Government & Politics

U.S. President Donald Trump shows crime statistics as he delivers remarks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

Wyoming Delegation Applauds Huge Drop In D.C. Crime Since Trump’s Crackdown

Since President Trump sent federal troops and agents into Washington, D.C., on Aug. 7, carjackings are down by a whopping 87%. That and other numbers show Trump’s crackdown on crime is working, Wyoming’s congressional delegation says.

Sean BarryAugust 29, 2025

Wyoming Lawmakers Drafting Legislation To Ban Cloud Seeding For 10 Years

After nearly four hours of passionate testimony, a legislative committee voted Thursday to draft legislation that would halt cloud seeding programs in Wyoming for 10 years, and ban geoengineering.

Clair McFarlandAugust 29, 2025

Now Even A Rock Is Demanding The Release Of The Epstein Files

An oft-painted rock south of the Wyoming-Colorado border is demanding the release of the Epstein files. So are Wyoming leaders on both sides of the political aisle, left and right.

Clair McFarlandAugust 28, 2025

Taft Love (upper left), Roy Birt (center left), Jeff Barnes (lower left), Darin Smith (right)

Wyoming Senate District 6 Finalists Share Values But Differ On Legislative Approach

The three contenders for the Wyoming Senate seat vacated by Darin Smith are all pro-life, pro-ICE, and pro-restriction of sexual content in children’s libraries. But they differ in how they’d approach those issues.

Clair McFarlandAugust 28, 2025

Should Diesel Mechanic Be Pardoned? Zeldin Says His Opinion Is For The President

If EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin thinks President Trump should pardon a Cheyenne mechanic for removing emissions controls from diesel engines, he’s not saying so publicly. He said Thursday that his opinion on the issue is for Trump, not the media.

Greg JohnsonAugust 28, 2025

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin after signing a letter in favor of Wyoming administering its Coal Comustion Residuals Program rather than the federal agency. The ceremony was at the Wyoming Capitol on Aug. 28, 2025, and he was joined by Sen. Cyntha Lummis, left, and Gov. Mark Gordon.

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's state House on Tuesday urged President Trump to pardon Troy Lake, a 65-year-old diesel mechanic in prison for removing emissions controls. The 41 Republican House members decried agency overreach and damages from the controls.

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

Taft Love (left), Roy Birt (center) and Jeff Barnes (right)

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

Democratic state Reps. Karlee Provenza and Mike Yin are holding town halls across Wyoming to learn which issues haunt people most. They're also riding the momentum of a political groundswell Provenza led this summer.

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

The Wyoming Classical Academy, which this year offers a classical education for kindergarten through eighth grade, has a new building in Mills.

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

Commercial truckers check in at the Cheyenne Port of Entry about 5 miles north of the Wyoming-Colorado border.

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's legislative 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, where constituents hate the word "tax."

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

Many areas of the Red Desert in southwest Wyoming make up an outdoor recreation playground.

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

Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department detain five people on 7th Street NW on Aug. 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. U.S. President Donald Trump deployed federal officers and the National Guard to the District in order to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and assist in crime prevention in the nation's capital.

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.