K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For January 22nd, 2018 – Morning

JANE IFLAND, AN ORGANIZER OF THE SECOND ANNUAL WOMEN'S MARCH IN CASPER ON SATURDAY, ACKNOWLEDGED THAT NOT ALL WOMEN SHARE THE SAME GOALS POLITICALLY, BUT A MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE STORIES ABOUT POOR TREATMENT FROM MEN.

SEVERAL OF THEM SHARED THOSE STORIES AT A RALLY AFTER THE MARCH ON SECOND STREET
R.C. JOHNSON SAID HER DAUGHTER WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WHEN SHE WORKED AS A LIFEGUARD, IT TOOK HER DAUGHTER YEARS BEFORE SHE COULD TELL HER, AND IT LEFT A SCAR LASTING A LIFETIME.

KILTY BROWN RECOUNTED HER EXPERIENCE AND SAID THE CULTURE THAT TOLERATES SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION NEEDS TO CHANGE SUCH AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S DRESS CODE THAT PROHIBITS GIRLS' CLOTHING THAT SHOWS BARE SHOULDERS, WHEN THE EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON TEACHING BOYS TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

FORMER CASPER MAYOR BARB WATTERS SAID WORKED FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM 1980 TO 1989 WHEN SHE COULD NO LONGER DEAL WITH THE HARASSMENT AND WON A JUDGMENT FROM THE CITY, YET SHE STILL HAS NIGHTMARES.
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TWO SEPARATE RALLIES WERE HELD SATURDAY IN CASPER. ONE OF THOSE RALLIES WAS CALLED THE MARCH FOR LIFE, IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS JOINED TOGETHER TO STAND AGAINST ABORTION.

ABOUT 120 PEOPLE GATHERED TO MARCH AGAINST ABORTION SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT CITY PARK IN CASPER, DESPITE THE WIND, SNOW AND FRIGID TEMPERATURE. TWO WOMEN WHO HAD ABORTIONS TOLD THEIR STORIES AND URGED OTHERS WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES CONSIDERING ABORTION TO MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE.

ONE OF THOSE WOMEN WAS CHERYL FLORES.

MONDAY MARKS THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE - THE LANDMARK U.S. SUPREME COURT CASE WHICH AFFIRMED THE RIGHT OF WOMEN TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

ABOUT AN HOUR EARLIER, AND JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED TO MARCH AND RALLY AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT, IN WHAT WAS CALLED THE WOMEN’S MARCH ON WYOMING. KARA LINN, A BOARD MEMBER OF NATRONA4LIFE - THE GROUP THAT ORGANIZED THE 'MARCH FOR LIFE' EVENT - SAYS THAT WHILE THE TWO EVENTS WERE HELD SEPARATELY, THE GROUPS HAVE SOME IDEAS IN COMMON.
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THE TOWN OF MILLS SUED THE NATRONA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT LAST WEEK, SAYING IT VIOLATED WYOMING LAW WHEN IT CLOSED THE MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE MOUNTAIN VIEW SCHOOL.
MILLS MAYOR SETH COLEMAN SAID LAST WEEK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TREATED MILLS DIFFERENTLY FROM ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITY IN THE COUNTY.

COLEMAN ADDED IT IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE FOR RESIDENTS TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO ANY NEARBY SCHOOL, LET ALONE EXPECT A CHILD TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO AND FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

IN OCTOBER, THE DISTRICT'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTED TO CLOSE MOUNTAIN VIEW, EVEN THOUGH THAT AND OTHER SCHOOLS THE DISTRICT VOTED TO CLOSE HAVE HIGH NUMBERS OR PERCENTAGES OF STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

THE LAWSUIT SAYS THE DISTRICT DID NOT HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW; DID NOT IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVES TO CLOSING MOUNTAIN VIEW AND MILLS ELEMENTARY IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION'S DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS; AND DID NOT FILE A REPORT TO THE STATE TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW ABOUT CLOSING THE SCHOOLS.

THE TOWN OF MILLS WANTS THE NATRONA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT TO DECLARE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW, AND ORDER THE DISTRICT TO EITHER COMPLY WITH THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ABOUT CLOSING A SCHOOL OR TO RETURN MOUNTAIN VIEW TO USE AS A SCHOOL.