DAYTON, Wyoming — On Sunday, Sheridan County was covered in a thick layer of smoke as the Elk Fire continues to grow to nearly 73,000 acres and is 0% contained.
But most of the smoke isn’t from the Elk Fire, it’s coming from Idaho and could help firefighters efforts.
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“That is actually coming from fires further to the west than the Elk Fire. We expect that if this smoke stays in the area, it will actually dampen fire activity, which is really good and allows our crews to get some work done around structures and in other areas of the fire,” said Kristie Thompson, the Public Information Officer for the Elk Fire. “It’s going to continue (to be) a dry, hot, warm trend with relatively low humidity and no precipitation in the near term future.”
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Thompson said it is a tough fire to battle.
“We’re going to be living with this fire for a while. There’s a very good chance that you will see smoke, perhaps even if it kind of calms down activity-wise, that you will see smoke until we have a good cover of snow up on the mountain,” Thompson said.
As of Sunday afternoon, Dayton residents were still on a “Set” status. So, they don’t need to evacuate, but do need to be prepared.
“Dayton is currently still in a ‘set’ status, so it’s one above ‘ready’,” Dayton County Sheriff Levi Dominguez said. “It’s certainly fluid, dynamic in what we’re doing with the evacuation statuses within the communities here in the town of Dayton and the rest of the communities surrounding it.”
As a crew of nearly 600 are tirelessly fighting the flames, other volunteers and community members are coming together to help ranchers save their livelihoods. Sunday morning, a line of large livestock semi-trailer trucks went to help get grazing cattle down from the mountain.
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“This is obviously something huge that’s happened into our community and the outpouring support that neighbors have been showing neighbors has been greatly appreciated,” Dominguez said.
Mayor of Dayton, Clifford Reed, grew up in the area and said he is devastated from the loss this fire brings.
“It breaks my heart to see this,” Reed said. “It has impacted us greatly as a community, not only the town of Dayton, but there’s homes that are up against the face of the mountain.”
According to Reed, the fire came close to the water plant for the town.
“Our water plant is literally along the river up in the mouth of the Tonga River Canyon. And that fire came down within a few hundred yards of that facility. And of course, we were worried about evacuating,” Reed said.
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Two homes have been lost in the Elk Fire.
“I personally can’t imagine coming back to see your houses, a pile of nails and ashes. I mean, it would literally be heartbreaking, disheartening and wondering what are you going to do now?” Reed said. “I thank them (firefighters) for their willingness to give to this community and and put their lives in danger many times.”
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
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These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
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Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two men were detained in Wyoming in connection with a fatal shooting at a downtown Salt Lake hotel that killed one man.
Carlos Chee, 23, and Chino Aguilar, 21, were both wanted for first-degree felony murder after the victim, identified as Christian Lee, 32, was found dead in a room at the Springhill Suites near 600 South and 300 West.
According to warrants issued for their arrest, Chee and Aguilar met with Lee and another woman at the hotel to sell marijuana. During the alleged drug deal, Aguilar allegedly shot and killed Lee after he tried to grab at his gun.
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Investigators said they found Lee dead in the room upon arrival, as well as a single shell casing on the floor and a small amount of marijuana on the television stand.
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The woman told investigators she had met Chee on a dating app and that he agreed to come to the hotel to sell her marijuana. She had been hanging out with him in the room, which Lee rented for her to use, when Lee asked them to leave. Lee was then shot and killed following a brief confrontation.
Chee and Aguilar allegedly fled the scene in a 2013 Toyota Camry with a Texas license plate that was later found outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming just a few hours later.
The two men were taken into custody and detained at the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
