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Superintendent Degenfelder defends parents' lawsuit against Cheyenne school closures

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Superintendent Degenfelder defends parents' lawsuit against Cheyenne school closures


Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder testified for a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce on Oct. 19, 2023. (Screenshot courtesy of U.S. House subcommittee stream)

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Two Cheyenne parents recently filed a petition against the Wyoming School Facilities Commission for approving a controversial recommendation to close eight historic neighborhood schools. Members of the commission jeered at the lawsuit at a meeting Tuesday, but the state’s chief education official doesn’t think it’s a laughing matter.

On Friday, Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder released a statement backing up the lawsuit filed in Laramie County District Court.

“I ran for State Superintendent because I was tired of the rights of parents being stifled,” Degenfelder said in the news release. “Parents have a fundamental and constitutional right to direct their child’s education and we must stop treating the concerns of parents as a laughing matter.”

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Degenfelder added that the commissioners’ response to the court filing showed a lack of empathy to the plights of local parents.

“These Cheyenne parents are concerned because their neighborhood schools are being taken from them,” the superintendent said. “They have every right to seek legal redress in court and should be taken seriously by state leaders. I am disappointed in the lack of professionalism and empathy displayed at the School Facilities Commission.”

The lawsuit was filed by Cheyenne parents Katie Dijkstal and Franz Fuchs, who are also members of the Cheyenne Parent Alliance, a community organization that’s opposed the state’s recommendation to close eight Cheyenne schools. This past fall, CPA collected more than 1,000 signatures from residents standing against the LCSD1 most-cost-effective study, or MCER, which proposes closing a third of Cheyenne elementary schools. Members of the organization presented these signatures to the commission at its Nov. 6 meeting.

The Wyoming School Facilities Commission is an independent entity from the Department of Education. Degenfelder has no influence on the SFC.

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Search for fugitive wanted for child-sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert

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Search for fugitive wanted for child-sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert


With a population under 600, Byron, Wyo., is generally a quiet town. In recent weeks, streets have been even quieter as both local and federal law enforcement search for 39-year-old fugitive Anthony Pease, who is wanted for six counts of sexual assault involving a minor.

Authorities have been searching the area for weeks, and a reward for information leading to an arrest now sits at $2,000.

See how the search impacts the town:

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Search for fugitive wanted for child sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert

Saturday morning, law enforcement shared there was a confirmed sighting of Pease near town and reminded residents to remain vigilant by locking their doors and reporting suspicious activity. According to Wyoming’s Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, before the weekend sighting, Pease hasn’t been seen since Nov. 1.

The Big Horn County Schools Superintendent, Matt Davidson, told MTN News a school resource officer on staff stays up to date with the latest on search efforts, and some parents say they’ve been keeping their kids indoors when they’re not at school.

As the search continues, the mayor as well as some residents, say they are taking law enforcement’s advice while keeping a watchful eye.

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“I never used to lock my house during the day. I didn’t even lock my vehicles at night. In fact, a lot of the time I’d leave the keys in them. I’ve talked to other people and there is quite a few people that are nervous. I would hope that a lot of us are nervous because this is a bad thing,” said Byron Mayor Allan Clark.

In fact, investigators could be seen around Byron knocking on doors and scanning land outside of town.

“There’s just so much area and a low population, so much area for him to hide and seek shelter,” Clark said.

With so many wide-open spaces and abandoned buildings in the area, Clark understands why the search has gone on so long.

According to the US Marshals Service, Pease is 5 feet 11 inches tall and may also be going by the name Abraham. They also ask that anyone nearby who has a collection of silver dollars to ensure they are still there, and if not, to report to authorities.

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Marshals say Pease is considered dangerous, and the public is told to not approach him and instead call 9-1-1. As the search has stretched over six weeks, many residents hope a capture will bring life back to normal.

“I hope that they capture him soon, and I hope that us as community members and around the area keep our eyes open and report anything suspicious,” said Clark.





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Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings

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Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings





Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings – County 17





















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Shoshoni youth sets new world record with largemouth bass catch

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Shoshoni youth sets new world record with largemouth bass catch


SHOSHONI, Wyo. — A 12-year-old boy from Shoshoni is now the proud holder of the Junior 4-pound Line Class world record for bass after netting a 2-pound, 4-ounce largemouth in August. The boy, coincidentally with the last name Bass, caught the fish at Lake Cameahwait.

According to a release from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Tucker Bass and his father were fishing over the lake on a two-person kayak when the young angler reeled in the record fish. He did so on a rod and reel given to him by his grandfather.

Bass is the first Wyoming resident to hold a world record in any category for largemouth. The International Game and Fish Association oversees all world records for fishing and officially approved Bass’s catch in November.

Wyoming’s state record largemouth was caught in 2018 near Sheridan. A comprehensive list of all Wyoming record fish can be found here.

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“This is an exceptional accomplishment for a young angler,” WGF Lander Region fisheries supervisor Joe Deromedi said in the release. “Tucker’s record highlights not only his skill and dedication, but also the quality fishing opportunities we have in central Wyoming. It’s always exciting to see youth developing a lifelong passion for fishing.”

Bass, an avid fisherman, also earned Trophy Angler status in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Master Angler program in August.

For more information on Tucker Bass’s record catch, see the Wyoming Game and Fish website.

Junior Line class 4-pound world record-holder Tucker Bass (WGF Department)

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