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Articles written by Maya Shimizu Harris


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  • State GOP urges districts to adopt 'parental rights' policies

    Maya Shimizu Harris, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|May 11, 2023

    CASPER — The Wyoming Republican Party is asking local school districts to adopt policies that align with Senate File 117 — a bill proposed during the session this year that’s similar to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, and which would have barred classroom instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in certain grades. Two county parties — Park and Sheridan counties — passed resolutions in April and March, respectively, urging their local districts to adopt policies that align with Senate File 117. The state GOP central...

  • Abortion critics navigate courts

    Maya Shimizu Harris, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Mar 30, 2023

    CASPER – Anti-abortion lawmakers in Wyoming celebrated a historic win following the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade over the summer, vowing to further restrict the procedure by next deleting the rape and incest exemptions in the trigger abortion ban that the Legislature had passed months earlier. But more than half a year and two lawsuits later, that initial jubilation has quieted as anti-abortion lawmakers in the Equality State face the realities of a complex post-Roe landscape. On Wednesday, a Teton County judge temporarily blo...

  • Abortion bill's future uncertain in Senate

    Maya Shimizu Harris, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Feb 23, 2023

    CASPER — It’s unclear whether the Senate will get to debate the “Life is a Human Right” bill, the most ambitious and sweeping anti-abortion legislation the Wyoming Legislature has seen. Over a week after clearing the House in a 46-16 vote, House Bill 152 still hasn’t been assigned to a Senate committee for its first hearing in that chamber. Senate President Ogden Driskill, who is in charge of assigning bills to committees, told the Star-Tribune on Friday morning that he’s deliberating whether or not to bring the bill out of his drawer beca...

  • Legislature to revisit ranked choice, crossover voting measures 

    Maya Shimizu Harris, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Dec 22, 2022

    CASPER — In the upcoming legislative session, state lawmakers will again take up a slate of bills that aim to reform Wyoming’s elections and campaigns. Some of the bills will be reruns of legislation that popped up in the past. Others, like one that would hone regulations around federal PACs, have come about as the result of new information that emerged in this year’s midterm elections. Another would put into state statute security measures around election equipment that Wyoming already undertakes voluntarily. Lawmakers on the corpo...

  • Wyoming lawmaker pay boost falters

    Maya Shimizu Harris, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Dec 8, 2022

    CASPER – The Legislature’s Management Council advanced a bill Thursday that would allow lawmakers and their dependents to enroll in the state employees’ group health insurance plan. The council also moved along a bill to create an independent commission that would review compensation for lawmakers, but it killed legislation that would have boosted lawmaker salaries. The proposed bills come amid increasing workloads for lawmakers and concern that inadequate compensation bars people from serving in the Legislature. Some lawmakers consider the h...

  • Teachers feeling lack of respect

    Maya Shimizu Harris, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Oct 13, 2022

    CHEYENNE — When Michael Jennings started working for Natrona County School District 30 years ago, applications would flood in to compete for open teaching positions. But today, the district is “scrambling to find staff.” “We’re facing shortages in areas that we normally don’t see,” he said. There are four openings out of 14 positions for school psychologists. The district is down about 15 bus drivers out of roughly 120 bus drivers overall. Roughly 35 teaching assistant positions are open. Special education teachers and educational s...

  • Potential schools file for charters

    Maya Shimizu Harris, Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange|Aug 4, 2022

    CASPER — Three potential Wyoming schools have applied for charters now. Prairie View Community School in Chugwater, Wyoming Classical Academy Charter School in Mills and Cheyenne Classical Academy Charter School have applied for charters, according to an update from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder. If their charters are approved, the schools will likely open their doors in fall 2023. Charter schools are public schools, so they’re funded with state money. They don’t charge tuition and they’re still accountable to stat...

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