By james art 
CHEYENNE, Wyo.- It’s that time of year again. Wyoming residents are being reminded to set their clocks back one hour tonight as Daylight Saving Time approaches. At 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3, the clocks will go back, giving everyone an extra hour of rest, but also leading to shorter, darker evenings in the coming weeks.
Today in Cheyenne, sunrise was at 7:32 AM and sunset is expected at 5:52 PM. After the clocks go back tonight, sunrise on Sunday will be at 6:33 AM and sunset will be significantly earlier at 4:51 p.m., giving the morning a brighter start, but an earlier nightfall than many would be used to.
Daylight saving time has a long history rooted in the desire to make the best use of natural daylight according to the US Department of Defense. The idea dates back to World War I, when the US first passed the Standard Time Act of 1918 as an energy conservation measure.
Initially, the additional daylight in the evening was intended to reduce the need for artificial lighting, which helped conserve fuel needed for the war effort. This practice became known as “wartime” during World War II, when it was reintroduced for similar reasons.
After the war, daylight saving time continued, but without a clear national standard, leading to confusion. For decades, states and local governments set their own rules, creating challenges for transportation, broadcasting and businesses operating across state lines.
Finally, in 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, establishing a consistent daylight saving time schedule across the country.
Since 1966, the exact start and end dates have changed several times, with the current schedule set in 2007 under the Energy Policy Act. Daylight saving time now begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November, giving Americans a few extra weeks of extended evening light each year.
As the clocks turn back tonight, Wyoming residents will experience brighter mornings for the next few months, a welcome change as winter approaches. But early sunsets can feel like an adjustment, especially as daylight grows scarcer toward the winter solstice.