Local Lookout: Power election hiccup | Does store fee violate state law? | Running education like a business

High Plains Power experiences board member election hiccup
The Ranger
Hundreds of people gathered at the Fremont County Fairgrounds for the High Plains Power annual meeting, which is a chance for members to weigh in on their power company’s leadership through the board of directors elections. But as the meeting came to order, there was a hitch. Allison Sage, who by all accounts had met the requirements and checked all the boxes to be an official candidate for the board’s District 5 election, hadn’t been included as a candidate on the required notices for the meeting and election. Sage is an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and lifelong resident of the Wind River Reservation, The Ranger reports. Read the full story.

Amid controversy, Sierra, HomeGoods pause ‘Blackmore Fee’
Oil City News
National retailers Sierra and HomeGoods have temporarily suspended the controversial “Blackmore Fee” at their Casper locations after reports that the stores were overcharging customers and potentially violating state law. The reprieve comes after news reports alerted the Wyoming Department of Revenue to receipts that improperly bundled the private developer fee into the government “tax” line item at Sierra, a practice state officials say is legally prohibited, Oil City News reports. Read the full story.

Campbell County senator wants schools run more like a business
Gillette News Record
Some Campbell County Republicans, including lawmakers such as Sen. Troy McKeown, aren’t satisfied with local students’ test scores, given the amount of money that is spent on public education. As a result, they’ve gone after school administrators, whom they believe are responsible. But educators say public education is very different from running a business, the Gillette News Record reports. Read the full story.

Shooting complex to seek bids to build pistol bay
Powell Tribune
The Wyoming State Shooting Complex is moving forward with a high-expense, high-potential-revenue portion of the complex as an official groundbreaking approaches. “This will be a substantial cost, but we feel that this design accomplishes what we need it to. Basically, any handgun, multi-gun discipline organization could hold [an event] here,” the complex’s design committee chairman said. He added it was important to put the project out to bid because of the scope and expense of it, the Powell Tribune reports. Read the full story.

National reorganization doesn’t impact Shoshone Forest operations
Cody Enterprise
After the announcement that the U.S. Forest Service will be reorganized, which sowed concern nationwide, the Shoshone National Forest is reassuring community members and recreationalists that no changes are afoot locally. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to move its Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City, close regional offices and consolidate research as part of a sweeping restructuring. Evan Guzik, the Shoshone’s public affairs officer, told the Cody Enterprise on Friday that no closures or changes were expected to the local ranger station, district offices or staff. Read the full story.

Lawsuit against anti-trans sorority lawyers could receive jury trial
Wyoming Public Radio
University of Wyoming graduate Artemis Langford sued two Wyoming lawyers last year. She alleged they had engaged in a campaign to bully her on national TV while raising money through online crowdfunding. Langford has settled with one of the lawyers for an undisclosed amount. But Langford and attorney John Knepper could still be headed to a jury trial, Wyoming Public Radio reports. Read the full story.