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.
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The mother of Robbie Ramirez is alleging that the Albany County Sheriff’s Office tampered with or destroyed evidence relating to the 2018 shooting death of her son. The Casper Star-Tribune reports the sheriff’s office is accused of deleting body cam footage, and misrepresenting the location of body cam data, in new court filings. Then-Deputy Derek Colling shot and killed Ramirez following a traffic stop in 2018. Colling, who shot and killed two other people in Las Vegas before taking the job in Albany County, was cleared by a grand jury in 2019. But Ramirez’s mother, Debbie Hinkel, and local police accountability activists have criticized the handling of that case. The sheriff at the time has resigned; so has the county attorney who cleared Colling. Colling himself resigned last year, after a new sheriff took office. Hinkel’s lawsuit, which is filed in federal court, alleges Colling went against his training to use excessive force.
Reading status: Casper Star-Tribune paywall
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Gov. Mark Gordon ended Wyoming’s public health emergency declaration, signaling a new phase in the pandemic. The Laramie Reporter examined what that means for the community, as well as what we lost and what we gained during the last two years. The special report also considers the possibility of new waves and the inevitability of new pandemics.
Reading status: Open access
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The war in Ukraine has impacted life far beyond the country’s borders, including at the University of Wyoming. Wyoming Public Media spoke with Ukrainian nationals studying or teaching at the university, as well as current and former members of the UW community who have lived in the European country. They discussed what it’s like to watch horrific events unfold from half a world away.
Reading/Listening status: Open access
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The Laramie City Council will decide the future of the city’s wards during its meeting tonight. The city has been tasked with redrawing the local political lines so as to keep the city’s three council wards relatively equal. One week ago, the council approved a new map that would split West Laramie between two wards. Councilor Andi Summerville argued this would give the West Laramie community more representation, because six of the council’s nine members would have constituents west of the tracks. But Councilor Brian Harrington said the new map will “crack” West Laramie, diluting the neighborhood’s voting power, because West Laramie residents would be a minority in whichever ward they found themselves in.
Reading status: Open access
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The city is seeking dismissal in a lawsuit brought against it. Bell Leasing, a company owning more than 30 rental properties in Laramie, is suing the city over its recently passed rental regulations. The regulations establish basic health and safety standards for rental units, require landlords to register with the city, and impose a small registration fee. Bell Leasing argues the regulations are unconstitutional and that the $20 per year fee represents an illegal tax. The city’s motion to dismiss defends its regulations by drawing extensively on case law from across Wyoming and from other states.
Reading status: Open access
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The city council approved the purchase of a 4,600-acre ranch, securing the water rights that lie beneath it. The purchase will set the city back $7.5 million. City staff said they are looking to offset that price by using American Rescue Plan Act money for other projects and redirecting the money saved there to buy the ranch. Mayor Paul Weaver called the offer a “generational opportunity” and council support for the purchase was unanimous.
Reading status: Open access
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The council’s push for affordable housing is taking them into the city’s single-family zones. The council considered and advanced a proposal to change some of the requirements for developments in those zones – specifically, reducing size requirements, reducing setback requirements, eliminating garage requirements, and defining accessory dwelling units. The ordinance received just two public comments during its introduction – a statement of support from a local developer and a statement of opposition from a local landlord.
Reading status: Open access
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The Wyoming Legislature is giving the University of Wyoming $50 million for renovations to War Memorial Stadium, the College of Law and Corbett Pool. WyoFile reports that between the general budget bill and Senate File 67, the Legislature committed $362 million for renovations, construction and maintenance of state-owned buildings. UW’s $50 million comes from Senate File 67. Corbett Pool is in infamously bad shape.
Reading status: Open access