A listing of today's stories:
The State Supreme court said that a same-sex couple married in Canada in 2008 may be divorced in Wyoming
On Monday, the State Supreme court said that a same-sex couple married in Canada in 2008 may be divorced in Wyoming. That overturned a lower court decision. The district court had found that because Wyoming statute defines marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman, the court did not have jurisdiction to dissolve a same-sex marriage. Now, a brief look at the reactions to that ruling. Molly Messick reports.
Wyoming has some concerns when it comes to Foster Care.
Wyoming has some concerns when it comes to Foster Care. The state has some difficulty finding foster parents to care for siblings…and according to a report by the Annie E. Casey foundation, a very large number of children end up in group homes or state sponsored care. That is viewed by experts as detrimental to a child’s growth. Dana Ward oversees Wyoming’s Foster Care program for the Department of Family Services. She speaks with Bob Beck.
The hydraulic fracturing debate continues in Congress
In Congress, the drilling debate is moving from oil rigs in water to hydraulic fracturing on land, including here in Wyoming. It’s a process commonly called fracking that some fear contaminates drinking water. While they applaud the state of Wyoming for developing some strong rules, the state’s congressional delegation does not want the federal government to be involved in this issue in any way. Patrick Terpstra has a look at the debate from Washington.
Brain health is one of the top concerns of AARP members in Wyoming
Brain health is one of the top concerns of AARP members in Wyoming and across the country. With that in mind, AARP Wyoming is hosting a workshop called Gray Matters on Friday, June 17th at Little America in Cheyenne. Wyoming Geriatric Center Director Deb Fleming and Pat Engler-Parish researched some of last years participants to see how they preserve the health of their brain. They speak with Bob Beck.
The Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee's plan for protecting and restoring the whitebark pine
The Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee has put out a plan for protecting and restoring the whitebark pine. The slow-growing high elevation tree is a foundation species of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and in recent years it has been decimated by the combined effects of a disease called white pine blister rust and the mountain pine beetle. Kelly McCloskey is a vegetation ecologist working in Grand Teton National Park. She speaks with Molly Messick.
Wyoming Vineyards
If you wanted to find the toughest business to operate in Wyoming, a winery would have to be near the top of the list. The state’s climate makes growing grapes a challenge. Then you have to compete with hundreds of labels from other places. But in the small eastern Wyoming town of Huntley…Table Mountain Vineyards is developing a variety of wines that are slowing gaining a fanbase. Bob Beck reports.
The difference in the high school experience with very small class sizes
In Ten Sleep, the class totaled just five. High school is a different experience at schools this small. There’s no hiding, no anonymity. Students know everything about each other. Sometimes class size totals one – one student and one teacher. Molly Messick reports that all of that builds a rare kind of familiarity.
The Hartville post office may close due to cost cutting measures
Last month, the US Postal Service identified a total of 9 post offices for possible closure across Wyoming as a cost cutting measure. And one of them was the Hartville post office. Hartville is a town of just 67 people. But Wyoming Public Radio's Tristan Ahtone found out that the possible closure could have an impact on the town.
Hartville historian Patsy Parkins talks about her new book
The last gunfight in the community of Hartville occurred in 1912 when a stranger came to town, got drunk and fired off six shots in a murder attempt without ever hitting his intended victim. Instead of being arrested for attempted murder, the gunman was fined for being a lousy shot. It's colorful stories like this that we heard about Hartville from historian Patsy Parkins, author of the book "Hartville: The Most Reviled Town In The State." She says the town was established for Copper Mining in the 1880’s
