AdvertiseGet Free Daily Newsletter
AdvertiseGet Free Daily Newsletter

Cowboy State Daily - Wyoming News

News

Headlines

View all
A Cheyenne City Council committee on Monday advanced a measure that could put two multimillion-dollar Derby Club gaming establishments out of compliance with city rules. It would prohibit gaming centers from being within 500 feet of day care centers and schools.

Proposed Rules Could Block Two Cheyenne Gaming Locations From Renewing Permits

A Cheyenne City Council committee on Monday advanced a measure that could put two multimillion-dollar gaming establishments out of compliance with city rules. It would prohibit gaming centers from being within 500 feet of day care centers and schools.

Renée JeanJune 02, 2026

Libertarian Shawn Johnson (left), Chuck Gray (upper right), Reid Rasner (center right), Steve Friess (lower right)

Why It's Possible For A Libertarian To Win Wyoming's U.S. House Seat

This year's election climate could make the perfect storm for Libertarian Shawn Johnson to win Wyoming's U.S. House seat, politicos say. That is, if he courts conservatives, and if the winner of the crowded GOP primary is hugely unpopular. 

Clair McFarlandJune 01, 2026

Bill Dohse of Find-911 and OSAR helped lead the search for reality television star Matt Brown from his mobile portable command center along the highway in Montana.

Cody-Based Search And Rescue Team Helps Find Body Of ‘Alaskan Bush People’ Star

A Cody-based search and rescue team helped coordinate the search for the body of “Alaskan Bush People” star Matt Brown. Brown’s body was found Sunday after he went missing four days earlier after allegedly shooting himself along a Washington state river.

Jen KocherJune 01, 2026

Medicine bow 6 1 26

Wyoming Hikers Unable To Resuscitate Centennial Man Who Died After Fall Into River

A 56-year-old Centennial man died Friday after slipping on steep terrain and falling into Mullen Creek in Albany County. He is believed to have suffered a head injury in the fall and then became trapped in the fast-flowing water.

Kate MeadowsJune 01, 2026

Yellowstone visitor Willow Holm recently captured video of a member of the Wapiti wolf pack harshly correcting one of its packmates on the west side of the park.

Wolves Putting The Smackdown On Each Other Is How Yellowstone Packs Maintain Order

For wolves in Yellowstone, it’s all about survival. Pack members sometimes put the smackdown on each other, just to maintain order. One biologist said a video captured last week by a visitor shows one wolf clearly telling another, "I'm in charge here."

Mark HeinzJune 01, 2026

After he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a more than eight-hour manhunt Thursday, a 27-year-old Cheyenne man was in court Friday, May 1, 2026. Police say after his arrest, Adrian Maggos asked how is "the guy I shot?"

Cheyenne Man Accused In Shooting Over Ex Pleads Not Guilty To Attempted Murder

A 27-year-old man accused of shooting another man and leaving him bleeding in a Cheyenne street after a blowup over a former girlfriend pleaded not guilty Monday to attempted second-degree murder. He allegedly asked police how “the guy I shot” was doing.

Greg JohnsonJune 01, 2026

Secretary of State Chuck Gray during the 2026 legislative session at the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne.

Chuck Gray Leads U.S. House Poll With 21%, Followed By Rasner And Friess

In the first significant poll of Wyoming’s primary election season, Secretary of State Chuck Gray leads a crowded GOP U.S. House race with 21% support. Casper businessman Reid Rasner is second at 14%, and Teton County's Steve Friess is third at 10%.

Clair McFarlandJune 01, 2026

Rusty Rawson and his son Sterling, now 14, were living homeless lives surrounded by violence, drugs and gangs in Las Vegas when Rusty made the best decision he could have as a parent — he askeds his young son what to do. "Dad, everything will be OK if we go back to Casper,” was the answer.

How A Casper Father And Son Saved Each Other From Lives Of Gangs And Drugs

Living homeless in a Las Vegas wash, hooked on meth, and surviving by the reflexes of his past gang life, Rusty Rawson turned to his adolescent son for guidance. The answer brought them back to Casper and toward a life that seemed out of reach.

Zakary SonntagMay 31, 2026

It’s been 50 years since “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” was filmed at Devils Tower. “It’s the longest-running movie in a single location ever,” says Ogden Driskill about the movie, which has been shown there every summer night for 40 years.

50 Years Later, Sci-Fi Fans Still Find Their ‘Close Encounters’ At Devils Tower

Fifty years ago, the cameras rolled on “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” at Devils Tower after a handshake between a then-unknown Steven Spielberg and rancher Jesse Thomas Driskill. It would go on to completely reshape tourism in northeast Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2026

When HGTV’s “Rehab Addict” filmed a historic home renovation in Evanston, Wyoming, it was the over-the-top Halloween “Clown House” across the street that kept photobombing the episode. Now fans won’t leave the homeowner alone.

Evanston Man’s Clown House’ Photobombs HGTV's "Rehab Addict" TV Show

When an episode of HGTV’s “Rehab Addict” was being filmed in Evanston, Wyoming, the creepy “Clown House” across the street inadvertently photobombed the shoot and was all its viewers were talking about. Now fans won't leave the house alone.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2026

Saving and restoring the historic Evanston Roundhouse has been the most extensive reclamation project in the city's history.

Evanston Has Spent Decades, And $28M, Restoring Its Historic Railroad Roundhouse

A century after Union Pacific stopped using it, decades of work has saved and restored Evanston’s historic Roundhouse and Railyards. The $28 million spent so far has made it one of the rare roundhouses in the U.S. that’s still completely operational. 

Renée JeanMay 31, 2026

It’s turned heads for decades in the Medicine Bow range, a squat observation deck that looks like a Medieval castle ruin. "Your mind kind of starts making up some fancy histories about it,” said a photographer about the Libby Flats Observation Tower.

What The Heck … Is That Medieval Castle-Looking Thing On The Snowy Range Byway?

The observation deck that looks like a Medieval castle ruin has turned heads for decades in the Medicine Bow range. For Laramie photographer David Peel, the 11,000-foot elevation and lack of light pollution make it a great place for astrophotography.

Kolby FedoreMay 31, 2026

Libertarians Nominate Combat Medic, Attorney Shawn Johnson To Run For U.S. House

Libertarians Nominate Combat Medic, Attorney Shawn Johnson To Run For U.S. House

Shawn Johnson won the Libertarian Party’s nomination for Wyoming’s U.S. House seat Sunday, after giving a speech that electrified attendees. "We’ve got a legitimate candidate this time,” said longtime leader of the Libertarian Party Richard Brubaker.

Clair McFarlandMay 31, 2026

Lola West, who ran the Black and Tan Cafe in Cheyenne in the 1940s, was a key figure in prosecuting the city's mayor and police chief for shaking down Black businesses and promoting prostitution. Her former club is still standing at 901 W. 18th St. at the intersection of Snyder Avenue.

Wyoming History: Cheyenne's Mayor, Police Chief Convicted Of Extorting Black Bar Owners

It was 80 years ago that Cheyenne’s mayor and police chief were convicted of running a protection racket and extorting black bar owners. "You have to pay us. If you don’t pay us we are going to shut down your business,” federal agents recorded them saying.

Dale KillingbeckMay 31, 2026

Tim Meadows tells Cowboy State Daily he’s about to do something he’s never done in 40 years as a comedian — perform in Wyoming. “I try to punch up,” Meadows said about his style. “I don’t really like to punch down at people or issues."

'Saturday Night Live' Legend Tim Meadows To Perform In Wyoming For First Time

Tim Meadows told Cowboy State Daily he’s about to do something he’s never done in 40 years as a comedian — perform in Wyoming. Meadows, who appeared on Saturday Night Live for 10 seasons as The Ladies Man and other comedic characters, will do four live sets in June.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2026

For 30 years, Miner’s Delight in Atlantic City drew the rich and famous for French food in the middle of nowhere. “One patron said it was the only place where she was willing to wear heels through cow manure to get in,” said the local historical society.

For Upscale French Cuisine, ‘Miner’s Delight’ in Atlantic City, Wyoming, Was Tops

For 30 years, the Miner's Delight restaurant in remote Atlantic City, Wyoming, was the place to go in the Cowboy State. Started by an advertising executive from New York, the upscale French cuisine attracted diners from hundreds of miles away.

Jackie DorothyMay 31, 2026

This white pronghorn was spotted on Memorial Day in Goshen County. It’s unknown whether the animal is a true albino, or if it has a recessive gene that makes its hair white. Either way, it’s incredibly rare.

‘Extremely Rare’ All-White Antelope Captured On Video In Goshen County

Wildlife watchers in Goshen County got a rare treat on Memorial Day — a brief encounter captured on video of an all-white pronghorn. Such animals are “extremely rare," but usually not actual albinos, a biologist said.

Mark HeinzMay 31, 2026

Six years after a huge sinkhole opened up in a subdivision near Black Hawk, South Dakota, victims still waiting for relief. The disaster highlights the difference between Wyoming’s abandoned mine safeguards and South Dakota’s limited protections.

Six Years Later, Black Hills Sinkhole Victims Still Waiting For Relief

Six years after a massive 85-foot-deep sinkhole opened in a residential neighborhood in the Black Hills, homeowners live in financial limbo. Dozens of homes have sat abandoned and deteriorating while property owners wait for answers, compensation and accountability.

Kate MeadowsMay 31, 2026

A 75-year-old Coldspot refrigerator from the 1950s still works, and is still keeping 30-year-old cans of Schlitz beer cold. More than a year after a Casper woman died, her daughters found the fridge still running in her basement.

75 Years Later, a Casper Woman’s Fridge Is Still Running, Cold Schlitz Inside

More than a year after a Casper woman died, her daughters found a 75-year-old Coldspot refrigerator, hidden by cobwebs and insulation, humming with life. In fact, the fridge from the 1950s, was keeping 30-year-old cans of Schlitz ice-cold.

Kolby FedoreMay 30, 2026

Halle Crozier of Buffalo is inspiring Wyoming’s high school rodeo community as she fights to recover from a vaccine reaction that destroyed her body. “I could choose to not get better, or choose to be positive and work hard to get better,” she said.

How Rodeo Is Healing A Wyoming Teen After Vaccine Reaction Destroyed Her Body

Halle Crozier of Buffalo is inspiring Wyoming’s high school rodeo community as she fights to recover from a vaccine reaction that destroyed her body. “I could choose to not get better, or choose to be positive and work hard to get better,” she said.

Julie MankinMay 30, 2026

Someone has stolen a massive, 60-million-year-old piece of petrified wood from a storage unit in Powell. “My dad was always afraid someone would steal it,” said the daughter of the WWII pilot who treasured the artifact, which had become a family heirloom.

Huge 60-Million-Year-Old Petrified Log Stolen From Powell Family's Storage Unit

Someone has stolen a massive, 60-million-year-old piece of petrified wood from a storage unit in Powell. “My dad was always afraid someone would steal it,” said the daughter of the WWII pilot who treasured the artifact, which had become a family heirloom.

Andrew RossiMay 30, 2026

FBI files from 1933 reveal that a substantial portion of $90,000 in ransom loot stuffed in a suitcase ended up buried somewhere around Cheyenne. The plot was carried out by George "Machine Gun" Kelly, right, and Albert Bates. Whether all the loot was ever recovered remains a question.

$25,000 From 1933 Kidnapping Ransom Could Still Be Buried Somewhere In Cheyenne

FBI files from 1933 reveal that $90,000 in ransom loot from a Machine Gun Kelly kidnapping scheme ended up buried somewhere around Cheyenne. Whether all the loot was ever recovered remains a question with about $25,000 still unaccounted for.

Dale KillingbeckMay 30, 2026

Cheyenne and Evanston are hearing the same pitch from data centers — closed-loop cooling, big megawatts, and even bigger paychecks. But while Cheyenne has a petition going for a moratorium on data centers, opposition in Evanston is much more muted.

A Tale Of Two Towns: Cheyenne Pushes Back On Data Centers, Evanston Not So Much

Cheyenne and Evanston are hearing the same pitch from data centers — closed-loop cooling, big megawatts, and even bigger paychecks. But while Cheyenne has a petition going for a moratorium on data centers, opposition in Evanston is much more muted.

Renée JeanMay 30, 2026

Uinta County Courthouse (Cowboy State Daily file). Inset illustration: Getty Images

Judge Orders Wyoming Republican Party To Follow State Law

In a setback to the Wyoming Republican Party’s long mission to gain independence from state law, a Uinta County judge Friday upheld multiple Wyoming election laws, dismissing the state Party’s claims that its rights trump them.

Clair McFarlandMay 30, 2026

An egraving depicting Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer's last stand at the Battle of The Little Bighorn in 1876.

Wyoming History: The Courier Who Carried First Dispatch From Custer’s Last Stand

John “Josh” Deane came West looking for adventure — and got more than he bargained for when he took a job as a military dispatch rider. It was 150 years ago that he found himself carrying the first message about Custer’s last stand to Wyoming’s Fort Brown.  

Jackie DorothyMay 31, 2026

New research published by the Geological Society of America has revealed that Devils Tower is constantly moving. An international team of geologists determined that it's perpetually and ever-so-slightly swaying, twisting, and turning in the wind.

"It's Alive!": Scientists Say Devils Tower Is Constantly Moving

New research published by the Geological Society of America has revealed that Devils Tower is constantly moving. An international team of geologists determined that it's perpetually and ever-so-slightly swaying, twisting, and turning in the wind.

Andrew RossiMay 30, 2026

For decades, motorists speeding down Interstate 90 in west-central South Dakota have done double takes at a towering human skeleton leading a T. rex on a leash. It’s a quirky prairie creation born from one man’s lifelong dream to build his own dinosaur.

Near Wyoming: The Skeleton Who Walks A Giant T-Rex On A Leash In South Dakota

For decades, motorists speeding down Interstate 90 in west-central South Dakota have done double takes at a towering human skeleton leading a T. rex on a leash. It’s a quirky prairie creation born from one man’s lifelong dream to build his own dinosaur.

Kate MeadowsMay 30, 2026

Cheyenne’s Bouquets Unlimited is closing its doors after 44 years. Owner Shareen Brendle says the shop can’t compete with cheap grocery-store bouquets, online “order gatherers,” and big box chains undercutting wholesale prices. “I’m broken-hearted about it,” she said.

Cheyenne Florist To Close After 44 Years, Can't Compete With Online Giant Flower Stores

Cheyenne’s Bouquets Unlimited is closing its doors after 44 years because they can't compete with the online giants. In 1992, there were 27,000 florist storefronts in America. Today, they number 11,750.  “I’m broken-hearted about it,” the owner said.

Renée JeanMay 30, 2026

A cat named Tuffitt loves hanging out with a young buck white-tailed deer in a homeowner’s backyard north of Buffalo.

Oh Good, A Wyoming Cat And A Deer Have Become Best Friends

A white-tailed deer born last spring in a backyard near Buffalo has grown up to become best friends with a female named cat named Tuffitt. “He’s been around cats since he was tiny, and she’s an outgoing, friendly little cat,” said the homeowner.

Mark HeinzMay 30, 2026

Smoke pouring out of the westbound Green River Tunnel on I-80 on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

Trucker Faces Homicide Charges For 2025 Green River Tunnel Inferno That Killed 3

A trucker accused of triggering a 26-vehicle crash in the Green River Tunnel in 2025 that killed three people now faces homicide charges. “Human error was the primary factor contributing to these crashes,” says an affidavit supporting the charges filed last week.

Kolby FedoreMay 29, 2026

Daily Features

View all
Sunrise small 6 2 26
PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Cindy Wilson. Cindy writes, "Sunrise on the North Platte in Saratoga."

Photo by Cindy Wilson

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

Sponsored

View all

Opinion

View all
Fred harrison 4 23 26

Fred Harrison: A Tale of Two Courts — The Battle For Wyoming’s Constitution

Columnist Fred Harrison writes, "On May 14, the Wyoming Supreme Court handed down a monumental victory for families and separation of powers. The court put down its red pen, picked up a dictionary, and read the Constitution as it was actually written."

Fred HarrisonMay 27, 2026

Dave simpson head 10 3 22

Dave Simpson: I'm Voting For The Skunk At The Garden Party

Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "Serving in office, Chuck Gray was often the skunk at the status quo garden party. He had repeated run-ins with Gov Gordon, and two episodes when Gordon reportedly suggested they go outside and settle their differences."

Dave SimpsonMay 25, 2026

Sniffin headshot 7 2 25

Bill Sniffin: Wyoming’s False Spring — 90 Degree Temps & Wet Snow In Same Week.

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, "Wyoming’s remarkable ability to dish out Jekyll-and-Hyde weather was on full display. In Lander, we hit the 90s on May 13 and then got blasted with wet snow on May 17."

Bill SniffinMay 23, 2026

Wyoming Life

View all

Outdoors

View all

Crime & Courts

View all