LOCAL NEWS

After 22 months of work, the local committee devoted to the Wyoming Public Lands Initiative could not come to an agreement. Almost two years ago, the committee, led by chairperson Bucky Hall, was tasked with advising the Park County Commissioners on whether or not to designate two areas in the surrounding mountains as wilderness areas.…

Northwest College is coming under scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Education regarding allegations of sexual violence and retaliation. The Casper Star-Tribune reports the investigations at UW and Northwest Community College both involve separate cases of sexual violence and retaliation, while the Natrona County district investigations involve one for sexual violence and another for retaliation…

More than 1,000 bison were removed from Yellowstone National Park this winter as part of population control. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports park spokeswoman Morgan Warthin said Monday a total of 1,155 bison were removed, a sum that surpassed bison managers’ reduction goals for the winter. Officials had agreed to remove anywhere between 600 and…

What was predicted to be a minor spring snowfall turned into a dangerous winter storm yesterday, closing down a major highway and contributing to a multiple vehicle accident between Cody and Powell. According to the Park County Sheriff’s Office, the Powell Highway closed between Beacon Hill Road and Ralston just after 4 p.m. due to…

The Cody City Council tonight will consider passing on second reading ordinances that would affect people who own short term rentals. For the eighty or so homes in the city limits that are either bed and breakfast inns or that are rented out for less than 30 days at a time, those homeowners are bound…

The University of Wyoming will offer a new degree in outdoor recreation and tourism management. The UW Board of Trustees recently approved the new interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree program starting this fall. The university says the new degree aims to expand and diversify Wyoming’s economy, retain enterprising graduates in the state and recruit highly qualified students…

The Wyoming Legislature has restored $1.5 million in funding for suicide prevention services across the state. Wyoming Department of Health spokeswoman Kim Deti says the agency is working on the details for distributing the money to county governments for prevention activities. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that suicide prevention and awareness proponents welcome the move…

A study by the University of Wyoming has found that hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers spent nearly $800 million in the state in 2016. The Laramie Boomerang reports the activity from this group accounted for more than 9,600 jobs and more than $260 million in labor income, adding up to more than $1 billion in…

It’s National Public Health Week, and Park County’s Public Health Nursing Supervisor says it’s an opportunity for citizens to educate themselves on how to keep themselves and their families at their best. Bill Crampton says that the week’s national awareness campaign will highlight health topics from behavioral health to communicable diseases. Among the eight essential…

Construction near a popular rock climbing area will cause additional traffic delays for a couple of weeks this month just west of Cody. Work on the parking lot near the climbing area between the tunnels on Highway 14/16/20 is scheduled to begin next Monday, April 9th. Work includes replacement of guardrail, new curb and gutter,…