Guest Columnists

Points of view on Wyoming issues from Wyoming people.

Guest Column: Freedom Is Not Free

State Sen. Cheri Steinmetz writes, "I grew up hearing stories about my Great Uncles John, Harold and Ed who fought against Hitler and the Nazis in World War II to defend us from the scourge of communism."

CSD StaffJuly 03, 2024

William Perry Pendley: Ansel Adams, Wyoming, and Ronald Reagan

William Perry Pendley writes, "President Reagan and Wyoming's own James Watt set a record, yet unbroken, for issuing federal oil and gas leases. By 2019, their efforts yielded American energy independence." Photographer Ansel Adams was not a fan.

WPP

William Perry PendleyJuly 03, 2024

Guest Column: I've Seen A Key Part Of Wyoming's All-Of-The-Above Energy Strategy

State Rep. J.T. Larson writes, "Wyoming has the key ingredients to grow durable energy businesses that will pay family-sustaining wages for decades. Our state has invested in carbon capture and sequestration from the beginning."

CSD StaffJune 27, 2024

Guest Column: Innovation and Integrity -- The Future of Our City's Governance

Vic Miller writes, "Our campaign is not a "stunt" or a "circus," but a serious, forward-thinking approach to civic leadership. Vic Miller is the legal candidate for mayor, fully compliant with Wyoming law."

CSD StaffJune 23, 2024

Guest Column: When Dealing With Feds, Wyoming Should Recall The Serenity Prayer

Guest columnist Samuel Western writes, "Maybe Wyoming should start listening to markets rather than tilting at windmills. Let’s stop throwing money at studies and policies that prop up struggling industries."

CSD StaffJune 16, 2024

Guest Column: Why I Support Parental Rights In Education

Guest columnist Rep. Jeanette Ward writes, "Building trust and a partnership between parents and schools is a good thing, and it requires protecting the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their kids."

CSD StaffJune 14, 2024

Guest Column: Deemphasizing DEI At UW Was the Right Decision

Guest columnist Ray Hunkins writes, "The decision to eliminate the Office of DEI at the University of Wyoming is welcome news to many university supporters, myself included. The considerable money spent on DEI and its bureaucracy can now be spent on academic programs, UW’s core mission."

CSD StaffJune 11, 2024

Guest Column: Compare My Record To My Opponent's

Rep. Tomi Strock writes, "This race has been described as a 'rematch' of the 2022 race in which I defeated former Rep. Clausen. For the sake of the voters, I’m grateful for this rematch, as my record, like my opponent’s, is available for close inspection."

CSD StaffJune 10, 2024

Guest Column: Thank You, School Board, For Working With Parents

Guest columnist Nathan Winters writes, "Recently, an op-ed by Joan Barron claimed that there is broad disagreement with a proposed new book policy for school libraries in LCSD#1. Nothing could be further from the truth."

CSD StaffJune 07, 2024

Guest Column: Why The Trump Verdict Is Bogus

Rep. Jeanette Ward writes, "After President Trump was convicted on 34 bogus felony counts last week, elitists in the press and in academia seemed confused by the reaction of us ordinary people to this miscarriage of justice."

CSD StaffJune 05, 2024

Guest Column: Cutting Red Tape to Grow Wyoming’s Trona Industry

Rep. Jon Conrad writes, "The potential of trona mining and development to create jobs and strengthen Wyoming’s economy, however, is being squandered as projects continue to get stuck in the regulatory quagmire that is our nation’s federal permitting process."

CSD StaffJune 03, 2024

Daily Smile: Friday, May 31, 2024

Ain't got no time for the slow feed dog bowl....

CSD StaffMay 31, 2024

Guest Column: Another Rocky Mountain Rate Hike – Here We Go Again!

Rep. Harriet Hageman writes, "Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Rocky Mountain Power wants to raise your electric bill by double digit … yet again. This is not the first rate increase that RMP has proposed, and it will not be the last."

CSD StaffMay 27, 2024

Saturday Morning Dance Party: Earth, Wind & Fire -- Let's Groove

Earth, Wind & Fire -- Let's Groove

CSD StaffMay 25, 2024

Guest Column: Wolf Issue Will Be Addressed In Legislature With Wyoming Values In Mind

Rep. John Winter writes, "I have received barrage of hateful and nasty phone calls and emails from all across this country. As a result, I thought I should try to clarify a few things and put this issue into perspective."

CSD StaffMay 20, 2024

Guest Column: What And How Matters Not The Who

Guest columnist Doug Gerard writes, "Tom Lubnau's recent screed against anonymity in politics is at odds with American history, and his focus on anonymous legislator-rating websites is misplaced."

CSD StaffMay 14, 2024

Guest Column: Defending Wyoming’s Access to our Public Lands

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso and Rep. Harriet Hageman write, "The BLM’s Rock Springs Resource Management Plan is essentially a land lockdown, turning thousands of acres of federal land in Wyoming from multiple-use into non-use."

CSD StaffMay 13, 2024

Your Wyoming Sunrise: Monday, May 6, 2024

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Adam Ashmore in Hartville, Wyoming.

CSD StaffMay 06, 2024

Harriet Hageman: I'm Endorsing Sen. John Barrasso For Re-Election And Here's Why

In a guest column for Cowboy State Daily, U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman writes, “I am happy to join President Trump in endorsing my friend and working partner in Congress, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, for re-election in November."

CSD StaffMay 05, 2024

Guest Opinion: These Are The Dumbest Campus Protests Of All Time

Radio host Clay Travis says, "If Hamas actually had a state, most of the people protesting in support of them would have no human rights there. This may be the dumbest American campus protest of all time."

CSD StaffMay 02, 2024

Guest Column: The Campus Protests Are A Cluster**** And I Couldn't Be Happier

Guest columnist Tom Bentley writes, "These campus protests are a cluster**** decades in the making, and I couldn’t be happier. They're just the appetizer though. The main course will come at the Democrat convention. Load up on popcorn, that’s gonna be fun."

CSD StaffMay 02, 2024

Guest Column: The Good Ship Wyoming Deserves Better Captains

Guest columnist Rep. Ben Hornok writes, "Any spending strategy for Wyoming should not be based on how big a tantrum 'capable Republican' politicians can throw in the checkout lane of the supermarket when they are trying to get what they want."

CSD StaffApril 30, 2024

Jonathan Lange: IVF, Abortion And The Will Of The People

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "President Trump’s long-anticipated statement on abortion was released earlier this month. After a brief spin cycle, it has largely fallen from the headlines. Nevertheless, we should not let the month end without some comment."

CSD StaffApril 26, 2024

Guest Column: Innocent Beings Should Never Be Tortured Or Killed -- Period

Rep. Jeanette Ward writes, "The abortion clinic in Casper brags that it performs surgical abortions up to 23 weeks gestation. At 15 weeks, unborn babies can feel pain. At 22 weeks, they can recognize the voice of their mother. An abortion committed at 23 weeks involves dismembering the baby..."

CSD StaffApril 11, 2024

Chuck Gray: Only Wyomingites Should Be Voting In Wyoming Elections

In a guest column, Secretary of State Chuck Gray writes, "We must protect ourselves from the insecurity of the invasion affecting all 50 states. I urge the governor to adopt these rules and help secure Wyoming’s elections."

CSD StaffApril 11, 2024

Guest Column: Balancing Development and Conservation: Worth the Hard Work

Guest columnist Steff Kessler writes, "We can take pride and guidance in looking at how Wyoming has addressed these challenges in the past. But we also need to recognize when some things aren’t working and it’s time to come up with new ways of doing things."

CSD StaffApril 09, 2024

Guest Column: Abortion Is A Public Health Crisis - And The Chief Executive Enables It

Guest columnist Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams writes, House Bill 148 (Regulation of Surgical Abortions) passed both chambers overwhelmingly. The veto by the chief executive of Wyoming raises concerns about the need for Wyoming to return to our three branch system of government."

RRR

Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-WilliamsApril 09, 2024

Guest Column: Defending The Reputation Of Your Opponent Elevates Your Own

Guest columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "Whether politicians are calling their constituents deplorables and knuckleheads, or constituents are defaming the reputations of elected officials, both should be ashamed of themselves."

CSD StaffApril 06, 2024

Guest Column: Somebody Has To Say It

Guest columnist Ray Peterson writes, "When I see a Facebook post from current legislators, calling out the traitors or turn coats that voted against the special session, my skin begins to crawl."

Ray PetersonApril 06, 2024

Guest Column: Fact vs. Fiction -- 2024 Budget Session

Guest columnist Rep. Tomi Strock writes, "I am writing this in order to filter the facts from the fiction spouted by liberal lawmakers and repeated by their allies in the press – one of the most frequently parroted fiction out there has to do with committee bills being killed."

CSD StaffApril 05, 2024

Guest Column: Wheatland Has The Funding to Address Failing Water Tank

In a guest column, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon writes, "Despite claims to the contrary, my line item veto of [the Wheatland water tower project] in the 2024 budget was not punitive, but rather a reflection of the adequate support the State has already provided..."

CSD StaffApril 04, 2024

Letter To The Editor: We All Benefit from Wyoming’s Diversified Energy Portfolio

Dear editor, "Our future depends on remaining competitive and keeping Wyoming open for business by not picking winners and losers regarding industries. All industries and innovation bring value to Wyoming, its communities and families."

CSD StaffApril 02, 2024

The Fast Lane is the place to be in downtown Shoshone.

Letter To The Editor: Analyzing The So-Called 'Shoshoni Speed Trap'

Dear editor, "Instead of being known for milkshakes and malts, Shoshoni is now famous, or maybe infamous, for our 'speed trap.'"

CSD StaffApril 02, 2024

Guest column haroldson knapp rodriquez williams

Guest Column: What a "Nay" Vote on the Special Session Means

Guest columnists Reps. Haroldson, Rodriguez-Williams and Knapp write, "A vote against the special session is a vote AGAINST property tax relief, AGAINST the Second Amendment, AGAINST protecting pre-born babies, FOR Biden’s 30x30 land grab, and FOR an all-powerful governor who operates in the absence of checks and balances."

CSD StaffApril 01, 2024

This nearly 630-acre tract of private land that's part of the Columbus Peak Ranch is one part of a controversial Sheridan County proposed land swap.

Letter To The Editor: Sheridan County Land Exchange Is A Bad Idea

Dear editor, "The Wyoming State Treasurer’s Office now has $28.5 billion in investments. So why are we trying to sell/trade the Columbus Peak parcel of state land?"

CSD StaffApril 01, 2024

Guest Column: Why We Voted Against The Special Session

In a guest column, leadership of the Wyoming House wrote, "We were open to a special session solely focused on revising SF 54. However, the obstructionists in the freedom caucus would not agree to that, calling for a minimum of 4-6 different bills, including the budget bill."

CSD StaffApril 01, 2024