"A strong civil society and democracy requires its citizens be informed with the facts.” -- Patricia Harrison, CPB President and CEO
The Wyoming State Government Collaboration answers the questions: How does your government work? What does it do? How does it affect your life? What role do you play in creating a healthy and functioning state? Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Collaboration employs two reporters dedicated to reporting on Wyoming’s state government activity. Wyoming Public Media and Jackson Hole Community Radio are partnering to cover reporting both on air and online.
The initiative stemmed from the State Government Coverage in Public Media survey commissioned by CPB and published in 2022. The survey found that while public media stations in all 50 states provide original state government reporting at least weekly when their legislatures are in session, not all states have a full-time state government beat reporter based at a public media station. Wyoming was selected from national media applicants from 19 states.
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In the last few weeks, the WPR politics team has written stories about interim committees, cloud seeding, a drag show fundraiser in Laramie, and much, much more. How well have you been following the latest political developments in the Cowboy State? -
Threats against judges and other court employees have spiked from 28 incidents to 118 in the past four years, according to data provided by the Wyoming Supreme Court. The numbers could be higher, a spokesman for the Wyoming Supreme Court said, but many incidents aren't recorded. -
Legislative committee weighs sponsoring a bill that would incentivize cleanup of abandoned buildingsA bill that would incentivize property owners in Wyoming to refurbish abandoned buildings was reconsidered in a Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee meeting on Monday. -
Freedom Caucus lawmakers single out annual Laramie Drag Queen Bingo fundraiser for HIV, AIDS testingA drag show bingo event in Laramie has been happening annually for years. It raises money for AIDS and HIV testing in Wyoming, and to support those living with the virus. Recently, however, it’s come under fire from ultraconservative state legislators. -
Scientists, water officials and other civic leaders believe seeding the clouds can help Wyoming augment its water stores as drought in West US continues. -
Governor Mark Gordon has directed the State Construction Department to draft rules that will allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons in state facilities. That will include state libraries, museums, public schools, health care facilities and offices, among others. -
Every seat in the Wyoming House is up for re-election this November. Infighting among Republicans – who hold a supermajority – is on display as the far-right House Freedom Caucus tries to gain total control of the lower chamber over the more-traditional Wyoming Caucus. -
The 2024 legislative budget session ended last month, but the impacts of the bills that passed – or died – are still being felt across Wyoming. How much do you know about this year’s session and the history of the state Capitol? -
If Ivan Posey wins in Nov., he’ll be the only Native American representative in the state Legislature. He’s running as a conservative Democrat against Rep. Sarah Penn (R-Lander) for House District 33, which encompasses part of the Wind River Reservation. -
If you’ve tuned in to a livestream or sat in the gallery of the Wyoming Senate, odds are you’ve heard the dulcet voice of Randy Fetzer reading out bill descriptions to throngs of seated legislators.
