In Other News ...
Laramie's rental regulations survive another assault, Plenty scores a massive grant, and the UW president addresses staff. The top news stories from Laramie and Albany County as of February 15, 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.
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The Albany County School Board tabled two policies addressing how the district teaches controversial issues and fields parental complaints. Trustees expressed a desire to keep working and amending the policies; they pushed the third reading of each to a future meeting. The trustees did, however, pass one policy aimed at fielding complaints about classroom materials.
Reading status: Open access
A legislative attempt to eradicate Laramie’s rental regulations has died. ASUW moved quickly to take a stand against the bill, issuing their third resolution in less than two years supporting the City Rental Housing Code. But the bill, co-sponsored by Albany County’s own Rep. Ocean Andrew (HD-46), failed to earn even a committee meeting and died when it missed the deadline to do so.
Reading status: Open access
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A bill aiming to halt the backslide of abortion rights in Wyoming has also died. Several Laramie legislators backed the bill, which was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. That committee failed to consider it before the deadline to do so, and the bill died without getting a debate or public testimony.
Reading status: Open access
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Several other bills working their way through the Wyoming Legislature could mean big things for residents of Albany County.
A push to expand Medicaid has died. Despite passing in committee, Majority Floor Leader Chip Neiman did not bring the bill to the House floor, letting it die unread alongside dozens of other bills.
A dramatic tax cut for cigar aficionados cleared the Senate, was made less dramatic by a House committee, passed all three readings in the House, and its different versions are now being hammered into one by a concurrence committee.
A bill eliminating blanket legal protection for teachers who administer corporal punishment passed the Senate, has now passed a House committee, and must weather further debate in the House.
A shield law aimed at protecting journalists who refuse to give up anonymous sources died without a reading on the House floor.
In two separate bills, lawmakers sought or are seeking to limit crossover voting — the political practice of changing one’s party for the sole purpose of voting in another party’s primary. One bill passed the House but failed in a Senate committee only to be re-referred to a separate (presumably more favorable) committee for reconsideration. The other bill is dead, having died uneventfully, without a floor reading, alongside the new source shield law and Medicaid expansion.
A bill that would eliminate solar energy buy-back programs known as “net metering” is also before lawmakers. It has passed in the Senate and has been assigned to a House committee.
A bill raising the minimum allowable age for marriage to 16 has cleared the House and survived two of three readings in the Senate. After one more reading on the Senate floor, it will need only the governor's signature to become state law.
Reading status: Open access
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Plenty, the vertical farming company formerly known as Bright Agrotech, scored a $20 million grant to build a 60,000-square-foot research and development facility in Laramie. The Laramie Boomerang reports Plenty hopes to use the State Loan and Investment Board’s grant to establish “the world’s largest vertical farming research center” and claims it will support 120 jobs in Laramie.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall
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The Laramie City Council has advanced an ordinance that would prohibit intoxicated individuals from entering private homes, making it easier for police to arrest someone in the rare instances when that happens. The Laramie Boomerang also reports the city has accepted a $2.9 million grant for the C-Line Sanitary Sewer project. The grant is funded through Wyoming’s share of the federal American Rescue Plan.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall
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University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel addressed university staff during a town hall last week. The Branding Iron reports Seidel talked about salaries, highlighting how the governor’s requested budget includes $15 million for staff and faculty raises. The budget is ultimately decided by the Wyoming Legislature, which is currently in session. Seidel also addressed parking; he said the three-story garage being built between Grand and Ivinson Avenues has been delayed and will not be in operation until July.
Reading status: Open access