Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Thursday, August 22nd. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - brought to you by ServeWyoming - Wyoming's center for volunteerism and AmeriCorps service for the last 30 years! For volunteer opportunities, visit ServeWyoming dot org"

The energy-rich Powder River Basin is in upheaval.

Cowboy State Daily's Pat Maio reports that coal producers Consol Energy., with headquarters in Pittsburgh, and Arch Resources, the nation's second largest coal producer with headquarters in St. Louis, said Wednesday they've agreed to merge in an all-stock deal valued at about $5 billion.

In a separate business transaction disclosed late Tuesday, a Houston-based hedge fund disclosed that it bought a 9.96% position in St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Corp., which operates the North Antelope Rochelle, Rawhide and Caballo mines.

"It's a double whammy to the Powder River Basin… 40% of all coal that goes to power utilities comes out of the Powder River Basin. And the two largest companies that are in the basin are Peabody and Arch Coal. And with Arch, it's merging with a very company I'm very familiar with back East. They're almost solely into what is called met coal, metallurgical coal….And separate from that, the same time, you have a big hedge fund down in Texas, Houston, Texas, that has invested a nearly 10% stake in Peabody bowl, which is based in St Louis, which is also where Arch is based."

Mines in the Powder River Basin are struggling to regain their footing. Wyoming recently reported a 25% drop in all coal production in the region during the first six months of the year as compared to 2023 levels.

Read the full story HERE.

Mudslinging wasn't just a tactic throughout the 2024 primary campaign, it became a political issue.

One of the most prominent slingers was the dark money-funded, Virginia-based Make Liberty Win, which was active in 40 races around the state. Most of its campaign efforts consisted of negative attacks made against candidates the group didn't like.

And politics reporter Leo Wolfson says of the 40 candidates MLW supported, 22 won.

"Americans for Prosperity was another group that did some negative advertising… and they did pretty well as well. 12 of their 17 candidates won their races. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus PAC was one of the caught some of the most attention for the negative campaigning it did in its mailers. They won 32 of the 46 races they got involved in."

During Cowboy State Daily's live election coverage on Tuesday night, conservative attorney Cassie Craven countered, though, that what can't be understated in an election is the sheer determination and grit a candidate puts into a campaign.

She said blaming every upset or loss in the primary election on, quote, "nasty mailers is just a disservice," endquote.

Read the full story HERE.

A tanker truck crashed into a parked car overnight Tuesday, prompting a jet fuel spill that closed Interstate 80 from Rock Springs to Rawlins for several hours, authorities say.

Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland spoke to the Wamsutter Fire Chief, who said a man was in the emergency lane of westbound I-80 changing a tire, but jumped into the back seat of his car just before the tanker crashed into him.