In Other News ...
The top news stories from Laramie and Albany County as of June 30, 2021.
Welcome to the Laramie Reporter’s “In Other News” segment, a biweekly rundown of the top news stories from Laramie and Albany County as reported by local, state and national media. Subscribe to our newsletter to get this rundown in your inbox every other week.
-
Albany County’s vaccination rate has slowed to crawl, mirroring a pattern one can see across the state. Albany County’s percentage of vaccinated adults is one of the highest in the state, largely because it is one of the state’s bluest counties. But Wyoming as a whole is one of the least vaccinated states in the nation, because it is one of the reddest states, and even Albany County lags behind the national average. Going unvaccinated amidst a pandemic is dangerous for individuals, but it also endangers the community by giving the virus more time and hosts to develop variants. Eventually, public health experts warn, those variants could undermine the vaccine’s defenses and endanger even those who are vaccinated.
Reading status: Open access
-
Right-wing spies infiltrated Democratic and progressive organizations in Wyoming, posing as left-wing activists.The New York Times reports the spies, Beau Maier and Sofia LaRocca, were active in Albany County, befriending State Rep. Karlee Provenza (HD-45) and her husband, Nate Martin, who runs Better Wyoming. The spies were funded by state politics mega-donor Susan Gore, trained by a former MI6 spy Richard Seddon, and had connections to the right-wing group Project Veritas. Despite this, the spies’ confusing and elaborate given backstories led Democratic organizers to sideline the couple and keep important information from the pair. Supposedly, the spies’ aim was to gather evidence of alleged collusion between the state’s progressives and Republican moderates.
Reading status:New York Times paywall
-
The Laramie City Council opened discussions about the city’s housing crisis last week with a presentation from city staff. The greater Laramie area has the least affordable housing in Wyoming. The council went over highlights from the various housing and economic studies conducted since 2015 and discussed how to move forward. There was consensus among councilors on breaking the housing issue into smaller pieces and addressing them one-by-one in the months to come. Those pieces could include everything from city code changes to rental regulations.
Reading status: Open access
-
As the Albany County Commission nears its decision on the long-debated Rail Tie Wind Project, an even larger wind project is starting the permitting process.The Laramie Boomerang reports that the Rock Creek Wind Project would be located 25 miles north of Laramie and stretch across both Albany and Carbon Counties. Rock Creek would have an even larger footprint than Rail Tie, with 106 turbines across 43,000 acres, though there are no residences on those lands.
Reading access:Laramie Boomerang paywall
-
Fires have come early and intensely to the Mountain West this summer, but Albany County has had a calm June. Experts say that hot, dry weather could change that, allowing the fire season to “escalate” in July or August. The 176,000 acres burned by last year’s Mullen Fire will offer some protection against large fires this year.
Reading status: Open access
-
Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is making nearly half-a-million dollars available to landowners affected by the Mullen Fire. Wyoming Public Radio reports that FEMA is offering $480,000 to landowners in Albany County to deal with debris, flooding, and damaged trees or defensible space between residences and burnable wilderness.
Reading status: Open access
-
Laramie landlord Maximus Bossarei was ordered to pay former tenants more than $4,200 in compensation for missing furniture and unreturned rent payments. Brad and Kimberly Beck shared the story of their squabble with Bossarei in the original investigative feature highlighting the landlord’s shady business practices. This is at least the second time Bossarei has been served since the publication of that original investigation and the second time he has been ordered to pay.
Reading status: Open access
-
The Wyoming Public Transit Association named Laramie’s Alice Krum driver of the year.The Laramie Boomerang reports Krum has been a driver for the Eppson Center for Seniors for three years. Krum worked through the pandemic, bringing patients to essential dialysis appointments, taking care to thoroughly clean and sanitize the van between trips. Krum also coaches track and field athletes for the Wyoming Special Olympics.
Reading status:Laramie Boomerang paywall
-