Wyoming
Wyoming governor approves $100 million sale of state land to join Grand Teton National Park
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming will sell a 1-square-mile (2.6-square-kilometer) parcel of pristine land bordering Grand Teton National Park to the U.S. government for $100 million after Gov. Mark Gordon signed off on a deal Friday that ends the state’s longstanding threats to unload it to a developer.
Under the agreement the federal government will pay the appraised value of $62.5 million for the property, while privately raised funds will supply the rest.
Carpeted by a mix of trees, shrubs and sagebrush, the rolling land has a commanding view of the iconic Teton Range and is prime habitat for animals including elk, moose and grizzly bears.
Gordon, a Republican, announced in a statement that he was approving the deal to add the land to the national park after his office ensured that a U.S. Bureau of Land Management plan for managing a vast area of southwestern Wyoming doesn’t carry too many restrictions on development including oil and gas drilling — a stipulation made by the state Legislature last winter.
Even so, Gordon criticized the BLM’s overall plan for the arid, minerals-rich area 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Grand Teton as “the Biden administration’s parting shot” at the state.
“I have been in contact with Wyoming’s congressional delegation and potential members of the incoming Trump Administration to fix the mess an ideological Biden administration is leaving for southwestern Wyoming,” Gordon said in the statement.
Interior Department officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Wyoming has owned the southeastern Jackson Hole property, bordered by Grand Teton on three sides and national forest on the fourth, since long before the national park’s establishment in 1929. It is the last and most valuable of four state-owned parcels sold to be annexed by the park in the past decade.
The federal government granted such lands to many states, particularly in the West, at statehood to help raise money for public education. Despite the location and astronomical value of the parcels, they brought in relatively little revenue for the state through grazing leases and other uses.
So over the years, governors have sought to goad federal officials into buying the lands by threatening to auction them off.
The Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners, made up of Gordon and the state’s other four top state elected officials, voted 3-2 in November to proceed with the sale after debating whether to negotiate a trade for federally owned mineral rights elsewhere in the state.
CASPER, Wyo. — Special Olympics Wyoming recently announced that it is calling for volunteers to help work the upcoming annual State Fall Tournament, happening Oct. 8 through Oct. 10.
That’s according to a release from SOW, which states that the event offers competition in bowling, cycling, bocce and soccer. This tournament represents over 500 different athletes and more than 30 teams from around the state of Wyoming.
Competition sites for the fall tournament include, North Casper Soccer Complex, Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park, Boomtown Blast, and El Mark-O Lanes.
Citizens are encouraged to come cheer on the Special Olympics Wyoming athletes, but the tournament is seeking volunteers as well.
“Volunteers are the backbone of Special Olympics Wyoming and play a significant role in providing quality events to athletes,” the release states. “Each fall, Special Olympics Wyoming depends on the generosity of Casper and the surrounding communities to engage in this state-wide competition event by volunteering a portion of their time to ensure that these athletes, Unified Sports® partners, coaches, friends, family, and volunteers visiting Casper from throughout Wyoming experience a first-rate, memory making event.”
Special Olympics Wyoming needs volunteers to assist with competitions, awards, meals, and more.
To sign up to volunteer, contact the Special Olympics Wyoming office at 307-235-3062 or register online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FACAC2DA0FDC52-58224359-2025#/.
Related
The Colorado State Rams and Wyoming Cowboys have added two games to their Border War football series, both schools announced Wednesday.
Colorado State is leaving the Mountain West Conference after the 2025 season and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the fall of 2026. As a result, their annual Border War game will have to be played as a non-conference contest.
Back in November, the two schools announced an agreement that included games beginning in 2028 and extending through the 2035 season. Today’s announcement includes the addition of a game on Sept. 5, 2026 at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo., and on Sept. 6, 2036 at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyo.
“Rivalry games are important to us at Colorado State and are a part of what makes College Football so special,” said Colorado State Director of Athletics, John Weber. “Our scheduling goal for our football program is to host seven games every season on campus in Canvas Stadium. Ram Country and Canvas Chaos make a real difference on game day and there is no better place to play than at home on campus in Fort Collins.”
The two schools are scheduled to play this season on Saturday, Oct. 25 in Laramie.
“Having one of the oldest rivalries in the West that features one of the most iconic trophies in college football continue consecutively is outstanding,” added Weber. “The Boot Run with the game ball, the Border Ceremony, and the Bronze Boot Trophy all honor the values and rich ROTC history of both universities and will remain integral to this rivalry for years to come. This game is important to our universities, communities, and fans and I am thrilled that we were able to continue it in 2026.”
Although Colorado State and Wyoming are not scheduled to meet in 2027, there is still the possibility for that contest. When the series was announced last year, both schools stated they were “…working on amendments to schedules for the 2026 and 2027 season for potential additions to the current agreement.”
Colorado State and Wyoming first met on the gridiron in 1899 and have played a total of 116 contests. The Rams currently lead the overall series 60-51-5.
In order to schedule the 2026 game with Colorado State, Wyoming has rescheduled its previously slated home contest against North Texas for Sept. 9, 2034. Colorado State was previously scheduled to play at Indiana on Sept. 5, 2026, but Indiana will now host North Texas on that date instead.
Future Border War Games
Sept. 5, 2026 at CSU
Sept. 23, 2028 at CSU
Sept. 22, 2029 at WYO
Sept. 7, 2030 at CSU
Sept. 20, 2031 at WYO
Sept. 25, 2032 at CSU
Sept. 24, 2033 at WYO
Sept. 23, 2034 at CSU
Sept. 22, 2035 at WYO
Sept. 6, 2036 at WYO
Football Schedules
Future Colorado State Football Schedules
Future Wyoming Football Schedules
Special Olympics Wyoming seeking volunteers for state fall tournament
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