CASPER, Wyo. — PacifiCorp/Rocky Mountain Power plan to close several coal plants in Wyoming earlier than originally scheduled. That would include at least four coal units in Wyoming: Jim Bridger 1 in 2023 instead of 2037 Naughton 1 and 2 in 2025 instead of 2029 Jim Bridger 2 in 2028 instead of 2037 The Wyoming […]
Brendan LaChance
City Editor
Posted inCrime
Lawyer explains reason NCSD not speaking about tutor accused of sexually abusing minor
CASPER, Wyo. — A man who was employed as a tutor at Dean Morgan Junior High School in Casper has been arrested and charged with two felony counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the Second Degree and one felony count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the Third Degree. Jason Waugaman was […]
Posted inEducation
Denver decides to require all-gender bathrooms in all district schools
CASPER, Wyo. — The Denver Public Schools Board passed a resolution on Thursday, Jan. 23 requiring all schools in the district to provide bathrooms open to people of all gender identities. “[T]he District shall make available for all students, team members, and DPS community members, at least one all-gender restroom facility in currently existing DPS […]
Posted inWeather
Snow in western Wyoming Friday, chance of rain and snow Saturday in Casper
CASPER, Wyo. — Western, central and southern Wyoming may see snow on Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Riverton. There is a chance of rain and snow in Casper on Saturday. “Light to moderate snow will affect far western Wyoming today and tonight, and move into southern Wyoming tonight,” the NWS in Riverton […]
Posted inLegislature
Wyoming bill would allow schools to provide surplus food for needy students
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Legislature will consider a bill that would authorize food surplus programs in schools that would be used to help students who couldn’t afford to pay for their food. If the legislation is approved, it would allow programs that would provide surplus food at no cost to students for a snack […]
Posted inHealth
Former Casper College, pro rodeo rider recovering from broken back, gets surprise cash
CASPER, Wyo. — JR Vezain is a bareback rodeo rider who broke two vertebrae in his back after after “a horse reared back and landed on” him during a September 2018 rodeo. That injury paralyzed Vezain from the waist down, and he continues rehabbing. Vezain, a Wyoming native now living in Montana, received a $3,700 […]
Posted inEducation
KW, Roosevelt, Midwest graduation rates jump, NCHS down
CASPER, Wyo. — Overall, the four high schools in the Natrona County School District saw an 80.3% on-time graduation rate in 2019. The class of 2019 across the county was up 2.3% from the class of 2018, NCSD says. Midwest High School saw the largest jump, from 64.3% to 83.3%. District officials have noted in […]
Posted inAnimals
Some animals confiscated from Casper residence available for adoption
CASPER, Wyo. — Casper Police Department Animal Protection Officers confiscated 62 animals from a residence on Jan. 9. “We have been authorized to adopt some of the dogs that were confiscated a couple weeks ago,” Metro Animal Shelter said on Thursday, Jan. 23. “We will have 4 Pekingese, 7 Toy Poodles and 16 Yorkies available […]
Posted inHealth
Branches of health ready to grow as Casper ‘Dahlia’ couple plant ‘Ask Wellness’ downtown
CASPER, Wyo. — A Casper couple are preparing to host the grand opening of their new “Ask Wellness” store downtown. The grand opening is set for 10 am to 4 pm Saturday, Jan. 25. Ask Wellness, located at 163 South Wolcott Street, will offer Wyoming made health products, but the couple almost decided on a […]
Posted inSports
Casper’s Logan Wilson to play in Senior Bowl, Denver Broncos well aware
CASPER, Wyo. — Casper native Logan Wilson will play in the Senior Bowl, which features some of the top players in college football. While University of Wyoming Cowboys fans may take an interest in the game, they aren’t the only people paying attention to Wilson. “Wilson, a three-time team captain, could fit the mold of […]
Posted inAnimals
Early southeast Wyoming winter leads to vehicle collisions with animals on the move
CASPER, Wyo. — Early snow this winter season has led big game animals in southeast Wyoming to move to winter ranges. “[R]elatively mild conditions in recent weeks have kept most areas of winter range open and made forage available elk, deer and pronghorn,” the Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Wednesday, Jan. 22. “However, many […]
Posted inCommunity
Utah bans conversion therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation of minors
CASPER, Wyo. — Utah has enacted a new rule banning mental health therapists from attempting to change the sexual orientation of patients under the age of 18. A group working to gain protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer people in Utah praised the new rule on Wednesday, Jan. 22. “Today! LGBTQ youth are […]
Posted inCity
Casper secures $8 million loan for west side sewer project
CASPER, Wyo. — The City of Casper has secured an $8 million Wyoming Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan for a North Platte Sanitary Sewer project. The Wyoming State Lands and Investments Board agreed to provide the loan once loan documents are executed, which the Casper City Council authorized on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The city […]
Posted inCity
Casper purchasing portable litter fencing for $71,944
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper Regional Landfill utilizes portable litter fencing in areas where permanent litter fencing is not in place. “The portable litter fencing allows Solid Waste staff to relocate fencing as needed with the changing weather conditions and landfill cell layouts,” the city says. The city council authorized a $71,944 contract with 3 […]
Posted inCity
Casper to require landowners pay for street improvements project
CASPER, Wyo. — Landowners of properties adjacent to Arrowhead Road and Jade Avenue in Casper may be required to help pay for street improvements at the intersection. The city council passed a resolution signally their intent to create a “local assessment district” during their Tuesday, Jan. 21 which would force the property owners to help […]
Posted inCommunity
Platte River Trails Trust donates land for new Casper park and trails improvements
CASPER, Wyo. — The City of Casper plans to create a new “riverfront pathway park” and add a boat ramp along a section of the North Platte River. The Platte River Trails Trust has agreed to donate land to the city for the project, on the condition that funding for the improvements are secured within […]
Posted inCommunity
Re-zoning of Casper property involved in 2015 land swap deal continues
CASPER, Wyo. — East Elkhorn Ranch received a 2.8 acre portion of land from the City of Casper in a 2015 land swap deal. The ranch, which was owned by now deceased businessman Mick McMurry, owned property on Casper Mountain. In the land swap deal, mountain land was transferred to the city which is now […]
Posted inCity
Five new Casper police vehicles to get equipment upgrades for $28,045.75
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper Police Department recently purchased five new vehicles for fleet replacement, according to the city. “These vehicles require upgrade and installation of emergency response lighting, communications and power accessories equipment to match the existing police fleet equipment package,” the city says. The city council authorized a $28,045.75 contract with Communications Technologies, […]
Posted inCity
Casper Electric to replace various city light fixtures for $197,950
CASPER, Wyo. — Casper Electric, Inc. has been chosen to complete a 2020 Lighting Replacements project for the City of Casper. The city is also asking the public to help identify problematic street lights. The city council approved a $197,950 contract with the company during their Tuesday, Jan. 21 meeting. An additional $15,000 has been […]
Posted inPolitics
Barrasso opposed to hearing more witnesses in Trump impeachment trial, says Republicans ‘impartial’
CASPER, Wyo. — United States Senator John Barrasso says that Republicans “will be impartial” in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Barrasso doesn’t think any more witnesses need to be heard from in the proceedings. He says that Democrats claim in their impeachment brief “that evidence against President Trump is overwhelming.” “If that […]
Posted inAnimals
Grizzly bear and human conflict potential on the rise in Wyoming, 33 captured in 2019
CASPER, Wyo. — The potential for conflicts between grizzly bears and humans is on the rise in Wyoming, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Despite the conflict potential increasing, 2019 saw “a significant decrease in grizzly bear conflict activities and subsequent management actions by the Game and Fish compared to 2018 due to […]
Posted inWeather
‘Brief burst of heavy snow’ forecast for parts of Wyoming Wednesday
CASPER, Wyo. — “Brief bursts of heavy snow” are forecast to occur on Wednesday, Jan. 22 in parts of Wyoming. The National Weather Service in Riverton say that the snow showers may occur over the north and east of the state. The Big Horn basin, southeast Johnson County and parts of Natrona County could see […]
Posted inCity
$2.45 million contract to replace ice plant at Casper Ice Arena approved
CASPER, Wyo. — With failure of the Casper Ice Arena’s ice plant “imminent,” the city is moving forward with plans for replacement. The city council approved a $2,452,200 contract to replace the ice chiller system during their Tuesday, Jan. 21 meeting. The contract was awarded to Casper-based Haass Contruction Co. Theirs was the lowest of […]
