In Other News ...
Laramie remembers its most infamous tragedy, a university dean comes under fire, and the Washington Post comes to town. The top news stories from Albany County as of October 23, 2023.
Welcome to the Laramie Reporter’s “In Other News” segment, a biweekly rundown of the top news stories from Albany County as reported by local, state and national media. Subscribe to our newsletter to get this rundown in your inbox every other week.
Faculty from the University of Wyoming’s College of Health are rebelling against their dean amid two high-profile resignations and the dean’s alleged interference with grant applications. A letter calling for a formal dispute resolution process was leaked to the Laramie Reporter. The letter is written by two faculty members and signed by another 14 employees, including several division heads. It accuses the dean of losing more than $10 million in grant funding, of nepotism that has benefitted his spouse, and of creating an uncommunicative and sometimes hostile work environment in the College of Health Sciences. On Monday, the directors for both WIND and WWAMI resigned. They had both taken part in a vote of “no confidence” the week before.
Reading status: Open access
This month marks the 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death. Shepard was the victim of brutal hate crime in Laramie in 1998, and his murder marked a turning point in the struggle for gay rights.
The Laramie Reporter spoke with many of the people closest to the murder, including Matthew’s mother, his friends, and the journalists and playwrights who sought to make sense of the tragedy in its wake. They reflected on the horrors of the past, the cruelties of the present and the joy they’ve carved out in the spaces between. Ultimately, the Reporter asked, “What do we owe Matthew Shepard?”
The Laramie Reporter also highlighted a memorial service hosted in the same bar where, 25 years ago, Matthew met his killers.
Wyoming Public Media remembered the anniversary with a special episode of its Open Spaces program. The episode shared archival reporting from the tenth and 20th anniversaries, including an interview with the coroner. That interview sheds light on why officials were certain the killing was a hate crime. The episode also featured all-new reporting, including an interview with Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard.
WyoFile invited two local activists from different generations to reflect on the legacy of Matthew Shepard. One of the activists stood up to hate in the immediate wake of the murder, taking part in the iconic protest that came to be known as angel action. The other activist was born ten years after the murder and today advocates for queer students at Laramie High School.
WyoFile also published a highly personal column from Kerry Drake, a long-time Wyoming journalist who covered the murder 25 years ago. He remembers “an outpouring of love and a cry for acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, in a world where Shepard’s sexual orientation made him a target for hate” but also calls Wyoming state leaders “cowardly” for failing to pass hate crime legislation in the wake of the murder or in any year since.
Reading/Listening status: Open access
Laramie’s new Police Advisory Board has its first slate of members. The Laramie City Council appointed five community members to the board. They come from a variety of backgrounds, from law enforcement to law to mental health and community service. The council also appointed Councilor Sharon Cumbie as the official (non-voting) liaison to the board. The group is set to meet publicly six times a year.
Reading status: Open access
Laramie City Councilors rejected a proposal to begin their meetings with prayer. The discussion raised questions about the council’s own procedures. And the meeting itself required Mayor Brian Harrington to denounce antisemitism after a pair of Nazi trolls disrupted public comments. The council might now change its code of conduct to give the mayor greater ability to shut down such comments.
Reading status: Open access
Enrollment at the University of Wyoming is in free fall, and administrators hope that recruiting transfer students can right the ship. In November, administrators are expected to discuss a more long-term solution for UW’s declining enrollment. The Casper Star-Tribune notes UW enrollment is at the lowest point it’s been since the 1980s.
Reading status: Open access
WyoTech will soon have a new leader. The Laramie Boomerang reports current President Jim Mathis has appointed his successor. Kyle Morris has been with WyoTech for two decades and has served in leadership roles for the last five years.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall
In Albany County schools, students in 8th through 10th grades are still suffering from the “COVID effect” — as the pandemic-era disruption to their learning continues to impact their test scores. The Laramie Boomerang reports the Albany County School Board considered these falling test scores during a meeting this month. The superintendent suggested the district might have to redistribute its resources to help those students who were struggling the most.
Reading status: Laramie Boomerang paywall
Artemis Langford, the now famous transgender University of Wyoming student, shared her personal perspective on the last year with the Washington Post. In that time, she has been named in two federal lawsuits, activists have targeted her on campus, and her weight, height and appearance have been mocked on national television.
Reading status: Washington Post paywall
Pronouns have marked the fight for transgender acceptance in popular discourse — but their significance is even felt in federal court. In the two lawsuits that mention Artemis Langford by name, plaintiffs have intentionally misgendered Langford, using “he/him” pronouns despite her own use of “she/her” and her legal status as female. Langford’s lawyer argued it was disrespectful. A Cornell law scholar argued it was part of a long history of belittling marginalized people before supposedly neutral courts.
Reading status: Open access
In other community news:
A local philanthropist donated $5 million toward the expansion and renovation of Ivinson Memorial Hospital’s emergency services wing, according to the Laramie Boomerang.
The Laramie Soup Kitchen hosted a promotional event for the community, inviting residents to come learn about what the kitchen provides, according to the Laramie Boomerang.
Laramie Main Street celebrated its 18th anniversary and is launching a new campaign to continue its mission, according to the Laramie Boomerang.
UW hosted the “Big Event” day of community service, which saw students getting off-campus and doing service projects for city residents, according to the Branding Iron.