UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

After Gov. Mark Gordon stated to all government agencies that expenditures will be curbed dramatically and “probably for some time to come,” UW Acting President Neil Theobald said restrictions on faculty and staff hiring will be enforced at the university, reported The Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

WyoFile reported that Wyoming residents can expect utility rate hikes in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and energy downturn.

In an interview with Politico, UW law Professor Michael Duff said workers’ compensation systems have contained “presumptions” for diseases that are common in certain occupations, such as lung cancer for coal miners or firefighters. And, now, numerous states have made or are considering a similar treatment for COVID-19.

UW economist Rob Godby discussed with The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) the ramifications of the negative price for oil, especially for Wyoming’s producers. Godby also was quoted in The Tennessean on how the pandemic has affected energy markets in central America.

ADVFN and Fidelity Investments Research, both financial market websites, quoted Godby for an article on how the rapidly falling oil prices will affect regional economies.

With the COVID-19 economic shutdown, Wyoming coal production might see a decline of about 18 percent this year -- 8 percent more than earlier projections, according to UW’s Godby -- The CS-T noted.

A new film, produced by Greg Nickerson from UW’s Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit, was featured by The CS-T. The documentary focuses on the impact Interstate 80 has on wildlife.

UW will receive $6.6 million from the federal government’s coronavirus relief efforts, money that will be spent to help students affected by the virus, according to The CS-T.

The CS-T interviewed UW jazz studies instructor Ben Markley, who put together a 16-member big band to perform one of his original pieces. Markley hopes the video will generate interest to raise money for musicians who have found themselves without work because of COVID-19. Wyoming News Now also interviewed Markley, while KGAB Radio and K2 Radio published UW’s original release. Markley also was featured on a K2 Television segment.

Some research at UW has been discontinued because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Laramie Boomerang reported.

Wyoming News Now published UW’s release noting that UW’s Office of Graduate Education has extended application deadlines to accommodate students whose plans have been affected by global economic difficulties stemming from COVID-19.

A survey of Wyoming physicians shows significant disruption of their practices related to novel coronavirus COVID-19, including financial distress, according to a study by the Wyoming Medical Society -- in collaboration with the Wyoming Telehealth Network at UW -- noted Oil City News.

Oil City News also published UW’s release noting that UW and Basin Electric Power Cooperative received a $15.2 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. The project is the next step in a project aimed at storing more than 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide underground.

UW’s Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute reported that conventional oil and gas reservoirs are key for survival of the state’s oil and gas industry during the current economic downturn. Wind River News Network published UW’s release.

Various record-collecting state agencies, including UW’s American Heritage Center, are working together to encourage people to submit personal stories on how they would tell future historians about their experience and memories of living through this pandemic. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle used information from UW’s release for the article.

The Gillette News Record and Wyo4News noted that UW debate Coach Matt Liu and his debate squad ran the online state high school debate championships last week.