UW in the News

January 28, 2019

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:

Even though the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) downsized some of UW’s budget requests, the JAC approved a supplemental budget bill that includes $20 million for UW, The Laramie Boomerang reported.

Coal Zoom interviewed UW economist Rob Godby, who discussed how the current coal industry climate is affecting Wyoming producers, including Cloud Peak Energy Inc., which owns three mines in the Powder River Basin.

UW veterinary sciences Professor Holly Ernest was among researchers noting that California’s puma habitat is in danger because of population growth. Her research was recently published by The Wildlife Society.

Despite pushback from UW, the Senate Education Committee moved forward with a bill that would allow Wyoming community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees on their campuses, reported The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T).

The Gillette News Record was among publications noting that the UW Board of Trustees voted to continue the Biodiversity Institute and select a task force to develop a new biodiversity research enterprise.

UW law Professor Sam Kalen told The CS-T that the state has a tough obstacle to overcome on a proposal by Wyoming lawmakers who want to set aside $250,000 to sue the state of Washington, which has effectively blocked a coal export terminal development by denying a state water permit.

The Canadian Press also quoted Kalen in an Associated Press article detailing another legislative measure. The state would operate national parks and other federal facilities if the federal government ever shuts down again, under a pending proposal.

Under a bill that’s pending in the House Education Committee, the state’s seven community colleges and UW would use common course numbering to allow students to easily move between the two-year schools and the four-year university, according to The CS-T.

WalletHub interviewed UW Professor Emeritus Sherrill Shaffer for an article detailing why unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit are expensive. WalletHub is a website resource to help consumers make good financial decisions.

UW’s wool judging team captured the overall and individual titles at the recent National Western Stock Show in Denver, reported the agriculture-related The Fence Post publication.

Wyoming Business Report noted that UW’s Ruckelshaus Institute and other entities are holding a public engagement process to explore management concerns, issues and opportunities for the Whiskey Mountain bighorn sheep herd; meetings are scheduled next month in Dubois.