In Other News ...
The top news stories from Laramie and Albany County as of November 2, 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.
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University of Wyoming faculty are asking the administration to slow down the university’s reorganization plan. WyoFile reports that the reorganization and related cuts could involve college mergers and layoffs. The Board of Trustees is currently set to vote on the reorganization plans at the board’s November meeting. But faculty say the process has been rushed and that since the scope of the reorganization has been downsized, a slower, more deliberative process will not hurt.
Reading status: Open access
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Grant Showacre resigned from his elected post as Albany County Assessor, having served nearly four terms. Showacre’s resignation is the third such resignation of a county-wide elected official in the past 12 months, following the sheriff and county attorney. The vacancy — which has not yet been declared by the Albany County Commission — will set off a party and county process to replace an appointment. Landowners who are registered Democrats are invited to apply on the Albany County Democrats’ website. The Democrats will present three finalists to the commission, which will then select the new assessor before the end of the month.
Reading status: Open access
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The Laramie City Council explored the tension between affordable housing, parking regulations and city zoning. During a recent meeting, all three issues came to the forefront while the council discussed possible changes to zoning for specific parcels of land on the west side, and parking space requirements for new residential units. Reducing the number of parking spaces currently required for each new residential unit could encourage developers to build smaller and more numerous units on the lots they own, resulting in more affordable rentals or homes. But some residents fear it will worsen the parking situation in their neighborhoods.
Reading status: Open access
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Across Wyoming, elective surgeries are being delayed or cancelled. Wyoming Public Media reports that the sustained pressure COVID-19 is putting on hospitals has reduced the capacity of those hospitals to offer the non-emergent surgeries they otherwise would. The delta surge is filling hospitals with (mostly unvaccinated) COVID patients, taking beds and other resources away from those suffering from other maladies. Wyoming Public Media highlighted one young person in Albany County, who could not stay the night in Ivinson Memorial Hospital after their hysterectomy due to the lack of space.
Reading status: Open access
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The Wyoming Department of Health is recommending people vulnerable due to their age, occupation or health conditions take a booster shot, following approval by the FDA and CDC. Wyoming Public Media interviewed University of Wyoming’s Christine Porter about the new recommendations. If you feel you should get a booster, you should go ahead and take it, Porter said. But she added there’s a global inequality when it comes to vaccines. Rich countries have them readily available, while poorer countries lack both the vaccines themselves and the infrastructure to produce their own.
Reading status: Open access
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Two Laramie High School seniors led a Wyoming team to victory in the Colorado High School Cycling League’s Division 3. The Laramie Boomerang reports the growing league now includes Wyoming and New Mexico, in addition to Colorado. Wyoming teams compete in Division 3, which is where Tristan Smith and Isa Naschold led the 7220 Racing Speedgoats to a first place victory.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall