Tom Kocal joined Townsquare Media as the LaramieLive.com Multimedia Reporter in February 2019 after a 40-year career in the newspaper business. After selling the Lanark, Carroll County, Illinois newspaper business in 2013, Tom was one of the founders of Carroll County’s only online news source. “Change is the one constant” is a mantra that motivated Tom to set out on a new adventure after his wife of 45 years passed away in early 2018. After a road trip in the summer of 2018, the lure of the west called, and Tom moved to Laramie in September 2018. “I’ve seen the newspaper and printing industries change tremendously in 40 years,” Tom said. “We started out with Ben Franklin-era hand-set type, Linotypes, and lead type printed on a hand-fed printing press, to producing news and photos for online readers that can be posted from my smart phone in my truck. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks!” Tom has two older children and 2 grandchildren. His interests include his fiancé, Julie, and her grandchildren; gardening, preserving, cooking and eating the vegetables they grow; and bicycling while enjoying the scenery and to stay in shape. Tom enjoys being an active member of the Laramie community, reporting for LaramieLive.com on the events that Laramie has to offer and meeting more unique personalities that make this community a very special place.
Thomas Kocal
Governor Brings Wyoming In To New Energy Advocacy Group
Governor Mark Gordon has led Wyoming to join a newly formed advocacy group that will help the state access global markets for its natural gas reserves.
NY VFW Commander Trek Across Wyoming and America for Veterans
On Day 43 of his 131-day, 2,860-mile walking journey across America, Thomas “Tommy” Zurhellen was experiencing a typical Wyoming spring day.
Cloud Peak Bankruptcy Shows It Funded Anti-Climate Change Groups
The bankruptcy of Cloud Peak Energy, one of the largest domestic coal producers in the country, has revealed that the company maintains financial ties to many of the leading groups that have denied the human causes of global warming
Two Axles Derail on ‘Big Boy’ in Slow-speed Mishap in Rawlins
The world’s largest operating steam locomotive, 600-ton Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, derailed Thursday afternoon as it entered the yard in Rawlins
University of Wyoming Commencement Weekend Events
Congratulations to the University of Wyoming Spring 2019 graduating class.
‘College Factual’ Ranks UW Dept. of Geology and Geophysics No. 1
The University of Wyoming’s Department of Geology and Geophysics is ranked No. 1 in the nation on College Factual’s “2019 Best Geological and Earth Sciences Colleges for the Money” list.
‘Power of Rural’ Conference Fills the Gaps in Rural Healthcare
Wyoming organizations are inviting everyone involved in safety-net healthcare to attend “The Power of Rural” conference, which will focus on the challenges of healthcare in rural communities. The event will be held in Laramie at the University of Wyoming Conference Center June 5-7
WHMAs in the Laramie Region Will Soon Open for the Summer
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has 39 wildlife habitat management areas that provide big game winter range and other benefits. These areas are opening for the season, after being closed to protect key winter habitat. Several areas open May 1.
Laramie Depot Hosts Over 6,000 Visitors to the Debut of ‘Big Boy’
One of the world's biggest and most powerful steam locomotives is chugging back to Laramie after five years of restoration work.
Manufacturing-Works Removes Director, Asst. Director – Investigation Pending
David Bell, and Jim Lee, the Director and Assistant Director of Manufacturing-Works, based at the University of Wyoming, were removed from their positions on and around April 24th as a result of a unanimous decision reached by the University of Wyoming Research and Economic Development at UW.