Open Spaces

Today on the show, this year’s dramatic and often tragic fire season is winding down, though it’s certainly not over. We talk to an author about the intraparty conflict in Wyoming’s Republican Party. It all started with Trump. We chat with a group of friends who bought a house together for affordability and for the sense of community. Plus, we get the details behind this week's massive donation to Yellowstone National Park. Those stories and more.Love WPR's reporting? Sign up for our newsletters to get our stories delivered right to your inbox here: http://bit.ly/4dzuaq1

Today on the show, a new airbase in Casper will house wildfire fighting choppers, planes and firefighters. A beloved fur baby from the Rockies won a competition for the oddest pet insurance claim from last year. And, after an attempted shutdown, a federal program that teaches trades to young adults is having a comeback. Those stories and more. Love WPR's reporting? Sign up for our newsletters to get our stories delivered right to your inbox here: http://bit.ly/4dzuaq1

The general election is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 3. To help you prep to vote, we teamed up with KHOL Jackson to offer all the candidates in competitive races for statewide and federal office 20-minute interviews. Almost all of them took our offer. Hear excerpts about their priorities and experience in this special 2026 general election preview. Plus, our reporters break down the ballot initiative that could halve property taxes for some homeowners.

Today on the show, Under Secretary of the Department of Energy Kyle Haustveit talks data centers, drought and the "nuclear renaissance." Vast swaths of quiet and remote wilderness areas are some of the most protected public lands. So, the recent buzz of chainsaws in one area is causing a stir. And Guest or dude ranches are holding strong as institutions of western culture. Those stories and more.Love WPR's reporting? Sign up for our newsletters to get our stories delivered right to your inbox here: http://bit.ly/4dzuaq1

Today on the show, for the past few years, states that share the Colorado River have been meeting behind closed doors. But as they’ve failed to forge a deal for the river’s future, more are questioning the secretive process. We hear about the legal case against a transgender Laramie woman who pulled a gun after she was pushed down. And, if a new federal proposal goes through, it could get a lot harder for ranchers to track oil and gas development beneath their property. Those stories and more.Love WPR's reporting? Sign up for our newsletters to get our stories delivered right to your inbox here: http://bit.ly/4dzuaq1