Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Thursday, April 17th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by Wyoming Community Gas. The Choice Gas selection period ends on Wednesday April 23rd – This is your opportunity to select your Natural Gas Provider for the coming year. For more information, visit Wyoming Community Gas dot ORG."

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The Wyoming Supreme Court has taken under advisement the question of whether abortion is health care, and whether having abortions is a fundamental right in the state.

The justices of the state's highest court during a Tuesday hearing heard lively arguments on both sides of the issue. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the arguments revolved around the November decision of Teton County District Court Judge Melissa Owens, who ruled that abortion is health care, and that it is a fundamental right under the Wyoming Constitution.

"That portion of the Constitution contains wording like the legislature can regulate health care as is reasonable and necessary for the people's welfare and so that language does not match the language that courts use when they're reviewing and weighing a fundamental right. So the state's attorney, Jay Jerde, was like, clearly it's not a fundamental right… the pro choice coalition came back and said, Well, it's unconstitutional on so many fronts."

The justices have taken all the arguments under advisement and are reviewing the case, as well as the law and the Constitution, and will file a written order and decision at a later date.

Read the full story HERE.

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Rocky Mountain Power is implementing another double-digit rate increase, adding an additional $14 to an average residential customer's bill.

Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean reports that the 10.2% rate increase, approved Tuesday by the Wyoming Public Service Commission, will draw an additional $85.5 million from consumers and is the latest in a string of double-digit rate increases.

"The rate increases, there doesn't appear to be any end in sight… in talking with Thor Nelson, who is WYAC's attorney, these increases aren't something that can legally be avoided. These are costs that the company has legitimately incurred to provide the service. And you know, because they're a quasi public entity regulated by the state, there's lots of laws about that, about letting them recover just compensation, so covering their cost and making sure that the return is suitable, you know, something that's going to be enough to justify the continued existence of the company, because they can't go out of business. Everybody's relying on them to provide power."

With this increase, Rocky Mountain Power has already caught up to and exceeded the almost 30% rate hike it had sought in 2023 but was partially denied.

Read the full story HERE.

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After six days of testimony from Steven Marler's former adopted and foster chi