Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Thursday, November 20th. I'm Mac Watson. This newscast is "Brought to you by the University of Wyoming Center on Aging. Did you know that 1 in 3 Wyoming adults have pre-diabetes, and most don't realize it? Are you tough enough to know your numbers? Take the quiz at: Find Out WY dot org."

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The House narrowly passed a resolution led by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman to restore coal leasing in Wyoming's Powder River Basin and overturn a Biden-era ban. Cowboy State Daily's David Madison reports that the measure now heads to the Senate amid sharp debate over energy and climate policy.

"Harriet Hageman introduced a resolution and argued for it on the floor of the House Tuesday and said, 'Look, it's time to reverse this Biden administration restriction on leasing and get behind my resolution.' There was some pretty fiery language describing, you know, what the Biden administration was trying to do to the coal industry, saying it was trying to be murdered by the Biden administration. The Biden administration took a sledgehammer to the coal industry…Democratic Representative Huffman from California said, 'Look, coal's done. The rest of the world's moving on.' It was a pretty spirited back and forth. The resolution eventually passed by two votes. I spoke to two industry representatives. They were ecstatic that Hageman had gone to bat for the coal industry. One source said this isn't just good news for coal, it's good news for anyone who wants to develop resources on public lands."

The resolution's narrow passage marks a victory for coal interests in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, which produces 40% of the nation's thermal coal. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the resolution this week.

Read the full story HERE.

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Speaking of energy provided by the Cowboy State, Japan wants Wyoming's low-carbon natural gas. Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean reports that new export terminals in Mexico may provide a route for Asian delivery.

"Just south of the border, in a little place called Baja California, Mexico, there is an American company building a port to export natural gas to Asian countries and so a route out is being constructed. It's not the most advantageous for Wyoming. Washington would still be the most advantageous for us, but we are in a four state partnership that is promoting Rocky Mountain gas as a solution for Japan's carbon reduced natural gas."

Policy leaders say demand is rising, and cleaner Rocky Mountain gas could boost U.S. energy exports.

Read the full story HERE.

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After a six-year hiatus, pig wrestling will return for the 2026 Teton County Fair, but with a compromise. Cowboy State Daily's Kate Meadows reports the decision follows heated debate over tradition versus animal welfare concerns.

"A caveat that the commissioner settled on was that competitors could only be women and children under age 18. Commissioner Carlman said that removing the 18 and up men's division took out the stronger guys who might be able to squeeze a pig and throw it around. We're not causing harm or stress to them, but we're still creating a clean, fun, family event."

The Teton County Commissioners voted 3-1 Tuesday to bring back pig wrestling for the 2026 Teton County Fair with one commissioner absent.

Read the full story HERE