Laura Pavey
Articles by Laura Pavey
- Sweetwater Co Tourism Claims Wyoming Residents Don't Pay Lodging Tax
There is a factual reason to oppose this tax: it adds to the cost of taxable lodging for Wyoming families and workers. Whether a ballot measure creates a tax or renews an existing one, residents deserve to know the expense they would be approving. Calling it a... - Pavey: It's Not About the Tea, It's the Taxes
Homeowners have been adjusting their budgets for years. They’ve paid more for groceries, utilities, insurance, and taxes. The government can go through its books with the same care it expects from the people paying those bills. - WYGOP 2025 Resolution Prevents Party From Supporting Barlow
The Wyoming Republican Party’s August 2025 resolution says it will withdraw all support from elected officials who fail to support the legislation it seeks. - Inside Connection: Reaching Women, Supporting Families, and Building Hope in Sweetwater County
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 information about their options. - Sweetwater Sheriff Candidates Answer Questions
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 them when difficult questions involving government authority,... - 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... - 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. - 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... - WDE Final Report Finds Systemic Violations in Sweetwater School District 1
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, educators, taxpayers, and school board members will now be wat... - Campaign Activity at Casper State Building Raises Questions for Superintendent Candidate Steve Harshman
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 contained campaign signs. - Sweetwater County School District: "A Really Angry Place Right Now"
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 said. “And we’re all responsible for that.” - Mark the Calendar: Lander’s First Annual Family Fun Fest
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 decided to be a part of a solution. They took action and are worki... - Wyoming Patriots: Building Strength, Purpose, and the Next Generation
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 Education as a forge,” Paulson explained. - Sweetwater Co Censure: 2 Votes on the Same Resolution
The Sweetwater County GOP censured Reps Darin McCann and Marlene Brady over the weekend, kind of. After the first vote on the resolution failed, Acting chair Elizabeth Bingham called for a second vote without a motion. Most of the discussion focused on feeling... - The Legislature Should Override Governor's HB0178 Veto
This bill isn't some vindictive plot; it's scorching-hot accountability. Wyoming counts over 41,000 public employees (per Wyoming Retirement System data), and their families deserve a government that doesn't squander resources on union perks. - How Senate Leadership Subverted the Session
What unfolded during this legislative session was not the deliberative, transparent process the founders envisioned. Instead of open debate, there were closed-door caucuses. There was a lack of rigorous discussion on the Senate floor. There were delays, recess... - Viewpoint Neutrality and Student Speech: Senate Advances HB0159
"Wall testified that approved materials were removed, flyers were torn down, and threats were made against her and club members." - A Line Drawn at the Heartbeat: HB126
"Modern science, he said, has given society something previous generations never had. A window into the womb. With that visibility comes responsibility." - Equality in Name Only: The Permit Burlingame Didn't Have
"The youth and adult crowd that gathered on the 13th of February, seemed to have something in common, Anti-Ice signs and Angry voices. There was no indication if there was in fact a “Equality/Valentine” rally taking place." - The Uncomfortable Reality of Child Sexual Abuse in Wyoming
Legislation in 2026, showcased a growing problem in our state. Bills usually arise when there is a need to correct or protect a certain situation. These pieces of legislation unveiled an unpalatable truth, there is a massive growing problem in our state. - Tick Tock Went the Senate Clock, Or Did It?
Throughout the session, leadership in the Senate claimed they didn't have enough time to discuss numerous House bills. But, they repeatedly left well before the House had finished debating. Even when Senators questioned what Senate leadership was doing, Nether... - Due Process or Public Spectacle? What the February 26 Investigation Revealed
"After more than three hours of testimony from witnesses, representatives, and individuals directly involved, a clearer picture emerged. The narrative initially presented in media reports — that something covert or improper had occurred — did not withstand scr... - Senate File 9 Advances Unanimously, Strengthening Penalties for Fentanyl Distribution to Minors
Under the proposed language, any person 18 years of age or older who unlawfully distributes fentanyl to a person under 18 would face enhanced penalties, up to twice the otherwise authorized fine, imprisonment, or both. - HB 10: Discernment Over Deception
"The question is narrower and more practical: Should graphic depictions of sexual acts be available to minors in a K-12 school library? And should taxpayers pay for it." - Amateurism in High School Athletics Sailing Through Legislature
"SF0053 prohibits student athletes from receiving compensation tied directly to participation in sports sanctioned by the Wyoming High School Activities Association" - War of Attrition, Parental Rights in Wyoming: A Right That Cannot Be Enforced Is Not a Right - It’s a Slogan
Lawsuits are expensive. Injunctions are slow. Judges are reluctant. And school districts know it. They don’t need to win outright. They just need parents to give up. - Abortion Fight Continues: Two Bills Still Moving Through Legislature
Supporters framed the heartbeat as a clear biological marker deserving legal protection, while opponents raised concerns about restricting access to abortion due to how early in pregnancy a heartbeat can typically be identified. - Finally Consensus: An Amendment They Could Agree On
"In a session filled with contentious debates, members described amendment 88 as something most everyone could agree on." And it was about the Wyoming Business Council. - Rights, Authority, and Accountability in Wyoming Education
"Supporters argue that the bill clarifies statutory guardrails to prevent viewpoint-based enforcement while maintaining order." - Pavey: History is Not a Slogan and It's Not a Protest Chant
"History is not a chant, and it is not a protest sign. And if we want citizens capable of reasoned debate rather than rehearsed outrage, we must start by teaching it that way."