Latest news with #WyomingTribuneEagle
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WDOC returns some inmates from out-of-state facilities; 135 remain in Mississippi
CHEYENNE — As staffing at the Wyoming Department of Corrections has increased, 30 more Wyoming inmates housed at the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility (TCCF) in Tallahatchie, Mississippi, have been moved back to the Cowboy State. WDOC sent 240 Wyoming inmates to TCCF in November 2023 because of staff vacancies. Since then, WDOC has anticipated maintaining inmates at TCCF until staffing increases within the agency. 'A great number of recruiting efforts have been undertaken, including a contract with a professional staffing and recruiting firm, higher starting wages, and training and development for staff,' WDOC Public Information Officer Stephanie Dack wrote in email correspondence with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. 'This has resulted in an increase in the number of correctional officers hired for all of our facilities, including the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins and the Wyoming Women's Center in Lusk.' Last November, WDOC returned 60 inmates to WDOC-operated facilities, and 30 more inmates were returned on May 20. Fifteen more inmates were returned to WDOC facilities for additional reasons on single or smaller transports, according to Dack. While Wyoming's staffing has increased, TCCF continues to house 135 of the state's inmates, as recruitment and retention efforts continue. The number of staff required to allow the remaining inmates to be transferred back to Wyoming is not public information. 'We evaluate staffing and operations regularly,' Dack wrote when asked how much staff has to increase to transfer the remaining inmates back to the state. 'Staffing has improved, and we are optimistic about returning all of our inmates to Wyoming. We do not share specific staffing numbers.' Though WDOC officials say they can't currently share the staffing levels required to return the remaining inmates, department officials have shared those numbers in the past. In 2023, after the department initially sent the 240 inmates to Mississippi, WDOC Director Dan Shannon told members of the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee that the department had a little over 130 vacancies. At the time, there was a 33% vacancy rate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins and a 43% vacancy rate at the Wyoming Women's Center in Lusk, according to previous reporting by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Shannon told the Legislature that the department needed to fill 43 to 47 positions before it could safely consider bringing back those 240 inmates. Shannon added that, in 2023, the main issue was recruitment, as opposed to retention. 'We clearly are retaining staff, but we're not receiving applications,' Shannon said. 'We continue to significantly be challenged in staff recruitment.' WDOC did not share how many positions have been filled since. Dack wrote that staffing information is subject to Wyoming Statute 16-4-203(b)(vi), and cannot be released because it would jeopardize the safety and security of the state's correctional facilities. WDOC has inmates housed under contract in several Wyoming county jails and in Tallahatchie while they work toward full staffing. As staffing increases, many factors determine which inmates are moved back into the state, but how those decisions are made is not public information, either. Dack again cited Wyoming Statute 16-4-203(b)(vi) as a reason to not disclose what determines which inmates are transferred back into the state. Doing so would jeopardize the safety and security of the facilities, according to Dack. Being housed out of state means that inmates are subject to visitation privileges based on the facility where they are housed. The visitation procedures at TCCF are very similar to WDOC procedures, according to Dack. However, the distance creates a barrier for family members of Wyoming inmates held in Mississippi. 'We recognize it is more challenging for families when their loved ones are housed out of state,' Dack wrote.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WDOC returns some inmates from out-of-state facilities; 135 remain in Mississippi
CHEYENNE — As staffing at the Wyoming Department of Corrections has increased, 30 more Wyoming inmates housed at the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility (TCCF) in Tallahatchie, Mississippi, have been moved back to the Cowboy State. WDOC sent 240 Wyoming inmates to TCCF in November 2023 because of staff vacancies. Since then, WDOC has anticipated maintaining inmates at TCCF until staffing increases within the agency. 'A great number of recruiting efforts have been undertaken, including a contract with a professional staffing and recruiting firm, higher starting wages, and training and development for staff,' WDOC Public Information Officer Stephanie Dack wrote in email correspondence with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. 'This has resulted in an increase in the number of correctional officers hired for all of our facilities, including the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins and the Wyoming Women's Center in Lusk.' Last November, WDOC returned 60 inmates to WDOC-operated facilities, and 30 more inmates were returned on May 20. Fifteen more inmates were returned to WDOC facilities for additional reasons on single or smaller transports, according to Dack. While Wyoming's staffing has increased, TCCF continues to house 135 of the state's inmates, as recruitment and retention efforts continue. The number of staff required to allow the remaining inmates to be transferred back to Wyoming is not public information. 'We evaluate staffing and operations regularly,' Dack wrote when asked how much staff has to increase to transfer the remaining inmates back to the state. 'Staffing has improved, and we are optimistic about returning all of our inmates to Wyoming. We do not share specific staffing numbers.' Though WDOC officials say they can't currently share the staffing levels required to return the remaining inmates, department officials have shared those numbers in the past. In 2023, after the department initially sent the 240 inmates to Mississippi, WDOC Director Dan Shannon told members of the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee that the department had a little over 130 vacancies. At the time, there was a 33% vacancy rate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins and a 43% vacancy rate at the Wyoming Women's Center in Lusk, according to previous reporting by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Shannon told the Legislature that the department needed to fill 43 to 47 positions before it could safely consider bringing back those 240 inmates. Shannon added that, in 2023, the main issue was recruitment, as opposed to retention. 'We clearly are retaining staff, but we're not receiving applications,' Shannon said. 'We continue to significantly be challenged in staff recruitment.' WDOC did not share how many positions have been filled since. Dack wrote that staffing information is subject to Wyoming Statute 16-4-203(b)(vi), and cannot be released because it would jeopardize the safety and security of the state's correctional facilities. WDOC has inmates housed under contract in several Wyoming county jails and in Tallahatchie while they work toward full staffing. As staffing increases, many factors determine which inmates are moved back into the state, but how those decisions are made is not public information, either. Dack again cited Wyoming Statute 16-4-203(b)(vi) as a reason to not disclose what determines which inmates are transferred back into the state. Doing so would jeopardize the safety and security of the facilities, according to Dack. Being housed out of state means that inmates are subject to visitation privileges based on the facility where they are housed. The visitation procedures at TCCF are very similar to WDOC procedures, according to Dack. However, the distance creates a barrier for family members of Wyoming inmates held in Mississippi. 'We recognize it is more challenging for families when their loved ones are housed out of state,' Dack wrote.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Laramie County GOP hopes for a unified state Republican Party under new chairman
CHEYENNE – Laramie County Republicans are hopeful new Wyoming GOP Chairman Bryan Miller will uphold his promise to heal relationships between the state and county Republican parties, members told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle this week. Laramie County GOP Chairwoman Lorraine Quarberg, committeeman David Bush and committeewoman Linda Heath cast their votes Saturday in Cody as members of the state central committee for the new state GOP chair and vice chair. Miller was elected to replace Frank Eathorne, who chose not to run for re-election, as chairman of the state Republican Party, and Bob Ferguson was elected as vice chairman. Heath said Miller's strong background in Wyoming politics, including his service as a state central committee member and chairman of the Sheridan County GOP, will 'be beneficial to him.' 'He's been there and, as you could say, been in the trenches for a long time,' Heath said. 'As far as leadership is concerned, that's a key component for anyone who becomes the chairman of the Republican Party.' Both Laramie County committee persons said they hope the state GOP will unify its Republican membership under Miller and become a place of acceptance, rather than divisiveness and judgment. Heath said she'd like to see the state GOP focus on healing relationships with its county parties and welcoming a diverse range of perspectives. Laramie County is one of the more diverse areas in Wyoming, she said, and all voices should be welcomed. 'There's got to be some healing. There's got to be some listening to all sides,' Heath said. 'Not one group is going to be right all the time, and I think we need to have civil conversation and discussion moving forward.' Bush said he also hopes Miller will change 'the tone and the way the state party operates.' The state GOP has grown divisive in recent years as the hardline Freedom Caucus has gained influence and power, and failed to fairly represent all perspectives of Wyoming Republicans, he added. 'The state party needs to focus on gaining credibility with Republicans across the state,' Bush said. Both he and Heath appreciated Miller's theme of communication and inclusivity in his nomination speech, something they found to be lacking in the Wyoming Republican Party. 'There's a piece of the state party that is broken … there's just not a lot of room for debate, hasn't over the past couple years,' Bush said. 'And I saw it again at the meeting itself. Early on, it was just not welcome.' The Laramie County GOP is more moderate than other counties, Bush said, but they're still Republican. Speaking with other Republicans in Laramie County, he said many of them view the state party as having a 'my way or the highway' mentality. 'Maybe Laramie County is more moderate than, say, Park County,' Bush said. 'That doesn't make us any less Republican.' However, Bush and Heath said they had the chance to speak briefly with Miller on Saturday, and both were encouraged by their interactions with him and believe that he will guide the state party in a new, more inclusive direction. When she and other central committee members spoke with Miller, Heath said the new party chairman promised not to 'operate as an island' with the executive committee. 'There's a lot of work that's got to be done, to develop open communication without judgment within the party,' Heath said. 'We need to see some healing, and I hope that Bryan is the man that can do it, and also with Bob Ferguson as vice chair, I hope they will work together toward that end.' Quarberg did not respond to the WTE's request for comment, and state party officials didn't provide contact information for Miller.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Potential $880B cut to Medicaid could have big impacts on Wyoming hospitals, nursing homes
CHEYENNE — Should Congress follow through with a proposed $880 billion cut to Medicaid, Wyoming hospitals and nursing homes stand to lose significant funding on top of an already fragile health care system, stakeholders told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle this week. Congress is having ongoing discussions about how to cut $880 billion in program spending. There is a current deadline of May 9 for congressional committees to make their budget recommendations, but this deadline is not set in stone, according to reporting by Politico. 'To get to that number, Medicaid would have to take a pretty big hit,' said Wyoming Hospital Association Vice President Josh Hannes. States with expanded Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act are going to feel the brunt of these cuts. Although Wyoming is one of a handful of states that didn't opt in to Medicaid expansion, the Cowboy State is far from being in the clear, according to sources. 'Wyoming didn't expand Medicaid, so that wouldn't touch us. But that also doesn't get them to $880 billion,' Hannes said. 'So, what else are they gonna do?' One potential area that has health care officials concerned is the looming expiration date of premium tax credits. These are a federal subsidy that makes insurance policies more affordable on the health insurance marketplace. Around 42,000 Wyomingites depend on these tax credits, Hannes said. 'If those go away … rates on the marketplace are going to jump dramatically,' he said. This is a 'significant concern' for Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, said Cheyenne Regional Health System Chief Financial Officer Yvonne Wigington. First and foremost, hospital associates are worried about the impact the loss of these credits will have on patients, she said. People will either have to forgo their health insurance or choose a plan that doesn't fully meet their health care needs. More people will be at risk of losing their health coverage and delaying treatment, Wigington said. 'We really don't ever want patients to feel like they have to delay their care,' she said. On the financial side, CRMC would lose between $9 million and $18 million in annual revenue if the tax credits were to expire. 'We care for any patient, regardless of their ability to pay for their services,' Wigington said. 'If those individuals did not have health care insurance and did not have a way to pay for their health care, that would be $9-18 million that we don't get paid for.' Hospital officials are currently evaluating 'many different scenarios for potential cuts' at CRMC, Wigington said. However, it's difficult to pinpoint what the actual impact would be, with so many cuts being proposed at the federal level. 'We're not sure exactly which cuts may actually be implemented,' Wigington said. In addition, the hospital is facing stress from another major federal action — increased tariffs. Wigington said President Donald Trump's tariffs affect the hospital's vendor contracts, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and the information technology area. However, with the percentage of these tariffs constantly changing, preparing for financial impacts has been a moving target. 'We're in the preliminary stages, but we definitely have seen price escalations,' Wigington said. 'Some of our vendors have notified us that they're not able to honor quotes that they've given us previously until they are better able to evaluate the impact of tariffs.' Wigington said tariffs have not impacted services or employment at CRMC so far. 'The (tariffs') percentages have changed a few different times,' Wigington said. 'We, like probably every other hospital, are really just trying to plan with what we know now and anticipate those things that are being proposed.' Uninsured rates in Wyoming The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported that 59,400 Wyomingites, or 10.5% of the state's population, were uninsured in 2023. By comparison, 8% of the entire U.S. population was uninsured that same year. 'We already have struggling hospitals and nursing homes, and Medicaid is a lifeline for a lot of those facilities,' Hannes said. 'Medicare and Medicaid together represent way over half of total revenue for our hospitals in the state.' A 2022 contribution analysis conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Analysis at the University of Wyoming found that Wyoming's hospitals and nursing homes directly contribute a combined $47.5 billion to the gross state product. The hospital and nursing home industry made up 3.5% of Wyoming's total economic contribution, as well as provided 19,370 jobs, according to the analysis. 'If you're not investing in our health care infrastructure, you're doing harm, and if you're going to pull away investment, that's even worse,' Hannes said. 'So it's certainly concerning, the discussions that are going on at the federal level.' Adding to the number of uninsured patients increases cost of care, Hannes said. When a patient is unable to pay for services, 'hospitals eat that.' 'Our industry is different from so many others, because we don't get to decide what we get paid, and we have to serve everyone who comes in through the door,' he said. About 7% of CRMC's total patient population is on Medicaid, Wigington said. The potential $880 billion cut in funding to Medicaid, equivalent to about an 11% spending reduction for the program, would expand the local hospital's funding gap by $1.8 million. 'The payments already that we receive for caring for our Medicaid patients don't cover our cost to care for those patients,' Wigington said. In the 2024 fiscal year, there was a $10 million shortfall in Medicaid payments, which the hospital tries to alleviate through other funding sources, she said. 'That is a lot of money,' Wiggington said. In January, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., brought up Wyoming's challenges with rural health care to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. Barrasso said six Wyoming hospitals are at risk of closing, two are in immediate risk of closing in the next two years, and 10 have had to cut available services, according to a news release from his office. 'We have 33 hospitals in Wyoming. Twenty-six are located in various locations often hard to get to, or weather impacts them,' Barrasso said. 'This is a concern of rural hospitals in both Republican and Democrat states. It's bipartisan. It is critical that the financial, workforce challenges that we are facing are addressed.' Nursing homes at risk Most states finance at least a portion of their Medicaid spending through taxes collected from health care providers, which generates additional federal matching payments to the states, according to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis. States return the collected taxes to those providers in the form of higher Medicaid payments. Wyoming's had a hospital provider tax since 2017 and a nursing home provider tax since 2011, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive think tank based in Washington, D.C. These mechanisms help draw down federal dollars to the state, Hannes said, and nursing homes are a huge benefactor of these programs. There is currently a 6% provider tax cap. The CBO estimated a 5% cap on the provider tax 'would reduce the deficit by $41 billion from 2024 to 2032.' A 2.5% cap 'would reduce the deficit by $209 billion over that period.' Critics of restricting provider taxes argue this 'will create financing gaps for states that could result in higher state taxes, reductions in Medicaid eligibility, lower provider payment rates, and fewer covered benefits,' according to KFF. 'If they dial back these provider loopholes, that's a direct reimbursement reduction to the nursing homes,' said Wyoming HealthWorks CEO Tracy Brosius. 'They're almost entirely dependent on that.' Around 70-80% of patients in nursing homes are reliant on Medicaid, Brosius said. People are there because they have a high clinical need and no one to take care of them. She questioned where these people are supposed to go once nursing homes start shutting down. 'What happens if they cut the provider taxes and now the nursing homes start to fold?' Brosius said. 'What happens to the 80 people that are there?'
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Split reactions from constituents during Cheyenne town hall with state representatives
CHEYENNE — Seven Cheyenne state representatives answered questions from their constituents during a town hall Wednesday night at the Laramie County Library. About half of the approximately 30 people who gathered in the room were pleased by their representatives' remarks, while the other half were less than impressed. The lawmakers fielded questions on a wide range of topics, from the importance of revisiting Wyoming's election laws to how they plan to ensure funding for mental and maternal health care. Cheyenne Republican Reps. John Eklund, Lee Filer, Rob Geringer, Ann Lucas, Steve Johnson, Daniel Singh and Jacob Wasserburger participated in the panel, which was organized by Filer. A majority of the panelists were in their first or second term as a state legislator. For the last hour or so of the scheduled three-hour event, patrons were invited to come forward and speak directly with the lawmakers. However, roughly half the audience left the room immediately after the panel portion ended. Local resident Jeff Daugherty moderated the panel and read out questions written on cards by audience members. Better Wyoming member Angela Silvester told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle after the town hall she was disappointed her question wasn't properly asked. 'I had a few questions, and one of our (volunteers) also had some questions about health care,' Silvester said. 'They kind of looped it in together.' Silvester said her question asked lawmakers why they voted for or against increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates in the supplemental budget for maternal and mental health care. Gov. Mark Gordon recommended a $2.3 million allocation to the Wyoming Department of Health to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates in his supplemental budget request to the Legislature this year. But, for the first time in recent memory, the Legislature failed to pass a supplemental budget. 'I'm a little bit disappointed (Daugherty) didn't read my question exactly,' Silvester said. Not everyone was disappointed by the panel, however. A couple of attendees told the WTE they were pleased by their representatives' comments and said it appeared the lawmakers knew what they were talking about. 'I thought it was good,' said Cheyenne resident Celeste Simmons. 'They explained why they made certain decisions and explained how the process works.' Property taxes, education, elections The 68th Wyoming Legislature passed bills related to education funding, election laws and property tax relief. A universal school choice bill and a 25% property tax cut were among the more controversial topics heavily debated during the 37-day session. One of the first questions panelists tackled was the impact of major property tax relief. Critics of the 25% property tax cut said city services and special districts will take a major hit, especially without any backfill from the state. During another Cheyenne town hall that was held a little more than three weeks ago, Lucas said Laramie County is 'wealthy,' and downplayed the effects of property tax cuts on local governments, which she claimed are 'inflation proof.' 'I'm here to tell you, Laramie County has reserves,' Lucas said during the previous town hall. 'I really don't know that there's any need to reduce fire protection when we are such a wealthy county.' Rep. Ann Lucas, R-Cheyenne (2025) Rep. Ann Lucas, R-Cheyenne However, Lucas changed her tune a bit during Wednesday's town hall. 'I live in Laramie County. I was mostly concerned with how the 25% residential property tax cut would hit us, because this is our home,' Lucas said. 'I'll be honest with you, there's a couple of fire districts that are probably going to be hurting a little bit.' She maintained that 'we'll be OK,' but added that the income cut to some fire districts 'is a big deal.' 'Will the government have to learn to spend a little less? Yes,' Lucas said. In light of the property tax cuts, panelists also addressed a question that asked how the Legislature will ensure adequate funding for its K-12 public schools, especially considering a recent Laramie County district court decision that found the state has unconstitutionally underfunded its public school system. Geringer said public school funding will be OK in the short term, but the state should 'be careful … looking into the future.' Rep. Rob Geringer, R-Cheyenne (2025) Rep. Rob Geringer, R-Cheyenne 'We're so dependent on a volatile market in the revenues that come into the state, and our schools are highly depend on that,' Geringer said. He said the state should be cautious about stripping its various savings accounts just because it believes the government is too big. The state has to be able to provide funding when revenues are down, 'and it will come.' Singh, who serves on the House Education Committee, chimed in that fossil fuels are a major source of education funding. He said the state should consider diversifying its education revenue, such as by expanding its tourism industry. Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne (2025) Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne 'There are other avenues that we can explore to add to the funding for our education system, including from a tourism reserve account,' Singh said. 'There are a lot of different discussions that we have going into the budget session, but that would be one way to add to the funding in our education system.' The Legislature also considered a record 45 election-related bills that were filed for the session, which made up 8% of the total legislation considered, according to Only four cases of election fraud have been reported in Wyoming since 2000, according to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Lawmakers were asked why they felt election integrity is so important to the state of Wyoming. Only Lucas and Johnson volunteered to answer the question. They were also the only two representatives at the panel who were primary sponsors on election bills. Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne (2025) Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne 'As a whole, the citizens of Wyoming are due a legal, honest election,' said Johnson, who is a member of the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee. Lucas said it is a matter of patience getting all the election bills through, since a majority of them failed to go into law this year. But she didn't explain why Wyoming's election laws need to be revisited. Visions for the future Daugherty asked panelists one last question before they were released to speak with audience members one on one: What is your vision for the 2027-28 biennium? Eklund, who has served in the Legislature since 2011, said he'd like to see lawmakers move on from 'bloc voting.' In the recent legislative session — the first in which the Wyoming Freedom Caucus held a majority in the House of Representatives — he said it 'was about a 35-25 vote every time.' Rep. John Eklund, R-Cheyenne (2025) Rep. John Eklund, R-Cheyenne 'When I started 14 years ago, I was able to bring an idea to the Legislature and have citizen legislators who came and tried to help my bills get across the finish line,' Eklund said. 'We're just not doing that.' He said he didn't think it was constitutional, and it's already happening in Washington, D.C. Nine thousand people gave him their vote, Eklund continued. He can't represent his people if he's stuck in a bloc voting group. 'That's a vision I would have, for wanting to get out of this ridiculous, unconstitutional way we're trying to run the government,' Eklund said. 'That's how Washington, D.C. does it. We don't need to do that if we're a citizen legislature.' Other representatives offered their perspectives on the budget for the next biennium, which will be debated in February during the 2026 budget session. Lucas said the state should curb the rate of government growth in spending. Geringer said the state should take a deeper look at how to fund education and be responsible in how it makes cuts to the budget. 'We don't need to just cut for the sake of cutting, but be surgical in how we look at the budget,' he said. Filer said he wants to heavily focus on protecting the state's savings accounts, which generate revenue from collected interest. Lawmakers successfully eliminated the Budget Reserve Account in the recent session, and Filer said he was a bit concerned about this trend. Rep. Lee Filer, R-Cheyenne (2025) Rep. Lee Filer, R-Cheyenne 'We're cutting out our revenues by eliminating accounts that we have that are … making money off the investments,' Filer said. 'We want to actually look at our budget with our general fund and make sure we're spending the dollars correctly, the way we're supposed to, and not eliminating investment dollars.'
