Opinion

Bill Sniffin: Trump Win? Torturing A Wolf? Death Of A Famous Bear? What Were Top News Stories of 2024?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “So, by consensus, were the top five stories: Wolf torture, cop killing, wildfires, girl scout cookie fine, and Trump’s big win? What were the other big stories?”
Bill SniffinDecember 29, 2024

Jonathan Lange: Governments Wield Powers Of Death, Not Life
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: "Sunday morning, America woke to the horrific news that a New York criminal had set fire to a woman on the subway and watched her burn to death. If such sickening injustice does not justify the death penalty, what does?"
Jonathan LangeDecember 28, 2024

Dennis Sun: What Will Happen To Agriculture In 2025?
Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "I sure hope they don’t raise the debt limit again, but instead start limiting the debt. Currently, it takes $1 trillion to service the debt every four months. Luckily, we will have a president who will make America great again."
Dennis SunDecember 27, 2024

Sally Ann Shurmur: We Suffered Some Huge Losses In 2024, And Not All On The Football Field
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “From the beginning of the year nearly to its end, 2024 has been marked by the loss of people worth remembering.”
Sally Ann ShurmurDecember 26, 2024

Rod Miller: Returning Power to Wyoming People, One Good Idea At a Time
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Things should get pretty lively in Cheyenne during the upcoming legislative session. There’s a new posse in town and, according to them, their intent is to invest more political power in the hands of Wyoming’s citizens."
Rod MillerDecember 26, 2024

Tom Lubnau: Understanding Where Your Property Tax Dollars Go.
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "With property tax relief the centerpiece of political gamesmanship this year, we should all understand how the property tax system works."
Tom LubnauDecember 25, 2024

Clair McFarland: I Guess Honda Accords Aren't Cool Enough For Middle Schoolers
Clair McFarland writes: "This time, I dig way deep. 'Did you know, the Honda Accord is consistently within the top-10 stolen cars every year?' Middleborn raises one soft eyebrow, or at least I think he does, in the black shade of his hat brim."
Clair McFarlandDecember 25, 2024

Candy Moulton: Celebrating the Holidays One Tradition at a Time
Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "For me, there is nothing better than having a simple meal with my family in a cabin heated with a wood cook stove and with light provided by candles and lanterns."
Candy MoultonDecember 25, 2024

Dave Simpson: Still Trying To Bake Like My Mom
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “My mother once baked a pie for Amelia Earhart. Didn't make a big deal about it, though. In fact, her own kids didn't know about it until after she died, at age 99.”
Dave SimpsonDecember 24, 2024

Cassie Craven: The Game Is Shifting On Sex-Change Laws
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “Perhaps the Wyoming Republicans who voted against the What is a Woman Act last time, will rethink their positions in light of recent law, and common sense.”
Cassie CravenDecember 22, 2024

Rod Miller: A Campfire Christmas
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Twas the night before Christmas, ‘round the ol’ campfire. Coyotes were howlin’ out past the picket wire."
Rod MillerDecember 22, 2024

Joan Barron: A Dark Chapter In The Push For Women's Rights
In January, 1973, the Wyoming Senate voted to ratify the ERA. “Supporters in the gallery cheered and rushed outside to crown the nearby statue of Esther Hobart Morris with a garland of gold carnations."
Joan BarronDecember 21, 2024

Bill Sniffin: Curse The Darkness! Celebrate The Days Getting Longer – Yippee!
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, “Alas, here in Wyoming, this weekend marks the first official day of winter, too. We still might have four and half more months of wintry weather.”
Bill SniffinDecember 21, 2024

Jonathan Lange: The Reopening Of Notre Dame Signals Renewed Hope For Our Civilization
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: "Notre Dame’s reopening is a visible sign that the Prince of Peace has not abandoned us for our many sins. The Word of God still has free course. It is preached and available throughout the Christian West. We should not take that for granted."
Jonathan LangeDecember 21, 2024

Dennis Sun: A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer
I ain’t much good at prayin,’ and you may not know me, Lord – for I ain’t much seen in churches, where they preach Thy Holy Word.
Dennis SunDecember 21, 2024

Sally Ann Shurmur: New Babies In The Family Highlight Real Meaning Of Christmas
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, "Three new Shurmurs have joined the extended clan in the month of December. It’s never a bad time to have a baby.”
Sally Ann ShurmurDecember 19, 2024

Tom Lubnau: An Amazing Secret Petroglyph Shows Summer Is Coming
At a secret spot in Wyoming at sunrise on the winter solstice an amazing thing happens. When the sun just crests over the horizon, the sunlight points to a spot on a native American petroglyph which shows the days will start getting longer.
Tom LubnauDecember 19, 2024

Rod Miller: The Wyoming Freedom Caucus And See-Through Government
Rod Miller writes: "If the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is serious about government transparency, then they have a stalwart ally in yours truly. If they want to shred all the veils of government secrecy, then I’ll pull my weight in the trenches with ‘em."
Rod MillerDecember 18, 2024

Candy Moulton – Three of Wyoming’s History Keepers
Wyoming has a long list of people who help preserve and promote the history of the state. Glen Call in Afton, Jack States in Lander, and Dick Perue in Encampment, are three people I've worked with this year who are keeping history alive in their communities.
Candy MoultonDecember 17, 2024

Sheriff's Auction: How Much Life Is Left In These Cars & How Much Should You Bid?
Automotive writer Aaron Turpen says the three police cruisers being offered at a sheriff's auction on Wednesday could be a good purchase for the right amount. He thinks there should be plenty of life left in them, but, as always, buyer beware.
Aaron TurpenDecember 17, 2024

Bentley’s Amazing Paint Protection Film and Why It’s Not for the Rest of Us -- Yet
There are few things as expensive as the paint on a Bentley. Many of them have a paint cost that is equal to the average price of a car for the rest of us. There's a reason for that.
Aaron TurpenDecember 17, 2024

Dave Simpson: They're Not Worried About The Debt
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "Some of the smartest guys I know aren't very concerned that our national debt topped $36 trillion last week. One told me, "'Why worry about it? We'll be dead before the (bio material) hits the fan.'"
Dave SimpsonDecember 16, 2024

Cassie Craven. Aliens Are Real. And So Are Moderates In The Senate
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “In addition to aliens being real, I also know that there are moderates in the Senate in leadership positions. While these facts seem stranger than fiction, here they are nonetheless."
Cassie CravenDecember 15, 2024

Rod Miller: Wyoming's Signature Cocktail Is The Ice Slough Mint Julep
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "When the julep hits your gullet, it’s like drinking brimstone distilled in lye, with an after-taste of death on the trail. But you’ve come this far, so you drink it all. Momma keeps making juleps ‘til the jug is empty."
Rod MillerDecember 15, 2024