Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 1673
By Representatives John Bear (HD 31), Scott Heiner (HD 18), Ben Hornok (HD 42), and Tony Locke (HD 35) In late 2023, Governor Gordon submitted his state budget. The Governor described his budget as ‘disciplined,’ ‘business like,’ ‘forward-thinking,’ ‘fiscally conservative,’ ‘realistic,’ ‘practical,’ ‘balanced, ‘prudent,’ ’sustainable,’ and ‘living within our means.’ The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has thoroughly reviewed the Governor’s budget and would ourselves describe it as UNAFFORDABLE and UNSUSTAINABLE. This is the largest budget in the history...
There’s never been enough doctors in rural Wyoming, where I live, but a shortage of obstetricians is now increasing the risks for pregnant women across the state—and the nation. In the last decade in Wyoming, three hospitals have closed their maternity ward. That includes Rawlins, where pregnant moms now have to risk travel on Interstate 80—notorious for weather-related closures—to deliver their babies in Laramie, 100 miles away. But Wyoming isn’t the only state to face inadequate maternal care: Less than half of the rural hospitals in Americ...
Land use planning does not usually grab a lot of headlines. It tends to happen out of the public eye; its terminology can be confusing and hard for the layperson to understand; and its impact – while significant – can seem removed from our daily lives. That’s all changed over the past few months. You can hardly open a paper or go online these days without coming across a story about BLM’s draft land use plan for the Rock Springs area. Members of the public are clearly engaged and paying attention in ways that they haven’t before. This is t...
Dear Editor, I see this same mistake made by college boards all the time. They hire these out-of-state firms so that they can claim to have done an “exhaustive, nationwide search” when really all they are doing is allowing the education establishment to pick their next short term President, V.P. or Dean. I have lived in fifteen states, so far, and I see the same stupidity practiced by college boards over and over again. They take some candidate from a group of three delivered to them by some far-away consultant who has no ties to the com...
I tend to struggle with imposter syndrome. "Imposter syndrome" generally involves feelings of self-doubt and incompetence, feeling like a fraud, feeling like you don't deserve to be somewhere or do something, etc. Usually these feelings are unfounded, or they may even be in contrast to external, objective success. WebMD points out that Imposter Syndrome isn't an actual mental health condition, but the term is used to describe a pattern of thinking and a common feeling and experience that many...
Fifty years ago, the Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon with the intention of establishing a clear process for recovering species on the verge of extinction. In the years that have passed since its enactment, this well-intended law has taken on a life of its own and has dramatically shifted from its original purpose to the point where it does far more harm than good. Since its passage, the ESA has become a weapon wielded by the Left to appease environmental activists that has punished landowners and...
Dear Editor, 2023 was arguably the most significant year in advancing care for 10,000 Wyomingites and nearly 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, and Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis each played important roles in that progress. Both Wyoming senators were instrumental in ensuring that people living with Alzheimer’s can have access to FDA-approved treatments by signing a letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its requirements limiting access. In addition, Sen. Bar...
Dear Editor, Residential Property taxes are up 87% and out of control. No one, young or old, can afford a home because of the government rent. 540,000 people are being asked to pay more residential property tax while state and counties sit on $2 billion in reserves. Sheriff.net lists 3,400 tax liens on homes in Wyoming. The Legislature must come up with a permanent fix to our broken tax code. The Constitution was written to restrict government, not People. Legislators forget they are elected to restrict government, not people. Everything in...
Loading an unwilling bull into a trailer can be daunting, even if it is for its own good. Bulls tend to be testy and their size presents a special challenge. My dad’s approach involved roping the bull, dragging it to the trailer, attaching a block and tackle and then – after a good deal of cussing and a lathered-up saddle horse or two – we might wrench it into the trailer. We never hurt a bull, but we had some impromptu rodeos in the process. It didn’t always work, especially if the bull was distracted by somebody’s yappy dog or a party of...
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is an interesting time. Some people are trying to dig themselves out from under piles of wrapping paper so they can take a second to recover from the chaos of Christmas. Many people have to go back to work for just a few days in the middle of two breaks, which can be disorienting and lead to questioning what day it even is and trying to figure out how to be somewhat productive. Others will give up on the idea of productivity or progress entirely, and will take the chance to eat a few extra cookies or sk...
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach." These words from Ebenezer Scrooge as he pleads for his hope of redemption are the climax and heart of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens - one of my all-time favorite Christmas stories. Last year I wrote a column sharing some of my favorite adaptations of the story after...
Serving in the Wyoming House of Representatives for just one year has opened my eyes to what the future holds for the State of Wyoming. Coupled with my role as an economic developer serving to drive robust prosperity in Sweetwater County, I can confidently say Wyoming has big opportunities ahead. Our mining and energy industries are a big reason for our optimistic outlook. Wyoming has powered the country for generations and fueled our world’s ever-growing energy needs. Wyomingites across the Cowboy State have proudly worked and leaned into supp...
Dear Editor, In the wee hours of the morning on December 9, angels walked into our home. Green River Police Officer Murphy was first to arrive. He showed incredible comfort and care. Next to arrive was the ambulance crew. Then came the lift team to assist in taking Larry/Papa from his home to the ambulance. Once we were discharged from the hospital, the lift crew returned to move him from our vehicle back into his home. We could not have done this without the help of these incredible people. You are all heroes – thank you from the Cummings, N...
December 7, 1941 is a “date that will live in infamy” as stated by President Theodore Roosevelt in his famous speech after the events of the Pearl Harbor bombing. That event let to the United States involvement in World War II. President’s Roosevelt’s speech was a call to arms and a declaration of war against this act of aggression by a foreign nation. He never wanted us to forget what happened. President Roosevelt concluded his speech by saying “With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain...
Dear Editor, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently held a meeting in Kemmerer letting the public know there will be opportunities to get involved in the permitting process for Terra Power’s proposed natrium nuclear plant. That’s great since public input is important. However, I wonder how the NRC thinks the public can comment on and get involved in something where all of the main details have been kept secret. Time and time again NRC staff couldn’t answer questions, saying things like some details are proprietary and can’t be rele...
Last week I fulfilled my constitutional duty when I submitted a balanced budget proposal for the next two years. Consistent with my approach since taking office, I presented a fiscally conservative budget that focuses on needs more than wants. It addresses the pressing challenges of today, but also anticipates the concerns of tomorrow. It is a budget crafted to live within our means, in keeping with Wyoming’s traditional conservative values, and at its core, it is designed to leave Wyoming a little better for our time here. Today Wyoming is f...
Dear Editor, I have been trying to keep up with the discussions that have been going on in reference to the proposed resource management plan (RMP) for the Rock Springs District of the Bureau of Land Management. There is so much misinformation in the press and public discussion, it makes my head spin. I spent a 41 year career with the State of Wyoming, almost all of it as a law enforcement officer (Damage Control Warden and Game Warden) with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in the Green River Region. There are many extremely important...
Dear Editor, I recently wrote and sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris inviting her to Wyoming to witness a recitation of the Gettysburg Address. I don’t know whether she will receive the letter. But as Wyoming is the Equality State and she is our first female and Black vice president, I believe it is an important issue and wanted to invite her. Democracy is all about communication. And the Gettysburg Address is relevant to our country today. Lincoln knew we needed to overcome slavery to move on in our country. Have we moved on? He h...
Dear Editor, I recently moved to Green River in hopes of recapturing what once was in America, but the big city’s ways had moved here way before I did. Not going into all those things, what I am so very disappointed about is when there is a person obviously working on a car that is broken down on a busy bridge and three separate officers simply drive by, one making eye contact with the minor granddaughter and the other two staring straight ahead as one does the panhandlers on the street corners. It is very alerting that the big city has r...
Saturday is Veterans Day, a day set aside to recognize and honor all of the men and women who have served our country in the military. Observed on November 11, Veterans Day in the United States coincides with Armistice Day and Remembrance Day in other countries, marking the anniversary of the end of World War I. The war known as the “Great War” during its time ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Over 100 years later, we use the day to remember all who have fought for our country both before and since. This wee...
Until just last year, Wyoming has led the country in the suicide death rate since 2018, according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. This is an issue of life or death; and as a pro-life legislator, I have joined many in the Wyoming Legislature who understand we can no longer, in good conscience, continue to force the obligation of this critical issue of Wyoming lives at the feet of families, churches, non-profits and volunteers. One life saved is worth the effort and that is why many in the Legislature voted to...
Dozens of TVs, refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers and abandoned cars had either been gunshot, torched or both. This place of destruction was what some locals called “Carnage Canyon,” roughly 30 acres off Lefthand Canyon in Boulder County, Colorado. It was a shocking sight, but was it unique? Think about your own nearby public lands. This canyon’s history began with mountain biking. Sometime in early 2000, a mountain biker discovered the canyon and developed a trail through it. Then, more bikers came in droves and “motocrossers” also love...
When it comes to celebrating Halloween, Green River is a great place to be to have some spooky fun! This week’s paper is our annual Halloween edition with our Trick-or-Treat Map. This special section gives you a handy guide to which businesses in Green River will be handing out candy on Halloween and when you can stop by to pick up a treat. There are over 20 participants downtown and over 30 on the south side of the railroad. With so many great local businesses who are actively involved in the community, kids will have plenty of chances to g...
Whenever conservatives in the Wyoming House push back against the destructive policies coming from Washington D.C., we are told that we can’t question the feds. When we fought in February to protect Wyoming parents from the “social transitioning” of their children while at school, we were told “that isn’t happening here.” When we tried to protect state and national security interests by preventing agricultural land from being acquired by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other state sponsors of terror, we were told that our fears of ho...
“Kids Say the Darndest Things” was a great TV show back in the day. All of my children, as well as all children do, in fact, say some great things as they try to “act grownup,” or simply because they call it like they see it. My two youngest daughters came out of their room after playing Barbies, and they were both just sobbing. They weren’t fighting or arguing, they were so sad, and they were comforting each other. I asked them what was wrong. They said that while playing Barbies something had gone terribly wrong. I expected them to tell me t...
