Evanston local news summary
Week of August 10 2025
Evanston City Council Moves to Repeal Limit on Liquor License Ownership
Evanston to Join Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement
Unforeseen Issues Lead to $46K Cost Increase on Evanston Pipeline Project
Shift in Gaming License Authority May Be Coming to Evanston
Evanston Councilwoman Warns of “Public Land Grab” Threatening Wyoming
Evanston City Council Moves to Repeal Limit on Liquor License Ownership
EVANSTON - The Evanston City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 25-06, which aims to repeal a city code that prohibits any single person or entity from holding more than one retail liquor license. The change would align city ordinance with a 2021 state statute alteration. During a discussion, Councilwoman Hegeman expressed concern that removing the cap could allow a few wealthy entities to buy up the city’s 20 available retail licenses, potentially locking out new entrepreneurs. Other council members noted that a loophole already allows for ownership of multiple licenses through the creation of separate corporate entities and that this ordinance would simply bring the city’s rules into conformance with state law. The ordinance must pass two more readings to become final.
Evanston to Join Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement
EVANSTON - The city council unanimously approved Resolution 25-48, authorizing Evanston to join a national opioid settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma. This action allows the city to receive a portion of the funds Wyoming obtains from the multi-billion-dollar settlement. City Attorney Mark Harris explained that the funds are restricted and must be used for substance-abuse treatment and prevention programs, particularly those related to opioids. The city has received approximately $158,000 from previous, similar settlements.
Unforeseen Issues Lead to $46k Cost Increase on Evanston Pipeline Project
EVANSTON - A change order for the Evanston transmission pipeline project was unanimously approved by the council, increasing the project’s cost by $46,408. According to a city official, the additional funds are necessary to cover unforeseen work, including the difficult task of locating existing underground utility lines as the project progresses. The project is currently halfway down Sue Avenue. Officials noted that a portion of the change order secures a unit price for materials that may ultimately not be needed in the quantity budgeted, meaning the final cost could be lower than the approved amount.
Shift in Gaming License Authority May Be Coming to Evanston
EVANSTON - City Attorney Mark Harris informed the council of an upcoming legislative committee meeting in Evanston that could lead to a significant change in local governance. The state Select Committee on Gaming is set to discuss a proposal that would give city councils the authority to license and approve gaming facilities located within the corporate limits of a city. Currently, that authority rests with the counties.
Evanston Councilwoman Warns of “Public Land Grab” Threatening Wyoming
EVANSTON - In a prepared statement, Evanston Councilwoman Jennie Hegeman delivered a stark warning about what she described as a “coordinated effort to open up industrial corridors” across Wyoming. She argued that recent state and federal actions, such as delisting the grizzly bear and mass wild horse roundups, are not about wildlife management but are instead designed to remove environmental protections to clear the way for mineral, coal, and energy development. Hegeman contended the plan could hand control of public lands from local, state, and tribal authorities to federal and corporate interests, potentially jeopardizing Wyoming’s $4.9 billion tourism industry and restricting access for ranchers, hunters, and recreational users.
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