Wyoming Life
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Man freed from prison says life in prison preferable sentence for killer
The death penalty is not the best way to punish a killer for his crimes, according to a man whose murder conviction and death penalty were overturned in 2004. Randy Steidl, who was wrongfully convicted of murder in the 1986 death of a couple, was at the Legislature this week to lobby in favor of SF 145, which would repeal the states death penalty and make life without the possibility of parole the states harshest criminal penalty.
January 29, 2019
Community Colleges could offer four-year degrees under bill
Wyomings community colleges may be offering 4-year degrees in the future under legislation approved in its second reading in Wyomings Senate on Monday.
January 29, 2019
Weekly wrap: Corporate income tax moves ahead, party switch bill dead
A thumbs up for income taxes on large companies and putting Wyoming permanently on daylight savings time, a thumbs down for a personal income tax in the Legislature this week.
January 26, 2019
Personal income tax dies, corporate tax moves ahead
Two bills proposing Wyomings first income taxes met with different fates on Friday in Wyomings House. One bill proposing an income tax on individuals died in the House Revenue Committee, while another proposing a 7 percent tax on large out-of-state retailers doing business in Wyoming won approval in its final House review.
January 25, 2019
Wyoming Senate Update: Meat labeling, health cost study, drunken boating bills win approval
Wyomings Senate wrapped up its week with a flurry of activity Friday, approving bills addressing meat labeling, a statewide study of health care costs and drunken boating.
January 25, 2019
Today at the Wyoming Legislature: Party switching, tax break bills die in House
By Cowboy State Daily Bills on party switching, daylight savings time and a property tax exemption for seniors were all on the table at the Wyoming Legislature on Thursday. A bill that would have limited when voters can change their party affiliations, SF 32, was killed for a second time by the Senate Corporations, Elections…
January 25, 2019
Bill to impose tax on out-of-state companies headed for final House reading
A corporate income tax could be seen in Wyoming under a bill that cleared its second vote in the House on Thursday. Representatives voted in favor of HB 220 also called the National Retail Fairness Act to send it to a third and final House reading on Friday.
January 25, 2019
Public records bill clears Senate committee
A bill designed to set a deadline for the release of public documents won approval from a Senate committee on Thursday.
January 25, 2019
Health care study bill approved by committee
An effort to determine the cause of Wyomings high health care costs won approval Wednesday from a Senate committee. The Senates Labor, Health and Social Services Committee approved SF 67 on a vote of 4-1, sending it to the Senate for debate by the full body.
January 24, 2019
Legislature looks at shift in meeting schedule
Wyomings Legislature launched a review of its own schedule Wednesday as a House committee approved a possible change in the way lawmakers meet. Wyomings legislators now meet for 40 days one year and 20 days the next for a total of no more than 60 days every two years. The shorter session is dedicated largely to drafting and approving a budget for the state.
January 24, 2019
Gun-free zone repeal dies in committee
By Cowboy State Daily A bill that would have eliminated Wyomings gun-free zones was killed by a Senate committee on Wednesday. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 to kill SF 75, proposed by Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne. The bill would have eliminated areas where concealed weapons are not allowed, such as government buildings and school…
January 24, 2019
Party switching bill could be revived
A bill that would limit when voters can change their party affiliations may be resurrected. SF 32 was killed by the Senate Corporation, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on Tuesday, but the committees chairman said hell bring the issue back up for another vote.
January 24, 2019
Transparency bill sent back for major overhaul
By Cowboy State Daily A bill that would have set a deadline for public agencies to turn over public documents was pulled back Tuesday to allow for a major overhaul. The Senate Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, faced with concerns by state and local government agencies about a proposed 10-day deadline for the release…
January 23, 2019
Committee approves bill to put 48-hour waiting period on abortions
A bill that would impose a 48-hour waiting period on abortions was approved by a House committee on Tuesday.
January 22, 2019
Measure restricting changes in voter affiliation killed in committee
A measure to restrict when voters can change their party affiliations was narrowly defeated in a Senate committee Tuesday. Senate File 32 would have prevented voters from changing party affiliation after candidates begin filing for office usually in early May.
January 22, 2019
Wyoming Legislature: Week in Review
The Wyoming Legislature is in recess for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. Before lawmakers reconvene Tuesday morning we bring you a review of where a number of key bills – including Hathaway scholarships for career technical education, opioid abuse prevention, and limits on switching political parties – stand. #wyleg
January 22, 2019
One of first state ‘Kickstart’ companies in operation
One of the first companies to receive a new type of economic development grant from the state of Wyoming has started operations in Cheyenne. Nymbl, financed in part by a $50,000 startup grant from Kickstart: Wyoming, uses its proprietary software to help companies sell and deliver small quantities of imprinted merchandise.
January 21, 2019
Super Blood Wolf Moon could be hidden by winter storm
Total lunar eclipse to occur Sunday during moons closest orbit to Earth By Ike Fredregill, Cowboy State Daily (Image credit: NASA) When the moon hits your eye like a big cherry pie, thats a Super Blood Wolf Moon, aka total lunar eclipse, and its happening Sunday night. A lunar eclipse is when the moon passes…
January 19, 2019
Wyoming businesses come to furloughed federal workers aid
Across the state, locals are stepping up to help those affected by shutdown By Ike Fredregill, Cowboy State Daily Wyoming businesses and organizations are coming together in support of federal employees who have been furloughed because of the record-breaking federal government shutdown. Throughout the state, locals are offering discounts and interest-free lines of credit to…
January 19, 2019
Resolution would declare “Women’s Suffrage Day” in Wyoming
By Cowboy State Daily An official Womens Suffrage Day would be commemorated in December under legislation approved in its first Senate review Friday. SJR 3 would declare Dec. 10 as Womens Suffrage Day. Senator Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne, tells Cowboy State Dailys Bob Geha that the bills sponsors include every woman serving in the Legislature. Ellis…
January 19, 2019
Convention of States seeks constitutional convention
A former legislator is heading the effort in Wyoming to hold a constitutional convention to consider amendments to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government and impose term limits on members of Congress. Nathan Winters tells Cowboy State Dailys Bob Geha that the Convention of States is a national effort started five years ago to…
January 18, 2019
Bill would limit amount of information provided on public pay
By Cowboy State Daily A bill that would limit the amount of information provided in official notices about how much public employees are paid cleared a House committee Thursday. HB 146 would remove the names of county and city public employees from a list that is published in the states newspapers. Under current law, that…
January 18, 2019
Party switch bill gets first committee review
By Cowboy State Daily A bill that would put limits on when voters can change their party affiliations got mixed reviews Thursday in its first session in a Senate committee. The Senate Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee began its work on SF 32, which would require voters changing party affiliation to do so before…
January 17, 2019
Legislators take up a host of education bills
By Cowboy State Daily Support for a plan to expand eligibility for the states Hathaway Scholarship is being voiced by groups that have not spoken out on the scholarship program before, according to the chairman of the Senate Education Committee. SF 43, a bill that gained final Senate approval on Wednesday, would allow students taking…
January 17, 2019