Government & Politics
News

Crook County Showdown: Neiman To Challenge Driskill In Heavyweight Senate Race
House Speaker Chip Neiman has announced he's running for Sen. Ogden Driskill's senate seat. Driskill wasn't going to run again but changed his mind. He says voters told him they don't want to see "the Freedom Caucus move to the Senate.”
Clair McFarlandMarch 13, 2026

Controversial Three-Quarter Percent Sales Tax Could Head To Fremont County Voters
A proposed three-quarter percent sales tax to cover ambulance services, public transportation and commercial air in Fremont County could land on the August primary ballot after Fremont County Commissioners narrowly passed a resolution in a 3-2 vote.
Kate MeadowsMarch 12, 2026

Wyoming State Senate President Bo Biteman Announces Candidacy For U.S. House
Wyoming state Senate President Bo Biteman announced Thursday he's running for the state's lone U.S. House seat. He described himself as a “constitutional conservative,” adding "I can’t be bought… I can’t be controlled. I’m my own man.”
Clair McFarlandMarch 12, 2026

20-Vehicle Pileup Between Laramie And Sinclair On I-80 Sends Two To Hospital
A 20-vehicle pileup on Interstate 80 between Laramie and Sinclair during a blizzard Wednesday sent two people to hospitals and shut down the highway in both directions. Officials blame ice, high winds, and drivers unprepared for winter’s sudden return.
Kate MeadowsMarch 11, 2026

No Legislative Misconduct Found Against Dems Who Aired 'CheckGate’ Scandal
Wyoming House leaders on Wednesday dismissed ethics complaints against Democratic Reps. Mike Yin and Karlee Provenza over the “CheckGate” scandal. House Speaker Pro Tem Jeremy Haroldson said they didn't break any rules, but their actions caused fallout.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2026

Senate 9 Votes Short Of Reversing Gordon’s Second Amendment Protection Act Veto
The Wyoming Senate tried and failed by nine votes Wednesday to override Gov. Mark Gordon’s veto of a bill called the “Second Amendment Protection Act.” Sheriffs for all 23 Wyoming counties opposed the bill, calling it messy and overreaching.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2026

House Tries, Fails To Override Gordon Veto: Governments Can Still Deduct Union Dues
Despite a gentle insistence by the bill’s sponsor that real, local people see its value, the Wyoming House on Wednesday failed to override Gov. Mark Gordon’s veto of a bill that sought to ban government entities from collecting union dues.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2026

Pro-Choicers Want Retired Judge To Hear Case Against 'Heartbeat' Abortion Ban
The pro-choice coalition that has sued to block every abortion restriction Wyoming has passed since 2022 is challenging the state’s “Heartbeat” act. It filed Tuesday for a retired judge who has already blocked two abortion restrictions to hear the case.
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026

Cheyenne City Council Postpones Final Vote On Annexation Of Farm For 8 Months
Cheyenne City Council voted Monday to delay a final decision on forcibly annexing a farm that sells fresh, local produce for eight months after hours of testimony from concerned residents.
Kate MeadowsMarch 10, 2026

Governments Can Keep Collecting Union Dues After Gordon Vetoes Ban
Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have barred Wyoming agencies from deducting union and political dues from paychecks. He said he’s frustrated with “the increasing trend of out-of-state interests influencing legislation.”
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026

School District 'Aware' Of Video Showing Cheyenne Teacher Begging Student
Laramie County School District 1 says it’s “aware” of a video showing a Cheyenne junior high teacher on his knees begging a student, telling her that, “I did something very wrong.” One parent told Cowboy State Daily it is "creepy" and "it pissed me off."
Greg JohnsonMarch 10, 2026

WYDOT Announces Retirement Of Wyoming Highway Patrol Chief
The Wyoming Dept of Transportation on Tuesday announced the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s administrator is retiring. Col. Tim Cameron said he was planning on retiring, and his exit isn't due to overtime and staffing controversies in the agency.
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026

Gordon Vetoes Second Amendment Protection Act, Trump's ICE Agrees
Noting the Trump administration backs him, Gov. Mark Gordon on Tuesday vetoed the Second Amendment Protection Act - a bill condemned by all 23 Wyoming sheriffs. The bill would penalize Wyoming agencies that help with federal gun enforcement operations.
Clair McFarlandMarch 10, 2026

Nearly $4 Billion Wyoming Education Plan Goes Into Law Without Gordon’s Signature
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Monday let the state’s new $3.9 billion K-12 education plan become law without his signature. He said his biggest issue was the Legislature cordoning off instructional funding so it can't help "if a school loses a roof.”
Clair McFarlandMarch 09, 2026

Gordon Signs 'Heartbeat' Abortion Ban; Clinic 'Prepared To Challenge' It
Gov. Mark Gordon signed Wyoming’s Human Heartbeat Act on Monday, banning most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be heard. The state's only abortion clinic says it is an "attack on Wyomingites’ constitutional freedom" and is ready to challenge it.
Clair McFarlandMarch 09, 2026

Did You Know? Wyoming Granite Could Be Perfect For Making Olympic Curling Stones.
Wyoming may have the geology to produce Olympic-grade curling stones, a state geologist says. State. Sen. Cale Case, who loves curling, wants to take on "those guys in skirts" in Scotland and Wales and end their monopoly on the making of curling stones.
David MadisonMarch 08, 2026

Legislature Overrides 4 Of Gordon's 25 Line-Item Vetoes; Biz Council Program Survives
The Wyoming Legislature overrode four of Gov. Mark Gordon's 25 line-item vetoes to the budget Friday. The House failed by one vote to win an override that would have defunded the Business Ready Communities program.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2026

Gordon Says Second Amendment Protection Act Is Fundraising Disguised As Legislation
Gov. Gordon didn’t mince words when discussing the Second Amendment Protection Act. He called it an “embarrassment,” noting all 23 sheriffs in Wyoming oppose it. The bill currently sits on the governor’s desk. He vetoed a similar bill last year.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2026

Wyoming Lawmakers Hope $3.9 Billion School Spending Package Good Enough For Courts
Wyoming lawmakers have sent a roughly $3.9 billion school spending package to the governor's desk hoping it will survive the latest round of court scrutiny. "I’m confident the court will look very favorably on (these efforts)," Sen. Chris Rothfuss said Friday.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026

Bill Blocking State Agencies From Collecting Union Dues Heads To Gov's Desk
A bill banning Wyoming public agencies and schools from collecting union and political advocacy group dues is headed to the governor. Rep JD Williams says workers keep their right to pay dues and engage in union activities but the state won't be involved.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026

Gordon Uses Line-Item Veto To Help Biz Council, Rescue State Jet, NIL, UW Funding
Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday used his line-item veto authority to rescue the Wyoming Business Council’s Business-Ready Communities program, the state colleges’ flexibility to use state money on NIL, and one of the executive branch’s two jet airplanes.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026

Gordon Signs Bill Letting All Wyoming Cops Pull Non-English Speaking Truckers From Roads
By the stroke of Gov. Mark Gordon's pen Thursday, now all Wyoming police officers and deputies, not just federally-certified state troopers, can pull non-English-proficient commercial truck drivers from the roads.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026

To Become A Judge, Clark Stith Leaves Behind Two High-Profile Political Lawsuits
By accepting a judgeship in Sweetwater County, former Rep. Clark Stith is leaving behind arguably the two most high-profile political lawsuits in Wyoming and is "shopping around" for a lawyer to take them over.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2026

Gun Rights Bills Widely Opposed By Wyoming Cops, Sheriffs Clears Legislature
Though widely opposed by Wyoming law enforcement, the Second Amendment Protection Act cleared both chambers of the Legislature. “If an order is ever given federally to come seize firearms... our law enforcement can’t help them,” Rep. Bob Wharff said.
Mark HeinzMarch 05, 2026
