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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State senators tried to cut the University of Wyoming’s Gender and Women’s Studies program with a budget amendment that has now been dropped. The Laramie Reporter spoke with the program’s director, Michelle Jarman, about how the amendment fits into a larger attack on academic freedom. Meanwhile, the Laramie Boomerang spoke with students about the attempted cut and the Casper Star-Tribune explored the statewide debate it raised.
Reading statuses: Various
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Cutting the Gender and Women’s Studies program at the university could have impacted Wyoming’s prisoners. Wyoming Public Media reports that GWST’s Pathways From Prison program offers free college courses to incarcerated men and women. Pathways Co-Director Robert Colter cited research showing that prison education dramatically reduces recidivism and saves the state money. Prisoners are one of the most disadvantaged groups in the state, Colter said, and offering them free education, fresh perspectives and the prospect of a brighter future is the right thing to do.
Reading status: Open access
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A federal court judge has once again dismissed the anti-mask lawsuit brought by parents across Wyoming against various school districts, health officials and the governor. The suit was earlier dismissed against most of the defendants when Judge Nancy Freudenthal ruled that the plaintiffs failed to state their aims clearly in the original 128-page complaint. Most, but not all, of the plaintiffs brought a second complaint, this time 15 pages and significantly less conspiratorial in nature. The defendants, including Albany County School District No. 1, asked for dismissal. When the plaintiffs missed their court-ordered deadline to respond, Freudenthal once again ordered the case dismissed.
Reading status: Open access
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The State Legislature’s chaotic redistricting debate is having local impacts. The city of Laramie began its own redistricting process to decide city wards during a meeting last Tuesday. But those ward lines will have to be based on house district lines – for complex reasons related to voting privacy — and the Legislature has not decided yet where those lines will fall. So when city staff bring a map to councilors for first reading tonight, it will be a “placeholder” map – one that will likely have to be amended.
Reading status: Open access
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The Laramie Reporter took a deep dive into local recycling, examining what can and cannot be recycled and what happens to the material that is recycled. The examination also highlighted the energy and resource savings gained from recycling, and the research showing that personal action does not negate — and may even encourage — the greater societal change needed to address climate change, pollution and habitat destruction.
Reading status: Open access
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ASUW, the University of Wyoming student government, is no longer allocating money to fraternities and sororities, as it has in previous years. The Branding Iron reports that the cut apparently follows a lack of communication between the organizations and the student government. ASUW’s budget is backed by mandatory fees paid by all students both within and outside of Greek life. It’s not clear from the reporting what percentage of Greek life’s funding comes from ASUW.
Reading status: Open access
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Episodes of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives shot in Laramie will air this Friday and next on Food Network. The Laramie Boomerang reports that segments of Guy Fieri’s iconic show were shot in Laramie in November. “From Appetizers to Dessert” will feature J’s Prairie Rose alongside restaurants from New Mexico and Alaska. “Gettin’ Funky in Flavortown” will feature segments on Born in a Barn and Sweet Melissa.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall