The pursuit of beaver fur brought trappers West to Wyoming in the early days of European settlement. Those trappers adapted when the fur trade went south.

What Wyoming can learn about coal from the collapse of the fur trade

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When the world switched from beaver-skin hats to silk hats in the 1800s, the fur trade plummeted. Instead of doubling down on pelts, smart fur-bearing states developed new industries.
The coal industry's downturn has cost the state of Wyoming nearly a third its budget. What happens if other carbon-based industries follow it down?

Climate change creeps into Wyo Legislature tax reform talks

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The Revenue Committee’s co-chair asked tax reform opponents: What happens if Wyoming continues to depend on revenues from carbon-based minerals while the rest of the world moves away from them?
Wyomingites have fought for years against state takeover of federal public lands.

Wyoming lawmakers’ push to seize control over environmental review process on federal lands echoes public land transfer fight

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After failing in 2017 to lay the groundwork for wholesale state seizure of federal public lands, Wyoming lawmakers are working to take control of the “NEPA” process that governs new mining development on BLM and National Forest lands within the state.
PFLAG's Casper chapter helps support the city's annual Pride celebration.

PFLAG’s decades-long history of LGBTQ advocacy and support in Wyoming continues

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PFLAG is the nation's oldest and largest organization that unites parents and allies with the LGBTQ community. Chapters currently operate in four Wyoming towns. They provide support, community education, and advocacy—and more of them are forming.
The Wyoming Legislature chose democracy over the demands of the state's ultra-dominant party.

Lawmakers defeat a slew of proposals to limit Wyoming voting rights—2019 Legislative recap

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High drama, backroom tactics, zombie bills, and thwarted agendas all accompanied failed efforts to chip away at voting rights in Wyoming.
Wyoming lawmakers continue to be stuck in a "reefer madness" state of mind.

Wyoming legislators make no movement toward commonsense cannabis reform—2019 Legislative recap

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Three proposals, dealing with medical cannabis and sentencing reform, lived short lives this session before dying at the hands of short-sighted lawmakers.
Lawmakers struggle to understand that zero new revenues is the wrong answer.

Lawmakers fail to figure out new revenues for Wyoming public school funding, but avoid further cuts—2019 Legislative recap

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After three consecutive years of deep cuts to the Wyoming public education budget, the Legislature relented this session. But without stable sources of revenue, more school cuts are likely on the way.
An LGBTQ pride-themed flag designed by the Wyoming Art Party flies during a celebration. Groups throughout Wyoming continue to pursue nondiscrimination policy changes despite legislative setbacks.

The Wyoming Legislature defeated an LGBTQ workplace nondiscrimination bill. But the issue is as alive as ever. — 2019 Legislative recap

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A proposal to ban workplace discrimination died at the same time a Senator’s anti-LGBTQ remarks brought national attention to Wyoming. Meanwhile, homophobic incidents continue to demonstrate the need for nondiscrimination policy.
Lawmakers put a bullet in each and every tax bill that came before them.

Wyoming Legislature shoots down “big box” corporate income tax and all other revenue-generating bills — 2019 Legislative recap

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You got a tax bill? The Legislature has a bullet. Along with the “big box” tax, lawmakers killed proposals to “modernize” Wyoming’s sales tax structure, tax tourism to promote the tourism industry, increase cigarette taxes, and every other tax-related bill this year.

Wyoming Legislature does nothing to address the “State of Insecurity” low-income folks face — 2019 Legislative recap

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Efforts to raise Wyoming’s minimum wage, provide tax relief to very poor elderly and disabled people, and help fund food pantries all died this session.