweetwater Gap area in recent years and possibly encountered bones, camping equipment or other personal items to contact them.
Read the full story HERE.
–
As communities in Wyoming debate whether to allow spent fuel storage as the state's nuclear industry is growing, state legislators on Wednesday heard about how Canada has handled its dilemma of where to put its nuclear waste.
Cowboy State Daily’s David Madison reports that at a Council of State Governments West (CSG) conference hosted at Snow King Resort in Jackson on Wednesday, Wyoming legislators were among those learning about how Canada was able to identify a nuclear waste site in stark contrast to the United States, which has never successfully identified a location for permanent storage.
“All the issues that are facing Western lawmakers are distilled down, and experts are presented, and it's a time for legislators to kind of go to school. So no surprise that …when it's hosted in Wyoming, they start talking about nuclear waste, because that is certainly Top of Mind with a lot of legislators in Wyoming, as the nuclear industry seeks to expand in Wyoming.”
Whether or not Wyoming should allow more nuclear waste to be stored in the state continues to divide towns from Rock Springs to Bar Nunn to Gillette.
Read the full story HERE.
–
A couple who own remote vacation rental property in the Crandall area of Park County say they’ve never had issues with bears for more than two decades. But that streak ended last week when a grizzly came onto their property two nights in a row.
Cowboy State Daily’s Mark Heinz reports that on the first night, the bear apparently clawed a little bit at their yurt, with guests inside. On the second night, the bear came back for more.
“She said, you know, they take all the usual precautions. They keep the place clean…They don't know anything dumb that's going to attract bears, and it's paid off. For 24 years, they've had virtually no trouble with bears. Well, last week, a grizzly showed up. It showed up one night when there were people in the yurt and kind of snuffed around the yurt and swatted at it. It seems that they found some small claw marks on the outside of the earth that night. Well, the guests, that was the last night, the guests were scheduled to stay, and so they left the night. After that, the grizzly came back and really, like, ripped off a whole side of the yurt.”
The property owner says they’ve made repairs to the yurt and will keep it as a vacation rental. But The Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed that it had trapped and euthanized a bear in the area.
Read the full story HERE.
–
Jay Richard, Wyoming's Pumpkin King, won't be bringing a 2,000-pound pumpkin to the 2025 Wyoming State Championship Weigh Off and Pumpkin Drop in early October. But his colleague, Chad Kurtenbach, who's growing a pumpkin in his backyard in Lovell, might.
Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi reports that Richard, Kurtenbach, and other growers from several states will be bringing giant gourds and the cream of their crop to Worland on Oct. 4. That will put some weight behind the reputations of the region's biggest and best growers of the season.
“People grow these giant pumpkins…They're not good for eating or pies or anything like that. So if you have to get rid of them after you spent all that time growing them, you might as well hoist them 270 feet up into the air and drop them on top of something, whether that's an RV, a hot tub or an outhouse.”
Wyoming's state record for a pumpkin, 2,062 pounds, was set in 2023 by Andy Corbin of Cheyenne.
Read the full story HERE.
–
And on a final note, this coming week will be my last as the anchor for the Cowboy State Daily Video News. It has been my honor and privilege to bring the news to the Cowboy State for the last two years. But I’m leaving you all in great hands. Next week, you’ll start seeing a new face on the broadcast - we’re glad to welcome veteran broadcaster Mac Watson to the Cowboy State Daily team, to continue to bring you the stories that matter to you.
But there are still stories to tell! You’ll want to check out tomorrow’s episode of The Roundup, conversations with the most interesting people in the Cowboy State. This week, my guest is Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly. You’ll find the link to this really interesting conversation on our website, on our YouTube channel, and wherever you get your podcasts. And of course, you'll find it in our FREE daily email newsletter!
Thanks for tuning in - I’m Wendy Corr, for Cowboy State Daily.
