Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Thursday, July 10th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by Cheyenne Frontier Days. Ten days of rodeo thrills, Xtreme Bulls, live concerts, carnival rides, western heritage, and unforgettable cowboy spirit in Cheyenne, Wyoming! Don't miss the 129th Daddy of 'Em all July 18-27th.

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A Wyoming legislative committee on Wednesday voted to subpoena leaders of two small towns and one special district — to have them explain slow progress following audits that range from criminally suspicious to somewhat problematic.

Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that critics of the rare subpoena call it an inappropriate gesture, when an invitation - which does not carry criminal penalties for noncompliance - may summon those leaders just as effectively.

"It is highly unusual for a legislative committee to be subpoenaing people, and that's because they have a tradition of inviting people first when they want answers, and people often tend to come when invited… it's a powerful tool that we don't see used very often from the legislature. But they went ahead and deployed that… The Manderson audit, the Department of audit was like… we're calling the Division of Criminal Investigation, because this is so problematic. Whereas the other two, they were like, Okay, these are areas we've given you time to improve, and you have not improved."

People who don't comply with the subpoena can face up to six months in jail and $100 in fines.

Read the full story HERE.

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Green River residents have reported seeing rattlesnakes curled up on public trails or basking in the sun near homes and businesses. That's expected at this time of year, as the slithering snakes are also looking to beat the heat.

A Wyoming rancher might recommend taking rattlesnakes head-on, either with a machete or a firearm. But Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that that strategy is especially inadvisable for the rattlesnakes infiltrating Green River, because these particular snakes have legal protection.

"Midget faded rattlesnakes … live in a small range that encompasses the southernmost part of southwest Wyoming and parts of Utah and Colorado. And there are no prairie rattlesnakes within that vicinity, so Green River, Rock Springs, when they see a rattlesnake, they're seeing one of these midget faded rattlesnakes. They're smaller and their venom is more potent, but they're also less grumpy than their prairie rattlesnake counterparts… here's the rancher method of dealing with snakes, which is, you know, the beheading get to the head of the matter. You can't do that with midget faded rattlesnakes, because they're a protected species in Wyoming, because their population is so small."

Rattlesnakes are destined to show up where people don't want them. In that case, Green River residents can call the Wyoming Game and Fish Department or Green River Animal Control to safely relocate the reptiles.

Read the full story HERE.

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Two years after a man was found dead with his throat cut on the Wind River Reservation, a Riverton man has been charged in his death.

31-year-old John Goodman