WyoFile’s mission is to inform and engage Wyoming through in-depth reporting in the public interest. We make our reporting available to you and the rest of the Wyoming press corps, which can republish our work for free. WyoFile also shares a curated list of reporting from around the state to keep you up to date on local news. While WyoFile does not have a paywall, some local newsrooms do. If you see stories you value reading, we encourage you to consider supporting these local Wyoming newsrooms by subscribing or advertising. You can support WyoFile by becoming a member and donating to keep our news free for everyone.
Surveillance vs. safety: Cheyenne Police Department talks about Flock
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
What is the right ratio of surveillance for public safety’s sake to privacy? That was the question that some community members asked the Cheyenne Police Department to consider during a Flock meeting. The department held the meeting to provide the public with more information about the 23 controversial Flock license plate reader cameras currently operating in Cheyenne. Locally, law enforcement has praised Flock’s usefulness in solving crime, but residents have raised concerns about the privacy trade-off, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports. Read the full story.
Weston County Fairgrounds’ future depends on budget process
News Letter Journal
Weston County commissioners say the future of the Weston County Fairgrounds will be determined through upcoming budget discussions, emphasizing they want to work through financial concerns with the community rather than rush toward closing the facility. The comments came during a recent meeting at the fairgrounds, held after weeks of discussion about the facility’s finances. Commissioners have raised concerns about the fairgrounds’ financial sustainability, questioning whether revenues generated by the facility are enough to support operations, the News Letter Journal reports. Read the full story.
Natrona County Republican challenges Rep. Tony Locke for House District 35 seat
Oil City News
A lifelong Natrona County resident announced his candidacy for the Wyoming House of Representatives, setting up a primary challenge for the House District 35 seat currently held by Rep. Tony Locke. Christopher Dresang is entering the Republican primary for the second time. He’s running on a platform centered on local control and public safety, Oil City News reports. “I believe local people should make local decisions,” Dresang said. Read the full story.
Air Force vet challenges Rep. Landon Brown for House District 9 seat
Cap City News
Retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Exie R. Brown Jr. announced his bid for Wyoming’s House District 9 seat. A Republican and small business owner, Brown narrowly lost a 2024 race for the same seat by 17 votes to Incumbent Rep. Landon J. Brown. Exie Brown said his platform focuses on prioritizing constituent voices over special interest groups, Cap City News reports. “Since 2024, I’ve worked hard to stay connected to the issues that keep our residents up at night,” he said. Read the full story.
Former Powell mayor challenges Rep. Paul Hoeft for House District 25 seat
Cody Enterprise
After serving as Powell’s mayor for nearly a decade, John Wetzel plans to challenge incumbent Rep. Paul Hoeft for the House District 25 seat in the upcoming Republican Primary on Aug. 18. Wetzel told the Cody Enterprise that he decided to run after watching recent legislative sessions, in which he believed members of the Freedom Caucus made cuts to programs important to the state. Specifically, he pointed out the proposed cuts to the Wyoming Business Council, cuts to the University of Wyoming budget and the restructuring of K-12 education funding. Read the full story.
EPA approves Wyoming’s coal combustion residuals permit program
Gillette News Record
Wyoming will be taking the lead role in regulating and scrutinizing permitting for disposal of coal-burning byproducts within the state. Following a multi-year effort by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to take on primacy on the issue, the EPA has announced final approval of DEQ’s proposed partial coal combustion residuals permit program, which the department originally submitted in 2023. The decision makes Wyoming the fifth state to take on the primary regulatory power for coal combustion residuals, the Gillette News Record reports. Read the full story.