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Baristas Cheyenne Munsell (left) and Palmira Torres (right) work at the downtown Starbucks location in Cheyenne

Starbucks Baristas In Cheyenne Fired Up Over New Dress Code, Strike Is On Table

Although many of the Starbucks baristas Cowboy State Daily spoke with in Cheyenne are upset over a new corporate dress code, they're not sure if they will join a nationwide strike. Some aren't following the dress code — and don't plan on it.

Jimmy OrrMay 15, 2025

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, left, says an attempt by a retired lawyer to have him removed from office is “outrageous.” The lawyer, Tim Newcomb (inset), says Gray’s a bully who riled up “his MAGA goons” against him.

Chuck Gray Blasts ‘Outrageous’ Attempt By Retired Lawyer To Oust Him From Office

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray says an attempt by a retired lawyer to have him removed from office is “outrageous.” The lawyer says Gray’s a bully who riled up “his MAGA goons” against him.

Greg JohnsonMay 15, 2025

Oscar Espinoza Duarte pleaded guilty Thursday to four of six federal charges against him stemming from methamphetamine distribution on the Wind River Reservation.

Man With ‘Probable’ Mexican Cartel Ties Admits Dealing Meth On Wyoming Reservation

A Mexican national who admits being in the U.S. illegally and “probable” cartel ties has admitted dealing meth on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation. It was part of a plea deal entered Thursday in U.S. District Court in Casper.

Dale KillingbeckMay 15, 2025

Two Casper men — Karlin Carlson, left, and Dallas Dickinson — faced consequences Wednesday after an evening with liquor, marijuana and a weapon turned into a police response.

Casper Man, Drinking With Friend, Accused Of Pointing Loaded Pistol At Girls

A 20-year-old Casper man is accused of pointing a loaded 10 mm pistol at a group of three girls at a local skate park Tuesday. He was in court Wednesday, along with a friend he was allegedly drinking with at the time.

Dale KillingbeckMay 15, 2025

Sheridan police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee was one of 148 U.S. law officers killed in the line of duty in 2024. They were honored by an estimated 30,000 people at a Tuesday candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C., including the Wyoming delegation.

30,000 Candles Burn For Sheridan Police Officer, 147 Others Killed In 2024

Sheridan police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee was one of 148 U.S. law officers killed in the line of duty in 2024. They were honored by an estimated 30,000 people at a Tuesday candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C., including the Wyoming delegation.

Grace HansenMay 15, 2025

Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman says Trump’s plan to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar traces back to a 2018 Boeing contract. Before it’s used as Air Force One, “they better scrub that plane from nose to tail” for bugs, added Sen. Cynthia Lummis.

Hageman: Trump-Qatar $400M Air Force One Deal Stems From Boeing Contract Snafu

Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman says Trump’s plan to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar traces back to a 2018 Boeing contract. Before it’s used as Air Force One, “they better scrub that plane from nose to tail” for bugs, added Sen. Cynthia Lummis.

Sean BarryMay 15, 2025

The U.S. Senate's top Democrat named Wyoming as a state that faces increased energy costs under the GOP’s tax and budget plans. That prompted Sen. John Barrasso to unload on Schumer, saying energy is the reason Democrats are the minority in Congress.

Barrasso Unloads On Chuck Schumer After Claim Of Higher Wyoming Energy Prices

Chuck Schumer, the U.S. Senate's top Democrat, named Wyoming as facing increased energy costs under the GOP’s tax and budget plans. That prompted Sen. John Barrasso to unload on him, saying energy is the reason Dems are the minority in Congress.

Sean BarryMay 14, 2025

Walt Longmire actor Robert Taylor is a fixture at Longmire Days.

Sheriff Longmire Actor Turns Down Paying Gigs To Be At Longmire Days

Fans of the hit television show “Longmire” will soon flood Buffalo for two days in author Craig Johnson’s fictional Absaroka County. Sheriff Longmire actor Robert Taylor loves the franchise so much he turns down paying gigs to be at Longmire Days.

Renée JeanMay 14, 2025

File Photos: Witnesses in Montana claim they saw a National Guard chopper illegally land on private property, and the crew grabbing shed elk antlers. If true, the guardsmen responsible will be punished, a general said.

Montana National Guard Accused Of Illegally Using Black Hawk To Snag Elk Antlers

Witnesses in Montana claim they saw a National Guard chopper illegally land on private property, and the crew grabbing shed elk antlers. If true, the guardsmen responsible will be punished, a general said.

Mark HeinzMay 14, 2025

Bridget Hill Wyoming Supreme Court 2 5 14 25

Bridget Hill Will Conflict Out Of About Half Of Wyoming Supreme Court Cases

It will be six to nine months before the Wyoming Supreme Court’s newest justice can participate fully. That’s because Bridget Hill, who will soon be sworn in as a justice, has represented the state on at least half the appeals the high court is hearing.

Clair McFarlandMay 14, 2025

The U.S. House passed a bill sponsored by Wyoming’s Harriet Hageman on Tuesday that aims to protect the hydro power produced by Glen Canyon Dam. A Biden-era protection on fish bypasses the dam and kills its ability to produce energy, Hageman says.

Hageman Aims To Protect Hydro Power By Reversing Biden Fish Protections

The U.S. House passed a bill sponsored by Wyoming’s Harriet Hageman on Tuesday that aims to protect the hydro power produced by Glen Canyon Dam. A Biden-era protection on fish bypasses the dam and kills its ability to produce energy, Hageman says.

David MadisonMay 14, 2025

The mother of a man who killed a Sheridan police sergeant in February 2024, has a plea agreement with prosecutors over allegations she gave her son guns. The public can't see her plea since the federal prosecutor's office for Wyoming keeps those private. Police from around Wyoming and the region turned out for Sgt. Nevada Krinkee's funeral March 1, 2024.

Mom Accused Of Giving Guns To Sheridan Cop-Killer Gets Plea Agreement

The mother of a man who killed a Sheridan police sergeant in February 2024, has a plea agreement with prosecutors over allegations she gave her son guns. The public can't see her plea since the federal authorities for Wyoming keeps those private.

Clair McFarlandMay 14, 2025

Bailey Bettinson, above, and Tevin Medina.

Evanston Couple Get 6 Months For Child Abuse In Death Of Baby Found In Filth

An Evanston couple got six months in jail Tuesday for child abuse after the death of their 9-month-old. The sentence comes after a prosecutor conceded there wasn’t enough evidence that their filthy home or neglect associated with it killed the baby.

Clair McFarlandMay 13, 2025

"Let's Talk About It" in the teen section at the Laramie County Public Library branch in downtown Cheyenne in this file photo. The book is graphic novel (comic book) depicting cartoon teens and other characters exploring the nuances of sex, gender, sexuality, relationships, consent, STDs, sexting, abusive behaviors and birth control.

Studying Obscenity Laws And Sex Books In Libraries No. 1 Priority For Committee

The No. 1 priority for the Wyoming Legislature’s interim Judiciary Committee is to consider tying sex books in libraries to state obscenity laws. The debate continues years of controversy over sexually graphic books available to kids in libraries.

Clair McFarlandMay 13, 2025

Roughly $16 million in federal funding is on hold for a $28 million wildlife crossing along U.S. Highway 26 near Dubois. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and others are determined to push the project forward anyway.

Short $16M In Federal Money In Limbo, Wildlife Crossing Near Dubois On Hold

Roughly $16 million in federal funding is on hold for a $28 million wildlife crossing along U.S. Highway 26 near Dubois. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and others are determined to push the project forward anyway.

Mark HeinzMay 13, 2025

The remains of a man found by construction workers in a field just south of Cheyenne last October have been identified as Roy Arthur Moates of Laramie County.

Remains Found By Construction Workers In Cheyenne Field 7 Months Ago Identified

The remains of a man found by construction workers in a field just south of Cheyenne last October have been identified as Roy Arthur Moates of Laramie County. The discovery of his human remains prompted a two-day, 50-person search of the field.

Clair McFarlandMay 13, 2025

Spring turkey hunting in Wyoming has been excellent this year. The state’s wild turkey population is thriving, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Population Boom Means There Are Tons Of Turkeys For Wyoming Hunters

There’s never been a better time to take up turkey hunting in Wyoming. A population boom means there are tons of wild turkeys around for the spring season.

Mark HeinzMay 13, 2025

Jacob Charles Berger

Montana Man Steals Shotgun, Ammo And Body Armor From Cop Cars

A 28-year-old man will spend three years in prison for his 10-day crime spree vandalizing and robbing law enforcement vehicles in Billings, Montana. Among the stuff he stole was a shotgun, ammunition and body armor.

David MadisonMay 14, 2025

ARCHIVE PHOTO: The freeze/thaw of early spring is one of the major causes of rock falls in the Wind River Canyon.

Motorists Play Frogger With Falling Rocks In Wyoming’s Wind River Canyon In Spring

Spring means Wyoming’s Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway is at its most spectacular. It’s also the peak time for rockslides, meaning motorists on U.S. 20 play Frogger with falling rocks and mud.

Jackie DorothyMay 13, 2025

On the floor of a natural gas drilling rig, roughnecks move 25-ton blocks over a section of drilling pipe 8 miles north of Evanston, Wyoming, in this file photo.

Reaction To Trump Tariffs Helps Push Wyoming Oil Prices To Four-Year Low

The price of oil in Wyoming has been pushed to a four-year low, caused by a response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. A state economist also reports 200 fewer oil and gas jobs than a year ago.

David MadisonMay 13, 2025

Snow King Mountain near Jackson has become a hot spot for concerts, drawing big-name artists playing alternative rock, electronic music, country, blues and more.

Wyoming Growing Into A Music Concert Hot Spot — And Not Just For Country

Wyoming is no longer an unknown backwater when it comes to live music. Big name artists such as Wilco, Primus and Luke Grimes are booking shows here for 2025, while other big names to discover Wyoming include Jelly Roll, Ice Cube, Ludcris and T-Pain.

Mark HeinzMay 13, 2025

Foxhill Apartments Building 23 was the scene of an incident that left two people shot Sunday evening, May 11, 2025.

Casper Woman Heard Gunshots, Opened Apartment Door To Find Body At Her Feet

A woman living in an apartment complex in Casper said she heard gunshots in the apartment above hers Sunday night and a plea for someone to call 911. She ran to the door of her building to find the body of a masked man at her feet.

Dale KillingbeckMay 12, 2025

President Donald Trump floated the idea of a tax increase for the richest Americans. Wyoming’s U.S. senators aren’t fans, saying they wouldn’t want a tax hike on anyone, regardless of income. Sen. John Barrasso said as much on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday with host Kristen Welker.

Wyoming Delegation Not Supportive Of Trump's Idea Of Tax Hike For The Rich

U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis on Monday said they were not fans of President Trump's idea of a tax increase for the rich. They said they don't want a tax hike on anyone.

Sean BarryMay 12, 2025

Matthew Nick Leslie has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges stemming from the discovery of more than 30,000 files of child pornography in his posession.

Casper Man Accused Of Having 30,000 Child Porn Files Pleads Guilty

A 48-year-old Casper man pleaded guilty Monday to eight charges involving child porn, including images involving sadomasochism and bestiality. He was accused of having more than 30,000 files of child porn and will get a maximum 16-year sentence.

Dale KillingbeckMay 12, 2025

Cody Volunteer Fire Department at the Cody Stampede Parade

Cody Fire Department Pulls Out Of Parade Because They Can't Throw Water Balloons

The Cody Volunteer Fire Department is pulling most of its fire trucks from the Cody Stampede Parade because they can't throw water balloons, a longtime tradition. The problem, the parade committee said, is innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire.

Andrew RossiMay 12, 2025

Welcome to Wright J Stephen Conn via Flickr 11 7 24

Wright Woman Accused Of Torturing Man For Three Days Pleads Insanity

A Wright woman accused of taping a man to a chair and torturing him for three days has entered an insanity plea. She claims in a court filing last week that she had “extreme paranoia” at the time.

Clair McFarlandMay 12, 2025

Today, at age 74, Wyoming native Richard Pitt is at work on a memoir about his adrenaline-fueled life smuggling drugs for the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s and his adventures as a skydiver, Vietnam veteran and commercial airline pilot who also spent decades in prison for his crimes.

Richard Pitt: Wyoming Pilot And Vietnam Vet Who Smuggled Drugs For Pablo Escobar

Richard Pitt grew up in Thermopolis and lived a life straight out of 1980s drug-running movies like “Scarface.” Decades later, he’s coming clean while also divulging details of his sordid career smuggling for the likes of Pablo Escobar.

Jen KocherMay 11, 2025

Thirteen Bozeman police officers were caught playing games of “Crime Bingo,” the department reported. The customized bingo cards included incidents to check off during traffic stops, like “arrest 2 people” or “butt-ass naked.”

‘Crime Bingo’ Results In 9 Montana Felony Cases Being Thrown Out

Nine felony cases connected to Bozeman, Montana, police officers playing “Crime Bingo” have been tossed by the local county attorney. The arrests could be tainted by the potential for officers to make them based on the game.

David MadisonMay 12, 2025

Wyoming lawmakers decided May 9, 2025, to consider assessing harsher penalties for public officials who don’t produce public documents upon request.

Legislators Eye Tougher Fines For Officials Who Won't Give Up Public Records

Wyoming lawmakers decided Friday to consider assessing harsher penalties for public officials who don’t produce public documents upon request.

Clair McFarlandMay 12, 2025

The ExxonMobil plant in La Barge, Wyoming, not only is a world leader in carbon capture, it also produces about 20% of the world's helium.

Second Major Helium Plant Planned For Southwest Wyoming

Wyoming already produces 20% of the world’s Grade A helium supply from one plant east of Kemmerer. Now it’s about to get another major helium plant in southwest Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 12, 2025

A visitor to Yellowstone National Park gets up close and personal to a bison to get a selfie with it in May 2023.

Ornery Bison Don't Just Gore People, They Break Bones And Crush Organs

Most bison “goring” attacks involve massive blunt force trauma, not people getting skewered by horns in the torso. An emergency room doctor says people who get too close can suffer broken bones, crushed organs and also can take a horn to the butt.

Mark HeinzMay 12, 2025

The Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house in Laramie, Wyoming.

Court Gives Sorority Women 30-Day Deadline In Lawsuit Over Wyoming Trans Member

A Wyoming-based federal judge is giving the women suing their sorority for inducting a Wyoming transgender member 30 days to re-file their lawsuit or give up the case. The women's attorney told Cowboy State Daily they plan to refile the case.

Clair McFarlandMay 12, 2025

Police cars idle outside of Foxhill Apartments in the 1900 block of South Missouri Avenue. Two persons were transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center with gunshot wounds.

Casper Police Investigating Two Separate Shootings Sunday Night

Casper police on Sunday are investigating two unrelated shootings involving two victims at one scene and one at another. All three have been taken to the hospital

Dale KillingbeckMay 12, 2025

A ramp was built for the annual Sundance Burnout in Crook County during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It places riders up higher so the crowd could better see them.

More Tourists Discovering Small, Rural Wyoming Counties

Wyoming has long had a goal of encouraging tourism in other parts of the state other Teton County. In 2024, more tourists discovered small, rural Wyoming areas, with Crook and Sublette counties showing the biggest boost.

Renée JeanMay 11, 2025

Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming.

Federal Cuts Have Wyoming Museums Scrambling At Start Of Busy Summer Season

Several Wyoming museums say they were caught by surprise when federal grants were cut. That’s left some on the hook for thousands of dollars as they scramble at the start of the busy summer season.

Renée JeanMay 11, 2025

Drones have been used to chase wolves away from cattle in Oregon. There’s hope the tactic might work in Wyoming and Colorado.

Latest Tactic To Keep Wolves Away From Livestock: Dive-Bomb Them With Drones

Dive-bombing wolves with drones equipped with lights and speakers have scared them away from cattle in Oregon and a wolf conservation advocate hopes to work with ranchers in Colorado and Wyoming to see if drones have a similar effect here.

Mark HeinzMay 11, 2025

Smoking pot may be legal in some states, but it’s not in Yellowstone National Park. When asked by customers the best way to spark up in the park, a West Yellowstone cannabis seller advises don’t — getting stoned in Yellowstone invites a federal charge.

Cannabis Sellers Warn Against Taking Marijuana Into Yellowstone

Smoking pot is legal in some states, but it’s not in Yellowstone. That's why West Yellowstone cannabis sellers warn against taking marijuana into the park as it becomes a federal crime -- and the charges can be harsh.

David MadisonMay 11, 2025

Kai Quiroz took his children on a surf trip. Pictured are, from left, Kyle Leonard Amos, Honey Amos, Quiroz's mother Ginny Hayward, Mato Amos and Quiroz.

Rural Wyoming Reservation Kids Ride Waves Surfing In The Pacific Ocean

For Riverton's Kai Quiroz, the waves of the Pacific Ocean are a reminder of how amazing the world is. Wanting to share that, he created an organization called Warrior Waves, which takes kids from the Wind River Reservation to California to learn to surf.

Amber SteinmetzMay 11, 2025

A West Yellowstone, Montana, thrill-shooting specialist keeps clients safe while making their machine gun dreams come true at Big Gun Fun.

Find Your "Inner Rambo" At Big Gun Fun In West Yellowstone

Want to shoot an MP5, AK-47, M16, M4, a KRISS Vector or a Thompson submachine gun like the one toted by Bonnie and Clyde? No problem. At Big Gun Fun in West Yellowstone, you can fire weapons most people only see in news footage and action films. 

David MadisonMay 11, 2025

PC Corey Favino Courtesy Elephant Family USA and Newport Restoration Foundation 5 11 25

Herd Of 32 Life-Sized Elephants On Way For Month-Long Stay In Jackson

The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson will have 32 life-size elephant sculptures for a month starting this week. It’s a stop on The Great Elephant Migration, a public art exhibit promoting conservation and coexistence with wildlife.

Andrew RossiMay 11, 2025

Comedian Patton Oswalt has never performed in Wyoming, so he's crossing the Cowboy State off the list with two nights of stand-up comedy at The Rialto Theater in downtown Casper.

Patton Oswalt Doing Two Nights Of Comedy At Casper's Rialto Theater

After realizing he had played in every state except Wyoming and Montana, comedian Patton Oswalt booked a ‘mini-tour’ to cross them off their lists. He appears in Casper on May 16 and 17 and in Bozeman on May 15.

Andrew RossiMay 11, 2025

Cowboy State Daily reporter Leo Wolfson straddles two walls inside Spirit Mountain Cave.

Explore Wyoming: Deep Into Spirit Mountain Cave Above Cody

Not only is Spirit Mountain Cave above Cody full of history, it’s a passageway into a mysterious and dark underworld where even night goggles won't work. Only a few hundred people explore these caves every year.

Leo WolfsonMay 11, 2025

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Friday, May 16, 2025

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Dillon Curry at the Narrows Reservoir north of Evanston. Dillon writes, "I felt like I was lucky enough to see something so special."

Photo by Dillon Curry

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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Dave Simpson: He Negotiated Like Donald Trump

Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “Like Ronald Reagan walking out of nuclear arms talks with Gorbachev in Reykjavik, he got up and walked out. Time to head home to Gillette.”

Dave SimpsonMay 12, 2025

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Cassie Craven: Lawsuit Challenging Wyoming Voter ID Law Treats Women Like Idiots

Columnist Cassie Craven writes, "The Left appears conflicted on women, as if we were only a means to an end: Take our sports, our definitions and our dignity – but moralize about women’s rights when we’re asked to get our voting documentation in order."

Cassie CravenMay 11, 2025

Gail Symons head shot

Gail Symons: What I Actually Mean When I Say 'Fourth-Generation Wyomingite'

Columnist Gail Symons writes: "We’re fiercely protective of Wyoming’s identity because we’ve seen how hard-won it is. But that perspective, if not tempered with humility, can come across as arrogant. As if being born here makes someone more Wyoming than anyone else. That’s not how it works."

Gail SymonsMay 11, 2025

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