Opinion

Aaron Turpen: When Will Cars Be Affordable Again? Very Soon
Wyoming automotive writer Aaron Turpen writes, "By mid-July, most manufacturers will be offering heavy incentives to buy new. If you’re looking to buy, this summer might be your chance to get past some of those high prices that might have made you wince."
Aaron TurpenJune 21, 2024

Sally Ann Shurmur: Peter King, Broadway Joe And Me
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, "I suppose most professionals have someone whom they look to as having achieved the pinnacle in their profession. For me, it is the sportswriter Peter King..."
Sally Ann ShurmurJune 20, 2024

Tom Lubnau: Wyoming's Future -- Diversification Or Destitution?
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "McCreary County, Kentucky, is a place where over 50% of the land and minerals are controlled by the federal government and the primary industry was fossil fuels. They have a lot of parallels to Wyoming. "
Tom LubnauJune 19, 2024

Candy Moulton: From Encampment To Russia To Cuba
Candy Moulton writes, "I asked Nikita Khrushchev's son: 'At the time of the October 1962 events, the Cuban Missile Crisis, which side won the standoff?' 'My father did,' Sergio Khrushchev answered without hesitation."
Candy MoultonJune 18, 2024

Rod Miller: A Special Session of the Ol’ Campfire Caucus – The Fight Against America’s Silent Killer
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Sourdough dogwhistled into the night and cowboys’ heads snapped to attention. 'This Special Session of the Ol’ Campfire Caucus will come to order,' he growled."
Rod MillerJune 18, 2024

Dave Simpson: Kinder, Gentler Fan Wants Me Dead
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "One reader from the tolerant left writes, 'Thank goodness people like you will die out soon, and a kinder, gentler people will be able to write pieces... Good riddance.'"
Dave SimpsonJune 17, 2024

Joan Barron: Snippets From A Reporter's Notebook
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "The Democrats were a wild bunch during the session in 1958. They carted the shaggy stuffed buffalo from the capitol rotunda to the lawn outside and began riding it. Some were bucked off."
Joan BarronJune 17, 2024

Aaron Turpen: I Jawed At High Schoolers About My Job and It Was Bussin, No Cap
Wyoming automotive columnist Aaron Turpen writes, "Recently, I went to East High to talk to about what I do for a living. I told this group of ninth graders about myself. I drive brand new cars, supplied by manufacturers, and then write about those cars."
Aaron TurpenJune 16, 2024

Rod Miller: Keeping an Eye on AI (While AI Keeps an Eye on Us)
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "My son Vic’s AI-assisted campaign for Cheyenne’s mayor has a lot of folks scratching their noggins. Count me in that crowd. Anything new or unknown creates fear among humans. That’s instinctive and healthy."
Rod MillerJune 16, 2024

Bill Sniffin: I Am The Pater Familias – But How Did I Get Here?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Family legend has it that my grandpa rode into town on his motorcycle and swept Allie off her feet. They defied old Irish family traditions, drove off, and got married. That event was critical to me ultimately being here.”
Bill SniffinJune 15, 2024

Rod Miller: Searching For The Center Of The Big Empty
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Ask anyone where the political center of Wyoming is located and all you’ll get is confused glances. The political center of Wyoming does not seem to be where it used to be. But that’s not true. The center hasn’t moved. Only people’s ideas of the center have moved."
Rod MillerJune 14, 2024

Dennis Sun: The Consolidation Of Our Ranches
Ag columnist Dennis Sun writes, "The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture found there were 1.9 million farms and ranches in the U.S. This is the smallest number since 1950."
Dennis SunJune 14, 2024

Jonathan Lange: “One Nation Under God” Is Cornerstone Of America’s Republic
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "On this day 70 years ago, President Eisenhower signed a bill which added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge of Allegiance. Both chambers agreed unanimously that 'under God' should be added."
Jonathan LangeJune 14, 2024

Sally Ann Shurmur: If Loving Food Trucks Is Wrong, I Don’t Want To Be Right
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, "I waited my turn to order from the car window. A gal standing in line came to my car, asked what I was ordering, and got my debit card. Did I know her? Nope. But this is Wyoming and you have to have faith in people."
Sally Ann ShurmurJune 13, 2024

Tom Lubnau: How Does Wyoming Judicial Selection Protect Against A Political Judiciary?
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "A long time ago, Wyoming set up a process to establish an independent and non-political judiciary. Other states are not so lucky."
Tom LubnauJune 12, 2024

Candy Moulton: Ol Max and The Rounders
Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "You may know the story of The Rounders because you have seen the film starring Henry Fonda and Glenn Ford. But you may have never read the novel that inspired the film — and changed Max Evans' life."
Candy MoultonJune 11, 2024

Dave Simpson: What's A Republican Voter To Do?
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "Mike Yin of Jackson was 'extremely confused' by my column last week. And I understand perfectly. I'd be confused too if I was a Democrat elected by Jackson Democrats."
Dave SimpsonJune 10, 2024

Rod Miller: Do Artificial Brains Wear Artificial Stetsons?
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "It was an instructive and interesting exercise to 'work' with artificial intelligence to crank out a column. You saw the result. It was hyperbolic, exaggerated and full of cowboy vernacular. Campfire gossip on steroids."
Rod MillerJune 09, 2024

Joan Barron: A Timely Tribute to a Beleaguered Politician
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "Wyoming’s Lester Hunt, who died 70 years ago June 19, is getting a lot of attention this year. Presentations and panels in Lander, where Hunt lived, with more to come in Cheyenne."
Joan BarronJune 09, 2024

Bill Sniffin: Wyoming’s Most Fantastic Mountain Man Was Finis Mitchell
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “He was the Johnny Appleseed of the future trout paradise that these mountain lakes became. Today, it is common for hikers to catch trout in the 18-24 inch range. Each fish should have a label: ‘Courtesy of Finis Mitchell.’”
Bill SniffinJune 09, 2024

Jonathan Lange: Wyomingites Should Question AG’s Opinion On Secrecy Of Election Records
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: "Despite their constitutional guarantees, the rights of Wyoming citizens to scrutinize public election records are being denied."
Jonathan LangeJune 07, 2024

Dennis Sun: Get Over It
Ag columnist Dennis Sun writes, "I think we are headed down the wrong road if we make our food system political, as some other countries have in getting rid of their livestock."
Dennis SunJune 07, 2024

Sally Ann Shurmur: As We All Grow Older, Change Is Hard
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, "This was the first time since 1994 that I did not stay at Mom and Dad’s house in Wisconsin. I have never not stayed at their house in 50 years of visits to Detroit, Boston, L.A. and Phoenix prior to their move to Green Bay in 1994."
Sally Ann ShurmurJune 06, 2024

Rod Miller Told An AI Bot To Write His Column; It Came Up With This
Rod Miller's mind-bending experiment of the week was to tell an artificial intelligence bot to study his past columns, then write one for him. This cowboy concoction was its answer.
Rod MillerJune 05, 2024