It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming! I’m Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom, for Thursday, April 18th.
Wyoming Game and Fish commissioners and Department Director Brian Nesvik listened patiently at their meeting on Wednesday as one person after another spoke passionately about the Feb. 29 incident in Sublette County in which a wolf was tormented and killed, but which so far has resulted in only a $250 for the alleged perpetrator, 42 year old Cody Roberts of Daniel.
Cowboy State Daily’s Mark Heinz reports that although those present spoke in turn and were not unruly, the message the commissioners received was loud and clear.
“some folks pointed out that they don't, that they think that this is actually a you know, a pattern in Wyoming that maybe this is just the incident that got publicized. But, you know, perhaps we need to look at reforming our laws in terms of how we handle predatory animals or how we classify wolves.”
The commission took no action on the issue at their meeting, but Nesvik remarked that he will continue discussions with Gov. Mark Gordon, members of the Wyoming Legislature and others about any possible next steps to address the incident.
Park County’s Triangle Cross Ranch, formerly a camp for troubled young people, is the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by Andrew Lewis of Texas and Andrew Unruh of California, alleging the ranch was a nightmare of forced labor and human trafficking when they stayed there in 2014.
However, Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that the ranch has countered in court filings, denying claims of wrongdoing.
“It's a point by point answer to the plaintiffs' claims of forced labor and child trafficking. And so they you know, while they admitted things everyone can agree on, like the acreage of the ranch, they denied the claims against them… they're saying, you know, this person didn't profit from the kids labor and they're saying, your parents signed a waiver acknowledging that you were going to be doing chores here.”
The men claim they were forced to work in unfathomable conditions while receiving little to no formal education, behavioral treatment or therapy.
More than two weeks removed from the sudden and shocking stabbing death of a local 14-year-old middle school student, the tragedy of the loss continues to tear at the emotions of Casper residents, even as it works to heal.
Cowboy State Daily’s Dale Killingbeck reports that nearly 30 small businesses have come together to raffle off packages of products to further support Bobby Maher’s family as they move forward.
“About 30 small businesses in Casper are still thinking about the loss of Bobby Maher on a week ago, Sunday. And so they did put together a raffle for the family. And the organizers told me that she really wants to just show support for the family. She's a mom, she understands, you know, all the things that are involved in this loss, and they want to financially support the family.”
The murder of Bobby Maher on April 7th also has brought to light an underlying culture of youth violence that local leaders say can’t be kept as an unspoken dark secret any longer.
Plugging orphan oil and gas wells in the Cowboy State is a top priority.
But the head of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission told energy reporter Pat Maio that he’s worried that a new BLM rule that increases the bond amounts on wells - in an effort to make it more difficult to abandon them - could force oil and gas developers to leave Wyoming — or worse, America.
“which is becoming a real bugaboo with the oil and gas industry here in Wyoming. The reason they are is because the the the industry has to put up higher bigger bonds, lots more money to pay for the potential liability where they, you know, they let's say they want someone walks away from the well. And they're just leave everything behind because of what bankruptcy or because of the economy goes south or whatever…. this is going to be bad news for the industry because it's going to drive many to just leave the state because of they had to put up a lot more money for these bonds.”
Trade groups in the region are considering litigation to stop the rule from taking effect.
And U.S. Senator John Barrasso officially announced Wednesday that he’s running for reelection to a fourth term in office.
In a video announcing his reelection, the Senator said, quote, “Our state has an important story to tell.” That’s according to political reporter Leo Wolfson.
“His announcement was not surprising at all. He'd already been laying the groundwork for reelection campaign for quite some time. He raised $4.2 million in 2020 through 2023 and through the first quarter of 2024. But it really kind of establishes his official campaign moving forward for the primary election which is coming up in August.”
Barrasso was first appointed to the Senate in 2007 after former Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas died in office.
And that’s today’s news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming’s only statewide newspaper by hitting the subscribe button on CowboyStateDaily.com
I’m Wendy Corr, for Cowboy State Daily.
Radio Stations
The following radio stations are airing Cowboy State Daily Radio on weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings. More radio stations will be added soon.
KYDT 103.1 FM – Sundance
KBFS 1450 AM — Sundance
KYCN 1340 AM / 92.7 FM — Wheatland
KZEW 101.7 FM — Wheatland
KANT 104.1 FM — Guernsey
KZQL 105.5 FM — Casper
KMXW 92.5 FM — Casper
KBDY 102.1 FM — Saratoga
KTGA 99.3 FM — Saratoga
KJAX 93.5 FM — Jackson
KZWY 106.3 FM — Sheridan
KROE 930 AM / 103.9 FM — Sheridan
KWYO 1410 AM / 106.9 FM — Sheridan
KYOY 92.3 FM Hillsdale-Cheyenne / 106.9 FM Cheyenne
KRAE 1480 AM — Cheyenne
KDLY 97.5 FM — Lander
KOVE 1330 AM — Lander
KZMQ 100.3/102.3 FM — Cody, Powell, Medicine Wheel, Greybull, Basin, Meeteetse
KKLX 96.1 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Ten Sleep, Greybull
KCGL 104.1 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin, Lovell, Clark, Red Lodge, MT
KTAG 97.9 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin
KCWB 92.1 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin
KVGL 105.7 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Basin, Ten Sleep
KODI 1400 AM / 96.7 FM — Cody, Powell, Lovell, Basin, Clark, Red Lodge
KWOR 1340 AM / 104.7 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Ten Sleep
KREO 93.5 FM — Sweetwater and Sublette Counties
KGOS 1490 AM — Goshen County
KERM 98.3 FM — Goshen County
Check with individual radio stations for airtime of the newscasts.
