The bison, also known as the American buffalo, is an iconic animal of the West. But its path has been a fraught one. We’re going to take a look back at reintroducing bison in Wyoming. We look at why the bison quarantine program started. We go back to when we attended the first bison release on the Wind River Reservation - a long time goal for both the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. We look at what the current management of the bison looks like now and its plan for the future. And we’ll wrap up with an exclusive interview with filmmaker Ken Burns on his most recent documentary, "The American Buffalo." Those stories and more.

Open Spaces, October 13, 2023

A news and public affairs program about Wyoming and the Mountain West.

News

Today on the show, a conservative student group at the University of Wyoming has become a significant presence in campus politics. Almost a third of families with single moms live in poverty in the state and one organization is helping to change that. And we learn about how a couple decides to buy a record shop in Cheyenne – despite competition from national chains and a tough environment for small shops. Those stories and more.

UW football, supporting single moms, and more

Today on the show, Wyoming is the only state to feed elk every year depending on snowpack. A newly finalized plan gets the ball rolling for reimagining what that might look like going forward. A federal agency wants to revoke management of lands on the Wind River Reservation. Muddy Ridge could go to the BLM, or to the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes. We take a ride on a snow plow in Grand Teton National Park during one of the biggest storms of the season and hear about one leader’s efforts to prioritize his crew’s mental health. Plus - we learn about how Wyoming judges are dealing with a rise of threats. Those stories and more.

Elk feedgrounds, comic strip controversy, and more

Today on the show, the newsroom is celebrating our successful fund drive with some of our favorite stories from this year so far. The FBI started a new initiative to gather more data about cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people in Wyoming. We’ll hear from the Senate reading clerk about his job, and his voice. And Wyoming leads the nation in self-employed businesses. We hear from some. Those stories and more.

Best of 2024 so far!

Today on the show, recent allegations of wolf abuse in the southwest part of the state have drawn attention from around the world. A massive operation by animal rescue groups has given 10 West Bank dogs a new life in Wyoming. Eastern Shoshone educator Ivan Posey has announced a run for House District 33, which includes part of the Wind River Reservation. And one Wyoming town is struggling financially to keep its recreation center afloat. Those stories and more.

Wolves, small town funding, and more

On today's show, we check in with both political parties on how they are hoping to get young voters more involved. We’ll hear from the Senate reading clerk about his job reading all of the bills in the Wyoming Legislature and his voice. We learn about a group of Black musicians that left a lasting musical influence on Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. And our podcast, "The Modern West," is out with a new season. This time, it's focusing on stories from Wyoming Public Radio reporters. Those stories and more.

Open Spaces, October 13, 2023

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