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.
-
The rising cost of everything from gas to groceries is hurting Laramie’s poorest residents. Local nonprofits are seeing an increased demand for services. Laramie Interfaith’s pantry is busier than ever while the Laramie Soup Kitchen is serving upwards of 130 meals on some particularly busy days. Those organizations have also reported a decrease in donations and government assistance because people who are usually in a position to donate food and money have also felt the squeeze of inflation.
Reading status: Open access
-
Meanwhile, landlords across Laramie are raising the rent. An investigation by the Laramie Reporter shows that Bell Leasing stands to gain an additional $23,000 a year by raising monthly rent at its Canby Street complex by $80. Bell Leasing — which is currently suing to stop the city’s new healthy and safety standards for rentals — blamed three sources for the rent hike: new city fees, rising property taxes and rising insurance costs. But the city fees are less than $2 a month, and property taxes for the Canby Street complex have risen by less than $5,000 a year. Unless Bell Leasing’s insurance rose by $17,000 last year, there is some fourth unadmitted reason for the rent hike.
Reading status: Open access
-
The same story highlighted new demands being made of residents at Laramie Mobile Home Park in West Laramie. The out-of-state investors who control the park have launched a “beautification project” requiring park residents to repaint trailers, tear down fences and get rid of any dog larger than 25 pounds. The letter outlining this beautification project gave residents one month to meet the demands, while promising that if “progress is not being made in the first 7 days, we will be moving forward with terminating your leases.” Park residents said they feel they’re being forced out of their homes. Many are trying to leave the park despite the lack of other affordable options in Laramie.
Reading status: Open access
-
A massive new grant awarded to the University of Wyoming will fund researchers there as they study how climate change is diminishing water availability in the Mountain West. Wyoming Public Radio spoke with some of those researchers about how they plan to work with local residents to “co-produce” relevant, detailed knowledge about the changes already taking place across Wyoming and the west. The goal is learning how to live in an altered, erratic environment. A new docuseries from a UW master’s student seeks to do much of the same, opening up conversations about climate change in the west.
Reading/Listening status: Open access
-
Albany County voters have the opportunity to make the “fifth penny” tax permanent this fall during the general election. The Laramie Boomerang reports that the local fifth cent sales tax (kicking in after the state’s four percent sales tax) funds several basic city services such as street repairs, first responders and park maintenance. The tax also funds community partner grants that support nonprofits such as Laramie Interfaith. The tax has been in place since the eighties and has been renewed by Albany County voters consistently since then, every four years. Voters can vote to extend the tax for the next four years; they can also vote to make the tax permanent. Both options will be on the ballot.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall
-
Engineers at UW have constructed a “demonstration house” using char bricks derived from Wyoming coal. Wyoming Public Media reports the bricks are one of many coal-based products that researchers under the Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion are trying to make and market. The center’s goal is to find non-energy uses for Wyoming coal, a product that is being left behind for natural gas and renewable energy resources like solar and wind.
Reading status: Open access
-
An iconic eagle mural in Slade Elementary School is one of many memories that students, graduates and employees of Slade will leave behind this year. The Laramie Boomerang reports the mural was a collaborative project made panel-by-panel with a computer scanning system and funded by donations gathered by students. Slade Elementary teachers and students are moving a few blocks north to a new, larger campus that will open this fall.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall
-
Laramie’s historic downtown area was named one of the nation’s top three main streets. Wyoming Public Media reports Main Street America has 1,200 member communities; this is the first year Laramie has entered the competition. Laramie Main Street Alliance Director Trey Sherwood said the award recognizes Laramie’s commitment to public art, its job and business growth across the past decade, and its innovative response to the pandemic’s economic impact.
Reading status: Open access