🚧 Government & Politics | Cowboy State Daily

Wyoming GOP Lukewarm On Musk’s New Party, Dems Say It’s ‘The Last Thing We Need’

Elon Musk’s plan to form a new political party — the America Party — is drawing mixed reaction in Wyoming. Republicans are lukewarm to the idea so far, while a leading Democrat says it’s “the last thing we need.”

Matthew ChristianJuly 07, 2025

Feds Could End Wyoming’s Controversial Cloud Seeding Program For Good

A federal bill calling for a nationwide ban of cloud seeding and other weather modification could end Wyoming’s controversial program for good. Some Wyoming legislators support the ban, while others call it a “knee-jerk reaction.”

Matthew ChristianJuly 07, 2025

President Donald Trump celebrates signing the Big Beautiful Bill at the White House on the Fourth of July. Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis says there are plenty of "Wyoming wins" in the massive budget bill.

Lummis: Wyoming Wins Big With Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill

Amidst a huge ceremony at the White House, complete with a soaring B-2 bomber overhead, President Trump signed the Big, Beautiful Bill into law on Friday. U.S. Cynthia Lummis says the bill is a huge win for Wyoming.

Sean BarryJuly 04, 2025

Wyoming truckers are cheering a new Trump administration rule reversing a Biden-era agenda which would have put governors (speed limiting devices) on semi trucks. Truckers say the Biden rule would have been a safety hazard.

Full Speed Ahead: Trump Kills Biden Rule Limiting How Fast Trucks Can Go

Wyoming truckers are cheering a new Trump administration rule reversing a Biden-era agenda that would have put speed limiting devices — called governors — on semitrucks. Truckers say the Biden rule would have been a safety hazard.

Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson holds up a card showing the final vote tally to pass the massive budget bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill on Thursday, July 3, 2024.

Wyoming Delegation, GOP Finish Massive Budget Bill By Fourth Of July Deadline

With the help of Wyoming Republican Harriet Hageman, the U.S. House crossed the finish line Thursday on the federal budget bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. She called it “a major win for Wyoming and the entire nation.”

Sean BarryJuly 03, 2025

Residents living in a neighborhood just north of Cheyenne are lobbying the Laramie County Commission to reverse its approval of a 150-foot cell tower in the field to the left. They say there are health concerns and the tower will drop property values.

Citing RFK Jr., Residents Want Laramie County To Reverse OK Of 150-Foot Cell Tower

Residents living just north of Cheyenne are lobbying the Laramie County Commission to reverse approval of a 150-foot cell tower. Citing RFK Jr., they say there are health concerns with the tower and they worry property values will drop.

Renée JeanJuly 03, 2025

Wyoming Legislators Aren’t Done Looking For Ways To Lower Property Taxes

Wyoming legislators passed a 25% property tax break earlier this year, but they’re not done looking for “long-term reform.” Options include eliminating residential property tax altogether, something that was considered in 2024.

Matthew ChristianJuly 03, 2025

Degenfelder Says Stopping School Choice Payment Has Brought ‘Utter Chaos'

A judge's decision to temporarily stop payments to Wyoming’s school choice voucher program brought “utter chaos” to the families of the students enrolled, Wyoming Superintendent Megan Degenfelder said Wednesday.

Matthew ChristianJuly 02, 2025

Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Keith Kautz was recognized with a standing ovation during the opening of the 2024 state legislative session.

Gordon Names Former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Keith Kautz As Attorney General

Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Keith Kautz, a former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice, as Wyoming’s 39th attorney general Wednesday. Kautz said he’s “honored to serve Wyoming.”

Matthew ChristianJuly 02, 2025

President Donald Trump, left, and Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray.

Trump Administration Seeks To Defend Wyoming’s New Citizenship Voter Law

The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump filed a brief in court Tuesday to help defend Wyoming’s new voter citizenship law. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says he’s “extremely grateful” to the department and Trump.

Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025

Hot Springs County In An Uproar Over Cuts To 4-H, Extension Programs

The Hot Springs County Commission faced backlash Tuesday from residents upset over deep cuts to the county’s extension office and 4-H program. Commissioners say it's necessary due to lagging oil and gas revenue and a 25% cut in property taxes.

Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2025

UPenn Bans Trans Athletes From Women's Sports Same Day Wyoming Law Goes Into Effect

Wyoming State Sen. Wendy Schuler said Tuesday’s decision by the University of Pennsylvania to ban trans athletes from participating in women's sports marks “a great victory for our women and girls.” It happened the same day Wyoming's law that does the same thing went into effect.

Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025

Calling the Wyoming Business Council a “huge flipping waste of money,” state Rep. Ken Pendergraft says he wants to cut the program’s budget. Reducing the state’s budget is more important, he says.

‘Huge Flipping Waste Of Money’: Legislator Wants To Eliminate Wyoming Business Council

Calling the Wyoming Business Council a “huge flipping waste of money,” state Rep. Ken Pendergraft says he wants to reduce the state’s budget by getting rid of the entity. Economic development shouldn’t be the government’s responsibility, he said.

Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025

State Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, from left, Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne, and Gov. Mark Gordon.

Wyoming Legislators Cheer Removal Of Ban On States Regulating AI From Budget Bill

Gov. Mark Gordon and a pair of Wyoming legislators cheered Tuesday’s removal of a ban on states regulating artificial intelligence. A 99-1 Senate vote took it out of the controversial federal budget bill.

Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025

Rihanna Kelver comes out of the women's bathroom near Gov. Mark Gordon's office in the Wyoming Capitol on Tuesday. Kelver used the bathroom to protest Wyoming's new bathroom ban law that went into effect Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

Trans Woman Breaks Wyoming’s New Bathroom Ban In State Capitol, Nothing Happens

Nothing happened Tuesday when a transgender woman flagrantly violated a newly implemented Wyoming law restricting people to the restroom corresponding to their birth sex in public buildings.

Matthew Christian & Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Gun free zone and Park County vote 2024 IMG 3929 7 1 25

Wyoming’s New Laws: No Gun-Free Zones, Prove Citizenship To Vote And A Bathroom Ban

In all, 106 new Wyoming laws became active Tuesday. Now, most gun-free zones are gone, voters must prove citizenship and residency to register and people born male can’t use women’s bathrooms in government buildings.

Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Senate Republicans on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, after he cast the tiebreaking vote on the embattled One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is now just The Act.

Barrasso, Lummis Praise Passage Of Budget Bill, But It’s No Longer ‘Beautiful’

Democrats managed to strip “Beautiful” out of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but the U.S. Senate passed the GOP’s controversial budget bill Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance broke a tie, which Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis call a huge win.

Sean BarryJuly 01, 2025

Wyoming state Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, leads hundreds of people in a rally at the Wyoming Capitol on Thursday, June 26, 2025, to protest a proposed sale of federal public lands.

Rob Wallace: Don’t Expect Public Land Sale To Be Brought Back Anytime Soon

People shouldn’t expect to see a plan to sell federal public lands brought back to Congress anytime soon, says Rob Wallace, former Assistant Interior Secretary. In the future, the proposal needs to be its own standalone bill, says Sen. John Barrasso.

Matthew ChristianJune 30, 2025

U.S. Senate Democrats — and one Republican — claim Medicaid changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would devastate lower-income people in red states. U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, who’s also a medical doctor, said Wyomingites are “unlikely” to be harmed and the reforms are necessary.

Sen. Barrasso, Also A Medical Doctor, Defends Medicaid Changes In Budget Bill

U.S. Senate Democrats — and one Republican — claim Medicaid changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would devastate low-income people. John Barrasso, who’s also a medical doctor, said Wyomingites are “unlikely” to be harmed and the reforms are necessary.

Sean BarryJune 30, 2025

Sen. Mike Lee Waves White Flag And Gives Up Public Lands Sell-Off Plan

Utah Sen. Mike Lee waved the white flag on Saturday evening and dropped his controversial public lands-selloff plan. Wyoming State Rep. Karlee Provenza said she was pleased but was concerned with the Wyoming congressional delegation's "lack of leadership."

Sean Barry & Clair McFarlandJune 29, 2025

Technicians work on a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in a silo in this U.S. Air Force file photo. Upgrading to Sentinel missiles will require building new silos.

$140 Billion F.E. Warren Sentinel Missile Upgrade At Full Speed Under Trump

The first months of President Trump’s second administration have focused on cutting government pork, but there’s one huge exception. The $140 billion upgrade from Minuteman III to Sentinel nuclear missiles is at full speed, and F.E. Warren is ground zero.

Renée JeanJune 28, 2025

A scaled-back plan by Utah Sen. Mike Lee (right) to sell public lands has made back it into the final text of the Senate's version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Montana Sen. Steve Daines (left) says he has the votes to kill it.

Land-Selloff Plan Makes Back It Into Budget Bill, Montana Sen Says He Will Kill It

A scaled-back plan by Utah Sen. Mike Lee to sell public lands has made back it into the final text of the Senate's version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Montana Sen. Steve Daines says he has the votes to kill it.

Sean BarryJune 28, 2025

Wyoming U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, along with U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, are celebrating Friday's U.S. Supreme Court order that reins in the ability of district court judges to make nationwide injuncitons.

Former Wyoming Chief Justice Says Supreme Court Order Reining In Judges ‘Brilliant’

A Former Wyoming Chief Justice says Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court order reining in district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions is “brilliant.” The Washington delegation also praised the order as a victory over “activist” district court judges.

Matthew ChristianJune 27, 2025

Not Everybody Hates Sen. Mike Lee’s Idea Of Selling Off Federal Public Land

Despite a loud public outcry against U.S. Sen. Mike Lee’s efforts to sell millions of acres of federal public land, not everyone hates the idea. Former Wyoming legislator Ray Peterson said states could buy the land and manage it much better.