Wyoming News & Current Events | Public News Service

The Yellowstone cutthroat trout and the Westslope cutthroat trout are both threatened species. Projects along Wyoming's Hoback River could help. (Neal Herbert/NPS)

Monday, January 20, 2025

Federal funding to help restore WY's Hoback River native fish habitat

Wyoming agencies will receive about $1.25 million in federal funding to help reconnect native fish migration routes on the Hoback River. The money …

Wyoming lawmakers in 2024 passed several bills for property tax relief, including for homeowners, veterans and senior citizens. (Adobe Stock)

Big tax talk expected in WY general session

One topic expected to make a big splash during Wyoming's general legislative session is property taxes at many levels. First on the agenda for the …

The Equality State Policy Center said it is watching bills on fair elections in Wyoming, including House Bill 102, which would change the method of attorney general selection from appointment to statewide election. (Adobe Stock)

Several 2025 WY bills could erode voting rights

The Wyoming Legislature's General Session starts Tuesday and voting-rights advocates in the state are watching several proposals they worry could hind…

Grand Teton's Kelly parcel, now owned by the National Park Service, starts the Path of the Pronghorn, the longest land migration route in the lower 48. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Teton park acquires addition after widespread, multiyear effort

The 640-acre Kelly parcel has been in limbo for decades. It sits within the bounds of Grand Teton National Park but has long been owned by the state …

Some 4.1% of Wyoming workers are employed in arts and culture industries, a rate higher than all neighboring states, according to a University of Wyoming report. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming arts scene could get AmeriCorps support

A Wyoming arts hub is surveying organizations across the state to see if a potential new AmeriCorps program could help fill gaps in arts and humanitie…

Wyoming's territorial government was the first to recognize women's right to vote. The state has ranked in the bottom 10 in the U.S. for the proportion of women in the state legislature every year since 2009, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Women’s suffrage adds luster to WY Capitol’s historic status

Wyoming's State Capitol building has been a National Historic Landmark since 1987 and last month, the Department of the Interior updated the …

Among recently surveyed Wyomingites, 88% support constructing wildlife crossings across major highways intersecting with known migration routes, though only 48% consider the loss of wildlife and fish habitats an extremely or very serious problem, according to the 2024 State of the Rockies Project poll. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Wyoming gets mixed scores on 2024 conservation report card

A new scorecard from the Center for Western Priorities points to Wyoming's success as a western state balancing conservation goals and economic growth…

According to the March of Dimes, 15.4% of Wyoming women did not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of home last year, compared to a U.S. average of 9.7%. (MANUEL/Adobe Stock)<br />

Another birthing center closes, WY maternal health struggles continue

Evanston Regional Hospital is discontinuing its labor and delivery services next week, citing a "steady decline of demand." It is the fourth Wyoming …

Robert Dickson, medical director for the Washtenaw County Tuberculosis Clinic in Michigan, told KFF Health News the tissue donation regulatory environment is a major public health concern. (Ulia Koltyrina/Adobe Stock)

Ex-eye donation bank workers say pressure, lax oversight led to errors

By Madelyn Beck for WyoFile and Rae Ellen Bichell for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Wyoming News Service reporting for the…

Federally employed firefighters hope to see a permanent pay bump to replace the pay increases granted in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Federal wildland firefighters need permanent pay bump

As the federal government works this week to avoid a shutdown, federal wildland firefighters are waiting to see if their recent pay increase will …

U.S. power companies are sitting on a stockpile of coal equivalent to the entire volume expected to come from Appalachia in 2025, according to a new analysis from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. (Adobe Stock)

Analysis: U.S. coal stockpiles could cut demand from Powder River Basin mines

A new analysis of federal data shows that U.S. power plants are sitting on a huge stockpile of coal, much of which came from the Powder River Basin…

In 2021, there were 72% fewer detention admissions of youths on delinquency charges across the country than in 2005. Still, Wyoming incarcerates youth at a much higher rate than any other state in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

WY has highest rate of juvenile incarceration, rejects federal funding to help

Wyoming has the nation's highest rate of juvenile incarceration, and is one of only two states refusing federal funds to help. In 2021, nearly 270 …

More than 5.3 million people across the United States enrolled in a Marketplace health insurance plan during the first part of open enrollment, from Nov. 1 through Dec. 4, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Adobe Stock)

Health insurance marketplace enrollment deadline is Sunday

Open enrollment for health insurance is underway, and in Wyoming, the number of enrollees so far this year is just below last year's rate. Experts …

About 70% of the 40,000 acres burned by wildfires across Wyoming in 2024 were on private or state lands, Gov. Mark Gordon said in a budget speech Monday. (Adobe Stock)

Gordon seeks $130 million more for WY wildfire mitigation budget

In the Wyoming governor's new supplemental state budget, the biggest line item by far is wildfire recovery. Gov. Mark Gordon on Monday gave a …

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Elon Musk, Joe Rogan spread misinformation on agriculture

By Gabriella Sotelo for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Wyoming News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

About one-third of the world's habitat for Greater sage grouse is located in Wyoming. (Kerry Hargrove/Adobe Stock)

Some stall, others push to pass new federal sage grouse plans

Final federal plans for Greater sage grouse habitat in Wyoming and other western states were met with criticism last month but some said the overdue p…

Only 6% of Native young people living in cities feel represented by state and national decisionmakers, according to the Center for Native American Youth, compared to 18% of those living on reservations. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: The term 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among Native youth

A new survey of Native American teens and young adults highlights a growing preference for the term "Indigenous" rather than being referred to as "Ame…

According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, mule deer were uncommon in the early 1900s. Their populations surged in the 1950s and 1960s, peaked in 1991, but are now seeing historic lows. (M. Leonard Photo/Adobe Stock)

State agency hosts talks across Wyoming on declining mule deer

After a devastating recent winter, the already-struggling mule deer population in Wyoming took a big hit and the state's wildlife agency is …

Roughly 5% of adults in the U.S. experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association, and symptoms last about 40% of the year. (Adobe Stock)

Psychiatrist: Don't ignore grief of loss during holidays

The holiday season often brings Wyoming families together in celebration and warmth but for some, the absence of a loved one -- whether through death…

Wyoming caregivers provide an estimated $910 million in economic value to the state, according to AARP Wyoming. (Adobe Stock)

AARP expands 'Care for Caregivers' course to more WY communities

November is National Family Caregivers Month and AARP Wyoming is working to meet rising demand for caregiver resources. About 58,000 Wyomingites …

The Wyoming Family Alliance Action's 2024 school board candidate questionnaire asked candidates how much they agree with this statement:

Some WY school board elections echoed national politics

School boards are nonpartisan, but a recent trend in Wyoming shows far-right candidates are bringing national politics to local elections. Public …

Immigrants made up 4.7% of Wyoming's workforce in 2022, according to the American Immigration Council, and paid $151 million in taxes. (Adobe Stock)

Immigrants’ rights training in Jackson this weekend

Immigrants and the agencies that help them are preparing for what could happen when President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. In Wyoming…

Some wins, but more needed for Native artists in WY

A great way to observe National Native American Heritage Month is to support Native artists but some in Wyoming said there are barriers to their expos…

The rise in food costs has slowed in the last year, but prices are still up about 20% from four years ago. (Adobe Stock)

Expert weighs in on holiday grocery budget

With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, many Wyomingites are starting to budget for the holidays. When it comes to the cost of food, there's …

According to MSCI, 97% of nickel, 89% of copper, 79% of lithium and 68% of cobalt supplies in the U.S. are located within 35 miles of Native American reservations. (Adobe Stock)

Federal agendas aside, tribes have a lot to offer in 'energy evolution'

President-elect Donald Trump's agenda for "energy dominance" could majorly impact leaders in the sector, including the state of Wyoming and the …

In 2022, total arts and culture compensation in Wyoming topped $1.3 billion, just behind the health care and social assistance industry and the real estate and rental industry, according to a new report. (Carol Highsmith, Library of Congress Collection)

Report: Arts a significant contributor to WY economy

A new report quantifies the contribution of Wyoming's arts and culture sector to the state's economy and shows it is significant. Wyoming in 2022 …

Since 2002, there has been a single case of voter fraud in Wyoming, in which a convicted felon from Alaska managed to cast votes. He was sentenced to two to four years in prison. (Adobe Stock)

Lacking proof, WY official warns of noncitizens voting

Wyoming's secretary of state is asking county clerks to report non-citizens who try to vote, although cases of that - or any other - kind of election …

According to a new University of Wyoming study, nearly 38% of Wyomingites think anyone who wants to vote by mail should be allowed to do so. (Adobe Stock)

WY survey: Voters have more faith in county-level vote counting

Early voter turnout in Wyoming has been high leading up to Election Day, and a survey shows most think local vote counting will be reliable. …

PacifiCorp has committed to retiring just 27% of its coal use by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

PacifiCorp has 'room to improve' on clean energy commitments

A new report grades utilities based on their commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels. The Sierra Club has graded utilities on their …

According to KFF, roughly 96% of Wyomingites who enrolled in health insurance through the marketplace received an advanced premium tax credit. (Nina Lawrenson/Adobe Stock)

Wyoming 211 connects callers with health insurance help and more

A Wyoming helpline connects callers to a variety of health and human services, including help with health insurance during open enrollment. Olivia …

This election, 16 Democrats are seeking statehouse seats in Wyoming, a drop from a running average since 1998 of 37, according to WyoFile. (Adobe Stock)

WY Democrats ask voters to 'come home'

The number of Wyoming voters registered as Democrats is at a low point and there are few candidates with the party on the ballot. As Election Day …

The ratio of early childhood educators in Wyoming to children ages 0-5 is nearly 12 to 1. (Adobe Stock)

WY child care programs lack support, close 'almost weekly'

Pandemic-era federal aid for early childhood educators expired last month and Wyoming lawmakers this year failed to pass a bill which could have helpe…

About 21% of Wyoming's population, or nearly 124,000 people, were enrolled in Medicare coverage in June 2023, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Adobe Stock)

WY health insurance experts: Everyone should check their plans

The enrollment period for Medicare is already underway and open enrollment on the Health Insurance Marketplace is about to begin. Experts in Wyoming …

According to 2022 data, there were roughly 2,800 wolves distributed across at least 286 packs in seven western states, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (Adobe Stock)

Conservationists reframe the 'big, bad wolf' narrative

From Little Red Riding Hood to the Halloween thriller "Wolf Man," stories often paint wolves as scary creatures but conservationists argued it is the …

Ambulances near Pinedale, Wyoming drove 94,000 miles last year to compensate for a lack of local medical services, according to the Sublette County Hospital District. (Wikimedia Commons)

Pinedale, WY bucks trend, builds new rural hospital

By Sarah Jane Tribble for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Wyoming News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News…

Throughout the Wyoming Frontier Prison's 80 years serving as the state's penitentiary, it contained a factory producing, at different times, brooms, shirts, wool blankets and license plates. (Kit Leong/Adobe Stock)

WY historic sites capitalize on Halloween

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 …

A recent report gave Wyoming low marks for its efforts to reduce exposure to lead in K-12 schools. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Feds set deadline to replace lead water pipes; schools excluded

Groups that advocate for clean water are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule on replacing lead pipes - but they warn that the dr…

According to a report for the state, wages for Wyoming teachers in May 2023 were about 81% of those in comparable occupations including management, health care, computers, legal professions and more. (Henryk Sadura/Adobe Stock)

WY lawmakers urge returning public school funding to constitutional minimum

A Wyoming committee has recommended a temporary bump in funding for public schools, while educators await a judge's decision on the state's broader …

To date, the Bureau of Land Management has permitted clean-energy projects on public lands adding 29 gigawatts of electricity, or enough to power more than 12 million homes, according to the agency. (Adobe Stock)

BLM’s proposed Western Solar Plan leaves room for wildlife

A new federal proposal details which public lands across the West would be open to solar development. Wildlife advocates are glad to see that some - …

The U.S. Postal Service's Delivering for America plan is not expected to cause layoffs, but Ricci Roberts, the branch president of mail handlers in Cheyenne, said keeping a job under the changes may require relocating. (Adobe Stock)

As WY mail to be routed out of state, many say concerns unheard

As the U.S. Postal Service continues to implement a long-term reform plan, rural customers in places such as Wyoming may pay the price. Following …

National parks in Wyoming supported about $479 million in labor income in 2023, according to a National Park Service report. (Adobe Stock)

Grand Teton National Park sees high visitor spending, seeks input

Visitor spending in and near national parks contributed to the U.S. economy at a record high level last year. Grand Teton is one park looking at how …

In the past two decades, suicide rates in rural states, including Wyoming, have been about double those in urban areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

WY suicide rates high, despite federal prevention efforts

By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Wyoming News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Publ…

The odds of an active shooting are about three times higher where guns are allowed than in a gun-free zone, according to research published this month in The Lancet. (Adobe Stock)

WY lawmakers consider concealed weapons in public schools, state facilities

Wyoming lawmakers are discussing gun legislation, after Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed a bill which would have repealed "gun free zones" this spring…

Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Feds ask WY to recalculate cost of proposed West Fork Dam

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …

Including the $236 million in federal funding for wildland fire management recently announced for 2025, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has invested a total of $1 billion to the cause, according to the Department of the Interior. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Wildfire management funding should include community response

This month, the federal government announced funding for next year's wildfire management, totaling $236 million and experts hope threatened …

Federal lawmakers respond to WY wolf abuse, state's response

Following the torture of a wolf by a Wyoming man, a state panel is seeking a bill to protect the killing of predators with vehicles, but Federal …

In response to the House Draw Fire, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department invited reports of injured wildlife to a hotline typically used to report poaching. (Adobe Stock)

WY communities pitch in on wildfire recovery efforts

Recent extreme wildfires in Wyoming burned nearly 500,000 acres and among those recovering are ranchers and their surviving livestock. Wildfires …

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 …

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