State of Jackson

Congresspeople from Wyoming and Utah and the Trump administration have announced goals to dismantle the 25-year-old National Forest “Roadless Rule.” That protects some 3 million acres around Wyoming from additional road-building.  Any one of three threats could open up nearly 60 million acres across the nation to timber extraction and other degradation, according to the Wyoming Wilderness Associat...

“Water, water, everywhere.” But not in Jackson Lake? This summer might not hold the same narrative drama as Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1834 “Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner,” but there’s just as much to unpack.  The largest lake in Grand Teton National Park could be a puddle as downstream Idaho irrigators draw down the reservoir. Kathy Lynch , Wyoming water policy advisor for Jackson Hole Trout Unlimi...

Many conservationists believe we are in a pivotal moment in the fight over public lands. We've seen congressional bills to sell public lands and counter bills looking to protect them. A federal effort to strike down the 25-year-old “Roadless Rule” on national forests has drawn widespread criticism. Meanwhile, the Bridger-Teton National Forest is in the early stages of a plan that will rule managem...

Sometimes even those who help us feel better feel bad. Jackson’s mental and behavioral health providers say that there’s not enough of them to go around. They’re burning out. And a new batch of providers arriving since the pandemic means many don’t know all the resources are available to help their clients. Licensed clinical social workers Elizabeth Cheroutes and Deidre Ashley talk with co-host Pe...

Frequent bus service to and from Teton Village has been what many see as a win-win. Employees get to work. Skiers don’t fight for parking. The moose migration hot spot of Highway 390 is still two lanes. That’s even as shopper, residential and skier trips to the region’s winter economic driver has grown over 30 years.  But in times of tight budgets, who pays for this service has made headlines. The...

Reporting from the press corrals of northern Italy, Kyle Leverone went to the 2026 Olympics with high hopes for the three athletes Teton County claims as our own. What he experienced was historic: from Anna Gibson elbowing into the top tier of ski mountaineering to Jackson Hole’s first homegrown gold medalist, Breezy Johnson, and come-from-behind silvers for Jaelin Kauf. Co-host Frederick Reimers...

With major layoffs at The Washington Post, federal funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and state-level threats to outlets like Wyoming Public Media, the pressures facing journalism are real. In this special broadcast, we air remarks from KHOL’s fifth annual Hot Off the Press event featuring longtime journalist Ruth Marcus. Marcus speaks about the forces shaping the fourth esta...

The state’s further right is pushing for deep spending cuts, book bans, abortion policy, election reform, property tax reductions and dramatic changes to funding public schools. Better Wyoming is organizing opposition.  Executive Director Nate Martin joins co-host Pete Muldoon on KHOL's public affairs show to break down what’s ahead in Wyoming’s 2026 budget session and how broader political fights...

A debut Olympian in a debut Olympic sport. A reigning world champ’s shot at athletic revenge. A third and fourth chance at an elusive gold.  These are just some of the narratives that Jackson Hole News&Guide Sports Editor Kyle Leverone (and Wyoming and the United States) will watch starting on Feb. 6.  Co-host Frederick Reimers sits down with Leverone to talk about what he’s looking for and ho...

Christine Walker remembers Jackson Hole in the ‘90s. It was hard to find full-time, year-round work. Housing was a huge stretch. Especially for those earning their income locally.  Today, Jackson Hole’s economy is more advanced. Year-round jobs are plentiful. But, Walker tells co-host Pete Muldoon, finding a free-market home for local earners has gone from hard to “downright impossible.”  Having e...

It’s only 3.6 miles. But the chunk of pathway in the news right now is the most technically challenging and expensive stretch Teton County has planned to date.  Brian Schilling is Teton County’s pathway coordinator. Dave Bergart is a former Victor, Idaho town councilor and a pathways enthusiast. The close friends are now part of an effort fundraising for a piece federal dollars aren’t covering. Th...

From a conversation in the belly of Pinky G’s Pizzeria to packed audiences across town, the Cabin Fever Story Slam has become a Jackson Hole institution.  That’s thanks to the careful work of Leah Shlachter , the Teton County Library’s Adult Program Coordinator, and emcee Jeff Moran. Even approaching 70 events, it can still be nerve wracking to the hosts and regulars (that’s the excuse from co-hos...

From a simple Kickstarter to coverage in Vogue, Emily Byrne’s last three-ish years have been more of a sudden leap than a gentle rise. Byrne is the founder of Rise Centered , which makes boutique sunrise alarm clocks that brighten gradually for a better awakening  Co-host Frederick Reimers talks with Byrne and Silicon Couloir Executive Director Rob Kellogg about the petri dish of ideas cultivated...

In 2009, Dr. Travis Riddell started practicing pediatrics in Jackson similarly to many of his peers: both in a private office and as a member of St. John’s Health. He closed the shop in 2025. The old-school model was no longer sustainable. It’s part of a trend he sees locally and nationally, where the share of physicians practicing independently has steadily declined over the past decade, accordin...

Using AI to write a hard email to a boss. Watching television while clicking “share” on a social media post about shriveling attention spans. Downstairs, kids shovel in food after back-to-back sports practices and open a chatbot for essay help.  What have we lost in this world? Is it our fault? How do we make sure our thoughts are our own?  Téa Obreht and Matt Daly have front-row seats for the bat...

Teton County’s Search and Rescue team is soon hosting the world’s best rescuers and the world’s best rescue technology.  Tim Ciocarlan is a founding member of TCSAR. Cody Lockhart is the organization’s chief advisor. The pair talks with co-host Frederick Reimers about how the team has kept up with surging rescues in the Tetons while remaining volunteer-based.  They discuss how technology has chang...

There’s no official trail to Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park. But on any summer day in the last five years, its 500-some daily visitors would signal otherwise.  Many are what Christian Beckwith described as the “nontraditional” park visitor.  “We're talking flip flops and bikinis and boom boxes,” he said. “In my mind, this is the most incredible opportunity the park has probably ever had.”...

For six years, Jackson Hole has been steering away from “heads in beds” and toward tourism “sustainability.” The goal is a healthier environment, happier residents and tourists and a more predictable economy. But how do we know when we’re there?  Crista Valentino leads the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, which measures success, in part, with a resident sentiment survey. Over 600 people gave...

Rolls of new red tape for Medicaid could hit Teton County’s residents and, ultimately, the financial viability of our independent hospital.  St. John’s leader talks with co-host Pete Muldoon in the wake of Congress’ recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.  Among other things, the Act tightens work documentation for Medicaid with the intent of eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.  But Soll...

Without much in the way of new taxes in the last four decades, Jackson has pressed pause on some maintenance of roads and facilities. It’s said ‘no’ to adding bus routes, some affordable housing and requests from emergency responders.  Those decisions have helped keep the town afloat. A boom in sales tax from increased tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic helped, too.  But staring down the barrel...

Mike Geraci is a former member of the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board and longtime marketer. He explains a pivotal shift in the region’s approach to tourism and why he believes promoting local values and culture will redefine the visitor experience and ensure Jackson Hole’s long-term vitality. After stepping away from the board, Geraci co-founded a nonprofit focused on “destination stewardsh...

In her new book, “The River’s Daughter,” rafting guide and author Bridget Crocker reveals how running some of the world’s most dangerous rivers prepared her for the deeper reckonings in her life. She says writing contributed to change in the outdoor industry that led to a more inclusive environment, mirroring the work she did within her own family to overcome a culture of abuse. Crocker sits down...

It’s not a cliff, says Jackson Town Manager Tyler Sinclair. But local government expenses are starting to outpace revenue, and that imbalance could deepen in the next few years. Sinclair breaks down why inflation, workforce retention, and pandemic-era spending patterns have pushed Jackson into a vulnerable financial moment.  Co-host Pete Muldoon sits down with Jackson’s town manager to ask about t...

Chris Colligan was driving north, headed home on Highway 89 out of Jackson, when he saw a cow moose in a frenzy. Her calf had been hit by the car. With broken legs, the calf had to be shot. It’s moments like this, and the high-profile death-by-drivers of Grizzly 399 and her cub, 1058, that have motivated the community to be better. Frederick Reimers sits down with Colligan, Teton County’s public w...

Wade McKoy was a recent college grad from Mississippi when he first saw the Tetons in 1974.  His trajectory from liftie to world-class ski photographer is, in many ways, the story of the ski industry itself and that of Jackson Hole. In advance of his first book documenting 45 years behind the lens, McKoy talks about the early days of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, what it was like to photograph leg...