I was taking my usual walk down Park Street but, one day, I tried something different—to use my husband’s cell phone while I walked. I had a few calls to make and just decided to do it along my way. I called one friend, another, and another. All I got was the busy signal. I tried my home. No…
web only
There’s an interesting political trend in the U.S. in recent years that has seen conservatives pushing for repealing the death penalty at the state level. It even saw some success in Wyoming in 2019, with a bipartisan bill making its way through the House and a Senate committee before dying …
I found the “Wyoming Commentary” printed in Saturday’s paper to be in extremely poor taste, especially following the two mass shootings by white nationalists in Gilroy and El Paso.
A public health campaign called Stop the Bleed builds on lifesaving lessons from military battlefields. The goal is to train Americans of all ages how to successfully respond to bleeding emergencies in traumas from accidents and intentional violence.
As a member of this rifle range do you know you are paying your board members? Do you know they now want a pay raise?
Inevitably, whenever a mass shooting takes place, each corner of the political compass starts blaming each other. Depending on whom you ask, the problem is gun availability, or violent video games, or a lack of prayer in schools, and so on, and so forth. While any of these could conceivably …
To the editor:
Why is it that Laramie can’t attract any good paying jobs, chain restaurants and means to support the middle class that struggles every year? Answer can be found real easy when you attend a City Council meeting or watch what the certain few are attempting to do by shutting down something as …
The people of Wyoming are no strangers to the outdoors. We’re hunters and ranchers, campers and hikers, and for many of us, our spectacular wildlands and abundant wildlife have brought joy and meaning to our lives. Now Wyoming wildlife is in danger and it is up to us to protect it.
Commencing Friday, July 26, approximately 70 descendants of Col. Stephen Downey and Eva Downey arrived in Stephen and Eva’s home town of Laramie for that Sunday’s celebration of Downey Day. There was unanimity in our family on a number of points, including that every one of us Downey descend…
web only
Providing affordable housing is a challenge nationwide, and it’s certainly a problem for the Gem City. Sadly, Laramie residents spend more of their income than any other community in the state on housing costs, according to information from the Wyoming Business Council recently provided to t…
Bob Franken's commentary ends with the quote: "As we venture to the heavens, we need to remember we still maintain an earthly hell that tarnishes any human achievement." ('Human Highs and Lows'; Laramie Boomerang; August 1, 2019)
Q: Is what I've heard about folic acid in my multivitamin tablet true? Can it be unhealthy for some people?
web only
uly is always an eventful month in the Gem City of the Plains. The Fourth of July and Laramie Jubilee Days brings excitement to the community, and we enjoyed the celebrations earlier this month as we always do.
News that the Wyoming Legislature has appointed a committee to explore storing spent nuclear fuel rods suggests caution to anyone familiar with the checkered history of this so-called temporary storage of potentially dangerous material.
web only
Let us be absolutely clear on a point: Blaming the survivors of sexual harassment, molestation, assault and rape – fully, in-part or even just a little bit — is always wrong. If you believe that survivors bear any culpability in the harmful acts perpetrated upon them, you are part of the problem.
It’s not an uncommon scenario in Laramie City Council chambers: developers come in saying they’re struggling to meet the requirements of city code to open a new business or provide residential options in the Gem City. There seems to be something of an eternal struggle in Laramie and elsewher…
Seventy-nine years ago this month, in the midst of the fall of France, England was facing the unthinkable: fighting Nazi Germany alone and quite possibly failing. It was at this moment British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave one of his most memorable speeches.
In little chunks and bigger, the foundations of our democratic republic are being destroyed. Here in Laramie, the latest evidence comes in the form of one citizen refusing to serve as a juror. She told the judge she was too busy to be a genuine citizen of the republic.
Today, the last day of June marks the end of LGBTQ Pride Month. The month was chosen to commemorate the Stonewall riots of 1969, where members of the LGBTQ community in New York reacted to harassment on the part of law enforcement. (It’s worth noting we do not condone any of the violence tha…
web only
Make no mistake: The city of Laramie faces an existential threat. We all know that this city depends upon the Casper Aquifer for half of its drinking water, and folks out in the county east of town rely on it 100 percent.
Editor’s Note
My entire life I have worked and recreated in Wyoming, and my long-held value and appreciation for our wildlife and wild places has grown exponentially. Through my career with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, I’ve had the good fortune to see the sun rise over dozens of lakes and streams…
Anyone who is surprised that embattled State Public Defender Diane Lozano needs more state money to properly do her job simply hasn’t been listening to her.
After a hiatus, it appears policy surrounding regulation of development that could affect the Casper Aquifer will be a recurring part of the news cycle in Laramie and Albany County.
web only
Leading up to Flag Day today, the Laramie Boomerang published an article about the ceremony taking place this evening at American Legion Post 14. Part of the ceremony each year includes burning unserviceable American flags, meaning those that cannot be restored for proper display. It’s a dee…
There are many jokes about the seasons in Wyoming. One variation says that there are two seasons in Wyoming: Winter and road construction.
Many political observers expected it to happen, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting — U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi will not seek another term in 2020 after four terms in Congress. With only three congressional seats in Wyoming, it’s always exciting when there’s an open race.
It’s cap and gown season in Laramie as people walk away from educational institutions with degrees in hand. Whether it’s graduating from high school, college or any other level of attainment, we should be proud of those in the community for their accomplishments. It takes remarkable resolve …
There’s a distressing trend among public institutions in Wyoming recently when it comes to transparency. And two examples have significant impacts in Albany County.
web only
As the mother of Robbie Ramirez, I am heart-broken not only by his death, but by the tragic events surrounding it. The last thing anyone wants to do is bury a child, but I am only one of the many people that have had to experience such a loss. There is nothing anyone can do that will bring R…
Beyond that fact that we’re grateful we survived another Laramie winter and that spring is just around the corner — we promise — there were several events in April and the early days of May that give us even more to celebrate as the seasons change. Most of these events fall under the cultura…
There’s always good reason to feel thankful this time of year. Each day takes us closer to the warmer season that we all love.
web only
If you spend enough time in government meetings, you’ll probably hear the phrase, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant” ad nauseam. While surely cliché, it couldn’t be more applicable when it comes to the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees’ decision to not renew the contract of President …
David Lawrence Dotson, of Arvada, Colorado, passed away peacefully on February 13 after a six-month battle with cancer.
Legislation that will begin the building of new residence halls at the University of Wyoming cleared the state House of Representatives this week. Despite the concerns of certain lawmakers, House Bill 293’s supporters — including House Speaker Steve Harshman, R-Casper, and Senate President D…
This week is bound to be the busiest of the 2019 legislative session and the most frustrating for lawmakers — it’s crossover week.
Improving health care in Wyoming is one of the state’s biggest challenges as it strives for a future of economic prosperity.
Note: This column originally appeared online at WyoFile.com.
Yellowstone reopens as shutdown ends
CHEYENNE – A bill working its way through the state Senate would put work requirements on certain Medicaid and food assistance recipients in Wyoming.
So there was the new governor – standing by the copier patiently waiting for some copies to print. He was making a little banter with Alfrieda Gonzales who keeps things humming in his front office while chatting with the plain-clothed highway patrolman, who serves as security man and all-aro…
Many of us stayed up late on a Sunday recently, taking to the cold to gaze up at the heavens Jan. 20 to see a stunning lunar event. A Super Blood Wolf Moon appeared that night as the moon entered total lunar eclipse. The Earth’s atmosphere filtered out blue light waves, granting the moon a r…
Public safety — especially when it comes to firearms — is one of the most divisive issues in the nation. Mass shootings in schools and other public arenas have gripped people and left us all feeling, no matter how insulated our community may seem, that some of these instances are too close to home.
Last year we witnessed one of the strangest legislative battles Wyoming has ever seen, the fight over Senate File 74, “crimes against critical infrastructure.” Last year’s bill not only sparked the ire of Native Americans and nonprofit groups around Wyoming who believed it would chill free s…
The crisis is not at our southern border, it is in our nation’s capital. In their desire to separate us for political purposes, our government has lost its capacity to function. And if they cannot sort out 215 miles of border fence, how can we trust them to address even bigger and more compl…
Imagine you’re stuck in this horrible situation: while driving on the job you are seriously injured many miles from a hospital. When an ambulance finally arrives, EMTs decide you need to be transported to the nearest medical facility by helicopter.
web only featured top story
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – University of Wyoming junior defensive tackle Youhanna Ghaifan pleaded “no contest” Wednesday to charges related to an incident that occurred the morning of the Cowboys’ football game at Colorado State in late October.
Commented