Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Monday, February 9th. I'm Mac Watson.

–

The 2026 Wyoming Legislative session begins on Monday morning at 10am. Gov. Mark Gordon will deliver a State of the State address followed by a State of the Judiciary from Wyoming's Supreme Court Chief Justice. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland will anchor our coverage and tells us what to expect from the Budget Session.

"It's a budget session, so the top objective is supposed to be creating a two year budget for the state of Wyoming. And that's been a little flashier, a little more controversial than in some budget cycles past, because we're talking at this juncture about possibly a $40 million cut to the University of Wyoming, significant changes to the Wyoming Department of Health, both increases and denials and beyond the budget. They're talking about defunding and dismantling the Wyoming Business Council, which is an agency geared toward government backed economic development, a controversial agency right now. They're also talking about advancing an amendment into the Constitution. It would have to also pass the ballot box in November that would allow the legislature to restrict or ban abortion, some other big topics, you know, ongoing voter integrity, the energy industry, kind of the same recurring stuff we've seen in recent years, and also possible further changes to our property tax structure. Four of the biggest players are House Speaker Chip Neiman and Senate President Bo Biteman. They have a gate keeping function, and then also, since it's a budget session, a couple of big players are the chairman of the two appropriations committees, House and Senate, and that's Representative John Bear and Senator Tim Salazar."

Cowboy State Daily will stream the State of the State at 10am on our homepage at cowboy state daily dot com.

–

Salt Lake City investigators have discovered fresh evidence in the disappearance of former Jackson resident, Anne Elyse Elliott, who was 31-years old when she vanished more than six years ago. Cowboy State Daily's Jen Kocher reports that the news of this first big break has brought hope to her younger sister Emily Nardacci, of Pinedale.

"The new break in the case is there were no spottings of Anne since she left that detention center on January 4, so that was the last time she was spotted. However, police now have confirmed sightings of her in the North Temple area they are in. They have confirmed sightings of her the same day she was released from the detention center, and they are now eagerly looking for people who may have seen her that day who can fill in the blanks…the Salt Lake City Police Department is actively working this case, and they ask for anyone with information, no matter how small it seems to contact their department. "

It was originally reported to family that Elliott had been contacted by police in April of that year, but the Salt Lake City Police Department has since clarified that sighting never happened.

Read the full story HERE.

–

Kate Anderson didn't start out to heal hopeless racehorses on her ranch outside of Chugwater. Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean reports that now she rehabs million-dollar Thoroughbreds once thought beyond saving.

"The first thing she does when she gets these horses that need help is she turns them loose and lets them go find the terrain that suits their feet the best. They start running around and moving and eating native grasses and something about all of that helps heal a lot of these horses. Her work is also attracted the attention of researchers. This guy who's a hoof expert from the University of Mic