Open Spaces

Today on the show, a new survey shows the vast majority of Wyomingites believe climate change is happening. We’ll spend a day with the Albany County Outdoor School – a program that brings local fourth graders into their public lands. And we hear a tribute to a Northern Arapaho elder who was fluent in the language. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, two conservative women started with similar beliefs about abortion. Then they got pregnant, and their beliefs shifted. We hear from a non-profit that tracks federal election spending. They found Wyoming’s D.C. hopefuls get almost all of their campaign funding from out of state. And we’ll join a conversation exploring some of our misguided stereotypes about rural America. Those stories and more...

Today on the show, a researcher and her team mapped more than 150 miles of fence near Cody. When Diana Foster Greene first started studying women who received - and were denied - abortions in the mid-2000s, there wasn’t much research on this. And, there’s a relatively small active Jewish community in the state. While one rabbi says he’s seen antisemitism rise since the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, he says he still feels welcomed here. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, in honor of a successful fund drive, we are showcasing our award-winning work. Every February, WPR submits stories from the past year for award consideration. We are still waiting to hear the results from 2024. So we wanted to share the stories that won awards in 2023:It was a big year for energy in the state. Including a groundbreaking for a huge wind energy project outside of Rawlins. A forum tried to address stigmas that are stopping firearms owners from seeking mental health resources. We’ll also hear about two of WPR’s Modern West podcast seasons. Those stories and more...

Today on the show, Gov. Mark Gordon reflects on this year’s legislative session. Lawmakers were set to pick the topics they would spend the next few months hearing about from the public and stakeholders. But that didn’t happen. Now what? And a UW dean was removed from his position. We’ll dig into the backstory. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, healthcare providers with the Veterans Administration (VA) are worried that upcoming return-to-office orders might violate standards of patient privacy. A freshman legislator personally experienced mental health problems. We check in on how this impacted his lawmaking in the landscape. And, if you’ve been jonesing for some fresh Modern West episodes, you’re in luck. We have a preview of the new season. Those stories and more.

Today on the show, we’re going to take a break from the breaking news cycle. Instead, we'll hear one of the final interviews given by longtime Wyoming US Senator Al Simpson, who died in Cody on March 14th. Jim Raymond and Jim Jones are co-hosts of the podcast JimJam. The podcast focuses on the transition from work life to retired life. Back in December, they went to the home of Al and Ann Simpson. They spent a day interviewing both of them. We will listen to the full conversation with Al.

Today on the show, former U.S. Senator Al Simpson passed away in Cody at the age of 92. We will hear about his legacy. But first, the Wyoming general legislative session has ended. We'll dive into two bans on where transgender people can go in the state. Both were recently signed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon. Wyoming just defunded a program that aimed to put more water on the landscape. And the debate over grizzly bears in our region may be more about humans than about the animals. Those stories and more on Open Spaces.

A lot has been going on in the state since our last episode and we have you covered. It’s been a year since a rural ranching community in Sublette County was cast into the international spotlight over one man’s treatment of a wolf. Federal funding freezes and layoffs have had real impacts on our state. We hear from two people who were fired from the research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some of those who have lost their jobs are also losing their housing. And, the 68th Wyoming Legislature has gaveled out. Cheyenne Roundup fills us in on the end.

This week on Open Spaces, Wyoming Public Radio asked our listeners to share with us how they’re impacted by the latest orders by the Trump administration. Messages streamed in. We’ll hear from a few of those. It’s been three years since the war in Ukraine started. We check in with a Laramie pediatrician who has gone to the country three times. Paleontologists discovered the fossils of the oldest known dinosaur in North America outside of Dubois. It’s also the first dino to be named in Shoshone. And we’ll have an update on the legislature with the Cheyenne Roundup. Those stories and more.