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A three-day search and rescue effort was launched in Washington state when a pair of sasquatch hunters disappeared Christmas Day. The men from Oregon were found dead from apparant exposure.

Bigfoot Hunters Die Searching For Sasquatch In Washington Forest

Two men died looking for bigfoot in a remote part of Washington state, sparking a three-day search and rescue effort. A Wyoming archaeology professor says their deaths were in vain because the creatures have never been proven to exist.

Mark HeinzJanuary 01, 2025

Devils Tower from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

Cheyenne Reports More UFO Sightings Than Anywhere Else in Wyoming

Although Devils Tower gets all the attention, the National UFO Center reports Cheyenne is tops in the state for UFO sightings. A UFO investigator says that's not surprising as it is the home of F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

Andrew RossiJanuary 01, 2025

In a “WKRP In Cincinnati”-inspired test, Cowboy State Daily columnist Rod Miller demonstrated the dangers of drunk driving. On a closed-course demonstration hosted by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, he took shots and drove a riding lawnmower through cones.

Rod Miller Gets Drunk & Drives Thru Obstacle Course To Show Dangers Of DUI

In a “WKRP In Cincinnati”-inspired test, Cowboy State Daily columnist Rod Miller demonstrated the dangers of drunk driving. On a closed-course demonstration hosted by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, he took many shots of Wyoming Whiskey and drove a riding lawnmower through an obstacle course.

Leo Wolfson & Reilly StrandJanuary 01, 2025

The semitruck parking lot off I-80 near Sinclair looks like a portal from hell has opened up through the lens of a WYDOT webcam covered in ice. The effect is caused by reflected taillghts.

No, Those Weren’t "Hell Portals" Opening Up On WYDOT's I-80 Webcams

WYDOT's webcams at Sinclair along Interstate 80 produced some strange, and potentially demonic, images during a Monday snowstorm. Light reflecting through ice buildup on the cameras made some people say the effect looked like “hell portals” opening.

Andrew RossiDecember 31, 2024

Wind river reservation sign 4 5 23

Fremont County Man Accused Of Raping Woman So She'd Be His Kid "Donor"

A 23-year-old Fremont County man is accused of raping his girlfriend’s friend so she would be the “donor” of a child he can’t have, federal court documents say. He was charged Monday with felonies that could land him prison for life.

Clair McFarlandDecember 31, 2024

Demetrius Coletti

Suspected Drive-By Shooter Charged With Attempted Murder Refuses To Go To Court

A suspected drive-by shooter charged with attemted first-degree murder refused to go to court Tuesday. He's accused of shooting at someone at a house, then leading police on a chase before a tire on his SUV fell off.

Clair McFarlandDecember 31, 2024

Candy moulton 4 16 24

Candy Moulton: Best Of The American West

Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "In less than a year, Cowboy State Daily has become one of the great publishers of history of the American West. I’m so proud and pleased to be a part of the crew that generates these stories of the West."

Candy MoultonDecember 31, 2024

Converse County Courthouse in Douglas, Wyoming.

Douglas Man Who Survived Cop Shooting Facing Four Felonies

A Douglas, Wyoming, man accused of threatening people with a pistol until a police officer shot him in the hip advanced to felony court Monday. Court documents allege that while drunk in October, Brian Williams pointed a .45-caliber handgun at a police officer.

Clair McFarlandDecember 31, 2024

Rock Springs, Wyoming, first grader Mason Rasmussen saved his grandmother Kimberly Gibon this month by getting himself to school and reporting that his grandmother had “died.” Fortunately, she wasn’t dead and was just unconscious from low blood sugar.

Rock Springs First Grader Saves Diabetic Grandma He Thought Had “Died”

A Rock Springs, Wyoming, first grader saved his grandmother’s life this month by getting himself to school and reporting that his grandmother had “died.” Fortunately, she wasn’t dead and had just become unconscious from low blood sugar.

Clair McFarlandDecember 31, 2024

Jennifer Renee Fahrney and Richard Allen Turner

Rock Springs Couple Facing Centuries In Prison On Child Group Sex Claims

A Rock Springs couple are facing charges that add up to centuries in prison after Rock Springs police say they sexually abused and involved a teenage girl in sex acts with themselves and others for more than a year.

Clair McFarlandDecember 30, 2024

When billionaire Joe Ricketts bought White Pine Ski & Summer Resort near Pinedale, Wyoming, people speculated the goal was to turn it into an upscale Jackson Hole-like resort. So far, fans of the ski area say it hasn’t changed yet.

Fans Say White Pine Unchanged So Far In First Season Under Billionaire Ricketts

When billionaire Joe Ricketts bought White Pine Resort near Pinedale, Wyoming, people speculated the goal was to turn it into an upscale Jackson Hole-like resort. So far, fans of the ski area say it hasn’t changed yet.

Renée JeanDecember 30, 2024

An ice fisherman camping on Ocean Lake in Fremont County was stranded after a section of ice broke off, leaving him hundreds of yards from shore. He was rescued early Saturday.

Wyoming Fisherman Camped On Ice Wakes Up To Find He Drifted Away After Ice Broke

An ice fisherman camping on Ocean Lake in Fremont County was stranded after a section of ice broke off Saturday. He drifted into the lake only to wake up hundreds of yards from shore.

Mark HeinzDecember 31, 2024

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming

Hageman Picked As Chairwoman For House Anti-Woke Caucus

Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman was named chairwoman of the House Anti-Woke Caucus on Monday. The caucus is dedicated to fighting the growing influence of "woke" ideologies in government, business and society.

Leo WolfsonDecember 31, 2024

The Kelly Parcel next to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

$100M Kelly Parcel Sale One Of The Largest Of Its Kind In American History

The sale of the Kelly Parcel in Teton County to Grand Teton National Park for $100 million became official Monday. It’s one of the largest federal government purchased from the Land and Water Conservation Fund in its nearly 60 year history.

Leo WolfsonDecember 30, 2024

Demetrius Coletti

Suspected Cheyenne Shooter Tries To Get Away Until Wheel Falls Off SUV

A Cheyenne man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at someone in a Friday night drive-by. Police say he tried to get away, until a wheel fell off the SUV he was driving.

Clair McFarlandDecember 30, 2024

Artillery World is one of at least a half dozen fireworks warehouses off Interstate 25 just across the Colorado border.

Most Of Wyoming’s New Year’s Fireworks Sales Are To Folks From Other States

Wyoming fireworks stands report steady business from Colorado ahead of New Year’s Eve, but some stores say the upcoming New Year’s holiday is a dud.

David MadisonDecember 30, 2024

Bison in winter 12 30 24

Wyoming Can Expect New Year To Begin Cold, Windy And Snowier

New Year's Day in Wyoming will be a cold, windy and snowier start to 2025 after a dry, relatively warm December. Don Day says all signs are that the first weeks of the new year will bring much-needed winter weather.

Andrew RossiDecember 30, 2024

Al Simpson and Jimmy Carter cropped 5 17 24

Wyoming Leaders Remember Former President Jimmy Carter

Although not regarded as an effective president, Wyoming leaders who interacted with Jimmy Carter said he had an affable spirit and a kind heart. "He was a marvelous human being," former U.S. Sen. Al Simpson told Cowboy State Daily.

Leo WolfsonDecember 29, 2024

In Wyoming, moose enjoy mostly shallow water – such as this creek near Grand Teton National Park. In coastal areas, moose swim in deep water, where they might be devoured by killer whales.

Wyoming Moose Fear Wolves, But Coastal Moose Have To Watch Out For Killer Whales

In Wyoming, moose worry about wolves and grizzlies. In coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, moose have to look out to keep from being eaten by killer whales.

Mark HeinzDecember 30, 2024

Lillian heath 12 30 24

The American West: Wyoming’s First Female Doctor Kept Big Nose George's Head For Flower Pot

After the lynching and subsequent medical examination of outlaw Big Nose George Parrott, Lillian Heath, who became Wyoming’s first doctor, kept Parrott’s skull cap for years, and used it as a flower pot.

December 30, 2024

A group of monks in the mountains near Meeteetse, Wyoming, are building a Gothic monastery using cutting-edge technology. They’ve adapted CNC machines to carve stone that looks like it could’ve been sculpted 1,000 years ago.

Carmelite Monks Near Meeteetse Use Modern Tech To Build Gothic Monastery

A group of Carmelite monks in the mountains near Meeteetse, Wyoming, are building a Gothic monastery using cutting-edge technology. They’ve adapted high-tech computerized machines to carve stone that looks like it could’ve been sculpted 1,000 years ago.

Renée JeanDecember 29, 2024

The murder of a 14-year-old at Casper’s mall brought the city together for a memorial and a statement against youth violence in April.

Stabbings, Shootings And Two Murders: Casper Teen Violence Hit New Level In 2024

Teen violence hit a new level in Casper, Wyoming, in 2024. It started with the stabbing murder of a 14-year-old, and didn’t let up. Another murder, two more shootings, another stabbing and other incidents followed.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 29, 2024

John Haggerty in front of the car he used as a medical courier, even when I-80 was closed.

Even When I-80 Is Closed, Medical Couriers Still Allowed To Go Through

Interstate 80 is notorious for being impossible to get through at times during the winter. But even when closed, medical couriers are still allowed to go through. Lives depend on it.

Renée JeanDecember 29, 2024

Kayleen Harding has been an EMT with Frontier Ambulance since November 2022. She recently began working to improve communication between EMS professionals and members of the Wind River Reservation.

Riverton Woman “Dumbfounded” To Be Named One Of The Best EMTs In The Nation

Kayleen Harding is dedicated to saving lives in Fremont County and the Wind River Reservation as an EMT for Frontier Ambulance in Riverton. She said she was "dumbfounded" to be awarded as one of the best EMTs in the nation.

Amber SteinmetzDecember 29, 2024

Rod miller headshot scaled

Rod Miller: That Day I Crashed My Airplane

Columnist Rod Miller writes: "Seminoe Reservoir was smooth as a mirror, and with the sun behind us, we chased our own shadow across the calm water. But something bad happened as soon as the tires touched the runway.”

Rod MillerDecember 29, 2024

Andre Bohren said one thing his dad did really well is evoke emotion out of an audience.

Wyoming People: Casper's Spencer Bohren, Master Of American Roots And The Blues

Casper native Spencer Bohren was a master of American roots music and the blues, opening for B.B. King and playing with other legends. His musical legacy continues to resonate five years after his death.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 29, 2024

Scene from the 1975 movie "Bite the Bullet," based on the 1908 534-mile endurance horse race between Evanston, Wyoming, and Denver.

Wyoming History: That Famous 1908 Horse Race From Evanston To Denver

A $1,250 prize purse lured more than two dozen men to race on horseback 534 miles from Evanston, Wyoming, to Denver. The famous 1908 race was big news across the country, with a controversial finish for a Cody man who won.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 29, 2024

In a daring and dangerous move, the director of a Las Vegas nonprofit went undercover to infiltrate cartel-run sex trafficking networks. Working with law enforcement, the operation has rescued many young victims kidnapped in Mexico and the U.S.

Daring, Dangerous Undercover Operations Bust Up Cartel-Run Sex Trafficking

In a daring and dangerous move, the director of a Las Vegas nonprofit went undercover to infiltrate cartel-run sex trafficking networks. Working with law enforcement, the operation has rescued many young victims kidnapped in Mexico and the U.S.

Jen KocherDecember 28, 2024

I 80 wreck 2 1 20 24

Tow Truck Drivers Say Drivers, Not Weather, Can Make I-80 A Winter Nightmare

I-80 across southern Wyoming is known as being one of most dangerous stretches of highway in the nation during winter. But tow truck drivers says drivers, not weather, can make I-80 a winter nightmare.

Sydnee ChapmanDecember 29, 2024

There was a time when nearly every pickup and Jeep in Wyoming — and neighboring states — sported huge “Big Wonderful Wyoming” mud flaps.

‘Big Wonderful Wyoming’ Mud Flaps Used To Be Everywhere. Now, They’re A Vintage Novelty

There was a time when nearly every pickup and Jeep in Wyoming — and neighboring states — sported huge “Big Wonderful Wyoming” mud flaps. Whatever happened to them?

Mark HeinzDecember 28, 2024

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Thursday, January 2, 2025

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Faith Wainwright. Faith writes, "First day of the year sunrise from our home in Saratoga looking east at the Medicine Bow mountains."

Photo by Faith Wainwright

Today's question to Don Day

Mark James Mullins of Douglas
In regard to your thunderstorm season article, can you reassess the data on a per-capita basis, especially when considering population of the states? It could affect me as I own a hill on my property which I plan a communications tower and likely will have a lightning rod installed when it goes in.
Don Day
FEMA has a good lightning database that takes into account lightning risk, potential property loss, etc. based on population and lightning frequency. Data is available on a county by county basis. Lots and lots of lightning data available here which may help in quest for more lightning information. https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/lightning
DD

Opinion

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Rod Miller

Rod Miller: Things Might Be Weird Enough Now

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Dr. Hunter S. Thompson invented Gonzo Journalism by embedding with the Oakland Hells Angels and provoking them to stomp him into jelly. He would have been the perfect journalist to cover the MAGA movement."

Rod MillerJanuary 01, 2025

Lubnau head 2

Tom Lubnau: I Predict The Uprising Of Straw Villains In 2025

Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "To retain their power, the new folks will have to cast themselves as heroes trying to vanquish some feigned evil. I predict 2025 is going to be the year of the imaginary straw man villain."

Tom LubnauJanuary 01, 2025

Candy moulton 4 16 24

Candy Moulton: Best Of The American West

Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "In less than a year, Cowboy State Daily has become one of the great publishers of history of the American West. I’m so proud and pleased to be a part of the crew that generates these stories of the West."

Candy MoultonDecember 31, 2024

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