Government & Politics
News
Freedom Caucus Says Gordon Suing Over Coal Rule A Win For Them
Freedom Caucus member Jeremy Haroldson says Mark Gordon’s announcement that he has hired a top law firm to fight a federal coal rule is a win for the Freedom Caucus because they wanted a special session to push the governor to sue.
Leo WolfsonJune 26, 2024
Oops! Natrona County Maintained Rural Road For Years, But Never Owned It
After years of maintaining County Road 505, Natrona County officials sued local landowners when they threatened to block off the road. Turns out, the county doesn't even own the road -- the landowners do. Both sides were in front of a judge Wednesday.
Dale KillingbeckJune 26, 2024
Will Freedom Caucus Primary Wins In Idaho & South Dakota Spill Over To Wyoming?
Although the Freedom Caucus picked up victories in both Idaho and South Dakota, political pundits in Wyoming disagree over the significance. Some believe it's an inevitable trend while others aren't so sure.
Leo WolfsonJune 26, 2024
Gordon Vows To Fight Coal Mandates As Wyoming Hires Pedigree Law Firm
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon vowed during a Gillette town hall Tuesday to wage a legal fight with the federal government to rollback on federal mandates on coal and other Wyoming energy industries, and the state has hired a pedigree law firm to do it.
Pat MaioJune 26, 2024
Amazingly, ‘Catastrophic’ Teton Pass Failure Fixed In 3 Weeks, To Open Friday
Just three weeks after part of the highway on Teton Pass fell off the mountain, Wyoming transportation officials announced it will reopen on Friday. Considered the lifeline between Jackson and Idaho, the detour will have significantly slower speed limits but no weight limitations.
Jake NicholsJune 25, 2024
Where Does Wyoming Gambling Go Next? $2 Billion Industry At A Crossroads
Gambling in Wyoming has rocketed over the past decade to become a $2 billion a year industry. Does Wyoming go full throttle and follow Montana or will the state take a more moderate approach?
Leo WolfsonJune 25, 2024
Federal Committee Recommends Renaming Devils Tower To Bear Lodge
A federal committee has recommended that the Sec. of Interior change the name of Devils Tower to Bear Lodge. She can't, however, because Wyoming is the only state exempt from the Antiquities Act. Only an act of Congress could do so.
Andrew RossiJune 24, 2024
Fate Of Wyoming’s Trans Treatments For Kids Law Hinges On U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will hear a case determining the constitutionality of Tennessee's ban on transgender surgeries for kids, which will likely determine the future of a new and very similar Wyoming law.
Leo WolfsonJune 24, 2024
Big Horn Basin Parents Push For Wyoming’s First Online Charter School
A Big Horn Basin group is pushing to have a charter school approved this summer. It would become the first charter school in the northwestern part of Wyoming and the state’s first online-only charter school.
Leo WolfsonJune 22, 2024
If Charlie Scott Wins Re-Election, He Will Be One Of The Longest Serving Legislators In U.S.
Casper Republican Charlie Scott, the longest serving member of the Wyoming Legislature, is running for reelection for his 14th term in the state Senate. If he wins, he’ll be among the longest serving legislators in the U.S.
Leo WolfsonJune 21, 2024
Overhaul Of I-25/I-80 Interchange In Cheyenne Will Cost $500 Million
The cloverleaf interchange where Interstates 80 and 25 intersect in Cheyenne will get a $500 million overhaul with huge flyover bridges to keep thousands of semitrucks moving freight across the West. It could take up to a decade to complete.
Pat MaioJune 21, 2024
Wyoming Only State Without Immunity For Drug Overdoses, But Bill Would Change That
Wyoming is the only state without a “good Samaritan” law that grants immunity from prosecution for illegal drug users who report drug overdoses. That could change under a bill advanced Thursday by a legislative committee.
Leo WolfsonJune 20, 2024
Who Knew? The Bald Eagle, Symbol Of Freedom, Isn’t The Official National Bird
You may not know that while the bald eagle has been adopted as America’s symbol of liberty and freedom since the 1780s, it’s not the official national bird. Cynthia Lummis introduced a bill Thursday to finally make it official.
Leo WolfsonJune 20, 2024
Mark Gordon And Chuck Gray Spar Again, This Time Over Wheatland's Failing Water Tank
Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Chuck Gray had another verbal altercation Thursday. This time, the two exchanged words over Gordon’s track record on giving money to Wheatland for its failing water tower.
Leo WolfsonJune 20, 2024
Rock Springs Republican Candidates Battle Over Who's More Conservative
State Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, has a Republican primary opponent who said he’s the true conservative in their Republican primary race. But Kolb says, "My background isn’t a guy who fell off the hay wagon yesterday."
Leo WolfsonJune 20, 2024
Natrona Commissioners Pull $600K For Air Guarantee, Likely To Lose SLC Flight
After convincing the city of Casper in April to pony up $400,000 to guarantee air service to Salt Lake City, the Natrona County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday pulled it’s $600,000 contribution.
Dale KillingbeckJune 20, 2024
Wyoming, Utah First To Sue BLM For Putting Conservation Over Mining
Wyoming and Utah have become the first states to sue the BLM over an obscure rule that weighs conservation over mining interests in how 245 million acres of public lands are managed.
Pat MaioJune 19, 2024
Wyoming Still Fights Stigma Of Suicide 70 Years After US Sen. Lester Hunt’s Death
Lander state senator Cale Case used the 70th anniversary of the death of former U.S. Sen. Lester Hunt, who killed himself in 1954 amid pressure from McCarthyism, to highlight how Wyoming is still fighting the stigma of suicide.
Leo WolfsonJune 19, 2024
Lusk School Board Member Censured For Online 'Threat' To District Employee
A Niobrara County School Board member was censured after telling an employee, “I hope you never piss anyone off,” and that she had intel that could cause the employee trouble.
Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2024
Casper Police Chief Pushes For Anti-Squatting Laws In Wyoming
Casper’s police chief told legislators Tuesday that Wyoming needs criminal laws and penalties to fight a growing squatting problem that’s victimizing home and property owners in his city and around the state.
Clair McFarlandJune 19, 2024
Natrona County Sues Ranchers Over Threat To Close Off Road
Natrona County has sued to stop a ranch family from closing off County Road 505 that leads south off Casper Mountain. Turns out, the county doesn’t legally own County Road 505 -- the family does.
Dale KillingbeckJune 19, 2024
Company Threatens To Pull Plug On Cheyenne Mayoral AI Candidate
Despite a threat from the company that runs ChatGPT which designed Wyoming’s first artificial intelligence political candidate, VIC (Virtual Integrated Citizen) is still active and campaigning for Cheyenne mayor.
Leo WolfsonJune 19, 2024
Teton Pass Could Be Paved And Re-Open By Middle Of Next Week
The Wyoming Department of Transportation told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that a newly constructed detour of the collapsed section of Highway 22 over Teton Pass could be paved and ready to drive on by the middle of next week.
Leo WolfsonJune 18, 2024
Biden’s Transportation Czar Buttigieg In Wyoming To Hype Infrastructure Act
During a visit to Cheyenne on Monday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg hyped the Biden administration’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Act and Wyoming’s $3.8 billion share of it.
Leo WolfsonJune 18, 2024