Open Spaces

Today on the show, more than a decade ago, Wyoming Republicans backed a change to the state constitution, which gave people the right to make their own healthcare decisions. It was meant to signal disapproval of the Affordable Care Act. That amendment was just used to strike down two near-total abortion bans in the state. Climate change, the energy transition, and affording everyday life are all big topics on our minds. How that all might be affected in Wyoming with Donald Trump as our next president. And we hear about bringing the more-than-a-hundred-year-old remains of an Eastern Shoshone boy back to the Wind River Reservation from an East Coast boarding school. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, the results of the election are in and The Wyoming Freedom Caucus now has a majority of seats in the House. One legislator says it’s going to be interesting. A Lakota historian reflects on how the railroad impacted bison habitat. In football, the Cowboys' running back, Sam Scott, flipped to the other side of the ball and is contributing in big ways this season. Plus, a rare disease popped up in Carbon County - how the handling of it has upset locals. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, as we gear up for the general election, we dive into how ballots get counted and how elections get certified. In an effort to lower their carbon footprints, people in our region are building homes out of straw bales. Students took a trip to a creek outside of Cheyenne with ties to a 19th Century treaty. Plus, we hear about how Grizzly 399 was managed differently than other bears. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, all of your questions about voting in the upcoming election answered. Plus a look at contested Wyoming House races in the General Election. On the Wind River Reservation, one tribal member is leading a program to help people coming back from prison stay out. And, a photographer talks about what motivates him to go to the front lines of some of the largest fires. Those stories and more.

Today on Open Spaces, we're bringing back some of the biggest storylines of the summer to thank you, our listeners, for keeping us on the air and making this kind of place-based, informative storytelling possible. Gillette welcomed over 55 thousand people for a week-long event. And we’ll bring you behind the scenes of one of the biggest fires in Wyoming this summer. Those stories and more.

Today on Open Spaces, it’s been a busy wildfire season. We’ll hear how fire departments are coping with fewer volunteers. A non-profit that fills in the gaps for the largest national forest in Wyoming, is preparing to play a bigger role going forward. Last winter, the corporation that owns the Pinedale Roundup laid off all its employees except one. Then, major news hit. And the Road to Cheyenne series is back to prepare Wyomingites for the general election. Those stories and more.

Today on Open Spaces, a summer camp lives out Wyoming’s vision for attracting young people to the state’s outdoor industry – even if camp chores include moving 90-pound hay bales. We hear from Cherokee painter DG House about how the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem inspires her art. Furry friends on Native American reservations are feeling the heat from climate change. And highlights of a bike race from Logan Utah, to Jackson Hole. Lo-to-Ja. Lotoja. Get it?Those stories and more.

Today on the show, the latest draft for how to manage millions of acres of federal lands in southwest Wyoming attempts compromise but there is still a chance for litigation. It’s been a pretty big year for wildfires in Wyoming. The state fire management officer says working with partners has been key. We hear from students at the University of Wyoming about changes happening on campus, like the possibility of carrying concealed weapons. And we check in with retiring State Senator Affie Ellis. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, the Primary elections are almost over. We are going to take this Open Spaces to digest and analyze what happened. We chat with representatives of three voting blocks in the Wyoming legislature. Wyoming’s current speaker of the house will be out of politics for now after two sessions in the leadership position. He lost his bid for a senate seat. This comes after a particularly divisive campaign cycle. And we turn away from politics to hear about how artificial intelligence is making its way into journalism - and a small-town newsroom in Wyoming is ground zero. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, a tribal bison manager in Wyoming says Yellowstone’s new plan to manage the animals is a good compromise. Three Fremont County schools are growing their libraries with new collections of Native books. These days, all eyes are on rural voters, especially since both presidential candidates picked running mates with rural roots. And, the primary is right around the corner - we look into recent complaints about tests for voting equipment. Those stories and more.