Government & Politics
News
Uinta County Man Accused Of Using AI To Put Girl In Child Porn
A Uinta County man accused of using AI to transform a teen’s photo into child pornography faces four felony charges. The case has reignited some Wyoming lawmakers’ push to curb "deepfake" deceptions and bolster AI-related law.
Clair McFarlandOctober 16, 2025
UW Football Swaps Brown And Gold For Coal Black In Border War Tribute
When the Wyoming Cowboys football team takes the field Oct. 25 for the Border War rivalry game against Colorado State University, they'll be wearing a special coal-black alternative uniform. It's a tribute to Wyoming's coal industry.
Andrew RossiOctober 15, 2025
Legislator Leading Charge Against Nuclear Waste Says Political Fallout Is Worth it
Rep. Bill Allemand says his fiery opposition to accepting nuclear waste storage in Wyoming has tarnished some political relationships. He also says the fallout is worth it with this week’s announcement that Radiant Nuclear has abandoned its Wyoming plans.
Jackson WalkerOctober 15, 2025
Lummis, Barrasso Target Abortion Pill At Federal Level
Wyoming’s John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, plus most other Republicans in the U.S. Senate, are urging the FDA to cut nationwide access to abortion pills. Pro-choice advocates say ideology, rather than harm to women, is driving the senators’ message.
Sean BarryOctober 15, 2025
Lummis Introduces Bill To End Diesel 'Delete' Rules, Free Imprisoned Mechanics
Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis introduced a bill Tuesday to end emissions requirements and prosecution of diesel “delete” mechanics. An attorney defending a Wyoming mechanic said the idea supports rural America, but the bill's a "long shot" as written.
Clair McFarlandOctober 15, 2025
Wyoming Panel Advances Grooming Bill With Tougher Penalties Than Statutory Rape
Wyoming's Joint Judiciary Committee on Monday advanced a bill seeking to criminalize "grooming," or pushing children toward sexual acts. As drafted, it would penalize grooming offenses with harsher penalties than statutory rape itself.
Clair McFarlandOctober 15, 2025
Wyoming Delegation Applauds Release Of Israeli Hostages
Among the 20 living hostages released Monday as part of the Israel-Hamas peace deal is Avinatan Or, whose brother Chaim Or visited U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis in May. Lummis told Cowboy State Daily that it was unknown whether Avinatan Or was alive.
Sean BarryOctober 14, 2025
Natrona County Schools Chief Won’t Let Board Members Into Turning Point Meeting
The Natrona County School District 1 superintendent barred two school board trustees from attending a meeting over restrictions put on new Turning Point USA chapters. The trustees had been invited to the meeting by the parents of a TPUSA student leader.
Dale KillingbeckOctober 14, 2025
Natrona County Schools Accused Of Stifling Free Speech Over Turning Point Chapters
The Natrona County District No. 1 school board heard plenty Monday from people about the controversy over forming Turning Point USA chapters in the district. The Natrona County High TPUSA founder said the district has been stifling free speech.
Dale KillingbeckOctober 14, 2025
Police Chief, Former Cop, Emergency Coordinator Finalists For Platte County Sheriff
The Platte County Republican Party chose three finalists Monday to be the next county sheriff. The commission now must choose between the Guernsey police chief, a former cop and the county's emergency management coordinator.
Jackson WalkerOctober 14, 2025
Committee Adopts Bill Greenlighting Lawsuits Over 'Sexually Explicit' Library Books
The Wyoming Judiciary Committee on Monday adopted a bill letting residents of a given county or school district sue libraries or schools over sexually-explicit materials in children's sections of libraries.
Clair McFarlandOctober 14, 2025
Federal Layoffs Begin as Trump Pressures Democrats Over Budget Shutdown
Sen. Cynthia Lummis blamed House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for the shutdown and ensuing layoffs. “While Sen. Schumer brags that ‘every day gets better for (Democrats) during this government shutdown, federal employees are losing their jobs or going without pay," she said.
Scott SchwebkeOctober 11, 2025
Wyoming, Other States Must Settle Colorado River Water Fight Or Feds Will Step In
With rising tensions over a dwindling supply of water from the Colorado River, Wyoming and six other states have until Nov. 11 to hammer out a deal for water allocation or the federal government will step in and settle it for them.
Mark HeinzOctober 10, 2025
Barrasso On Shutdown: ‘Terrorist’ Dems Want Country ‘Destroyed’
Discussing the government shutdown on Thursday, U.S. Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is beholden to the “terrorist wing” of the Democratic Party, a faction “who will never be satisfied until this country is destroyed.”
Sean BarryOctober 09, 2025
Degenfelder Stands With Student Who Claims New Turning Point Chapter Suppressed
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder on Thursday said she stands with Kylie Wall, a Natrona County High School senior who said school staffers are suppressing her efforts to start a Turning Point USA chapter.
Steve BohnelOctober 09, 2025
Wyoming Democratic Party Hires Executive Director From Colorado
The Wyoming Democratic Party on Wednesday announced Scott Merrifield, a longtime organizer and staffer to Colorado politicians, as its new executive director. He said he will focus on “practical wins” like improving infrastructure, data, fundraising, and messaging.
Steve BohnelOctober 09, 2025
Now Evanston Will Discontinue Use Of Its Animal Gas Chamber
After Green River voted to abolish the use of its animal gas chamber earlier this week, the Evanston mayor on Thursday said his city will follow suit. Evanston was the last remaining community in the country to use a gas chamber for animal euthanasia.
Jackson WalkerOctober 09, 2025
Wyo Democrats Urge Wyomingites To Oppose Bill Targeting Sexually Explicit Books
The Wyoming Democratic Party is urging supporters to keep up pressure against a bill that would punish libraries for making available sexually-explicit books to kids. “It’s not only an attack on free speech - it’s an attack on parental rights,” the party said.
Steve BohnelOctober 09, 2025
GOP Irks Dems By Moving To Overturn BLM Plans Including Limits On Mining In Wyoming
Wyoming’s delegation moved Wednesday to overturn part of a BLM Resource Management Plan that limited mining in the Powder River Basin. Democrats say targeting RMPs, a trend among GOP lawmakers in the West, undercuts long, deliberative efforts to balance land uses.
Sean BarryOctober 09, 2025
Oops! That Flipped Letter That Led to ‘Lust’ Was Really Supposed To Be ‘Just’
Emotions ran high on Wednesday when a message in the Natrona County high school library window appeared to say "Lust Won't Be Buried" when in fact, the message was "Just Won't Be Buried." Someone apparently flipped the "J" to look like an "L."
Dale KillingbeckOctober 09, 2025
Wyoming Green Beret, Navy Vet Columnist Spar Over Hegseth's Anti-Woke Mission
When Pete Hegseth spoke to an assembly of military leaders last week, he promoted the end of DEI and race-based quotas. A Pinedale man who served as a Green Beret loved it and a female Sheridan Navy-vet despised it.
Jackson WalkerOctober 09, 2025
Curt Meier Erupts At Chuck Gray, Says He Keeps Derailing Meetings
When Secretary of State Chuck Gray criticized Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday in the State Building Commission, Treasurer Curt Meier said he'd had enough. 'This forum is about doing business of this committee, not a stage for the secretary,' Meier said.
Steve Bohnel & Clair McFarlandOctober 08, 2025
Green River Bans Animal Gas Chamber, Leaving Evanston As Last in U.S.
The Green River City Council on Tuesday voted to abolish the use of a gas chamber at the community’s animal shelter. This leaves Evanston, Wyoming, as the only location in the country that still uses a gas chamber for euthanizing pets.
Jackson WalkerOctober 08, 2025
Obama U.S. Attorney For Wyoming Says Trump Should Have Authority To Deploy Guard
Former U.S. Attorney for Wyoming Kip Crofts, who was appointed by President Obama, says President Trump should have the authority to deploy the National Guard where necessary. He said Congress has proven it can't be trusted with sole responsibility.
Steve BohnelOctober 07, 2025