Government & Politics
News
Everyone Wants To Preserve The Kelly Parcel, So What’s The Hang-Up?
Wyoming residents have made it clear: preserve the 640 acres of pristine land that borders Grand Teton National Park. While the National Park Service has said it would buy it, they are restricted to not paying more than its assessed value, but private interests could easily bid more at auction.
Andrew RossiDecember 03, 2023
Carmakers Dropping AM Radio But Farmers Fighting To Reverse It
Although two major carmakers have dropped AM radio from their vehicles, farmers have banded together to stop that trend. Ford has since reversed its decision to drop it.
John ThompsonDecember 03, 2023
State Lands Office Recommends Auctioning Kelly Parcel, Starting At $80 Million
The Office of State Lands and Investments announced its recommendation Friday to auction off a pristine 640 acres next to Grand Teton National Park with bids starting at $80 million.
Andrew Rossi & Leo WolfsonDecember 01, 2023
Hageman Voted No On Expelling Santos Because He 'Has Not Been Convicted'
Harriet Hageman tried to save embattled New York U.S. Rep. George Santos’ on Friday morning, saying he “has not been convicted of any crime.” He was expelled from the House on a vote of 311-114.
Leo WolfsonDecember 01, 2023
Al Simpson Remembers Henry Kissinger
Former Wyoming U.S. Sen. Al Simpson has fond memories of the well-known former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger who died Wednesday.
Leo WolfsonDecember 01, 2023
Chairman Of Wyoming Democratic Party To Host Drag Show
Joe Barbuto, the chairman of the Wyoming Democratic Party, will host a drag show in Rock Springs on New Year’s Eve. Barbuto said he will not be performing in the drag show, however.
Leo WolfsonNovember 30, 2023
Casper Protesters Say Israel Provoked Terrorist Attack
A small group called Freedom Gets the Final Say gathered on the steps of Casper’s city administration building Wednesday to support Palestine in its fight with Israel, saying Hamas was provoked to attack.
Dale KillingbeckNovember 30, 2023
Hageman Says Rocky Mountain Power Will Only Get About Half The Hike It Wants
Harriet Hageman praised the Wyoming Public Service Commission on Wednesday for cutting Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed rate hike in half, but the commission says no figures are yet available.
Renée JeanNovember 30, 2023
Chuck Gray Contests Colorado Court Ruling That Trump Is An ‘Insurrectionist’
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray filed a brief with the Colorado Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking it to overturn a lower court’s finding that former President Donald Trump is an “insurrectionist.”
Leo WolfsonNovember 29, 2023
Liz Cheney Bashes Republican Party, Former Allies And 'Orange Jesus' In New Book
Liz Cheney says she doesn’t have much respect left for GOP leaders in an excerpt from her new book “Oath and Honor,” released Wednesday. She rails against Donald Trump, who she says one loyalist called “Orange Jesus.”
Leo WolfsonNovember 29, 2023
Cody Residents Call Auction Of Land Bordering Grand Teton Park The ‘Worst Decision’ Ever
At a Tuesday night public hearing, Cody, Wyoming, residents called the proposed auction of 640 acres of land bordering Grand Teton National Park as "the worst decision we could make in our lifetime."
Andrew RossiNovember 29, 2023
Get Ready To Pay More For Electricity; PSC Ends Deliberations On Tuesday
As the Public Service Commission ended deliberations on Tuesday, one thing is for certain: customers of Rocky Mountain Power are going to pay more for their electricity come Jan 1.
Renée JeanNovember 29, 2023
National Poll Says Wyoming’s Mark Gordon Is Second Most Popular Governor
Despite recent criticisms of his trip to Harvard to discuss his efforts to battle climate change, a Morning Consult poll released Monday shows that Gov. Mark Gordon is the second most popular governor in America with an approval rating of 74%.
Leo WolfsonNovember 28, 2023
Hageman Says Biden’s Lead Ammo Ban An ‘Attack’ On Second Amendment
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman says President Joe Biden hates American’s right to bear arms and is attacking this constitutional right with a lead ammunition ban in certain wildlife refuges.
Leo WolfsonNovember 27, 2023
Wyoming Lawmakers Target Creating Digitally Altered, ‘Deepfake’ Media A Crime
A state legislative committee advanced a bill Tuesday that will make the production of digitally altered, “deepfake” media a real criminal offense in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonNovember 22, 2023
Wyoming Writer Speculates How Democrats Could Expel Wyoming From The US
Author and Wyoming native Dallas Jones wants readers to consider an unlikely fictional scenario where a Democratic supermajority in Congress gets Wyoming kicked out of the U.S. because it has too few people.
Leo WolfsonNovember 22, 2023
Wyoming Bitcoin Miner Accuses Legislative Committee Member Of Chinese Ties
Things got a little testy during a legislative committee meeting this week when a Wyoming bitcoin miner accused a member of the committee of representing interests of the Chinese Communist Party.
Leo WolfsonNovember 22, 2023
Biden’s War On Lead Ammo, Hunting Could Limit Uses Of Wyoming’s Vast Spaces
Proposed bans on lead ammunition and rules governing hunting access on federal lands could resonate in Wyoming, including 3.6 million acres included in a controversial BLM management plan.
Mark HeinzNovember 21, 2023
Gordon Changes Mind: Will Not Debate Legislators On Climate Change
After initially saying he was open and willing to debate, Gov. Mark Gordon on Monday declined a challenge by 30 state legislators to debate his “carbon negative” policy for Wyoming and if climate change is real.
Leo WolfsonNovember 21, 2023
Wyoming Task Force Digs Into Controversial BLM Rock Springs Plan
Gov. Mark Gordon plans to deliver the Bureau of Land Management a message from Wyoming about the agency’s controversial Rock Springs area plan. He’s appointed a task force to help outline what that message will be.
Mark HeinzNovember 21, 2023
Judge Orders Colorado To Put Trump On Ballot; Wyoming Challenge Next
With a lawyer for Donald Trump arguing that Liz Cheney's Jan. 6 evidence against him was warped by "personal animus," a Denver District Court Judge has ordered Colorado to put the former president on its 2024 ballot.
Clair McFarlandNovember 20, 2023
Gordon Releases $9.9 Billion Budget; Calls For Putting $579 Million Into Savings
Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday released his biennial budget proposal which calls for socking away $579 million into savings and expanding Wyoming’s property tax rebate program by $20 million.
Leo WolfsonNovember 17, 2023
Uinta County GOP Haggles Over Unpaid $40,000 Legal Bill
A $40,000 legal bill incurred by the former leadership of the Uinta County Republican Party remains unpaid, and has hit the radar of the state party.
Leo WolfsonNovember 17, 2023
School Choice Or 'Crap Sandwich'? Education Savings Account Bill Passes Committee
A bill that would allow parents access to state money to pay for private education passed the Joint Education Committee this week. In the debate, however, one legislator called the bill a "crap sandwich."
Leo WolfsonNovember 16, 2023
It’s OK For Wyoming Grads To Leave — As Long As They Come Back, Sommers Says
Speaking at the Governor's Business Form on Wednesday, House Speaker Albert Sommers said, the trend of Wyoming’s graduates leaving the state to find jobs and build lives isn’t the big problem many make it out to be, as long as they come back.
Leo WolfsonNovember 16, 2023
Barrasso And Lummis Demand Biden Administration Stop Paying For Abortion Trips
John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis signed a letter to President Biden's Secretary of Defense denouncing its policy of paying travel expenses for military and their dependents to get abortions.
Leo WolfsonNovember 16, 2023
Bill: Schools Must Notify Parents About Health, Including Gender Transitioning
The Joint Education Committee passed draft legislation Tuesday that, if passed, would require schools to inform parents about any changes made to their student’s health status, including gender transitioning.
Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2023
‘Unconstitutional Idiocy’: Hageman Blasts Attempt To Scrub Trump From Ballot
Calling it boneheaded, tyrannical and unconstitutional idiocy, Rep. Harriet Hageman blasted a Laramie lawyer’s attempt to keep former President Trump from Wyoming’s ballot. The challenger fired back, accusing Hageman of failing to read his filing.
Clair McFarlandNovember 15, 2023
Wyoming GOP Lawmaker Accused Of Disregarding God Censured By Party
Converse County Republican state Rep. Forrest Chadwick has been censured by his party, but says censures don’t hold much meaning anymore because the party is “handing them out like candy.”
Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2023
7 Days, 400 Exhibits And 8,000 Comments: What Now For 30% RMP Rate Hike?
The Wyoming Public Service Commission is weeding through 400 exhibits, seven days of testimony and 8,000-some comments from an irate public on Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed 30% rate hike.
Renée JeanNovember 15, 2023
New Transparent Political Site Rates Lawmakers Who Are ‘True Wyoming Conservatives’
A new political ranking website, which -- unlike most others -- is not run anonymously, was unveiled on Tuesday and with it is a political scorecard that rates lawmakers who are “true Wyoming conservatives.”
Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2023
Gordon Says ‘Conservatism’ Key In Wyoming’s Fight Over Climate Change
In his message to open the 40th annual Governor’s Business Forum on Tuesday, Gov. Gordon said he believes that traditional “conservatism,” like growing the economy and embracing new technologies, is key in Wyoming’s fight over climate change.
Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2023
Soaring Coal Prices A Big Part Of Rocky Mountain Power’s 30% Rate Hike
Rocky Mountain Power officials say dramatic price swings for fuel have driven its request for 30% rate hike. That includes coal, which has traditionally been a bedrock for cheaper energy prices.
Renée JeanNovember 14, 2023
Lawmakers Kill Plan To Tax Property On Its Market Value, Not Assessed Valuation
The state Joint Revenue Committee killed a proposal Monday that would have taxed property on its market value instead of assessed valuation.
Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2023
Wyoming AG Says State Will Sue BLM Over Controversial Rock Springs Plan
Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill told the state Federal Natural Resource Management Committee on Monday that she expects the state will sue the BLM over its controversial Rock Springs management plan.
Leo WolfsonNovember 13, 2023
Jackson’s Iconic Swinging Bridge Will Be Ripped Out To Make Way For New Span
The single-lane Swinging Bridge has connected people from Jackson, Wyoming, across the Snake River since 1960. Now it’s being ripped out this week to make way for a new bridge.
Andrew RossiNovember 13, 2023