Government & Politics
News
Hageman’s Postal Service Investigations Find Denver Mail Being Processed In Cheyenne
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman has been investigating the U.S. Postal Service and found that Denver mail is being processed in Cheyenne. The Denver centers are so overwhelmed, they can’t keep up, yet plans are to transfer Wyoming mail there.
Renée JeanFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming Would Buy $10 Million In Gold Under Plan Approved By Committee
Gold commodities have been skyrocketing, a trend that’s only continued since the election of President Donald Trump. Now the Wyoming Legislature is looking to get in on the action, proposing to buy $10 million worth of gold.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming’s Oil And Gas Industry Excited Over Trump's Pick To Head BLM
Leaders in Wyoming’s oil and gas sector are excited about Kathleen Sgamma, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management.
Zakary SonntagFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming Firefighters, Law Officers Fill The Capitol To Protest Proposed Tax Cut
A group of Wyoming firefighters and law enforcement officers filled the state Capitol in Cheyenne on Wednesday to protest a proposed 50% property tax cut. They say it could gut the budgets of their local departments.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 22
Debate over a 50% property tax cut went into the late hours of the Legislature on Wednesday night after firefighters and law enforcement officers rallied against it at the Capitol earlier in the day.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025
Montana Legislature Requires Public Bathroom Use Determined By Birth Sex
A law requiring bathroom use to correspond with a person’s sex organs at birth passed the Montana Legislature on Monday. Supporters say it will protect women and girls, while detractors worry it will only cause confusion.
David MadisonFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming School Board Races A Step Closer To Becoming Partisan
A legislative committee easily passed a bill to the House floor Wednesday that would change local school board elections in Wyoming. Now nonpartisan, if Senate File 98 passes candidates will have to declare their political affiliations.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
Lander Mayor Monte Richardson Dies Unexpectedly
Lander Mayor Monte Richardson died unexpectedly Wednesday. He had served as mayor since 2019. The City Council will meet Tuesday to appoint an interim mayor.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2025
Bill To Give Parents More School Choice, $7K Per Kid Vouchers Advances — Barely
The Senate Education Committee advanced a school choice bill Wednesday that would give parents $7,000 per child vouchers, but just barely. The 3-2 vote means the Senate will debate allowing parents to have public money to seek private education.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
Wyoming’s Influence In Trump’s Energy Plan Grows With Lummis As Western Caucus Chair
A GOP-controlled Congress and Trump administration is paving the way for expanded fossil fuel and energy production. It also paves the way for Wyoming’s influence to grow with U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis chairing the Senate Western Caucus.
Sean BarryFebruary 12, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 21
The 21st day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session featured animated discussions on making significant changes to the state’s elections and important decisions regarding the supplemental budget.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
Bill Would Create Runoff Elections In Wyoming, Including For Governor
The Wyoming House passed a bill on second reading Tuesday that would create separate runoff elections for the state’s highest elected officials, including governor. A runoff would be triggered if no candidate gets 50% or more of the vote in a primary.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
Legislators: If State’s Paying $90M For New La Prele Dam, Public Needs Access
If $90 million of Wyoming taxpayer money is going toward rebuilding the LaPrele Dam near Douglas, the public should have recreational access to the reservoir, legislators say.
Mark HeinzFebruary 11, 2025
Gordon Says “Never Say Never” About Political Future After Second Term
During an interview with Cowboy State Daily on Monday, Gov. Mark Gordon said he’d “never say never” about what his political future may hold after finishing his second term in 2026.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2025
Lifting Protection For Otters Expanded To Other Species By Senate Committee
A bill that would lift the protected status of Wyoming otters was expanded and advanced Tuesday by a state Senate committee. The new proposal would remove protections for other species, like the black-footed ferret and wolverines.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap: Day 20
Monday was the deadline for bills to get their first reading in the Legislature, which paved the way for some lengthy and colorful floor discussions.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2025
Legislator Concerned Property Tax Cuts Will Hurt Wyoming’s Future Generations
State Rep. J.D. Williams, R-Lusk, says he's concerned that his fellow lawmakers aren’t considering Wyoming’s future generations with the way they’re making property tax cuts in this year’s legislative session.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2025
State House Dumps Wyoming Cloud Seeding Program
Citing a lack of evidence that it works, the Wyoming House slashed all funding for the state’s cloud-seeding program on Monday.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 10, 2025
Postal Regulatory Commission Says Rural Populations Will Suffer Under ‘Delivering For America’ Plan
The Postal Regulatory Commission has issued an advisory opinion that is very critical of the Delivering for America Plan. Rural populations, in particular, won’t be receiving first-class mail for six or more days under the plan, the commission says.
Renée JeanFebruary 10, 2025
Barrasso Says Crowd Loved President Trump At Super Bowl; Taylor Swift -- Not So Much
Sen. John Barrasso went to the Super Bowl with President Trump on Sunday. “One of the highlights was when they showed President Trump on the screen and people cheered, and then they showed Taylor Swift on the screen and people booed," Barrasso told Cowboy State Daily.
Sean BarryFebruary 10, 2025
Steve Harshman Calls Out John Bear For Labeling Legislators as "Lobbyists"
Rep. Steve Harshman criticized fellow lawmaker Rep. John Bear on Monday for an op-ed where Bear labeled some legislators as "lobbyists." Harshman said it was a "reprehensible" accusation and could file a formal complaint.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 10, 2025
Special Op Is Being Planned To Rescue An 1893 Tree That’s Part Of Wyoming History
Deep in the most remote area of the Shoshone National Forest is a unique piece of 1893 history, inscribed on a beetle-killed tree and it's is in danger of being lost. A rescue mission is being attempted, but some money might be needed for a helicopter to sling the artifact out.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025
The Best Mustaches Of The Wyoming Legislature
There are a number of state legislators who have some scruff above their upper lip in the 68th Wyoming Legislature. Two magnificent mustaches, however, rise above the fold.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 09, 2025
Wyoming Senate Outspends House By $109 Million In Supplemental Budget
The Wyoming Senate and House wrapped up their supplemental budgets on Friday night, with the Senate outspending the lower chamber by $109 million. Both added some support for local governments and schools in the event that a major property tax relief bill passes into law
Leo WolfsonFebruary 08, 2025