Government & Politics
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Wyoming Industries Applaud Trump’s “National Energy Emergency” Declaration
Wyoming’s energy industry is applauding President Donald Trump declaring a “national energy emergency.” They’re calling on Wyoming’s BLM office to immediately approve delayed permits and deferred lease sales.
Renée JeanJanuary 22, 2025
Wyoming Legislature Recap — Day 6
Day six of the Wyoming Legislature saw emotional debate on the floor of the House and a bill banning foreign adversaries owning Wyoming property advancing out of committee.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 22, 2025
Despite Trump Now In Office, Wyoming DEQ Wants To Double Emission Fees
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality is asking for a 108% hike in emission fees charged to energy producers. That’s despite President Donald Trump’s promises to reverse Biden’s energy policies.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2025
Trump’s Sweeping J6 Pardons Include At Least Two From Wyoming
At least two Wyoming men are included in President Donald Trump’s sweeping pardon of about 1,500 charged and prosecuted for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. A police officer attacked by one of them calls the pardons “disappointing.”
Clair McFarlandJanuary 21, 2025
Montana Bill Would End Online Certificates For Emotional Support Animals Sight Unseen
A Montana state senator says it’s too easy to log online, pay a fee and get a certificate to have an emotional support animal. He says that’s unfair to landlords who are forced to accept these animals, whether or not they really serve a medical purpose.
David MadisonJanuary 21, 2025
Committee Advances Measure To Ban Foreign Adversaries Owning Wyoming Property
The House Agriculture committee gave a thumbs up to a constitutional measure that will ban foreign adversaries from owning Wyoming property. Deciding who those foreign adversaries are will be debated on the House floor.
Renée JeanJanuary 21, 2025
Bill Would Give Wyoming Political Parties More Say In Filling Vacancies
A Wyoming legislator wants to clear up what’s become a contentious process for filling political vacancies around Wyoming. Under a proposed bill, if a county commission or other elected body can’t pick from the local party’s finalists, the party will do it instead of a judge.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2025
Cowboy State Daily Legislative Roundup: House Speaker Chip Neiman
VIDEO: Cowboy State Daily's State Politics Reporter Leo Wolfson catches up with Wyoming House Speaker Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, the first in a series of legislative sit-downs during the 2025 legislative session.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2025
Wyoming Legislature Recap — Day 5
The fifth day of the Wyoming Legislature was marked by some of the most spirited debates seen so for on hot-button issues like private property rights.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2025
After Heated Debate, House OKs Bill Limiting Private Property Sales To Feds
The Wyoming House engaged in a heated discussion Monday before passing the second reading of a property rights bill. The proposal would limit private property owners from selling land to the federal government.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2025
Wyoming House Sends 'What Is A Woman Act' To State Senate
On the same day President Donald Trump proclaimed the United States will recognize “only two genders — male and female,” the Wyoming House passed the “What is a Woman Act” to the Senate. The bill defines a person’s gender by biology, not gender identity.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 21, 2025
Chuck Gray Wants $322K To Beef Up Office, But Legislators Say No On Split Vote
The Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office needs more people and resources to keep up with growth in the state’s business activity, Chuck Gray says. But the Joint Appropriations Committee on Monday rejected his $322,000 ask on a split vote.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 20, 2025
State Caught 3 North Korean Companies Trying Set Up In Wyoming Last Year
The state caught three North Korean companies last year filing fraudulent paperwork to set up in Wyoming to raise money for weapons of mass destruction. A House committee passed a bill Monday that aims to keep foreign adversaries out of Wyoming.
Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2025
Barrasso, Lummis And Hageman Squeeze In To See Trump Take Oath
Weather moved Donald Trump’s inauguration indoors at the Capitol on Monday, making it difficult to squeeze in all who wanted to attend. Wyoming’s delegation was there to see Trump take the oath.
Sean Barry for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 20, 2025
Bill Banning COVID-19 Mask, Vaccine Mandates In Wyoming Heads To House Floor
A Wyoming legislative bill would let people sue any publicly-funded business or agency for requiring them to wear a mask, be tested or get vaccinated for COVID-19. The proposal sailed through its first committee hearing Monday.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 20, 2025
Despite Opposition, Anti-ESG Bill Sails Through Committee After Changes
An anti-ESG Bill sailed over a wall of opposition from Wyoming investment fund managers and the state treasurer. It passed out of committee Monday after significant changes to address the criticism.
Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2025
Former South Dakota AG Who Ran Down Pedestrian Fights To Keep Iowa Law License
Former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg was impeached and stripped of his law license after running down and killing a pedestrian in 2020. Now he’s fighting to keep from losing his license to practice law in Iowa.
A.J. Etherington for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 20, 2025
Wyoming Delegation, Trump, Slam Biden For Last-Minute Cheney Pardon
The Wyoming congressional delegation joined Donald Trump on Monday in slamming President Biden’s final-hour pardons. On his way out of office, Biden pardoned Liz Cheney, Dr. Anthony Fauci and the former head of Trump’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 20, 2025
Growing Pains In Big Sky, Montana’s Exclusive Playground For The Rich And Famous
Big Sky is Montana’s exclusive playground for the rich and famous. It’s also one of the fastest-growing areas in the region, bringing on growing pains that includes lack of access to a hospital landowners pay taxes for.
David MadisonJanuary 19, 2025
Montana State Rodeo Team Invited To Be In Trump’s Inaugural Parade
A contingent from the Montana State University rodeo team will be part of the Inaugural Parade for President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Monday. They wrangled six local horses and a wagon for the event. UPDATE: After this story was posted, it was announced that because of a forecast for extreme weather and cold for Monday, the inaugural plans in Washington, D.C., have been moved inside. The school issued a statement thanking the organizers for the invitation.
David MadisonJanuary 18, 2025
Wyoming State Jets Logged 162,000 Miles On 780 Flights In 2024
Wyoming’s two jets were busy in 2024, making 780 flights shuttling 2,460 passengers around the state and nation. Combined, they traveled nearly 162,000 miles around Wyoming and as far away as Virginia and California.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2025
Wyoming Legislature Recap – Day 4
The first week of the 2025 Wyoming Legislature wrapped up n Friday, and there’s now little doubt what the rest of the session will look like — very conservative.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2025
Legislators Couldn’t Override Gordon’s 2024 Budget Vetoes Then, So They Did It Now
Wyoming legislators were too late to override a list of Gov. Mark Gordon’s line-item vetoes to their budget in 2024. So, they reversed them Friday, making about 20 changes to the way the state’s money is spent.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2025
Amendment To Define “Woman” By Birth Certificate, Not Biology, Fails
A Republican lawmaker’s attempt to define sex by birth certificate instead of biology failed Friday as the “What is a Woman Act” had its second reading on the Wyoming House floor.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 18, 2025