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Green River residents rally to protect school athletics, arts amidst funding crisis
Green River Star
In an atmosphere charged with urgency and frustration, the Green River community packed the latest Sweetwater County School District No. 2 board meeting to protest legislative actions that threaten to dismantle beloved student programs. The outrage stems from what local leaders and lawmakers describe as a series of legislative missteps that have stripped local control and left “exemplary” programs on the chopping block. Speaking at the meeting, Rep. Scott Heiner, R-Green River, admitted that the current funding shortfall is a result of “unintended consequences” from a large piece of legislation passed during the last session, the Green River Star reports. Read the full story.
Proposed 5,600-worker housing development advances despite resident opposition
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
The Laramie County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for an 800-unit temporary workforce housing development. If approved, construction is expected to take place in phases, with phase one being the construction of 30 modular structures containing a maximum of 210 dwellings. Residents in the area have maintained opposition to the development, which is expected to house up to 5,600 workers, contractors and subcontractors building data centers. Supporters say the project could prevent rising rents, which would harm working families, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports. Read the full story.
Cody hotelier, tourism leader to challenge Rep. Nina Webber for House District 24
Powell Tribune
Quintin Blair is general manager for Blair Hotels in Cody and a staple on the Park County Travel Council and other volunteer boards. Now he’s running for a seat in the Wyoming Legislature. His primary issues are protecting Second Amendment rights, keeping public lands public and not allowing them to be sold, and investing in education, he said. Blair is challenging incumbent Rep. Nina Webber, R-Cody, for the House District 24 seat. Webber, who’s seeking a second term, is part of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus and has said she puts the Wyoming Republican Party platform at the core of her voting decisions, the Powell Tribune reports. Read the full story.
Casper police: new downtown patrol strategies yield results
Oil City News
The Casper Police Department is seeing positive results from strategic changes in patrolling that stemmed from a series of community meetings earlier this year. After hearing from the community, the department added patrol “hot spots” downtown to keep the peace and deter situations from escalating. The extra patrols started about two months ago. Already, the department has seen a noticeable decline in downtown crimes, Oil City News reports. Read the full story.
Former Spokane County Sheriff enters race for Sweetwater County Sheriff
Rocket Miner
Bringing decades of law enforcement leadership back home, Ozzie Knezovich, a Sweetwater County native, has announced his candidacy for Sweetwater County Sheriff. Knezovich was the Spokane County Sheriff where he oversaw modernizations in regional policing, he said. During his tenure, he was a driving force behind the development of a $48 million regional training center and small arms range, a first-of-its-kind partnership with the U.S. military, the Rocket Miner reports. “Training is the key to professionalism,” he said. Read the full story.
Restrictions on Bridger Valley outdoor watering draws a crowd in Lyman
Uinta County Herald
The Bridger Valley Water Conservancy District and Bridger Valley Joint Powers Board presented a seminar on water fundamentals. More than 60 people attended, drawn by a notice to customers to expect restrictions on all outdoor water use, and advising them to postpone new planting or landscaping projects. Users have rights to draw water based on the date they acquired their rights, with senior rights getting priority, seminar speakers explained. This “first in time, first in line” principle means that, while homeowners have restrictions on using town water for lawns and gardens, the Mountain View park may have green grass and some ranchers may be running pivot irrigation, the Uinta County Herald reports. Read the full story.