Bob Beck

Pew Study shows more one party control of legislative bodies

Bob Beck — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:12:43 +0000

A review of state legislative work shows that 37 states are led by one party, and that has led to changes in many state laws across country. The report was published by Stateline, a news service of the Pew Charitable Trusts. Editor Sandy Johnson says having majorities in legislative bodies helps pass a lot of legislation, from pro-marijuana laws in more Democratic States to loosening gun laws in more Republican states like Wyoming. Johnson says that it’s led to other changes as well.

June 7th, 2013

Bob Beck, Rebecca Huntington, Rebecca Martinez and Willow Belden — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:40:31 +0000

Data processing failures spur plans to overhaul Wyoming Department of Education

Wyoming’s Oil and Gas Supervisor discusses issues from flaring to fracking

Bob Beck — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:27:30 +0000

Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck spoke with the new supervisor of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Grant Black. Since he started the job a few weeks ago, Black has been dealing with issues ranging from the flaring of natural gas to water contamination. He says the flaring issue is interesting.

Laramie software company makes a dent in the medical world

Bob Beck — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:22:45 +0000

In our occasional series on upstart businesses we take you to Laramie to tell you about a software company that is making a dent in the world of medicine. Mona Gamboa started Happy Jack Software in 2004 after she left her software job in Texas to join her husband who took a job at the University of Wyoming. Gamboa got a Master in Science in E Business from U-W and started Happy Jack software in the U-W Student Union. Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck reports.

Author discusses the book Wyoming’s Outlaw Trail

Bob Beck — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:04:49 +0000

Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck spoke with author and historian Mac Blewer about his entertaining book called “Wyoming’s Outlaw Trail.” It’s about the outlaws that frequented Wyoming in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. For instance he says Baggs, Wyoming was a popular hangout.

May 31st, 2013

Fri, 31 May 2013 23:09:34 +0000

Wyoming missed out on last uranium boom, but planning for the future

Wyoming Public Radio has for years reported that the state is on the verge of a uranium boom. It turns out the state missed the peak of that boom, and is now betting on slower, more conservative growth.

Petition to restore powers to State Superintendent fails

Bob Beck — Fri, 31 May 2013 22:57:36 +0000

The Wyoming Secretary of State’s office says a petition drive to repeal a law removing powers from the State Superintendent has fallen short.

State Elections Director Peggy Nighswonger says she notified the Wyoming Constitution Party that the referendum will not be placed on the ballot.

“The petition filed on May 28^th did not have the number of signatures required by Wyoming’s Constitution in Article 3 section 52,” Nighswonger said.

Wyoming Trails Summit hopes to improve communities

Bob Beck — Fri, 31 May 2013 22:31:19 +0000

For the first time, non-motorized trail enthusiasts will gather formally to discuss ways that communities, land managers, and others can improve trails across the state. Tim Young of Wyoming Pathways and Angela Emery, the Director of Casper’s Platte River Trails talk with Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck about the Wyoming Trails Summit.

Despite moisture officials still worry about fires

Bob Beck — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:09:29 +0000

Wyoming fire officials say the wet spring this year has been helpful, but they’re still unsure what it will mean for the fire season this year.

Lots of interest in Wyoming Education Director post

Bob Beck — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:54:53 +0000

A search firm says there is a lot of interest in Wyoming’s opening for a new Director of Education. The position was created by the State Legislature to take over day to day operations of the State Department of Education.

Federal Emergency Unemployment Benefits will be reduced

Bob Beck — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:43:04 +0000

Emergency unemployment compensation program benefits will be reduced under the federal government’s budget sequester.

Wyoming Workforce Services Director Joan Evans that the program provides unemployed individuals who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits. Evans says the reduction will likely be noticeable.

May 17th, 2013

Bob Beck, Irina Zhorov and Rebecca Martinez — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:40:00 +0000

Efforts to grant tribes more authority are met with resistance from non-tribal lawmakers
The extent of sovereignty for Native American tribes has long been like a tug-of-war between tribal and non-tribal governments in the United States.

New Northern Arapaho Business Council resolves to fix tribe’s poor financial management

Bob Beck and Irina Zhorov — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:27:11 +0000

The Northern Arapaho Tribe is a mess, financially. They’re behind on their audits, past audits have not been flattering, and change has been slow to come.

UW’s Native American graduates are important to the Wind River Reservation

Bob Beck — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:20:04 +0000

In the mid 1990’s the University of Wyoming made a conscious effort to attract more Native American students to the University. Over the years recruitment and retention of students from the Wind River Reservation has been challenging. New efforts could change things and many believe that will be important for the long term health of the Reservation.

Study: Cutthroat decline means grizzlies eat more elk

Bob Beck — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:34:20 +0000

A new study shows that the decline in native cutthroat trout has had dramatic impacts on the migratory elk herds in the Greater Yellowstone Area.

Lead Researcher Arthur Middleton and others were studying the decline of elk herds in the region, and they determined that grizzly bears were playing a greater role in those deaths than they realized.

The illegal introduction of lake trout into Yellowstone Lake has harmed the cutthroat trout population.

May 10th, 2013

Fri, 10 May 2013 23:22:02 +0000

Pollutants detected in water wells in Sublette County’s gas fields
Sublette County has been in the news a lot because of its air quality problems, which largely stem from natural gas production. But there’s another issue too: Pollutants have been showing up in water wells. Wyoming Public Radio’s Willow Belden reports.

The Cheyenne International Film Festival begins May 16th

Bob Beck — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:50:08 +0000

Next week the Cheyenne International Film festival gets underway. The event begins May 16^th and runs through the 19^th. The producer of the event is Alan O’Hashi who’s been active in helping Wyoming movie makers and this venue gives them a chance to showcase their work, but as the title suggests, International films will also be shown. O’Hashi tells Bob Beck the event was started five years ago and continues to grow. He says they will be showing a wide range of films.

New website features Wyoming history

Bob Beck — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:46:54 +0000

Former Newspaper reporter and author Tom Rea has a new venture, he is the Editor of WyoHistory.org. It is a history website about Wyoming. He tells Bob Beck the idea for the website came as he was doing a job for the Natrona County School district.

UW graduates praise their education

Bob Beck — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:21:22 +0000

This weekend a new set of graduates are leaving the University of Wyoming. For some, they are facing an unknown job situation, but others are ready to jump into their careers. The graduates also talked about Wyoming’s efforts to keep them in-state. Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck sat down with three graduates from U-W’s College of business and found that two are leaving and one thinks he’ll hang around a bit longer.

Gov. Mead says GOP Central Committee acted too quickly judging Hill bill

Bob Beck — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:40:35 +0000

Governor Matt Mead says the Republican Central Committee acted too hastily when it approved a resolution endorsing a petition drive to repeal the state law that removed powers from State Superintendent Cindy Hill. Several members of the committee also wanted three Republican legislators who were instrumental in passing the law to leave the party. Mead says a court challenge to the law will be heard by the Supreme Court and the Wyoming Attorney General’s office is also concluding an investigation into how the Department was run in Superintendent Hill’s first two years in office.

April 26th, 2013

Bob Beck, Irina Zhorov, Rebecca Martinez, Sara Hossaini and Willow Belden — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:06:02 +0000

Cost of substance abuse in Wyoming is higher than expected
As it addressed issues concerning substance abuse, one thing the state never had were Wyoming specific numbers on the financial impact of substance abuse. Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck reports that a recent study has found that the cost of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse is staggering.

Cost of substance abuse in Wyoming is higher than expected

Bob Beck — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:54:52 +0000

As it addressed issues concerning substance abuse, one thing the state never had were Wyoming specific numbers on the financial impact of substance abuse. Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck reports that a recent study has found that the cost of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse is staggering.

BOB BECK: This is the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center or WYSAC today people in the state are being asked about their tobacco use.

“And how old were you when you first smoked at least one cigarette every day for 30 days in a row? 16? All right…”

State prepares for the fire season

Bob Beck — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:24:24 +0000

For the last month, state officials have expressed concern about Wyoming’s dry winter and the possibility of another bad fire season. But with the moisture the state has recently received, the question is whether that concern has been reduced. Bill Crapser is the state forester and he tells Bob Beck that having more moisture has helped.

April 19th, 2013

Bob Beck, Irina Zhorov, Rebecca Martinez and Willow Belden — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 22:12:49 +0000

Wyoming's Senators Help Defeat Gun Control
After weeks of intense lobbying on Capitol Hill gun control advocates suffered a stinging defeat this week…in part because of opposition from Wyoming’s two Republican senators. Matt Laslo reports from Washington.

Coal to liquid projects have uphill climb

Bob Beck — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:46:57 +0000

Over the years, many researchers have looked at a variety of research and economic development projects using Wyoming coal. The idea is to open up new markets for it and to make it more viable for businesses and the public to use. Much of this has surrounded coal gasification. There has been a belief that coal could be used as a form of liquid fuel. That was especially useful when oil supplies appeared limited in the United States…but as the country entered a technology revolution and opened up more resources…the interest dropped. Experts say that the oth

Acclaimed author and historian David McCullough discusses his work

Bob Beck — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:40:42 +0000

Author and historian David McCullough is a two time winner of the Pulitzer prize, he has twice won the National Book Award, and has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his books on American History. He spoke about history, education and a number of topics at the University of Wyoming this week. I was able to catch up with him following his talk.

Hill threatens to sue over libelous white paper

Bob Beck — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:52:27 +0000

A lawyer representing State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill is threatening to sue over comments by legislators that appeared in a white paper explaining why lawmakers removed much of Hill’s power. The white paper was crafted to respond to non-legislative members of the Wyoming Republican Party who expressed concern over the law's passage. It was distributed in an email by Big Horn Representative Rosie Berger. Hill’s Attorney Robert DiLorenzo wrote Berger saying that the white paper appeared to be defamatory and he demanded that Berger provide proof fo

Survey: Casper residents support smoking ban

Bob Beck — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:43:59 +0000

A survey of registered voters in Casper has found that the majority do not want the city council to overturn the city’s smoking ban.

When the Casper City Council began to discuss overturning the law, the American Cancer Society Action Network and the American Heart Association hired a firm to survey Casper residents about the efforts. More than 600 Casper voters supported the smoking ban.

Jason Mincer of the Cancer society says the law is popular, with 62-percent of public support.

Legalizing pot? Mead says no

Bob Beck — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:56:43 +0000

While Colorado has legalized marijuana, Governor Matt Mead has no interest in seeing Wyoming do the same. During a recent conference call with reporters, Mead was asked if he would support legalizing marijuana in the state. His answer was no.

March 29th, 2013

Bob Beck, Irina Zhorov, Rebecca Huntington, Rebecca Martinez and Willow Belden — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:24:32 +0000

Flared natural gas is a loss to the state in taxes and royalties