Megan Feighery

Listen to the full show here.

Wyoming Towns Prepare For Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Visitors

Downtown Cheyenne will host the fifth annual Paint Slingers street festival on July 18 and 19. Attendees are invited to celebrate urban art culture and watch regional artists in action. Desiree Brothe is one of the event organizers and said there’s something for everyone.

Listen to the full story now.

County Cuts To Gillette Reproductive Health Clinic Could Cost Patients

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.

Listen to the full show here.

At Small Town Protests, Young Wyomingites See Signs Of Change

Wyoming's unemployment rate more than doubled in a just month, increasing from 3.8 percent in March to 9.2 percent in April. The largest job losses were seen in the leisure and hospitality industry, with Teton County being hit the hardest at 18.3 percent due to their dependency on tourism.

Summer is almost here and for those living with domestic violence, this could be a reason to worry. Studies suggest that as the weather gets warmer, domestic violence rates tend to increase.

Listen to the full show here.

Fewer Cars On The Road, Fewer Dollars For Highways: What COVID-19 Means For WYDOT

While many businesses are losing money in the state, so are some Wyoming agencies. One that's getting the hardest hit is the Wyoming Department of Transportation. Wyoming Public Radio's Catherine Wheeler explains.

Domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy groups are still providing services around the state, but they've had to adjust how individuals can get help. Many victims have been stuck inside the house with their abuser, unable to find the privacy to reach out to friends, family, or crisis hotlines. 

Listen to the full show here.

Local Government Fears Loss Of Tax Revenue

This is a tough financial time for a lot of Wyomingites. But impacts on the general public also impact funding for local governments, which directly impacts a wide variety of services from law enforcement to streets.

Listen to the full show here. 

Reported COVID-19 Numbers Are The Floor, Not The Ceiling

Wyoming is one of the states with the fewest number of COVID-19 lab confirmed cases. That's good news. But officials say the state still needs to be careful and not fall into a false sense of security that could cause a second wave and end up being disastrous to the health and economy of the state. Wyoming Public Radio's Kamila Kudelska reports.

The Wyoming Department of Workforces Services reports that workers have received more than $42 million in unemployment insurance benefits since the pandemic began in the state.

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services state's unemployment numbers have remained unchanged at 3.7 percent between February and March of this year. However, those numbers are expected to rise.

With widespread layoffs and public closures still in effect until April 30, many Wyoming artists are finding it difficult to support themselves. Michael Lange, Executive director for the Wyoming Arts Council, said he knew he had to find a way to offer support.

Listen to the full show here.

Governor Gordon Favors A Conservative Approach Towards Dealing With The Pandemic

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon says despite calls to reopen businesses he prefers to take a more conservative approach as Wyoming approaches the COVID-19 peak for the state.

A new virtual gallery has made it possible for those self-distancing to still enjoy the arts. It Takes A Village is the brainchild of Cheyenne-based artist Bria Hammock and is Wyoming's first quarantine-friendly art gallery. 

Playwright Will Arbery is among ten winners of this years Whiting Award. The prestigious award is the largest literary award in the U.S and recognizes ten emerging writers each year. Arbery was the only playwright to win this year and finds the entire experience both surreal and uplifting.

Her Flag is a nationwide project celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave some U.S. women the right to vote. Bethann Garramon Merkle is a research scientist at the University of Wyoming and one of the women chosen to participate in the Her Flag project.

Wyoming is one of the most important golden eagle habitats in North America. But the iconic raptors are facing a potential population decline due to conventional and renewable energy development and other human-caused threats.

Listen to the full show here.

Land Purchase Raises Tax Concerns For Counties

A new study published by researchers at the University of Wyoming could make mine cleanups less ecologically impactful. The scientists tested something called geomorphic reclamation at two abandoned mine sites in Freemont County and just outside of Rock Springs, and compared the findings with traditional practices.