A locally born veteran has been honored with a bronze statue in Cheyenne. The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle reports Vernon J. Baker served in the army during both World War II and the Korean War. Baker was given a Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for acts of valor, in 1997. He was the only living Black veteran of WWII to receive the honor.

A University of Wyoming master’s student is helping connect the community around suicide prevention. WyoFile reports Gerald Lovato used to fight professionally in mixed martial arts. During that time, he lost his teammate, Mikey, to suicide. A few years later, Lovato left fighting and started studying art, which brought him to Laramie. His research on art’s role in suicide prevention was inspired by the loss of Mikey and other friends, as well as his own struggles with suicidal thoughts.

A Basin woman is also working to improve conversations around mental health based on her own experience. The Basin Republican Rustler reports Wendy Henderson developed a drinking problem and depression after both of her parents died. Her book “I Made the Call” recounts the week she spent at a detox center that opened her eyes to the mental health crisis in the United States and the corporations that manage it. She hopes the book sparks better conversations about mental health and reforms in the industry.