🚧 Government & Politics | Cowboy State Daily

State Agencies, Schools And Towns Scramble To Get Rid Of Gun-Free Zones

A new law banning gun-free zones in Wyoming has state agencies and schools scrambling to make rules to implement it by July 1, when it becomes active.

Leo WolfsonApril 10, 2025

Laramie Residents Balk At Guns In Schools, School Board Says There’s No Choice

A crowd of Laramie residents turned out Wednesday evening to tell their school board that they don’t want concealed firearms allowed in local schools. The board said there’s no choice, because the Legislature did away with gun-free zones in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzApril 10, 2025

Barrasso, Lummis Back Atkins To Head SEC As Dems Link Him To ’08 Housing Crash

John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis joined other Republicans in the U.S. Senate in confirming Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday. The 52-44 vote fell strictly along party lines.

Sean BarryApril 10, 2025

Not Happy With New Law, Gordon Won’t Sign New Rules Without Legislature’s OK

Gov. Mark Gordon isn’t pleased about a new law that gives the Legislature more power to override state agency rules that he has the final say to approve or deny. He says from now on, he just won’t sign new rules until a majority of legislators approve.

Leo WolfsonApril 09, 2025

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik before his retirement Sept. 11, 2024. He began his career with Game and Fish in 1995 and was appointed as director by Gov. Mark Gordon in 2019.

Brian Nesvik Survives 10-9 Committee Vote To Be Next U.S. Fish & Wildlife Chief

A Senate committee voted 10-9 along party lines Wednesday to advance Brian Nesvik’s nomination to lead the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Cynthia Lummis said she hopes a Nesvik confirmation will mean swift action to delist grizzly bears.

Sean BarryApril 09, 2025

Tariffs A New Wrinkle As Wyoming Legislators Look To Next Biennial Budget

Wyoming legislators are already eyeing next year’s biennial budget and the priorities they would like to see in a changing economic landscape under President Donald Trump. The impact of tariffs is something to account for as are uncertain oil prices.

Leo WolfsonApril 09, 2025

Patrons play the games at the new Horse Palace off I-25 south of Cheyenne.

Legislature Wants Tighter Regulations On Wyoming Gaming

The Legislature’s Management Council created a new committee Tuesday that will be directed to get better control on legal gaming in Wyoming. It will make that happen with more regulations on gambling.

Leo WolfsonApril 08, 2025

Trump Calls Out Wyoming While Signing Pro-Coal Executive Orders

President Donald Trump called out Wyoming and its Republican delegation Tuesday at a signing ceremony for his executive orders to boost coal in the nation’s power supply. Wyoming is the No. 1 coal state, but production has shrunk for years.

Sean BarryApril 08, 2025

Gillian Holman, 16, asked the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday to study ways to stop adults from stalking minors, and lawmakers agreed. Here she and her parents Dan and Cathy Holman, center, meet with legislators before Gillian testified Tuesday, April 8, 2025, before the Legislature's Management Council at the Capitol in Cheyenne.

Lawmakers Consider Stronger Laws After Wyoming 16-Year-Old Stalked, Bullied

Gillian Holman, 16, asked the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday to study ways to stop adults from stalking minors, and lawmakers agreed. A 41-year-old woman was sentenced last month for impersonating and bullying the girl and another teen.

Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025

Legislature Cuts Meetings After Summer Committee Bills Go Nowhere

A number of Wyoming legislators complained this past session about interim committee bills that were never introduced, saying it was a waste of time to craft bills that went nowhere. On Tuesday, the number of interim meetings was cut from six to four.

Leo WolfsonApril 08, 2025

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel was visibly concerned, left, before a Tuesday two-hour Board of Trustees meeting, after which he was visibly relieved, right. UW confirmed after the meeting that Seidel remains "the president." The UW Faculty Senate on Monday drafted a vote of “no confidence” in his leadership.

UW President Ed Seidel Still Has A Job Day After Faculty ‘No-Confidence’ Vote

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel was visibly relieved Tuesday following a two-hour Board of Trustees meeting, after which UW said he remains "the president." The UW Faculty Senate on Monday drafted a vote of “no confidence” in his leadership.

Clair McFarlandApril 08, 2025

Former Wyoming First Lady Sherri Geringer Dies, Remembered As ‘Quiet, Classy’

Former Wyoming first lady Sherri Geringer, wife of former Gov. Jim Geringer, died Saturday after battling an extended illness. One longtime friend says she’ll be remembered for her “quiet, classy approach to her work as first lady.”

Leo WolfsonApril 07, 2025

Rural populations in Wyoming are shrinking, recent Census data shows. Local officials and businesses in rural counties say fewer people makes it harder to thrive.

With Wyoming Already The Least Populated State, Rural Counties In Decline

Rural populations in Wyoming are shrinking in more than half of the state's counties, recent Census data shows. Local officials and businesses in rural counties say fewer people makes it harder to thrive.

Zakary SonntagApril 07, 2025

Wyoming Republican U.S. Sens. Cynthia Lummis, left, and John Barrasso.

U.S. Senate Moves Fast On Bill Backed By Barrasso, Lummis To Cut Judges’ Power

As court orders halting some Trump administration moves pile up, a new bill against nationwide injunctions is advancing quickly in the U.S. Senate. It’s cosponsored by Wyoming Republicans John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis.

Sean BarryApril 07, 2025

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel, left, and former UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Dean Cameron Wright.

UW President Faces Backlash Over Effort To Fund Partner's School, Dean’s Ousting

UW President Ed Seidel is facing backlash after the demotion of a popular dean of engineering. Detractors say the president backed a failed effort to send engineering money to a UW school his partner runs, and the demotion of the dean who stood in the way.

Clair McFarlandApril 04, 2025

Secretary of State Chuck Gray, left, and Gov. Mark Gordon sparred over two wind farms planned for eastern Wyoming during a State Board of Land Commissioners meeting on Thursday, April; 3, 2025.

Chuck Gray, Gov. Gordon Squabble Over Approval Of Wind Farms

Tempers flared again Thursday between Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Chuck Gray. This time they squabbled over two wind farm projects that will lease state land in Niobrara and Converse counties if given final approval.

Leo WolfsonApril 04, 2025

Records show that Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill hasn’t filed charges on any of the 16 cases referred to her office by Secretary of State Chuck Gray in 2024. She says her office is still investigating half of them.

Wyoming Attorney General Hasn’t Prosecuted 16 Complaints Referred By Chuck Gray

Records show that Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill hasn’t filed charges on any of the 16 election complaints referred to her office by Secretary of State Chuck Gray in 2024. She says her office is still investigating half of them.

Leo WolfsonApril 03, 2025

U.S. Sens. Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso, both R-Wyoming.

Barrasso, Lummis On Short End Of ‘Meaningless’ Canada Tariffs Vote

Four Senate Republicans broke ranks, voting with Democrats late Wednesday to overturn President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs on most Canada goods. But Sen. John Barrasso said the vote is "meaningless" because the measure won't get through the House.

Sean BarryApril 03, 2025

Two applicants to be the next Fremnt County attorney are Fremont County Acting Attorney Micah Wyatt, 47, of Lander, right, and private attorney Jason Gay, 47, of Green River.

GOP Scrambles To Find Top Prosecutor For One Of Wyoming's Roughest Counties

Fremont County GOP leaders are scrambling to nominate three candidates to replace longtime County Attorney Patrick LeBrun in one of Wyoming's roughest counties. So far, two have applied to replace LeBrun, who left Monday.

Clair McFarlandApril 02, 2025

Hageman Tried To Block GOP Rebellion That Shut Down House Floor

Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman says she tried unsuccessfully Tuesday to prevent a GOP floor rebellion that led to votes being canceled for the rest of the week in the House.

Leo WolfsonApril 02, 2025

UW To End Gun-Free Zones July 1 And Allow Concealed Guns Inside Buildings

With the repeal of Wyoming’s gun-free zones, concealed carrying of firearms will be allowed in University of Wyoming buildings starting July 1. It’s already legal to carry outside on campus grounds.

Mark HeinzApril 02, 2025

County Republicans Feuding With State GOP Over Local Party Elections

The way some Wyoming county Republican parties have been conducting their elections this spring is causing some to feud with the state party. In one case, the conflict may have impacted results.