Government & Politics

U.S. Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, left, and Chuck Schumer, D-New York.

Barrasso Blasts Dems' $1 Trillion ‘Ransom' As Government Shutdown Looms

To avoid a government shutdown, a supermajority of Senate votes is required, giving Democrats leverage. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said Democrats are holding the Senate hostage for what amounts to a $1 trillion "ransom.”

Sean BarrySeptember 19, 2025

State Democrats expressed open criticism with U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon after she visited Jackson Hole Classical Academy on Thursday. They argued the visit appeared to cherry pick one high-achieving outlier that does not represent Wyoming education as a whole.

Wyoming Dems Call Secretary McMahon's Comments In Jackson Ill-Fitting

State Democrats criticized U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Friday a day after she visited a Jackson-area charter school. They said she cherry-picked one high-achieving school that does not represent Wyoming as a whole.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 19, 2025

Barrasso Won't Miss Jimmy Kimmel; Hageman Says Suspension Not 'A First Amendment Issue'

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman says the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late night TV Show over his comments on Charlie Kirk "isn't a First Amendment issue," while Sen. John Barrasso said he won't miss the show.

Sean BarrySeptember 19, 2025

Hageman and Omar 18 Sep 2025 06 08 PM 6108

Hageman Says Vote To Censure Ilhan Omar Was To Hold Her Accountable For What She Said

Rep. Harriet Hageman said her vote to censure Minnesota Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar for her "horrific" remarks about Charlie Kirk was all about holding people accountable for how they act and what they say.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 19, 2025

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon toured the Jackson Hole Classical Academy in Jackson, Wyoming, on Thursday, then doubled down on President Trump's mission to give oversight of public educaiton back to the states.

Secretary Of Education McMahon Doubles Down On State Control During Jackson Visit

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon toured a school in Jackson, Wyoming, on Thursday, then doubled down on President Trump's mission to give oversight of public education back to the states.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 18, 2025

Rep. Harriet Hageman told Cowboy State Daily the new Jan. 6 committee she’s on is legitimate, while the one Liz Cheney vice-chaired was not. She wants to focus on the security failures at the Capitol but declined to critique Cheney’s work on the panel.

Hageman Says New J6 Committee Legitimate, Cheney’s Was Not

Rep. Harriet Hageman on Wednesday told Cowboy State Daily the new Jan. 6 committee she’s on will seek to probe and remedy security failures at the Capitol. She declined to critique Liz Cheney's prior investigative findings.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2025

Makeshift memorial for Charlie Kirk outside of the headquarters of Turning Point USA on September 16, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Wyoming Faith Leaders Launch Peacemaker Group In Wake Of Charlie Kirk Killing

It wasn't set to mobilize until next year, but after Charlie Kirk's killing and other violence, its leaders decided now is the time to launch Become a Peacemaker. It's a new interfaith group dedicated to ending hostility and division across Wyoming.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 17, 2025

This truck with an oversized load was stopped just before entering the Green River Tunnel on Aug. 31. Eastbound traffic on Interstate 80 had to be shut down while the load was moved.

Highway Patrol Cracks Down On Oversized Loads Trying To Use Green River Tunnel

The Wyoming Highway Patrol says troopers are cracking down on truck drivers who continue to haul oversized loads through the Green River Tunnel. The tunnel was damaged in a fiery crash that killed three in February and repair work continues.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 17, 2025

Commissioners Troy Thompson and Ty Zwonitzer hear testimony from a Repsol representative as they weigh the Laramie Range Wind Project on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.

56,000-Acre Wind Farm Project Denied By Laramie County Commissioners

At the end of a marathon hearing Tuesday after dozens of people lobbied against a huge, 56,000-acre wind farm project, the Laramie County Commission denied it.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 17, 2025

With Food Benefits Coming Up $3.4 Million Short, Wyoming Agencies Sound Alarm

Wyoming food benefits, aka SNAP, will soon come up $3.4 million short under impacts from the Big Beautiful Bill. It will be up to state legislators to decide if the state should make up the federal shortfall.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 16, 2025

A Laramie County landowner who is against a massive 170-wind turbine project says the giant windmills have a negative impact on earthworms, which leads to soil erosion. Scientists, in a 2021 study in the Netherlands, back his claim.

Landowner Says Wind Turbines Negatively Impact Earthworms, Scientists Agree

A Laramie County landowner who is against a massive 170-wind turbine project says the giant wind turbines have a negative impact on earthworms, which leads to soil erosion. Scientists, in a 2021 study in the Netherlands, back his claim.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 16, 2025

A Wyoming state legislator and a parent of a student at Crest Hill Elementary School in Casper are sounding alarms over a male janitor who cross-dresses and asks students to use she/her pronouns. The Natrona County School District says it “follows the law."

Legislator, Parent Sound Alarm Over Cross-Dressing Janitor At Casper Elementary

A Wyoming state legislator and a parent of a student at a Casper elementary school are sounding alarms over a male janitor who cross-dresses and asks students to use she/her pronouns. The Natrona County School District says it “follows the law."

Dale KillingbeckSeptember 15, 2025

Widow Of Foster Friess Pledges $1 Million To Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA

Lynn Friess, widow of Wyoming businessman Foster Friess whose $10,000 donation kick-started Turning Point USA, pledged 100 times that Sunday. Her $1 million donation reflects her husband’s belief in Kirk and desire for TPUSA to “grow even stronger," she wrote.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 15, 2025

Tears And Prayers At Wyoming Capitol Vigil For Charlie Kirk, Violence Victims

About 100 people gathered at the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne on Saturday evening to mourn and honor conservative political influencer Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down Wednesday. They also wept and prayed for Colorado school shooting victims.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 14, 2025

President Trump did not call for unity Friday in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, instead calling the radical left “vicious.” Wyoming Democrats say they’re repulsed by the response, but not surprised. They include, clockwise from top left, state Rep. Mike Yin, Rep. Ken Chestek, Sen. Chris Rothfuss and Rep. Karlee Provenza.

Wyoming Democrats Saddened By Trump Reaction To Charlie Kirk Shooting

Wyoming Democrats said they were saddened Friday that President Trump hasn’t called for unity following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Trump, instead, called the radical left “vicious."

Clair McFarlandSeptember 13, 2025

Wyoming legislators on Thursday, including state Sen. Troy McKeown, R-Gillette, debated how to prosecute gambling houses and dealers who operate under the regulatory table — without jailing “grandma and her friends" for friendly poker games.

Legislators Work To Crack Down On Gambling ‘Houses,’ Not Bust Friendly Poker Games

Wyoming legislators on Thursday debated how to prosecute gambling houses and dealers who operate under the regulatory table — without jailing “grandma and her friends" for friendly poker games.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 13, 2025

Republicans and Democrats are in a showdown over a government shutdown.

Delegation: ‘Nuclear Option’ Ends Dems’ ‘Reign Of Terror’ Holding Up Trump Nominees

Senate Democrats have gone to unprecedented lengths to slow confirmations for Trump nominees in what Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso calls a “reign of procedural terror.” On Thursday, Senate Republicans dropped a “nuclear option” to bypass the Dem filibuster.

Sean BarrySeptember 12, 2025

Laramie County Locals Clash Over Wind Project 3 Times The Size Of Cheyenne

Laramie County locals clashed Thursday over a proposed 56,000-acre wind project that would cover an area nearly three times the size of Cheyenne. Some were ranchers advocating for property rights, others for impacts on wildlife like eagles and earthworms.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 12, 2025

Hulett faces a heated debate as an anonymous pamphlet proposes changing the school’s “Red Devil” mascot to a hawk. It's promted confusion, community outcry, and school board members seeking answers ahead of a pivotal meeting in October.

Push To Change Hulett Red Devils Mascot Sparks Outcry

Hulett faces a heated debate as an anonymous pamphlet proposes changing the school’s “Red Devil” mascot to a hawk, prompting confusion and community outcry.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 11, 2025

Students gather at Prexie's Pasture, a large outdoors common area on the University of Wyoming Campus, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to remember Charlie Kirk, who was killed earlier in the day.

Stunned, Conflicted UW Students Condemn Charlie Kirk Killing, Political Violence

Students at the University of Wyoming were stunned Thursday less than 24 hours after conservative political thought leader Charlie Kirk was killed on an Utah university campus. They condemn political violence, and are conflicted about Kirk’s legacy.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 11, 2025

Wyoming Businessman Foster Friess Kick-Started Charlie Kirk's Turning Point Group

The person credited with kick-starting Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization was a rags-to-riches Wyoming businessman who ran for state governor in 2018. Foster Friess saw something in the young conservative crusader, who was killed Wednesday.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 11, 2025

Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, left, chairs the Select Committee on Capitol Financing and Investiments. Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, is the vice chair.

No Chance Of Tax Hikes On Gaming Companies After Meeting Adjourned Early

After voting against two bills that that would have Wyoming’s gaming companies, two others weren’t heard when a legislative committee adjourned early Tuesday. The committee’s chair, Sen. Tara Nethercott, was visibly frustrated with the lack of movement.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 11, 2025

The sun peeks over the horizon over Adobe Town in Wyoming's Red Desert.

Wyoming Delegation Applauds Move To Throw Out Public Lands Rule

Wyoming’s federal lawmakers are praising the planned repeal of the BLM’s Public Lands Rule, which was announced Wednesday. They say the 2024 rule threatened to shut off hundreds of thousands of acres from natural resources, grazing and recreation.

Sean BarrySeptember 10, 2025

Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Gillette, Wyoming, operated by the Campbell County Cemetery District.

Gillette Cemetery Board Treasurer Sounds Alarm Over Payouts To Nonprofit Groups

The treasurer for the Campbell County Cemetery District board is sounding an alarm over thousands of dollars being paid out to local nonprofit groups. Others on the board say the district is simply being a good neighbor.

Jackson WalkerSeptember 10, 2025

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