Wyoming

Worker housing a growing concern in Wyoming

Published

3 years ago

April 17, 2022

Press Room

Worker housing a growing concern in Wyoming

In Jackson, employees camp out in vehicles and tents. In Cheyenne, a whole lot commute from neighboring cities.

In the meantime, Laramie is struggling to draw new companies, Wyoming Public Media reported final 12 months.

All due to an inexpensive housing scarcity.

Lawmakers will search for options throughout this 12 months’s interim legislative session.

The interim session is the Legislature’s brainstorming interval. Lawmakers meet to analysis dozens of points affecting the state, and blueprint payments to handle them.

Earlier this month, the Joint Firms, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee named workforce housing as its second-highest precedence for the interim.

It’ll be new territory for lawmakers, mentioned Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, co-chair of the committee.

Housing reform has had a fringe following within the Wyoming Legislature for years, particularly amongst Teton County lawmakers. For essentially the most half, although, the state’s left the matter to native governments and housing teams to type out.

They usually tried, mentioned Brenda Birkle, head of Cheyenne’s inexpensive housing activity pressure and government director of My Entrance Door, a nonprofit that helps first-time house consumers. It wasn’t sufficient.

“Makes an attempt to handle it elsewhere, exterior of the Legislature, have failed,” she mentioned.

In the meantime, the inexpensive housing scarcity is barely getting worse, advocates and officers instructed the Star-Tribune, particularly for the reason that begin of the coronavirus pandemic.

The committee’s goal is two-fold, Zwonitzer mentioned: determine why, and what might be completed about it.

“I don’t assume there’s a transparent finish level of the place we wish to get to,” Zwonitzer mentioned. “It’s actually a survey of the sphere and what potentialities are earlier than us.”

The primary activity is nailing down the issue. The committee will seek the advice of a wide range of teams for assist, together with housing advocates, realtors and development corporations, Zwonitzer mentioned.

What’s “workforce housing,” anyway?

Housing organizations typically use the time period to imply housing for low- or middle-income employees, particularly these employed in main industries and important providers.

In Teton County, that’d be housing for these tourism and hospitality jobs, for example.

Some housing teams outline workforce housing by revenue stage as a substitute. In these instances, the time period normally refers to housing for individuals making round 50% to 120% of their neighborhood’s space median revenue.

In Teton County, that’s roughly $43,500 to $104,500. That very same bracket in Laramie County could be $33,500 to $80,400, in keeping with information from the U.S. Division of Housing and City Improvement (HUD).

Birkle’s group, My Entrance Door, primarily serves individuals who make rather less than that — between 30% and 80% of the world median revenue. (That’s round $26,100 to $69,600 in Teton County and $20,073 to $53,528 in Laramie County, in keeping with HUD information.)

Whereas high quality housing is commonly woefully out-of-reach for households on this bracket, they make up an enormous portion of the inhabitants, Birkle mentioned. Serving to them may have an infinite impression on stabilizing the workforce, she mentioned.

“Actually, if you wish to break the poverty cycle completely, it’s in that group,” she mentioned.

So, what about options? Birkle urged the committee to lean on nonprofits that work in workforce housing for assist discovering some course.

Dan Dorsch, particular tasks coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County, advisable housing belief funds as a possible place to begin. (Dorsch additionally sits on Cheyenne’s inexpensive housing activity pressure.)

Housing belief funds put aside swimming pools of cash for inexpensive housing packages. There are just a few other ways the state may pay for one, Dorsch defined.

Federal packages can be found by way of the Nationwide Housing Belief Fund, “however they are often tough to navigate and have quite a lot of pink tape that smaller organizations don’t have the capability to entry,” he mentioned in an e mail.

“Native housing belief funds make it simpler to entry funds, and can be utilized at the side of federal {dollars},” he added.

Dorsch pointed to Iowa’s State Housing Belief Fund program as a possible mannequin.

Wyoming lawmakers haven’t any scarcity of their very own concepts for addressing the housing scarcity.

Teton County delegates have lengthy floated the so-called “McMansion Tax” invoice, for instance, to prop up Jackon’s housing packages. That laws would let counties pull in further money by taxing high-end actual property transfers. The newest model of the invoice, which was sponsored by the Joint Income Committee, failed its introductory vote on the home flooring in February.

Shelly Duncan, R-Lingle, spoke towards the McMansion Tax throughout the 2022 legislative session. Duncan works in actual property, and mentioned the tax unfairly burdens industrial property house owners and residential consumers.

Duncan, who’s a member of the firms committee, is in favor of making a state company to maintain inventory of housing wants and coordinate aid efforts in occasions of disaster.

“We have to take a holistic look throughout your complete state,” she mentioned.

It may additionally function Wyoming’s truthful housing workplace, Duncan mentioned. Wyoming is one in every of only a handful of states with out an company to implement housing discrimination regulation.

Housing and zoning codes may additionally go underneath the microscope throughout the interim session. The legal guidelines are there to maintain our communities orderly, however they typically make it tougher to construct new houses, particularly high-density housing, Duncan mentioned.

PHOTOS: Getting a second probability with ERAP

Cover and search on the Sohl’s

Kassandra

Lainee Branscom, 8, performs Friday within the Casper condominium that Kassandra Johnson and her fiance moved into with assist from ERAP.

Lauren Miller, Star-Tribune

Shelley LeClere

Kassandra

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Wyoming

Wyoming High School Track and Field Scoreboard: March 25-29, 2025

Published

2 hours ago

March 29, 2025

Press Room

Wyoming High School Track and Field Scoreboard: March 25-29, 2025

Welcome to Week 2 of the Wyoming High School outdoor track and field season. More teams will compete for the first time this year. The in-state track meets will be in Newcastle, Wheatland, Burlington, Pine Bluffs, Sheridan, and Rock Springs. A handful of schools will compete in either Colorado, Nebraska, or Utah.

2025 WYOPREPS OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SCHEDULE WEEK 2

Here is the Week 2 schedule. It is subject to change.

LAURA CHORD MEMORIAL at Newcastle HS – Arvada-Clearmont, Hulett, Moorcroft, Newcastle, Sundance, Upton; out-of-state schools = Custer, SD; Edgemont, SD; Hill City, SD; Lead-Deadwood, SD.

Girls Team Scores = Custer 193, Hill City 107, Upton 72.50, Newcastle 64.50, Moorcroft 49, Lead-Deadwood 42, Hulett 38.50, Edgemont 16, Arvada-Clearmont 13.50, Sundance 7.

Laura Chord Memorial Varsity Girls Results 2025

Boys Team Scores = Custer 179.50, Newcastle 125, Hill City 104, Lead-Deadwood 63.50, Upton 49, Sundance 47, Hulett 33, Moorcroft 29.

Laura Chord Memorial Varsity Boys Results 2025

WHEATLAND INVITATIONAL at Wheatland HS (moved up from Friday) – Douglas, Glenrock, H.E.M., Kaycee, Laramie, Wheatland.

Girls Team Scores = Laramie 212, Douglas 176.50, Glenrock 58.50, Wheatland 56.50, Kaycee 36.50, H.E.M. 22.

Boys Team Scores = Laramie 294, Douglas 98, Glenrock 86, Wheatland 58, Kaycee 29, H.E.M. 16.

Laramie girls won 8 events, while the Laramie boys captured 10 events.

Wheatland Invitational Updated Results 2025

BURLINGTON HS INVITATIONAL at Burlington HS – Burlington, Greybull, Lovell, Powell, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Ten Sleep, Thermopolis, Tongue River, Western Heritage Lutheran Academy, Wind River, Worland, Wyoming Indian.

Waiting on the results…

PINE BLUFFS EARLY BIRD at Pine Bluffs HS – Burns, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Lusk, Pine Bluffs, Rock River, Southeast, Wright; out-of-state schools = Alliance, NE; Chadron, NE.

Girls Team Scores = Chadron 135, East 104.2, Central 97.7, Wright 80.2, Burns 75, Southeast 51.5, Alliance 40, Pine Bluffs 18.7, Lusk 12.7.

Boys Team Scores = East 250.5, Burns 95, Alliance 73, Chadron 49.5, Wright 49, Lusk 43, Pine Bluffs 42, Central 29.5, Southeast 19.5, Rock River 2.

Pine Bluffs Early Bird 2025 Results

SHERIDAN QUAD at Sheridan HS – Buffalo, Campbell County, Sheridan, Thunder Basin.

Girls Team Scores = Sheridan 186.50, Thunder Basin 184.50, Buffalo 93, Campbell County 62.50, Big Horn 40.50.

Ashley Rogge of Thunder Basin swept the 2 hurdle races and won the high jump.

Boys Team Scores = Sheridan 216, Thunder Basin 175.50, Campbell County 83, Buffalo 53.50, Big Horn 40.

Sheridan’s Chance Morris won the 100 & 200. Garrett Otto swept the 2 hurdle races. Campbell County’s Raynor Ranum won both throwing events.

Sheridan Quad Full Results 2025

Out-of-State events:

BINFIELD INVITE at Scottsbluff, NE – Lingle-Ft. Laramie, Torrington.

Torrington’s Brooklyn Ausmus swept the 100 & 200. Lingle’s Brody Roberts won the boys’ 200 & 400.

2025 Final Results of Binfield Invite

JOHN GANSER INVITE at Sidney, NE – Cheyenne South.

Sarah Hedlum won the D1 1600. Trey Downham won the D1 200 & 300 hurdles.

Ganser Invite 2025 Final Results

STRATA INVITATIONAL at Union HS in Roosevelt, UT – Big Piney.

Big Piney girls placed 3rd at 85.50 team points. The BP boys took 6th with 24 points. Micah Strong from BP won the girls’ 100 & 400 meters and 3rd in the 800 meters.

Strata Invitational Results Link 2025

TIGER QUAD MEET at Rock Springs HS – Green River, Lander, Lyman, Rock Springs.

Out-of-State events:

ALPHA INVITATIONAL at Timpanogos HS in Orem, UT – Cokeville, Evanston, Mountain View.

BLUE & GOLD INVITATIONAL at Univ. of Northern Colo. in Greeley, CO – Douglas.

NIWOT INVITATIONAL at Niwot, CO – Cheyenne Central.

UVU HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL at Utah Valley University in Orem, UT – Evanston, Star Valley.

Wind River Track Meet

Gallery Credit: Frank Gambino

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Wyoming

Public lands, firearms offenses sentenced in Wyoming district federal courts

Published

13 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Press Room

Public lands, firearms offenses sentenced in Wyoming district federal courts

CASPER, Wyo — The U.S. Justice Department announced the following sentences rendered in the District of Wyoming this week. The summaries from the U.S. Attorney’s Office are as follows:

Firearm Offenses

Jeffrey Cletus Geist, 58, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on March 12, 2024, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office stopped Geist on his motorcycle for a traffic violation. A canine was deployed on the exterior of the motorcycle and immediately alerted to the presence of narcotics. Deputies located three bags of methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun.

“Geist is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm,” the release said. Geist was indicted on Sept.18, 2024 and pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2024. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on March 11 in Casper.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne Martens prosecuted the case.

Joshua Roye Dunn, 36, of Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to 36 months of supervised probation for being in possession of an unregistered firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sheridan Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Dunn was indicted on July 18, 2024, pleaded guilty on Dec. 13, 2024, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on March 26 in Cheyenne.

Drug Trafficking and Illegal Reentry of a Previously Deported Alien

Cesar Antancio Torres-Cazares, 36, of La Piedad, Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and time served for illegal reentry into the United States. He will be deported following his imprisonment.

According to court documents, in November 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation began investigating a cocaine drug trafficking organization in the Jackson, Wyoming, area. Agents conducted a controlled buy from Torres-Cazares, which led agents to his residence, where they found large quantities of cocaine and proof of distribution. After he was arrested, Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted because Torres-Cazares is not a U.S. citizen, had previously been removed from the U.S., and had not applied for permission to reenter.

DCI and ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Griswold and Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the cases. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 26 in Cheyenne.

Public Land Violations

Douglas Wolfley, 49 of Fairview, Wyoming, was sentenced to a 10-day term of incarceration with credit for 2 days served after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in Yellowstone National Park, his third DUI conviction in 10 years. He also pleaded guilty to possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

In addition to the term of incarceration, Wolfley was placed on 3 years of unsupervised probation, terms of which include a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that period and was ordered to pay $3,050 in fines and court costs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 18, 2025.

Angela Flaherty, 44, of Seattle, Washington was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration after pleading guilty to violating 36 CFR 7.13(j), which requires all foot travel in thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park be confined to marked trails or boardwalks.

“Ms. Flaherty left the boardwalk and viewing area surrounding Old Faithful geyser and walked approximately 10 feet onto the cone of Old Faithful. Some of her conduct was captured on video by another park visitor,” the release said.

In addition to the term of incarceration, Flaherty was ordered to pay $40 in mandatory court costs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 19, 2025.

Yiyang Shen, 25 of Doraville, Georgia was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration and five years of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban from Yellowstone National Park, after he drove off the designated roadway and parked his vehicle in a thermal area in Yellowstone. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle in a prohibited area in a manner that caused damage to park resources and foot travel in a thermal area not confined to any designated and marked trail or boardwalk. In addition to the terms of incarceration and probation.

Shen is ordered to pay $1,050 in fines and court costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on March 12, 2025.

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Reynolds Welcomes Wyoming to The Bowerman Watch List

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2025

Press Room

Reynolds Welcomes Wyoming to The Bowerman Watch List

Courtesy of Wyoming Athletics

NEW ORLEANS (March 27, 2025) – Senior thrower Daniel Reynolds and the University of Wyoming track and field program debut on The Bowerman post-NCAA Watch List, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Thursday.

After winning the NCAA weight throw title with a meet record and the collegiate No. 2 All-Time throw of 25.08 meters, Reynolds finds himself as the first Wyoming student-athlete on The Bowerman Watch List. Last Watch List update, he earned votes, but not enough to make the Top-10.

Other members on the list include Mykolas Alekna (California), James Corrigan (BYU), Nathaniel Ezekiel (Baylor), Simen Guttormsen (Duke), Carli Makarawu (Kentucky), Gary Martin (Virginia), Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan (Ole Miss), Ethan Strand (North Carolina) and Ja’Kobe Tharp (Auburn).

The full release can be found here.

THE BOWERMAN
The Bowerman, collegiate track and field’s highest honor, is bestowed each year to the top male and female athlete in NCAA and NAIA track and field. Bill Bowerman, the award’s namesake, was a track and field coaching legend at the University of Oregon from 1949-72, went on to coach the 1972 Olympic Team and led the formation of the United States Track and Field Federation.

Votes are compiled by members of The Bowerman Advisory Board, a group of national and regional media members, track and field statisticians, NCAA administrators, past winners and Presidents of affiliated organizations. Voters produce a Top-10 list of the “who’s who” in collegiate track and field.

The next voting update will be released on April 17.

Stay up to date with Wyoming track & field by following @wyo_track on X and Instagram.

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