In Other News ...
The top news stories from Laramie and Albany County as of April 6, 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 regional media. Subscribe to my newsletter to get this list in your inbox every other Tuesday.
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The University of Wyoming has won the right to drill its own wells and operate its own water system independent of the city’s, Wyoming Public Radio reports. Gov. Mark Gordon signed the bill into law this week, but simultaneously released a letter expressing his uneasiness surrounding the issue. "The bill only solves the problem for the university," Gordon writes. " ... more broadly speaking, where do we draw the line when a municipality enacts regulation of water within its boundaries when it is clearly a responsibility assigned to the State Engineer in statute?” Laramie City Councilors have warned that separate water systems will lead to a duplication of water maintenance efforts — with local taxpayers likely footing the bill.
Reading status: Open access
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The Environmental Advisory Committee will take up the ongoing and contentious issue of wind regulations, the Laramie Boomerang reports. The committee is jointly appointed by the city and the county. The Albany County Commissioners passed updated wind regulations early last month, but following an outpouring of public comment, expressed interest in developing further, tighter regulations. The long-awaited and debated Rail Tie Wind Project has already submitted its application for construction of a 26,000-acre wind farm in the south of the county. The Rail Tie’s application will be subject to the regulations in place at the time of its filing, not subject to any new regulations recommended by the EAC.
Reading status:Laramie Boomerang paywall
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A new company headquartered in Laramie has started selling technical work pants and other clothing tailored specifically for women, the Laramie Boomerang reports. Emily Parsons, co-founder of the tree care company TigerTree, launched Glow Workwear to provide versatile, ethically manufactured workwear for women. Parsons found such clothing to be in short supply during her time with a wildland fire crew in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The clothing itself is manufactured in the Dominican Republic.
Reading status:Laramie Boomerang paywall
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Rep. Karlee Provenza (HD-45) sat down for an interview with Wyoming Public Radio’s Catherine Wheeler to discuss her first session as state legislator. Provenza expressed frustration at the legislature’s failure to expand Medicaid or raise new revenues through taxes. As a founding member of Albany County for Proper Policing, Provenza takes a special interest in police reform. During the session, she pushed a bill seeking to prohibit the hiring of officers with a history of “serious misconduct” and it got further than even she anticipated, passing the House before dying in a Senate committee. Provenza said she is hopeful that she can pass more legislation in future sessions, now that she has learned the ropes and forged connections with other legislators.
Reading status: Open access
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