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Rep. John Bear Remark About Guatemalans Landing In Gillette Sparks Refugee Rumor
A comment state Rep. John Bear made on Thursday morning that dozens of Guatemalans were on a flight that landed in Gillette on Wednesday night has stoked the political rumor mill at the Capitol that it was an influx of refugees.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023

Romanian Man Accused Of Smuggling $7,500 Scotch In Crotch Will Likely Get Deal So He Can Stay In U.S.
A Romanian man accused of stealing a $7,500 bottle of scotch in his crotch at a liquor store in Jackson appeared in court on Thursday. The prosecution said if the bottle -- which was hidden in the man's crotch -- is in salable condition, restitution would not be necessary.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2023

Witness: Torrington Hit And Run Driver Swerved Twice To Dislodge Woman Stuck On Fender
A Torrington man accused of hitting a woman with his SUV and driving away was transferred to a higher court Wednesday. An eyewitness testified that the man rammed the woman and then swerved twice to try to dislodge her as she was stuck on its fender.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2023

Bill Would Pay Teton County Judges A $1,900 Monthly Housing Allowance
A proposed law that would give judges in Wyomings richest county a $1,900 monthly housing allowance is still alive but detractors worry judges could turn a profit using public funds on their appreciating houses.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2023

Three Montana Grizzlies Killed After They Were Sickened By Bird Flu
Three Montana grizzly bears sickened by bird flu had to be killed because they were suffering neurological damage from the virus. This is the first time the virus has been reported in grizzlies.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2023

Wyoming Union Says Court Ruling In Kroger – Albertson’s Merger Favors “Ultra-Wealthy Shareholders”
The union representing 750 Wyoming grocery workers on Wednesday said, "We are disappointed to see a ruling that favors a small number of ultra-wealthy shareholders over the many thousands of essential workers and millions of Americans who will be left to suffer the consequences of the outright financial looting of Albertsons."
Renée JeanJanuary 19, 2023

Bill Sniffin: Legislature Just Not The Same Without Hank, Clarene, Leland, and Jimbo
Bill Sniffin writes: "The ghosts and/or spirits of Clarene Law, Leland Christensen, Hank Coe, and Jim Angell seem omnipresent when I think of the Wyoming Legislature."
Bill SniffinJanuary 19, 2023

Child Marriage Bill Survives But Some Argue Restricting Teen Marriage Is Removing Freedoms
Addressing marriage age is an exercise in establishing Wyomings state rights, says House Bill 7 sponsor Rep. Dan Zwonitzer. Others argued the state should butt out as marriage is a contract between a man, a woman and their God.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2023

Horse, It’s What’s For Dinner: Legislators Discuss Resolution To Re-Open Horse Slaughterhouses
To get a handle on growing herds of wild mustangs in Wyoming and the American West, a resolution being considered by the Legislature says Congress should re-open American horse slaughterhouses so the meat can be shipped to places where people eat it.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2023

Hageman Warns U.S. Heading For Fiscal Cliff, Says Legislators Must Fight For Coal, Oil & Gas
U.S. Rep Harriet Hageman on Wednesday told Wyoming legislators that the U.S. is heading for a "fiscal cliff" and it was important that they continue to fight for coal, oil, and gas.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023

Sen. Charlie Scott Says Shotgun Is Good Way To Deal With Annoying Drones
Sens. Charlie Scott and Lynn Hutchings on Wednesday said there should be a provision in the drone bill that would allow a landowner to shoot down drones that are trespassing over private property.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2023

Chuck Gray Gets Another Win As Committee Strikes Down Bill Changing How Vacancies Are Filled
Sec of State Chuck Gray lobbied against a bill that would have required special elections to fill seats of elected officials if more than half of a term remained. The legislative committee rejected the bill by a 5-3 vote.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023

Wyoming Lawmakers Work To Tighten Digital Asset Security
Private cryptographic keys cant be changed, which creates a problem for legal processes that Wyoming is working to solve. House Bill 86 will prevent a court from compelling through discovery the invisible code that makes up a private cryptographic key.
Renée JeanJanuary 19, 2023

Legislator Wants To Reduce What Solar Customers Are Paid For Excess Electricity
Sen. Cale Case has introduced a bill that would repeal net metering, which allows people who produce excess electricity from rooftop panels to sell it back to a utility. Case says it makes energy in the state more expensive and discriminates against the poor.
January 18, 2023

Get Your Incandescent Lightbulbs Now: Starting August 1, They’re Outlawed
Wyoming lighting retailers say they have a few incandescent light bulbs in stock but the bulbs are nearly impossible to get any more. On August 1 it will become illegal for retailers to sell incandescent bulbs.
January 18, 2023

Realtor: Hobbyists Who Buy “Cheap Drones At Wal-Mart” Causing Problems For Legit Drone Operators
In a legislative committee meeting on Wednesday, the president of the Wyoming Realtors association said commercial drone operators are well-behaved. It's the "hobbyists who buy cheap drones at Wal-Mart and fly them over their neighbors properties," who are causing all the problems, he said.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023

Wyoming Community Colleges Can’t Ask For Inflation Fund Adjustment After Bill Fails
State Sen. Cheri Steinmetz said the Senate is already "very receptive" to giving community colleges more money so there doesn't need to be another mechanism for requesting public funds.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 18, 2023

Rock Climber From Story, Wyoming, Competing In HBO Series “The Climb”
A Story, Wyoming native is featured in the HBO series "The Climb" where he is competing against the world's best amateur climbers in Spain, Jordan, and others countries for a sponsorship and $100,000 in cash. The show debuted on January 12, 2023.
Wendy CorrJanuary 18, 2023

Book Stores Aren’t Dead After All: Barnes & Noble Returning To Cheyenne, Other Wyo Locations Possible
Not only is Cheyenne getting its Barnes & Noble back but the company is considering new locations in Wyoming. The company said it believes brick and mortar locations can work if they personalize the stores to each location.
Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2023

Casper Legislator’s Covid Bill Would Also Prohibit Required Vaccines For Polio, Measles, Mumps
Although Rep. Ward said her Covid bill which would also prohibit required vaccines for polio, measles, mumps and other infectious diseases is a way to prioritize the rights of individuals, physicians said it would put Wyoming "back a few centuries."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2023

State Sen. Says Mother Was ‘Severely Mistreated’ In Boarding School That Forcibly Assimilated Native Americans
State Sen. Affie Ellis told a committee on Wednesday morning that her mother was "severely mistreated" when attending a boarding school that sought to assimilate her into a non-native culture. Ellis' bill would uphold tribal sovereignty over child members.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 18, 2023

Wyoming Law Enforcement Says Steering Wheel With Keyboard Invention Is Horrible Idea
Wyoming law enforcement officials say a steering wheel with a keyboard attached is a horrible idea and recommend not using one. The inventor of the product tried to raise $10 million to produce but killed the effort after no one donated any money to it.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 18, 2023

House Committee OKs $50 Million Wyoming Outdoor Rec Trust Fund
The bill would create a $50 million trust fund to pay for the Office of Outdoor Recreation to better promote Wyoming outdoors. Currently, Wyoming is last in dollars and jobs generated by outdoor tourism compared to 11 other western states.
Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2023

Perhaps Largest Group Ever, Freshman Lawmakers May Hold Real Political Power In Wyoming
With 34 first-year members of the 67th Legislature nearly 37% of the 93-member body freshman legislators have potential to be the most influential first-term class in Wyoming history, but they will have to come together to make that happen.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2023
