Opinion
News
Tom Lubnau: Budget Conference Negotiations – What Has Happened So Far
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "The House and Senate Committees ended up a mere $900 million dollars apart. The House said, in essence, Senate we don’t think we can make a deal with you. We’ve waited four days for a proposal, and this is the best you can do. We’re done."
Tom LubnauMarch 05, 2024
Cat Urbigkit: Wyo. Game And Fish Heeds Warnings, Switches Up Elk Feeding Plan
Columnist Cat Urbigkit writes, “Instead of focusing exclusively on elk damage payments made to ranches in the area, the plan now recognizes the economic, social and environmental importance of cattle production in the region."
Cat UrbigkitMarch 05, 2024
Tom Lubnau: The Dunning Kruger Effect – Or Why People Who Know Nothing Think They're Experts
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Have you ever watched someone stand in the middle of a room, give a speech on a topic with absolute confidence, and be completely wrong?"
Tom LubnauMarch 05, 2024
Dave Simpson: Sticking With Donald Trump Despite The Bloviating Jackass Moments
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "Defending Trump can be tough at times, but it beats the daylights out of another four years of clueless Joe Biden."
Dave SimpsonMarch 04, 2024
Rod Miller: Wyoming’s Freedom Caucus Grinches
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "The Wyoming Freedom Caucus should be called the Big Empty Coalition of the Easily Upset, and their flag should display a string of tightly clutched pearls. Their grumpiness is what will limit them as a political force."
Rod MillerMarch 03, 2024
Bill Sniffin: Wyoming Doomed To Have No Large Cities — Why?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Biggest reason for the lack of major growth was the 20-year bust that Wyoming endured from 1982 to 2002. Wyoming languished during this bleak period with a ‘make do, get by’ attitude.”
Bill SniffinMarch 02, 2024
Dennis Sun: Will The U.S. Postal Service Continue to Deliver For America?
Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "I don't think the "Delivering For America" plan does anything to help mail service in rural America, especially in Wyoming, where the U.S. Postal Service wants to move all processing centers out of the state
Dennis SunMarch 01, 2024
Sally Ann Shurmur: Did You Leap Or Shuffle?
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, "As I understand it, Leap Day is a math and science way to use up an accrual of extra hours and minutes from the previous three years, 11 months. If I had kids at home, I would let them eat ice cream for breakfast and breakfast for dinner."
Sally Ann ShurmurMarch 01, 2024
Cat Urbigkit & Rod Miller: The Lookout At The Halfway Mark Of The Legislative Session
Columnists Cat Urbigkit and Rod Miller discuss the Wyoming budget session as they see it shortly after the halfway mark. Both agree there are too many non-budget bills introduced and too many peacocking gubernatorial hopefuls.
Cat Urbigkit & Rod MillerFebruary 28, 2024
Tom Lubnau: Homeschool Enrollments Are Up While Public School Enrollments Are Down
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "If there are defects in our system of education, they should be adjusted. If the trend is away from a free and public education, our policy makers should examine why people want to educate their children at home."
Tom LubnauFebruary 28, 2024
Tom Lubnau: Statistics Don't Lie -- Young People Are Fleeing Wyoming
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "What is it about our state that is driving the young away, and attracting the old? Lack of opportunity? Lack of healthcare options? State policies that attracts older people while driving away younger people?"
Tom LubnauFebruary 28, 2024
Cat Urbigkit: Finding Beauty in Wyoming’s Capitol
Columnist Cat Urbigkit writes, "Good people will disagree. That’s not a failure but a fact of society. We can disagree and still put our best selves forward, giving the benefit of the doubt to others and realizing our political opponents are not our enemies but our neighbors."
Cat UrbigkitFebruary 28, 2024
Rod Miller: Remembering Pat O’Toole, Wyoming Visionary
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "My old friend Pat O’Toole has ridden on up ahead of the herd to scout a new countryside for water and good grass. You can bet your bottom dollar that, when we catch up with him, he will have picked out the perfect spot to rest."
Rod MillerFebruary 27, 2024
Dave Simpson: Grab The Special Times Before They're Gone
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "These are precious moments. Whenever my grandkids have a Hershey's Kisses peanut butter cookie, I'm betting they'll remember Gramps, and the good times we had. Grab those special times."
Dave SimpsonFebruary 26, 2024
Aaron Turpen: The Crown Is Proof Toyota Can Make Pretty Cars
Automotive columnist Aaron Turpen writes, “The Crown has a lot in common with its predecessor, including similar drivetrains and a similar interior size. Unlike the ‘this is basically a Camrolla’ look of the Avalon, though, the Crown is … well … beautiful.”
Aaron TurpenFebruary 25, 2024
Rod Miller: Will the Real “Establishment” Please Stand Up?
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Does hot water come out of your sink faucet when you turn the handle? Yep, you guessed it...'The Establishment' again, the ones who built the infrastructure to bring to your home the blessing of indoor plumbing. The Freedom Caucus had absolutely nothing to do with that miracle."
Rod MillerFebruary 25, 2024
Clair McFarland: Put Your Kids In A Car Wash
Clair McFarland writes: "My twin sons started chanting under their breath, as if to summon a troll: 'Carr-wash, carr-wash, carr-wash,' came their rhythmic spell.' 'Hey guys, what if we went through the car wash? I asked. “YEAHHH!'”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 24, 2024
Bill Sniffin: A Good Tax? Shootouts. My Favorite Deer. Fun Tourism Conference.
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, “A revolutionary tax program has been proposed that would get rid of property taxes for 97 percent of the home-owners in Wyoming. It is a fantastic idea.”
Bill SniffinFebruary 24, 2024
Dennis Sun: Looking Ahead In The World Of Agriculture
Ag columnist Dennis Sun writes, "There are always risks in the cattle business, so what is happening with high prices today has happened before. We do have some new concerns today, some of which are not going to be solved soon.
Dennis SunFebruary 23, 2024
Explaining The Legislature: How The State Of Wyoming Develops A Budget
Columnist, and former Speaker of the House Tom Lubnau discusses the process for how the State of Wyoming develops a budget -- from the agencies to the governor to the legislature. Wyoming is required, by constitution, to have a balanced budget.
Tom LubnauFebruary 23, 2024
Sally Ann Shurmur: Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) And The ADA
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, "Mom was really, really slow on the walker, and yet we went. If only I knew then what I know now, I would have tried to be more patient, more understanding, more loving."
Sally Ann ShurmurFebruary 23, 2024
Explaining The Legislature: Bill Trading Is A Felony In Wyoming & Accusations Are A Big Deal
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Nothing justifies accusing someone of a constitutional crime as a political tool. Wyoming is not Washington, D.C. and all our legislators, including my old neighbor, should keep it from becoming a D.C. train wreck."
Tom LubnauFebruary 21, 2024
Rod Miller: Rep. John Bear Puts His Foot In His Mouth
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "I hope the citizens in the small communities east of Gillette are as pissed off as I am. To tolerate John Bear as their representative is just like tolerating Dr. Kevorkian as the family doctor."
Rod MillerFebruary 20, 2024
Cat Urbigkit: Legislative Week One Celebration
Columnist Cat Urbigkit writes, "I’m celebrating that half the bills that were filed are already dead, either voted down for introduction or simply not considered for introduction by the deadline."
Cat UrbigkitFebruary 20, 2024