LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Wyoming shoppers choosing to buy gifts at local mom-and-pop stores this holiday season can sample cookies with Mrs. Claus and refuel at Santa's Saloon, and kids can send letters to the jolly old elf via Pony Express riders.

Trey Sherwood, executive director of the Laramie Main Street Alliance, acknowledged most of the money shoppers spend at corporate chains ends up out of state, but when people buy local, they support their neighbors, and 68 cents of every dollar stays in the community.

"And it turns into payroll for local jobs, and it turns into support for our little-league teams," Sherwood outlined. "Because small businesses are often the sponsors for our youth sports."

Historic downtown Laramie, founded as a railroad town, is celebrating small businesses all week, capping off with a holiday parade. Instead of a traditional tree, officials will light up the city's historic train.

In addition to Santa, the "Old West Holiday" in downtown Cheyenne also features lights and decorations on architecture dating back to Wyoming's territorial days. Many buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Haylee Chenchar, vice president of the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority, said small businesses have turned downtown into a festive winter wonderland.

"Everyone who comes to downtown, they will not only get to do their holiday shopping and support local businesses, but they really get a one-of-a-kind holiday experience that can't be replicated anywhere else," Chenchar explained.

Sherwood pointed out folks also can support most local businesses, and avoid big-box store supply-chain logjams, from the comfort of your sofa.

"Supporting local through online, you can sit in your pajamas at home and know that you are still making an investment in your downtown by shopping local, not having to worry about it being shipped late," Chenchar concluded.

Halloween is a busy time of year for some of Wyoming's historical sites, where staff throw thematic events to help fund programming for the rest of the year.

In October, Wyomingites can experience their state's history in new ways - like paranormal investigations at Fort Caspar, and a haunted evening tour of the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins.

That prison served as the state penitentiary between 1901 and 1981, during which Historic Site Director Tina Hill said nearly 14,000 people served time.

"When you go through the 80 years of history here," said Hill, "you see how the people who lived in Wyoming thought about crimes, and punishment, and the penal system. And so you can kind of see how things evolved."

In the 1950s, the concept of rehabilitation spread through the penal system - and with it, Hill says, gymnasiums, libraries and classes.

Now, the site is on the National Registry of Historic Places, and about 15,000 people tour it each year.

Northeast of the prison at Fort Caspar, Halloween visitors can use infrared thermometers, laser grids and more on the site's ghost investigations tours.

Aside from the fort's paranormal activities, museum Director Rick Young said it's on a historic migration corridor.

"Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer, Pony Express trails," said Young. "We had a ferry crossing at our location. We had a bridge crossing at our location. It was a Pony Express station. And then it became a military fort."

These days, the site has a central Wyoming history museum and a park.

The historic fort buildings are furnished as they would have been in 1865, the year of two battles there and when the site was formally named Fort Caspar.





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Summerlike temperatures are still around but winter is lurking and Minnesotans will soon have to crank up their thermostats.

Now, there is outreach to help Latinos use federal incentives to lower their energy bills. The Inflation Reduction Act provides a mix of tax credits and rebates for households considering options like solar panels or more efficient heating systems. Such information is often slow to reach underserved populations and Minnesota's Communities Organizing Latino Power and Action doesn't want it to happen this time.

Danny Garcia, virtual navigator for the group, said his team is taking a multifaceted approach.

"We translate this information to make it more accessible," Garcia outlined. "We are relying heavily on social media, creating videos, creating flyers to distribute."

A specific Inflation Reduction Act initiative, the Home Energy Rebate program, will be carried out by the state and agencies are still preparing for launch. Other incentives, namely tax credits, are already available. Beyond creating awareness, community navigators will focus on application assistance. A 2022 national analysis found Hispanic families were less likely to take advantage of government programs due to anti-immigrant politics and other factors.

It is not just overcoming trust issues. Garcia suggested some residents might feel overwhelmed when considering all their options. He stressed they want them to look at the bigger picture: A more energy-efficient home with cleaner air running through it stands a better chance of improving outcomes as opposed to sticking with aging systems and appliances.

"You can get sick more often and this just creates a circle, a burden," Garcia pointed out. "Then you need to spend more money on your health and then you don't have enough money to cover other bills."

The U.S. Energy Department reported the Hispanic community faces a median energy burden 24% higher than white households. The Inflation Reduction Act has a bonus credit program specifically geared for those often stuck with higher energy bills with increased tax credits for solar and wind projects built in these communities or serving low-income residents.

Over the weekend, Hispanic Heritage Month got underway. In Minnesota, people are recognizing the diversity within these populations, as well as leadership opportunities.

Becky Valencia, operations manager of Communities Organizing Latino Power and Action (COPAL) said not all of Minnesota's Latino residents are from Mexico, as is often assumed.

Many have connections to places like Ecuador and have different needs. As they establish roots here, national polls show Latinos have a growing distrust of government.

However, Valencia noted that young adults are increasingly interested in fostering a better relationship between elected leaders and community members.

"A lot of the times it's been very rewarding to see that in our community, organizers continue to plant that seed," said Valencia. "And so, we have seen a lot more people be active and actually searching for opportunities to be more involved."

As for weaving in culture, entrepreneurship is one avenue. Minnesota is now home to more than 12,000 Latino-owned businesses.

Valencia said several organizations help these business owners overcome obstacles in expanding their reach.

She said younger generations want to keep alive their distinct heritage and traditions, and access to resources is a big part of that.

Valencia said fostering more civic engagement is especially important in an election year. She said Latinos have pressing needs that resonate with the rest of Minnesota.

"There's this huge gap between healthcare and what's accessible," said Valencia. "That's an area for sure that we've heard a lot of communication, which I think it's not only for the Latino community, Latina community, but also for other communities in general."

According to Census data from Minnesota Compass, nearly 370,000 people of Latino descent call Minnesota home. This population increased 38% between 2010 and 2020.

In addition to Mexicans and Ecuadorians, the largest Latino cultural groups in the state are Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Colombians.