Gaia turns her attention to Wyoming, red state failure

As the so-called Freedom Caucus threatens to burn down Wyoming Mother Nature is beating those Earth haters to the draw. The House Draw Fire is clearing everything in her path.

Johnson County Fire Control District 1 is fighting the blaze along with Clearmont Fire, Powder River Fire, Wyoming State Forestry, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest [S]ervice. Seventy firefighters are deployed. [Northern Wyoming Wildfire Explodes To Nearly 200,000 Acres, Others Also Burning]

Some Wyoming legislators just said screw it after the Freedom Caucus sank its claws into Cheyenne and Democrats aren't even bothering to run because of threats on their lives. So, turnout for the state's primary election barely registered as voters just stayed home as an expression of disgust for the extreme white wing of the Wyoming Republican Party.

Going into Tuesday, members and allies of the Freedom Caucus controlled about 26 votes in the 62-member House. By midnight, the caucus appeared to have secured at least 29 seats, according to an analysis by WyoFile of the complete but as yet unofficial results. The Freedom Caucus was also able to elect one of its own members, Rep. Chip Neiman (R-Hulett), to be the second-ranking officer of the body in 2023. Gov. Mark Gordon was the biggest donor to the Wyoming Caucus, personally giving $30,000, while the two largest donors to the Freedom Caucus were William and Jeanie Haas of Hulett, who donated $30,000 each. [Wyoming Freedom Caucus gains power, but November will determine statehouse control]

The good news? Wyoming's suicide rate has more than doubled as the stingy state refuses to expand Medicaid and men are five and a half more likely to take their own lives.

Wyoming and Montana are the only states where at least 50% of buildings are at risk of wildfires. 54% of buildings in Wyoming and 51% in Montana are at risk of wildfires. Texas (45%), Oklahoma (44%) and New Mexico (43%) follow as the only other states with 40% or more of their buildings facing wildfire risk. [Wildfire Risk Highest in California, Florida, Texas]