Editorial

Wyoming Senate hits 30th day

February 22, 2011

Sen. Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, speaks during debate over an amendment in a Senate Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne.

Sen. Paul Barnard, R-Evanston, lets out a sigh as he stands up to signal his vote in favor of an amendment during a meeting of the Senate Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne.

Preacher shreds marriage license to protest same-sex marriage ban

February 17, 2011

The Rev. Rodger McDaniel speaks to a group of opponents of House Bill 74 (Validity of Marriages) along with his wife, Patricia, on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, on the steps of the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne, Wyo. The Wyoming Senate has given preliminary approval to a bill that would ban state recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The Senate voted 17-12 on Wednesday to approve the bill. Proponents of the bill say they want to defend Wyoming's traditional definition of marriage of existing only between one man and one woman.

Patricia McDaniel feeds her marriage license into a shredder on the steps of the Wyoming State Capitol as her husband, The Rev. Rodger McDaniel, not pictured, speaks to opponents of House Bill 74 (Validity of Marriages) on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, on the steps of the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne, Wyo. The Wyoming Senate has given preliminary approval to a bill that would ban state recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The Senate voted 17-12 on Wednesday to approve the bill. Proponents of the bill say they want to defend Wyoming's traditional definition of marriage of existing only between one man and one woman.

I got lucky today. I happened to walk into the Wyoming Senate chambers as the body was preparing to vote on an amendment. After the amendment passed by a vote of 21-9, one of the supporters leaned forward and gave a fist bump to a fellow senator who also supported the amendment. In the month I’ve been covering the capitol, this was perhaps one of the better moments I’ve seen. I usually end up with shots of lawmakers looking bored or speaking with their arms. A fist bump? I never would have thought.

Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, gives a fist bump to Sen. Kit Jennings, R-Casper, after passing an amendment to SF0001 (General Government Appropriations) on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne. The amendment passed 21-9.

Preparing for Cheyenne glass art show

February 10, 2011

Craig McCune carries a piece of glass artwork titled "Raven's Quest" into the greenhouse to be hanged for showing in the US Bank Glass Art Celebration on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. The show, which is in its 30th year, runs through Feb. 20.

Dick More, of Evergreen, Colo., gives a hand hanging one of his pieces of glass artwork titled "Peaceful Round" as organizers and artists set up for the US Bank Glass Art Celebration on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. The show, which is in its 30th year, runs through Feb. 20.

Wyoming legislature

February 9, 2011