🌱 Woman Kidnapped At Abortion Clinic + City Considers Budget Change

Hey, friends. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right with a quick guide to the most important things going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 65 Low: 49.
• Friday: Occasional rain. High: 60 Low: 43.

Here are the top three stories in Casper today:

1. Casper police were unable to confirm allegations made by an abortion clinic that a patient was unlawfully confined by pro-life individuals. The clinic claimed that the patient and her significant other were urged into a vehicle, locked in a room, and subjected to fear-mongering tactics at a nearby crisis pregnancy center. However, the police had no reports of any kidnappings or abductions related to the incident. The clinic expressed outrage and emphasized the importance of bodily autonomy and personal freedom in accessing safe and legal health care procedures. (Cowboy State Daily)
2. Three defendants, including Mari June Manthei-Robinson, a former deputy county coroner and founder of the suicide prevention nonprofit Drew's Decision, have pleaded guilty to charges related to a fentanyl delivery conspiracy in Natrona County. The guilty pleas were made as part of an Alford plea, maintaining innocence while not challenging the state's evidence. The investigation, initiated in November 2021, uncovered exchanges related to the purchase and distribution of fentanyl pills, with one of the defendants believed to have sold around 300-500 pills per week. (Oil City News)
3. The Casper City Council is considering a third amendment to the citywide budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The amendment, if approved, would add $23.45 million in extra expenses to the budget. The adjustments are necessary to account for unforeseen factors, such as historic snowfall, higher sales tax revenue, increased prisoner detention costs, and various project expenses. (Oil City News)

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Today and tomorrow in Casper:

Thursday, June 15

• Michael "Rod" Rodriguez At Casper College - Wheeler Concert Hall (1:00 PM)

Friday, June 16

• NICFest At Nicolaysen Art Museum (10:00 AM)
• College National Finals Rodeo At Ford Wyoming Center (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• As smoke from Canadian wildfires reaches the United States, the County Health Department is issuing safety reminders. Inhaling smoke can lead to various health issues such as coughing, wheezing, chest pains, and fatigue. To reduce the risk of smoke exposure, it is advised to monitor local air quality reports, prevent smoke from entering indoor spaces, and consult a health care professional if experiencing symptoms or concerns. (Casper-Natrona County Health Department via Facebook)
• The McMurry Foundation is organizing the Fireworks Festival on Jul. 4 at the Ford Wyoming Center. The event will feature food trucks, vendors, and live music, with a grand fireworks display at around 10:00 p.m. Local businesses can still reserve space to showcase their products or services; you can find tickets here. (Ford Wyoming Center via Facebook)
• Are you a history buff looking for a career you love? The City of Casper is hiring at the Fort Caspar Museum! Click here to learn more and apply. (The City of Casper, WY via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all soon for another update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.