Open Spaces

Wyoming’s chief game warden, Brian Nesvik, tells Willow Belden the smoothness of this year’s wolf hunt shows that the state’s wolf management plan is sound. But Sylvia Fallon, the director of the wildlife conservation project for the Natural Resources Defense Council, disagrees. Her group is one of several environmental organizations that’s suing the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service over its decision to remove Wyoming wolves from the Endangered Species List. She says state quotas for how many wolves can be killed are too generous.

Every year, the Bureau of Land Management removes thousands of horses from public land in Wyoming. They ship most of the horses to long-term holding facilities in the Midwest. But that’s expensive … and they’re running out of space. So now the BLM has partnered with ranchers to create a so-called horse “ecosanctuary” right here in the Cowboy State. It’s the first of its kind in the nation. Wyoming Public Radio’s Willow Belden reports.

AMBI: Ecosanctuary

For our occasional series, Upstarts, we’re featuring entrepreneurs around the state. Our second featured businessman is Eugene Gerow-Mathew, of Eugene’s Tasty Teas, who makes organic teas and proves that you’re never too young to be an upstart.  

EUGENE GEROW-MATHEW: My name is Eugene, I’m currently the manager and owner of Eugene’s Tasty Tea Company.

ZHOROV: Eugene has been in business for about three years now. He makes specialty, organic teas.

This week Governor Matt Mead told the legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee that he is proposing cutting 60 million dollars out of the current state budget and he wants to eliminate a number of vacant government positions.  He also wants to build the legislative savings account up to $3 billion, raise gas taxes by ten cents a gallon and he opposes expanding Medicaid services in the state.  Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck reports that legislators have mixed reactions about the governor’s key proposals.

(GOVERNOR SPEAKING)

While the fiscal cliff has cast a dark shadow over the nation's economy, for some, there's what you might call a platinum lining. Individuals or families, who own estates or businesses worth five million dollars, can cash in on what appears to be a chance of a lifetime. But the clock is ticking. Rebecca Huntington has more.

<AMBI phone ringing>

RECEPTIONIST: Good afternoon, Long, Reimer, Winegar and Beppler, this is Hannah....

State Treasurer Mark Gordon took over his new duties a few weeks ago, following the death of Joe Meyer. Gordon has an extensive background on issues involving finances to state lands.  He tells us that Wyoming’s portfolio looks good.

The Wyoming library system has been working hard to keep up with residents’ needs in the digital age, but they might have some trouble if the legislature approves sweeping budget cuts in January. Wyoming Public Radio’s Rebecca Martinez spoke with Wyoming State Librarian Lesley Boughton about it. Boughton says she says the Wyoming library system works well because of how it was created.

With the federal election concluded, many members of Congress are back to disagreeing over the issue of immigration reform.  Wyoming's delegation has an interest in the debate.  Matt Laslo has more from Washington...

LASLO: Wyoming's immigration issues are different than those faced in other parts of the country. Seasonal workers are needed to help staff up the tourism industry, but Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis points out a less well known reason the state needs migrant workers. 

Business has been booming for the Wyoming Liquor Division. The arm of the state Department of Revenue distributes all wine and liquor to retailers across the state. Over the last 7 years, there’s been a huge increase in the amount of alcohol sold… and the revenue going back to the Cowboy State. Wyoming Public Radio’s Rebecca Martinez reports.

(Barroom joke, laughter)

Wyoming is still a frontier of sorts, a place where many continue to hunt in wide open spaces. And sometimes they sing about it, too. Wyoming Public Radio’s Irina Zhorov reports that Julian Saporiti is collecting those cowboy poets’ songs to share with others.

ZHOROV: Julian Saporiti is not from Wyoming…

JULIAN SAPORITI: Like this how not-Wyoming or Western I am. I’ve never ridden a horse in my life. I’ve been on a pony ride going around in a circle in a grocery store parking lot when I was 6. That’s the extent of my cowboyisms.

Converse County oil boom draws concerns from residents
In October, we reported that Chesapeake Energy had drilled a series of oil wells near Douglas, very close to people’s houses. Chesapeake says the area will likely continue to be a core drilling region. That has some area residents uneasy. Wyoming Public Radio’s Willow Belden reports.