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Senator Lummis praises President Trump's pro-coal Executive Order (posted 4/8/2025)
Senator Cynthia Lummis media release
WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement applauding President Trump’s pro-coal executive order.
"I am thrilled that President Trump is reversing the failed energy policies of the Biden administration and officially lifting this ridiculous moratorium on federal coal leasing," said Lummis. "The previous administration's anti-science, anti-energy, anti-Wyoming policies cost good paying jobs, increased energy costs, and played into the hands of America's adversaries. President Trump knows that increased American energy is a strength, not a weakness. As America's leading coal-producing state, Wyoming stands ready and able to support President Trump's initiative to expand and Unleash American Energy."
Background:
Earlier today (April 8, 2025), President Trump signed an EO: Executive Actions to Support the Coal Industry, which does the following:
• Directs the Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council to designate coal as a "mineral" under Executive Order 14241, entitling coal to all of the benefits of that prior Order.
• Directs relevant agencies to identify coal resources on Federal lands, lift barriers to coal mining, and prioritize coal leasing on those lands.
• Directs the Secretary of the Interior to acknowledge the end of the Jewell Moratorium, which paused coal leasing on Federal lands.
• Requires agencies to rescind any agency policies that seek to transition the Nation away from coal production or otherwise establish preferences against coal as a generation resource.
• Directs CEQ to assist agencies in adopting coal-related categorical exclusions under NEPA.
• Seeks to promote coal and coal technology exports, facilitate international offtake agreements for U.S. coal, and accelerate development of coal technologies.
• Calls for the Secretary of Energy to determine whether coal used in the production of steel meets the definition of a "critical material" and "critical mineral" under the Energy Act of 2020, and if so, add it to the relevant lists.
• Pushes for using coal to power new artificial intelligence (AI) data.
Property Tax Refund Program application period open in Wyoming (posted 4/3/2025)
Deadline to apply is June 2, 2025
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon
CHEYENNE, WYOMING – Governor Mark Gordon and the Wyoming Department of Revenue are announcing the property tax refund program for homeowners is now open for applications. At the Governor’s request, the Legislature appropriated an additional $10.5 million to meet the state’s commitment to homeowners in need, following expansion of the program in 2024.
"We know more than 4,600 additional families utilized this program last year, reflecting how important delivering relief to those most impacted by increased assessments has become," Governor Gordon said.
The property tax refund program assists eligible Wyoming homeowners who are struggling to pay their property taxes, which can often be a significant financial burden, particularly for those with fixed or limited incomes. In 2023, the program helped 13,485 Wyoming families, with more than $14,265,960 million in refunds distributed, with the average refund being approximately $1,058.23.
Homeowners can apply for a refund of up to one-half of the median residential property tax amount or 75 percent of their 2024 property tax bill, whichever is less. Eligibility is limited to homeowners:
- whose gross household income is equal to or less than 145 percent of the median household income for their county of residence, or the statewide median, whichever is greater;
- have been Wyoming resident for at least five years,- occupy the residence at least nine months of the tax year;
have total assets less than $163,019 per adult household member, excluding the value of your home, one vehicle per adult member of the household and any retirement accounts, life insurance or medical saving accounts from that calculation. If the homeowner’s 2024 property tax paid exceeds 10% of your total household income, the asset requirement is waived.
Brenda Henson, Director of the Department of Revenue, stated all taxpayers who applied for refunds last year will receive an application in the mail in mid-April. Taxpayers may also apply online at wptrs.wyo.gov beginning April 2, 2025. In addition, applications are available from local County Treasurer's offices across the state. All applications must be properly completed and filed with the Department of Revenue or the County Treasurer's office no later than June 2, 2025. Before applying for the refund, individuals must pay their 2024 taxes in full.
For more information about Wyoming’s property tax refund program, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit wptrs.wyo.gov or call (307) 777-7320.
Treasury Department suspends enforcement of Corporate Transparency Act against U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies (posted 3/3/2025)
Pinedale Online!
On March 2, 2025, the US Treasury Department announced that U.S. citizens and businesses will not be subject to fines or penalties for failing to file beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports after new reporting deadlines are set. This follows an announcement by Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) that it would announce new BOI reporting deadlines no later than March 21, 2025 to extend the current March 21 BOI reporting deadline.
Reports were originally due by the start of 2025. However, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) pushed that date to January 13, 2025. A subsequent court injunction nullified this deadline. FinCEN later said it would announce new BOI reporting deadlines no later than March 21, 2025. Willful violations had been punishable by a fine of $606 a day, up to $10,000, and two years in prison with similarly serious penalties for unauthorized disclosure.
The lawsuits and rulings have created great confusion and uncertainty for small businesses trying to understand what they need to do regarding complying with the Department of Treasury’s regulations.
Below is the text of the press release posted on the Department of Treasury website:
"The Treasury Department is announcing today (Sunday, March 2, 2025) that, with respect to the Corporate Transparency Act, not only will it not enforce any penalties or fines associated with the beneficial ownership information reporting rule under the existing regulatory deadlines, but it will further not enforce any penalties or fines against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies or their beneficial owners after the forthcoming rule changes take effect either. The Treasury Department will further be issuing a proposed rulemaking that will narrow the scope of the rule to foreign reporting companies only. Treasury takes this step in the interest of supporting hard-working American taxpayers and small businesses and ensuring that the rule is appropriately tailored to advance the public interest."
"This is a victory for common sense," said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "Today’s action is part of President Trump’s bold agenda to unleash American prosperity by reining in burdensome regulations, in particular for small businesses that are the backbone of the American economy."
Source: Treasury Department Announces Suspension of Enforcement of Corporate Transparency Act Against U.S. Citizens and Domestic Reporting Companies U.S. Department of the Treasury, March 2, 2025
Game and Fish to gather public comment on Sublette antelope migration corridor risk Assessment (posted 3/3/2025)
Meeting in Pinedale April 15th in the Pinedale Library
Wyoming Game & Fish
Throughout April, public meetings will be held to seek input regarding the ongoing designation of the Sublette antelope migration corridor. Game and Fish wildlife managers are moving forward with this designation process, in accordance with Wyoming’s Migration Corridor Executive Order.
The meetings will allow the public to ask questions, provide feedback, and discuss the identified migration corridor as well as the biological risk and opportunity assessment.
"Wyoming’s open landscapes provide key migration paths for species such as mule deer and antelope," said Game and Fish Deputy Director of External Affairs Doug Brimeyer. "Evaluating these vital movement areas is an important measure towards conserving habitats and maintaining healthy big game populations in the state. Collaboration with landowners, agency managers and the public is an essential part of this process."
Three public meetings will be held to gather input at the following locations:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025: Green River, 6:00PM, WWCC, John Wesley Powell Room, 1 College Way, Room #206
Thursday, April 10, 2025: Jackson, 3:00PM, Wyoming Game and Fish Regional Office, 420 N. Cache
Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Pinedale, 6:00PM, Lovatt Room, Pinedale Library
The steps toward designating a migration corridor are outlined in the Wyoming Mule Deer and Antelope Migration Corridor Protection Executive Order. The Commission voted to identify the corridor and move forward in the designation process at its March 2024 meeting in Pinedale.
After considering the identified corridor, the biological risk assessment and public comment, the Game and Fish Commission will vote on whether to recommend to Governor Gordon that the identified corridor be formally designated at their July 2025 meeting in Evanston.
The deadline to submit comments is 5 p.m. May 2, 2025. Written comments will be presented to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission before the July 2025 meeting. Comments can be submitted through our online form or by mail to the Pinedale Regional Game and Fish Office, PO Box 850, Pinedale, WY 82941.
Visit the Game and Fish website to learn more about the identification of the migration corridor and view helpful resources. You can also visit our site to find out more about the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department supports the Americans with Disabilities Act. Every effort will be made for reasonable accommodations by contacting the nearest Game and Fish office.
Former Game and Fish Director nominated as Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (posted 2/15/2025)
Nesvik worked as a Game Warden in Pinedale
Wyoming Game & Fish
CHEYENNE, WYOMING — Former Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director Brian Nesvik was nominated by the Trump administration to be the next U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director. The nomination was announced Feb. 12.
"Brian is an outstanding leader, and if he is appointed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be in good hands," current Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce said. "He has a proven track record of working to develop science-based policies and programs for wildlife management, and his expertise would greatly benefit the federal and state wildlife management agencies. I have no doubt that, if appointed, Brian will work collaboratively with all agencies and organizations throughout the country for the benefit of wildlife. He is the right person at the right time."
Nesvik retired from Game and Fish in 2024 after more than 29 years with the agency. He worked his way up the ranks, from a game warden in the Laramie and Pinedale areas, the title of Cody Regional Wildlife Supervisor in 2010, and Chief Game Warden and Wildlife Division Chief in 2011. Nesvik was appointed as Game and Fish Director by Gov. Matt Mead in 2019. During his tenure as director, Nesvik tackled issues such as grizzly management and aquatic invasive species, as well as the ongoing challenges in managing healthy mule deer populations.
Nesvik served in the Wyoming Army National Guard for 35 years, and retired as a brigadier general in 2021.
Current Chief Game Warden and Wildlife Division Chief Dan Smith said Nesvik's hands-on experience with Game and Fish will give him a realistic perspective as he works on national-level wildlife issues in Washington, D.C.
"Brian’s real-world experience with the challenges we face in wildlife conservation will be a tremendous benefit as we work with our federal counterparts," Smith said. "I am optimistic that with his leadership, state agencies will be able to further strengthen their partnerships and common objectives in conservation efforts."
Nesvik will undergo a Senate hearing later this month in order to receive official confirmation.
CWD found in new Wyoming hunt area (posted 2/15/2025)
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
PINEDALE, WYOMING — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease in two adult female elk from Elk Hunt Area 87. The first elk was found dead in January, followed by the second in early February. Both elk were discovered at the Dell Creek feedground. Department personnel have investigated the sites, collected samples and removed the carcasses.
Elk Hunt Area 87 is located in the Pinedale Region. It is bordered by two CWD-positive elk hunt areas: 84 and 92. This marks the first recorded cases of CWD in Hunt Area 87 and is the first detection of the disease within the Upper Green River Elk Herd. This is the second confirmed instance of elk testing positive at a feedground, following a previous detection of CWD at the Scab Creek feedground in December.
"It is unfortunate and concerning to find CWD on an elk feedground;" said Wildlife Division Deputy Chief Justin Binfet. "However, it was not unexpected given this disease continues to spread throughout the West. In anticipation of the spread of CWD to elk feedgrounds, the department created its Elk Feedground Management Plan, which will guide wildlife managers to work to minimize and mitigate CWD risks and look for long-term solutions to disease transmission on feedgrounds."
CWD is 100 percent fatal to infected deer, elk and moose. Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease, as well as evaluate future management actions. Department personnel will continue to closely monitor feedgrounds for elk showing signs of CWD.
Game and Fish personnel from the Jackson and Pinedale regions are currently developing the first Feedground Management Action Plans (FMAPs) for the Jackson and Pinedale herds. This process aims to identify both long and short-term strategies to reduce the elk's reliance on feedgrounds and mitigate the risks of disease transmission. After completing the initial FMAP process for the Pinedale Herd, the Region will determine which herd to prioritize next.
Please visit the Game and Fish website for more information on CWD testing, transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses.
Whooping Cough cases increasing in Wyoming (posted 2/11/2025)
19 confirmed cases reported so far in Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Health
With recently increased cases of pertussis (whooping cough) across the state, including a current outbreak in Sheridan County, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is encouraging awareness of the disease.
At least 10 Sheridan County pertussis cases have been reported to WDH over the past couple of weeks with additional recent cases in Campbell, Johnson and Lincoln counties. "That brings us to 18 reported cases so far this year and we’re only in the year’s second month," said Clay Van Houten, infectious disease epidemiology unit manager with WDH.
Van Houten noted pertussis activity went up in 2024 significantly with 19 total confirmed cases. There were 0 reported pertussis cases in 2023 and 2 in 2022. Actual case numbers in any year are likely higher because many illnesses are not recognized as pertussis and others may not be reported. The department sent a December 2024 advisory to Wyoming healthcare providers noting increased pertussis activity.
"Any surge in pertussis activity is something we watch with concern because it can be so tough on infants," Van Houten said. More than half of infants less than 1 year of age who become ill with pertussis must be hospitalized; in some cases, it can be deadly.
"Thankfully, we have not seen hospitalizations involving Wyoming babies due to pertussis so far this year. Large outbreaks with infant deaths have happened in other states over the last couple of decades and we just don’t want that to happen here," Van Houten said.
Van Houten said the Tdap adolescent/adult pertussis booster vaccine is important for those who spend time with new infants such as parents, grandparents and other people who take care of them. "If you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about a Tdap vaccine, which can help protect infants," he said. "Infants are most vulnerable and don’t yet have the protection a pertussis vaccine can offer."
"In addition to our focus on protecting babies, we recommend all residents stay up to date with their pertussis vaccines for themselves," Van Houten said. "Those who still become ill with pertussis after vaccination are less likely to have a severe infection."
Pertussis typically begins with cold-like symptoms and perhaps a mild cough. Pertussis is often not suspected or diagnosed uneeks. Infants and children can cough violently and rapidly with a loud "whooping" sound.
"Pertussis is not always recognized because it has been less common in the United States over the last several decades due to immunizations slowing its spread overall," Van Houten said.
More information about pertussis can be found online at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/pertussis/.
2024 Mule Deer Fawns & Bucks. Graphics
courtesy Wyoming Game & Fish.
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Game and Fish conducts annual mule deer surveys (posted 1/4/2025)
Wyoming Range and Sublette herds continue to recover
Wyoming Game & Fish
Each winter, Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel conduct aerial surveys to assess mule deer populations. In late December, wildlife managers in the Jackson and Pinedale regions took to the sky to record classification data for the Wyoming Range and Sublette mule deer herds.
Managers continue to evaluate mule deer recovery in the Wyoming Range and Sublette herds following the severe winter of 2022-23, which resulted in above-average mortality. The data collected from these surveys, along with data from ongoing research, provide valuable insight into population trends and assist managers with hunting season recommendations.
Long-term research on mule deer in the Wyoming Range Herd, conducted in partnership with the Monteith Shop at the University of Wyoming, indicated mule deer entered this winter in very good body condition. The average body fat percentage of adult females captured during the fall of 2024 was 12.9%, a slight decrease from the average during fall 2023 of 15.8%, which was the highest recorded since the study began in 2013. Last summer, researchers captured fawns on the ground in the Wyoming Range. The average birth mass of newborn fawns was 7.7 pounds, the largest measurement recorded since 2016, and nearly 1 pound larger than average birth mass across all previous years.
Weather patterns such as drought and extreme winters affect the quality and quantity of forage available to mule deer. Forage production and availability have significant impacts on the body condition of deer heading into winter.
"High precipitation zones that approach 30 inches or more on Wyoming Range mule deer summer ranges allow a diversity of plants to grow, which enables doe deer to produce and care for viable and healthy fawns before they migrate to winter ranges," said Gary Fralick, Game and Fish south Jackson wildlife biologist.
Additionally, the relatively mild and snow-free winter conditions over the last two years have resulted in high over-winter survival.
"Deer are able to disperse over the entire winter range because of the low snow accumulations, and therefore maximize the use of forage at elevations that approach 9,000 feet on winter ranges," Fralick said.
The high fawn crop and elevated survival rates heading into this winter were evident in the December aerial classification surveys. During these annual surveys, biologists and game wardens fly over winter ranges from a helicopter and tally the number of observed fawns, does, yearling bucks and adult bucks.
The population data for the Wyoming Range Herd includes hunt areas 134, 135 and 143-145. The December flight survey resulted in 4,902 mule deer counted and indicated a considerable increase in fawn ratios at 83 fawns for every 100 does, up from 34 fawns for every 100 does surveyed in 2023. These high fawn ratios are consistent with findings from the long-term research data that showed high survival of marked fawns last summer.
The overall buck ratio was up with 28 bucks for every 100 does. This is approaching the 30-45 buck-to-doe ratio objective. Yearling buck ratios increased to nine bucks for every 100 does, while adult buck ratios remained unchanged at 19 bucks for every 100 does. While the ratio of adult bucks remained stable, the increase in yearling bucks contributed to a rise in overall buck ratios for the herd.
In the Sublette Deer Herd, which includes winter ranges in hunt areas 130, 131, 138, 139, 140 and 142, biologists recorded 7,645 mule deer during the December flight survey. Similar to the Wyoming Range deer survey, there was a notable increase in the number of fawns observed. The classification survey indicated a fawn ratio of 76 fawns for every 100 does — the highest ratio observed since 2006.
The overall buck-to-doe ratio remains stable at 34 bucks for every 100 does, identical to the findings from 2023. The ratio of yearling bucks increased to 10 bucks for every 100 does, whereas the ratio of adult bucks decreased to 23 bucks for every 100 does.
"Both herds have demonstrated resilience in the past, quickly recovering from periods of high winter mortality. We witnessed this recovery in the mid-2000s and again from 2011-16 and 2017-22," Fralick said. "During those times, the mild and open winter conditions led to high over-winter survival rates for mule deer and rapid recovery of the populations."
As the Wyoming Range and Sublette herds continue to recover, wildlife managers will assess mule deer hunting season structures.
"As these herds recover, our hunting seasons will be adjusted to maximize opportunities while still meeting herd unit objectives, such as maintaining appropriate buck ratios," said Dean Clause, Game and Fish wildlife biologist for the Pinedale Region.
For more information about mule deer management in Wyoming, please visit the Game and Fish website: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/wyoming-wildlife/mule-deer-wyoming
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