Rocky Mountain Voice

Cowboy State Daily

GOP Divided As Wyoming Weighs Coal Future And Data Center Growth
Cowboy State Daily, Approved, National

GOP Divided As Wyoming Weighs Coal Future And Data Center Growth

By: Clair McFarland | Cowboy State Daily Wyoming’s coal sector is startled at Republican candidates who oppose data centers. Industry leaders say the revival of coal is driven by demand for energy from data centers. "It's frustrating," said Travis Deti, of the Wyoming Mining Association. Wyoming’s coal sector is startled at Republican political candidates who oppose the data center buildout. Data centers are large warehouses full of servers that power parts of the internet and, increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI). Wyoming has between 20 and 30 operational data centers. President Donald Trump has touted the sector’s expansion as part of a coal industry revival, and part of beating China in a technology advancement race. Many Wyoming Republica...
English skills, safety concerns fuel support for Trump’s visa pause
Cowboy State Daily, Approved, State

English skills, safety concerns fuel support for Trump’s visa pause

By Clair McFarland | Cowboy State Daily The Wyoming Highway Patrol and the state’s largest advocate for truckers said Friday that they support the federal government’s sudden suspension of immigrant worker visas for commercial truck drivers. The Trump Administration paused the issuance of work visas for truckers on Thursday. The head of the Wyoming Highway Patrol said it’s a good move, if it’s being used to vet truckers better for their skills and regard for safety. The Wyoming Trucking Association supports the policy change.  The Wyoming Immigrant Advocacy Project’s leader, however, said it misses the mark – since there are recent signs of trucking companies overworking or otherwise taking advantage of immigrant truck drivers. Se...
Montana may approve 500-wolf hunt in effort to restore big game herds
Cowboy State Daily, Approved, National

Montana may approve 500-wolf hunt in effort to restore big game herds

By Mark Heinz | Cowboy State Daily Montana is considering setting a wolf kill quota of 500 for the 2025-2026 wolf seasons, nearly half of its wolf population. It would allow hunters and trappers to take as many as 15 wolves each.  Montana is considering setting a wolf kill quota of 500 for the 2025-2026 wolf seasons, allowing hunters and trappers to take as many as 15 wolves each.  If hunters and trappers fill the quota, it would cut Montana’s wolf population roughly in half, leaving about 550 of the predators, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) reports.  Some argue that’s extreme overkill and indicates that Montana is trying to eradicate wolves. Others claim it’s sound predator management, and 550 wolves would still be more than enough to keep them from being re-...
As SB25-003 advances to committee, Wyoming is closely watching the aggressive semiauto weapon ban
Approved, Cowboy State Daily, State

As SB25-003 advances to committee, Wyoming is closely watching the aggressive semiauto weapon ban

By Mark Heinz | Cowboy State Daily A proposed sweeping ban on semiautomatic firearms in Colorado is part of a larger trend to that state becoming more urbanized than left-leaning, a Wyoming gun rights advocate said.  “I hope we and other groups can stop this, but it’s pretty bad,” said Mark Jones of Buffalo, who’s also the national director for Gun Owners of America.  Controversial gun control bills are nothing new in Colorado. During its 2024 session, the Colorado Legislature considered a ban on “assault weapons” (semiautomatic rifles with high-capacity ammunition magazines).  READ THE FULL STORY AT COWBOY STATE DAILY
DEA forecasting record-breaking fentanyl seizures in Rocky Mountain region, including in Colorado, Utah
Approved, Cowboy State Daily, State

DEA forecasting record-breaking fentanyl seizures in Rocky Mountain region, including in Colorado, Utah

By Jen Kocher | Cowboy State Daily While fentanyl arrests may be down so far in Wyoming this year, seizures are skyrocketing in adjacent southern border states while a more deadly form of meth takes hold across the state. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency saw record seizures of fentanyl in Utah in June, surpassing the prior year by nearly 17%. The arrests were part of DEA’s Operation Cash Out efforts to increase its ground game while simultaneously going after drug profits leaving the country. READ THE FULL STORY AT COWBOY STATE DAILY
‘Billboards are effective’: Wyoming sheriff laughs at “Venezuela Ahead” billboard at Colorado border
Approved, Cowboy State Daily, State

‘Billboards are effective’: Wyoming sheriff laughs at “Venezuela Ahead” billboard at Colorado border

By Leo Wolfson | Cowboy State Daily A large billboard warns drivers along southbound Interstate 25 at the Wyoming-Colorado border: “Venezuela Ahead, Be Prepared!” on a color scheme that mimics the Venezuelan flag. This is in reference to recent reports of a Venezuelan gang named Tren de Aragua taking over an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, a large suburb of Denver. Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak said he burst out laughing when he saw the billboard for the first time. READ THE FULL STORY AT COWBOY STATE DAILY
In Wyoming, there’s a movement to ditch machines in favor of hand counts and secretary of state supports it
Approved, Cowboy State Daily, National

In Wyoming, there’s a movement to ditch machines in favor of hand counts and secretary of state supports it

By Leo Wolfson | Cowboy State Daily A push to eliminate electronic ballot counting machines in favor of hand counts in Wyoming’s elections is spreading across the state, and it has the full support of Secretary of State Chuck Gray. Wyoming Voter Initiatives, the same group that recently turned in 44,000 signatures to get a property tax initiative on the 2026 ballot, is now working on a new effort to have all ballots hand counted. The goal is to get the initiative on the 2026 ballots and implemented for the 2028 elections. In addition to the “People’s Initiative to Restore Hand Tabulation of all Elections in Wyoming” ballot initiative, the group also wants to overhaul the state’s Title 22 election code through the Legislature by enacting measures allowing for public ba...

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