Government & Politics
News

Hageman Wants To Halt Student Visas For Colleges In ‘Sanctuary Cities’
Harriet Hageman introduced a bill Thursday to keep student visas from being issued in “sanctuary” cities that don’t cooperate with ICE. She says it’s a response to those “who seek to elevate the interests of foreign nationals above our own citizens.”
Clair McFarlandMay 09, 2025

Chuck Gray Supports 22 New Election-Reform Bills, Committee To Study 10
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray expressed support for 22 election-reform bills during a meeting with legislators Thursday in Lander. The committee chose to take up 10 for study, ranging from requiring photo-identification to random hand counts.
Clair McFarlandMay 09, 2025

Huge Setback For Lummis As Landmark Cryptocurrency Bill Shot Down
Landmark cryptocurrency legislation backed by U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis collapsed Thursday on the Senate floor despite exhaustive, 11th-hour efforts to rescue it. Lummis says she’s “deeply disappointed.”
Sean BarryMay 08, 2025

Wonky Twists Hold Up Barrasso’s Bid To Kill California EV Mandate
Wyoming’s senior U.S. senator is a critic of red tape across the whole federal government. Now he and GOP colleagues are stuck in it themselves as they take on California’s electric vehicle mandate.
Sean BarryMay 08, 2025

Casper Hopes For Happy Ending By De-Regulating Massage Parlors
The Casper City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to remove massage therapy businesses from regulation through the city’s health ordinances. It’s a good move, says a local massage therapist.
Dale KillingbeckMay 07, 2025

Hageman Spars With Colorado Democrat Over 'Gulf of America' Renaming
A Colorado Democrat sparred with Wyoming’s U.S. House representative Monday over whether renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America should be a priority. Hageman says Wyomingites support President Trump’s agenda, and that’s part of it.
Clair McFarlandMay 07, 2025

Warren Attacks Lummis-Backed Crypto Bill, Says It Will Allow Trump ‘Scams’
With Donald Trump’s family selling digital meme coins, Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren is attacking a cryptocurrency bill sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Lummis. Warren claims it will allow Trump to “continue to line his pockets with his crypto scams.”
Sean BarryMay 06, 2025

Hot Springs County Commission Fight Over Split From 'Socialist' State Group
The Hot Springs County Commission is fighting over whether to become the only member to pull out of group that represents all Wyoming's counties. One member wants to because of the group's "socialist" tendencies, while the chairman strongly disagrees.
Clair McFarlandMay 06, 2025

Wyoming Delegation, GOP Install Bisignano To Head Up Social Security
Longtime banker Frank Bisignano was confirmed to run the Social Security Administration on Tuesday on a strictly party-line vote, 53-47. Sen. Cynthia Lummis said Bisignano will help address “understaffing impacting all six Social Security offices in Wyoming, as well as the closure of the Cody office.”
Sean BarryMay 06, 2025

Hot Springs County Keeps Getting Sued Over Controversial Tipi Retreat
Hot Springs County is being sued for a second time in four years over a controversial teepee resort and a private road used by multiple landowners. The dispute has divided officials, with a commissioner testifying against the county in court.
Leo WolfsonMay 06, 2025

States Move To Ban Glocks Over Worries They Can Be Made Fully Automatic
There’s already a ban on “Glock switches,” devices that can make the semiautomatic handgun fully automatic. Now some states are trying to also ban Glock pistols themselves.
Mark HeinzMay 05, 2025

State GOP Wants Federal ICE Detention Center Opened In Wyoming
The Wyoming Republican Party passed a resolution at its meeting Saturday calling for the opening of a federally funded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonMay 05, 2025

Wyoming Groups Lobby To Reverse $400 Million In Cuts To AmeriCorps
A number of Wyoming groups are lobbying the state’s congressional delegation to reverse $400 million in cuts to AmeriCorps. But, so far, they have expressed support for DOGE and its mission to cut wasteful spending.
Zakary SonntagMay 05, 2025

Lummis Behind Bill To Force U.S. Mint To Stop Making Pennies
With a $36 trillion national debt, wasteful government spending has to stop, says U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis. She said that’s why she’s behind a bill to make the U.S. Mint stop making pennies, which cost more than 3 cents per penny to make.
Renée JeanMay 04, 2025
Wyoming GOP Stands Firm On Not Letting Hot Springs County Members Vote
The Wyoming Republican Party firmly stood behind its lawsuit with four members of the Hot Springs County Republican Party on Saturday. Two members from that party who say they were fairly elected weren’t allowed to vote for state party officers.
Leo WolfsonMay 04, 2025
Wyoming Republicans Elect Sheridan's Bryan Miller As New Party Chairman
Sheridan resident Bryan Miller was elected the new chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party on Saturday, beating out Jackson resident Rebecca Bextel by a 42-32 vote.
Leo WolfsonMay 03, 2025

Failure That Caused Teton Pass To Slide Off Mountain Was Unavoidable, WYDOT Says
Wyoming Department of Transportation officials told legislators on Thursday the mudslide that wiped out Highway 22 on Teton Pass last year was an unavoidable event, caused by extreme, fast-changing weather conditions.
Leo WolfsonMay 03, 2025

Wyoming Delegation Supports Trump’s Order To Defund NPR And PBS
President Donald Trump’s order to defund PBS and NPR has support from Wyoming’s congressional delegation. Rep. Harriet Hageman said government shouldn’t be “funding leftist propaganda,” while Sen. John Barrasso said they’ve “failed” to be non-biased.
Sean BarryMay 02, 2025

Commissioner Says Hot Springs County To Break From ‘Socialist’ State Association
A Hot Springs County Commissioner promises to break from the Wyoming County Commissioners Association because it’s a “socialist” group that opposes tax cuts. If that happens, Hot Springs would be the only one of Wyoming’s 23 counties to not be a member.
Leo WolfsonMay 02, 2025

Wyoming GOP May Let Hot Springs Members Vote In State Election Despite Lawsuit
The Wyoming GOP is considering letting members of the Hot Springs Republican Party it says were illegally elected to county positions vote in the state party elections Saturday. A lawsuit filed against the state party by the contested members is ongoing.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2025

Freedom Caucus Says Wyoming’s Budget Needs Some ‘DOGE-ing’
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has set goals for the upcoming interim legislative session, including “DOGE-ing Wyoming’s Budget.” Inspired by the Trump administration’s cost-cutting moves, the conservative lawmakers say Wyoming also has too much waste.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2025

Delegation Says Trump Still Has Solid Wyoming Support At 100-Day Mark
Wyomingites who voted for Donald Trump are not souring on him, the state’s three Congress members said this week as the president marked his 100th day in office.
Sean BarryMay 01, 2025

Ethics Probe: Wyoming BLM Chief Accepted Gifts, Gave Girlfriend Travel Perks
Wyoming BLM Director Andrew Archuleta is on leave after an ethics probe by the Office of Inspector General, which alleges he accepted a gift dinner and drinks from a private company, and treated his girlfriend to travel perks on the BLM’s dime.
David MadisonMay 01, 2025

Freedom Caucus Wants Judicial Reform After Judge Rejects Gender Transition Suit
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus vows to reform the state’s judicial branch after a federal judge threw out a lawsuit in which parents accused a school district of helping their daughter change her gender identity.
Clair McFarlandMay 01, 2025

Colorado Congresswoman Wants To De-Fund Front Range Passenger Rail Project
Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert wants DOGE to kill funding for a Front Range passenger rail project that has a potential to extend into Wyoming. That won’t happen, because the project is state-funded, not federal.
Renée JeanApril 30, 2025

Biden-Era Charges Against South Dakota Ranchers Over Legacy Fence Line Dropped
The Biden-era prosecution of fifth-generation South Dakota ranchers over a 75-year-old fence line came to an end Wednesday. Trump administration officials dropped the charges, calling the case an egregious example of government overreach.
Sean BarryApril 30, 2025

Led By Wyoming Chairwoman, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Sues Trump
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board, led by Riverton resident and Chairwoman Ruby Calvert, sued President Donald Trump’s administration Tuesday for firing three Democratic members from the group’s board.
Leo WolfsonApril 30, 2025

Hageman Applauds Trump Exec Order To Get Non-English-Speaking Truckers Off Roads
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman on Monday applauded President Trump's executive order designed to remove non-English-speaking truck drivers off the road. “I proudly support President Trump taking action to make our roads safer for truckers and private citizens alike," she said.
Clair McFarlandApril 29, 2025

Hageman, Barrasso Say Judges Who Shield Illegal Immigrants Should Be Arrested
President Donald Trump’s administration did not go too far in arresting judges for allegedly shielding illegal immigrants from federal agents, say members of Wyoming’s congressional delegation.
Sean BarryApril 28, 2025

25% Property Tax Cut Has Cities And Counties Expecting To Cut Budgets
A 25% residential property tax cut approved earlier this year by the Legislature has cities and counties across Wyoming crunching numbers. Many tell Cowboy State Daily they’re already contemplating where to cut their budgets.
Leo WolfsonApril 28, 2025

UW Confirms Six Students Who Had Visas Revoked Are Reinstated
The University of Wyoming confirmed to Cowboy State Daily on Monday that six international students who had their visa registrations revoked have had them reinstated.
Leo WolfsonApril 28, 2025

Tribe Says Feds Shot Coyotes From Chopper Near Bison; Feds Claim 'Misinformation'
The Eastern Shoshone Tribe on Wednesday accused a federal agency of gunning coyotes from a helicopter near a bison herd without tribal permission. In response, the agency sent a cryptic comment calling the tribe’s claim “misinformation.”
Clair McFarlandApril 25, 2025

Hageman, House Committee Staff Visit Sheridan VA To Investigate Complaints
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman and Republican staff from the House Committee on Veterans Affairs visited the Sheridan VA on Thursday after receiving multiple concerning reports about the facility.
Leo WolfsonApril 25, 2025

Cheers, Challenges And Some Boos As Hageman Resumes In-Person Town Halls
Wyoming Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman returned to hosting in-person town halls around the state Thursday. A split crowd in Buffalo was both rowdy and receptive.
Greg JohnsonApril 25, 2025

Charlie Kirk Tells UW Students To Reject Woke Ideologies, Traditional College Education
Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk implored an audience at the University of Wyoming on Thursday night to cast away traditional liberal beliefs and woke ideologies
Leo WolfsonApril 25, 2025

Let The Clearing Begin: Transportation Crews Attack The Snow On Beartooth Highway
The Montana Department of Transportation started clearing its side of the Beartooth Highway on April 18. The National Park Service will handle the rest, tentatively clearing the way for the entire expanse to open Memorial Day weekend.
Andrew RossiApril 25, 2025