Government & Politics | Cowboy State Daily

A crowed gathered early Wednesday to celebrate the official opening of a massive new semi-truck parking lot at Quealy Dome along Interstate 80. The lot will give truckers a safe place to wait out winter storms.

New Truck Lot A Haven For Drivers Along I-80’s Notorious ‘Snow Chi Mihn Trail’

The stretch between Rawlins and Laramie is notorious for being a dangerous winter drive, so much so it’s been dubbed the “Snow Chi Mihn Trail.” A new truck parking lot will give drivers much-needed haven.

Mark HeinzSeptember 20, 2023

Two Wyoming Towns Go To Court Against Newspaper To Change Public Notice Laws

The towns of Mills and Bar Nunn say it’s time Wyoming’s public notice requirements catch up to today’s digital news landscape in response to a landmark lawsuit for cities and towns across Wyoming.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 20, 2023

New Laws Could Expand Efforts To Solve Wyoming Cold Case Crimes

The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee advanced legislation Tuesday directing the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation to expand its efforts to investigate cold case crimes.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 20, 2023

Maddi Morgan of West Virginia testifies via Zoom for the Wyoming Legislature's Joint Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. She said a loophole in Wyoming's sex offender laws allow the man convicted of exploiting her to move to Wyoming and not have to register as a sex offender.

She Was Groomed By A Sex Offender Who Moved To Wyo. And Doesn’t Have To Register

A West Virginia woman told Wyoming lawmakers Tuesday how the man convicted of grooming her when she was 12 now lives in Wyoming and is dodging registering as a sex offender. She wants them to close that loophole.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2023

Vacant Sheridan County Commission Seat Filled As GOP Seethes Over Process

After a highly contentious appointment process that drew threats of lawsuits and calls for arrests, Sheridan resident Holly Jennings was chosen to fill the empty county commissioner seat.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 19, 2023

People filled a lecture hall in Central Wyoming College in Riverton for Monday's Public Service Commission meeting.

Riverton Residents Say 30% Electricity Rate Hike Will ‘Destroy So Many Families’

At a public meeting on Monday evening, Riverton residents voiced their opposition to Rocky Mountain Power’s requested 30% increase in electricity rates. They told the Public Service Commission that the increase would "destroy so many families."

September 19, 2023

Former state Rep. Dave Miller, left, and former state Sen. Eli Bebout, both Riverton Republicans, wait for their turn to speak during Monday's Public Service Commission meeting in Riverton. Bebout was briefly interrupted during his time by an online prankster.

Man Exposes Himself, Shouts Racial Slurs During Power Rate Hearing

Online pranksters disrupted a public meeting of the Wyoming Public Service Commission on Monday evening, including one who shouted racial slurs and exposed himself.

September 19, 2023

A variety of delta-8 THC products at Black Market Vape & Smoke in Cheyenne in this file photo.

Wyoming Lawmakers Want To Crack Down On ‘Marijuana Lite’

Through a loophole in state law, Wyoming officials say some people void prosecution for “marijuana lite,” a less potent version of traditional pot.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 19, 2023

Activist Says Riverton Woman Evicted Because Other Tenants Planned To Murder Her

A Wyoming civil rights activist said during a Monday meeting of the Wyoming Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights that a Riverton woman was evicted after other tenants threatened to murder her because she’s Black.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 19, 2023

An artist's rendering of what the proposed Cody Wyoming Temple would look like.

Gigantic 101-Foot-Tall LDS Temple A Done Deal, As Far As City Of Cody’s Concerned

Barring intervention from a court, the city of Cody’s approval Monday of a planned 101-foot-tall LDS temple stands and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can build.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 18, 2023

Teton County District Court Judge Melissa Owens speaks during a hearing where she denied a request by lawmakers, Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Right to Life Wyoming to defend the laws that ban most abortions in the state. A proposed law would make it illegal to specifically threaten or intimidate a judge.

Threaten A Judge In Wyoming, Do Serious Time Under Proposed Law

Although there are already laws against harassment, threats and assault, the Wyoming Legislature is considering a bill that would specifically address people who do that with judges.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 18, 2023

Effort To Have Bodies Autopsied In Wyoming Dies Without A Vote

Many Wyoming counties contract with out-of-state forensic medical examiner to do autopsies, and seem to like it that way, as a bill that would create a state pathologist position failed to get enough support Monday to advance to a vote.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2023

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman during a trip to Guam last month, part of a tour of Pacific Island U.S. territories.

Hageman Says Dems And GOP Can Agree That China Is A Threat To The US

While nearly halfway around the world from Wyoming, U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman says people here should care about China’s aggression toward small island nations and the threat it poses to the U.S.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 17, 2023

Wyoming state Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, left, and Rep. Cyrus Western, R-Big Horn, serve on the state's Select Blockchain Committee and say Wyoming can continue to be a leader in the digital space by working with top experts on regulating generative AI.

Wyoming Lawmakers Take Aim At ‘Deep Fake’ Artificial Intelligence Applications

As the use and sophistication of artificial intelligence continues to evolve, Wyoming lawmakers want to get ahead of the technology’s potential to produce “deep fake” AI to scam or intentionally mislead people.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 16, 2023

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County 6 22 23

Proposed 30% Wyoming Electricity Rate Hike Could Lead To Higher Medical Bills

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs didn’t wait for the Public Service Commission to approve Rocky Mountain Power’s 30% rate increase. It’s already factored into next year’s budget.

September 15, 2023

Democrats Want To Raise Wyoming’s Minimum Wage

A top state Democrat says many employers aren’t paying a livable wage and that the Legislature needs to act. But a Wyoming business group says let the market, not government, decide.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 15, 2023

Rod Miller, a Wyoming political watchdog and Cowboy State Daily columnist, was ready to debate anyone from the anonymous conservative ranking site WyoRINO.com on Thursday night, but nobody from the site answered the invitation to debate from the Natrona County Republican Party.

With WyoRINO A No-Show For Debate, Panel Talks State Of Wyoming GOP

Whoever is behind the anonymous conservative political ranking website WyoRINO.com didn’t answer a challenge to debate Cowboy State Daily columnist Rod Miller on Thursday, which instead made way for a lively discussion on the state of the Wyoming GOP.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 15, 2023

Former Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder walks out of the Laramie County courthouse and government complex in downtown Cheyenne after a court hearing.

Under Oath, Former Wyoming Education Chief Admits Lying About Political Event

Former Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder admitted under oath in court Thursday he lied to the press when he said public money wasn’t spent on a 2022 political event he hosted.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 15, 2023

After months of discussions, meetings and protests, the original plan for a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Cody is good to go, including a controversial 77-foot steeple.

Court Fight Over Proposed Cody LDS Temple With Giant 77-Foot Steeple Heats Up

A dispute over a proposed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Cody that features a giant 77-foot steeple has taken another turn as the church is actively fighting a neighborhood group in court.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 14, 2023

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, addresses the Wyoming Legislature at the beginning of its 2023 session in Cheyenne.

Lummis Fights Mask Mandates, Other 'Controlling' Biden Administration Efforts

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis said President Joe Biden's administration is trying to "control" Americans through heavy-handed initiatives like mask mandates, restrictive Endangered Species Act rules and forgiving student loan debt.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 14, 2023

Hanna, in Carbon County, has a population of 683, but a controversial town council meeting late Tuesday drew a sizable crowd.

"This Is Not California!": Angry Hanna Citizens Yell At Town Leaders In Wild Council Meeting

A Hanna Town Council meeting on Tuesday got out of control as angry residents yelled at, and cussed-out, the council over a proposed ordinance cracking down on junk and trash. One resident yelled, "This is not California!"

Mark HeinzSeptember 13, 2023

Who’s Behind The Curtain At Conservative Ranking Website WyoRINO?

A Cowboy State Daily investigation found some interesting connections and similarities behind the anonymous conservative ranking website WyoRINO.com and other conservative Wyoming political sites.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 13, 2023

Wyoming Delegation Supports Inquiry Into Biden Impeachment

Wyoming’s three members of Congress said Tuesday they support an official U.S. House inquiry into impeaching President Joe Biden.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 12, 2023

"Turning Point," a new documentary that's being premiered around the state, tells the stories of Wyoming people who have been impacted by suicide.

Wyoming’s Alarming Suicide Problem Focus Of New Documentary Film

A Casper native has made a Wyoming-focused documentary about how despite increased efforts and funding to prevent suicide, the Cowboy State continues to have one of the highest suicide rates in the nation.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 12, 2023

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