Wyoming has good laws requiring political candidates to disclose their donors and expenditures, but they could stand some improvement when it comes to a candidate’s own contributions to their campaign.

Current state law requires all candidates to disclose not just how much money they have raised, but also where it’s coming from. This transparency can provide voters with valuable insight into a candidate — such as where their backing is coming from and how they run a race. After all, how a candidate campaigns may speak to how they will govern.

This year’s local races for the state Legislature and Park County Commission are proving a little more expensive than yearshil past.

Campaign finance reports filed this week indicate that the unusual amount of competition for the state House and Senate has brought substantially more money into the races than recent years, while seven county commission candidates have already committed more money to the race than 12 candidates did in 2010.

While other athletes are still knocking off the rust in practices, Powell High School’s boys and girls golfers will be asked to hit the ground walking at a tournament that begins today (Thursday) in Riverton.

The two-day varsity-only affair at the Riverton Country Club comes just a few days after the start of practices.

A Park County jury is hearing evidence this week in a case against a Maryland man accused of brawling at a Powell bar.

Forest management would generally stay the same

A proposed new plan for the Shoshone National Forest would allow some new opportunities for riding off-highway vehicles in the forest, but such changes would be limited and could come only after further discussion.

Forest management would generally stay the same

A proposed new plan for the Shoshone National Forest would allow some new opportunities for riding off-highway vehicles in the forest, but such changes would be limited and could come only after further discussion.

Boy fell into South Fork of Shoshone River on July 2

A month-long search for a 9-year-old Utah boy who fell into the South Fork of the Shoshone River has ended with the successful recovery of his body.

The body of Tyler Hatch of Eagle Mountain, Utah, was found by volunteer kayakers searching the river Sunday afternoon, said Park County Sheriff Scott Steward.

The Park County Commission found some money to sock away in its $24.16 million budget for the coming fiscal year, but it remains to be seen whether looming costs will mess that plan up.

“(Budgets) are not easy,” said Commission Chairman Tim French at the outset of a July 17 public hearing on the document. “They’re always tough when deciding how to spend $24 million.”

Visiting the area where an Illinois man was killed by a grizzly bear is too risky for a court visit, a federal judge presiding in a suit over the man’s death decided last week.

One alleged victim charged with drug activity

A young Cody man is being held on a $500,000 bond in connection with allegations that he tried to kill two men during a dispute over drugs last week.