Around the 307
News, commentary, and other items of interest from the greater Wyoming landscape.
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Well, I missed publishing Around the 307 last week. Things have been a little hectic for me lately. Nonetheless, I’m back at it today! And, with that—here are a handful of Wyoming news items of interest from the week of January 26th, 2025:
The week started out on a tragic note when news reports emerged on Sunday, January 26th and Monday, January 27th, about the death of a skier at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR). The 81-year old man apparently fell while skiing on the Sundog run and was unresponsive by the time Jackson Hole Ski Patrol first responders arrived on the scene. This is the first skier death at JHMR this year (there were three skier fatalities at JHMR in 2024). Here’s a link to a Jackson Hole News & Guide article with some additional details.
Thursday, January 30th, this Cowboy State Daily article provided an update on the progress of two trapping reform bills making their way through the Wyoming Legislature this session. The bills Senate File (SF) 139 and SF 140 are the result of a grassroots coalition of pet owners, trappers, and other advocates know as Jester’s Legacy. The group came together following the death of Becky Barber’s 8-year old English bull terrier, Jester, whose throat was crushed after he was caught in an illegally set conibear trap last February 2024 along the Swift Creek Road trail outside of Afton, Wyoming. While SF 140 (advocating mandatory trapper education) failed to make it out of the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee due to some technicalities, SF 139 (which would give the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission authority to manage setbacks for predator trapping) was approved unanimously and forwarded to the Senate Floor. We’ll continue to follow the efforts of Jester’s Legacy as this subject truly is Close to Home.
And, on Friday, January 31st the Star Valley Independent (via the Wyoming News Exchange) gave us this update on two of the hot-topic property tax relief bills that were debated in the Wyoming Senate this week. Senate File 67, known as the “Long-term homeowner tax exemption-revisions,” would have amended the qualifications for receiving the exemption approved during the 2024 legislative session and also updated the sunset date from 2027 to 2030. However, the bill failed to receive enough support and went down in a 15-13 Senate floor vote. [To see who voted “Aye” and who voted “Nay” use the “Votes” tab at this link.] Hope remains for SF 69, known as the “Homeowner property tax exemption”, despite a rollercoaster of amendments. SF 69 originally called for a 25% reduction (for home values up to $1 million). The bill was then boosted to a 50% reduction via amendment and ultimately cut back down to its original starting place of 25% in yet another amendment vote on Friday afternoon. In its current form the bill would not provide for any backfill of lost property tax revenues which fund local services. The latter has been the premiere scare-tactic used by opponents of providing property tax relief who emphasize tax cuts are tied to “snow plows” and “all that other stuff back home”. Interestedly, since 2019 some areas of Wyoming have seen property tax increases of more than 65% and yet the sky wasn’t falling in 2019. Thus, I will ask you dear readers—Where has the windfall of property tax revenues gone these past 5 years? And, do we really think the sky will fall if SF 69 is ultimately signed into law? Stay tuned.
Lastly—here are a few Wyoming historical events (some well known, others obscure) that occurred during the month of January.
January 23rd, 1879—Mob pulls alleged murderer Dutch Charley Burris from a train in Carbon, Wyoming Territory, and lynches him.
January 29th, 1920—National Prohibition goes into effect, seven months after Wyoming’s Prohibition law went into effect.
January 1st, 1953—In Fremont County, Boysen Dam is completed.
That’s all for today buckaroos! Thanks for reading and have a great week!
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