Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Wednesday, May 14th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by the Wyoming Community Foundation, who asks you to give back to the place you call home. "5 to thrive" is YOUR opportunity to leave a legacy for generations to come. Support the community nonprofits you care about with a gift through the Wyoming Community Foundation. Visit wycf.org to learn more.

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An Evanston couple was sentenced to jail on Tuesday on charges of felony child abuse, following the October 2023 death of their 9-month old daughter.

However, 32-year-old Tevin Medina and 24-year-old Bailey Bettinson were not criminally charged for the child's death. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the prosecutor conceded a lack of definitive evidence that their filthy home, or the neglect associated with it, killed their baby.

"October 2023, we have this nine month old baby girl who died in her home overnight, and the cops arrived to find the mom doing CPR on her out front of the house in the cool October air, but it's too late. Her body was cold, rigor mortis was starting to set in… but a doctor that the prosecutor, Loretta Callis, was working with said, I cannot sit on a trial stand and say that their negligence caused this baby's death, even though the home was littered with mold, knives, exposed fecal matter, vomit, very disturbing home… And so the prosecutor, instead of going to trial. Struck a plea agreement with each parent."

The couple was sentenced Tuesday to six months in jail, followed by three years' probation for child abuse, although they could each face three to six years in prison if they fail probation.

Read the full story HERE.

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A wildlife crossing project along U.S. Highway 26/287 near Dubois, where hundreds of mule deer are killed every year, is still short millions of dollars in hoped-for federal funds.

It could take roughly $16 million in federal grants to meet the project's estimated $28 million budget, and federal funds are in limbo. However, Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that state officials are determined to see the project through, regardless.

"There's been $2.7 million raised in private funds. The wildlife fund and the Greater Yellowstone coalition got that much raised through private donors. And then there's probably another 10 million or so in state funds available, but they're still shy about 18 million in federal funds to get this project off the ground, and they're not sure, with everything going on with the federal, government, they're not really sure when those grants are going to be freed up again… but Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce came out with the statement, that we're still determined to get this done. This is the top priority project in Wyoming along these lines."

There are thousands of vehicle collisions with wildlife in Wyoming every year. Mule deer remain one of the most vulnerable species, as highways cut through many of the routes they use to migrate between summer and winter range. There has also been a toll on bears. Wyoming's most famous bear, Grizzly 399, was struck and killed by a vehicle south of Jackson in October of 2024.

Read the full story

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