Government & Politics
News
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
Companies Say RMP’s 30% Rate Increase Would Clobber Wyoming Oil And Gas
Several oil and gas companies say Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed 30% rate increase would clobber Wyoming’s oil and gas production, robbing the state and local communities of some serious tax revenues.
Renée JeanNovember 13, 2023
Gunning For Senate President? Barrasso Has Raised More Than $2 Million This Year
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso has had a strong 2023 for fundraising, raising more than $2 million and setting the stage for what could be a push to lead the U.S. Senate in 2025.
Leo WolfsonNovember 13, 2023
Foreign Ownership Of Ag Land A Struggle For Lawmakers In Wyoming And DC
Brett Moline, of the Wyoming Farm Bureau, said his organization supports restricting foreign ownership of U.S. agriculture land. Even though the percentage of overall farmland owned by foreign investors is small, it’s a situation that could quickly get out of hand if left unchecked.
November 12, 2023
Rocky Mountain Power Claims Astonishing 30% Rate Increase Not Due To Renewables
Rocky Mountain Power’s controversial request for a gigantic 30% rate hike isn’t driven by costs of renewables, company officials say. It’s mostly from peak demand for power. They also claim extreme weather events are to blame.
Renée JeanNovember 12, 2023
‘Fire Of Significant Size’ Closes Rawlins City Landfill
What city officials report is a “fire of significant size” in the construction and demolition section of the Rawlins Landfill closed the facility hours early Saturday afternoon.
Greg JohnsonNovember 12, 2023
Dam Engineer Worried About LaPrele Dam, Which Is More Than 60 Years Past Its Prime
At 114 years old, the LaPrele Dam is the nation’s oldest open-front dam. Built in 1909, its service life was only 50 years, which worries dam engineer Nathan Graves. Until it can be replaced, the water has been lowered significantly.
Mark HeinzNovember 12, 2023
Wyomingites Say They Can’t Afford Rocky Mountain Power’s 30% Rate Hike
Affordability was a recurring theme during the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s marathon hearing about Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed 30% electricity rate hike.
Renée JeanNovember 11, 2023