Articles written by Tom Coulter
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Wyoming population up by 2.3% from 2010
CHEYENNE — Despite losing many people to out-of-state opportunities, Wyoming’s population grew by roughly 2.3% from 2010 to 2020, marking the slowest growth rate in the state since the 1980s, according to preliminary data released Monday by the...
Senate committee kills Medicaid expansion
CHEYENNE — After clearing the House in a historic vote last week, a bill authorizing the expansion of Medicaid coverage to an estimated 24,000 residents in Wyoming was defeated by a Senate committee Wednesday morning. House Bill 162, which had...
Youth suicide prevention training bill defeated
CHEYENNE — The Wyoming House of Representatives rejected legislation Wednesday that would have required the state’s K-12 public schools to provide suicide prevention training programs to students. House Bill 62, which was advanced by an interim...
Seat belt ticket bill clears committee
CHEYENNE — A legislative committee advanced a bill Thursday that would make not wearing a seat belt a primary offense in Wyoming, meaning law enforcement officers could pull a driver over solely for not being buckled up. The proposal, which will...
Tobacco tax, net metering bills win committee approval
CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Legislature’s House Revenue Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would increase the state’s tobacco tax by 24 cents per pack of cigarettes, a proposal that would mark the first tax hike on cigarettes and other tobacco...
Lawmakers weighing options for 2021 general session
CHEYENNE — After state lawmakers decided last month to delay most of the 2021 general session beyond January due to COVID-19 concerns, plans for the 66th Wyoming Legislature are still up in the air, with a couple main options being considered by...
U.S. Senate candidates Lummis, Ben-David debate over COVID-19 response, health care reform
CHEYENNE – With just a few weeks remaining until Election Day, the pair of candidates vying to become Wyoming’s next U.S. senator discussed their approaches to the federal COVID-19 response, health care reform and several other issues during a...
State Public Health Officer defends masks in schools, death statistics in talk with lawmakers
CHEYENNE – Wyoming State Public Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist reiterated the need for students to wear masks in schools and then faced criticism from a couple lawmakers on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during a virtual meeting...
Revenue Committee rejects multiple tax proposals amid historic budget shortfall
CHEYENNE – With Wyoming bracing for its largest revenue decline in state history, lawmakers rejected every tax-raising proposal on their agenda during a committee meeting Tuesday. Due to long-term declines in its energy industries and the economic...
Lawmakers advance bills to help agribusinesses, meat processing facilities
CHEYENNE — Lawmakers advanced legislation Friday aiming to boost the state’s meat processing facilities and provide more financial relief to agriculture industries. But the ultimate call on whether to stand up such programs will be left to Gov....
Budget cuts could throw State Public Defender's office back into constitutional crisis
CHEYENNE — Just a few months removed from a Supreme Court decision forced by heavy caseloads and understaffing for the agency, the Wyoming Public Defender’s office could soon be thrust into another constitutional crisis, thanks to the 10% budget...
Four women are finalists for Wyoming congressional seats
CHEYENNE — For the first time in Wyoming history, voters will be choosing from only female candidates in the state’s two federal races in November. Tuesday’s primary election also confirmed Wyoming will have its first female delegate in the...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
