WPR NewsRoom

Enzi leads efforts to overhaul No Child Left Behind

Wyoming (2011-10-24) Last night the U.S. Senate Education committee sent to the full Senate a major revision of the education law called No Child Left Behind. Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi has for years been at the forefront of the effort to overhaul the federal law. The Wyoming Republican has worked closely with Iowa Democrat, Senator Tom Harkin, to find common ground on ways to improve it. Elizabeth Wynne Johnson gives us a snapshot of the work that went into reforming the legislation this week.

UW president discusses K-12 education in Wyoming

Wyoming (2011-10-24) K-12 education reform has the interest of University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan, who joins Bob Beck to talk about that and other subjects. Buchanan says the work legislative committees are doing will benefit the state.

Officials stop hunters to track wildlife diseases and populations

Wyoming (2011-10-24) If you've been driving around on the weekends, chances are you've seen signs by the side of the road telling all hunters to stop. The signs are pointing out check stations, where officials from the Department of Game and Fish look at hunters' licenses and examine the game they've killed. Wyoming Public Radio's Willow Belden visited a check station near Centennial in southeastern Wyoming and reports that the hunters are being stopped mostly to collect scientific data.

Wildlife biologist and author Bruce Smith discusses Wyoming's elk feeding program

Wyoming (2011-10-24) One of the more controversial programs in Wyoming involves feeding Elk on the National Elk Refuge. Longtime U-S Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Bruce Smith worked at the refuge for many years. He's written a book on his experience called Where Elk Roam, conservation and Biopolitics of our National Elk heard. He says the feeding program is unusual

Tribal officials fear uranium contamination could be causing cancer clusters on Wind River Reservation

Wyoming (2011-10-24) Last year, the Department of Energy released well monitoring data from the Wind River Reservation. What they found was that uranium levels in a number of their wells had spiked up to 100 times the legal limit.

Wyoming's new uranium mines reduce environmental risks, uranium specialist says

Wyoming (2011-10-24) Two uranium mines are operating in Wyoming, and several more licenses are in the works. But Bob Gregory, the uranium specialist at the Wyoming State Geological Survey, says the new mines use a completely different technology than their older counterparts.

Online farmers market provides supplemental market for local products

Wyoming (2011-10-24) As cold weather sends farmers markets into hibernation, there's one that's picking back up after a summer lull. The Triple Crown Commodities Cooperative serves four counties in Southeastern Wyoming without needing a city block to set up in. This farmers market allows farmers to sell local products to customers online. Wyoming Public Radio's Rebecca Martinez has more

Star basketball coach seeks to reverse Cowboys' losing streak

Wyoming (2011-10-24) If you said that the Wyoming Cowboys basketball team has struggled in recent years,that would be a bit of an understatement. After back to back 10 win and 21 loss seasons, a change was needed. So, Wyoming went to its past and hired Larry Shyatt. Shyatt coached one year at Wyoming and took a team that had struggled in previous years to a 19-9 record and the postseason.

Committee seeks to develop a better way to assess and improve education.

Wyoming (2011-10-10) During the last legislative session, lawmakers complained that they weren't getting a good enough performance from students from the billion and a half dollars they were paying for education. After initially zeroing in on such things as teacher tenure, they eventually agreed on a broader approach and developed what's called the Education accountability advisory committee.

Wyoming hunters can, and should, target abundant elk this fall.

Wyoming (2011-10-10) It's hunting season for just about every type of game animal at the moment So we talked with Bill Rudd at the Game and Fish Department, to find out what hunters can expect this fall. He tells Willow Belden that the forecast is pretty good - with a few exceptions.

Nonprofit says it takes a community to treat, guide juvenile offenders.

Wyoming (2011-10-10) Recently there has been debate on what is the best thing to do for Juvenile offenders. Put them in jail or try another approach. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Wyoming is having tremendous success with its progressive youth program which focuses more positive supervision, treatment and support. Josh Hannes runs the program in Laramie County and explains that they believe the best approach is to keep kids within their communities.

Sen. Enzi fights advocates for safer medicine.

Wyoming (2011-10-10) Along with the economy and jobs, Congress also is tackling the safety of prescription drugs. Wyoming's senior senator is a key player in the debate about how to keep imported medicine safe. Patrick Terpstra reports from Washington.

U-W Dance students receive prestigious training.

Wyoming (2011-10-10) University of Wyoming Dance students are getting a rare treat this fall. They are being trained by a former member of the Bill T. Jones dance company and later this month by Bill T. Jones himself to perform some of his works in November. Catherine Cabeen is training the students. She and UW Associate Dance Professor Margaret Wilson explain what the project is all about.

Writer Leora Snyder: On hating wind.

Wyoming (2011-10-10) Changing Gears, former Laramie writer Leorah Snyder is in and out of Wyoming these days after moving out of state. But during a recent visit she noticed something vaguely familiar about the state called wind. This is her piece called wind, the things I hate about you.

A Shofar and a Prayer: Wyoming Jews celebrate Yom Kippur

Wyoming (2011-10-10) The Jewish high holy days began last Wednesday with Rosh Hashannah (ROHsh HASH-uh-NAH) - the Jewish New Year And after 10 days of personal repentance, congregations gather this weekend for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It's easy to get in the spirit in places with larger Jewish populations, but things are a little different in the Cowboy state. Wyoming Public Radio's Rebecca Martinez has more.

Wind energy could make Wyoming a national power.

Wyoming (2011-10-10) Per capita consumption of electricity in the United States is on the rise, as is interest throughout the west in affordable renewable energy. But without a powerful network of up-to-date electric transmission lines, developers have struggled to transport Wyoming's abundant wind energy beyond the state borders. Now the state leads the nation in the number of major transmission projects in the works. As Wyoming Public Radio's Kathryn Flagg reports, the construction of these lines is moving ahead

A second-wave gold rush seizes Wyoming.

Wyoming (2011-10-10) Prices for gold are higher than they have been in decades. It's inspired companies to explore for deposits in Wyoming's old mines and scout in new territory. At the same time, gold prospectors still make their way to the mountains with pans and shovels, hoping to strike it rich, even if they just end up with rich scenery and camaraderie. Irina Zhorov reports.

Many think Wyoming's new fracking regulations don't go far enough.

Wyoming (2011-09-30) Both Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency are looking at ways to better regulate what is called hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. It involves using a pressurized mix of water, sand and chemicals to release oil or gas into a well. Today we are going to have two stories on this topic. Recently Wyoming enhanced its regulations concerning fracking. Yet critics complain that there is still too much leeway for companies to do as they please.

Residents of Pavillion want answers to what caused their water contamination.

Wyoming (2011-09-30) A few years ago, residents of the town of Pavillion began complaining of health problems that they blamed on water contamination. Many in the town wondered if local oil and gas development, as well as hydraulic fracturing - was to blame. Recently residents went looking for answers. The subject was touched on during a recent Hydraulic Fracturing conference and Wyoming Public Radio's Tristan Ahtone brings us this update.

A conversation with the Ambassador to Tunisia.

Wyoming (2011-09-30) The U-S Ambassador to Tunisia visited the University of Wyoming this week. Gordon Gray was in Tunisia during the revolution which toppled the former president and snowballed into the so-called "Arab Spring." He discussed his insights on the regime change - and on the connection between Wyoming and Tunisia - with Wyoming Public Radio's Willow Belden.