As my staff and I participate in Veterans Day ceremonies across the state today, we pause, reflect, and honor those who have served, and are currently serving, in our nation’s armed forces.

 

 

Today, we thank all those who have served around the world. From Europe to East Asia and the Middle East, and even those serving here on U.S. soil, we thank you for all you do to keep our country safe.

 

On this Veterans Day, we must also remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, like Wyoming’s own Rylee McCollum, whose memory lives on and is an eternal reminder that the freedoms we enjoy do come at a price. Our prayers go out to the families and loved ones of fallen service members who never made it home.  

 

As parts of the world continue to be tinderboxes waiting to explode, American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines continue to be the steady force that protect the world, which is why it is important that we take this time to remember the brave men and women of our armed forces and pray for their safe return home when they are called into action.

     

• Wyoming voters approve Amendment A, opening door to new revenue source for local governments
  Oil City News
  During the 2022 General Election, Wyoming voters were asked to consider an amendment to the Wyoming Constitution that would remove restrictions prohibiting local governments from investing in stocks and equities.
   
  With all 23 counties reporting after midnight, roughly 57% of voters — 103,366 voters — cast a vote in favor of Constitutional Amendment A during the General Election, according to results from the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office. The votes have yet to be officially certified.

• Wyoming company uses blockchain to create payment system for truckers
  Wyoming Business Report
  When Jacob Centner was contacted though LinkedIn in early 2021 about a blockchain startup that could potentially disrupt traditional shipping accounting and payment systems for the trucking industry, he didn’t believe it.
   
  Centner, who had recently earned his master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wyoming, was skeptical of a message sent by Todd Ziegler. A seasoned business founder, Ziegler had an idea involving blockchain from his decade-long experience in transportation management. He thought blockchain and the use of digital tokens could save the shippers and truckers millions of dollars in transaction fees and speed up the payment process.

The Wyoming Youth Pitch Challenge is up and running all across the state. Through this program, young folks in Wyoming can promote their ideas for goods and services that will benefit their communities, the environment, or Wyoming as a whole. In previous years, students have proposed middle school mentoring programs, using sheep manure for gardeners, and the sale of family farm produce to help the Wyoming Hunger Initiative. This program was established to help build up young entrepreneurs in the state by giving them the platform and resources to make an impact in their communities.

 

If you or someone you know might be interested in the Wyoming Youth Pitch Challenge, you can find out more about deadlines, age groups, and submission details using this link. I’m looking forward to seeing what wonderful projects this year’s participants come up with!