Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Friday, January 31st. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - brought to you by Visit Casper. Visit Casper invites you to come enjoy the Casper International Film Festival, January 31 through February 2. A broad range of films from local and international filmmakers will be shown. Learn more and get your tickets at visitcasper.com.

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Charles Hoskinson, a billionaire and founder of the Cardano cryptocurrency platform, has big plans to get involved in local Wyoming politics this year.

Hoskinson, who owns a ranch in Wheatland and has family in Gillette, is planning on launching the Wyoming Integrity Political Action Committee this year.

In an exclusive interview, he told Cowboy State Daily's Leo Wolfson that the PAC will be built around supporting candidates who can bring more transparent bidding policies to Wyoming.

"One of his main priorities that he wants to deal with as part of his integrity pack is basically to try to bring more transparency to the state's procurement process, as far as taking out bids, Hoskinson had a personal experience with this in a negative way, where his Cardano cryptocurrency company, was snubbed from even being allowed to bid to be a part of the Wyoming stable token project this past fall… He also wants to get rid of corruption and fraud and politics and address other issues even expanding as wide as game tags issued by Wyoming Game and Fish."

Hoskinson's financial means and existing connections nearly guarantee he will be a major player in the 2026 election cycle.

Read the full story HERE.

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Campbell County High School students have been subjected to health and safety hazards from leaking sewage in hallways and bathrooms. Additionally, the school's fire suppression system is outdated and parts for it are growing unattainable, and the heating and ventilation system is a patchwork of old units that can't keep the temperature under control.

But Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the obvious need for a new high school in Gillette is running at odds with a Wyoming legislature determined to cut property taxes.

"Because things are so desperate at Campbell County High School, the House advanced like a, I think it was $164 million appropriation to this Senate on Tuesday. Um, but they did so with reservations and concerns like, we don't know what all of our property tax reform that we're juggling is going to do… obviously the Senate still needs to. The Senate can tinker with it. The Senate can amend, the Senate can cut, the Senate can reject… with the knowledge of the property tax cuts that they have just passed."

Around 64% of Wyoming property taxes go toward local schools and the School Foundation Program Account. The remainder goes to local governments to fund services such as repairing roads and local emergency medical services.

Read the full story HERE.

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A wall of winter weather is heading for Wyoming, beginning tonight. Several feet of snow could drop in the mountains this weekend and continue with more snow, wind and low temperatures into next weekend.

Cowboy State Daily's And