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Established markets, rural landscape and interstate highways play into human trafficking in Wyoming
The Sheridan Press
In 2021, Sweetwater Against Trafficking partnered with Uprising, a statewide anti-human-trafficking group based in Sheridan, to conduct a live sting operation to target human trafficking buyers. Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office deputies were met with an “overwhelming” amount of people in just Sweetwater County who wanted to buy sex, including a former member of the Wyoming senate, The Sheridan Press reports in an in-depth series examining human trafficking in Wyoming. Read part one in the series examining the locations, routes and individuals fueling pimp-controlled prostitution in Wyoming.
Jackson residents, Wyoming delegation celebrate strikes on Iran
KHOL 89.1FM
A group with Iranian flags took to the slopes at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort over the weekend to celebrate the joint military strikes by the United States and Israel. The skiers weren’t alone in celebrating the fall of a 47-year-old regime. Jeff Neishabouri, owner of Kismet Fine Rugs in Jackson, said he looks forward to returning to the country for the first time in decades if conditions stabilize. “I would love to go one day as a tourist and ski there and look at the Caspian Sea, which was so beautiful, and go see the historic area and yeah, that would be my dream,” Neishabouri told KHOL. Read the full story.
Local pregnancy resource center clarifies mission, services amidst online comments
Rocket Miner
In recent weeks, the Rock Springs community has seen a spike in social media discussion regarding a local pregnancy resource center since the closure announcement of Western Wyoming Family Planning. The comments about Inside Connection, ranging from support to criticism, focused on the organization’s mission, its relationship to reproductive healthcare, and its funding. To address these claims and clarify the services provided, the Rocket Miner sat down for an interview with Kimi Seymour, a registered nurse and executive director of Inside Connection. Here’s what she had to say.
Prosecutor: Cody police officer justified in shooting suspect
The Powell Tribune
A Cody police officer was legally justified in fatally shooting a 22-year-old man during a traffic stop last summer, Park County Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Skoric says. In a summary released this week, Skoric said the suspect, Lucas James-Erick Alvesteffer, was “attempting to apply deadly force” when he moved quickly toward a pair of Cody police officers with a knife in hand. Alvesteffer’s sudden movement prompted another officer posted on the opposite side of the truck, Cody Police Sgt. Josh Van Auken, to shoot him six times, the Powell Tribune reports. Read the full story.
Green River City Council clashes over vote to extend city administrator’s contract
Green River Star
A vote to extend the contract of Green River City Administrator Reed Clevenger has sparked significant procedural debate among city council members, with the disagreement spilling over from a previous meeting and dominating a portion of the most recent council reports. The conflict centers on how the vote was handled, specifically accusations that some council members were denied the opportunity to vote, and a larger concern over the appropriate use of the consent agenda for major contractual decisions, the Green River Star reports. Read the full story.