News

The Department of Energy has announced it plans to provide $122 million in funding for the manufacturing of coal-based products. The announcement called for the establishment of "coal products innovation centers" in major basins across the country, including Appalachia and the Powder River Basin.

On Monday, July 6, the State Land and Investment Board will decide whether it wants to move forward and bid on acquiring a million surface acres and four million acres from Occidental Petroleum. The board, which is made up of the top five state elected officials, is awaiting word from the international investment and financial services company Barclays on the value of the land.

If you receive a call threatening to shut off your power, Rocky Mountain Power wants you to know it's not them calling - no matter what the caller ID says.

The electric company's customers across Wyoming, Idaho and Utah have been reporting the fraudulent activity, which has affected both residential and business customers.

With the Fourth of July holiday weekend fast approaching, Park County health officials are worried because of a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Well into June, Park County had just two cases of COVID-19. But over the last week and a half, that number quickly jumped to nearly 50 cases.

Park County's tourism numbers are slowly increasing as the state reopens.

Yellowstone National Park kept its gates closed until mid-May and both of its entrances in Wyoming opened for day use only.

Park County Travel Council Executive Director Claudia Wade said since then Cody and the county have seen a steady increase of tourists but nothing like what was originally predicted.

Wyoming continues to see new COVID-19 cases at a very high rate, and it has some officials nervous as the fourth of July weekend looms. State Health Officer Alexia Harrist said at a news conference that people need to social distance and start wearing face coverings in order to stop the surge.

She said it's becoming clear what factors have driven the numbers up.

Fremont County, which continues to lead the state in confirmed COVID-19 cases, will be without a public health officer until August. Dr. Brian Gee chose to step down from the job after his term ended on Tuesday.

According to County Commission Chairman Travis Becker, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly turned the public health officer position from a relatively casual role to an 80-hour per week commitment.

An unofficial July Fourth parade organized by Lander residents will go forward with the city's blessing. In an email sent via a community listserv, Lander Senator Cale Case said he and city officials helped the organizers secure a WYDOT permit to shut down Main Street to avoid the "dangers and chaos" of an unsanctioned celebration.

As humans around the world have limited their movement during the coronavirus pandemic, some animals appear to be changing their behavior. Biologist Christian Rutz may have seen one small example for himself.

Employees at the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines came to work as usual on a Monday, July 1, 2019-a year ago today. Soon after arriving, miners were shepherded into a room and told the company would be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In February, Albany County Sheriff David O'Malley dismissed concerns raised by a Laramie resident about a controversial deputy by telling a county human resources official that the complainant needed "professional help" and was "difficult to listen to."

As the summer season ramps up, so does the possibility of Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms (HCBs). Also known as blue-green algae, cyanobacteria are found in many bodies of water worldwide. They're normally harmless, but when their growth explodes and forms a bloom, they can release toxic chemicals into the water around them. They can cause symptoms in people ranging from skin irritation to liver damage, and they can be deadly to animals.

The Jackson town council passed a resolution supporting requiring a face mask in public places on Monday, June 29. This comes after Teton County started to see an uptick of confirmed COVID-19 cases again after a lull point.

Wyoming Public Radio has won a first place award for reporting from the Public Media Journalists Association. The award for Best Feature was for Savannah Maher's story: After Decades-Long Struggle, Buffalo Return To Northern Arapaho Land. The feature was broadcast on Open Spaces and Wyoming Public Radio in October. The award was announced during a virtual ceremony, and Savannah Maher's feature won under the Division B (News staff of 4 to 7) category.

An ochre mine in Sunrise, Wyoming may be one of the earliest mining sites in North America. Archaeologists have been working to preserve the mine, called the Powars Two Paleoindian Archaeological Site, since it was first discovered. In the last year, those archaeologists partnered with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to make the mine safe for future excavations.

If you're dealing with a miller moth invasion in your home or backyard, you're not alone. People from Colorado to Montana have noticed a larger number of the moths than usual this year.

Two documentaries from Caldera Productions, a film company out of Lander, are up for three regional Emmy Awards this year. The Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) nominated "The State of Equality" for best historical documentary and best musical composition and arrangement, and "Ferret Town" for best feature among environmental subjects.

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Colorado has been trending downward. Meanwhile, other states in the region are on the uptick.