Joan Barron
Latest from Joan Barron
Joan Barron: Carcinogen Cleanup Stalled In Cheyenne
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "A project to clean up an abandoned Atlas missile site west of Cheyenne has been at a standstill for the past two years. At issue is a carcinogen that airmen used to scrub nuclear warhead rockets during the 1950s and 1960s."
Joan BarronJune 27, 2026
Joan Barron: Revisiting Ebola, And 'The Hot Zone'
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "That old horror disease, Ebola, is back in the news, most unfortunately and prevention is on high alert. Given that there was nearly an outbreak of Ebola in this country years ago, these precautions are understandable."
Joan BarronJune 20, 2026
Joan Barron: Siting Council Could Rein In Data Centers
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "Wyoming’s glut of data centers has been the target of national publications lately, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post."
Joan BarronJune 13, 2026
Joan Barron: Hold The TV Candidate Ads. Please.
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "During every break, two campaign ads popped up: The first from Megan Degenfelder, the second from Frank Chapman. The campaign spiel was about the same — emphasis on Wyoming values and connections."
Joan BarronJune 06, 2026
Joan Barron: Where Did All The Lawyers Go?
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "18 lawyers served in the 1950 Legislature out of a total 83 lawmakers, or 22 percent. Currently there are 8 to 11 lawyers (depending on status) in the 93 member Legislature, making up about 9 to 12 percent. Where did the lawyers go?"
Joan BarronMay 30, 2026
Joan Barron: Seniors And Young Men Are Gambling More
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "It wasn’t too long ago that bingo, calcutta and parimutuel races were the only types of gambling that were legal in Wyoming. There’s no going back now. Not with all that money rolling in."
Joan BarronMay 23, 2026
Joan Barron: Time To look At Home Rule Again
Columnist Joan Barron writes, “The growing public concern over the crush of data projects, the huge man camps and gambling parlors show that the influx is too much to absorb, and needs to slow down.”
Joan BarronMay 16, 2026
Joan Barron: Deaf Interpreter Post Is Tough To Fill
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "A woman told of being arrested and jailed overnight in a domestic dispute. She was totally unable to communicate with the arresting officers, or apparently anyone else, although she said she tried writing notes. She spent a night in the county jail, unable unable to communicate with anyone."
Joan BarronMay 09, 2026
Joan Barron: We Don't Trust Nukes – For Good Reason
Columnist Joan Barron writes, “The lack of any major protests against construction of a nuclear energy plant in Kemmerer is surprising, given Wyoming’s history."
Joan BarronMay 02, 2026
Joan Barron: Cheyenne South Siders Oppose Man Camps
Columnist Joan Barron writes, “It is not surprising to see the uprising against a developer’s plan to build 800 units for 5,600 construction workers here to build data centers.”
Joan BarronApril 25, 2026
Joan Barron: If You Can’t Hear, You Can’t Communicate
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "Dan Furphy of Casper may be retired as a lawmaker, but his legacy lives on. His bill created the 'Adult Hearing Aid Program.' Before that, Wyoming was the only state in the nation without a program to represent the hard-of-hearing community."
Joan BarronApril 18, 2026
Joan Barron: They're Lining Up For Hageman's Seat
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "Nine candidates for a statewide office is not a record. We have had more crowded Republican races for the GOP nomination for governor. The largest was 14 in the 1980s when Democratic Gov. Ed Herschler retired after serving three terms."
Joan BarronApril 11, 2026