Local Wyoming Reporting on Tax, Education, Politics, Criminal Justice

Bonnie, a grocery store clerk in Douglas, pays a far higher tax rate than any Jackson billionaire

New report: Low-income residents in Wyoming pay an effective tax rate more than three times higher than the state’s wealthiest One Percent

October 17, 2018

Wyoming's lack of an income tax means the rich get a free ride.

Rep. David Miller knows the solution to Wyoming's revenue problem. But he'd rather not pay for anything himself.

Miller: The solution is a state income tax (but...)

June 15, 2018

Rep. David Miller knows a state income tax would largely solve Wyoming's revenue problems. But he'd rather shackle the state even more securely to boom-and-bust mining industries.

Wyoming students in kindergarten through third grade may soon receive less attention as a result of shady policy decisions.

The Legislature didn’t increase class sizes. But lawmakers who want to cut Wyoming education budgets have found a back-channel way to do it.

September 6, 2018

The State School Facilities Commission has one job: to make sure Wyoming students have good schools. But the commission has inserted itself into the debate over education budget cuts—and it's hard to believe the commissioners came up with the idea on their own.

Wyoming schoolchildren head out to collect bugs as part of a Biodiversity Institute program. The institute engaged thousands of Wyoming K-12 students in hands-on science.

Abrupt closure of successful institute demonstrates another UW leadership failure

August 16, 2018

The decision to close the University of Wyoming's Biodiversity Institute will hurt the school's fundraising and community engagement efforts—not to mention scientific learning on campus and throughout the state.

Wyoming police lobbyists have gone public with their anti-cannabis crusade.

Why won't Wyoming reform its cannabis laws? Ask a cop lobbyist.

September 12, 2018

Powerful police lobbyists have convinced the Wyoming State Legislature to ignore citizens' wishes and refuse to reform the state's draconian marijuana laws. Now, they've taken their crusade public.

They ain't legal, but weed brownies like these will go another year without being specifically named in Wyoming law.

Session recap: Another year, another effort to criminalize edible marijuana fails. Is the Legislature getting ready to turn a corner on cannabis?

April 12, 2018

In killing yet another proposal to criminalize edible cannabis, a House committee doubled down on its position that Wyoming needs marijuana reform

Mining provides the lion's share of Wyoming's tax revenue. But even the deepest budget cuts in more than a decade aren't enough to keep up with the busts.

Wyoming’s budget is the smallest it has been in 15 years. We still need new revenues.

May 24, 2018

The deepest cuts in more than a decade couldn't fix Wyoming's "structural deficit." When will lawmakers realize more cuts aren't the answer?

Wyoming's suicide rate is one of the highest in the nation.

Session Recap: Funding restored, Wyoming must now work to rebuild its suicide prevention program from scratch

April 24, 2018

After completely defunding Wyoming's statewide program in 2017, the Legislature allocated $2 million this year for suicide prevention. The scope of damage—and what a new program will look like—is unclear.

New report: Low-income residents in Wyoming pay an effective tax rate more than three times higher than the state’s wealthiest One Percent

Exit Interview: Kathryn Lenth — How to lose a computer scientist (VIDEO)

Why won't Wyoming reform its cannabis laws? Ask a cop lobbyist.

The Legislature didn’t increase class sizes. But lawmakers who want to cut Wyoming education budgets have found a back-channel way to do it.

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TAX REFORM

New report: Low-income residents in Wyoming pay an effective tax rate more than three times higher than the state’s wealthiest One Percent

Miller: The solution is a state income tax (but...)

EDUCATION

The Legislature didn’t increase class sizes. But lawmakers who want to cut Wyoming education budgets have found a back-channel way to do it.

Abrupt closure of successful institute demonstrates another UW leadership failure

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Why won't Wyoming reform its cannabis laws? Ask a cop lobbyist.

Session recap: Another year, another effort to criminalize edible marijuana fails. Is the Legislature getting ready to turn a corner on cannabis?

2018 CAPITOL DISPATCHES

Wyoming’s budget is the smallest it has been in 15 years. We still need new revenues.

Session Recap: Funding restored, Wyoming must now work to rebuild its suicide prevention program from scratch

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