Headlines
Explore a chronological display of Cowboy State Daily’s articles.
News

Legislator Wants To Reduce What Solar Customers Are Paid For Excess Electricity
Sen. Cale Case has introduced a bill that would repeal net metering, which allows people who produce excess electricity from rooftop panels to sell it back to a utility. Case says it makes energy in the state more expensive and discriminates against the poor.
January 18, 2023

Get Your Incandescent Lightbulbs Now: Starting August 1, They’re Outlawed
Wyoming lighting retailers say they have a few incandescent light bulbs in stock but the bulbs are nearly impossible to get any more. On August 1 it will become illegal for retailers to sell incandescent bulbs.
January 18, 2023

Realtor: Hobbyists Who Buy “Cheap Drones At Wal-Mart” Causing Problems For Legit Drone Operators
In a legislative committee meeting on Wednesday, the president of the Wyoming Realtors association said commercial drone operators are well-behaved. It's the "hobbyists who buy cheap drones at Wal-Mart and fly them over their neighbors properties," who are causing all the problems, he said.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023

Wyoming Community Colleges Can’t Ask For Inflation Fund Adjustment After Bill Fails
State Sen. Cheri Steinmetz said the Senate is already "very receptive" to giving community colleges more money so there doesn't need to be another mechanism for requesting public funds.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 18, 2023

Rock Climber From Story, Wyoming, Competing In HBO Series “The Climb”
A Story, Wyoming native is featured in the HBO series "The Climb" where he is competing against the world's best amateur climbers in Spain, Jordan, and others countries for a sponsorship and $100,000 in cash. The show debuted on January 12, 2023.
Wendy CorrJanuary 18, 2023

Book Stores Aren’t Dead After All: Barnes & Noble Returning To Cheyenne, Other Wyo Locations Possible
Not only is Cheyenne getting its Barnes & Noble back but the company is considering new locations in Wyoming. The company said it believes brick and mortar locations can work if they personalize the stores to each location.
Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2023

Casper Legislator’s Covid Bill Would Also Prohibit Required Vaccines For Polio, Measles, Mumps
Although Rep. Ward said her Covid bill which would also prohibit required vaccines for polio, measles, mumps and other infectious diseases is a way to prioritize the rights of individuals, physicians said it would put Wyoming "back a few centuries."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2023

State Sen. Says Mother Was ‘Severely Mistreated’ In Boarding School That Forcibly Assimilated Native Americans
State Sen. Affie Ellis told a committee on Wednesday morning that her mother was "severely mistreated" when attending a boarding school that sought to assimilate her into a non-native culture. Ellis' bill would uphold tribal sovereignty over child members.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 18, 2023

Wyoming Law Enforcement Says Steering Wheel With Keyboard Invention Is Horrible Idea
Wyoming law enforcement officials say a steering wheel with a keyboard attached is a horrible idea and recommend not using one. The inventor of the product tried to raise $10 million to produce but killed the effort after no one donated any money to it.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 18, 2023

House Committee OKs $50 Million Wyoming Outdoor Rec Trust Fund
The bill would create a $50 million trust fund to pay for the Office of Outdoor Recreation to better promote Wyoming outdoors. Currently, Wyoming is last in dollars and jobs generated by outdoor tourism compared to 11 other western states.
Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2023

Perhaps Largest Group Ever, Freshman Lawmakers May Hold Real Political Power In Wyoming
With 34 first-year members of the 67th Legislature nearly 37% of the 93-member body freshman legislators have potential to be the most influential first-term class in Wyoming history, but they will have to come together to make that happen.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2023

UW Astronomers Built The Spectrometer On Satellite That Discovered Earth-Like Planet
The spectrometer on the satellite that identified the "habitable" Earth-like planet was designed and built in Wyoming by a pair of University of Wyoming astronomers Dr. Mike Pierce and Dr. Hannah Jang-Condell.
Wendy CorrJanuary 18, 2023

Senate Democrats, Hollywood Likely To Continue Oil Conspiracy Probes
When a U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee investigation into oil companies alleged deceptions fizzled out, it was thought the effort was finished. It now appears Senate Democrats will pick up where their House counterparts left off.
January 18, 2023

Bill Would Remove 75% – 25% Preference Point System For “Big 5” Trophy Game Species
Wyomings trophy species hunters sometimes wait decades before drawing a once-in-a-lifetime tag -- if they draw one at all. Senate File 88 would reform the drawing process and could give younger hunters a chance, proponents say.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023

Bill Empowering Game Wardens To Ticket For Criminal Trespass Advances To Senate Floor
Although there were concerns that a bill empowering Wyoming game wardens to bust trespassers was an attempt to "back-door"restrictions on corner crossing, those fears appear to have been alleviated as Senate File 56 was passed out of committee to the senate floor on Tuesday.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023

Former Deputy Sec Of State Karen Wheeler Ain’t Done Yet, Joins Superintendent’s Office
Former Deputy Secretary of State Karen Wheeler is joining the Superintendent of Public Instruction's office. Wheeler, an icon in state government had worked at the secretary of state's office for 37 years.
Jimmy OrrJanuary 18, 2023

Cat Urbigkit: Corporate Capture of Ag Lands is Happening Now
Columnist Cat Urbigkit writes: "There are other trends in ag ownership that are probably of greater significance than foreign ownership. One is the purchase of the nation's most productive ag land by pension funds and corporations."
Cat UrbigkitJanuary 17, 2023

Ambiguous Federal Regs On Digital An Opportunity For Wyoming, Says State Senator
Nearly 500 decentralized autonomous organizations have registered in the Cowboy State since Wyoming rolled out the red carpet for digital asset companies. They are providing revenue to the state and more opportunity, according to Sen. Chris Rothfuss.
Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2023

Fremont County GOP Unsuccessful In Censuring Lummis Over Same-Sex Marriage Vote
A movement by some Fremont County Republican Party leaders to publicly condemn U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis for supporting same-sex marriage legislation failed Saturday, as did two votes to send her strongly worded letters.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 17, 2023

Wyoming House To Vote On Bill Forbidding Marriage For Teens 15 And Younger
Wyoming is one of eight states with no minimum marriage age. Some in the Wyoming Legislature are trying to change that with a bill that would forbid people younger than 16 from marrying altogether, and would require a guardians permission for minors ages 16 and 17.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 17, 2023

Rick Santorum Pushes Convention Of U.S. States While In Wyoming, Says Trump No Longer Strong
Former U.S. Sen Rick Santorum was in Wyoming on Monday to advocate for a "convention of the states." He said if there are 38 states in the convention, they can pass amendments that are legally binding.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2023

From Chicken-Roping To Ax-Throwing, Lawmakers Debate New Class Of Liquor License For Wyoming
Senate File 12 would create a new kind of liquor license in Wyoming for businesses that want to provide alcohol along with entertainment activities like chicken-roping and ax-throwing.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2023

Proposed Law Would Expand Alert System For Adults, Similar To AMBER Alert
Wyoming legislators are looking at implementing an alert-system for adults similar to the AMBER Alert. The system would dispatch alerts for missing adults in risky scenarios or for those suffering from cognitive issues or disabilities.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 17, 2023

Cigar Tax War In The Wyoming Senate; Bill Moves Forward
Senators voted down an amendment that would have removed a 30-cent cap on the states cigar taxes from SF 42. The amendment would have gutted a bill that lawmakers say restores fairness for small, mom-and-pop shops that sell premium cigars.
Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2023
