Government & Politics
News
Legislators Spar Over Whether Governor’s Agency Should Audit Legislature
A pair of state senators sparred at length Wednesday about whether an agency under the governor should audit the Legislative Service Office. Sen. Chris Rothfuss says it violates separation of powers protocols, while Sen. Darin Smith says it doesn't.
Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025
Gordon Defends Energy Platform; Gray Says Wind, Solar A ‘Woke Clown Show’
Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Chuck Gray continued their ongoing feud Thursday on the Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake Nichols. Gordon defended his “all-of-the-above” energy platform, while Gray called wind and solar a “woke clown show.”
David MadisonJuly 10, 2025
Vice President J.D. Vance To Hobnob In Jackson At Fundraiser For RNC
Vice President J.D. Vance will be in Jackson on July 29 to attend a fundraiser for the Republican National Committee. The announcement came as a surprise to Katherine Rueckert, chair of the Teton County Republican Party.
Andrew RossiJuly 10, 2025
Wyoming Lawmakers Use Subpoena Power To Demand Answers For Faulty Town Audits
A Wyoming legislative committee voted to subpoena officials from Bear River, Manderson and a special district Wednesday, over slow progress after problematic audits. Some lawmakers objected to deploying the rarely-used subpoena power.
Clair McFarlandJuly 10, 2025
Lummis Wants To Give Wyoming More Control Of Investing Its $5.4B Education Fund
Wyoming’s delegation, governor and top education official are hailing a bill that would give the state more options to invest its $5.4 billion education trust fund. Sen. Cynthia Lummis is sponsoring what officials call “a game-changer” for schools.
Sean BarryJuly 09, 2025
Chuck Gray Says He’s Not Done With Wyoming Election Reforms, Like Paper Ballots
Chuck Gray says he’s not done pushing election reform in Wyoming, including doing away with electronic voting machines in favor of pen-and-paper ballots. Another try at banning ballot drop boxes is also among more than a dozen other changes he wants.
Matthew ChristianJuly 08, 2025
Wyoming GOP Lukewarm On Musk’s New Party, Dems Say It’s ‘The Last Thing We Need’
Elon Musk’s plan to form a new political party — the America Party — is drawing mixed reaction in Wyoming. Republicans are lukewarm to the idea so far, while a leading Democrat says it’s “the last thing we need.”
Matthew ChristianJuly 07, 2025
Feds Could End Wyoming’s Controversial Cloud Seeding Program For Good
A federal bill calling for a nationwide ban of cloud seeding and other weather modification could end Wyoming’s controversial program for good. Some Wyoming legislators support the ban, while others call it a “knee-jerk reaction.”
Matthew ChristianJuly 07, 2025
Lummis: Wyoming Wins Big With Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill
Amidst a huge ceremony at the White House, complete with a soaring B-2 bomber overhead, President Trump signed the Big, Beautiful Bill into law on Friday. U.S. Cynthia Lummis says the bill is a huge win for Wyoming.
Sean BarryJuly 04, 2025
Full Speed Ahead: Trump Kills Biden Rule Limiting How Fast Trucks Can Go
Wyoming truckers are cheering a new Trump administration rule reversing a Biden-era agenda that would have put speed limiting devices — called governors — on semitrucks. Truckers say the Biden rule would have been a safety hazard.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025
Wyoming Delegation, GOP Finish Massive Budget Bill By Fourth Of July Deadline
With the help of Wyoming Republican Harriet Hageman, the U.S. House crossed the finish line Thursday on the federal budget bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. She called it “a major win for Wyoming and the entire nation.”
Sean BarryJuly 03, 2025
Citing RFK Jr., Residents Want Laramie County To Reverse OK Of 150-Foot Cell Tower
Residents living just north of Cheyenne are lobbying the Laramie County Commission to reverse approval of a 150-foot cell tower. Citing RFK Jr., they say there are health concerns with the tower and they worry property values will drop.
Renée JeanJuly 03, 2025
Wyoming Legislators Aren’t Done Looking For Ways To Lower Property Taxes
Wyoming legislators passed a 25% property tax break earlier this year, but they’re not done looking for “long-term reform.” Options include eliminating residential property tax altogether, something that was considered in 2024.
Matthew ChristianJuly 03, 2025
Degenfelder Says Stopping School Choice Payment Has Brought ‘Utter Chaos'
A judge's decision to temporarily stop payments to Wyoming’s school choice voucher program brought “utter chaos” to the families of the students enrolled, Wyoming Superintendent Megan Degenfelder said Wednesday.
Matthew ChristianJuly 02, 2025
Gordon Names Former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Keith Kautz As Attorney General
Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Keith Kautz, a former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice, as Wyoming’s 39th attorney general Wednesday. Kautz said he’s “honored to serve Wyoming.”
Matthew ChristianJuly 02, 2025
Trump Administration Seeks To Defend Wyoming’s New Citizenship Voter Law
The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump filed a brief in court Tuesday to help defend Wyoming’s new voter citizenship law. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says he’s “extremely grateful” to the department and Trump.
Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025
Hot Springs County In An Uproar Over Cuts To 4-H, Extension Programs
The Hot Springs County Commission faced backlash Tuesday from residents upset over deep cuts to the county’s extension office and 4-H program. Commissioners say it's necessary due to lagging oil and gas revenue and a 25% cut in property taxes.
Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2025
UPenn Bans Trans Athletes From Women's Sports Same Day Wyoming Law Goes Into Effect
Wyoming State Sen. Wendy Schuler said Tuesday’s decision by the University of Pennsylvania to ban trans athletes from participating in women's sports marks “a great victory for our women and girls.” It happened the same day Wyoming's law that does the same thing went into effect.
Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025
‘Huge Flipping Waste Of Money’: Legislator Wants To Eliminate Wyoming Business Council
Calling the Wyoming Business Council a “huge flipping waste of money,” state Rep. Ken Pendergraft says he wants to reduce the state’s budget by getting rid of the entity. Economic development shouldn’t be the government’s responsibility, he said.
Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025
Wyoming Legislators Cheer Removal Of Ban On States Regulating AI From Budget Bill
Gov. Mark Gordon and a pair of Wyoming legislators cheered Tuesday’s removal of a ban on states regulating artificial intelligence. A 99-1 Senate vote took it out of the controversial federal budget bill.
Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025
Trans Woman Breaks Wyoming’s New Bathroom Ban In State Capitol, Nothing Happens
Nothing happened Tuesday when a transgender woman flagrantly violated a newly implemented Wyoming law restricting people to the restroom corresponding to their birth sex in public buildings.
Matthew Christian & Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025
Wyoming’s New Laws: No Gun-Free Zones, Prove Citizenship To Vote And A Bathroom Ban
In all, 106 new Wyoming laws became active Tuesday. Now, most gun-free zones are gone, voters must prove citizenship and residency to register and people born male can’t use women’s bathrooms in government buildings.
Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025
Barrasso, Lummis Praise Passage Of Budget Bill, But It’s No Longer ‘Beautiful’
Democrats managed to strip “Beautiful” out of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but the U.S. Senate passed the GOP’s controversial budget bill Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance broke a tie, which Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis call a huge win.
Sean BarryJuly 01, 2025
Rob Wallace: Don’t Expect Public Land Sale To Be Brought Back Anytime Soon
People shouldn’t expect to see a plan to sell federal public lands brought back to Congress anytime soon, says Rob Wallace, former Assistant Interior Secretary. In the future, the proposal needs to be its own standalone bill, says Sen. John Barrasso.
Matthew ChristianJune 30, 2025