As 2024 approaches, we’re looking back at some of our most read stories and some of our reporting highlights from the past year.
We kicked off 2023 out in the snow and the skies, as bighorn sheep got airlifted for a health checkup. Researchers are trying to protect the Jackson herd from pneumonia, which has killed off wild sheep for decades.
A helicopter flies in one of the bighorn sheep, which dangles feet below the chopper. (Emily Cohen/KHOL)
We had several stories about helicopters this year:
- A decades old green billboard on Mount Glory, known fondly by backcountry skiers, was flown away.
- The Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation raised more than $7 million for a new rescue ship, making it the first region in the state to have its own rescue chopper.
- Kids in Jackson got a peek at the new helicopter when Santa rode in on it for a surprise visit.
Santa steps out of TSCAR’s new search and rescue chopper at Jackson Elementary School (Tyler Pratt/KHOL)
Queer people and LGBTQ+ issues were in the news in 2023:
- People in Jackson rallied against a transgender sports bill, with some saying they didn’t want to have to leave the state.
- When the transgender sports bill became law, allies stood up for their classmates.
- LGBTQ+ community hit Targhee slopes for the first ‘Rainbow Run’ as lawmakers passed anti-LGBTQ+ bills in Wyoming and across the nation.
- During Pride month, locals talked about what it’s been like to grow up queer in Jackson and their hopes for the future
Jack Carter-Getz at a February rally he helped organize. (Hanna Merzbach/KHOL)
As inflation rose and home prices soared to new records, Teton County’s crisis of affordability dominated the news:
- Jackson’s new workforce housing units go for nearly one million a piece.
- A state task force is considering eroding local control to tackle affordability issues. After decades of tension between Jackson and the rest of the state, local leaders say they want to try and strengthen that relationship.
- Jackson’s housing crisis is pushing out the working class. A new exhibit documented the housing struggles of over a dozen residents powering our community, from restaurant servers to teachers.
- K-12 schools in Teton County struggled to keep educators amid high housing prices and long commutes for local teachers.
Dr. Giovannina Anthony (left) and Dr. Katie Noyes (right) talking about the future of reproductive rights in Wyoming. They have been the region’s two medical abortion providers, and Anthony is one of the plaintiffs fighting to protect that care. (Hanna Merzbach/KHOL)
Abortion remains legal in Wyoming as a Teton County judge considers statewide bans passed by the legislature this year. Women’s healthcare clinics also closed this year.
- A Teton County OB/GYN had to cancel and reschedule appointments as the bans set in and then were lifted.
- Jackson’s only abortion provider shut its doors due to high costs. The future of access to pregnancy-ending care and women’s healthcare remains uncertain in Teton County.
- Several women reached out to KHOL about how they are feeling right now on the state of care in Jackson, some who have said they have had to change OB/GYNs several times over the past few years, and that there are wide impacts to women’s health.
Skiers show off their denim outfits in front of Cody Peak at the top of Sublette Quad Chair on the bluebird day. (Connor Burkesmith)
Some other big news stories this year:
- Jackson law enforcement investigated a rise of suspected summer drink spikings while bars wrestled with how to curb the alleged assaults.
- Marginalized groups in Jackson said they don’t feel welcome in the community.
- Jackson Hole Airport shuttle service returned
- Jackson Hole broke world record for most people skiing in jeans
Yvonne can’t remember the night or how she got home from the Stagecoach Bar last Sunday and suspects she may have had her drink spiked (Natalie Behring/KHOL)
We put some of our favorite audio stories of the year in the final episode of Jackson Unpacked for 2023. Go mushroom foraging with us, hear from Ukrainian refugees settling into the community and learn about some of our favorite music of the year down below.
Happy Holidays and cheers to a new year from the KHOL newsroom!
