Wyoming

UW’s Smith appointed to WICHE Commission

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2025

UW’s Smith appointed to WICHE Commission

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Mike Smith, vice president for governmental affairs and community engagement at the University of Wyoming, has been appointed as a commissioner to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a regional interstate compact serving the higher education and education needs of 15 Western states, the U.S. Pacific territories and freely associated states.

Smith joins Fred Baldwin, a physician assistant in Kemmerer and retired Wyoming state senator, and Joe Schaffer, president of Laramie County Community College, representing the state of Wyoming on the WICHE Commission.

The commission’s 48 commissioners are appointed by the state’s governors or, in the case of the freely associated states, the leader of those three sovereign nations. The commission guides WICHE’s direction and assures the Western Regional Education Compact is carried out for the benefit of the West, as it has done since 1953.

“Joining the WICHE Commission is an exciting opportunity to act as the liaison between higher education, government and access for students,” Smith says. “I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate across all sectors and improve access to and success in postsecondary education for all students.”

Before joining UW in 2022, Smith was an attorney in several Western regional law firms, where his practice included representing clients before the Wyoming Legislature, in addition to regulatory and litigation matters. He also spent 12 years in the oil and gas sector as the manager of regulatory affairs at QEP Resources, working mostly in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and North Dakota. He began his career in politics as a college intern for U.S. Rep. Craig Thomas and worked for Thomas’s staff in the U.S. House and Senate.

“Commissioner Mike Smith brings extensive experience with the Wyoming Legislature, as well as a deep connection — both personal and professional — to postsecondary education,” WICHE President Demarée Michelau said. “This combination uniquely positions him to help align WICHE’s work with the emerging educational and workforce needs of residents and policymakers in the state of Wyoming and collaborate with others across the West.”

Smith received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a law degree in 1991 and 1999, respectively, from UW. Both of his parents received degrees from UW; his father worked in the financial aid office for 25 years; and his youngest daughter is currently attending UW.

His community service includes more than 20 years as a volunteer with Cheyenne Frontier Days, a 10-day outdoor rodeo and Western celebration in Cheyenne.

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Wyoming

Wyoming Travels to Face Utah State For 93rd Meeting – SweetwaterNOW

Published

10 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Travels to Face Utah State For 93rd Meeting – SweetwaterNOW

LARAMIE — Wyoming heads back on the road Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. Mountain West matchup at Utah State, marking the 93rd all-time meeting between the longtime conference rivals.

The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Fans can listen to the game across the Cowboy Sports Network’s 26 radio affiliates with Keith Kelley calling play-by-play and Kevin McKinney providing color commentary. In Sweetwater County, you can listen to the game on KUGR 104.9 FM

The Cowboys enter the contest at 12-8 overall and 3-6 in conference play after a 66-62 home win over San Jose State on Saturday. Wyoming is averaging 79.6 points per game, fourth in the Mountain West, while allowing 72.2 points per contest. The Cowboys are shooting 47 percent from the field and lead the conference at 37.5 rebounds per game, including more than 12 offensive rebounds per outing.

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Utah State comes in with a 16-3 overall record and a 7-2 mark in league play. The Aggies lead the Mountain West in scoring at 83.7 points per game and are allowing 68.3 points per night. Utah State is shooting 51 percent from the field, one of the top marks nationally and best in the conference, while holding opponents to 41 percent. The Aggies also average 17.7 assists per game.

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Wyoming is led by Leland Walker, who is averaging 15.1 points per game along with a team-high 3.7 assists per contest, ranking fifth in the conference. Walker scored a career-high 30 points against Boise State last week. Nasir (Naz) Meyer is contributing 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. Khaden Bennett is averaging 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and ranks fourth in the Mountain West at better than 85 percent from the free throw line.

Utah State’s MJ Collins leads the Mountain West in scoring at 19.3 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc with 42 made 3-pointers. Mason Falslev adds 16.5 points per game and a team-high 5.9 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field.

Wyoming is 18-25 all-time at Utah State, with its last win in Logan coming in 2022. The Aggies won both meetings last season, with the two games decided by a combined seven points.

Wyoming returns home Saturday to host Colorado State in the first edition of the Border War at 7:30 p.m. inside the Arena-Auditorium.

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Wyoming

Sage-grouse local working groups swiftly disbanded by Game and Fish

Published

22 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Sage-grouse local working groups swiftly disbanded by Game and Fish

WYOMING — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has announced that it is retiring the Sage-Grouse Local Working Groups (LWG) as of Jan. 31, just one month after the Trump administration released a Greater Sage-grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment for Wyoming. “The LWGs were a direct response to the 2003 Wyoming Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan,” the […]

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Wyoming

Utah State faces Wyoming following Collins’ 20-point outing

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Utah State faces Wyoming following Collins’ 20-point outing

Wyoming Cowboys (12-8, 3-6 MWC) at Utah State Aggies (16-3, 7-2 MWC)

Logan, Utah; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Utah State plays Wyoming after Michael Collins Jr. scored 20 points in Utah State’s 65-61 victory over the Colorado State Rams.

The Aggies are 7-1 in home games. Utah State scores 83.7 points while outscoring opponents by 15.4 points per game.

The Cowboys are 3-6 in conference matchups. Wyoming ranks third in the MWC with 34.5 rebounds per game led by Nasir Meyer averaging 5.2.

Utah State scores 83.7 points, 11.5 more per game than the 72.2 Wyoming allows. Wyoming averages 7.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 more makes per game than Utah State allows.

The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams in conference play.

TOP PERFORMERS: Drake Allen is averaging 6.4 points, 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals for the Aggies. Collins is averaging 18.1 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 48.4% over the last 10 games.

Leland Walker is averaging 15.1 points and 3.7 assists for the Cowboys. Meyer is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aggies: 8-2, averaging 82.9 points, 31.2 rebounds, 16.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 51.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.0 points per game.

Cowboys: 4-6, averaging 71.2 points, 32.1 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 5.5 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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