News Letter Journal

06/14/2026

U.S. Senate candidate criticizes Congress, administration

Via the and the News Record
GILLETTE — The people of Wyoming aren’t being represented in Washington, D.C. by those they elected, said James Byrd, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
Byrd is running for the Senate seat that is currently filled by Sen. Cynthia Lummis. The frontrunner in that race is Rep. Harriet Hageman.
https://newslj.com/us-senate-candidate-criticizes-congress-administration

06/14/2026

06/14/2026

Coming Home to Roost
Crowbar opening in Carbon County a homecoming for three Rawlins friends

Via the and the Sun
SARATOGA — Two years to the day since they became the official owners of the Crowbar and Grill in Laramie, co-owners Tim Carlson, Colton “Colly” Braig and Ray Brown held the grand opening of their new Rawlins location.
For all three men, the grand opening also served as a sort of homecoming.
“There is something special about bringing it back here because that’s where we all met. We all went to high school together, we all sang together in high school, we were in plays together in high school,” said Carlson. “Having gone our own separate ways, it was cool to make this connection through the business.”
https://newslj.com/coming-home-roost-crowbar-opening-carbon-county-homecoming-three-rawlins-friends

06/14/2026

MICHAEL GLEN HUTT: March 4, 1953–May 25, 2026

Michael Glen Hutt, 73, passed away at his home in May. A lifelong resident of the Newcastle, Wyoming, area, Mike’s roots ran deep in the Wyoming soil. He grew up on a ranch south of Newcastle, attended local schools, and spent a couple of years studying at the University of Wyoming before making Newcastle his permanent home. He was a familiar and dependable face for many years, working as a bus driver for the coal mines outside of Gillette.
https://newslj.com/michael-glen-hutt

06/13/2026

FROM WYOFILE:
Drought delivers ‘worst case scenario’ for fire scar recovery in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin
At the front end of what’s shaping up to be another active fire year, landowners and rangeland specialists speak to the challenges of healing a landscape burned over by the Red Canyon Fire.

Via the and WyoFile
HOT SPRINGS COUNTY—As Derek Trauntvein traveled around the Bighorn Basin for his job with the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service this spring, the landscape looked so desiccated and browned out that it resembled late summer conditions.
“In a normal year, this would be lush green right now,” Trauntvein told a gathering of journalists last week in the 195-square-mile scar of 2025’s Red Canyon Fire. “June is the best time to visit the Bighorn Basin, because it’s green and beautiful.”
https://newslj.com/drought-delivers-worst-case-scenario-fire-scar-recovery-wyomings-bighorn-basin

06/13/2026

Healing and justice
Agencies work in tandem to support survivors

Fear of facing an offender in court nearly caused one Weston County sexual assault victim to stop participating in a criminal case, but an interagency partnership helped the victim persevere.
“We all work together as a team,” said Stephanie Martinez, victim/witness coordinator at the Weston County Attorney’s Office.
https://newslj.com/healing-and-justice-agencies-work-tandem-support-survivors

06/13/2026

Gray says if he’s elected, he will push for national election integrity laws and work for Wyoming industries

Via the and the Miner
ROCK SPRINGS — Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray spoke with residents at a meet and greet event June 6 about his run for U.S. Congress.
Gray, who is from Casper and has served for 3.5 years in his current capacity, is hoping to be the state’s Republican candidate for U. S. House of Representatives following the August 18 Primary Elections. He’s facing off this election season against a large and varied slate of candidates for the office, including Bo Biteman of Ranchester, David Gerald of Mills, Frank Chapman of Moran, Jillian Balow of Cheyenne, Keith Goodenough of Casper, Keith Christensen of Casper, Reid Rasner of Casper, Richard Dodson of Sundance, and Steve Friess of Cheyenne.
https://newslj.com/gray-says-if-hes-elected-he-will-push-national-election-integrity-laws-and-work-wyoming-industries

06/13/2026

Today in Wyoming history:
In 1889, Rawlins received two feet of snow.

(Thanks On This Day.)

06/13/2026

Jackson planning commission OKs Virginian Lodge employee housing

Via the and the Jackson Hole News&Guide
JACKSON — The Town of Jackson’s Planning Commission unanimously recommended approving the Virginian Lodge hotel’s 32-unit employee housing project on June 3, putting the project one step closer to becoming reality.
Planning commissioners’ review and approval recommendation lasted fewer than 30 minutes. It was more streamlined than the review by the town’s Design Review Committee, which criticized the aesthetics of the project at the corner of the famed hotel in January.
https://newslj.com/jackson-planning-commission-oks-virginian-lodge-employee-housing