Chris Clements
Wyoming State Government Collaboration JournalistLeave a tip: cclemen7@uwyo.edu
Chris Clements is a state government reporter for Wyoming Public Media based in Laramie. He came to WPM from KSJD Radio in Cortez, Colorado, where he reported on Indigenous affairs, drought, and local politics in the Four Corners region. Before that, he graduated with a degree in English (Creative Writing) from Arizona State University. Chris's news stories have been featured on NPR's Weekend Edition and hourly newscasts, as well as on WBUR's Here & Now and National Native News.
This position is partially funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting through the Wyoming State Government Collaboration.
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A suite of changes to the way Wyoming runs its elections died, while other bills addressing the fallout from an election incident in Weston County progressed. -
Legislation that would’ve made judicial filings public, required suicide prevention education in school districts and mandated a popular vote to store nuclear waste via an amendment to the state Constitution died on the Legislature’s second day. -
The House and Senate each passed dozens of bills via non-debated consent lists. But some of the more controversial measures died after individual debate. -
After the governor delivered his remarks, Wyoming’s Supreme Court chief justice decried talk of “retaliation or defunding” the judicial branch due to the outcome in “one high-profile case,” an apparent reference to a recent ruling against abortion bans. -
Open Spaces show rundown for February 6, 2026 -
The 68th Wyoming Legislature begins its budget session on Monday, Feb. 9. Lawmakers' main duty: Passing a balanced budget for the next two years. But that's a task easier said than done. WyoFile's Maggie Mullen and Wyoming Public Radio's Chris Clements review how this fast-paced lawmaking process works. -
Asked about the secretary of state’s decision to give the feds a statewide voter registration list, the governor said, “ I believe strongly both in our country's Constitution, which delegated the responsibility for elections to the states, and our state's Constitution, delegating that down to the county clerks.” -
The 25% reduction applies to the first $1 million of a primary residence’s assessed value. Full time residents must submit an affidavit to request it, available online or with their local county assessor. -
A University of Wyoming provost said dozens of full-time employees could be laid off if more funds aren’t added to the proposed budget. Each college, aside from two that lawmakers exempted, would be cut by about 15%. -
Open Spaces show rundown for January 30, 2026 -
Legislators across the political spectrum have been hosting town halls and listening sessions on the upcoming session and this year’s elections. -
In 1998, Wyoming lawmakers across the political spectrum, including “very conservative” Republicans, voted to create a state economic development agency amid a sluggish economy. Now, a new group of conservatives wants to eliminate the agency.
