Jackson

Tina Babis is originally from Romania, but has lived in Jackson Hole for ten years.

"I came here as a J1 student years ago, and then went back home," said Babis. "And then came back here with a different visa. And here I am today, living here."

Grady Kirkpatrick recently spoke with Jackson, Wyoming based indie folk rock band Inland Isle about their new song "Celestine" from their forthcoming album, Time Has Changed Us.

It's been a month of turmoil for the Jackson Police Department. Two officers resigned in mid-August after a post about a sexual assault investigation on the department's Facebook page drew community outrage.

Just after that, an investigation by the Jackson Hole News and Guide uncovered another incident that raises questions about the culture of the department. Wyoming Public Radio's Savannah Maher spoke with the News and Guide's investigative and justice reporter Emily Mieure about what she found.

The Jackson Hole Center for the Arts has announced a new executive director. A native of Buffalo, Wyo., Marty Camino joined the Center in 2018 as events services director and has served as chief operations officer over the past year.

He spoke with Wyoming Public Radio's Micah Schweizer about stepping into the executive director role when much of the organization's programming has been rearranged by the pandemic.

Grady Kirkpatrick talked with guitarist, singer and songwriter Duane Betts of the Allman Betts Band about the new album Bless Your Heart, playing concerts again, riding horses and recently moving to the Jackson Hole area.

The Grand Teton Music Festival has picked its new executive director. Emma Kail will lead the organization, which holds a world class orchestra during the summer months and offers other classical music events year round. Kail has a background in music performance and as an administrative leader in classical music organizations across the U.S. Wyoming Public Radio's Kamila Kudelska spoke with her about her vision and hopes for the festival.

Early May, the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum hosted virtual beers and banter over Zoom.

"I'm excited that we're able to come together and celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the first all women council," said Morgan Jaouen, the executive director of the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum.

Sam Sweney said he started to worry about his dad, Bill, when he didn't hear from him for a few days.

"He hadn't called. It was strange - like I texted him and he didn't text back and usually he's a pretty avid text messenger," he said.

Cody has anxiously been waiting for Yellowstone National Park to open up since its economy depends on summer tourism. Mayor Matt Hall said the community is willing to try new ideas.

Being gay in Wyoming can be challenging, but LGBTQ activist, and performing artist, Andrew Munz has decided to stay and try to make things better. Wyoming Public Radio's Megan Feighery spoke to Munz about art, activism, and growing up in the cowboy state.

Despite putting in place restrictions before anyone else, Teton County's numbers continue to jump. It's consistently ranked as one of the top two or three places in the state with confirmed positive tests. Although health care providers also say it's a place where lots of testing has taken place. Wyoming Public Radio's Kamila Kudelska spoke with Teton County Health Officer Dr. Travis Riddell who joined us from his home in Jackson. He said he knew the area would get hit hard by the coronavirus.

Jackson Hole based singer, songwriter and musician Michael Batdorf released his eight studio album Proving Ground in 2019. He also released a new album with his band One Ton Pig. Michael spoke with Grady Kirkpatrick about his new music, moving from the Midwest to Wyoming, Tuesday nights at the Silver Dollar and camping in a tornado.

Jackson's Snow King Sports Center usually hosts skating lessons and peewee hockey games. But for one weekend in mid-September, it was filled with about $50 million worth of art.

The space had been taken over by the brand new Jackson Hole Fine Arts Fair. Visitors were greeted at the door by a giant inflatable goldfish — the work of Jackson artist Bland Hoke — before visiting booths from more than 50 galleries based all over the country.

On September 11, 2001, Sara Lashbrook was teaching kindergarten in downtown Manhattan…just three tree blocks away from the World Trade Center. At StoryCorps in Jackson, her friend Jessica Sell Chambers asked Sara what that morning was like.

Wyoming is the Equality state. And when StoryCorps came to Jackson in 2018, Andrew Breffeilh told StoryCorps facilitator Madison Mullen the legacy of strong women in Jackson and why they deserve to be remembered.

Produced by Megan Feighery