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The last operational one-room schoolhouse in Sheridan County, Wyoming, the Slack School, was built in the 1880s, burned down in the 1920s and rebuilt in the 1930s. (Ashlee Gorham, Slack School)

School year begins in WY’s few remaining one-room schoolhouses

It is back-to-school season and for 11 students in Sheridan County, Wyoming, it means returning to a one-room schoolhouse. The Slack School was …

The suicide rate among 15- to-19-year-olds in Wyoming was more than double the U.S. rate in 2019, according to data from the Wyoming Department of Health. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Schools play important role in K-12 mental health

As the school year begins, experts are advising schools on how to preserve students' mental health but politics in states such as Wyoming limit …

Research about daily routines shows that each ritual�including family dinners and reading and storytelling�was linked to a 47% increase in children�s good social-emotional health, according to Reuters. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Routines help kids settle into school year

It is time for families to prep kids for the school year and Wyoming experts said sleep and social media hygiene are key. Children's health experts …

Research shows the neurodevelopmental capacities of people ages 18-21, or late adolescence, is more similar to juveniles ages 13-17 than adults, according to a 2022 paper in the Annual Review of Criminology. (Jan H. Andersen/Adobe Stock)

WY case questions life-without-parole sentencing for adolescents

A new case filed in a Wyoming district court argues that a man's sentence of life in prison without parole was unconstitutional because of his age…

About 1.3 million public school educators and 100,000 college and university professors have been affected by educational gag orders from 2021 through 2023, according to a new report from the American Association of University Professors. (Adobe Stock)

University of Wyoming dealing with state’s cuts to diversity office

The University of Wyoming is scrambling to address a major funding cut state legislators passed in a footnote to the state budget. During this …

Wyoming ranked eleventh in the nation for the economic well-being of the state's children, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Increased children’s health coverage in WY, education needs boost

The number of Wyoming children with health insurance increased last year - but the state still ranked low in the nation for children's health overall…

Nearly seven in ten suicides in Wyoming were carried out with firearms between 2018 and 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Suicide rate prompts WY lawmakers to invest in mental-health services

Wyoming's suicide rate ranks first in the nation, according to the most recent data, and state lawmakers are taking steps to improve access to mental …

One in four Wyoming kids lives in single-parent families, according to Wyoming Community Foundation data. Such children are more likely to live in poverty compared with their peers in married-parent families. (Adobe Stock)

Training, mental health recovery called key for single moms to escape poverty

A Wyoming nonprofit is helping single mothers climb out of poverty by connecting them with the training and support they need to step into and succeed…

Military veterans report that the biggest barrier returning to college is feeling that they won't be welcomed. (Adobe Stock)

America’s culture wars advancing on college campuses

High school graduates are considering state and university positions on a number of hot-button issues - including abortion, gun, and anti-LGBTQ laws -…

A new Annie E. Casey Foundation report found a 35% increase in the number of kids in Wyoming entering foster care due to abuse. (Adobe Stock)

Helping Wyoming Foster Youths Succeed as Adults

The number of Wyoming children in foster care between the ages of 14 and 21 has dropped by 54% over the past two decades, according to a new Annie E…

In the fall of 2020, among four-year universities and community colleges nationwide, male freshmen enrollment declined 1.3%, while female freshmen enrollment fell 3.2%. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Bucks National Trend of Women Stopping Out of Higher Education

Wyoming has managed to buck a national trend which has seen female students opting out of college at more than twice the rate of males since 2020…

Six out of seven occupations identified by the Wyoming Department of Employment as the most in-demand require some form of post-secondary education. (Adobe Stock)

Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Americans to Complete Degrees

The biggest obstacle facing indigenous students completing college degrees is cost, according to a collaborative study by the National Native …

Education data showed 63% of Wyoming eighth graders scored below proficient in math, and 59% of fourth graders were below proficient in reading. Both figures are better than the national averages of 67% and 66%, respectively. (Adobe Stock)

New Annie E. Casey Publication Ranks Wyoming 14th for Child Well-Being

Wyoming ranks 14th in the nation for promoting children's overall well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest report on child …

Children who are incarcerated are less likely to graduate from high school and find employment later in life. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Incarcerated Children Severely Undercounted

Nearly a quarter-million children were incarcerated in the U.S. in 2019, about five times more than annual point-in-time counts, according to a new …

Even though Wyoming officials have tried to prioritize mental-health care for youths, many facilities are having difficulties keeping their doors open due to budget cuts. (Adobe Stock)

Holiday Poses Challenges for Foster Youths Aging Out of System

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Young people in Wyoming who have not been adopted officially age out of the foster-care system when they turn 18, joining 24,000 …

Wyoming consistently has ranked among states with the highest youth confinement rates in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: COVID Funds Could Help Close School-to-Prison Pipeline

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Federal school funding in response to the global pandemic, totaling nearly $190 billion, could help districts in Wyoming and across …

'Putting the U in Hunt' Helps Kids with Life-Threatening Illness

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. -- Last month, Emma Decker, a 16-year-old high school junior in Mountain View, was able to do something she thought she may not …

Children see approximately 78,069 examples of

Helping Wyoming Kids Be Critical Media Consumers During Pandemic

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Kids in Wyoming and across the nation are facing more social isolation during the coronavirus pandemic, which means they're …

Research shows that youth and young adults who use e-cigarettes are more likely to use other tobacco products, including traditional cigarettes. (NeedPix)

Wyoming Lawmakers, Health Experts Gather to Address Vaping Risks

CASPER, Wyo. – Wyoming teens' rising use of e-cigarettes, a relatively new nicotine delivery system also known as vaping, was the central topic …

A recent study by the Food and Drug Administration found that a quarter of all high school students used e-cigarettes in 2019, up five percentage points from last year. (Ethan Parsa/Pixabay)

New Research Shows E-Cigarettes Not Healthy Alternative

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – In the wake of recent reports of fatal lung illness connected with the use of e-cigarettes new research seems to confirm …

On Friday, students across the globe plan to walk out of classes in an effort to convince governments and other leaders to take action on climate change. (Maxpixel)

Wyoming Students Hesitant About Another Climate Strike

CASPER, Wyo. – The call for a global student climate strike has mostly fallen on deaf ears in Wyoming, and after receiving hate messages on …

New U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that overall tobacco use among teens is on the rise, largely due to growing e-cigarette use. (TBEC Review/Wikimedia Commons)

Cheyenne City Council Weighs Impacts, Benefits of E-Cigarettes

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – On Monday, Cheyenne's city council is expected to vote on a measure that would add e-cigarettes to the city's smoke-free …

In 2016, an estimated 4,429 grandparents in Wyoming had the primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren. (Matti/Wikimedia Commons)

Wyoming Foster Care System Makes Progress

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Foster care is improving in Wyoming and across the nation, according to a new Annie E. Casey Foundation report. More kids …

A $1-per-pack cigarette tax increase is projected to generate over $20 million in new state revenue, and save Wyoming nearly $100 million in health-care costs. (Lindsay Fox/Flickr)

Wyo. Lawmakers Consider $1 Cigarette Tax Hike

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – State lawmakers are set to meet this week to review a proposal to raise tobacco taxes, including a $1-per-pack hike for …

Researchers cite congressional attacks on affordable health coverage in 2017 as one possible reason for an increase in uninsured children. (ShanePeter/Wikimedia Commons)

Number of Uninsured Kids On the Rise in WY

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – For the first time in a decade, the number of uninsured children in the United States has gone up. According to a new …

Compared with their peers, youths in foster care are more likely to experience early pregnancy, homelessness and incarceration. (Beth Rankin/Wikimedia Commons)

Wyoming Foster Youths Face Challenges in Transitioning to Adulthood

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Young people in foster care are falling behind their peers and are on track to face higher levels of joblessness and …

A new report finds that, at 15 percent, Wyoming is above the national average (10 percent) of youth ages 18 to 24 who are also young parents. (Pixnio)

Report Exposes Challenges Facing Wyoming's Young Parents

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Parenting can be a challenge for Wyoming's most financially secure residents, but hardships can be even greater for young …

Just 5 percent of Wyoming children live in families where the household lacks a high school diploma, and 1 percent of children live in high-poverty areas. (National Park Service)

Thousands of Wyoming Kids May Go Uncounted by Census

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming ranks 18th in child well being, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book that ranks all …

The average student debt load in 2017 was more than $39,000. Nearly 44 million Americans currently owe nearly $1.5 trillion in student loans. (Pixabay)

High School Students Not Prepared to Manage Cost of College, Says Survey

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – As another school year draws to a close, a new survey shows a majority of high school juniors and nearly 40 percent of seniors …

Wyoming law prohibits selling tobacco products to minors, but there are no federal rules limiting access to electronic cigarettes. (Info-Electronic-Cigarette.com/Wikimedia Commons)

E-Cigarettes Produce Toxic Chemicals, Study Says

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – An increasing number of teens in Wyoming and across the United States are drawn to electronic cigarettes, with such flavors as …

Canceling all student loan debt could create more than half of all the jobs created after the Great Recession between 2010 and 2015. (Pixabay)

Study: Clear All Student Loan Debt to Increase GDP, Jobs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Student loan debt in the U.S. has reached $1.4 trillion. That's greater than all credit card debt and also eclipses all …

Kids spend an average of nine hours a day in front of a digital or media device. (Kevin Jarrett/Flickr)

Groups Offer Road Map to Protect Children from Tech Risks

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Children's advocates and technology insiders are teaming up in a new campaign to protect kids' brains from the potentially …

While older Americans may lead more solitary lives, researchers have found that loneliness is highest among teenagers and young adults. (Pixabay)

Survey: Loneliness a Top Concern Around Holidays

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Many people associate the holidays with warm and positive feelings, but for others, it can be a lonely and difficult time…

Out of a possible 1,000 points, the index for well-being for Wyoming's American Indian children was 380, lower than the national average in the AECF report. (Pixabay)

Wyoming Kids of Color Still Lack Access to Opportunity

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming's children of color and those living in immigrant families face persistent challenges that make their road to success …

Affordable access to high speed Internet service is being threatened by an FCC proposal, according to consumer advocates. (Getty Images)

Rural WY Could Miss Out if FCC Slows Broadband Speeds

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission wants to redefine broadband by lowering the standard for speed, a move …

National and state-based clean air policies, including reducing pollution from coal-fired power plants, are helping improve air quality in Wyoming. (Pixabay)

State, Federal Protections Improving Wyoming Air

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Air quality in Wyoming is getting better, according to the American Lung Association's latest report card. Casper and Cheyenne both …

New reports show President Donald Trump's pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, repeatedly has ruled against students with disabilities. (House.gov)

New Reports: Gorsuch Repeatedly Ruled Against Students with Disabilities

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – According to two new reports, Judge Neil Gorsuch – President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court – …

Schools that take steps to reduce bullying and provide other supports for LGBTQ students are seeing better education outcomes, a new survey shows. (Pixabay)

Progress Slow Making U.S. Schools Safe for LGBTQ Students, Survey Shows

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Schools that take steps to reduce bullying and provide other supports for their LGBTQ students are seeing better education …

More people die during police encounters than previously reported. (Portraitlady4306/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: More People Die in Police Encounters than Previously Estimated

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Police officers have the legal authority to take lives, but keeping tabs on how many people are killed each year hasn't been …

A study has shown foster parents' need for more support and training. (Pixabay)

Report: Foster Parents Need More Training, Support

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Child welfare systems need to provide foster parents with more training to care for children who have experienced instability …

States pay on average about $90,000 a year for every youth in a juvenile facility. (Pixabay)

Study Recommends Ending Youth Incarceration

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Kids should not be kept behind bars - that's the message of a new report examining the ineffectiveness of youth prisons in …

Mid-August means summer vacation must soon make way for early mornings, classrooms and homework. (Pixabay)

Back-to-School Tips for Wyo. Parents, Children

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Mid-August means late nights and lazy mornings – and endless hours playing Pokemon. But all that must soon make way for …

The third annual Latino Conservation Week hit Wyoming with full force with events at Grand Teton National Park. (Pixabay)

Latino Conservation Week Wraps Up in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The third annual Latino Conservation Week hit Wyoming with full force, complete with Talks and Tamales at Grand Teton National Park …

Research shows identity theft facilitated by companies is common in migrant farm work. (Pixabay)

'Ghost Worker' Identity Theft Common in Migrant Farm Work

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Farm workers are frequently forced into becoming identity thieves in order to get jobs, according to a new report from …

The first Indian Relay races of the season kicked off in Buffalo, Wyo., this past weekend. (Diana Volk)

Indian Relay Season Off and Running

BUFFALO, Wyo. - The first Indian Relay Races of the season kicked off in Buffalo, Wyo., this past weekend. Twenty adult teams competed in what has …

A new Annie E. Casey Foundation report looks at how having a parent in prison affects their children, including about 12,000 in Wyoming. (Pixabay)

Study Details Effects of Parents in Prison on Kids, Communities

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Having an incarcerated parent has the same impact on children as abuse, domestic violence or divorce, according to a new …

Wyoming students would benefit from stronger physical-education requirements, according to a new report. (Pixabay)

Report Card: Room for Improvement on Wyoming's Phys-Ed Policies

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Students across the nation would benefit from stronger physical-education requirements, but most states are dropping the ball on …

Wyoming took home the Junior Duck Stamp Program's top prize for the first time last year with Andrew Kneeland's portrait of a pair of wood ducks. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Wyoming Vies for Back-to-Back Junior Duck Stamp Titles

CHEYENNE, Wy. - Junior Duck Stamp season is heating up with the March 15 deadline just around the corner, and all eyes are on Wyoming to see if one …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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WY: Youth