Government & Politics
News

Legislators Vote To Defund And Dismantle Wyoming Business Council
Nine of Wyoming’s top legislators advanced a bid Tuesday to defund and dismantle the Wyoming Business Council. Opponents call the move short-sighted while supporters say it stops government from unfairly competing with private businesses.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2026

‘This Is Textbook Overreach’: Cheyenne Council Blasted Over Inspection Warrants
Cheyenne City Council on Monday sat through hours of residents blasting them over administrative warrants to inspect homes and businesses. “This is textbook overreach” one local said before the council voted 6-3 to approve the ordinance’s second reading.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 14, 2026

Wyoming Lawmakers Propose Cutting Governor's Budget To UW By $61 Million
The Joint Appropriations Committee on Tuesday voted to reduce the governor’s recommended state budget for the University of Wyoming by nearly $61 million. State Sen. Ogden Driskill opposed the action calling them "spiteful and vindictive."
Clair McFarlandJanuary 13, 2026

Jillian Balow, Former Wyoming Schools Chief, Announces Run For House
Republican Jillian Balow, former Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction, is running for the state's lone U.S. House Seat. This pits her against Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Casper businessman Reid Rasner, both MAGA-style candidates.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 13, 2026

Wyoming Lawmakers Resist Gordon’s Push For $111.8 Million For State Worker Raises
The Wyoming legislative committee crafting a preliminary state budget voted Monday to deny the governor’s $111.8 million recommendation to give state employees raises. The debate is not over — the whole Legislature gets the budget next month.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 12, 2026

Degenfelder Officially Running For Governor After Trump Endorsement
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder on Monday announced she is running for governor. Degenfelder had been "strongly considering" the move and had received an endorsement from President Trump urging her to run last week.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 12, 2026

Barrasso Endorses Hageman's Candidacy For U.S. Senate
Wyoming’s senior U.S. Senator announced Monday morning that he’s endorsing U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman to serve alongside him in the upper chamber. He said Hageman “is going to be terrific in the U.S. Senate.”
Clair McFarlandJanuary 12, 2026

‘RUN MEGAN, RUN!’ Trump Promises Endorsement If Degenfelder Runs For Governor
If she decides to run for governor of Wyoming, Megan Degenfelder has President Donald Trump’s “Complete and Total Endorsement,” the president wrote Friday in a post to Truth Social. Degenfelder has said she’s “strongly considering” a run for governor.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 09, 2026

Lawmaker Unveils Bill To Prevent DUI Charges For Drunk Horseback Riding
A state representative from Casper wants to keep people from being charged with drunk driving if they're drunk while riding a horse, mule or donkey. The bill made one defense attorney laugh and left prosecutors wondering if a specific case inspired it.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 09, 2026

Gordon To Gray At Wind Meeting: 'Do You Want To Step Outside?'
The feud between Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Chuck Gray boiled over Thursday when Gordon asked Gray, “Do you want to step outside” near the end of a marathon Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners meeting in Douglas.
David MadisonJanuary 09, 2026

Cheyenne Proposal To Expand Warrants To Inspect Homes Has Some Crying Overreach
A proposed ordinance expanding administrative warrants to access people’s property has upset some Cheyenne residents who say it crosses the line into government overreach. Fire and building officials say they need them to do post-fire safety inspections.
Scott SchwebkeJanuary 08, 2026

Broken Fiber Line In Park County Exposes Fragility In Wyoming's 911 System
A cut fiber cable caused issues with 911 service from Monday night through Wednesday in Park County. “We are working with 57-year-old technology to make 911 work in the state of Wyoming,” Park County 911 Manager Monte McClain said.
Renée JeanJanuary 07, 2026

Governor Recommends Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock Be Removed From Office
Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday recommended Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock be removed from office. The announcement follows two different batches of complaints accusing Hadlock of misconduct after inaccuracies surfaced in two races in Weston County.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 07, 2026

Casper Businessman Reid Rasner Announces Run For U.S. House
A second Republican candidate touting MAGA principles has declared his run for Wyoming’s congressional's seat. Reid Rasner on Wednesday says he’s running for Congress “to help President Trump Make America Great Again.”
Clair McFarlandJanuary 07, 2026

Small, Loosely Organized Group Of Capitol Protesters Slam Trump On Jan. 6, Venezuela
An small, loosely organized “86/47” demonstration at the Wyoming Capitol against President Donald Trump on the anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, turned into a buffet-style protest Tuesday. Also targeted were Republicans and the U.S. incursion into Venezuela.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 06, 2026

After Wyoming Abortion Bans Struck Down, Legislative Leaders Vow Pro-Life Amendment
The Wyoming House speaker and Senate president both said Tuesday they’ll work to advance a pro-life constitutional amendment in the upcoming legislative session. That’s in response to a state Supreme Court ruling keeping abortion legal in Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 06, 2026

With Governor's Backing, WYDOT Asks Legislature For $282.8 Million Budget
After Gov. Mark Gordon recommended funding WYDOT’s $282.8 million budget pitch, lawmakers meeting Monday in Cheyenne questioned staffing gaps, taser costs and Highway Patrol needs like GPS and tunnel tech upgrades amid shortfalls.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 06, 2026

Gillette’s Airport's Success Prompts United To Drop Air Guarantee Subsidy
United Airlines dropped Gillette’s flight guarantee, proving Wyoming’s subsidy program works as airports mature toward self-sufficiency. Other communities like Cheyenne seek more state money amid rising costs and legislative hurdles.
Renée JeanJanuary 05, 2026

Cheyenne Restaurant Turns Heads With Money-Making Idea: Open Minnesota Day Care
Espi’s Restaurant in Cheyenne is famous for its green chili, breakfast burritos, and irreverent roadside messages. On Monday, people were stopping to take photos of its latest: “I am so broke, moving to Minn. and opening a daycare.”
Greg JohnsonJanuary 05, 2026

Women Have Run District Court System In Park County For More Than 100 Years
For over a century, Park County’s District Court record has been written by women. Since 1922, every clerk of District Court in the county has been female, possibly making it the longest-running gender-specific elected office succession in Wyoming.
Wendy CorrJanuary 04, 2026

Barrasso, Lummis, Gordon Cheer Trump's Military Strike On Venezuela
U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Saturday all commended President Trump's capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. "Peace through strength works," Lummis said. "Maduro will finally answer for his crimes in American courts.”
Sean BarryJanuary 04, 2026

Rasner Won’t Run For Governor, Says To 'Stay Tuned For News Next Week'
Reid Rasner won’t run to be the next governor of Wyoming, he told Cowboy State Daily in a Friday text message. “Stay tuned for news next week, the best is yet to come,” Rasner added.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 03, 2026

Wyoming Responds To PETA By Issuing A Pro-Rodeo License Plate
Wyoming issued a new pro-rodeo license plate Friday in response to PETA asking for a plate without the iconic bucking bronco claiming rodeo is cruel. One state legislator said PETA’s request made him want to celebrate rodeo “even more prominently.”
Clair McFarlandJanuary 02, 2026

Kristi Noem Lands In Worland, Spends Night On Ranch Near Ten Sleep
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made a pit stop in the Bighorn Basin overnight Sunday. Her Coast Guard jet landed in Worland and Noem spent the night at a ranch near Ten Sleep. She was gone early Monday before most people knew she was there.
Jackie DorothyDecember 30, 2025
