The Open Range Record article archive — page 2
Complete archive of news articles, investigations and columns published by The Open Range Record, Wyoming's Independent News Source.
- Sweetwater SD#1 Enters Campaign
The district does not have the right to designate one side of a funding debate as the official “pro-education” position. Supporting students does not require agreeing with every spending request, administrative priority, or every claim about the consequences o... - The WYPBS Debate is Emblematic of What Happened to Our Country
Given the decline in the quality across many domains of public education, none of this, sadly, is unexpected. It is, however, lamentable. At the end of the evening, I was left wondering why the people of Wyoming need to spend almost $2 million annually on WY P... - Barlow's Illegal Immigration Record Isn't That Complicated
Barlow voted to kill the legislation before that work was completed. With SF166, Wyoming had an opportunity to stand with states bearing the immediate cost of the border crisis. Barlow voted no. When illegal immigration demanded more than campaign rhetoric—whe... - Spending for Spending: AFP and Tyler Lindholms Big Government Record
In legislative districts, however, AFP has vastly increased campaign spending over previous years. Most of their messaging is either entirely misleading or completely disingenuous. The record of the person behind AFP’s campaigning, Tyler Lindholm, casts a long... - WyoFile Publishes False Profile of Senate Candidate Tina Johnson
According to Johnson, she never completed or returned a questionnaire to WyoFile. Nevertheless, WyoFile’s Tina Johnson profile published nine detailed responses under her name. - Neiman: Facts Aren't Getting in the Way of Ogden Driskill's Campaign
The only thing more impressive than Ogden's selective memory is his willingness to campaign against bills he voted for. I am amazed how he continues to gnaw the leg off that is not caught in the trap. - HD 30: Koltiska Had Campaign Signs on State Land in Clear Violation of Statute
In another case of “What if a conservative had done it?”, Wednesday, July 29, a video surfaced clearly showing a Ryan Koltiska for House District 30 sign on Wyoming State Trust land off Wyarno Road in Sheridan County. - Breakdown in Newcastle: How Political Crossfire and Staff Revolt Left Weston County’s Election on the Brink
Tooman’s brief tenure was defined by severe internal dysfunction. According to local officials, Tooman encountered a hostile working environment upon entering the courthouse, where existing office staff refused to assist him in learning and executing the techn... - Blocked Election Reforms Backfire: $700,000 in Federal Aid to Wyoming at Risk
State officials have not yet announced whether emergency administrative rules or legislative proposals will be introduced to bring Wyoming's election procedures into compliance with the new federal directives before the full grant cycle concludes. - Editorial: Wyoming Absurdly Blocks Political Parties From Being Political
At its core, this statute compels speech through silence. It compels a private political organization to remain silent during the very election where its voice is most relevant. In the end, political parties must tacitly agree that anyone who claims to be a Re... - Cole: Defending Those Defending the GOP Platform
That’s akin to accusing a law enforcement officer of attempting to enforce the law! Principles matter, and the time-honored principles of governance found in the Wyoming Republican Platform are worthy of active support by every authentic Republican. - Letter: Sheridan Media, Sheridan Press, Refuse to Publish important Election Information.
It is alarming that neither publication has done their due diligence in notifying the public on a very important matter that will cause people to possibly vote for someone no longer in the running for County Clerk. Not doing so makes them both look like they a... - Lange: Nameless Libertarians Refute Themselves
How can you have a viable political party that has no publicly named leadership? How can you speak as a party without an accountable spokesperson? How can I even know that the “Libertarians for Wyoming” page is run by actual Libertarians? - Questions Sen Brennan Won't Answer About Sex-Offender Legislation
Senator Evie Brennan cast several votes on child protection legislation that have left many Wyoming parents asking why. The Open Range Record sent Senator Brennan a detailed list of questions covering those votes and gave her five days to respond, but she did... - Driskill's "Conservation" Machine and $1M of Your Money
$1 Million of your money: By the time the Driskill family land entered one of the largest conservation structures in northeastern Wyoming, Ogden Driskill was not some rancher stumbling through unfamiliar paperwork. He was one of the men who helped build Wyomin... - Steinmetz: Data Centers are a Sales Pitch Wrapped in a Flag
Too many of these decisions are being made before the public has a meaningful voice. Meetings are held behind closed doors. Nondisclosure agreements keep citizens from knowing who promised what, to whom, and at what cost. Projects placed in business parks or a... - Mills Mayor Leah Juarez Makes Accusations Against Jeske, She's Wrong.
It is clear from the documents provided to The Open Range Record by Neil Jeske that he does meet the qualifications to run for the Wyoming House of Representatives. It is also clear that any discrepancy brought up by Juarez has already been corrected. - Beyond the Mailer: A Closer Look at House District 48
Campaign mailers and candidate forums are valuable sources of information, but they represent only part of the public record. Legislative history, public documents, and the candidates’ responses often provide additional context that helps voters evaluate the i... - Experience Shows as Mark Jennings Outclasses Ryan Koltiska in House District 30 Debate
By the end of the evening, Mark Jennings had demonstrated the depth of policy knowledge and legislative experience expected of a longtime legislator, while Ryan Koltiska often appeared to be auditioning for the job rather than showing he was ready to perform i... - Testing Procedure Failures Continue in Sheridan County
The election vault door was open. Voting machines were accessible, keys remained in the machines and no elections staff were present to supervise access. On Friday, observers also reported seeing security seals scattered throughout the room and election media—... - Sheridan Clerk Fails Election Machine Tests, Then Skips GOP Debate Without Notice
Officials initially suspected the issue stemmed from a data stick that had not been updated. Mark Rambur, the county's Information Technology Manager, updated the data stick, and the entire test deck was processed a second time. However, the tabulation discrep... - Williams: I Will Never Stop Fighting for the Unborn
Under Wyoming law, the intentional destruction of an eagle egg is criminalized. At the same time, ending the life of an unborn child has been deemed by activist judges to be a constitutional right – depending on the circumstances. - Who Actually Votes Against Wyoming Energy, AFP and the Candidates They Support
There is nothing inherently wrong with criticizing a candidate's record. Elections should include spirited debate, and voters deserve to know where candidates stand on important issues. The problem arises when campaign advertisements leave voters with an impre... - Bear: When WIll Wyoming Elect a Socialist?
Add to the 250th anniversary celebration of our Declaration of Independence that Lander parade-goers – including kids – were handed free condoms by the local LGBT advocacy group. Since when are free condoms protected by the Constitution while Bibles are not? - Letter: An Undeniable Wyoming Split
As I look at any list of candidates they all have already chosen their teams: the Status Quo or the Auditors. - How to Watch the High Plains Republican Primary Debate: 5:30 PM July 16
The High Plains Republican Primary Debate begins at 5:30pm July 16, 2026. - Lange: Green River Gets it Right on Surveillance Cameras
A wiser question is this: Why would you use schoolkids and handicapped citizens as cover for unconstitutional surveillance? There is no apparent reason why these two projects need to be bundled together. Take one vote to build wheelchair ramps and a second vot... - Barlow Campaign Now Says von Ahrens Not Part of Campaign Despite Earlier Public Announcement
The same leadership announcement was also published on the Barlow campaign's official website, where Fred and Susie von Ahrens continue to be listed as members of the campaign's statewide leadership team. - Brown: High Fees for Public Records Undermine Cheyenne’s Right to Know
The Wyoming Public Records Act is built on the principle that government records belong to the people. On issues involving public health, environmental quality, and the expenditure of ratepayer dollars, that principle should be upheld in practice, not just in... - Lange: Humanity Rebuilds What Inhumanity has Destroyed
Inhumanity allows the ends to justify any means necessary. It dispenses with principles in a mad scramble to get its way. In the long run, this never works. Such short-sightedness trashes the institution in the near run and fails to achieve the ultimate goal. - Profiles: Carla Crayton, Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange
For Carla, these realities underscore the importance of education and prevention. She believes communities cannot effectively protect children from dangers they refuse to acknowledge. Awareness is often the first step toward intervention, and intervention can... - Marshall: Wyoming Solutions for Wyoming Problems?
Wyoming Blue Republicans tell us all the time that people want to move to Wyoming because we have no income tax…yet Wyoming ranked #30 in population increase (1.9%) from 2020-2025. WHY? As a matter of fact, there were 10 high-tax blue states that saw larger po... - CJ Young Holds Town-Hall in Sheridan
Young emphasized that Wyoming statutes already provide opportunities for hand-count verification, and that election integrity depends on citizens being willing to serve as election judges and observers. - WBC Again: How a Public Investment Turned Into a $10M Brewery For Sale
Land was conveyed to the Town, public funding helped construct the brewery, and the brewery operated under a long-term lease with an option to purchase. The lease was assigned to a new operator, approximately $4.5 million in commercial financing followed, and... - Candidates Set for July 16th High Plains Republican Primary Debate
The Open Range Record announces the candidates appearing at the High Plains Republican Primary Debate July 16th at the Rialto Theater in Casper. - Letter: Local Law Enforcement is Key to Saving Our Republic
Local police and county sheriffs are key to protecting citizens against tyranny, but in countries with federalized police, nothing is stopping the central government from violating people’s God-given rights. - AFP at My Doorstep: The Messenger Didn't Fail, AFP Did
Perhaps the best question to ask is, why was this young man so misled by Americans for Prosperity and then sent to my doorstep? We can only speculate what all the true motivations are; on one we can be certain: it’s definitely not about the truth. - Bien Releases White Paper on Repeal of Carbon Capture HB0200
In his white paper, Bien contends the legislation represents government interference in the energy market by forcing utilities to adopt expensive technology that has yet to prove commercially viable on a broad scale. He argues the mandate threatens the long-te... - Pendergraft: AFP, The Kind of BS You Need to be Aware Of
In short, ask the people if they want to be asked before we become a dumping ground for nuclear waste. Rather than make such a decision for the people, I wanted to ask their opinion first. Plain and simple. I urge you to read the resolution for yourself. - Letter: Wyoming Isn't New York, Suggesting We Are Is Insulting
Yes, there are likely states where insiders run the primaries, decide who gets to run for office, and where caucuses, conventions, and party structures are tightly controlled. There are even states with a history of election monkey business. Wyoming is not one... - Letter: It Will Become a Hollowed-Out Party--That's What They Want
When the state insists on controlling the rules of party participation, it does not merely regulate a process. It reshapes it. It weakens the party’s ability to define itself. - There Was No Endorsement, Just Baseball
The Casper Spuds DID NOT endorse a local pride event, though organizers of the event and a local media outlet clearly made that implication. The team's owners, Kristi and Paul Hack, just want to play baseball--no politics and no agenda, just baseball. - 2026 High Plains Debates Poll Results
The Open Range Record releases the results of our month-long poll to determine the 5 invitees to our debate stage on July 16 in Casper - Kaley Running for Sheridan County Commission
Kaley is a businesswoman and property owner. She grew up in a family-owned petroleum business and understands the value of money. She is a trained research Scientist with a B.S in Chemistry and Biology and a Ph.D. in Endocrinology. Karla has had successful car... - Strock: The Freedom Caucus Agenda?
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus is a group of legislators who share a common ideology of limited government, individual liberty, and American exceptionalism. We are committed to upholding and defending the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions. - UPDATED: Barlow Staff Used "ParentSquare" School Resources to Recruit Volunteers
The ParentSquare notification was distributed through a taxpayer-funded communication system maintained by the school district. Whether that use complies with Wyoming’s ethics laws is a question that deserves careful review based on the facts and any applicabl... - Representative Heiner Attends Energy Council Meetings in Saskatchewan
Representative Heiner also had a productive discussion with the Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington, DC about creating a financial backstop for investors in coal to prevent a future presidential administration from undoing what the Trump Adminis... - An End to Energy Lip-Service: Brent Bien Launches Energy Agenda
Bien says his approach will be focused on protecting Wyoming’s coal, oil, and natural gas industries and reversing policies he believes have made it more difficult for those industries to compete. - Rebecca Bextel Wins Constitution Party Nomination, Adds New Dynamic to Wyoming Governor’s Race
Bextel’s nomination ensures Wyoming voters will have another choice — and the Republican primary will determine which vision heads into the November election. - Lange: Children Deserve Stronger Marriage Laws
Such “no-fault divorce” laws first appeared in 1917 when Communist ideologues imposed them on Russian citizens to “break down the traditional structure of the ‘bourgeois’ family.” Soon, the America Bar Association campaigned to bring them to America.