Man’s best friend is about to make some new pals at the Wyoming State Penitentiary.

A new canine program that will train dogs from a local animal shelter and prepare them for adoption will launch at the prison in Rawlins in January.

I’m convinced that everyone has a favorite gift, one that provided not just a moment of pure joy, but also made an impact on their lives. In the spirit of the season, we asked prominent Wyomingites from across the state to reflect on the best holiday present they ever received.

From all of us at the Wyoming Truth, we wish you a happy holiday season—and a great gift!

While no Wyomingite is a stranger to the snow or cold, this week’s storm brought dangerous temperatures and hazardous travel conditions to the Equality State. Over 100 car crashes were reported in a 12-hour period, according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

This Christmas will be the first time Richard North, an inmate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, won’t celebrate the holiday with his children.

“It sucks,” North, 45, said about being separated from his family. “I really don’t like it. When I get out, I’m going to do everything I can to stay out, because I really miss my kids.”

PHOENIX, Ariz.—After receiving 25 votes in the Associated Press Top-25 poll and being projected to finish second in the Mountain West Conference, the 2022-23 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team has not lived up to their preseason hype. As conference play approaches, the 5-6 Cowboys are on the verge of a losing record.

Sometimes, you just have to say no, even if it’s to your son when he asks you to buy a real Christmas tree.

That’s what Powell resident Dena Schwarz told her 12-year-old son, Mason, due to the financial squeeze she’s facing because of the economic downturn. This was her son’s first year as a Boy Scout, and he has been selling Christmas trees with his troop. But a higher-quality Christmas tree costs around $100—a purchase Schwarz couldn’t justify.

Wyoming lawmakers appear intent on providing residents with some relief from rising property taxes, though they have yet to decide exactly what help they’ll deliver.

On Friday, the Wyoming Legislature’s influential Joint Appropriations Committee recommended that the state set aside $5 million for a property tax refund program — five times the amount requested by the governor’s office.

CHICAGO, Ill.—A trip to the Windy City saw the Wyoming Cowboys (5-5) compete in the Legends of Basketball Showcase against the Dayton Flyers (6-5) on Saturday. In the preseason, the contest looked to be intense. But both teams have been pestered by injuries, and their seasons have not lived up to the hype.

A lawsuit alleging that the State of Wyoming has failed to adequately fund K-12 public education can proceed after a judge denied the state’s motion to dismiss the case outright.

In a Dec. 6 order recently made public, Judge Peter Froelicher of the First Judicial District Court of Laramie County found that the Wyoming Education Association (WEA), a nonprofit group comprised of roughly 6,000 educators and school support personnel, has legitimate standing to bring the case against the state.

Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday banned TikTok from all state government electronic devices and networks in response to cybersecurity concerns that have emerged from the app’s foreign ownership. 

After losing four straight games, the Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball team regained momentum to close out their homestand. Now, the Cowboys stand at 5-5 on the season. Here’s a recap of last week’s games.

Whether it’s a double chin, odd expression or a bad hair day, drivers often hate how they look on their license. Over the past few years, however, there’s been a more objective complaint about the pictures that appear on Wyoming’s ID cards and driver’s licenses: They’re just not very clear.

CASPER, Wyo.—It’s not easy being a rancher in Wyoming.

Not only do they confront the wrath of Mother Nature, but they also must jump over government hurdles and navigate market conditions, among other challenges.

LARAMIE, Wyo.— Amid a stinging 20-degree wind chill, about 75 University of Wyoming (UW) students gathered in Simpson Plaza on Wednesday to silently demonstrate support for the LGBTQ community and protest UW policies in light of recent events across campus.

CASPER, Wyo.—Wyoming lawmakers on Wednesday outlined their future political plans and goals to Wyoming ranchers and natural resource users as the next legislative session nears.

Rep. Chuck Gray (R-Casper), who will be sworn in as Secretary of State in January, shared his laundry list of items centered on issues that include voter measures and the state budget with attendees of the Wyoming Natural Resource Rendezvous Convention and Trade Show at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Casper.

Inflation impacted every industry across the board in the United States in 2022, but soaring costs have been an issue in the tattooing world for years, according to Laramie artist Garth Wessel.

“Our goal was to try to involve as many groups as we could,” Hugh Turk, a 60-year-old rancher and the group’s cofounder, told the Wyoming Truth. CASPER, Wyo.—The University of Wyoming (UW) is making numerous efforts to give agriculture and ranching a leg up in the Cowboy State.

Several speakers from UW highlighted new initiatives and programs now underway to ramp up agriculture and ranching during the Wyoming Natural Resource Rendezvous Convention and Trade Show on Tuesday.

When there was a suicide within the agricultural community of Kaycee about six years ago, the community came together and created Alliance for Hope, a suicide prevention organization.

“Our goal was to try to involve as many groups as we could,” Hugh Turk, a 60-year-old rancher and the group’s cofounder, told the Wyoming Truth.

What is the fate of a state that keeps losing its college graduates and young professionals to neighboring states with more diversified economies and cultural opportunities?

That’s a question lawmakers and educators are poised to address.

The Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball team has had a rough start to the season. After losing star players to injuries, the team has now dropped four straight games, falling below .500 and not looking like a team projected to compete for a conference title. Following the Paradise Jam tournament, the Cowboys played a neutral-site game against Santa Clara University, and three weeks later, hosted Grand Canyon University in Laramie. Nearly all of these games failed to go Wyoming’s way.