Bob Beck

Gov. Mark Gordon said Friday that he's extending three statewide health orders an additional two weeks. Gordon made the announcement after consulting with the State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist.

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COVID-19 Highlights Long Standing Rural Health Care Provider Shortage

Despite the fact that Wyoming is seeing more positive COVID-19 cases, Governor Mark Gordon said he's not ready to issue an order to confine residents to their homes.

As the state and nation battle COVID-19, State Auditor Kristi Racines said that finding ways to help struggling businesses and those who have been laid off is difficult.

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"My Mom Has The Coronavirus, And I Had To Jump Through Hoops To Find That Out."

Wyoming health officials say they are only testing people for COVID-19 who show clear symptoms. State Department of Health Spokeswoman Kim Deti said medical providers are deciding who needs to be tested. 

The University of Wyoming's new men's basketball coach Jeff Linder said he plans on developing a winning program quickly. Linder comes to Wyoming from the University of Northern Colorado where he led the Bears to three straight 20-win seasons.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Teton County is shutting down all non-essential businesses for 14 days. 

The Wyoming Public Health Laboratory has identified seven new cases of COVID-19. 

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon is using the top five elected officials to head up the state's response to COVID-19. 

The University of Wyoming will teach classes online for the rest of the semester. The decision announced in a meeting of the UW Board of Trustees Monday morning is in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the attempt to keep the campus community safe.

The Wyoming Department of Health says a third case of COVID-19 was identified in Sheridan County. The Department says the man was linked to a Sheridan County woman who was the state's first case. The Department says the man was visiting Colorado and tested positive there.

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As Coronavirus Hits Wyoming, Healthcare Disparities Come Into Focus

The State Senate has passed a bill that sets up a process for legislators to review the school funding model and take a close look at education requirements.

Declining oil prices, a lack of substantial budget cuts, and concerns spending reserves dominated discussion as the Wyoming House and Senate gave final approval to its two-year budget.

The Wyoming Senate is scheduled to debate a bill today to set up a gaming commission who will determine how to regulate the growth in video gambling in the state.

Cheyenne Senator Affie Ellis successfully added an amendment to include more non-politicians in discussions over how Wyoming spends its education money.

A state capital construction bill received final approval from the Wyoming House, setting the stage for a conference committee that will focus on what the University of Wyoming will get. 

State officials say there are no known cases of coronavirus in Wyoming, but they have plans in place to try and minimize an outbreak.

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Land Purchase Raises Tax Concerns For Counties

Both the Wyoming House and Senate began discussing the possible purchase of a million acres of surface land and four million acres of mineral rights. Legislative leaders said the goal is to establish ground rules that could make such a purchase possible. 

The Wyoming Legislature has high hopes of debating some gaming bills this session including the establishment of a new gaming commission.

Wyoming lawmakers continue working on a bill that would allow the state to look into purchasing a million acres of land in southern Wyoming.  

The swath of one million acres of land in southern Wyoming is currently owned by Occidental Petroleum and doesn't include any private or federal land.

Wyoming lawmakers are still looking for ways to pay for education funding. A variety of tax proposals have been rejected and the long term forecast shows a major deficit in funds used for education.