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Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>Governor Mark Gordon's State Of The Union | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Gov. Mark Gordon is addressing the Wyoming Legislature via Wyoming PBS

Governor Mark Gordon's State Of The Union

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily political columnist, Rod Miller.

Rod Miller

Opinion

CSD Columnists

When a New Hampshire federal district court recently ruled that the Trump Department of Justice had no legal right to confidential voter information from the state, it was the 11th time that the DOJ was shut down and told to keep their grubby paws off the states’ voter info. 

For those of you keeping track, it’s 11-0 on the scoreboard, and the states are pitching a no-hitter.

That begs the question, why did the Wyoming Secretary of State roll over and so readily provide that information to the feds based on a simple request, and not a formal subpoena? 

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray could have told the feds to shove their request where the sun don’t shine and, based upon those 11 aforementioned judicial decisions, he would have been on firm legal ground with the folks in black robes.

So, cynical minds might conclude that Gray had a political reason, rather than a legal reason, for sucking up to Trump’s DOJ. 

A conspiracy theorist might deduce that Gray offered our confidential voter information to the feds, because he wanted to curry favor with Trump and hoped for an endorsement for Gray’s congressional campaign.

And anyone who has heard Gray thump his shoe on the table, and sermonize about the dangers of federal overreach has to be scratching their head.

An email from Gray to the Washington Post adds credence to that conjecture, and supports those who think that he was tickled pink to make Wyoming the first state to kow-tow to the feds. 

In response to an inquiry from a reporter, Gray on January 28, 2026, said, “I am proud to have led other states in the nation in working with the DOJ…” and “Wyoming was the first state...to defend election integrity.”

Inquiring minds want to know why he sided with the feds over Wyoming, but Gray ain’t talking. Repeated requests under the Wyoming Public Records Act for Gray to reveal the reasoning behind his actions have been met with the same response. Gray says he was acting in close consultation with Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz, and any advice he received is protected by attorney/client privilege.

If Wyoming’s attorney general gave legal advice to the Secretary of State that hasn’t held up in 11 other states (and counting), then Wyoming citizens should have questions about that, too. 

Wyoming Senator Cale Case asked Secretary Gray to explain himself in a Feb. 3, 2026 email. Gray shared that he had met with Kautz, gone over the DOJ request, and decided how Wyoming would knuckle under.  

But, today when we ask Gray why he ran up the white flag, he just clams up.  

Kind of leaves you wondering whether Chuck and his brain trust ever considered any of the reasons that have led 11 courts to say the DOJ never had the right to ask for ask any state for their confidential voter information.  

The veil of secrecy between Wyoming government and it’s citizens is being ferociously defended at the expense of government transparency.

Wyoming’s Supreme Court was even given an opportunity to pierce that veil in favor of the citizenry, but squirmed their way off the horns of that dilemma on a legal technicality. So, nobody but Gray and Kautz know the legal justification for Gray’s release of the personal information of Wyoming voters to the DOJ, in clear violation of state law.

But, there’s an element of humor in this whole fiasco. The voter rolls that Gray sent to DOJ in August of last year, were obsolete as soon as they were sent. 

Information on Wyoming voters is a moving target, and constantly in flux. State agencies and county clerks are constantly updating voter rolls – removing people who have died or who have moved away, adding new residents and newly registered voters. The Secretary of State doesn’t have that info until those agencies send it to him, and what he sent to the feds is currently incomplete and out-of-date.

Once DOJ realizes that, they’ll likely send Gray another polite request for our updated confidential personal information. It will be interesting to see how he responds.

Or, in their zeal for “election integrity”, the DOJ might merely suggest to Gray, in another friendly letter, that perhaps the federal government should take over the responsibility of conducting elections in Wyoming, since all the Wyoming Secretary of State can produce is out-dated information. 

[{"type":"text","text":"That would really put Li’l Chucky in a pickle and test his loyalties!"}]

Author's note: "Pickle" is a baseball term denoting a player caught in a rundown on the base paths, and tagged out because he didn't stay on base.

Rod Miller can be reached at: RodsMillerWyo@yahoo.com

Rod miller headshot scaled

<title>Rod Miller: Chuck Gray’s Pickle Over Wyoming Voter Info | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Why did Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray roll over and so readily provide that information to the feds based on a simple request, and not a formal subpoena?"

Rod Miller: Chuck Gray’s Pickle Over Wyoming Voter Info

Coy Knobel

Don Day Weather

Chance of afternoon rain in parts of Wyoming on Friday, otherwise mostly sunny to sunny skies. Partly cloudy to mostly clear skies overnight. Highs mainly in the 70s and 80s. Lows in the 40s and 50s.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":" "}]

Mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 55 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

Slight chance of rain after 1 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 84 and gradually becoming mostly clear overnight with a slight chance of rain before 8 p.m. and a low near 55.

 Sunny today with a high near 88 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 57.

 Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 77 and mostly clear overnight with a low near 42.

  Mostly sunny today with a high near 80 and wind gusts as high as 22 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 48 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

Slight chance of rain after 4 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 75 and wind gusts as high as 28 mph. Breezy, gradually becoming mostly clear overnight with a slight chance of rain before 8 p.m., a low near 50 and wind gusts as high as 28 mph.

Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 74 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before 7 p.m. and a low near 43.

 Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 78 and gradually becoming mostly clear overnight with a low near 44.

  Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 76 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before 7 p.m. and a low near 40.

 Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 74 and wind gusts as high as 26 mph. Breezy, gradually becoming mostly clear overnight with a slight chance of rain before 8 p.m., a low near 44 and wind gusts as high as 26 mph.

  Slight chance of rain after 1 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 79 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 44.

Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park

:  Sunny today with a high near 71 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 38 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

Slight chance of rain after 2 p.m., otherwise sunny today with a high near 89 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 55.

:  Slight chance of rain after 1 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 84 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 54 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

  Sunny today with a high near 88 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 53.

  Slight chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 82 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before 11 p.m. and a low near 56.

  Slight chance of rain after 4 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 86 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before midnight and a low near 52.

:  Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain before midnight and a low near 54.

Chance of rain after noon, becoming mostly cloudy today with a high near 86 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before midnight, a low near 55 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

  Widespread haze before noon, chance of rain after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 85 and wind gusts as high as 18 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain before midnight, a low near 57 and wind gusts as high as 18 mph.

:  Widespread haze before 9 a.m., rain likely mainly after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 79 and wind gusts as high as 17 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain before midnight, a low near 54 and wind gusts as high as 17 mph.

  Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny and hot today with a high near 92 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before 9 p.m. and a low near 58.

  Chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 86 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before 9 p.m. and a low near 53.

  Widespread haze before 9 a.m., slight chance of rain after noon, increasing clouds today with a high near 86 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before midnight, a low near 54 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

  Slight chance of rain after noon, increasing clouds today with a high near 86 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 55.

  Partly sunny today with a high near 79 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 49.

  Mostly sunny today with a high near 83 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 47.

  Mostly sunny today with a high near 80 and gradually becoming mostly clear overnight with a low near 51.

  Increasing clouds today with a high near 79 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 47.

  Mostly sunny today with a high near 80 and wind gusts as high as 25 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 48 and wind gusts as high as 25 mph.

Daycap small 7 3 26

<title>Don Day's Wyoming Weather Forecast: Friday, July 3, 2026 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Don Day's Wyoming Weather Forecast: Friday, July 3, 2026

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's Feature Reporter, Andrew Rossi.

Andrew Rossi

Around Wyoming

Clyde “The Buffalo” will be the biggest celebrity in Cody for America’s 250th.

 was invited to participate in the Cody Stampede Rodeo and Parades on July 3 and 4.

On Thursday, the famous bison arrived. His first stop was the historic Irma Hotel. 

It might be the first time a buffalo was invited inside Buffalo Bill’s hotel. He was even served a drink at the bar.

“He likes bourbon and margaritas,” Clyde’s owner, Clint Mortenson, told Cowboy State Daily. “He drinks what I drink.”

Clyde will be first in line for the parades Friday and Saturday. He may or may not have a rider on his humped back.

[{"type":"text","text":"“We haven’t decided yet,” Mortenson said."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Big Celebrity Bison"}]

Mortenson, who owns Mortenson Silver and Saddles in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has raised Clyde since he was two weeks old. He turned his “pet” into a celebrity through the connections he made after several years in the film industry.

“I actually lived in Lusk when I went to saddle-making school, and supplied horses, saddles, and other things for movies in New Mexico,” he said. “That's how Clyde became popular."

Clyde's "acting" credentials include appearances in Paramount's "Yellowstone," the Amazon Prime science-fiction series "Outer Range," and Apple TV’s "Pluribus.”

Clyde has also appeared in commercials for Banana Republic, Bass Pro Shops and YETI.

“When the Oklahoma City Thunder made the NBA Finals last May, Clyde took on the role of "Rumble the Bison" to support the team,” Mortenson said. “He had a place of honor outside the Paycom Center in downtown Oklahoma City.”

Between acting and endorsement gigs, Clyde is a highly sought-after model for all kinds of photo shoots. In November 2025, Mortenson transported Clyde to Jackson for a western-themed wedding shoot.

Mortenson has fully embraced his role as Clyde’s chauffeur, booking agent, and personal assistant. The bison is fully halter-trained, so he’s comfortable going wherever Mortenson leads him.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Buffalo At The Bar"}]

When Mortenson and Clyde reached Cody on Thursday, they were invited inside the Irma Hotel by owner Mike Darby. Clyde eagerly accepted Darby's invitation.

Far from being a bull in a china shop, Clyde doesn’t mind small spaces. He's become a bit of a bar fly.

“We've done a lot of photo shoots in saloons," Mortenson said. "I've taken him into little bars in Aspen, Vail, Telluride, Durango, and Silverton, Colorado. I even took him into the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth, Texas."

Clyde entered the Irma through the back door and easily navigated the winding, narrow corridors leading to the dining room. He even posed on the front porch.

“He did great,” Mortenson said. “He was confident as we twisted and turned through the hallways to reach the bar. It was super.”

Clyde also made an appearance in front of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. He was not invited inside.

At both places, Clyde got photo-ops with bronze sculptures of Buffalo Bill. Mortenson brought something extra special to add to the ambiance of those shots.  

“The saddle is a one-of-a-kind replica of a Buffalo Bill saddle I made in 1993,” he said. “It's based on one he used in the Wild West Show in Paris, France.”

The actual saddle is on display in the Buffalo Bill Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Mortenson got to take his replica inside to show how closely it resembles the original. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Biggest Celebrity"}]

Clyde will be making the most of his trip to Cody. In addition to leading off the Cody Stampede Parades, he’ll be making a grand entrance during the Cody Stampede Rodeo.

[{"type":"text","text":"“He’ll be here through July 4,” Mortenson said."}]

Clyde’s other big accolade is that he’s saddle-trained. Mortenson’s son, Wyatt, an actor and stunt performer, broke into show business as “The Buffalo Rider" by sharing photos and videos of himself riding Clyde.

Clyde will be saddled up for the parades and rodeos but might go riderless for the occasion.

The secret to Clyde’s success is his temperament and his self-identity. He might be a big bull bison, but he doesn’t seem to know that, and Mortenson hasn’t tried to persuade his best client otherwise.

"I don't think he knows he's a buffalo," he said. "He's pretty trustworthy with me, so he let me lead him all over, which has made him popular with directors and photographers. But he's always been gentle. He's just like a person."

Clyde the bison wes cody 14 7 2 26

<title>Bison Drinks Bourbon In Buffalo Bill’s Bar In Cody, Wyoming | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Clyde "The Buffalo" arrived in Cody for the Cody Stampede Rodeo and Parades, and his first stop Thursday was for a drink at Buffalo Bill's Bar in the legendary Wild West showman's historic Irma Hotel. "He likes bourbon and margaritas," said Clyde's owner.

Bison Drinks Bourbon In Buffalo Bill’s Bar In Cody, Wyoming

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Crime & Courts

Courts

A Florida woman who owned a behavioral health clinic in Cheyenne has been ordered to pay back more than $870,000 to Wyoming Medicaid for bilking the federal agency with fraudulent claims.

Federal prosecutors say her daughter helped carry out the scheme by assisting with billing and falsifying service documentation while working for the clinic.

Tera Marie Campbell, 47, of Maitland, Florida, owned The Olive Branch LLC, a behavioral health clinic that provided autism services in Cheyenne and Minot, North Dakota, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming said Thursday in a statement announcing the women’s sentences for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Campbell used the business to submit fraudulent Medicaid claims over several years, including claims for services provided by employees who lacked required certifications, claims that were upcoded to higher-paying services and bills for appointments that never occurred, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Investigators said some of those claims were submitted for dates when the clinic was closed and even while Campbell was out of the country on vacation.

Campbell's daughter, Tayler Ann Krauss, 27, of McDavid, Florida, worked as the clinic's medical biller between December 2020 and October 2022. She was instrumental in providing service documentation used to support fraudulent claims.

The investigation concluded the clinic relied extensively on untrained employees, falsified certification and supervision records, and knowingly billed Wyoming Medicaid for services that did not meet Medicaid requirements, according to prosecutors.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Joint Investigation"}]

The case was investigated by the Wyoming Attorney General's Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

U.S. Attorney Darin Smith said in a statement that Medicaid fraud "steals taxpayer dollars from programs that millions of Americans depend on and undermines care for vulnerable patients.

"I am committed to holding accountable those who exploit these programs for personal gain."

Smith said his office will continue working with federal and state partners to investigate and prosecute health care fraud, saying the effort is aimed at protecting public resources and preserving confidence in the healthcare system.

Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz added in the statement that the prosecution and conviction of Campbell and Krauss demonstrates the value of cooperation between state and federal law enforcement agencies and praised the work of his office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Smith nor Kautz responded to Cowboy State Daily's request for an interview beyond the prepared statements released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sentence Handed Down"}]

U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin sentenced Krauss on Monday and Campbell on Tuesday in federal court in Cheyenne.

Campbell and Krauss were indicted May 21, 2025, and both pleaded guilty April 9 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Campbell was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Krauss was sentenced to two years of home confinement.

The judge ordered the women to jointly pay $735,717.63 in restitution to Wyoming Medicaid. Campbell was also ordered to repay $135,890.91 to the military's Tricare health care program.

The court ruled Krauss is jointly responsible for up to $71,509.44 of that amount.

Campbell was separately sentenced in January in a related North Dakota Medicaid fraud case.

In that case, she received a three-year suspended sentence, three years of supervised release and was ordered to repay an additional $225,000 to North Dakota's Medicaid program.

Federal courthouse cheyenne 9 28 23

<title>Florida Woman, Daughter Ordered To Pay Back $870K They Stole From Wyoming Medicaid | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Florida woman who ran a Cheyenne behavioral health clinic, and her daughter, have been ordered to pay back more than $870,000 they stole from Wyoming Medicaid. They funneled fraudulent claims through the clinic for years, say federal prosecutors.

Florida Woman, Daughter Ordered To Pay Back $870K They Stole From Wyoming Medicaid

Daily Darwin

[{"type":"text","text":"This trip through the forest is brought to you by Coors…."}]

Darwin no play 7 3 26

<title>Daily Darwin: Friday, July 3, 2026 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

This trip through the forest is brought to you by Coors….

Daily Darwin: Friday, July 3, 2026

A Cheyenne father has been charged with child endangerment after Laramie County Sheriff’s Office deputies say he repeatedly told them his infant son was asleep inside his house when instead the baby was strapped inside a hot Cadillac Escalade parked outside the home.

Jhadon Robert Michael Curry, born in 1998, made his first court appearance on Tuesday and was set for a July 31 arraignment, according to charging documents made available by the Laramie County Circuit Court on Thursday.

The investigation began when deputies were dispatched around 8:34 p.m. June 16 to a home in south Cheyenne after receiving a report of an allegedly impaired man who was about to drive away with a child in the vehicle, according to court documents.

When they arrived, Curry repeatedly insisted the baby was inside the house and not in the Escalade, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in his case. 

After looking for he infant for just over 30 minutes, deputies eventually found the baby crying inside the locked SUV.

The child was sweating profusely, crying loudly and "very hot to the touch,” the affidavit says. American Medical Response was called to evaluate the infant.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Empty Crib"}]

Deputy Aaron Mondragon entered the home and asked Curry where his son was, the affidavit says. Curry allegedly answered that the baby was asleep in a back bedroom.

[{"type":"text","text":"Mondragon searched the room and found only an empty crib."}]

When the deputy told Curry the baby wasn't there, the man changed his answer, saying the infant was "on the bed," the affidavit states.

[{"type":"text","text":"The deputy searched again but still couldn't find the child."}]

While deputies continued searching the home, Curry called the child's mother on speaker phone and told her he had "just put the baby to sleep," according to investigators.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Crying From SUV"}]

After searching the house a second time, Mondragon walked outside to Curry's Escalade, where he found the infant strapped into a rear-facing car seat in the locked SUV.

[{"type":"text","text":"Another deputy reported hearing the baby crying from inside the vehicle."}]

Even after deputies located the child, investigators say Curry continued insisting the infant wasn’t in the hot vehicle and inside the house.

When asked where the baby was, Curry allegedly pointed toward the residence and yelled, "Yeah! He is in there! I just put him to sleep!"

[{"type":"text","text":"Moments later, deputies asked him again."}]

"He is in the house! What are you talking about?!" Curry allegedly replied, the affidavit says.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"'Man, He's In My Car?'"}]

Deputies instructed Curry to unlock the vehicle, but he said he didn't have the keys.

After retrieving them from inside the house, Curry unlocked the Escalade with the key fob.

By that point, Mondragon had already opened the SUV and was removing the infant from the car seat.

According to the affidavit, Curry looked at the deputy and asked with surprise, "Man, he's in my car?"

[{"type":"text","text":"He then quietly added, \"I didn't get back too long ago.\""}]

The deputy who wrote the affidavit described Curry's voice had lowered in tone, "as if ashamed."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Cover Story"}]

Investigators wrote that the infant was "sweating profusely, crying very loud and a lot," and was "very hot to the touch, like he had a fever."

According to the affidavit, Curry later whispered to the child's mother that he was bringing the baby to her workplace so she could breastfeed him.

The child's mother told investigators Curry had made up the explanation and asked her to repeat it to deputies, according to the affidavit.

Using a timeline compiled during the investigation, deputies concluded that the infant had been left inside the locked SUV for about 31 minutes with the windows rolled up.

Curry has been charged with one count of child endangerment, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both if convicted.

During his initial appearance Tuesday, Judge Antoinette Williams set Curry's bond at $7,500 cash only.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Danger"}]

Federal safety officials warn that children are especially vulnerable to heat inside parked vehicles because their bodies warm three to five times faster than adults.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise about 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes, and cracking the windows or parking in the shade does little to slow the increase.

Heatstroke begins when a child's core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees, and temperatures of 107 degrees or higher can be fatal.

Historical weather observations from the National Weather Service's Cheyenne airport station show it was about 75 degrees outside when deputies arrived that evening at Curry’s house.

The NHTSA reports there is no amount of time that is safe to leave a child unattended in a vehicle because dangerous temperatures can develop even when outdoor conditions seem relatively mild.

Jhadon Curry 7 2 26

<title>‘Very Hot To The Touch’: Cheyenne Father Accused Of Locking Baby In Hot SUV | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Cheyenne father has been charged with child endangerment after deputies say they found his infant "sweating profusely, crying very loud and a lot” inside a locked SUV. The baby also was "very hot to the touch," said investigators.

Governor Mark Gordon's State Of The Union

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