Latest Wyoming News

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WYOMING

Wyoming health officials report 646 new coronavirus cases

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming health officials are reporting 646 new coronavirus cases Sunday. That’s the second-highest single-day total of the pandemic in the state, which reported 966 new cases on Friday. The Casper Star-Tribune reports that at least 114 people have died of the coronavirus in the state and that more than 14,690 people have tested positive. The new totals come amid a rapid surge in the numbers of cases in Wyoming and throughout much of the U.S. Gov. Mark Gordon has said he is not considering implementing a statewide face mask order but has urged residents to wear masks.   

ELECTION 2020-TRUMP-WYOMING

Top Wyoming Republicans dodge question about Trump remarks

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming’s new U.S. senator-elect, Cynthia Lummis, and top Wyoming officials refuse to say if they agree with President Donald Trump’s baseless claim that Democrats are trying to steal the presidential election. The Republicans dodged the question from The Associated Press. Spokespeople for Lummis, Sen. Mike Enzi, Sen. John Barrasso and Rep. Liz Cheney say all legal ballots should be counted, a position at odds with recent Trump Twitter posts to “STOP THE COUNT!” Gov. Mark Gordon also dodged the question about Trump’s unsubstantiated claim about Democrats stealing the election. Spokesman Michael Pearlman pointed to a previous Gordon statement saying a resolution would take time.

STATE LAND-WIND PROJECT

Wyoming denies renewable energy company’s wind farm lease

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming regulators have voted to deny a renewable energy company a lease to build a wind farm on state land. The decision on Thursday by the State Land Board came after citizens expressed concern that the development would ruin scenic views in the area. The Texas-based renewable energy developer ConnectGen had applied to lease 7.5 square miles of state land to construct part of its 500 megawatt Rail Tie wind project. Amanda MacDonald, the project manager of the wind farm, says the state would have received $480,000 a year for leasing the land to the company. 

MAYOR ARRESTED

Wyoming mayor accused of theft, arrested

GRANGER, Wyo. (AP) — The mayor of a Wyoming town is accused of using town money to make over $1,300 in personal purchases. Sweetwater County sheriff’s officials say the purchases include replacement parts for a furnace at a rental property in New York, tires for a personal vehicle and fuel. The Casper Star-Tribune reports deputies arrested Granger Mayor Bradly McCollum on Thursday on suspicion of felony theft and wrongful appropriation of public property. McCollum remained jailed and couldn’t be reached Friday. Court officials said McCollum had no attorney on file yet who could comment on his behalf. Granger is a town of 130 people in Sweetwater County.

YELLOWSTONE-HOT SPRING CHICKEN

Hot spring chicken: 3 cited for Yellowstone culinary caper

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Cooking chickens in a Yellowstone hot spring has landed three people in hot water. Yellowstone officials say a park ranger found two whole chickens in a burlap sack in a hot spring. Court documents show that Eric Roberts, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Dallas Roberts, of West Valley City, Utah, were ordered to serve two days in jail and pay $540 in fines and fees for the Aug. 7, incident. Eric Romriell, of Idaho Falls, paid $1,250 in fines and fees. They’re banned from Yellowstone for two years. Reached Thursday, Eric Roberts offered an explanation: “Make dinner,” he said.

GRAND TETON GOATS

Grand Teton ends fall goat shoot 2 weeks early, 43 killed

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Grand Teton National Park officials have ended an effort to kill off the park’s nonnative mountain goats for now. Volunteer hunters killed 43 goats over six weeks before an accumulation of snow made hunter safety a concern and officials ended the hunt a couple weeks sooner than planned. The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports park officials want to eradicate the 100 or so goats because they compete with a population of about 100 bighorn sheep for habitat and can spread disease to the native sheep. Park officials switched to using hunters on the ground after shooting the goats from a helicopter drew criticism last winter.