Government & Politics
News
WYDOT Trying To Stop Google Maps Stranding Motorists In Frozen Nowhere, Wyoming
Google Maps has a bad habit of sending travelers down closed roads in Wyoming. It's led to 28 search and rescues in Sweetwater County alone, leaving motorists stranded in below-freezing weather with 22-foot high snowdrifts. WYDOT is trying to fix that.
Renée JeanApril 14, 2024
Gordon Rejects Chuck Gray’s Voter Residency Rules
Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday rejected a slate of tighter voter registration rules proposed by Secretary of State Chuck Gray, saying Wyoming’s elections are “safe and secure.”
Leo WolfsonApril 13, 2024
Yoder Residents Say Tons Of Dust From Sand Operation Is Choking Them Out
The mayor of the southeastern Wyoming town of Yoder said he’s at his wits’ end with a local sand processing plant that’s choking the town out with tons of dust, traffic and noise.
Leo WolfsonApril 13, 2024
Colorado Lawmaker Leaves Loaded Pistol Unattended In Capitol Bathroom
A Colorado lawmaker left a loaded pistol unattended in a bathroom in the state's Capitol, heating arguments about whether Colorado should ban guns altogether from its state Capitol. Wyoming, meanwhile, has been trying to go the opposite direction and allow guns in its state Capitol.
Clair McFarlandApril 12, 2024
Hageman Votes Against Bill To Allow Warrantless Spying On Americans
Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman voted Friday against a bill reauthorizing the Department of Justice to conduct warrantless searches on American citizens. The bill passed.
Leo WolfsonApril 12, 2024
Effort Underway To Rename Mount Woodring In Grand Teton National Park
A push is on to rename Mount Woodring in Grand Teton National Park because it’s named for a former park superintendent charged with attempting to rape a child in 1934.
Leo WolfsonApril 11, 2024
Town of Hudson, Wyoming, Considers Lifting Ban On Pit Bulls, Rottweilers
Pit Bulls and Rottweilers are illegal in Hudson, Wyoming, but the town is considering lifting the ban. Nationwide, pit bulls are responsible for 67% of dog-bite fatalities, yet a local vet said they can have successful family lives if well socialized.
Clair McFarlandApril 11, 2024
Wyoming Gun Dealers Say Biden’s Move To Close ‘Gun Show Loophole’ Won’t Change Anything
The Biden administration moved Thursday to close the so-called "gun show loophole" for background checks, but Wyoming gun show organizers and firearms dealers said they don’t expect it to change anything.
Mark HeinzApril 11, 2024
Chuck Gray Spearheads Effort For Guns In State Capitol, Other State Buildings
At a meeting of the top five elected officials on Wednesday, Chuck Gray proposed allowing guns in the State Capitol building and other state buildings. Gray said a lot of his employees want to bring guns to work but are currently not allowed due to.
Leo WolfsonApril 11, 2024
Wyoming Department Of Health Gives $3,000 For Annual Drag Show; Freedom Caucus Livid
The Wyoming Department of Health has pledged $3,000 to help throw a drag queen bingo event in Laramie later this month. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus said taxpayers should not be funding a "perverted and scandalous event."
Clair McFarlandApril 11, 2024
Analysis: Casper Republican Has Most Success Passing Bills In 2024 Session
A Cowboy State Daily analysis shows that Casper Republican Sen. Jim Anderson was the most successful in the Legislature in getting individual bills passed during the 2024 legislative session.
Leo WolfsonApril 11, 2024
In Stunning Announcement, Senate VP Kinskey Won’t Run For Reelection
In a stunning announcement Wednesday, Wyoming Senate Vice President Dave Kinskey, R-Sheridan, announced he won’t run for reelection to his Senate District 22 seat.
Leo WolfsonApril 10, 2024
Casper Council Reluctantly OK $400,000 To Keep Daily SkyWest Flight
Casper City Council on Tuesday reluctantly agreed to commit to up to $400,000 as the city’s contribution to keep SkyWest Airline’s daily flight to Salt Lake City after the county said it won’t pick up the full tab anymore.
Dale KillingbeckApril 10, 2024
Fort Washakie Democrat Wants To Flip Fremont County House Seat Back To Blue
Fort Washakie Democrat Ivan Posey has announced he’s running for the Wyoming Legislature in an effort to return House District 33 in Fremont County to blue.
Leo WolfsonApril 10, 2024
Gillette Hospital Board Considers Allowing Guns In Some Areas
To get ahead of likely continued efforts to repeal Wyoming gun-free zones, the Campbell County Health board of trustees is considering lifting some firearms restrictions at the Gillette hospital.
Mark HeinzApril 09, 2024
Ravens Taking Over Rawlins Landfill To Be Poisoned
Because ravens have overrun the landfill in Rawlins, the city and the USDA are targeting them with a special bird poison to control the population. Administrators say they are confident that only ravens will be affected by the poison.
April 09, 2024
Kemmerer’s 42-Year-Old Sewage Plant Not Up To Demands Of New Energy Projects
With 12,000 workers expected to come to the Kemmerer area to work on new energy projects, there is real concern that the 42-year-old sewage plant doesn’t have the capacity to handle the population influx.
Pat MaioApril 08, 2024
Park County Republican Party Censures Mark Gordon Over Vetoes
The Park County Republican Party censured Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday over vetoes the governor made to bills passed during the recent legislative session. The sharply-worded censure passed on a 62-24 vote.
Leo WolfsonApril 05, 2024
Well-Known Rancher Cat Urbigkit Announces Run To Replace House Speaker Sommers
Sublette County rancher Cat Urbigkit on Friday announced she’s running to replace House Speaker Albert Sommers in the Wyoming Legislature, who isn’t running for reelection. Urbigkit describes herself as being more of a Libertarian than Sommers.
Leo WolfsonApril 05, 2024
About-Face: Wyoming Land Board Now Wants Out Of Controversial Gravel Pit Leases
After hours of testimony from a more-than-packed room, the State Land Board did an about-face, voting to see if it can reverse its previous approval of leases on state-owned land for gravel mining at the base of Casper Mountain.
Dale KillingbeckApril 05, 2024
Controversial State Land Transfer In Sheridan County Killed By State Land Board
A 560-acre tract of pristine state trust land in Sheridan County will remain open to the public after the State Land Board on Thursday voted to kill the land swap. The meeting got off to a heated start with Chuck Gray and Megan Degenfelder exchanging barbs.
Leo WolfsonApril 04, 2024
Early Freedom Caucus Member Runs To Win Back Wyoming House Seat
Former state Rep. Bob Wharff of Evanston was an early member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus who gave up his state House seat in an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 2022. Now he wants that House seat back.
Leo WolfsonApril 04, 2024
Fremont County Threatens Takeover Of Library Board Amid Sex Books Controversy
The Fremont County Commission is threatening to take over the local library board by May 1 if the board doesn't update its policies on sexually graphic literature in the teens’ section of the library.
Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2024
So You Want To Be Wyoming Governor? It Helps To Be Male And Married With Kids
A Cowboy State Daily analysis of Wyoming’s 33 governors shows some interesting commonalities among the state’s highest office holders, including they’re almost always male, married and have kids.
Leo WolfsonApril 04, 2024