Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Tuesday, July 30. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by Wyoming Senior Olympics! Don't miss the action at this year's summer games from July 31st through August 4th in Cheyenne, Wyoming. For more info and a schedule of events, visit Wyoming Senior Olympics dot org.

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Gov. Mark Gordon is trying to take a stand against out-of-state influences in Wyoming politics.

His Prosperity and Commerce political action committee, or PAC, has come online with a new website called Trust But Verify Wyoming, harkening on former President Ronald Reagan's famous slogan. Cowboy State Daily's Leo Wolfson reports that the PAC has drawn criticism for its endorsement - or lack of - for a certain sector of the legislature.

"Gordon endorsed 49 people on his website.... Not one of them is a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, the farther right group of Republican legislators to the Wyoming house. I talked to Chairman of the Freedom Caucus, John Bear, he said that was significant and he believes it kind of shows the governor's political leanings. He also found it hypocritical that the website really criticizes out of state influencers of Wyoming elections. Gordon's PAC has received money from pharmaceutical giant Merck and Pfizer in the past."

The out-of-state influences have been particularly busy during the 2024 primary election cycle in Wyoming, sending out a flood of campaign mailers and text messages targeting candidates for state Legislature races.

Read the full story HERE.

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People in the military won't have to eat lab-grown meat any time soon after all.

The U.S. Department of Defense had put out a public call in May requesting proposals for "sustainable food and materials" to reduce emissions related to military operations.

But after intense pressure from groups like the National Cattlemen's Beef and Wyoming Stock Growers associations - as well as logistical issues - the agency backed off, according to business reporter Renee Jean.

"This product is extremely expensive. According to one of the articles I read, one chicken nugget costs like $50 each… right now it takes 20 to 20 top five times more energy to produce this kind of meat. So I think it's really hard to make the case that this is a thing that we should do right now. Especially for our military troops."

A Purdue University survey in April found that most consumers who buy chicken and beef products view conventionally produced meat as tastier and healthier than lab-grown meat.

Read the full story HERE.

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A man who stopped an attacking grizzly in British Columbia, Canada, by punching the bear in the face was just as good as he was lucky.

That's what some experienced Wyoming outdoorsmen told outdoors reporter Mark Heinz. They said while it's possible to fight off a grizzly with a stout punch to the snout, it should only be an absolute last-ditch tactic.

"In this case, it was a defensive attack on the Bear's part, the bear was just trying to protect her cubs. So one good smack to the nose was enough to, you know, they're just like us, they've got a lot of nerves there, it hurts really bad. It was enough to start to scare it off. If the bear had been really determined, like … a predatory attack, it probably wouldn't work."