Government & Politics
News
EPA Admin Zeldin Says Feds Should Let Wyoming Manage Its Own Coal Byproducts
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin was in Wyoming on Thursday to sign a letter supporting Wyoming — not the federal agency — to manage its own coal plant byproducts. “Nobody knows Wyoming like the people of Wyoming,” he said.
Greg JohnsonAugust 28, 2025
Now A Candidate For Gov, 50-Year-Old Rule Says Eric Barlow Can’t Chair Committee
Now that state Sen. Eric Barlow has announced he’s running for governor, he’s stepped down as chairman of a state legislative committee. That’s because of a 50-year-old rule that says candidates for statewide office can’t chair legislative committees.
Clair McFarlandAugust 27, 2025
Two-Thirds Of Wyoming House Sign Letter Urging Trump To Pardon Diesel Mechanic
Two-thirds of Wyoming's state House on Tuesday urged President Trump to pardon Troy Lake, a 65-year-old diesel mechanic in prison for stripping emissions systems from trucks. The 41 Republican House members called his prosecution EPA overreach.
Clair McFarlandAugust 27, 2025
Three Candidates To Replace State Sen. Darin Smith Selected On Monday
Replacing Wyoming State Sen. Darin Smith, R-Cheyenne, is one step closer as three people were chosen Monday to be considered for the legislative seat that covers parts of Laramie County, and all of Platte County.
Jimmy OrrAugust 26, 2025
Wyoming Senators Cheer Trump’s Order Against Flag-Burners, But Is It Legal?
President Trump’s new order calls for stricter prosecution for people who burn American flags while committing other crimes. It drew praise from Wyoming’s U.S. Senators while getting strong criticism from a leading First Amendment expert.
Clair McFarlandAugust 26, 2025
Wyoming Democrats Lead Statewide Listening Tour On Public Lands, Hot-Button Issues
Democratic state Reps. Karlee Provenza and Mike Yin are holding town halls across Wyoming to learn which issues trouble people most. They're also riding the momentum of a public lands outcry Provenza led this summer.
Clair McFarlandAugust 25, 2025
Wyoming Classical Academy Opens New $15 Million School In Mills
Hillsdale College member classical charter school in Mills continues to grow as staff and students started the school year Monday in a new 36,000-square-foot, $15 million building.
Dale KillingbeckAugust 25, 2025
Wyoming Highway Patrol, Truckers Support Trump's Work Visa Pause For Drivers
Wyoming officials and industry leaders support the Trump administration’s pause on issuing work visas for commercial truck driving, but critics say the move targets a small group and overlooks broader trucking safety issues.
Clair McFarlandAugust 23, 2025
Rock Springs State Legislator Has Missed All Interim Meetings To Date
A state legislator from Rock Springs has not attended any meetings of the two interim committees he's on. Darin McCann told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that he didn’t realize the interim is so active and meetings are on days he can’t get away from work.
Clair McFarlandAugust 22, 2025
Wyoming National Guard Feeling Money Pinch From Inauguration, ICE Missions
The Wyoming National Guard is preparing to help ICE, and provided $250,000 worth of security for President Trump’s inauguration. Now the Guard is bracing to cut back on normal "business," saying those responses could cause a budget shortfall if Congress doesn't help.
Clair McFarlandAugust 21, 2025
Wyoming Legislators Consider 43% Fuel Tax Hike, WYDOT Warns Of $400M Shortfall
The transportation committee on Wednesday contemplated a bill to raise Wyoming's fuel tax 43% — from 23 cents to 33 cents by the summer of 2028. But it's challenging, lawmakers said, because constituents hate the word "tax."
Clair McFarlandAugust 20, 2025
Lawmakers Consider Charging Fee For Mountain Biking On Wyoming State Trails
Wyoming might start charging bicyclists to use state trails. Riders and mountain biking advocates said they might support a fee as long as the money goes back into trail building and maintenance.
Mark HeinzAugust 20, 2025
No Matter Whether It’s Legal Or Not, Hunters Likely To Corner-Cross Anyway
Regardless of all the hype and controversy around corner-crossing, hunters say it doesn’t really matter. No matter what the U.S. Supreme Court or Wyoming Legislature decide on the issue, they’ll probably do it anyway.
Mark HeinzAugust 19, 2025
Wyoming Is First State To Launch Its Own Digital Currency — Frontier Stable Token
Wyoming became the first state in the nation Tuesday to launch its own digital currency. It’s a huge deal, an expert says about the Frontier Stable Token, which is backed by the U.S. dollar and short-term U.S. Treasury bills.
Dale KillingbeckAugust 19, 2025
Wyoming Highway Patrol Backs State Bill To Ban Non-English Speaking Truckers
The Wyoming Highway Patrol on Tuesday said it supports legislation to enforce English-language requirements of truckers. During testimony, a trooper referenced a high-profile crash in Florida where an illegal truck driver killed three people last week.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2025
Wyoming Delegation Bracing For Battle Over Trump’s D.C. Police Takeover
Wyoming’s congressional delegation is behind President Trump’s takeover of the Washington, D.C., police, which Congress must vote on to extend it beyond 30 days. Sen. John Barrasso said Democrats would rather “coddle criminals” than prosecute them.
Sean BarryAugust 18, 2025
Lummis, Neiman Back Pardon Effort For 65-Year-Old Mechanic EPA Put In Prison
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Wyoming House Speaker Chip Neiman support a pardon for a mechanic in prison for deleting emissions systems from diesel engines. Troy Lake's family seeks a presidential pardon, saying the Biden administration was over-zealous prosecuting him.
Clair McFarlandAugust 16, 2025
Committee Tables Bill That Would Fine Libraries $50,000 When Kids Access Sex Books
A bill that would create penalties for when kids access sex books and obscene materials in school or public libraries was tabled this week by a Wyoming legislative committee. Among the penalties is $50,000 for each time a kid accesses explicit materials.
Clair McFarlandAugust 15, 2025
Despite Being Booted From Committee Agenda, Columnist Gets Half-Hour Testimony
Despite a lawmaker removing him from a legislative meeting’s official schedule over his controversial column, former Wyoming House Speaker Tom Lubnau was allowed to testify Thursday — for 28 minutes.
Clair McFarlandAugust 15, 2025
Wyoming Weighs Bill To Give Abandoned Mineral Rights Back To Landowners
Lawmakers are proposing to let landowners reclaim long-abandoned mineral estates, resolving tangled ownership dating to the homesteading era and protecting the rights of property owners.
David MadisonAugust 14, 2025
Committee Says Bill That Targets Child 'Grooming' In Wyoming Needs More Work
Wyoming lawmakers tabled a bill Wednesday that could impose harsher prison sentences for grooming kids than for molesting kids, in some cases. Judiciary Committee members decided to revisit the proposal at their October meeting.
Clair McFarlandAugust 14, 2025
Former House Speaker Booted From Committee Schedule Over Column
A Wyoming legislative committee chair booted former House speaker and public records expert Tom Lubnau from a committee agenda, citing Lubnau's confrontational political columns and concerns over maintaining decorum.
Clair McFarlandAugust 13, 2025
Wyoming’s Delegation Rallies Behind Trump’s Decision to Mobilize Troops in D.C.
Wyoming’s all-Republican delegation said Trump’s decision to federalize the nation’s capital is a smart approach to crime. “President Trump has made it clear that lawlessness and chaos will not be tolerated in our nation's capital or in any American city,” Hageman said.
Jackson WalkerAugust 12, 2025
Wyoming Timber Industry Set For Huge Comeback, More Sawmills Needed, Officials Say
Long-term success of expanding the Wyoming timber industry hinges on building back the “local timber industry,” instead of trucking logs to mills in other states, Bighorn National Forest Supervisor Andrew Johnson told a legislative committee on Tuesday.
Mark HeinzAugust 12, 2025