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Uinta County could get $1 million from holding ICE detainees
Uinta County Herald
Last summer, Uinta County Sheriff Andy Kopp secured pay raises for his entire department based on revenue from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for holding immigrant detainees on a short-term basis at the Uinta County Detention Center. Kopp negotiated a significant per diem increase from $66 to $120 per inmate from ICE. The revenue helps make up for a loss of funding due to statewide property tax relief. Kopp estimates he could see up to $1 million from ICE by the end of the fiscal year. While Kopp agrees to hold detainees, however, he does not plan to have his officers perform arrests on behalf of ICE, the Uinta County Herald reports. Read the full story.
Jackson sues business owner, alleging illegal AirBnB in deed-restricted housing
Jackson Hole News&Guide
The town of Jackson is suing Jeff Neishabouri, a developer, alleging that he rented, via AirBnB, an apartment that he was required to rent to workers. Neishabouri says the legal action stems from a misunderstanding. In an effort to incentivize private developers to build affordable housing — which wouldn’t use local government money — the town offers a 2-for-1 bonus. That bonus allows developers to build bigger buildings than their base zoning allows in exchange for dedicating some of the extra floor area to housing Jackson’s workforce. The lawsuit alleges Neishabouri broke that agreement, the Jackson Hole News&Guide reports. Read the full story.
State board rejects Cheyenne housing grant request, tables second after heated citizenship debate
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
The city of Cheyenne lost out on funding for one proposed affordable housing development and will have to wait to hear about funding for another after state officials could not come to an agreement regarding a proposed amendment limiting affordable housing benefits to U.S. citizens. Mayor Patrick Collins told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle on Monday that he is still trying to figure out why the grant application for housing was denied. Read the full story.
Fireball spotted streaking across Wyoming skies
Oil City News
Social media lit up after a fiery object streaked across the dark sky on Wednesday night. According to the American Meteor Society website, the object was reportedly seen just before 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time by residents in Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska and Utah. Members of the Casper Classifieds Facebook group posted accounts of sightings, along with a handful of videos captured by doorbell and surveillance cameras, Oil City News reports. See videos.
Wyoming may see more subtle boom or bust in oil than in years past
Douglas Budget
While energy investments in Converse County are holding steady for now, producers say there is great uncertainty regarding oil investments worldwide due to the ongoing war with Iran and disruption to Middle Eastern supply routes. Twenty percent of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and the ongoing conflict may drive oil prices up toward $120 a barrel for crude, according to some oil industry experts, though federal officials are working to soften that impact at the pump. The Douglas Budget examines what the disruption and uncertainty could mean for Converse County. Read the full story.