Articles written by Tom Coulter
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
By 
State releases initial guidance for fall reopening of K-12 schools
CHEYENNE — Lunch in classrooms, widespread hand sanitizer stations and face coverings are just a few of the features Wyoming students can expect to see if the state’s schools return to in-person instruction this fall. The Wyoming Department of Ed... Full story
Legislators approve three bills in final day of special session
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Legislature’s first special session since 2004 ended Saturday night with three bills headed to the desk of Gov. Mark Gordon for his consideration, as lawmakers wrapped up their initial attempts to respond to issues related... Full story
Committee advances bill establishing grant, loan programs ahead of special session
CHEYENNE – With the end of the financial turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic nowhere in sight, Wyoming business owners and their employees could soon gain a boost. When the Wyoming Legislature meets in a mixed format for its special... Full story
Gov. urges caution as businesses open more
CHEYENNE – With some statewide public health orders being eased at the end of the week, Gov. Mark Gordon asked the public Wednesday to be careful as the state’s economy begins to reopen. The three updated statewide orders, set to take effect... Full story
COVID-19 underscores Wyoming gender disparities as female unemployment surges
CHEYENNE – In the first weeks of the coronavirus closures, the share of women filing unemployment claims in Wyoming skyrocketed to levels far above historical norms, suggesting women face unique struggles in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.... Full story
Election officials prep for increase in absentee voting in August primary
CHEYENNE – Wyoming will not be making a complete shift to mail-in voting for its August primary, but state election officials, anticipating a jump in absentee voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic, are preparing to ensure voters have a wide range of op... Full story
Protesters at Capitol demand reopening the state
CHEYENNE – A large crowd of protesters gathered at the front steps of the Wyoming State Capitol on Monday to demand a full reopening of businesses, schools and other industries that have temporarily closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The rally,... Full story
Land deal bill wins final approval from Legislature
CHEYENNE — It remains to be seen whether the state will decide to buy roughly 1 million surface acres and 4 million mineral acres in southern Wyoming, but the process is now in place for the state to begin exploring such a purchase. On the final... Full story
Statewide lodging tax bill headed to governor's desk
By Tom Coulter CHEYENNE — A 5% lodging sales tax proposal won final approval from the Senate on Friday afternoon, marking passage of the only tax measure aimed at putting a small dent in the roughly $200 million revenue deficit facing the state in... Full story
Plan to use Cheyenne schools as pilot program for Medicaid reimbursements moves forward
By Tom Coulter Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange CHEYENNE – Wyoming could soon join the other 49 states that charge Medicaid for special education services if legislation moving through the Capitol becomes law, and Laramie County... Full story
Gordon outlines 'window of opportunity' for energy, education in State of the State address
CHEYENNE – Gov. Mark Gordon gave his second State of the State address Monday morning, offering proposals to protect Wyoming’s energy industries and emphasizing the state’s need to find long-term ways to fund its education system. Gordon’s...
Legislator proposes hunting, firearm safety classes; session begins Monday
CHEYENNE — A Republican state lawmaker has introduced a resolution that would encourage the Wyoming Department of Education to offer voluntary gun and hunting safety classes in the state’s high schools. If passed during the legislative...
Lawmakers reject GPA-based incentives for Hathaway Scholarship
CHEYENNE – State legislators on the Joint Education Interim Committee turned down a bill Thursday that would have let college students receive more Hathaway Scholarship money if they reached certain GPA benchmarks. The bill, which failed by a 8-5 v... Full story
Education Committee rejects school security policies bill
CHEYENNE — Lawmakers on the Joint Education Interim Committee spent more than an hour Friday discussing school safety, though they ultimately rejected a bill requiring school districts to adopt certain security policies. The bill, which failed by... Full story
Wyoming lawmakers reject proposed alcohol tax increase
CHEYENNE — A bill that would have essentially doubled the state’s excise tax on alcohol in order to provide more funding for substance use treatment programs was rejected by lawmakers during a committee meeting Wednesday. The bill would have... Full story
Legislative committee supports task force to look at mental health services
CHEYENNE – A committee of state lawmakers voted Thursday in support of a bill that would establish a task force to study Wyoming’s mental health services. The bill would create a 12-member group consisting of legislators, mental health-care... Full story
Committee votes to advance Medicaid expansion bill
CHEYENNE — State lawmakers on the Joint Revenue Interim Committee voted 8-5 Tuesday to move forward with a bill authorizing Gov. Mark Gordon to expand Medicaid coverage in Wyoming. If approved by the full Legislature next year, the bill would... Full story
Wyoming students testing above national average
CHEYENNE — An education report released Wednesday shows Wyoming students scored higher than national averages on standardized reading and math tests. Wyoming students outperformed students nationwide on the National Assessment of Educational... Full story
Lawmakers take no action on nuclear fuel storage plan
CHEYENNE — Legislators took no action on a plan to store spent nuclear fuel rods within Wyoming – and heard about a possible alternative use of the rods – during a committee meeting Tuesday in Casper. Discussion of the plan was spurred by a... Full story
Poll shows Cheney ahead of Lummis in potential Senate race
CHEYENNE – A poll published Wednesday shows U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney leading former Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis by 20 percentage points in a potential race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mike Enzi. The annual poll from Montana State... Full story
Projections show tough economic outlook for state
CHEYENNE – An updated forecast for state revenues released Tuesday paints a grim picture of Wyoming’s economic landscape heading into the next decade. Though the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group’s October report shows the state gaining more... Full story
Groups rally for Trump in Jackson, Cheyenne, Gillette
Dozens of supporters of President Donald Trump took to the streets in Jackson, Cheyenne and Gillette on Thursday to protest impeachment proceedings in the U.S. House of Representatives. The rallies... Full story
Final Capitol renovations nearing completion
CHEYENNE — After the grand reopening of the state Capitol in July, the final pieces of the renovation project are projected to be completed before the 2020 legislative session in February. That includes construction of an auditorium, student learni... Full story
Bill to create transportation task force fails in committee
CHEYENNE – With the state facing millions of dollars worth of unmet needs for its roads and bridges, a bill to create a task force to explore ways to fund repair work failed by a narrow margin Friday in committee. The bill would have created a... Full story
Wyoming first lady announces hunger initiative
CHEYENNE - Wyoming first lady Jennie Gordon announced a hunger initiative Thursday aimed at fighting food insecurity for children and families across the state. The Wyoming Hunger Initiative will bring together various groups working on food security... Full story
