Grant program helping to support much-needed child care businesses
UP to members of the Childcare Interagency Working Group and other partner organizations in Wyoming for creating a Childcare Provider Start-up Grant program to help fill the state’s child care gaps.
Some residents may be surprised to learn that Wyoming lost nearly 200 child care providers between 2014 and 2024, according to state data. Those who aren’t surprised? Parents who struggle to find enough quality child care facilities to meet their needs.
That’s why it was so important for this group — comprised of the Wyoming Business Council, the Learning Collaborative, Wyoming Department of Family Services and the Wyoming Women’s Foundation at the Wyoming Community Foundation — to develop a way to boost this segment of our business community. And the response has exceeded expectations. The working group gave $72,000 to 10 providers in the first round of funding to help cover startup or expansion costs. Priority was given to those serving communities with limited or no child care options, as well as home-based providers.
Interest in the program was so high that the group is accelerating the timeline for the next round of funding. Applications opened again Tuesday, despite the original plan to award grants on a bimonthly basis.
This program alone won’t solve the problem, of course. State lawmakers need to help during next year’s budget session by providing more funding and passing any necessary policy changes to make it easier for new providers to get started without compromising safety and quality.
Corner-crossing decision was good for hunters; vigilance still needed
UP to judges on the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel that ruled recently that hunters can cross from one corner of public land to another as long as they don’t physically touch private property.
Nearly half of Wyoming is federal public land, and millions of acres across the West — especially in the southern part of the state — are a checkerboard of public and private land as a result of deals made during the westward expansion of the Transcontinental Railroad. That means about 8.3 million acres of public land in the western U.S. is “corner-locked,” meaning it can’t be accessed without private landowner permission or locating and crossing at the corners.
The appeals court had to weigh in on the issue after North Carolina businessman and Wyoming landowner Fred Eshelman pressed charges against four Missouri hunters for trespassing on his land when they used a ladder to cross from one square of Bureau of Land Management land to another near Elk Mountain in 2020 and 2021. A Carbon County Circuit Court jury in 2022 found the hunters not guilty, but Mr. Eshelman filed a civil suit in federal court, which was appealed to the 10th Circuit after a Wyoming judge sided with the hunters.
While the decision is good news for those looking to recreate on federal land, it comes with a word of caution. Hunters, hikers and others who corner cross need to understand that this doesn’t give them carte blanche to traipse around in these areas. Instead, they need to first see if there’s an easier-to-access entry point; if not, they need to use GPS and search for corner markers to ensure they’re not trespassing on private land.
And further restrictions may be imposed in the future, by federal courts, members of Congress or state lawmakers, so those using public land must remain both vigilant and respectful.
Governor was right to veto changes to Second Amendment law
UP to Gov. Mark Gordon for vetoing changes to the Second Amendment Protection Act (SAPA), which he signed into law three years ago.
SAPA currently requires a county prosecutor to file charges against an individual police officer if the officer violates the Second Amendment rights of a gun owner. Proposed amendments under Senate File 196 would have said law enforcement could not legally aid the federal government in enforcing federal gun laws and would have allowed citizens to sue institutions responsible for violating the act through civil penalties.
Gordon rightly said that, while he supports the Second Amendment, the proposed SAPA changes would have restricted Wyoming law enforcement’s ability to assist with a federal task force or enforce any federal laws, something he said he believes goes “too far.”
House and Senate leaders have already vowed to bring the bill back as the first piece of legislation sent to the governor next year. Instead, they should step back, listen to law enforcement officers from across the state who voiced opposition to it and figure out why it’s not a good idea.
Evanston public meeting violation shows need for careful consideration
DOWN to four members of the Evanston City Council for violating the Wyoming Open Meetings Act by making public decisions by email and phone calls, but UP to City Attorney Mark Harris for investigating the situation and exposing the violation.
While we were disappointed to learn last month of a violation of the Wyoming Open Meetings Act in Uinta County, we were encouraged by the willingness of Mr. Harris to not let the council members get away with it.
The violation involved four of the seven council members using “sequential communications” via email and phone calls to agree on the wording of a “no-confidence” statement against Mayor Kent Williams that was read during an Aug. 20, 2024, council meeting. Mr. Harris determined the communications were a “deliberation,” and therefore in violation of the Open Meetings Act.
While some might think this isn’t a big deal, we’d remind them that the topic being considered could just as easily have been in advance of a vote on a controversial housing development or a large expenditure of city funds.
The civil penalty for such a violation is $750 per person, but even if the four people involved aren’t required to pay it, we hope the case serves as a reminder to all public officials to make decisions in the open.
VOA’s new Harmony House to provide substance abuse treatment
UP to Volunteers of America Northern Rockies for building Harmony House, a new residential treatment facility that will provide substance abuse treatment for men and women.
Harmony House will have 42 beds for addiction treatment — 26 for men and 16 for women. It also has 12 beds for crisis stabilization — six for men and six for women — and four beds for social detox — two for men and two for women.
The facility offers short-term crisis housing and long-term housing for up to 90 days for inpatient treatment. In line with the faith-based mission of the program, it also has a chapel.
In addition to this being the first inpatient treatment facility for women in the capital city in a long time, VOA will accept women with children into Harmony House, so they don’t have to worry about neglecting family responsibilities to get clean and sober.
VOA typically sees an 80-90% success rate, according to CEO Mike King. We’re glad to see the organization — along with support from Gov. Gordon, the Office of State Lands and Investments and the Wyoming Department of Health — support this effort, and we wish them, and their clients, much success.