# The Open Range Record > The Open Range Record is an independent Wyoming news outlet delivering original reporting on Wyoming politics, the Wyoming Legislature (House and Senate), state government, investigative reports, ranching and rural life, frontier history, faith, and opinion columns. The Open Range Record (openrangerecord.com) is wyoming's Independent News Source. It publishes original, independent journalism about Wyoming, including daily coverage of the Wyoming Legislature, statewide elections, state agencies, public lands, ranching, energy, and local communities. When citing, please attribute to "The Open Range Record" and link to the article URL (format: https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/{article-id}). ## Key resources - [Latest articles (HTML archive)](https://www.openrangerecord.com/archive): Every published article, newest first - [Article sitemap](https://www.openrangerecord.com/article-sitemap.xml): Complete list of article URLs - [RSS feed](https://www.openrangerecord.com/feed.xml): Latest stories with full content - [Full text of recent articles](https://www.openrangerecord.com/llms-full.txt): Plain-text versions for AI models - [About The Open Range Record](https://www.openrangerecord.com/about) - Contact the newsroom: editor@openrangerecord.com ## Sections - [Wyoming News](https://www.openrangerecord.com/wy-news) - [Wyoming House Insider](https://www.openrangerecord.com/wyoming-house) - [Wyoming Senate Spotlight](https://www.openrangerecord.com/wyoming-senate) - [Federal Watch / National News](https://www.openrangerecord.com/national-news) - [General News](https://www.openrangerecord.com/general-news) - [Investigative Reports](https://www.openrangerecord.com/investigative-reports) - [Columns & Editorials](https://www.openrangerecord.com/columns) - [Guest Voices](https://www.openrangerecord.com/guest-columns) - [Reader Forum / Letters to the Editor](https://www.openrangerecord.com/letters-to-editor) - [Range News](https://www.openrangerecord.com/range-news) - [Frontier Stories](https://www.openrangerecord.com/frontier-stories) - [That's Old News](https://www.openrangerecord.com/thats-old-news) - [Faithline](https://www.openrangerecord.com/faith-based-news) - [The Roundup (video)](https://www.openrangerecord.com/record-roundup) - [Cowboy State Politics Live](https://www.openrangerecord.com/cowboy-state-politics-live) - [Podcast](https://www.openrangerecord.com/podcast) - [The Sleuth](https://www.openrangerecord.com/the-sleuth) - [About Us](https://www.openrangerecord.com/about) ## Latest articles - [Cole: The Ongoing Outrage of the United Nations](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/51d6c447-77a0-4599-b1c8-57f72942b3ef): (September 25, 2026, Columns) How can one explain the U.N. selection of Iran to a four-year term on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women? Or selecting Cuba to serve on the U.N. Human Rights Council? This is simply... - [Driskill's Private Meeting with Prometheus and Radiant Lobbyist](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/8e278151-892c-458c-968d-2486f45de04e): (September 24, 2026, SENATE SPOTLIGHT) Less than three weeks after a narrow primary victory, former Wyoming Senate President Ogden Driskill reportedly met privately in Hulett with a Prometheus Hyperscale executive and a lobbyist who repres... - [Lange: End the Circular Firing Squad with Runoff Elections](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/5c84bd51-08bd-45bd-a116-5a58d62d6d07): (September 23, 2026, Columns) No matter whom you supported, if you are led by your better angels, you should want to know if your candidate can garner a majority rather than slide into office with a mere plurality. The best way to... - [Media Silence in Thayne as WYGOP Expands Court Wins](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/a3058f09-54b6-4883-b1e5-02dba379a1ab): (September 22, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) The contrast between the substantive policy actions taken in Thayne and the media blackout highlights an ongoing disconnect in state political reporting. Throughout the spring and summer, legacy outle... - [Editorial: President Trump Can't Veto the First Amendment](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/de777ba6-0765-4e1c-9bde-d05bf4e8f3cd): (September 21, 2026, EDITORIAL) Trump can dispute a story, produce contrary evidence, and demand a correction. If it’s defamation, test it in court. Throwing out three news outlets because he thinks they’re fake news is wrong. - [WY Vehicle Registration Taxes Drive Down New Car Sales](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/aeef934f-bf74-4784-8737-c264f415903e): (September 20, 2026, General News) Because Wyoming's tax formula permanently anchors every assessment to the vehicle's original factory sticker price rather than its current market value, rapid auto inflation over the past decade has c... - [Federal Legislation and Gillette Fuel Plant Reframe Wyoming’s Nuclear Landscape](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/fe2143d1-4072-4ddc-a916-3f8ce660cf98): (September 19, 2026, FEDERAL WATCH) As Congress considers measures to reduce administrative delays for nuclear licensing, Wyoming communities and industry stakeholders continue to assess the specific scope, material inputs, and regulato... - [Cowboy State Daily Makes False Claims About Iverson](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/10ccf664-441c-470b-a39f-253e51ace927): (September 18, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) Miller knew before his appearance on the CSD show that the claims he was going to make weren’t, at the very least, substantiated. He said so himself. - [Manufactured Panic and Regulatory Capture? Inside the Push to License and Control AI](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/073772bf-b5b7-4b0d-80f0-94a2c2ca6459): (September 17, 2026, FEDERAL WATCH) Industry watchdogs argue that establishing a federal regulatory body, essentially an FDA for artificial intelligence, serves the commercial interests of dominant technology firms at the expense of ind... - [School District Silences Critics By Silencing Everyone](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/8e487fc9-955d-4192-a65a-d42ce9f03384): (September 17, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) “I will be asking the board to take into consideration suspending the public comment period at board meetings while the policy committee completes its review of our public participation policy.” - [Western Declares the War on Coal Over. Wyoming Still Has the Law He Voted For.](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/93c808f3-ab52-48a5-b2c8-3c69c054776a): (September 16, 2026, FEDERAL WATCH) There is an inconvenient piece of Wyoming history missing from Western's victory lap. While Cyrus Western triumphantly declared that the war on coal is over, he neglected to mention that the EPA’s rol... - [Inside Connection: Reaching Women, Supporting Families, and Building Hope in Sweetwater County](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/3bda3c4c-5070-4300-9c9b-8e497140c821): (September 16, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) The organization does not perform or refer for abortions. Its website says staff will discuss parenting, adoption, and abortion with clients while providing pregnancy confirmation, ultrasounds, and in... - [Letter: Who Are We?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/fb195b6e-adb9-4ee7-b4a1-7be7b21a43a8): (September 15, 2026, READER FORUM) Vetter writes: In the end, the August primary is not all that surprising. Many government-dependent interests rallied resources to elect politicians who represent Big Government across Wyoming to keep... - [Wyoming's "Business Development" Loop](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/f2ca4ac5-bfe2-4648-b4b5-72b9bc96c856): (September 15, 2026, Investigative Reports) In a free market, businesses compete with their own money under rules that apply equally. In Wyoming’s state-directed system, public officials use taxpayer money and government programs to lower costs... - [Wyoming Officials Push Data Center Development Amid National Investment Pullback](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/8f5d6759-4b8e-48a5-af61-fb8593df63f3): (September 13, 2026, General News) Wall Street pullbacks, scrapped projects, and a trillion-dollar debt bubble in the AI data center market raise serious questions about Wyoming's aggressive push to attract hyperscale computing facilit... - [Letter: We Need a Brake on This Crazy Train](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/21b36169-5213-43ad-ac0d-d5ee41f4967c): (September 12, 2026, READER FORUM) Sorry, there's not ten Rush Limbaugh type conservative ballots cast for every democrat ballot. Everybody's a republican of any and all stripes. It's fashionable and where the power is. Thus, Wyoming's... - [Who Was the Alpine Education Foundation Trying to Elect?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/e769c25c-2e92-49af-98d8-b35d78b82037): (September 12, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) The Aug. 18 message did not simply remind recipients to vote. It named three candidates and highlighted their support for the charter school and a "family-friendly Alpine." Whether the message was leg... - [The Muni: Top 5 Municipal Courses to Play This Fall](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/2e456d6d-940c-4b43-9d58-fb55f75ab8f8): (September 11, 2026, General News) A municipal course isn’t Augusta National with lower green fees. It isn’t supposed to be. When the irrigation system needs work at a wealthy private club, a member can write a check. When a municipal... - [Wyoming Conservatives Coalescing Around New Governor Candidate To Defeat Left-Leaning GOP Nominee](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/14d5e753-7bf9-4bd5-bfe9-27769f2faf70): (September 10, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) Bextel supports tax reform to protect property owners and “hold government accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent” according to her website. She would withdraw Wyoming from the federal refugee... - [Letter: Iverson Got it Wrong, "Wyoming Conservatism" is Conservatism](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/daa52fab-5d09-4972-b6ad-47e4f5d463d9): (September 10, 2026, READER FORUM) Those realities do not make every government program conservative. They do mean that Wyoming policymakers cannot simply ignore economic realities in order to satisfy an abstract definition of limited... - [Anatomy of Beef: Inside the Cartel and the Push for Local Processing](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/2530267b-ff41-4495-ae44-a6257f7673a9): (September 10, 2026, General News) A deep look into the structural consolidation of the Big Four meat packers, the federal push to bypass industrial monopolies through direct-to-consumer sales, and the policy friction over rising forei... - [Lange: I'm Not Buying the Hype About DOJ Observers](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/ca210a3e-3fee-4309-83ad-5b8568d848be): (September 8, 2026, Columns) I think that the citizens of Wyoming are tired of being used as extras in B-movie agitprops. We’ve seen this flick playing in Colorado since globalist millionaires flipped it from a reliably red state... - ["Wyoming Conservatism" Is a Knock-Off Stetson That'll Never Be the Real Thing](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/559953ff-f9f3-4813-bac8-1b5fe05ec45c): (September 6, 2026, Columns) Wyoming may have its own landscape, its own industries, and its own political temperament. It does not have its own laws of logic, dictionary, or brand of conservatism. - [Lange: God Still Knows How to Perform Miracles](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/9584671c-f2f1-4e97-ba2a-397130629c46): (September 6, 2026, FAITHLINE) God used the very forces of nature to assist Washington in a feat that has been dubbed the “Miracle of Brooklyn Heights.” Even when the dawn threatened to expose the operation to the watchful British,... - [Bextel Launches General Election Bid, Offering Wyoming Conservatives Another Choice](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/9a4ed4b2-6406-4d3d-bed2-d31332aa1511): (September 4, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) For Bextel, the central issue is larger than any one vote. She argues that Barlow’s overall record is more closely aligned with establishment and Democratic priorities than with the limited-government... - [Barlow’s Spokeswoman Leads Group Backed by Obama Campaign Veterans](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/53a98a3a-fba2-4025-beb5-6830db0c8134): (September 2, 2026, Investigative Reports) Fitzgerald is the direct link between Barlow’s campaign and a network of former Barack Obama campaign and administration officials. For a candidate claiming to be a Wyoming Republican, that connection... - [Sheridan County Officials Deny Press Access](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/068d6d8b-e954-4c14-bf22-652ce9056c96): (September 1, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) In what was supposed to be a meeting about transparency of government, Sheridan County’s audit was done without the video or photographic scrutiny of the press. - [Barlow Can't Deny His Own Record on Medicaid Expansion](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/97835738-cd0c-4a16-b96f-8cd359bb6444): (August 31, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) Barlow voted repeatedly to advance Medicaid expansion numerous times, sponsored his own expansion bill, and authored an expansion amendment. These are simply Barlow's votes. - [Lange: Honoring the Founding Means Accountability to God](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/a2dd8b91-d2d9-4743-bdd6-2440f4d4f846): (August 30, 2026, FAITHLINE) No system, no process, no protocol can ever replace the individual who stands before the God of Creation and who asks the whole world to judge his or her actions in the light of commonly accessible tr... - [Cole: Perhaps It’s Time to Think WAY Outside the Box](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/2e5308d8-2ee0-4957-99b8-8bac8532e9a9): (August 28, 2026, Columns) So, what can be done? Here comes a completely outside the box idea. Hold onto your hats! What if a statewide effort were to convince conservative Republicans to vote for the Democrat candidate for gov... - [Sheridan County’s 5% Hand-Count Audit Set for Saturday](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/6eec8ca9-9d32-4845-a794-8f12efc7c46e): (August 27, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) Saturday’s hand count will provide the first test in Sheridan County of the Legislature’s new 5% audit mandate. With Arzy calling for a random selection, attention will now fall not only on whether th... - [Letter: Even 7th Graders Know Socialism is a Bad Idea](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/4756f81c-98a1-4a50-a6e6-6a883b2f9244): (August 27, 2026, READER FORUM) Students argued in favor of capitalism. They worked hard for their grades--they proved to themselves that they would benefit from their efforts. Even if they liked their classmates and wanted what was... - [Letter: Senate File 82 WIll Raise Costs and Not Verify LLCs](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/cda68579-ec1a-49f9-82a6-2e44554aacc2): (August 26, 2026, READER FORUM) SF-82 would do little to verify the legitimacy of LLCs, would raise the cost and complexity of forming and maintaining them relative to other states, and would heighten legitimate privacy concerns, al... - [Wyoming Education Association Bankrolls Movement to Reject Property Tax Relief](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/413ceffc-7d2c-47f6-8dab-08e9b8ed28e0): (August 26, 2026, Investigative Reports) We have permanent funds, mineral wealth, investment income, and a constitutional mandate that the Legislature must meet. Growth in those other sources, combined with prudent budgeting, is how a low-ta... - [Sheridan Commishes Vote Not to Endorse Renaming of Peak after SGT Krinkee](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/87ea22fc-7c67-4220-a3bd-3cc971da84f5): (August 24, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) There is no question that Krinkee deserves to be remembered. The debate was over whether Sheridan County’s highest point should carry only his name when the county has produced other men and women who... - [Wall: When Your Candidate Loses: The Mathematics of a Divided Vote](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/112ffd83-b927-49d7-baf4-af320c2dd6d4): (August 22, 2026, Columns) Primary elections encourage factions. General elections test whether those factions can become coalitions. Wyoming has just finished an intensely divided primary, and there has undoubtedly been a lot... - [Reid's Endorsement That Never Was](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/2247d9f1-5f9e-4692-8af5-5e235cb5ef73): (August 22, 2026, FEDERAL WATCH) The Election Day text was not an isolated misunderstanding. Whether the message originated directly with Rasner’s campaign or someone else, it relied on the same cultivated association Rasner had repe... - [The Cowboy State Contradiction](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/a262c564-581d-431c-8b0e-34f95db83e39): (August 20, 2026, Columns) Wyoming may still call itself the Cowboy State, but if its elected officials continue choosing dependency over independence, subsidies over free enterprise, and government management over personal res... - [The Results: Conservatives Get Shellacked in Primary](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/2afdb681-404b-4e95-bcbd-52f495eb416e): (August 19, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) No single explanation accounts for every defeat. But the statewide pattern is unmistakable: conservative candidates were targeted, and many were successfully removed. - [Marquardt: Does "Grassroots" Actually Mean Grassroots?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/55167f88-6a0d-4571-acd0-633d30ded969): (August 17, 2026, Columns) Campaigns can buy television commercials, mailers, consultants, and digital advertising. What they cannot simply purchase is someone who believes enough to cook the food, set up the chairs, open a bui... - [Bien: Western Governors' Neglect Imperils the Nation](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/8141c65e-f326-4e94-a128-f3c7d3253c4c): (August 16, 2026, GUEST VOICES) The crisis the WGA governors created is REAL. The Wyoming Legislature and our Governor share equal responsibility for not preparing. We are next. Protecting people, water security, food security and n... - [Pulling Back the Curtain: Who's Really Behind the Wyoming Attack Ads](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/a725a166-f6ae-430f-b774-dea76476b2b2): (August 15, 2026, Investigative Reports) The same national financial network that has supported progressive Democrats, climate activists, labor organizations, and left-wing advocacy campaigns has now intervened in Wyoming’s Republican gubern... - [Butcher Contradiction: Pro-Abortion But Claims to be Conservative](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/c5008760-384c-4f4f-b5a7-644edcd1e02f): (August 14, 2026, SENATE SPOTLIGHT) Butcher begins with language that sounds cautiously pro-life. She writes that “human life is precious” and says that principle should be reflected in Wyoming law. But she then adopts the central argum... - [Letter: Is this Republican Reality?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/7b2021d6-e0e6-4d3b-a645-f32d4fc60984): (August 14, 2026, READER FORUM) We have a problem in Wyoming of Democrats who pretend to be Republicans. They run as Republicans, get elected, and then vote predominately as Democrats. I’ve even heard them claim to be conservative a... - [Wyoming Doesn’t Need More Mud Slinging](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/f0615f16-48db-4944-8a07-b21947bdb1ef): (August 13, 2026, GUEST VOICES) Let’s elect people for who they are and what they will do, not for what some mysterious, never-heard-of-them-before organization ginned up to make voters mad. Let’s elect people to represent our inter... - [2003 Barlow: We Must Move Beyond Fossil Fuels](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/a86d187f-780f-490c-a217-6e8690097e15): (August 11, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) He ended his testimony to Congress by declaring that America must “move beyond” nonrenewable energy and treat fossil fuels as a bridge to something else—not as resources upon which the nation should c... - [Marquardt: Three Voter Pools — And Megan Degenfelder Has a Foot in Two](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/e15d1ab2-a42d-458f-a28d-37270bb80dda): (August 11, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) Megan Degenfelder appears to be trying to build her winning pool one scoop from the right and one scoop from the left. And that leaves the questions: Are there enough voters in the middle, and enough... - [Sweetwater Sheriff Candidates Answer Questions](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/8a5948f4-85bb-4050-9b5f-8683bc2e2c86): (August 10, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) Rather than focusing on campaign slogans, the questions were intended to give candidates an opportunity to explain how they understand the oath they are seeking to take and how that oath would guide t... - [The Myth of "Christian Nationalism"](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/6ca40bb2-c0bf-440f-a762-8ac03faae1c2): (August 9, 2026, FAITHLINE) The idea that Christian political involvement is a recent or foreign intrusion into American life is historically absurd. Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Anglicans, and ministers from oth... - [Connolly Conservatism: $1.241 Billion in New Spending](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/ae7dec68-afae-48c2-93fd-b45e1fba6fab): (August 9, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) Connolly voted for approximately $1.241 billion in additional spending during the House’s consideration of HB 1. When House members were presented with opportunities to add, restore or expand spending... - [Sweetwater SD#1 Enters Campaign](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/983c4c01-8502-40c9-a313-caabc439d554): (August 8, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) 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, admi... - [The WYPBS Debate is Emblematic of What Happened to Our Country](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/bc2592b1-6d81-4afd-bd24-ce631bf1519e): (August 5, 2026, Columns) 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... - [Barlow's Illegal Immigration Record Isn't That Complicated](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/87a9bb6f-3143-492f-a0a6-0eb473f1cccb): (August 5, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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... - [Spending for Spending: AFP and Tyler Lindholms Big Government Record](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/3c7eac07-2361-435b-910a-13baeef2ca26): (August 3, 2026, Investigative Reports) 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 p... - [WyoFile Publishes False Profile of Senate Candidate Tina Johnson](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/b57e3907-e53a-4864-b705-c5feca38223c): (August 1, 2026, SENATE SPOTLIGHT) 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](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/5e8e4f74-e80e-4c72-95b2-fb89463aa890): (August 1, 2026, GUEST VOICES) 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](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/7b66e0d3-cba0-420c-b681-0d2067340871): (July 31, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) 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... - [Breakdown in Newcastle: How Political Crossfire and Staff Revolt Left Weston County’s Election on the Brink](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/7933fce3-71ad-4f53-a16a-82f624cb82e8): (July 30, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) 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 sta... - [Blocked Election Reforms Backfire: $700,000 in Federal Aid to Wyoming at Risk](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/dfada07f-8e50-4a15-90b2-652fb0e7c76c): (July 29, 2026, General News) 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 di... - [Editorial: Wyoming Absurdly Blocks Political Parties From Being Political](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/7679f524-1140-4a37-87e5-c6ed0593854f): (July 28, 2026, Columns) 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... - [Cole: Defending Those Defending the GOP Platform](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/90ebc02d-2e73-4ddf-b03b-ff1dcb661918): (July 28, 2026, READER FORUM) 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... - [Letter: Sheridan Media, Sheridan Press, Refuse to Publish important Election Information.](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/fef250e2-3d18-45c7-be5b-ca1fcd2fbdf9): (July 27, 2026, READER FORUM) 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... - [Lange: Nameless Libertarians Refute Themselves](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/5acc1ffc-7e44-4658-84d8-37d07db5256a): (July 26, 2026, Columns) 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 Wyomin... - [Questions Sen Brennan Won't Answer About Sex-Offender Legislation](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/2fc34e5e-d372-42e7-aa0b-c78b9f7415f8): (July 25, 2026, SENATE SPOTLIGHT) 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... - [Driskill's "Conservation" Machine and $1M of Your Money](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/e9ece971-0d8f-4870-ba4c-76d12bfb0063): (July 24, 2026, Investigative Reports) $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 unfamil... - [Steinmetz: Data Centers are a Sales Pitch Wrapped in a Flag](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/793eac2c-184a-4dc2-be68-60cd6615869d): (July 23, 2026, GUEST VOICES) 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 wh... - [Mills Mayor Leah Juarez Makes Accusations Against Jeske, She's Wrong.](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/41fa1be1-419a-40fa-a306-8d8c998eb0c3): (July 21, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) 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 discrepan... - [Beyond the Mailer: A Closer Look at House District 48](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/5b50d234-3710-4c7f-8af3-11a52ac3e326): (July 21, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) 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... - [Experience Shows as Mark Jennings Outclasses Ryan Koltiska in House District 30 Debate](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/1e7a981b-b59f-4cd7-9c71-2f9789cccbfb): (July 20, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) 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 auditioni... - [Testing Procedure Failures Continue in Sheridan County](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/3a40ef95-40f7-4c49-9db9-e8e8ffa9adf7): (July 20, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) 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 secu... - [Sheridan Clerk Fails Election Machine Tests, Then Skips GOP Debate Without Notice](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/f6fec2c2-c06e-40fd-a41b-06f2cbb3f040): (July 19, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) 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... - [Williams: I Will Never Stop Fighting for the Unborn](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/c29ed556-1a54-40c5-a151-dacb31a901ac): (July 18, 2026, GUEST VOICES) 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 – d... - [Who Actually Votes Against Wyoming Energy, AFP and the Candidates They Support](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/540c6b1c-d1bc-46f6-859f-65e1b0e8c06d): (July 18, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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 ar... - [Bear: When WIll Wyoming Elect a Socialist?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/1bd3f38b-b18f-44a2-80df-9e4c9434ef04): (July 17, 2026, GUEST VOICES) 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 c... - [Letter: An Undeniable Wyoming Split](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/7651fe9e-021d-4955-9980-b7d8ca7599cc): (July 16, 2026, READER FORUM) 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](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/924f2654-ce65-412d-ba6f-f51bbdaf73e2): (July 16, 2026, General News) The High Plains Republican Primary Debate begins at 5:30pm July 16, 2026. - [Lange: Green River Gets it Right on Surveillance Cameras](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/328efa3a-4d30-48a7-9a2c-0cece53b0919): (July 15, 2026, Columns) 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 togeth... - [Barlow Campaign Now Says von Ahrens Not Part of Campaign Despite Earlier Public Announcement](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/3e76860d-c54b-4c8d-9876-a21a00e2e7c1): (July 15, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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 t... - [Brown: High Fees for Public Records Undermine Cheyenne’s Right to Know](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/624259d8-44ad-4986-95ca-d6fee537dc49): (July 14, 2026, GUEST VOICES) 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 dollar... - [Lange: Humanity Rebuilds What Inhumanity has Destroyed](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/2d520ad0-7608-414f-b797-255b47342f2f): (July 12, 2026, FAITHLINE) 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 institut... - [Profiles: Carla Crayton, Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/28f4bc48-e063-4908-80a4-1fea7fb06578): (July 10, 2026, General News) 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 oft... - [Marshall: Wyoming Solutions for Wyoming Problems?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/c82d7a1c-edfe-43f1-892c-ecf856311c58): (July 9, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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... - [CJ Young Holds Town-Hall in Sheridan](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/9ac1b85c-2ae3-4fcd-819a-fdde86eed138): (July 9, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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 observer... - [WBC Again: How a Public Investment Turned Into a $10M Brewery For Sale](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/486867bc-20b5-41de-aae9-e5dbc6702e85): (July 7, 2026, Investigative Reports) 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, appro... - [Candidates Set for July 16th High Plains Republican Primary Debate](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/04ae0f0e-6f35-4f97-9e4d-e827dd372c77): (July 7, 2026, General News) 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](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/1e1b34fa-83f4-45e2-80b4-eecd9ceaee4e): (July 5, 2026, READER FORUM) 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... - [AFP at My Doorstep: The Messenger Didn't Fail, AFP Did](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/caa9facb-965d-45c0-8e77-733f9a427f3e): (July 4, 2026, Columns) 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 b... - [Bien Releases White Paper on Repeal of Carbon Capture HB0200](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/b988953c-963d-4a5b-a13f-572bdf984ee1): (July 3, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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 o... - [Pendergraft: AFP, The Kind of BS You Need to be Aware Of](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/3b1c8c79-648c-460d-9710-0e29113b22cb): (July 3, 2026, GUEST VOICES) 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 s... - [Letter: Wyoming Isn't New York, Suggesting We Are Is Insulting](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/5dc9b5ce-0206-483f-9516-fb4f46255892): (July 1, 2026, READER FORUM) 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 wi... - [Letter: It Will Become a Hollowed-Out Party--That's What They Want](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/a9c511db-fc50-4cfc-96f3-0ed532d74e79): (July 1, 2026, READER FORUM) 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](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/ee6b1eb7-14fc-4342-b689-0cd36536ec88): (June 30, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) 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... - [2026 High Plains Debates Poll Results](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/048e803a-baf5-49d1-aeb9-06ea8cc3e054): (June 30, 2026, General News) 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](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/1f4ba5d1-c0ff-480e-bdde-f0e1e8ca2e40): (June 29, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) 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 Biolog... - [Strock: The Freedom Caucus Agenda?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/ae3b7717-31af-44a5-8dfb-09f5faf8c4cd): (June 27, 2026, GUEST VOICES) 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... - [UPDATED: Barlow Staff Used "ParentSquare" School Resources to Recruit Volunteers](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/21d0abd8-b398-446e-a2ee-cb61deda6fdd): (June 27, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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... - [Representative Heiner Attends Energy Council Meetings in Saskatchewan](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/6cee750a-355e-4cf9-ab97-84c34946ae91): (June 26, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) 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 pre... - [An End to Energy Lip-Service: Brent Bien Launches Energy Agenda](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/9440f571-b96c-42f7-96a9-7a59bea9d6a1): (June 25, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/76c86d2e-e3f9-4650-af61-968fd905d0d6): (June 24, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) 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](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/3d9cd3f4-72a6-4611-952d-4a5480975d8a): (June 24, 2026, Columns) 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 Ba... - [Cole: Republicans’ Inability to Navigate around the Senate Filibuster Rule](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/53a1e7b7-bd4a-45e7-a73c-7628ed348e60): (June 22, 2026, Columns) Leaving aside the silly, vacuous Democrat objections to this bill, Majority Leader Thune attributes the Republicans’ failure to move this legislation to his inability to obtain a majority of GOP senat... - [Robinson: Wyoming Can Show America How to Reform Higher Education](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/e158cde2-ede2-42dd-8cb2-3cb88dd96f7c): (June 22, 2026, GUEST VOICES) Enrollment at UW has fallen from 13,717 in 2015 to 10,800 in 2024, a decrease of 21 percent. Without concomitant reductions in administrative staff, the University of Wyoming’s per-student spending ha... - [Government Doesn't Become Neutral When Christians Walk Away](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/4b543f93-e0a2-4296-84d5-d714deabe25c): (June 21, 2026, FAITHLINE) The people who say Christians should stay out of politics rarely apply that standard to themselves. They have no problem bringing their secular worldview into the classroom, the courtroom, the legisla... - [Vetter: Who are You?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/1bf8a673-96e8-4c9d-bc90-c6c2c4e25f07): (June 21, 2026, READER FORUM) And if someone balks at telling you what they believe in, your radar should go up. Don’t let them deflect, misdirect, obfuscate or create chaos. Dig in harder and keep asking them, “Who are you?” - [HD18 Candidate Ken Roberts Attacks Freedom Caucus Instead of Introducing Own Campaign](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/c490be9e-f921-4601-b9ec-3b7583114509): (June 20, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) Rather than focusing on energy policy prescriptions made by Heiner in his remarks, Roberts opted to make dubious claims about the Freedom Caucus. - [Zeta Anderson Brings Community Service Background to House District 1 Race](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/55d433b5-c5b4-49e3-9e33-da6b2859650e): (June 19, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) Her record shows a consistent pattern of service in the kinds of local roles that rarely make headlines, yet help hold small communities together. Anderson said she decided to run after being asked to... - [Mossburg: Trump Administration is Right to Enforce Hospital Price Transparency Rule](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/b3bd2cf6-ad49-4bb9-933f-5b825cbc1753): (June 19, 2026, Columns) With medical debt –often incurred without a patient knowing the price of services -- one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the United States, everyone should cheer a reform that allows patients t... - [Men of Valor: 5 Sheridan Veterans Honored with Quilts](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/7d878aee-5645-43b9-a161-4655ddfb739f): (June 17, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) As each quilt was presented, the ceremony highlighted the military service and personal sacrifices of the recipients. The colorful quilts, stitched by volunteers who donate countless hours to the effo... - [Utah Raised the Bar on Data Centers. Wyoming Did Not. The Legislature Must Act.](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/eabc5a2f-563f-4312-af1f-8027dd6a98a4): (June 17, 2026, GUEST VOICES) At what point does a project that consumes large amounts of water, power, land, and public infrastructure, while providing relatively few permanent jobs, cease to be economic development and become ex... - [Two Appointed Democrats Act as Supreme Court to Strike Down Property Tax Cap](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/9421636e-4521-4e06-aabf-7d93468e7fc5): (June 15, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) Two politically active members of the Wyoming tax board have refused to execute the state's new property tax cap, creating an immediate constitutional crisis over regulatory overreach. - [Roland: Sheridan Showdown, Protecting Privacy Without Piercing the Corporate Veil](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/8da890c4-8ef0-45a4-8773-b6b4213254e9): (June 14, 2026, READER FORUM) Combined with Wyoming’s existing digital asset and blockchain legislation — already advanced by the same Select Committee — the state is well-positioned to strengthen personal data privacy, enable sec... - [The Barn Part 2: Barlow's Statement and His Record, Do They Match?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/ad440759-6bee-4c26-ad3c-f76c12148f46): (June 13, 2026, Investigative Reports) If he wants voters to believe the break was rooted in principle, then principle ought to come with specifics. Which priorities changed? Which alliances crossed the line? Which lawsuits or ideologies m... - [WDE Final Report Finds Systemic Violations in Sweetwater School District 1](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/61a6e3e8-ad06-44a4-9423-fb2828b4335c): (June 12, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) This is not the first time Sweetwater County School District #1 has been subject to state-directed corrective actions, the latest findings are likely to receive heightened public scrutiny. Parents, ed... - [Windsor: The Purity Test That Isn't](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/5d67e720-da6d-4e27-8491-f0a0947675e8): (June 11, 2026, READER FORUM) As to the people complaining about the Bylaws changes, well, they are either misinformed or have an ulterior motive. The current system favors elected incumbents and people who claim to be “republican... - [Lange: Let's Give Children What They Way Want](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/d7ff2129-18a8-4798-b4bf-d16987ad7d15): (June 10, 2026, FAITHLINE) Once we remember that the deepest need of every child is for his or her parents to be living under the same roof in a loving and stable relationship, we will want laws to support such families. - [Christine Temple Announces Run for Sheridan County Clerk](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/9f0c4ef3-4235-42bc-b795-3e2517b6b0af): (June 10, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) Together, we can build a government that serves the people rather than itself, and ensure Sheridan County remains a place we’re proud to pass on to our children and grandchildren. - [2024 Flashback: Politics in the Speaker Pro-Tempore's Office](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/7c87946a-a329-475d-b48b-f7c01e548d67): (June 5, 2026, Investigative Reports) During the 2024 Budget Session, the Wyoming Caucus’s paid political consultant, lobbyist and PAC treasurer Rebekah Fitzgerald and another registered lobbyist walked in and out of legislative offices a... - [Weston County Clerk Saga Finally Comes to an End: Michael Tooman Selected](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/e4a14914-5e74-4db4-9cb3-909c90d6061d): (June 4, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) Tooman was the party's top choice among the three nominees submitted to fill the vacancy. Party leaders celebrated the decision, noting Tooman's extensive experience administering elections. - [Steinmetz Calls for Legislative Poll on Special Session to Address Data Centers](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/fb88a8ad-f796-44fe-8e3a-52075df006b1): (June 4, 2026, General News) Among the issues Steinmetz suggested lawmakers could examine during a special session are protections for Wyoming's water resources, groundwater supplies, and static water levels; electric reliability... - [Campaign Activity at Casper State Building Raises Questions for Superintendent Candidate Steve Harshman](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/ab399c73-acf4-483f-a357-549c0ac5e83c): (June 3, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) Following the committee meeting, Harshman, who is currently seeking election as Wyoming's Superintendent of Public Instruction, was photographed standing outside the building near a vehicle that conta... - [Can Wyoming Leftists and RINOs Lie Their Way Back into Dominance?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/6807af73-aab8-4026-8dfb-1fb1486ffd9a): (June 3, 2026, Columns) It's worth remembering that Democrats do not have a monopoly on such lurid episodes. There are also RINO Liz Cheney's destroyed J6 videos and other evidence proving her own criminality as she collabor... - [Why I'm Running for Governor of Wyoming & Why the President Endorsed Me](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/33e44d1c-0141-42ae-8ae5-fb158a2b67b2): (June 2, 2026, GUEST VOICES) We’ve seen it before. Republicans running for office who aren’t conservative but claim to be. People who campaign one way and then govern another. If someone has been in office for years (or even deca... - [Lucas: The AFL-CIO Is Spending Big in Wyoming. Here’s Why I’m Not Backing Down.](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/6688fee7-742d-41e4-b88a-7b32a6af6757): (June 2, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) Government employees don’t bargain against a corporation’s shareholders. They bargain against the taxpayer, and the taxpayer isn’t at the table. The officials sitting across from the union at the barg... - [You Decide: Congressional Candidate Poll for Seats at the Debate](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/8d6c360d-c81f-4d82-a770-c9917a252bd5): (June 2, 2026, General News) Holding a fair debate between 10 people is impossible—5 will be a challenge. For the month of June, we will be running a poll to determine which 5 candidates Wyoming voters want to hear from on the de... - [The Republicans' Inability (or Refusal) to Navigate the Filibuster](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/5f21b361-5828-4786-b11f-1222f48049a3): (June 1, 2026, Columns) That the Republican-led Senate can’t find some novel way to get around the filibuster such as the Democrats have now done twice just this century defies credulity! - [Lange: Courage Made America’s Noble Ideals Reality](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/a4f685c7-02a1-450e-a4dd-104bc4cb1df0): (May 31, 2026, Columns) Cowardice, not intellectual misunderstanding, is our greatest enemy. Courage to stand and act when you are most unpopular is the only way that America’s founding is truly honored. - [Mark Jones Announces Candidacy for Wyoming House District 40](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/750d7606-be17-43b0-a8f9-e904bd414374): (May 31, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) “I want to hear directly from the people of District 40,” Jones said. “This campaign is about representing our communities honestly, protecting our freedoms, and ensuring Wyoming remains strong for fu... - [Guggenmos: Why I Didn't File to Run for Re-Election](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/176f43ef-c4f9-4218-af8f-5a4994eded41): (May 31, 2026, GUEST VOICES) A Letter to my constituents explaining why I didn't file to run in the 2026 election: - [Devils Tower Land Swap: How Ogden Driskill Acquired State Land at the Base of the Tower.](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/43f3af12-0431-48c3-a7b1-8fd2b53cb04e): (May 29, 2026, Investigative Reports) Wyoming State Trust Land belongs to the people of Wyoming, and when politically connected insiders benefit from deals involving that land, scrutiny is not optional; it is the job of the public. Especi... - [The Open Range Record Announces the High Plains 2026 Republican Primary Debates](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/092e7ae3-235e-499d-b11f-acb408ec0f28): (May 28, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) Gubernatorial and U.S. Representative debates will be held July 16, 2026 at the Rialto Theater in Casper. - [Pollak Announces Bid for Sheridan City Council](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/6c0aac37-af92-463b-8cdb-e3660c91eaee): (May 28, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) Sheridan is growing, and with that growth comes both opportunity and challenge. I believe we can manage that growth responsibly while keeping our community affordable, welcoming, and strong. - [The 24-Hour Worker: Humanoid Robots Challenge the 2026 Labor Market](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/c935e70c-3ea9-44e2-b6e3-4ad5232d6df6): (May 26, 2026, General News) The robot is performing tasks that an entry-level worker would find monotonous and repetitive. A human employee might process fifteen hundred packages during a standard six-hour shift. In contrast; th... - [Lucas: Election Integrity is Not a Waste of Time](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/23bbde27-34bf-4329-aa11-1a118917fead): (May 26, 2026, GUEST VOICES) Preventing problems before they spread is not a waste of time. It is responsible governance. Wyoming has a long tradition of leading on voting rights and election law. We did not wait for Congress or... - [Letter: Slander Against Christians in the Public Square](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/f7ef19ee-b1e9-455b-91a0-c8f6e7eaf741): (May 23, 2026, READER FORUM) How sad it is that when people of faith choose to express their beliefs and values in today’s public square they are mocked and subjected to ad hominem attacks claiming that they are somehow acting in... - [Lange: You Can't Certify and Uncertainty](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/ac3c406a-50b5-4cc6-bc63-9f642bf4f537): (May 23, 2026, FAITHLINE) State-issued certificates are about pre-existing truths that the state has an interest in protecting. Marriage is protected by the state. For that reason, the state needs to know who is married to who... - [Protect Wyoming: Exclusive Audio Reveals Group's Agenda](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/f1ec5619-eabc-4763-9cc7-413edb47e5e4): (May 22, 2026, Investigative Reports) When a public-lands PAC complains about “rich a**holes from Teton County,” attacks conservative lawmakers as threats to Wyoming, and then uses the same kind of conservation-access language favored by... - [Sweetwater County School District: "A Really Angry Place Right Now"](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/2f7f74c7-4f76-4c72-8686-10369c98f698): (May 20, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) Trustee Josh Sorenson described the district as “a really angry place right now,” and warned that the community was experiencing “a massive divide.” “I think we’re doing a disservice to our kids,” he... - [Mark the Calendar: Lander’s First Annual Family Fun Fest](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/9c0dc737-30a7-424b-85e7-7d030522b5c5): (May 18, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) The event will provide families a place to go, kids with something to look forward to, and create the kind of moments that stick longer than the day itself. People in a community who saw a need decide... - [Senate Leadership Violated Agreement Nethercott Signed, Refuses to Investigate](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/9c9fe6b8-cef5-4a7a-b9ed-d233a8e5b5ba): (May 17, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) If no rule was violated during the pizza incident, an investigation would clear the air. If a rule was violated, an investigation should have exposed it, but refusing to vote does neither. - [The Heavy Hand of Wyoming Bureaucracy is Threatening Food Freedom](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/556bb271-5c84-41e8-80ca-d44cd1bda093): (May 16, 2026, GUEST VOICES) Food freedom isn’t a slogan. It’s a huge piece of the puzzle to solve our food desert crisis and the chronic health epidemic in Wyoming. - [Wyoming Supreme Court Lifts Injunction on Steamboat Legacy Scholarship](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/77a2ca82-5c8a-4f8c-95a1-86c803bb149a): (May 14, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) One of the Court’s most significant findings centered on the fact that the parents involved in the lawsuit admitted they had no intention of using the ESA program themselves. The opinion noted the pla... - [Bob Bonnar: Do Weston Commissioners Have Something to Hide?](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/72dbdef2-ff97-41cc-a27a-619131088e1b): (May 14, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) When leaders reject transparency, resist outside review and insist on maintaining control of an office under investigation, the natural and unavoidable question is not whether they intend to raise sus... - [Bill Allemand Announces Re-Election Campaign for House District 58](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/23c94181-53e4-41ed-89fe-787b4d3c766b): (May 14, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) Since taking office in 2023, Allemand has built a conservative legislative record focused on lowering property taxes, defending constitutional rights, protecting children and families, supporting Wyom... - [Bextel Seeks Constitution Party Nomination As Conservatives Look For A Stronger November Strategy](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/733a122b-01e7-487c-aebc-2b374d55c519): (May 13, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) Former Teton County GOP committeewoman says she is not running against Brent Bien or Megan Degenfelder, while the Constitution Party of Wyoming frames her campaign as a serious conservative alternativ... - [Gordon: Hunger Doesn’t Take Vacations](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/0afda5a8-a2b9-4fe9-8eac-95ec14c3f034): (May 12, 2026, GUEST VOICES) SUN Bucks gives income-qualified families the flexibility to buy groceries close to home when distance, fuel costs, work schedules, weather, or lack of transportation make daily trips to meal sites un... - [WHSAA Funding Warning Sparks Larger Debate Over Taxpayer Accountability](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/04706d82-588b-40ad-b18e-153e96694d9c): (May 11, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) As Wyoming’s recalibration debate continues, the central question may no longer be whether the state values education. The deeper question may be whether Wyoming’s education system is prepared to embr... - [Earl Collier Announces Candidacy for Wyoming House of Representatives, District 3](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/dff9a220-dfcf-403a-8e39-23a465294410): (May 11, 2026, HOUSE INSIDER) “I believe our representatives should be everyday working people — not career politicians,” Collier said. “If sent to Cheyenne, I will fight every day for the values and opportunities that make Wyomin... - [Lange: Assassination And Abortion Are Morally Equal](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/790ef175-a5cd-4ee5-92e3-8a2c99a1b92b): (May 10, 2026, Columns) If we teach that abortion is no more consequential than pulling a tooth, we should not be surprised when a perfectly sane and well-educated teacher of our children takes a train to Washington to execu... - [Wyoming Patriots: Building Strength, Purpose, and the Next Generation](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/4b5fccbd-9022-4f2e-9e93-c20dd98cde12): (May 10, 2026, FRONTIER STORIES) In a state shaped by wind, distance, and long winters, self-reliance isn’t a trend, it’s part of the culture. But Wyoming Patriots isn’t about stockpiling gear or worst-case scenarios. “We use Outdoor... - ["The Buck Does Stop With Me:" Degenfelder's Convention Conversation](https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/4ecae0ca-d23f-4c98-9fe8-dc7bb912008f): (May 8, 2026, WYOMING WATCH) As the conversation turned to responsibility inside the Wyoming Department of Education, Degenfelder said the sentence that now frames the whole controversy: “The buck does stop with me. No matter wha... ## Optional - [Older articles](https://www.openrangerecord.com/archive/2)