Wyoming Watch

Jason Sanchez is the head of the city of Cheyenne's Community Recreation and Events department. He joined WTE reporter Noah Zahn on Wyoming Watch this week to chat about what some of his divisions are working on. The conversation included discussions about a new veterans memorial in town, ongoing safety updates at the downtown Spiker Parking Structure and sixth-penny sales tax priorities. Stick around until the end for a recap of the top stories from the WTE newsroom over the past week.   New episodes every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

This week, we're sharing a conversation Noah Zahn had with our staff photographer Milo Gladstein. He told shared what it's like working behind the scenes at Cheyenne Frontier Days, something most of the hundreds of thousands of attendees who come back every year never get to see.  Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stories from the WTE newsroom over the past week.   New episodes every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Native Americans have been a key aspect of CFD since its inception in the late 1800s. This year is the final year of the Native American Indian Village as CFD constructs the new, larger Morning Star Indian Village, set to open next year. This week on Wyoming Watch, WTE's Ivy Secrest brought the mic to Frontier Park to speak with vendors and dancers as they reflect on their past and discuss the future. Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stories from the WTE newsroom over the past week.   New episodes every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

The Cheyenne Gunslingers have been performing Old West-style melodramas in Cheyenne since 1983. They are now kicking off their 2025 season as Cheyenne Frontier Days begins this year.  At the same time, the city of Cheyenne is considering relocating them once again to make way for the 15th Street Railcar Experience. The group of volunteers opposes this move, but feel they have little leverage as the city owns the land they perform on and the city’s governing body moves forward with the railcar project.  This week on Wyoming Watch, Noah Zahn spoke with Roger "Lucky" Barnes, the chief marshal of the Gunslingers, and Pamela "Trixie" Schliske, another Gunslinger. Stick around until the end for a recap of the top stories from the WTE newsroom over the past week.   New episodes every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Throughout the summer, the Wyoming Arts Council has helped organize “Tunes on the Trail,” a program bringing local musicians to perform unplugged sets in Wyoming’s natural and historic areas.  Next Friday, it’ll be coming to Laramie County at Curt Gowdy State Park.  This week on Wyoming Watch, arts and entertainment reporter Taylor Staples spoke with Bonamo, the Cheyenne-based band who will be performing. They're an acoustic trio made up of Kevin Ramler, Joe Evans and Steve Scott who plays folk, bluegrass and blues music.  Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stores from the WTE newsroom over the past week.   New episodes every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Over the past several weeks, the Cheyenne City Council has been discussing whether to maintain, restore or sell the Historic Pumphouse building.    This week on Wyoming Watch (formerly The Perch), WTE's Noah Zahn took the microphone inside the building and chatted with local stakeholders and elected officials about the future of the pumphouse.   Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stores from the WTE newsroom over the past week.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

This week on The Perch, we're sharing a conversation our local government reporter had with the new chief of Cheyenne Fire Rescue, Andrew Dykshorn. Additionally, we'll be sharing the farewell words from the current chief, John Kopper, that he shared at a change of command ceremony Thursday afternoon. Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stores from the WTE newsroom over the past week. New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

B. Dylan Hollis is a Laramie-based social media personality, author and baker who has over 10 million followers on TikTok.  He recently released his second book, "Baking Across America," which features niche regional recipes from across the country.  Hollis spoke with WTE's Taylor Staples about how he got his start, his experiences in Wyoming and his upcoming book signing event in Cheyenne on Wednesday, June 25, as the last stop on his tour. Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stores from the WTE newsroom over the past week. New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Cheyenne’s South High School has lost nearly 40 teachers, coaches and staff since August of 2024. Across all of Laramie County School District 1, that number is 115 in the same timeframe. This week, WTE state government reporter Hannah Shields spoke with two high school teachers at South High School, Dan Marcum and Tascha Burton, about why they think this is happening. Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stores from the WTE newsroom over the past week. New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Wyoming lawmakers voted Tuesday to draft a bill that abolishes the state’s property tax system. During a meeting of the Legislature’s Joint Revenue Committee in Gillette, the proposal was introduced by Sen. Bob Ide, R-Casper, who said it’s time for lawmakers to start over from scratch. Taxpayers are “paying unrealized gains” on inflation, he said, and it’s time for the state to “shift to a new system.” Furthermore, recent property tax reform passed in the last two years has created complexity in assessment for both the taxpayers and county assessors, he said. This week, WTE reporter Hannah Shields breaks down these meetings and the conversations surrounding it. Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stores from the WTE newsroom over the past week. New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Several doctors have left Cheyenne Regional Medical Center over administrative accountability and staffing concerns over the past year. In December, a group of hospital providers cast a vote of no confidence in CRMC President and CEO Tim Thornell. Following an an investigation from the CRMC Board of Trustees, the board unanimously voted to have "full confidence" in Thornell. This week, WTE reporter Noah Zahn shares what he has heard from several doctors on their decision to leave the hospital and the response from hospital administration. Stick around until the end for a roundup of upcoming events in the area and a recap of the top stores from the WTE newsroom over the past week. New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Wyoming author Craig Johnson is publishing his newest Wyoming mystery book this week, set in the Rock Springs area. This week, he spoke with the WTE's Taylor Staples on The Perch. The new book, called “Return to Sender” is the 28th story in the series featuring stories of Sheriff Walt Longmire in the fictional Absaroka County in Wyoming.  In the interview, Johnson shared how he develops his stories by immersing himself in Wyoming history and culture and never falls out of love with continuing to get to know and develop his characters. New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Wyoming is leading the country as the first to create a state agency-administered stable token, and state lawmakers are considering ways to integrate and promote digital assets in its finance system. The state is expected to produce its first stable tokens in early July. This week on The Perch, WTE reporter Hannah Shields explains what stable tokens are and how they are expected to benefit Wyoming. Stick around to hear a recap of local headlines and a preview of upcoming local events.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Wyoming Hospital Association Vice President Josh Hannes dives into how a potential $880 billion cut to Medicaid program spending would impact hospitals, nursing homes and health insurance for Wyomingites.    U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told reporter Hannah Shields earlier this week that "Medicaid reforms are unlikely to negatively impact" Wyoming. Other news outlets recently reported House Speaker Mike Johnson is ruling out major slashes to the $900 billion Medicaid program.   This week on The Perch, Hannes spoke with the WTE's Hannah Shields about what to expect. Stick around to hear a recap of local headlines and a preview of upcoming local events.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Vietnam-era U.S. Navy veteran Billy Fiorelli is making his way to Washington, D.C., next week with his husband, Paul, for the first time in their lives.   The trip is completely paid for by Wish of a Lifetime, a charitable affiliate of AARP, as part of AARP’s Voyage of Valor, which takes American veterans on trips to the nation's capital.   Billy Fiorelli said it was important for him to make this trip now, because when he gets home, he’ll begin chemotherapy treatments to combat stage 3 cancer after doctors found tumors on his aorta and lymph nodes. He has previously beaten cancer three times.   This week on The Perch, he spoke with the WTE's Taylor Staples about the upcoming trip. Stick around to hear a recap of local headlines and a preview of upcoming local events.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Petrina Peart is a local chef and the executive chef at the Wyoming Governor’s Residence.   She recently competed in the first season of the new NBC show "Yes, Chef!" as one 12 chefs selected to compete in the cooking show. The show is hosted by chefs Martha Stewart and José Andrés.   Peart was born and raised in Jamaica, and didn’t get into cooking until she joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne.   This week on The Perch, she spoke with the WTE's Taylor Staples about her culinary journey and her experience on the show. Stick around to hear a recap of local headlines and a preview of upcoming local events.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Kacee Lillie began selling shirts and earrings she designed when she was 14. Now 18 years old, she has opened a boutique in Frontier Mall in Cheyenne. This week on The Perch, Kacee shared how she got in the business, her concerns about tariffs from the Trump administration, and how she navigated her life as a high schooler starting and running a business.  Stick around to hear a recap of local headlines and a preview of upcoming local events.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

Cheyenne City Council members Michelle Aldrich and Dr. Mark Rinne discuss the proposed 15th Street Railcar Experience. Aldrich is strongly opposed to the project, saying it is unrealistic and a waste of money. Rinne says it will be a net benefit for the community and is very attainable.   The two visited the WTE this week to have a conversation with reporter Noah Zahn about why they support or oppose the project that the city has been working on for several years. Stick around to hear a recap of local headlines and a preview of upcoming local events.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

After Wyoming's U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman's town halls grew chaotic across the state – particularly one in Laramie – she transitioned from in-person to tele-town hall events.   Following the announcement, the Wyoming Democratic Party and the Laramie County Democratic Party moved to host their own in-person town hall at the same time to allow people to voice their concerns and submit their findings to Hageman.   Residents had the option to sign up to attend the tele-town hall online, but some never received the link after signing up, claiming they were intentionally excluded from the list. Stick around to hear a recap of local headlines and a preview of upcoming local events.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.

William Intriligator has been conductor and music director of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra for the past 17 years. This week, he came on The Perch to share what music has meant to him, how its driven his life and his work in Cheyenne.   He spoke with Taylor Staples, the WTE's arts and entertainment reporter.   Stick around to hear a recap of local headlines and a preview of upcoming local events.   New episodes published every Friday.   Provide feedback or suggestions to news@wyomingnews.com.