Natrona County

Natrona County will continue to have daily Delta Airlines flights between Casper and Salt Lake City. Commissioners voted 4-1 to continue to subsidize the connection despite a hefty price tag.

Casper Mayor Bruce Knell resigned from City Council Thursday following recent allegations that he physically attacked his wife. Knell has denied the accusations.

Mormon cricket season has arrived, but at a much higher density than in previous years. Over the past two months, the insects have converged on parts of Natrona and Converse counties, including the town of Edgerton.

"Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge" was filmed in the Laramie Mountains and Pathfinder Canyon. They feature actor Bradley Cooper and actress Tatiana Maslany.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is making its largest land acquisition in Wyoming history, just outside of Casper, reaffirming the decision it made last year.The BLM first acquired the 35,670-acre Marton Ranch a little over a year ago. But, the state of Wyoming filed an appeal, which required the agency to seek public comment and complete an additional environmental review.

A new report shows that if a giant ranch on the North Platte River near Casper becomes public land it might actually boost tourism, and not impact local taxes too much.The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was set to acquire the more than 35,000 acre Marton Ranch almost a year ago, but that quickly came to a halt when the state filed an appeal. Wyoming’s Governor Mark Gordon was concerned that there was not enough public input and about the thoroughness of the environmental review.

Casper voted on Tuesday, Dec. 6, to add protections against discrimination to their municipal code. The council voted 8-1 to pass the policy.

The 8-1 vote against an appeal to remove two books on LGBTQ issues from the Kelly Walsh High School library. This comes after a committee tasked with reviewing the books recommended they be kept in the collection in September, prompting the appeal. Some parents and community members have attended school board meetings for about a year demanding the removal of books they often claim are pornographic or sexually explicit. The board also approved stricter requirements for purchasing controversial materials in the future.

The boost in pay for 277 employees comes after the county conducted a wage study and found they were paying less than the private sector, other counties of similar size, and city governments for their job titles within the market. All eligible part and full-time county employees are receiving a Christmas bonus of $650.

Four new members were elected to serve on the board with two incumbents losing their bids for re-election. This comes as school board meetings have seen increased attendance and interest over issues such as pandemic mask rules and books in school libraries that include sex education and LGBTQ themes.