Republished with permission from Wyoming News Now, a TV news outlet covering the Cheyenne and Casper areas. 

Cheyenne City Council has introduced a temporary moratorium, or pause, on new data center construction.

“The end goal is to actually have regulations in place, to have really heavy public involvement with this with data centers,” said Councilman Mark Moody.

The proposed ordinance is not a permanent ban on data centers and would not affect data centers currently under construction.

Councilman Moody says this is a bipartisan issue.

“I just want to make this clear, I’m not against data centers. We do need them from a national security perspective,” he said.

He said there needs to be more public input and regulations regarding data centers in Cheyenne.

The ordinance would require city staff to study data center impacts such as electricity usage, electricity tariffs, closed-loop cooling systems, groundwater impacts, agricultural impacts, and land value.

Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development corporation for Cheyenne and Laramie County, reported in November 2025 that there are 12 operational data centers in Wyoming, five under construction and plans for 43 data centers announced across the state.

“There needs to be more public input with this, and also to see how many we can sustain here in this community, cause there are talks of 43, and then another day 70. How many can we sustain here?” said Councilman Moody.

The proposed moratorium will now go to the Public Services Committee on Monday, May 18 at noon in the Municipal Building.

Sheridan will play in the North Regional Tournament at Gillette, while the South Regional Tournament will be played at Rock Springs.

North Regional Tournament at Gillette:

Checking record vs. highest team in the quadrant not involved in the tie, Thunder Basin gets the #1 Northeast seed over Campbell County, because the Lady Bolts went 3-1 vs. Sheridan, whereas the Lady Camels went 2-2.

Friday, May 15th:

(#1 NE) Thunder Basin vs. (#4 NW) Jackson – 11am

(#2 NW) Natrona County vs. (#3 NE) Sheridan – 11am

(#2 NE) Campbell County vs. (#3 NW) Kelly Walsh – 1pm

(#1 NW) Cody vs. (#4 NE) Worland – 1pm

Semi-Finals:

Thunder Basin/Jackson winner vs. Natrona County/Sheridan winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.

Campbell County/Kelly Walsh winner vs. Cody/Worland winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.

Consolation Round:

Thunder Basin/Jackson loser vs. Natrona County/Sheridan loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!

Campbell County/Kelly Walsh loser vs. Cody/Worland loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!

Saturday, May 16th:

TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.

TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.

2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place

TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place

South Regional Tournament at Rock Springs:

Friday, May 15th:

(#1 SW) Laramie vs. (#4 SE) Torrington – 11am

(#2 SE) Cheyenne East vs. (#3 SW) Green River – 11am

(#2 SW) Rock Springs vs. (#3 SE) Wheatland – 1pm

(#1 SE) Cheyenne Central vs. (#4 SW) Cheyenne South – 1pm

Semi-Finals:

Laramie/Torrington winner vs. Cheyenne East/Green River winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.

Rock Springs/Wheatland winner vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.

Consolation Round:

Laramie/Torrington loser vs. Cheyenne East/Green River loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!

Rock Springs/Wheatland loser vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!

Saturday, May 16th:

TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.

TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.

2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place

TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place

CASPER, Wyo. — Jackson resident Rebecca Bextel has announced her candidacy for governor, seeking the nomination of the Constitution Party.

Bextel, a small business owner, framed her campaign as a challenge to the established political system in Wyoming. She said she intends to provide a conservative alternative for voters who believe the Republican primary often favors candidates who compromise on their principles.

“My run for Governor as the Constitution Party candidate aims to allow conservatives two lanes for the same race, just like the Democrats,” Bextel said in a statement.

Her platform prioritizes energy production, Second Amendment rights, school choice and efforts to reduce government regulation. Bextel also emphasized a focus on election integrity, calling for voter identification requirements and increased transparency.

The announcement comes on the heels of a controversy during the 2026 legislative budget session in Cheyenne. In February, the Wyoming House of Representatives voted unanimously to form a special committee to investigate Bextel’s actions after she handed out campaign donation checks to several lawmakers on the House floor.

Bextel acknowledged delivering the checks, which she said were from a Teton County donor. She maintained there was no wrongdoing in “delivering lawful campaign checks” while at the Capitol. Legislators initiated the inquiry to determine if the actions violated the state constitution or constituted legislative misconduct.

While Wyoming House investigators cleared lawmakers of wrongdoing, Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak’s parallel investigation was still ongoing as of April.

Bextel previously served as a precinct committee person and state committeewoman within the Republican Party. She unsuccessfully sought the top leadership position of the Wyoming Republican Party last year. She said her decision to join the Constitution Party arose from her observations of political insiders and party machinery in Cheyenne.

The Constitution Party plans to hold a state convention on June 18 and 19 to nominate candidates for the general election ballot.

Others filing to take the seat Gov. Mark Gordon is vacating include Sheridan resident Gabriel Green, a Democrat, and Republicans Brent Bien, Sen. Eric Barlow and State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder. A fourth Republican, Joseph Kibler, withdrew his announced candidacy in April.

The primary election is set for Aug. 18. The general election will be Nov. 3.

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