It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming! I’m Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom, for Wednesday, May 29th.

Gov. Mark Gordon forced a Casper doctor to resign from the Wyoming Board of Medicine for openly supporting a bill banning transgender treatments and surgeries on minors in Wyoming. 

Politics reporter Leo Wolfson says the governor removed radiologist Dr. Eric Cubin from the state board not because of Cubin’s personal position on the issue, but because his public comments showed too much of a bias and potential for a conflict of interest as a member of the board.

“Cubin actively petitioned all 62 legislators of the State House with the email he sent out, telling them to support a bill often known as Chloe’s law…  The important thing about this bill is that, as a result of it, a doctor or any other medical physician who breaks this new law, which goes into effect on July 1, could have their medical license revoked by the Board of Medicine that Eric Cubin sits on.” 

 Cubin is the son of former Wyoming congresswoman Barbara Cubin, and has been a member of the board since last year. His current term was not set to expire until 2028.

With Wyoming positioning to become ground zero for a new U.S. nuclear power revolution, the state is finalizing rules to expand its energy regulatory authority.

Energy reporter Pat Maio says the expansion would include uranium and rare earths mining, also known as “nuclear source material.”

“The DEQ is dealing with expanding what they consider to be radioactive materials to things like rare earths. And with the resurgence of uranium mining, you know, they needed to update things with uranium as well… it helps streamline the process for bringing on a plant in the future.” 

There are several rare earth minerals companies operating in Wyoming, and which are in various stages of launching major mining operations for critical elements and magnets in coming years.

A Gillette man accused of cutting his mother’s throat with a razor blade Saturday said he did so because people in a distant attic were threatening him.

Investigators told Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland that Scott Patenaude faces one count of second-degree attempted murder for allegedly slicing his mother’s throat after a verbal argument Saturday evening. 

“According to court documents, his mother called 911 even while her throat was gushing blood onto the living room floor and couch. And when police arrived, they reportedly found Patenaude trying to get out the back door… while he was in custody, he reportedly said, ‘There are these people in my grandpa’s attic, and you know, I had to defend myself against them.’ In another portion of the interview he allegedly said, ‘I was arguing with my mother. I went and got my razor blade. I walked up behind her, lifted her chin and slit her throat from left to right.’”

The charge is punishable by between 20 years and life in prison.

The case of a Chinese cryptocurrency mining operation that set up shop next to the F.E. Warren Air Force Base is likely part of a much wider net of foreign companies strategically locating near sensitive U.S. sites.

That’s what an American military expert in Cheyenne told Cowboy State Daily’s Renee Jean. 

“They’re essentially placing a supercomputer right by a military installation. President Biden ordered them to sell out and shut down, but it might not be an isolated incident. I’ve been talking with Tucker Fagan. He’s a retired Air Force Colonel, he used to be F.E. Warren’s commander… He feels like the country’s playing a long game, one that it wants to put itself at the top of the world super powers. And the group safeguard defenders has documented some secret Chinese cop shops that they’ve set up… Beijing has long claimed that these are just service centers for Chinese people living abroad to get driver’s licenses and things like that. But to military experts, it looks like it’s more than that.” 

Fagan said he’s been watching the same tactics targeting the U.S. trona industry with rare earths in America and Wyoming as well.

Some guy named Nick seems to love the thermal features at Yellowstone National Park that he scratched his name and a message into one of them over the Memorial Day Weekend, to the outrage of many fans of the park.

Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi reports that now, many angry people want to know who and where Nick is so they can hold him accountable for defacing the park.

“Someone was hiking around the biscuit basin in Yellowstone National Park and they saw a message inscribed right next to the boardwalk… it’s Nick and another name that’s indecipherable… And no one wants to see Nick was here, while they’re just enjoying the natural ambiance of Yellowstone… Someone did this knowing it was wrong, and they are gonna get away with it unless someone can find Nick and a lot of people want to find Nick right now.”  

If found guilty, vandalism of a Yellowstone thermal area can carry a hefty fine.

Cowboy hats are a natural fit for Wyoming. And with so many newcomers and visitors to the Cowboy State, features reporter Jake Nichols took a deep dive into what cowboy hats mean to those who wear them.

“The shape of it, the look of it, how you wear it says it’s just way more than a cowboy hat and it goes deeper… I have four felt hats and probably five straw hats. This straw hat is transitioning from my good one, that I wish a bull or a horse would never stomp on, to one I wear every day that I don’t mind if it gets a little chewed up. So hats are always in a state of, this is a really nice one, and here’s one that looks like it’s been through it.” 

In his story, Jake writes about not only how a hat is formed and shaped, which is more about function than style, but also a bit about hat etiquette. For example, never place a hat on a bed. It’s bad luck. And never — ever — touch another man’s hat.

And that’s today’s news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming’s only statewide newspaper by hitting the subscribe button on cowboystatedaily.com. I’m Wendy Corr, for Cowboy State Daily.

Radio Stations

The following radio stations are airing Cowboy State Daily Radio on weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings. More radio stations will be added soon.

KYDT 103.1 FM – Sundance

KBFS 1450 AM — Sundance

KYCN 1340 AM / 92.7 FM — Wheatland

KZEW 101.7 FM — Wheatland

KANT 104.1 FM — Guernsey

KZQL 105.5 FM — Casper

KMXW 92.5 FM — Casper

KBDY 102.1 FM — Saratoga

KTGA 99.3 FM — Saratoga

KJAX 93.5 FM — Jackson

KZWY 106.3 FM — Sheridan

KROE 930 AM / 103.9 FM — Sheridan

KWYO 1410 AM / 106.9 FM  — Sheridan

KYOY 92.3 FM Hillsdale-Cheyenne / 106.9 FM Cheyenne

KRAE 1480 AM — Cheyenne 

KDLY 97.5 FM — Lander

KOVE 1330 AM — Lander

KZMQ 100.3/102.3 FM — Cody, Powell, Medicine Wheel, Greybull, Basin, Meeteetse

KKLX 96.1 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Ten Sleep, Greybull

KCGL 104.1 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin, Lovell, Clark, Red Lodge, MT

KTAG 97.9 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin

KCWB 92.1 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin

KVGL 105.7 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Basin, Ten Sleep

KODI 1400 AM / 96.7 FM — Cody, Powell, Lovell, Basin, Clark, Red Lodge

KWOR 1340 AM / 104.7 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Ten Sleep

KREO 93.5 FM — Sweetwater and Sublette Counties

KGOS 1490 AM — Goshen County

KERM 98.3 FM — Goshen County

Check with individual radio stations for airtime of the newscasts.

By Lisa Phelps

CASPER – The image of a bison burned into raw lumber and polished was chosen by Wyoming’s First Lady, Jennie Gordon, to be on display at the governor’s mansion for a year. The image was the handiwork of Wheatland High School art student Courtney Dumont. A wood burn of a bugling elk by Dumont also won a blue ribbon, along with a mixed media coffee and graphite drawing of a horse and calf called “Mud Ring.”
The Wyoming Art Symposium is an annual event showcasing the best artwork of students in schools across the state. It is one of the largest of its kind in the nation, with 4,721 entries by 67 schools. Twenty-five percent of artwork received blue ribbons, and the First Lady chose a selection of them to be displayed at her home at the governor’s mansion in Cheyenne for a year. The artists are invited to attend a luncheon and awards ceremony with Gordon at the mansion in June; the artwork will be returned to the artists at next year’s symposium.
Dumont says art is an important part of her life, and she especially appreciates seeing people’s reactions to her art. “I like seeing when my art means something to them,” she said.

Average gasoline prices in Wyoming have risen 1 cent per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.32 today, according to GasBuddy’s survey. Prices in Wyoming are 4.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 13.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Casper was priced at $3.01/g yesterday at both the Conoco and Sinclair on Second Street.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.56/g today.

The national average price of diesel has fallen 2.9 cents in the last week and stands at $3.82 per gallon.

“With the summer driving season now underway, average gas prices have seen ups in some areas and downs in others. Most states are seeing prices slightly below their 2024 peak thus far, with some refinery issues in the Great Lakes weighing on prices there, while other areas, like the West Coast, have seen notable relief with more coming,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“June tends to be a month of smooth sailing, where we see gas prices decline in most areas, and that’s a trend that looks the most likely for drivers, barring unexpected refinery snags or a tropical storm developing. The national average over Memorial Day was down ever so slightly compared to last year—after adjusting for inflation, prices were down about 10 cents per gallon. Not a terrible way to kick off summer!”

Historical gasoline prices in Wyoming and the national average going back ten years:
May 28, 2023: $3.45/g (U.S. Average: $3.55/g)
May 28, 2022: $4.30/g (U.S. Average: $4.60/g)
May 28, 2021: $3.02/g (U.S. Average: $3.04/g)
May 28, 2020: $1.88/g (U.S. Average: $1.97/g)
May 28, 2019: $2.80/g (U.S. Average: $2.81/g)
May 28, 2018: $2.88/g (U.S. Average: $2.96/g)
May 28, 2017: $2.30/g (U.S. Average: $2.36/g)
May 28, 2016: $2.23/g (U.S. Average: $2.32/g)
May 28, 2015: $2.65/g (U.S. Average: $2.74/g)
May 28, 2014: $3.48/g (U.S. Average: $3.65/g)

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:
Fort Collins- $3.22/g, down 7.1 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.29/g.
Ogden- $3.49/g, down 10.8 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.60/g.
Billings- $3.44/g, down 0.9 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.45/g.