Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 212
CASPER — As the executive director of homelessness advocacy group Family Promise of Cheyenne, Lori Kempter knew all too well how vulnerable people can be, even in the days before the COVID-19 outbreak. Running the sole homeless shelter for families in the state’s capital, Kempter has spent her career helping to break the cycle of instability for many families stuck in homelessness, helping them secure steady employment and safe housing at critical points in their lives. Since the coronavirus all but shut down the state’s economy, putting a reco... Full story
CHEYENNE – Last month, Congress passed a historic $2 trillion stimulus package that grants all single Americans (whose annual income is $75,000 or less) a one-time, non-taxed payment of $1,200. Married couples in the same position will receive $2,400, and parents will be given $500 for each child under the age of 17. Last Thursday, the IRS started depositing these Economic Impact Payments into the bank accounts of Americans who opted to get their federal tax refund directly deposited this year or last. However, some Wyomingites are at risk o... Full story
CODY — The Centers for Disease Control is now recommending people cover their faces with cloth during the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many materials and fabrics existing, it can feel a little overwhelming to know what to use and not to use. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain like grocery stores and pharmacies. The biggest purpose is to prevent asymptomatic victims of the virus from transferring it to others. Items that can be used include T... Full story
JACKSON — Since early March the county’s top health official has been begging the state to support his restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus in Teton County. Emails obtained by the News&Guide through the Wyoming Public Records Act show a back and forth that became heated as Teton District Health Officer Dr. Travis Riddell pushed state officials to allow him to enact a stay-at-home order. Riddell initially sought the state’s blessing for a stay-at-home order narrowly tailored to just the most vulnerable people — seniors and those w... Full story
With many employees still reporting for work during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers may have to adopt new measures to comply with regulations requiring safe workplaces. Employers have an obligation to protect workers from “recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm,” the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration states in a 35-page publication offering COVID-19 guidance in the workplace. Employers should use the guide to identify the risk their workers face and to determine appropriate... Full story
Debate in Wyoming is increasing over whether Gov. Mark Gordon closing some businesses but stopping short of a stay-at-home order is inadequate or a threat to liberty, even as a top doctor contends a hospital surge is still on the horizon. The growth of confirmed cases slowed last week, though a wave of new confirmed cases over the weekend brought the state’s case load to 275. Of those cases, 140 have recovered, according to the Department of Health. But Dr. David Wheeler, the head of the Wyoming Medical Society, said case counts might grow f... Full story
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – As Wyoming continues to experience the direct and indirect fiscal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Mark Gordon has instructed all state agency directors to identify opportunities to immediately reduce spending. This is through the end of the current budget year, which ends June 30, and into the next two-year budget. Specifically, the Governor has immediately directed agencies to institute position freezes, halt general fund contracts greater than $100,000, and implement a rigorous review of major maintenance s... Full story
In a statement on the Washakie County Public Health COVID-19 Facebook Page Sunday morning, April 5, Washakie County Public Health reported it "has been notified of 2 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county. This brings Washakie County's total to 4.The Department of Health and Washakie County Public Health are currently investigating. This is all we know at this time. We will release more information as it becomes available." This story will be updated as more information becomes availa... Full story
CHEYENNE – Governor Mark Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist have extended the three existing statewide health orders through April 30 to slow community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect lives. The Governor continues to emphatically state that people need to stay home whenever possible to prevent or slow the spread of the virus. These orders are meant to enforce that direction through April. Specifically, the current orders closing public places including schools, prohibiting gatherings of 10 people or more in a... Full story
WORLAND - While Washakie County only has one case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at this time, residents are working to ensure health care providers do not run out of necessary masks to protect them and their patience. The Worland 3D mask printing project started when Brandon Yule was contacted by his brother-in-law, Brandon Richardson. Richardson sent him a link to a story about Richardson's brother, Dr. Dusty Richardson coming up with an idea to make masks for providers. Yule said he had... Full story
By GEORGE HORVATH WORLAND – As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues and statewide orders on gatherings and businesses extended, everyday life in Wyoming has changed. Last Friday, Governor Mark Gordon and state Health Officer Alexia Harrist extended three existing state public health orders until April 17. Washakie County Commission Chairman Fred Frandson reported that they have also extended the county’s Level 3 status until April 17, limiting county operations and restricting public access to county facilities. The Cit... Full story
UPDATE FOR APRIL 2ND FROM THE WASHAKIE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER There are 137 confirmed Covid-19 infections in Wyoming with only 1 attributed to Washakie County. Washakie county has performed 24 tests with 19 returned as negative and 5 with results pending. The one positive of a Washakie County resident was collected in Hot Springs County. I am so glad it SNOWED! Today hopefully fewer people out ignoring recommendations. Just yesterday the Worland city parks had NUMEROUS children playing in them! That playground equipment and swings are... Full story
LARAMIE - Nearly one-third of Wyomingites say they or immediate family members have been laid off or lost their jobs due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19, according to a new survey by the University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center (WYSAC). And, more than half of the state’s residents or their immediate family members have seen reductions in work hours or pay because of the pandemic, with nearly three-quarters expressing deep concern about the impact of coronavirus on the economy. The survey, conducted Monday, is the first of... Full story
Because of testing supply issues, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) will be limiting testing available through the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to the department’s established priority patients and situations. “It’s been clear for some time that materials needed for sample collection and testing are in very short supply in Wyoming and across the nation,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH. “We’ve done well so far at our lab, but our concern abo... Full story
Compiled from Wyoming News Exchange newspapers Wyoming’s coronavirus case count grew to 162 on Friday morning, an increase of nine from the previous day. The Wyoming Health Department announced that as of 10 a.m. Friday, nine new cases were reported in six counties, including the first case recorded in Lincoln County. The increase came in the wake of the announcement by state health officials that after completing more than 1,800 tests of samples from people suspected of being infected with coronavirus, the state’s Public Health Laboratory will... Full story
CHEYENNE (APRIL 2, 2020) - Today, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) and Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) released COVID-19 virus guidance for livestock markets as they are exempt from the Statewide Public Health Order Continuation on Gatherings issued by the Wyoming Department of Health on March 27, 2020. Governor Gordon’s Executive Order on March 13, 2020 declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered the Director of the Wyoming Department of Health to take all appropriate and necessary actions to address t... Full story
WASHAKIE COUNTY — The Washakie County Commissioners, City of Worland and Town of Ten Sleep will all be conducting their regular meetings tomorrow (Tuesday). In order to follow COVID-19 guidelines requiring social distancing and limiting gatherings of 10 or more people all meetings will be held remotely. For the Washakie County Commissioners, the public can call in at 1-866-886-5735. Participant code is 2642816. Currently the meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. An agenda can be found at Washakiecounty.net. The Town of Ten Sleep will be h... Full story
With new national recommendations encouraging the targeted use of personal face coverings due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) official is updating residents on why using them at key times could be helpful. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other measures meant to keep people apart are difficult to maintain such as grocery stores and pharmacies. Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state... Full story
New numbers released by the Wyoming Department of Health this morning shows the number of COVID-19 cases in the state going from 56 last night to 70 this morning (Friday) including a case in Washakie County. The new numbers also show zero cases in Hot Springs County after officials in Hot Springs County announced that they had their first case. According to Washakie County Public Health, Washakie County has its first reported positive COVID-19 case, as the Wyoming Department of Health on Friday reports 70 total cases statewide. Amanda... Full story
Hot Springs County Unified Command announced at 5:45 p.m. Thursday that the county has identified its first positive case of novel coronavirus (COVID-10). Unified Command was formed on March 18 with County Health Officer, Emergency Management, Public Health, Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital and other medical facilities, as well as county and town officials and law enforcement. Dr. Vernon Miller, County Health Officer said, "We will continue to be transparent in reporting to the community the progression of cases in our county. Any need for... Full story
Information in this article and other COVID-19 coverage in this issue were up to date as of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 25. Please check wyodaily.com for updates throughout the day and week. WORLAND – With 37 COVID-19 cases reported as of Tuesday in nine different Wyoming counties, including one case in Cody, the likelihood of additional Big Horn Basin cases emerging is not getting any lower. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have COVID-19 infection may have only mild symptoms of illness, or no s... Full story
CHEYENNE – Governor Mark Gordon last Thursday, March 19, endorsed a decision by the Wyoming State Health Officer to close public places for a two-week period to help slow the community spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The closure order extends through April 3 and includes schools, theaters, bars, nightclubs, coffee shops, employee cafeterias, self-serve buffets, salad bars, unpackaged self-serve food services, gyms, conference rooms and museums. "This Governor has never been inclined t...
Coronavirus case count jumps to 70, no hospitalization for most Wyoming’s coronavirus case count jumped to 70 on Friday as Health Department officials diagnosed 14 new cases in seven counties. Among the new cases was Goshen County’s first. The Health Department reported three new cases in Johnson and Fremont counties, two new cases in Laramie, Natrona and Teton counties and one new case in Goshen and Sheridan counties. Hot Springs County officials reported one case had been detected at the county's hospital in Thermopolis. The patient was fro... Full story
Coronavirus cases up to 94, Jackson issues ‘stay at home’ order Wyoming’s first “stay at home” order took effect over the weekend as Jackson’s town council approved an ordinance requiring the town’s residents to stay at home. The ordinance came on the heels of a similar order issued by Teton County health officials on Saturday which required those age 65 and over and those suffering from high-risk medical conditions to stay home. Both orders were issued as the state’s confirmed coronavirus count continued to rise over the weekend, reachi... Full story
GILLETTE — Already trying to bail out a ship taking on water, Powder River Basin coal producers are now trying to keep that up during a torrential downpour. An already-battered coal industry will struggle to make it through the rest of 2020 as much of the United States is reeling socially and financially in a coronavirus-fueled recession, said Rob Godby, a University of Wyoming economist and associate dean of the Haug School of Environment and Natural Resources. COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders and the virtual shutdown of many businesses and in... Full story