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It’s legal in Wyoming to chase coyotes and run over them with snowmobiles, but recently, a man used his snowmobile to run down a wolf until it was disabled. Then he taped the wolf’s mouth shut and paraded the animal around a local bar, taking photos to commemorate the event. Finally, he killed the wolf. According to news reports, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department fined the man $250. His only crime: possession of a live wild animal. The more we learn, the worse this disturbing story gets. Most recently, one news outlet released video foo...
I was startled when I started going through my email on Tuesday, and was getting ready to mark “receive death threats” off my journalism bingo card. I had to read the email a couple of times as I tried to understand it, and understand why I had received it. It said: “First of all you are morally and legally responsible for the action taken again [sic] innocent Earth life in your establishment. You will be closed in a year. I hope you and your family starve and get ripped apart by the speci...
While a majority of the senate voted for a special session, a majority of the Wyoming House voted against. As a result, taxpayers will be spared the likely $700,000 expense of a 20-day special session in 2024. We take pride in Wyoming’s history of a citizen legislature, deeply rooted in its connection to the people and in stark contrast to a professional political class. Safeguarding this institution is paramount and more important than any single bill. The prospect of a third special session in four years presented significant practical c... Full story
Acknowledging receipt of Governor Mark Gordon’s veto letters addressed to him in his capacity as Wyoming Secretary of State and in accordance with Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming State Constitution, Secretary Chuck Gray issued a response noting his disagreement with many of the vetoes in a letter. “While acknowledging receipt of these vetoes, our republic is built on discourse and debate,” Secretary Gray said. “In this vein, I wanted to respond to some of the points made in your letters that I disagree with as well as express disagre... Full story
Last week, in the aftermath of Governor Gordon’s veto of Senate File 54, the Department of Revenue conveyed to us that the veto would effectively halt any additional legislative efforts toward property tax relief in 2024. However, on Monday, the Department of Revenue informed us that property owners could be notified of the exemption in their September tax bills, although it may lead to some confusion for the taxpayer. This information made us take a second look at whether we would recommend a special session. In the end, we think a special s...
On March 15, Governor Mark Gordon vetoed two bills: Senate File 103 (Wyoming PRIME Act) and Senate File 13 (Federal land use plans- legal action authorized). Representative Scott Heiner, who represents portions of Sweetwater County, criticized the Governor’s veto of both bills, which he supported “as each provided a way for Wyoming to regulate itself and choose its own destiny.” Rep. Heiner continued: “Senate File 103 would have allowed for the sale of meat from producers directly to consumers without the government getting in the way and fur... Full story
Dear Editor, A recent news article in the Green River Star discusses the continuing use of a gas chamber for euthanasia by Green River Animal Control. The article quoted the Animal Control Supervisor as stating there are strong opinions on both sides of the issue for the use of the gas chamber in euthanasia for animals. There are not strong opinions on both sides of this issue. The American Veterinary Medical Association has stated the most humane method of euthanasia for animals is by injection and while they do allow for the use of inhaled as...
On Friday evening we gaveled a close to the 67th Budget Session in the Wyoming Senate and House. It was a tumultuous budget year. Yet, despite political differences and policy disagreements, the Legislature passed a conservative, balanced budget that addresses our state's needs and invests in the future. Those investments include funding for nursing homes, preschool for developmentally disabled children, and home services for senior centers. The budget supports mental health efforts and funds... Full story
The state of Wyoming has taken a significant step in addressing its longstanding struggle with high suicide rates by implementing the 988 suicide hotline. This critical tool in the fight against suicides has proven to be an invaluable resource for individuals facing mental health crises in the state. The 988 hotline, unlike national hotlines, operates locally in Wyoming, with trained counselors based in Casper and Greybull who are available around the clock. This localized approach ensures that individuals calling the hotline receive support...
On March 4, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a unanimous decision reversing the Colorado Supreme Court’s December ruling to remove Donald Trump from the ballot in 2024. Some Wyoming politicians released statements to express their approval of this decision. Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray previously filed an Amicus Curiae brief with the Supreme Court of the United States, arguing that the Supreme Court should reverse the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to bar Donald Trump from the ballot under Section Three of the Fourteent... Full story
This week’s newspaper is a very special edition. For one thing, along with the articles on local issues, people, and sports, this week’s paper also includes our special “Things We Love” section highlighting just a few of the reasons we love our community. But even beyond that, this week’s paper is extra special simply because of the date on which it is being published, as February 29 is a day that doesn’t always exist. In the roughly 130-year history of the Green River Star, the newspaper has been published on Leap Day only a handful of...
My cat and I are watching TV as I write this. She loves sitting on me or near me, she sleeps on my head and is forever coming up to me and asking me to pet her. Sweetest cat ever. The ironic part of this whole thing is that from the time I was born until about 6 years ago, I have been extremely allergic to cats. Because of this, I really didn’t like cats even though we grew up with one. Being allergic and having a cat in the house really wasn’t hard, as our cat was really my mom’s cat and she pretty much kept to herself. Additionally, for m...
After the ongoing questions about ambulance safety, it was encouraging to see the Castle Rock Hospital District Board sit down with the Board of County Commissioners last week to open an honest discussion and channel of communication. It was especially encouraging to see that Castle Rock is taking strides to being more open and accessible in general, and that some of the concerns we brought up in a past editorial (“Castle Rock Hospital District needs to be more accessible,” published September 28, 2023) are being addressed. Just from wal...
By Representatives John Bear (HD 31), Scott Heiner (HD 18), Ben Hornok (HD 42), and Tony Locke (HD 35) In late 2023, Governor Gordon submitted his state budget. The Governor described his budget as ‘disciplined,’ ‘business like,’ ‘forward-thinking,’ ‘fiscally conservative,’ ‘realistic,’ ‘practical,’ ‘balanced, ‘prudent,’ ’sustainable,’ and ‘living within our means.’ The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has thoroughly reviewed the Governor’s budget and would ourselves describe it as UNAFFORDABLE and UNSUSTAINABLE. This is the largest budget in the history...
There’s never been enough doctors in rural Wyoming, where I live, but a shortage of obstetricians is now increasing the risks for pregnant women across the state—and the nation. In the last decade in Wyoming, three hospitals have closed their maternity ward. That includes Rawlins, where pregnant moms now have to risk travel on Interstate 80—notorious for weather-related closures—to deliver their babies in Laramie, 100 miles away. But Wyoming isn’t the only state to face inadequate maternal care: Less than half of the rural hospitals in Americ...
Land use planning does not usually grab a lot of headlines. It tends to happen out of the public eye; its terminology can be confusing and hard for the layperson to understand; and its impact – while significant – can seem removed from our daily lives. That’s all changed over the past few months. You can hardly open a paper or go online these days without coming across a story about BLM’s draft land use plan for the Rock Springs area. Members of the public are clearly engaged and paying attention in ways that they haven’t before. This is t...
Dear Editor, I see this same mistake made by college boards all the time. They hire these out-of-state firms so that they can claim to have done an “exhaustive, nationwide search” when really all they are doing is allowing the education establishment to pick their next short term President, V.P. or Dean. I have lived in fifteen states, so far, and I see the same stupidity practiced by college boards over and over again. They take some candidate from a group of three delivered to them by some far-away consultant who has no ties to the com...
I tend to struggle with imposter syndrome. "Imposter syndrome" generally involves feelings of self-doubt and incompetence, feeling like a fraud, feeling like you don't deserve to be somewhere or do something, etc. Usually these feelings are unfounded, or they may even be in contrast to external, objective success. WebMD points out that Imposter Syndrome isn't an actual mental health condition, but the term is used to describe a pattern of thinking and a common feeling and experience that many... Full story
Fifty years ago, the Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon with the intention of establishing a clear process for recovering species on the verge of extinction. In the years that have passed since its enactment, this well-intended law has taken on a life of its own and has dramatically shifted from its original purpose to the point where it does far more harm than good. Since its passage, the ESA has become a weapon wielded by the Left to appease environmental activists that has punished landowners and...
Dear Editor, 2023 was arguably the most significant year in advancing care for 10,000 Wyomingites and nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, and Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis each played important roles in that progress. Both Wyoming senators were instrumental in ensuring that people living with Alzheimer’s can have access to FDA-approved treatments by signing a letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its requirements limiting access. In addition, Sen. Bar...
Dear Editor, Residential Property taxes are up 87% and out of control. No one, young or old, can afford a home because of the government rent. 540,000 people are being asked to pay more residential property tax while state and counties sit on $2 billion in reserves. Sheriff.net lists 3,400 tax liens on homes in Wyoming. The Legislature must come up with a permanent fix to our broken tax code. The Constitution was written to restrict government, not People. Legislators forget they are elected to restrict government, not people. Everything in...
Loading an unwilling bull into a trailer can be daunting, even if it is for its own good. Bulls tend to be testy and their size presents a special challenge. My dad’s approach involved roping the bull, dragging it to the trailer, attaching a block and tackle and then – after a good deal of cussing and a lathered-up saddle horse or two – we might wrench it into the trailer. We never hurt a bull, but we had some impromptu rodeos in the process. It didn’t always work, especially if the bull was distracted by somebody’s yappy dog or a party of...
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is an interesting time. Some people are trying to dig themselves out from under piles of wrapping paper so they can take a second to recover from the chaos of Christmas. Many people have to go back to work for just a few days in the middle of two breaks, which can be disorienting and lead to questioning what day it even is and trying to figure out how to be somewhat productive. Others will give up on the idea of productivity or progress entirely, and will take the chance to eat a few extra cookies or sk...
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach." These words from Ebenezer Scrooge as he pleads for his hope of redemption are the climax and heart of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens - one of my all-time favorite Christmas stories. Last year I wrote a column sharing some of my favorite adaptations of the story after... Full story
Serving in the Wyoming House of Representatives for just one year has opened my eyes to what the future holds for the State of Wyoming. Coupled with my role as an economic developer serving to drive robust prosperity in Sweetwater County, I can confidently say Wyoming has big opportunities ahead. Our mining and energy industries are a big reason for our optimistic outlook. Wyoming has powered the country for generations and fueled our world’s ever-growing energy needs. Wyomingites across the Cowboy State have proudly worked and leaned into supp...
