Government & Politics
News
Legislative Committee Moves Forward With Bill Protecting Reporters From Revealing Sources
A legislative committee on Wednesday advanced a media shield law by an 8 - 1 vote that would protect journalists in Wyoming from revealing their sources. Wyoming is one of only two states without a shield law.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023
Wyoming Freedom Caucus Wants State Attorney General To Take Stance On Social Credit Scores
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus wants Attorney General Bridget Hill to come out against social credit scores. They said Bridget Hill should "take a stand and protect Wyoming's extractive industries and way of life."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023
Gordon Says No Problems With Guatemalans In Gillette; Rep. Bear Not Convinced
Gov. Mark Gordons office found nothing to confirm Rep. John Bears concerns that potentially undocumented Guatemalans had landed in Wyoming. Bear wants a further investigation.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023
Helicopter Hunter Who Uses M-16s To Gun Down Hogs Says Night Vision For Killing Coyotes Necessary
Blasting feral hogs with the help of night vision scopes from helicopters is highly effective in Texas, said a Cheyenne man who is advocating for the use of night vision in Wyoming to help with the control of coyotes.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2023
Sec Of State Chuck Gray Actively Lobbying Legislature; Rep Calls It ‘Uncouth” & “Unstately”
Although Chuck Grays active legislative lobbying has surprised some people, it doesn't infringe on any state laws and many legislators have no problem with it. The longest serving member of the House, however, calls it "uncouth" and "unstately."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023
Wyoming Hunters Call Out Fake ‘No Trespassing’ Signs On Public Land
People have been planting fake no trespassing signs on public land and trying to chase hunters away. A new bill would qualify that as "hunter harassment"l and punishable by fines up to $10,000 for the first offense and up to $50,000 for subsequent offenses.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2023
Cheyenne Airport Canceling All Of Its Flights Again For More Runway Construction
It's deja-vu all over again at the Cheyenne airport. All flights have been canceled from April to September in order to work on the runway again.
Renée JeanJanuary 24, 2023
Wyoming Lawmakers Move To Regulate Gaming, Industry Doesn’t Want ‘To Look Like Montana’
Skill-based games are age-restricted in Wyoming, and are something the industry itself has told state lawmakers should be limited to adult locations truck stops, bars and smoke shops. Senate File 41 would accomplish that and was advanced last week.
Renée JeanJanuary 24, 2023
No New Trial For Admitted Pedophile, Wyoming Supreme Court Rules
A 57-year-old Gillette man serving life in prison for sexually abusing a 7-year-old boy claimed his jury convicted him because hes a pedophile, not for actually committing an act of sexual abuse.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 24, 2023
Google Maps Still Sending Drivers To Unmaintained Dirt Roads During Blizzards
It's still not fixed. Last month, nine motorists got stranded in a blizzard in Sweetwater County after their navigation systems directed them to unmaintained dirt roads in the middle of nowhere.
Jimmy OrrJanuary 23, 2023
Bouchard Introduces Bill That Would Ban Child Sex Change Surgeries In Wyoming
State Sen. Anthony Bouchard has introduced a bill that would make it illegal for doctors to perform sex change treatments on minors and insurance companies from covering them. "Chloe's Law," is named for a woman who transitioned to a man and now regrets it.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 23, 2023
Bill Would Let Hunters Use Night Vison To Kill Coyotes On Public Land
Allowing coyote hunters to use night vision on public land would give them the same rights predator hunters already have in numerous states, proponents of bill to do so said. Others had concerns over the safety of the practice.
Mark HeinzJanuary 22, 2023
Bill Would Prohibit Former Legislators From Immediately Becoming Lobbyists With 2-Year Wait Period
There are at least three lobbyists at the Capitol this session who were still elected members of the Wyoming Legislature less than two weeks ago. A bill has been introduced that would require legislators to cool off for two years before becoming lobbyists.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 22, 2023
Legislature Pulls Trust-Fund Support For Suicide Call Centers
State Rep. Landon Brown said carving out the $46 million trust fund from a bill establishing the national 988 suicide call center program in Wyoming was the bill's best chance to pass.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023
Watered-Down Vax Bill Advances; Drops Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella Language
A previous version of the bill prohibited all vaccine mandates for COVID-19 and any other infectious virus or disease. This would have included other diseases like measles, mumps, polio and rubella.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023
Committee Kills Ranked Choice Voting For Wyoming
Citing ballot exhaustion, costs and potential to confuse voters, a Wyoming House committee killed a proposal that would have allowed state municipalities to test ranked choice voting.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023
Bill That Forbids Teaching Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity In Wyoming Schools Advances
The "Wyoming Parental Rights in Education Act" advanced Friday to the Senate floor. Detractors say the bill squelches speech and marginalizes LGBTQ families, while proponents say the bill upholds everyones values by leaving the teaching of those topics at home with families.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 20, 2023
Supporters Say Bill Will Help Wyoming Lead The Nation In Digital Asset Registration
Wyoming lawmakers deliberated at length Thursday on a proposal that establishes a structure for registering digital property with the Secretary of State, a process that is not yet available anywhere else.
Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2023
Bill: Wyoming Banks Can’t Be Sued For Freezing Accounts If Fraud Against Elderly, Disabled Suspected
If it passes the Wyoming Legislature, Senate File 24 would protect banks from being sued for freezing peoples assets briefly if they believe a vulnerable adult is being exploited.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 20, 2023
Gov. Gordon Tests Positive For COVID, Will Work From Home
Wyoming Gov Mark Gordon announced on Friday that he has tested positive for Covid. He sad the symptoms are minor and will work from home.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 20, 2023
House Committee Passes Medicaid Expansion, But Not For Gender Surgeries
An effort to expand Medicaid in Wyoming cleared its first hurdle but not before Rep. John Bear added an amendment to the bill that stipulates no state money could be used for transgender surgical operations.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Two Bills Would Make Concealed Carry Permits Legal Identification To Vote In Wyoming
State Sen Lynn Hutchings told Cowboy State Daily that when she arrived at a polling place to vote, she realized she had no form of identification besides her concealed-carry permit. She said, "I'm a state legislator. I'm going to fix that."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Rep. John Bear Remark About Guatemalans Landing In Gillette Sparks Refugee Rumor
A comment state Rep. John Bear made on Thursday morning that dozens of Guatemalans were on a flight that landed in Gillette on Wednesday night has stoked the political rumor mill at the Capitol that it was an influx of refugees.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Bill Would Pay Teton County Judges A $1,900 Monthly Housing Allowance
A proposed law that would give judges in Wyomings richest county a $1,900 monthly housing allowance is still alive but detractors worry judges could turn a profit using public funds on their appreciating houses.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2023