It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming for Tuesday, November 11th. I’m Mac Watson. This newscast is “Brought to you by the University of Wyoming Center on Aging. Did you know that 1 in 3 Wyoming adults have pre-diabetes, and most don’t realize it? Are you tough enough to know your numbers? Take the quiz at: Find Out WY dot org."
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Cody Roberts, the Daniel, Wyoming, man accused of running over a wolf with a snowmobile, bringing it into a bar, then shooting it, pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty Monday. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that Roberts appeared virtually in court, answering the judge’s questions with polite but short responses.
“In felony cases in Wyoming, pretty much always we see them plead not guilty at that first arraignment, and that's because it gives them time to
prepare for trial if they're going to trial or negotiate if they're going for a plea agreement. And so you usually don't plead anything other than a not guilty variation, just to give that breathing room if it's a felony.”
Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery appeared via a virtual link from his seat in Green River. He told Roberts that if a jury convicts him or gives a variation of a guilty plea, he could lose his second amendment and voting rights. Under the animal cruelty felony, Roberts could also face up to two years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.
Read the full story HERE.
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President Trump on Friday pardoned mountain runner Michelino Sunseri, who was convicted of using a closed trail in Grand Teton National Park during a record-setting trail run. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that Wyoming Representative Harriet Hageman had called this case government overreach.
“This is interesting, because we saw Troy Lake, the diesel mechanic, pardoned Friday. And then now we're finding out Michelino, his pardon Friday. This was Hageman’s little cause, whereas Troy lake was Lummis’ cause all along, Lummis came out swinging for him. This one was more Hageman’s. She was calling this overzealous prosecution. She was wanting to investigate this as a case of prosecutors getting too big for their britches. And then Trump went ahead and pardoned him on Friday.”
On Sept. 2, 2024, Sunseri set a new Grand Teton speed record, ascending and descending the mountain in 2 hours, 50 minutes and 10 seconds—almost three minutes faster than the previous record. Days later, Wyoming-based federal prosecutors charged him with a crime for running on a “restricted” social trail.
Read the full story HERE.
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Wyoming ranchers have been calling for investigations of large meat packers for decades, and are cheering President Trump's move to do that. Cowboy State Daily’s Renee Jean reports that ranchers are saying the system is broken and Congress needs to change the laws.
“The fix is better competition. If we could sell meat across state lines, ranches could develop their own brands, they could sell direct to consumer. That would have an immediate competitive impact in the market, because people have choices. More choices than they have now, tends to help bring prices down, because people have to compete. When you only have four companies doing everything, how much competition is there really, you know, and it makes the more, the fewer players you have, the more likely it is that they'll kind of nudge, nudge, wink, wink, and just never raise their prices.”
President Donald Trump is calling for an investigation into allegations of price-fixing by the nation’s big four meat packers, announcing a Department of Justice investigation into the meat conglomerates that, between them, are the middlemen for 55% to 85% of all the chicken, beef, and pork sold in America.
Read the full story HERE.
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Energy giant Repsol filed a court motion Friday asking a judge to review a decision by the Laramie County Commission to deny its proposed wind farm project. Cowboy State Daily’s Jackson Walker reports the move could open the door for the project which would be three times the size of Cheyenne.
“The company argues in its court filing that the commissioner's decision does not align with laws and regulations surrounding similar projects like this, and Repsol argues that it is made every effort to be compliant with each of these restrictions…this appeal, is a crucial next step in rep Sal's goal of getting the project approved and allowing it to begin construction on time.”
A judge is expected to review that petition and is going to issue a decision which could determine the final fate of the Laramie range wind project.
Read the full story HERE.
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I’ll be back with more news from Cowboy State Daily, after this….
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Proponents say that allowing Wyoming ranchers to sell their landowner hunting tags would bring them a much-needed financial boost. Opponents argue that it would inflame tensions between landowners and hunters. Cowboy State Daily’s Mark Heinz provides insight on both sides of the issue.
“There's a bill sponsored by a committee as to whether landowner should be the landowner they get these hunting tags, whether they should be able to transfer them, which basically translates into, should they be able to sell them? Should they put them, put them up on the market and sell them? And there's the potential that some of those tags, especially in really high, high profile or highly desired hunting areas, could bring a pretty good chunk of change. Some people say it's just, just compensation for the landowners who are providing food and water and shelter for the wildlife, others are saying it basically allows, it basically amounts to turn wildlife into a private, private property, a private profit generator.”
State Senator Tim French from Powell tells Cowboy State Daily that despite the steep odds, he’s reasonably optimistic that the bill has a good chance of passing this time around.
Read the full story HERE.
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The brother of a Casper mother of two killed in a head-on collision Friday night says her children are “insanely saddened” by the devastating crash, but they're surrounded by loved ones. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that her father, who was also in the car and remains hospitalized with serious injuries, was surrounded by family.
“They were all waiting at the ICU to see how Randy was going to do. They were there for him. And so they did go ahead and make a joint statement. And I talked to Manny's brother about how the dad is struggling. And so, this family was really together, and had all show, showed up for for their loved one.”
43-year-old Mandy Butler was driving a Toyota SUV the correct direction when a Nissan passenger car was driving the wrong direction along the 5300 block of CY Avenue in Casper Friday night and slammed into the Toyota, killing Mandy.
Read the full story HERE.
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A man accused of a fatal road rage-induced shooting outside a Cheyenne King Soopers grocery store in September fainted in court Monday when a judge upheld his bond at $500,000. Cowboy State Daily’s Jackson Walker reports Monsoor Ali started screaming and crying after the judge’s decision.
“During Monday's hearing, Ali's attorney asked the judge to lower his bond down from the lofty $500,000 which was denied. This led Ali to become emotionally distressed, and he actually fainted in the courtroom and collapsed to the ground. This led police to clear the room as medical officials came in.”
Laramie County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Perry Rockvam tells Cowboy State Daily that Ali was definitely emotional in the courtroom, and such outbursts are not uncommon among those moving through the criminal justice system.
Read the full story HERE.
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A well-known Yellowstone photographer posted a video of two tourists who narrowly escaped being gored earlier this summer. Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi spoke with Yellowstone resident and photographer Julie Argyle about the disturbing incident.
“She captured the video in late May. It's two tourists who are being shouted at, don't go over there. There's bison. And they even acknowledge that they hear people and are just powering on anyway, and then they have a near miss with one of the bison as it charges them. She posted the full video just this past weekend, and since it's been viewed almost 8 million times, might actually be over 8 million by the time people are watching this. So it's just another instant of people showing really brazen behavior, not aware of the dangerous, the incredibly dangerous circumstances they're putting themselves in when they go in.”
The National Park Service routinely states that bison are the park's most dangerous animals. There have been two confirmed bison-related deaths in Yellowstone's history, but many gorings over the years.
Read the full story HERE.
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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 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. Thanks for watching - I’m Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.
