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
Jonathan Lange: Our Founders Had School Choice - So Should We
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: The flourishing private schools of yesteryear didn’t close down because of natural market forces – but because every parent who wanted to benefit from private school education had to pay twice. That’s not fair.
Jonathan LangeFebruary 07, 2025
Dennis Sun: Wyoming’s Outdoor Recreation Needs Managed
With many people not respecting private property, outdoor recreation can be a large problem. Side-by-side ATVs, four-wheelers and other off-roading vehicles can cause a lot of damage to roads and other resources, especially waterways.
Dennis SunFebruary 07, 2025
Sally Ann Shurmur: Thoughts On Parenting As The Oldest Turns Older
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “I only ‘lost’ him twice and both times nearly killed me.”
Sally Ann ShurmurFebruary 06, 2025
Dave Simpson: Obscenity Bill Could Die In Committee
Columnist Dave Simpson writes: “Time's running out on a bill that would remove an exemption for librarians from a law that prohibits exposing minors to pornography. One would think that our new common-sense House leadership would at least agree to let this bill out of committee, and proceed to the House floor for debate by the whole body. It deserves as much."
Dave SimpsonFebruary 06, 2025
Rod Miller: Using Kids As Human Shields In A Culture War
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "It boils down to this: if you don’t want to read a book, don’t read it. If you don’t want your minor children reading a book, don’t let them read it. Libraries don’t force-feed anything to anyone."
Rod MillerFebruary 05, 2025
Tom Lubnau: Freedom Caucus’ Policies Enticing For Bad Actors
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes: “In the desperate pursuit of their agenda, the Freedom Caucus is inadvertently creating the perfect environment for extremist activities. Imagine this fictional scenario…”
Tom LubnauFebruary 05, 2025
Candy Moulton: Wyoming Rock Art Deserves Protection
Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "Some of Wyoming’s rock art resources are well known. There are many more sites that are not easily accessible to the public, but they all deserve the protection that will be provided by the current legislation."
Candy MoultonFebruary 04, 2025
Clair McFarland: Writing Up A Test For Real ’Muricans
Clair McFarland writes: "'I think Americans ought to be able to eat 20 hot dogs in a minute!' said Little-Feisty. I choked on my tea. 'And I think,' blustered Big-Sweet, 'you gotta know who Mike Tyson is!'”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2025
Dave Simpson: Imagine If The Wyoming Legislature Was Run Like Congress
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "With 435 Representatives and 100 Senators, they'll be lucky to get anything passed by Memorial Day. That's because they work in Washington for three days, with Mondays and Fridays reserved for travel."
Dave SimpsonFebruary 03, 2025
Cassie Craven: Let’s Get Back to the Old School Way of Hand Counting Ballots
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “A 7-year-old kid was able to hack into a voting machine at a 2018 DEFCON hacking event. But don’t worry, your vote is safe because U.W. took a poll and 94% of people trust them. Don’t ask questions, conspiracy theorist.”
Cassie CravenFebruary 02, 2025
Rod Miller: A Couple Freedom Caucus Bills I Support
Rod Miller writes, "Voila! Hidden in the pile of pointless culture-war pontificating and goofball populist pipe dreams, I found a couple Freedom Caucus bills I support, and can suggest with a straight face that they’ll be good for Wyoming."
Rod MillerFebruary 02, 2025
Joan Barron: Whatever Happened To The Wyoming Caucus?
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "The traditional Republicans may be holding back in hopes that the extremist Freedom Caucus will go too far and will 'hoist itself on its own petard' to borrow a very old saying from Shakespeare."
Joan BarronFebruary 01, 2025
Bill Sniffin: When Were You The Happiest?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, "My wife was diagnosed with MS 40 years ago. As a result, we decided to travel the world at a younger age and pay for it with credit cards. Those were happy times. It worked out well.”
Bill SniffinFebruary 01, 2025
Dennis Sun: The High Price of Eggs
For the last two years, I, along with everyone else, understood the pandemic and inflation were two reasons for the high price of groceries. But, when egg prices started rising even more last fall, I realized there were more issues bringing on the rising prices.
Dennis SunFebruary 01, 2025
Jonathan Lange: The March For Life Bears Out The Constitution's Vision
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: The March for Life has become the national gathering of a wildly diverse movement. And as I walked through this cacophony, it struck me that this is the genius of American government.
Jonathan LangeFebruary 01, 2025
Sally Ann Shurmur: Kindness Abounds As January Finds Its Way Out
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “Just having someone besides the dog to talk to might be the biggest gift of all.”
Sally Ann ShurmurJanuary 31, 2025
Rod Miller: Emotional Support Critters Around the Ol’ Campfire
Rod Miller writes, "Rawhide Ricky from Rawlins perked up and informed his colleagues, 'All we gotta do is get a letter from a doc sayin’ we cain’t function without our critters. Then we can take ‘em with us everywhere we go. It’s the law!'”
Rod MillerJanuary 30, 2025
Tom Lubnau: The Wyoming House Needs To Think, Not Grandstand
Tom Lubnau writes, "The consequences of House Bill 164 are stunning. If a doctor injects a dementia patient with a muscle paralyzer with the intent of paralyzing the patient’s lungs so they can’t breathe and they die, the doctor can’t lose his job or lose his license for killing patients. It's euthanasia legalized."
Tom LubnauJanuary 29, 2025
Candy Moulton: The Creative Circle Of Joseph Marshall III
Columnist Candy Moulton writes: “Joseph Marshall III, a member of the Sicangu Oyate tribe, grew up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, in South Dakota, on his grandmother’s land. As a child he spoke only Lakota; now he is a member of the Western Writers Hall of Fame. ”
Candy MoultonJanuary 28, 2025
Dave Simpson: Does A Wet Blanket Await In The Wyoming Senate?
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "It's my hope that the wise and august state senators heed the tone of the electorate expressed last August, and proceed right away to the Five and Dime bills, so there's plenty of time to override pesky gubernatorial vetoes if need be, unlike last year."
Dave SimpsonJanuary 27, 2025
Tom Lubnau: This Year’s Abortions Bills Are More Political Theater
Tom Lubnau writes, "These bills are not about abortion, but about creating election issues - again. Anyone who speaks against the stupidity of these bills will see slanderous videos and flyers flooding every inbox, labeling them abortionists.”
Tom LubnauJanuary 27, 2025
Cassie Craven: Freedom Caucus Shows Promises Made, Promises Kept
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “To say the Freedom Caucus is grandstanding for publicity or campaign issues years from now is a wild notion. They just kicked establishment incumbents all the way out the door. They don’t need campaign issues. They need results and promises delivered – and so far so good.”
Cassie CravenJanuary 26, 2025
Rod Miller: The Separation Of Church And School In Wyoming
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "The Wyoming Constitution says religious organizations will never get one thin dime of taxpayer money. Things don’t get much more separate than that. Things are rendered to either Caesar or to God, not to both."
Rod MillerJanuary 26, 2025
Aaron Turpen: Odometer Fraud Is Getting More Commonplace, Thanks to Electronics
Automotive writer Aaron Turpen writes, "As the change from physical to virtual odometer readouts has commenced, so has the number of odometer fraud cases. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that around 450,000 vehicles are sold every year with false odometer readings."
Aaron TurpenJanuary 26, 2025
Joan Barron: Needed -- A 101 Course On Property Taxes
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "I think it’s clear that the lawmakers need to know precisely how the tax revenues from property taxes are spent other than that what they learn from their tax statements outlining the mill distributions."
Joan BarronJanuary 25, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Yes, Wyoming Needs A Big New Monument . . . For The Historic Oregon Trail
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “The Oregon Trail has significant sites and sights all across Wyoming that are still in place which deserve recognition.”
Bill SniffinJanuary 25, 2025
Dennis Sun: Cattle and Beef Prices Expected to Rise
Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "Today, everything we read about cattle and beef say prices are going up. This can be attributed to the short supply of cattle and the high demand of consumers, both in America and around the world. Everyone wants American beef."
Dennis SunJanuary 24, 2025
Jonathan Lange: Every Legislator Should Vote To Protect Wyoming Kids From The Porn Industry
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: "Without age verification safeguards, anyone of any age can access soul-destroying images merely by clicking on a button that says, 'I’m over 18 years old.'"
Jonathan LangeJanuary 24, 2025
Sally Ann Shurmur: In The Midst Of A Most Solemn Occasion, A Pep Rally Broke Out
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “The inauguration festivities on Monday were everything I hoped for, and more. Now that’s an opinion.”
Sally Ann ShurmurJanuary 23, 2025
Rod Miller: Let's Not Give More Power To The Gang That Can't Shoot Straight
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "In Park County, home to the nincompoops that are trying to tell Wyoming how to conduct our elections, the county assessor resigned then the dumpster caught fire."
Rod MillerJanuary 22, 2025
Tom Lubnau: The Legislature's Odd Maneuvers Look Like Political Theater
Tom Lubnau writes, "It seems like the legislature is scrambling to create campaign issues on hot-button topics rather than solving problems for run of the mill folks."
Tom LubnauJanuary 22, 2025
Candy Moulton: This Wyoming Cold Is Nothing New
Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "We’ve all gotten a pretty good dose of frigid weather all across Wyoming in the last few days with temperatures plunging to 20 or 30 degrees below zero (without any wind)."
Candy MoultonJanuary 21, 2025
Dave Simpson: Trump’s Victory Belongs To The Scorned Underdogs
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “For folks who consider themselves so much smarter than the rest of us, our liberal friends have failed. Spectacularly.”
Dave SimpsonJanuary 20, 2025
Cassie Craven: That Time A National LGBT Group Blasted A Wyoming One
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “An interesting moment surfaced in the Labor and Health Committee this week when national group Gays Against Groomers lambasted the state’s most prominent LGBTQ advocacy group, Wyoming Equality, for its dystopian agenda."
Cassie CravenJanuary 19, 2025
Rod Miller: Planning The New Mount Rushmore Around The Ol’ Campfire
Rod Miller writes, "Sourdough forged onward. 'Vedauwoo has all them rocks right by the interstate. If someone carved Josh Allen’s face on one o’ them boulders, tourists would go nuts an’ Buford would be a boomtown again!'”
Rod MillerJanuary 19, 2025
Joan Barron: It Was Like A Religious Ceremony But No One Was Singing
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "So the juggernaut is off with the leaders promising to pass 20 bills in the first 20 days of the session including the five priority bills. The House Freedom Caucus has shown its muscle."
Joan BarronJanuary 19, 2025