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Wyoming is the only state without a “food policy council” to fight hunger and improve food access — STATE OF INSECURITY
Unlike everywhere else, Wyoming lacks a mechanism to coordinate its fight against hunger. Thankfully, some activists are working to change that.
Wyoming’s lack of mental health and substance abuse services fuels homelessness — STATE OF INSECURITY
Many homeless people suffer from mental illness and addiction. Wyoming’s lack of resources to treat these underlying problems contributes to more and more people on the streets.
Give Ed a place to live: “Housing First” works in Wyoming — STATE OF INSECURITY
Casper’s “Housing First” program is among the most effective anti-homelessness effort in the state. Its secret? Folks get a place to live—no strings attached.
Uncoordinated, underfunded, and inadequate: Wyoming’s approach to homelessness — STATE OF INSECURITY
There are plenty of well-meaning people in Wyoming trying to make sure their neighbors have roofs over their heads. But the state has neglected to fund or develop infrastructure to ensure everyone is effectively working together.
Better Wyoming launches new series: STATE OF INSECURITY
Over the next several weeks, Better Wyoming will publish a series of articles, “State of Insecurity,” that examines shortcomings in the ways Wyoming deals with homelessness, hunger, and low wages. This is the series introduction.
The Wyoming Legislature’s Judiciary Committee has a great idea: Stop sending so many people (back) to prison
New proposals would reform parole sentencing and increase substance abuse treatment in Wyoming.
New report: Low-income residents in Wyoming pay an effective tax rate more than three times higher than the state’s wealthiest One Percent
Wyoming’s lack of an income tax means the rich get a free ride.
Exit Interview: Kathryn Lenth — How to lose a computer scientist (VIDEO)
Computer scientist Kathryn Lenth was happy to make Casper home, until she and her partner, Kristen, realized Wyoming might not be the best place for LGBT people to live. Now Kathryn is training the tech workforce of tomorrow … in Utah.
Why won’t Wyoming reform its cannabis laws? Ask a cop lobbyist.
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.
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.
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.
Abrupt closure of successful institute demonstrates another UW leadership failure
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.
Exit Interview: Rattawut Lapcharoensap and June Glasson — The (hidden) costs of the UW budget cuts (VIDEO)
EXIT INTERVIEWS is a new series profiling talented people who are leaving Wyoming as a result of boneheaded policy decisions. This episode features a (former) UW professor and his wife, a (former) pillar of the Laramie arts community.
Miller: The solution is a state income tax (but…)
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’s budget is the smallest it has been in 15 years. We still need new revenues.
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?
UW Board moves to grant itself unchecked power over reshaping the university during financial crisis
The board will vote next week to give itself the ability to single-handedly fire tenured faculty, cancel courses, and eliminate academic departments—big responsibilities for a group that’s proven itself incompetent.