In Other News ...
The county protects the aquifer, the city approves a police board, and the Laramie Reporter breaks down school budgets and rental regs. The top news stories from Albany County as of July 30, 2023.
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.
City and county officials passed a Casper Aquifer Protection Plan, capping off years of planning, discussion, setbacks and studies. The plan is a guiding document for both governments as they seek to preserve the quality of the Casper Aquifer by limiting development on the land above. The aquifer is the main source of drinking water for the city of Laramie.
Reading status: Open access
Less than half of Laramie’s rental units have been officially registered with the city — despite the fact that landlords and property managers were required by law to register their properties by Jan. 1, 2023. City officials say they hope to see more registrations when university students return this fall. There have been five complaints filed with the city since the Rental Housing Code took effect more than six months ago. The code is enforced entirely through this complaint system.
Reading status: Open access
Albany County School District No. 1 approved its districtwide budget for fiscal year 2024. The budget makes significant cuts — including extracurricular activities and insurance coverage for teachers. The budget does not cut the School Resource Officer program and will pay the Laramie Police Department $75,000 in the coming year. This is despite the trustees’ frustration with the service the district has received and research casting doubt on the effectiveness of the concept. The alpine ski team rallied to save their team’s funding and were successful. And trustees apologized for an earlier discussion about closing two small, rural schools after parents noted that the closures would not save any money.
Reading status: Open access
University of Wyoming enrollment continues its decline. Early estimates show that the student body will likely shrink for the fourth year in a row. University administrators told trustees that UW spends far less on recruitment than competitor institutions. In August, the trustees could inject more cash into that effort during their scheduled mid-month teleconference.
Reading status: Open access
The Laramie Police Advisory Board is taking shape. The board will not have oversight powers, nor any ability to hire, fire or discipline officers, nor any ability to set department policy. Instead, the five-member board will advise the chief of police and give recommendations related to the department’s policies and procedures. The Laramie City Council approved the board’s bylaws during a meeting this month; members will be appointed soon.
Reading status: Open access
Albany County Commissioners voted 2-1 to support a petition for renaming Swastika Lake. The petition hopes to rename the body of water “Knight Lake,” in honor of famed local geologist Samuel Howell Knight. Commissioner Terri Jones fought the name change, accusing those recommending the new name of pushing a “communist” agenda.
Reading status: Open access
Family Physicians of Laramie is being folded into Ivinson Memorial Hospital. Two of FPL’s five physicians will continue to see patients at Ivinson, while the other three are leaving Laramie.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall
The federal lawsuit seeking to remove a transgender student from a UW sorority continues. Six UW students are suing their own sorority, seeking the removal of a transgender member, as well as a declaration that the sorority violated its own rules in admitting her and damages. Both the sorority and the transgender student filed motions to dismiss earlier this summer. The sorority says it can accept who it pleases. The student says there is no reason she should even be attached to this lawsuit. They both allege that the lawsuit is “unserious” and was filed frivolously to raise funds and gain recognition. The plaintiffs responded in motions of their own, rejecting these allegations and asking for a trial. The sorority and the transgender student have also filed additional responses. All parties are now waiting for the judge to weigh in.
Reading status: Open access
The Laramie Reporter published a rundown of local or locally significant lawsuits in state and federal courts. The lawsuits include an attempt to halt Wyoming’s abortion bans, a now-settled racism lawsuit implicating a former high-ranking Albany County Sheriff’s deputy, and a free speech lawsuit filed against the University of Wyoming.
Reading status: Open access
A new exhibition at the American Heritage Center highlights the photography of Jean Howard. The Laramie Boomerang reports Howard’s photography “offers a captivating glimpse into the glamour and allure of Hollywood’s golden age.” The exhibition will run through the end of September.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall
Rep. Trey Sherwood (HD-14) spoke with WyoFile about building up state and local capacity to go after federal grants. With so much money available through the American Rescue Plan and so much more becoming available through the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, the communities and nonprofits that could use that money the most currently run the risk of being left behind.
Reading status: Open access
Sen. Chris Rothfuss (SD-9) spoke with WyoFile about the Wyoming Legislature’s ethics rules, which are probably in need of an update. Rothfuss said it’s a complicated issue and there “is no clear answer.”
Reading status: Open access