Wyoming

Editorial board: Wyoming needs to focus on the future if it wants to retain its young people

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2023

Editorial board: Wyoming needs to focus on the future if it wants to retain its young people

The Star-Tribune Editorial Board

Final month, the U.S. Census Bureau launched new inhabitants figures for Wyoming and different states. The numbers acquired little consideration, however they supplied a warning for anybody who was paying consideration. For the primary time in no less than a century, Wyoming recorded extra deaths than births.

We’ve heard tales for years of younger individuals leaving Wyoming for what they understand to be higher alternatives in different states. The census figures again up these anecdotes, and function a warning for anybody who desires Wyoming to flourish lengthy into the longer term.

Our state leaders usually inform us they’re motivated not out of concern for themselves, however for his or her kids and grandchildren. However what does it say about their governance that their kids and grandchildren aren’t sticking round?

The fact is lots of the choices made on the Capitol have been with the current, and never the longer term, in thoughts. The overwhelming focus seems to be on sustaining the established order in order that taxes don’t change, and on legislating nationwide points with little to no bearing on the state. What does it say that we’re anxious that our younger individuals may be uncovered to few books within the Kelly Walsh Excessive College library, however not that they’re selecting in higher numbers to start out their grownup lives elsewhere?

We’ve written many occasions concerning the want for Wyoming’s leaders to develop a plan for placing the state on the trail towards a extra sustainable future. That might require supporting Wyoming’s current vitality trade, but additionally acknowledging that fossil fuels can’t alone generate the income we have to maintain our colleges, our cities and different authorities companies over the long run. Our younger individuals are extra more likely to stick round in the event that they really feel there may be actual financial alternative right here. They’re additionally extra more likely to make Wyoming their dwelling in the event that they imagine its leaders share their values. Because the legislative session will get underway this week, lawmakers can be sensible to do not forget that.

We discover ourselves flush with money because of better-than-anticipated vitality costs. We will afford, with out harming our current, to spend money on new ventures quite than in simply protecting taxes as little as attainable. Gov. Mark Gordon coasted to reelection and is among the nation’s hottest governors. He has the political capital and the money to pursue an aggressive agenda that units Wyoming up for the longer term.

Lawmakers, in the meantime, ought to shrink back from laws that distracts us from the objective of a extra sustainable future. They need to additionally keep away from payments that ship the message to younger individuals to seek out one other place to start out their households. Polls counsel the Legislature is out of step with Wyomingites – particularly younger Wyomingites – on numerous points, from Medicaid enlargement to abortion restrictions. Younger individuals are, by in giant, not anxious about crucial race principle or USDA tips. As an alternative, they wish to know that their group may have assets for younger households, job alternatives and loads of issues to do exterior of labor.

There’s a transparent divide between many younger Republicans and the outdated guard. The Wyoming Republican Social gathering is strongly against same-sex marriage, and plenty of older lawmakers are anxious about gender id points. However the younger individuals they hope will turn into the following era of the GOP by in giant don’t care who individuals love or what their gender is. In reality, they like a group that’s open and welcoming to individuals, relating to of their sexuality or gender. And they’re going to vote with their ft.

In coming days, you’ll heard a lot discuss from lawmakers about defending the longer term for his or her kids and grandchildren. However take note of whether or not their actions are targeted on future generations or on themselves.

The opinions of the Casper Star-Tribune Editorial Board signify the views of a majority of its members. Not all members will essentially agree on all elements of a broadcast editorial.

Source link

Click to comment

Wyoming

Wondrous Wyoming (12/21/24)

Published

4 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

CASPER, Wyo. — “Taken in Casper, Wyoming before the sun rose,” writes photographer Tashina Williams.

Do you have a photo that captures the beauty of Wyoming? Submit it by clicking here and filling out the form, and we may share it!

Source link

Wyoming

Wyoming Is One of the Best States in the Nation for Protecting Elders

Published

12 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Wyoming Is One of the Best States in the Nation for Protecting Elders

Elder abuse is a growing concern throughout the country. It costs Americans billions of dollars and unfortunately encompasses a wide range of abuses, including physical, psychological and/or sexual harm, in addition to other concerns like neglect and taking advantage of seniors financially.

A new study conducted by personal finance website, WalletHub, recently listed the “States with the Best Elder-Abuse Protections”, and the Cowboy State was ranked in the top 15.

Wyoming was ranked 11th overall on the study.

WalletHub broke down the methodology for the study stating:

To identify where elderly Americans are best protected, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 16 key indicators of elder abuse protection in 3 overall categories. Our data set ranges from each state’s share of all elder abuse complaints to their laws concerning financial elder abuse.

A few of the key metrics illustrate why Wyoming scored so high (including the one that kept us from scoring even higher):

Prevalence Rank – 19th
Resources Rank – 5th
Protection Rank – 47th

While overall Wyoming is doing considerably better than 80% of the country, there is definitely room for improvement. Considering some of the elderly horror stories that have made it to different news outlets around the state over the last couple of years, it’s nice to see us rising on this list.

17 Ways to Spot a Tourist in Wyoming

Gallery Credit: DJ Nyke

Safe Distances to Observe Wildlife in Wyoming

Gallery Credit: DJ Nyke

Source link

Wyoming

Wyoming woman reflects on police standoff that destroyed her home

Published

20 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Wyoming woman reflects on police standoff that destroyed her home

It was a tragic day that many in Sheridan, Wyoming, won’t soon forget—and that certainly includes Caro Hamilton.

“It was very frightening and there were a lot of people that were affected,” Hamilton says.

On Feb. 13, 2024,Sheridan police officer Nevada Krinkee was shot and killed in the line of duty while serving a trespassing notice, a shocking crime that left Sheridan heartbroken.

The man who killed Krinkee, William Lowery, found his way to Hamilton’s home, where a 30-hour standoff ensued.

For Hamilton, the ordeal began with a phone call from her daughter.

“She said that there were police surrounding my house and that they told her to tell me not to come home and I went to ask her what was going on and the phone went dead,” she recalls.

MTN News

She had no idea that a police officer had been shot nearby and no idea that the suspect was in her basement, but she knew one thing.

“We were freaking out. We knew that my mom was in the house.”

Her 80- year-old mother was upstairs in the house. Hamilton says it took two frantic calls to police before they finally called for her mother to come out—something that still frustrates her.

“And so finally we did get my mother out, but yes, we were very terrified because obviously this guy wasn’t in his right mind at the time after what had happened and we didn’t know what could happen to her,” Hamilton says.

By then, she was learning more about why police had surrounded the home and were keeping her, and everyone else, two blocks away.

She says didn’t know Lowery personally but says that he was an acquaintance of a man who was boarding in her basement and that the boarder was supposed to help Lowery move that day.

While her mother was out safely, she had other worries about other occupants inside.

“I was concerned about my dogs and really wanted to get them out of there,” she says.

Police used water, tear gas, and finally brought the standoff to an end when they used an excavator to tear down part of the house. Lowery was shot and killed by police after he fired at them while attempting to flee.

And while her home was left in ruins, there was one bright spot.

“The little dog was found under rubble where the living room used to be. And then my big dog, she was in the basement. They found her, she kind of wading in the water and it was kind of freezing around her. But they got him out and that was the best thing. So I was really super grateful for that,” she says.

Her cat, who was also in the house, has not been found.

Caro says she is thankful for the new house that been built in place of her old one thanks to insurance and a settlement with the city. She hopes to move in next month.

And while the tragic ordeal is something she and many others in Sheridan will probably never forget, she also says she will forever remember the support many in the community.

“It was overwhelming. It was amazing the amount of community support that was shown to me,” she says.

Source link