Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Articles written by Morgan Hughes


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 7 of 7

  • Special legislative session plans canceled

    Victoria Eavis and Morgan Hughes, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Jun 10, 2021

    By Victoria Eavis and Morgan Hughes Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange CASPER — In an unexpected turn, there will not be a special legislative session in mid-July, Gov. Mark Gordon and statehouse leaders announced in a joint statement Friday. Since the end of Wyoming’s formal legislative session in April, it was widely understood that there would be a special session this July, in large part to decide on how to distribute the latest round of federal relief money. “I would’ve told you a week ago that we had to have it, and it was happ...

  • Charter school bill becomes law

    Morgan Hughes, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Apr 29, 2021

    CASPER — A bill that allows applications to create charter schools in Wyoming to circumvent school districts has passed into law without Gov. Mark Gordon’s signature. The legislation allows the State Loan and Investment Board to approve a charter school. Typically, local school districts have approved charter schools in the state. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, sailed through both chambers of the Legislature with just a handful of amendments. But Gordon left his signature off the legislation — not vetoing it but n...

  • Legislators propose oversight of health orders

    Morgan Hughes, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Feb 11, 2021

    CASPER — At least four bills that would specifically regulate public health orders have been introduced in the Wyoming Legislature this session. The tenor of the proposals ranges from broad legislative oversight of public health orders to more minor specifications regarding timing and executive approval. Several of the bills are similar but propose different degrees of oversight. A bill sponsored by Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, would require the Wyoming Legislature to ratify any public health order that would be active for more than ten days. I...

  • Almost one-fifth of Wyoming still uncounted

    Morgan Hughes, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Sep 10, 2020

    CASPER — The federal government’s once-a-decade effort to count every person living in the United States is nearly complete. It’s been a tumultuous year; the U.S. Census Bureau launched its first large-scale web campaign, contended with a global pandemic and was told in August it would have one less month to complete its count. Efforts in Wyoming are still far from complete. With less than a month before the deadline, 17% of the state’s households have yet to be counted in the 2020 census. As of Thursday, less than 60% of Wyoming househo...

  • As business halts, workers brace for unemployment

    Morgan Hughes, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Mar 26, 2020

    CASPER — The phones at the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services office have been ringing off the hook. Busy signals and hour wait times greet callers, even as 37 agency employees frantically answer desperate caller after desperate caller. Each is eager to work but restricted from doing so, looking for relief in a time of economic uncertainty brought on by a global pandemic. Calls to the agency are only expected to rise, after Gov. Mark Gordon and state health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist ordered restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters and many o...

  • Wyoming governor settles 2016 lawsuit he filed as treasurer against state

    Morgan Hughes, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Aug 8, 2019

    CASPER — Gov. Mark Gordon announced Thursday that he would be ending a legal proceeding he initiated as state treasurer in 2016 over that office’s authority to approve contracts related to the state capitol building construction project. Gordon’s suit challenged the 2014 legislation that created the Capitol Building Rehabilitation and Restoration Oversight Group — the entity responsible for overseeing the $300 million venture— claiming the legislation violated the state’s constitution by not giving the treasurer authority to approve the...

  • Gordon sworn in as Wyoming's 33rd governor

    Ramsey Scott and Morgan Hughes, Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange|Jan 10, 2019

    CHEYENNE - Wyoming's new governor, Mark Gordon, was sworn into office Monday, officially becoming the state's 33rd leader. The newly minted chief executive used his inaugural address at the Cheyenne Civic Center to both praise his home state and outline his vision for it under his leadership. Speaking behind a surprise gift made by his son, Spencer Young, a handmade wooden podium with artwork of the Capitol done by childhood friend Jim Clayton, Gordon focused on the potential of Wyoming and its...