INSIDE ENERGY: To Mine Or Not To Mine? Is That The Question?
Whether you know it or not, you own coal. Many of the country’s biggest coal deposits are on federal land- land that belongs to the American public. So, when companies mine that coal, they pay royalties to the federal government and to the states. 85 percent of federal coal comes from Wyoming and last year the state received around a quarter of a billion dollars in royalty payments. But a new effort to raise those royalty payments is surprisingly controversial. Our Inside Energy reporter Leigh Paterson has more.
INSIDE ENERGY: In The Bakken Oilfield, An Explosion In Electricity Demand
In North Dakota’s Bakken oilfield, demand for electricity has skyrocketed -- unlike in most of the country, where it’s been relatively flat for the last decade. That means utilities have been scrambling to get more power into the area. In the past, they might build a new coal-fired power plant, but that has become difficult, especially under brand new environmental regulations to cut carbon emissions. Our Inside Energy reporter Emily Guerin looks at on how you meet a growing demand for power without coal.
Wyoming Public Media Launches New Podcasts
Maybe you’ve heard, or at least heard of, the podcast Serial. Millions of people have downloaded the show, and Serial’s massive success has helped put podcasts on the media map. Because podcasts are so convenient for listeners—you can listen anytime, anywhere—public radio stations are increasingly getting into podcasting.
Wyoming Public Media is no exception. Melodie Edwards asked Micah Schweizer to explain the station’s three new online shows: Open Spaces, The Modern West, and HumaNature.
HumaNature Episode 1: Up A River, Without… A Pigeon?
Charlie Thomas worked as a whitewater rafting guide in the 80’s. His boss became obsessed with selling photos of clients taken while they ran the rapids. The only problem was getting the film back across the river and into town to be developed before the clients returned.
Jackson Literacy Program Teaches Two Generations At Once
Wyoming remains one of 10 states that do not fund a pre-K program. But Wyoming does fund some early childhood education—including eight ‘family literacy’ programs around the state. The Teton Literacy Center runs one of those programs in Jackson, home to many Spanish-speaking immigrant families. As Wyoming Public Radio’s Aaron Schrank reports, the program aims to level the playing field for students by educating two generations at once.
Wyoming Lawmakers Combat Supreme Court's Gay Marriage Ruling
Now that the Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriage, conservatives in Congress, including Wyoming Republicans, are debating how to protect religious groups who disagree with the ruling. Matt Laslo reports from Washington that opponents of the most popular plan say it would lead to discrimination if it becomes law.
From The Congo To Coal Country: One Man's Journey From Refugee To Wyomingite
Wyoming is the only state in the country without a refugee resettlement program – the office that chooses refugees to bring to the U-S, helps them find jobs, and teaches them English. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t former refugees living in Wyoming. Wyoming Public Radio’s Caroline Ballard brings us the story of one former refugee who is trying to change things in Wyoming. Bertine Bahige is a Math teacher who lives in Gillette, but was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Not Plein Aire Painting...Thin Air Painting with Mountaineer Joe Arnold
There’s a long tradition of what’s called plein aire art in the West. That’s when an artist paints right there in the great outdoors. But for 40 years, one Laramie artist has taken this technique to new heights…literally. You could almost call his work THIN air painting. Joe Arnold has painted from the tops of some of the world’s most majestic mountains. Wyoming Public Radio’s Melodie Edwards decided to scale a Wyoming mountain with Arnold to see it through his eyes.
UPSTARTS: Laramie Coffee Roasters Aims To Transform Meaning Of "Cowboy Coffee"
One part of Wyoming’s deeply held “cowboy culture” is cowboy coffee. That strong, dark, and bitter stuff has fueled the state since the 19th century. Coffee in Wyoming is often more about strength than flavor...but now a new coffee roastery in Laramie is trying to change that. Since last summer, H+S Coffee has been doing small batch, artisan coffee roasting. As part of our occasional series on Wyoming entrepreneurs called Upstarts, Wyoming Public Radio’s Miles Bryan visited the roastery and had a taste.
