With the rural vote blamed for the rise of “Trumpism”, what issues were being covered by rural print media in the state that saw the highest percentage vote for the newly elected president – Wyoming?
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A letter to the editor of the Laramie Boomerang in the lead up to the election stated “the GOP platform promises only conspiracy theory and neglect around our rapidly approaching world-wide climate disaster.”
“I've never seen race relations this bad and I'm OLD!” one commenter posted.
An opinion piece by the same outlet argues those elected to local office will “affect our daily lives” more than either presidential candidate.
The Green River Star reported on a series of rallies by United Steel Workers union members over changes to the Tata Chemicals’ family insurance plan.
The Northern Wyoming Daily News discussed the political rise of former vice-president Dick Cheney’s daughter Liz (she eventually won the state’s lone US House seat previously held by her father), the effect of state budget cuts to hospitals, water infrastructure maintenance issues and the culling of “town-dwelling deer”.
The Sheridan Press discussed the election of a new mayor on the back of campaigning for greater transparency and better community consultation, very similar to our own recent local government election.
The Powell Tribune discussed the option for a one per cent increase in a sales tax (from people staying in motels and dude ranches) to help pay for infrastructure. An opinion piece by a journalist fed up with the 18-month long campaign focused on honouring American soldiers killed while in uniform after Trump told a group of veterans in October some soldiers develop mental health issues because they are not "strong" and "can't handle it."
“After an incredibly long election season, many of us are tired of hearing the names Trump and Clinton,” Tessa Baker said.
The Lovell Chronicle discussed the need to increase access to healthcare in a state where 83,000 men, women and children have no health insurance.
The Ranger reported on low voter turnout, Trump’s perceived favouritism at controlling the energy economy and the election of the state capital’s first female mayor since 1867.
All in all the diversity of coverage (far more dynamic than national newspapers) shows a more complex society than the election result would have you imagine.
