🚧 Government & Politics | Cowboy State Daily

Wyoming legislators are considering closing a loophole in state law that could potentially allow state military members to be prosecuted for using deadly force to protect military assets.

New Law Would Allow Deadly Force By Wyoming National Guard In Some Cases

Wyoming legislators were asked during a Tuesday committee meeting to consider closing a legal loophole that allows some Wyoming National Guard members to be prosecuted for using deadly force while protecting certain military assets.

Leo WolfsonJune 04, 2024

Wyoming Property Tax Refund Hits Record But Still Not Enough Relief, Some Say

An expanded property tax refund program where eligible homeowners could receive back as much as 75% of their previous year’s tax bill led to record participation, but many legislators say it’s not enough relief.

Leo WolfsonJune 04, 2024

The aftermath of a more than 30-hour standoff between police and a man suspected of killing a Sheridan police officer.

Sheridan OKs $250K For House Destroyed In Standoff With Suspected Cop-Killer

A local woman whose home was destroyed during a 32-hour standoff with a suspected cop-killer in February will get another $250,000 from the city of Sheridan to help rebuild after the city council approved the settlement Monday.

Clair McFarlandJune 04, 2024

A Tesla juices up at a Level 3 fast-charging station at the Frontier Mall in Cheyenne.

Legislature Still Wants EVs To Pay Their Way, Resurrects Charging Tax

Saying electric and hybrid vehicles need to pay their own way for the wear and tear they put on Wyoming roads, legislators are resurrecting a bill to tax fast-charging stations.

Leo WolfsonJune 03, 2024

State Rep. Tamara Trujillo, left, and former state Rep. John Romero-Martinez are cousins and political rivals facing off for a second time for the Wyoming House.

Cheyenne’s Battling Republican Cousins Meet In Round 2 For Wyoming House Seat

One of the most intriguing Wyoming Legislature races this summer will be for House District 44 in Cheyenne, where two cousins run against each other again, along with another former state legislator.

Leo WolfsonJune 03, 2024

The Wyoming Democratic Party meets for its 2024 convention at the Lyric Theater in Casper on Saturday.

Wyoming Democrats Nervous About ‘Threat’ From ‘Dangerous’ Freedom Caucus

At its state convention Saturday, the Wyoming Democratic Party called the Freedom Caucus a “threat” to Wyoming and a “dangerous” far right group that needs to be reined in.

Leo WolfsonJune 01, 2024

Wyoming’s Primary Election Is Set: 167 Candidates In 72 Contested Races

With the 5 p.m. Friday deadline for filing to run in the August primary election in. Wyoming past, the field is set: 167 candidates in 72 contested races.

Leo WolfsonJune 01, 2024

Dr. Rene Hinkel testifies in 2023 to a legislative committee about the Life is a Human Right Act.

Removal Of Casper Doc From Medical Board Stokes Freedom Caucus Outrage

News of a Casper doctor being forced from the Wyoming Board of Medicine because of his views on transgender treatments for minors has outraged the Freedom Caucus. But a former board member says the group’s anger is hypocritical.

Leo WolfsonMay 31, 2024

Marshall Burt speaks during the 2022 session of the Wyoming Legislature.

Former Libertarian Runs As Republican To Win Back Wyoming House Seat

Marshall Burt, a Libertarian who was the first third-party candidate to be elected to the Wyoming Legislature in more than a century before being ousted from the House in 2022 is now running as a Republican to win back the seat.

Leo WolfsonMay 31, 2024

Lower property taxes in Wyoming will have to come with higher taxes elsewhere to maintain current services, state legislative staff says.

Lower Wyoming Property Taxes Could Mean Higher Sales Tax, Removing Exemptions

A Wyoming legislative committee is studying how the state can maintain its current services while lowering property taxes. The reality is, that might not be able to happen without also raising sales tax rates and/or removing exemptions.

Leo WolfsonMay 31, 2024

Organizer Brent Bien commends his fellow volunteers for the work they completed over the last eight months.

44,000 Signatures Turned In To Put 50% Property Tax Cut On Wyoming Ballot

A monthslong effort to gather signatures to put a ballot initiative on the Wyoming ballot came to a head Thursday with 44,650 signatures turned in to the Secretary of State’s office. If successful, it would cut residential property taxes by 50%.

Leo WolfsonMay 31, 2024

Congressional delegation and governor slam Trump conviction

Wyoming Delegation & Governor Blast Trump Conviction

Wyoming’s congressional delegation and Gov. Mark Gordon blasted the conviction of former President Donald Trump on Thursday. Rep. Harriet Hageman said the court case was a "desperate gasp to win a presidential election that they will ultimately lose."

Leo WolfsonMay 30, 2024

Lynda Drum (left) visited the grave of her veteran father Harvey Frisbee. U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (right)

Lummis Demands Answers On Why VA Didn't Show Up To Memorial Day Service

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis on Thursday said the Veterans Administration needs to explain why they didn't show up to a Memorial Day service in Cheyenne. “On behalf of the nearly 50,000 veterans in my state, I find Monday’s mishap to be completely unacceptable," she said.

Pat MaioMay 30, 2024

A new Level 3 Electrify America charging station in Cheyenne. While the company is building more of the top-level charging stations around Wyoming, most of its EV chargers are Level 2.

Feds Offer Billions More For EV Charging Stations, Wyoming Isn't Interested

The Wyoming Department of Transportation on Thursday said it isn't interested in more federal money to build out electric vehicle charging stations across Wyoming. With only 800 registered EVs in the state, WYDOT said there isn't a need for more.

May 30, 2024

Kris Schamber, president of the Medical Society (left), Dr. Eric Cubin (right)

Wyoming Medical Society Criticizes Ousted Doctor For 'Misleading' Emails

In the wake of the news that Gov. Gordon ousted a doctor from the Board of Medicine for his vocal support of a ban on trans treatment of minors, the Wyoming Medical Society said the claim the group has been overtaken by "extremely liberal" members is not true.

Leo WolfsonMay 30, 2024

Conservative Firebrand Bouchard Won’t Run For Reelection To Wyoming Senate

Conservative firebrand state Sen. Anthony Bouchard of Cheyenne won’t run for reelection to the Wyoming Senate, but there’s a crowd of candidates who want his seat.

Leo WolfsonMay 30, 2024

Gov. Mark Gordon addresses the Wyoming Legislature at the beginning of the 2024 session in this file photo.

From Virginia To Alaska, Gov. Mark Gordon Touts Wyoming’s Nuclear Revolution

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has been touting Wyoming's desire to be ground zero for America's next nuclear revolution, from Virginia to Alaska.

Pat MaioMay 29, 2024

As Wyoming residents and legislators grapple with ballooning property valuations and tax bills, they're not alone. It's happening all over the U.S.

Ballooning Property Valuations, Tax Bills Not Unique To Wyoming

Ballooning property taxes and how to mitigate them has dominated discussion in the Wyoming Legislature in recent years, and it’s not unique to Wyoming, as Cowboy State property tax bills are reflecting larger trends in the West and United States.

Leo WolfsonMay 29, 2024

After a 32-hour standoff between law enforcement and a man suspected of killing a local police officer, the Sheridan home he barricaded himself in shows the extensive damage done to it during attempts to get to the suspect.

Sheridan May Give Woman $250K For House Destroyed In Police Standoff

The city of Sheridan is considering giving $250,000 to the woman whose home was destroyed during a February standoff and shootout with the man suspected of killing police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee.

Clair McFarlandMay 29, 2024

Bob Nicholas Will Run For 8th Term In House Against Head Of Wyoming GOP

Longtime Wyoming legislator Bob Nicholas of Cheyenne has announced he’s running for an eighth term in office. The executive director of the Wyoming Republican Party, Kathy Russell, is challenging him for the seat.

Leo WolfsonMay 28, 2024

Casper Doctor Forced Off Board of Medicine For Support Of Trans Treatment Ban

Gov. Mark Gordon forced a Casper doctor to resign from the Wyoming Board of Medicine for openly supporting a bill banning transgender treatments and surgeries on minors in Wyoming. The governor reluctantly signed the bill into law.

Leo WolfsonMay 28, 2024

The MineOne Chinese bitcoin operation ordered by President Joe Biden in early May to shut down and sell off is staging to clear out with large turcks and storage pods at the site, which is about a mile from F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

Former F.E. Warren Commander Says U.S. Right To Be Worried About China

The former commander of F.E. Warren Air Force Base said the shutting down a Chinese-owned cryptocurrency mine next to the base is just one example why the U.S. is right to be worried about China’s efforts to infiltrate.

Renée JeanMay 28, 2024

Bill Schott, supervisor of the wastewater treatment plant for the Laramie Public Works Department, stands along a 2-mile stream of nonpotable water treated at the plant, with the effluent eventually making its way to the Laramie River.

Sewage Treatment Plants All Across Wyoming Are Falling Apart

Signs of age are beginning to cripple Wyoming’s sewage treatment system. Some cities are in dire need of tens of millions of dollars to upgrade their systems.

Pat MaioMay 25, 2024

Sheriff Says Honor Wyoming’s Out-Of-State Organizer Has Ties To Bundy Standoff

A Wyoming native and longtime sheriff of Spokane, Washington, says he’s very familiar with the lead organizer of the murky new political group Honor Wyoming, including that he has ties to the 2016 Bundy standoff in Oregon.

Leo WolfsonMay 25, 2024

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