Nov. 19 (UPI) — A county district judge in Wyoming blocked two state laws that limited abortion access, ruling that they violated the state’s constitution.
Teton County Judge Melissa Owens said the laws — Wyoming’s Life Act and the Medication Abortion Ban — violated a woman’s personal autonomy in making her own medical decisions.
In her ruling, Owens said that Wyoming state legislators had “enacted laws that impede the fundamental right to make health care decisions for an entire class of people, pregnant women.”
She went on to describe the laws, which restrict abortions at the earliest stages of development, did not distinguish between pre-viable and viable fetuses, imposing “unreasonable and unnecessary” restrictions.
Owens had already blocked the laws from going into effect after they were passed last year while court cases challenging the provisions played out in court. The laws are permanently banned, but the state is expected to appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Jay Jerde, a state special assistant attorney general, told the court last year that Wyoming’s constitutional amendment does not apply to abortions but addresses women’s health in illness. Jerde said the woman is making decisions about her health and the health of the fetus.
But Owens rejected the premise, saying that the “uncontested facts establish that the abortion statutes fail to accomplish any of the asserted interests by the state.
“The state did not present any evidence refuting or challenging the extensive medical testimony presented by the plaintiffs,” she said.
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.
It is the last week of the 2026 regular season for Class 3A girls’ and boys’ soccer teams in the Cowboy State. Only the top four from each conference will advance to next week’s state tournament in Gillette. These last regular-season matches could impact where teams finish in the league standings. That would shape the first-round matches at the state tournament. The week begins with a rescheduled girls’ match from an earlier postponement. The rest of the slate is Thursday through Saturday.
Here are the 3A matches on the schedule for Week 9. Schedules are subject to change.
Girls:
Final Score: Rawlins 5 Pinedale 0
Girls:
Final Score: #5 Mountain View 7 Pinedale 0 (conference match)
Boys:
Final Score: #5 Mountain View 3 Pinedale 0 (conference match)
Girls:
Lyman at #3 Lander, 3 p.m. (conference match)
Boys:
Lyman at #2 Lander, 5 p.m. (conference match)
Girls:
Rawlins at Douglas, 3 p.m. (conference match)
#1 Cody at #2 Powell, 4 p.m. (conference match)
Worland at #4 Buffalo, 4 p.m. (conference match)
Newcastle at Torrington, 6 p.m. (conference match)
Boys:
Rawlins at Douglas, 5 p.m. (conference match)
#4 Worland at #2 Buffalo, 6 p.m. (conference match)
Final Score: Torrington 1 Newcastle 0 (conference match) – forfeit win for the Blazers.
Girls:
#3 Lander at #5 Mountain View, 11 a.m. (conference match)
Pinedale at Lyman, noon (conference match)
Boys:
#2 Lander at #5 Mountain View, 1 p.m. (conference match)
Pinedale at Lyman, 2 p.m. (conference match)
Athletes competed in Casper at NCHS during Week 2 of the 2026 season in the Glen Legler Early Bird Invite.
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Shannon Dutcher
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