Government & Politics
News
Change In Law Would Mean No More 7-Year-Olds Starting Kindergarten In Wyoming
Evanston Republican state Sen. Wendy Schuler wants to lower the required age for children to start attending kindergarten in Wyoming from 7 to 6, which she says will set them up for greater success in their public school years.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 24, 2024
Degenfelder Unveils Curriculum Transparency Website
Saying parents have a right to know what their children are learning, Wyoming's education chief unveiled a curriculum transparency website on Tuesday where school districts will post what they teach. There are 8 districts in the pilot group.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 24, 2024
Riverton Lawmaker Wants To Crack Down On Internet Porn In Wyoming
State Rep. Sarah Penn is proposing a bill that would specifically add “visual depictions of rape or sexual abuse” to what is considered “obscene material” under the law.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 24, 2024
Natrona Republican Central Committee Hasn’t Met In Nearly A Year
The Natrona County GOP hasn’t had a meeting of its central committee in nearly a year. One disgruntled committeeman said at a recent executive meeting, they preferred to talk about a Casper mountaineer's latest climbing exploits instead of party business.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 23, 2024
Vastly Outnumbered, Wyoming House Dems Still Bring Back Bill To Protect Abortion
Despite the Legislature passing by an overwhelming margin last year two bills that prohibit most forms of abortion in Wyoming and being outnumbered 57-5, House Democrats are bringing back a bill to protect abortion.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 23, 2024
Legislature To Take Second Swing At Outlawing Transgender Surgeries For Kids
After the failure of Chloe’s Law last year, the Wyoming Legislature will consider another bill when it convenes Feb. 12 that would outlaw transgender surgeries for children.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 22, 2024
Wyoming Homeowners Want Property Tax Relief, But Disagree On How To Do It
A controversial property tax ballot initiative to cut assessed values by 50% is sparking a lot of debate about how to best address property tax relief in Wyoming without unintentionally paving the way for a state income tax.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 22, 2024
Gordon Picks Cheyenne Attorney Robert Jarosh For Wyoming Supreme Court
Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday selected Cheyenne attorney Robert Jarosh for the Wyoming Supreme Court. He'll fill the seat being vacated with the retirement of Justice Keith Kautz.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 20, 2024
Degenfelder: I Will Not Let Biden Weaponize School Lunch Programs For A New Welfare Program
In rejecting new federal funds from the Biden administration, Wyoming's education chief Megan Degenfelder said an expansion of food stamp options amounts to a weaponization of "summer school lunch programs to justify a new welfare program."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2024
No More "Snow Days" In Wyoming Schools? Technology Is All But Killing Them.
Snow days may be a thing of the past for Wyoming schools as 75% of Wyoming’s school districts now participate in temporary virtual education days. It allows school districts to forgo calling snow days and hold classes virtually instead.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2024
Former Wyoming Catholic College Head Kevin Roberts Blasts 'Global Elites' At Davos
Remarks made by former head of Wyoming Catholic College and now president of the Heritage Foundation on Thursday went viral after he blasted "elites" at the Global Economic Forum in Davos. He called their mission "laughable" and said they are part of the problem.
Jimmy OrrJanuary 19, 2024
Legislative Committee: Kelly Parcel Is Worth At Least $100 Million
The Joint Appropriation Committee passed an amendment Thursday that urged the State Land Board to accept no less than $100 million from the feds to purchase the pristine 640 acres of land in Teton County known as the Kelly Parcel.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2024
Wyoming Legislators Used To Park Free Around Capitol, Now They’re Getting Tickets
Wyoming lawmakers used to get a special pass from the city of Cheyenne to park free around the Capitol complex and elsewhere in the community. Now, they’re getting tickets, but want their free passes back.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2024
With Trump’s Huge Iowa Win, Lummis Says GOP Primary Is Over
Sen. Cynthia Lummis believes former President Donald Trump’s historic margin of victory in the Iowa Republican caucus shows the race for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election “is over.”
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2024
Sweetwater County Says BLM Land Plan Will Take Millions From School Funding
In 1,700 pages of commentary delivered on Tuesday, Sweetwater County officials said the BLM's controversial draft plan for the Rock Springs area could be devastating with millions of dollars lost for school funding.
Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2024
Lummis, Hageman Cheer Defeat Of SEC ‘Land Grab Attempt’
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Harriet Hageman are declaring victory after the New York Stock Exchange announced it’s dropping a controversial proposal to sell shares of land that both lawmakers vehemently opposed as potentially disastrous for land management in the West.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2024
Cheyenne Mayor Urges Legislators To Save Arboretum By Making It State Historic Site
Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins spoke at a legislative committee meeting on Wednesday to urge legislators to designate the High Plains Arboretum as a state historic site. "This site is an amazing place," he said.
Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2024
Wyoming Trona Miners Say BLM Management Plan Could Destroy Trona Industry
Wyoming trona miners are strongly protesting the BLM’s proposed Rock Springs Resource Management Plan stating that restrictions on development could kill their industry. The deadline for comment was Wednesday.
Pat MaioJanuary 17, 2024
Central Wyoming College Among Nation’s Elite
Central Wyoming College has been ranked in the top 2.1% of colleges nationally and is the state’s No. 1 community college, according to Niche.
January 17, 2024
Wyoming Schools Will Get $200,000 From Robinhood Stock Scandal Settlement
Wyoming schools will get a $200,000 slice of a $10.2 million national settlement with investment app Robinhood over its long-term practice of promoting risky stock trading that harmed investors.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2024
Governor's Task Force Says BLM May Listen To Wyoming About Rock Springs Plan
A Governor’s Task Force charged with representing Wyoming interests on the controversial BLM Rock Springs Resource Management Plan finished its work last week and says it’s optimistic the BLM may be willing to change direction.
Mark Heinz & Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2024
Crook County Mailbox Nudist Prompts Lawmaker To Draft Genitals Intimidation Bill
Rep. Chip Neiman has drafted legislation that would make it illegal to intimidate others with their genitals. The bill is in response to a nudist who, when asked to put on clothes at a public mailbox center, responded by bending over and spreading his buttocks.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2024
Supreme Court Won't Say If Trans Kids Can Use Whatever Bathroom They Want
With the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday not to hear a case on whether transgender students have a right to use whatever bathroom they want, Wyoming legislation like the What Is A Woman Act, or a local school-board policy, could tip the Cowboy State into the mix.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 16, 2024
Barrasso Out Of Hospital After Unexpected Surgery For Stomach Obstruction
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso is out of a Casper hospital and will stay in Wyoming this week as he recovers from unexpected surgery on Sunday to clear a painful stomach obstruction.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2024