Opinion
Guest Column: Teton County’s Workforce Housing Regulations Are Unconstitutional
Guest columnist Austin Waisanen writes, "'Workforce housing' fees — a bad idea that drives up the cost of housing and unconstitutionally places the burden of other people’s housing on individual property owners — may soon run their course in Wyoming."
CSD StaffFebruary 20, 2025
Rod Miller: If SF69 Was A Roundup – A Campfire Allegory About Property Tax Reform
The stranger wore town clothes, and sat his horse uneasily. “I’m just deliverin’ the message,” he said, “put half back where ya found ‘em or somethin’ bad’s gonna happen. Cops will get fired, an’ towns will go thirsty. Bad stuff like that.”
Rod MillerFebruary 20, 2025
Sally Ann Shurmur: Random Thoughts As Random As This $&@?! Weather
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “I could write about the Legislature, but it seems like everyone else is. I could write about Wyoming’s roads, but tragically, that’s been done plenty.”
Sally Ann ShurmurFebruary 20, 2025
Cassie Craven: DOGE Dividends and Property Taxes Have a Lot in Common
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “A Cheyenne representative pointed out that Laramie County collected $32 million in property taxes and put every penny in reserves. In short, the government gets to save for a rainy day while you can’t afford to pay your debt or save for your own rainy day."
Cassie CravenFebruary 20, 2025
Tom Lubnau: If Lawmakers Aren't Being Puppeted By DC, Let Them Show It
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes: "I am calling on all the members of the House to release any written, email or text message documents which indicate Wyoming Freedom Caucus positions on bills. Demonstrate to the public they are doing nothing wrong."
Tom LubnauFebruary 19, 2025
Candy Moulton: Standing Strong in the 307
Columnist Candy Moulton writes: “I have covered many accidents and life-threatening situations. At every scene I’ve seen the professionals like EMTs, law enforcement, volunteers, and regular people doing extraordinary things."
Candy MoultonFebruary 18, 2025
Dave Simpson: Don't Fall For The Same Old 'Sky Is Falling' Routine
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "What are the chances our sheriff will have to lay off 25 employees if Senate File 69 passes? Laramie County has $92 million in reserves. If our county is dumb enough to gut law enforcement when it has $92 million in reserves, voters will oust every incumbent..."
Dave SimpsonFebruary 17, 2025
Cassie Craven: Can the Government Compel Your Use of Pronouns?
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “Government’s policies attempt to override our God-given freedom and compel our speech to fall in line with their ideological secularism, which is a religion in its own right.”
Cassie CravenFebruary 16, 2025
Rod Miller: Scorched Earth In Wyoming And Elsewhere
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "By strangling the lifeline for local services such as fire and police protection, water and sewer infrastructure, schools, libraries, and other essential elements of civilization, the Freedom Caucus will turn our landscape into a scorched earth of ghost towns."
Rod MillerFebruary 16, 2025
Tom Lubnau: The Freedom Caucus Unleashes Big-Government Control
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Here are five examples of how the Freedom Caucus is less about freedom, and more about 'being the boss of you.'"
Tom LubnauFebruary 16, 2025
Joan Barron: Freedom Caucus’ Top Priority Bill On Stage Next Week.
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "When the legislators return next week after their crossover long weekend, they will find Senate File 69 waiting in the house."
Joan BarronFebruary 16, 2025
Bill Sniffin: The Dawn Of Snowmobile Tourism In Wyoming – I Was There – Here Is What Happened
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “We all knew that snowmobile tourism could be gigantic in Wyoming but nobody knew how to get this new industry off the ground. We needed to call in an expert.”
Bill SniffinFebruary 16, 2025
Dennis Sun: Some Positives Of Agriculture
Ag columnist Dennis Sun writes, "There are always individuals or groups who want to stop livestock grazing and/or keep everyone from eating meat. It has been going on for years, and I realize it will most likely never stop."
Dennis SunFebruary 15, 2025
Jonathan Lange: No, The Ultrasound Bill Does Not Mandate Intrusive Medical Procedures
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: “House Bill 64 stipulates the purpose of the ultrasound: to determine the age, length and head diameter of the unborn baby. A non-intrusive ultrasound can do this as well.”
Jonathan LangeFebruary 15, 2025
Sally Ann Shurmur: Finding The Good Among The Very, Very Bad This Week
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “This week has been a rough one in the 307 most of us love so much. Yet, there is good to be found. Two women are organizing “Wyoming for Olivia,” on Friday at 5:30 p.m."
Sally Ann ShurmurFebruary 13, 2025
Cassie Craven: Death to the Bureaucracy and Its Secrets
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “In lieu of a large unelected bureaucracy, our elected officials seem to be pursuing truth and recreating a government that is responsive to the people. That is the point of democracy after all.”
Cassie CravenFebruary 13, 2025
Rod Miller: Voting With Dollars in the Big Empty
Rod Miller writes, “I have to chuckle when I see someone go all bug-eyed over the possibility of a politician suffering economically over his politics. What could be more free-market, capitalistic and American than that?”
Rod MillerFebruary 13, 2025
Tom Lubnau: Wyoming House Leadership – Promises Made, Promises Broken
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "95 bills died in the Speaker’s drawer – bills that were created at the request of constituents to be considered by the Wyoming legislature. Speaker Neiman substituted his judgment for the wisdom of the entire body."
Tom LubnauFebruary 12, 2025
Candy Moulton: What's Inside The American Windmill Museum
Candy Moulton writes: “Lubbock, Texas, has some similarities to places in Wyoming – the wind always seems to blow! That makes it the perfect place for the American Windmill Museum.”
Candy MoultonFebruary 11, 2025
Dave Simpson: You Wanted Change? We Got It!
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “Call it a sea change, a new sheriff in town, or 'a come to Jesus moment,' but Donald Trump is making good on promises, and bringing common sense back into fashion.”
Dave SimpsonFebruary 10, 2025
Cassie Craven: A Wild Week in the Wyoming Legislature
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “A few remnants of the failed and governor-supported ‘Wyoming Caucus’ are kicking and screaming while the majority of the House pushes toward government reform.”
Cassie CravenFebruary 09, 2025
Rod Miller: Goat Ropin’ In Gaza For Trump – A Campfire Parable
The sultry Mediterranean night made the cowhands sit waaay back from the campfire. The hot hamoun wind made them swap their Tony Lamas for sandals, and their sweaty stetsons for sweaty keffiyehs. All in all, they were not pleased to be herding goats in Gaza.
Rod MillerFebruary 09, 2025
Joan Barron: A Revised Tax Reform Bill Is A Test For Local Governments
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "What stood out was the lack of trust many legislators have with their local governments in regard to spending. There were no claims of fraud, just overspending or maybe not being transparent about where the money goes."
Joan BarronFebruary 08, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Wyoming Folks Recall Times When They Were Happiest – How About You?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “I asked people to share with us when they were most happy in their lives? What they shared made a big impression.”
Bill SniffinFebruary 08, 2025