In Other News ...
The top news stories from Laramie and Albany County as of May 19, 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 week.
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The local Democratic Party hosted a forum Monday featuring their candidates for the County and Prosecuting Attorney vacancy. The Albany County Commissioners will ultimately choose former County Attorney Peggy Trent’s replacement from between the three candidates. Kurt Britzius, Baend Buus and Randy Hiller often gave similar answers to the questions asked during the forum.
Reading status: Open access
https://laramiereporter.substack.com/p/county-attorney-candidates-field
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The Albany County Commissioners debated the regulations surrounding development above the Casper Aquifer. The Laramie Boomerang reports a lengthy commission meeting last week featured a few heated exchanges between Chair Peter Gosar and Commissioner Heber Richardson. Gosar and Richardson frequently disagree on the appropriate role of government when it comes to regulations that could impede business interests. New aquifer protection amendments could be a long way from actually passing, but the amendments now being considered could extend the county protection zone’s western boundary.
Reading status:Laramie Boomerang paywall
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The Albany County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the Rail Tie Wind Project last week, the Laramie Boomerang reports. ConnectGen, the company behind Rail Tie, must now take their application to the Albany County Commission — the elected body which appoints planning and zoning commission members. Both supporters and opponents of the project spoke at the meeting. While some raised concerns about fire suppression and setbacks, a representative of ConnectGen explained that her company would follow industry standards in those areas. Kelly Shroeder, meanwhile, said the project was “the most exciting thing this area has been considering in a long time” and the sort of development that might keep young people, like herself, interested in living in Wyoming.
Reading status:Laramie Boomerang paywall
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A UW energy and law professor is headed to France this summer as a Fulbright Scholar, Wyoming Public Radio reports. France’s northernmost region, Hauts-de-France, was once known as the county’s Carbon Capital. But the region has since transitioned away from its historical focus on coal extraction. Professor Tara Righetti will study that energy transition, the tradeoffs made, and the way the region has adjusted. Funded by the prestigious Fulbright Award, Righetti’s research could inform Wyoming’s own future by demonstrating what worked and what didn’t for Hauts-de-France.
Reading status: Open access
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Amid ongoing and severe budget cuts, the University of Wyoming is evaluating its future, the Casper Star-Tribune reports. A strategic planning committee working with UW President Ed Seidel is brainstorming ways to diversify the institution’s revenue base. Historically and currently, a majority of that revenue has come from the state, but the planning committee has discussed raising out-of-state tuition, selling online education globally and “finding corporate partners,” according to the Star-Tribune.
Reading status:Casper Star-Tribune paywall
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