Daily Darwin

[{"type":"text","text":"Don’t let the smoke fool you, keep revving that engine….."}]

Darwin 2 2 27 25

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

<title>Daily Darwin: Thursday, February 27, 2025 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Don’t let the smoke fool you, keep revving that engine…..

Daily Darwin: Thursday, February 27, 2025

 Don’t let the smoke fool you, keep revving that engine…..

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Dale Killingbeck

Dale Killingbeck

Wyoming Life

Around Wyoming

The nation’s 250th birthday celebrations around Wyoming likely won’t hold a candle to what happenewd on the dusty streets of 1899 Casper leading up to the Fourth of July 127 years ago.

That’s because a similar blowout today would lead to arrests, fines and possibly hospital stays.

Just before the turn of the past century city businessmen, a former sheriff, and other enthusiastic male residents spent a few hours on June 29 chasing and shooting each other with Roman candles — 3,000 of the fiery devices, according to a local newspaper account.

“Last Thursday night from 9:30 to 12:30 o’clock the streets of Casper were ablaze with fireworks,” The Natrona County Tribune reported on July 6, 1899. “Some of our citizens had made up their minds to give others a touch of patriotism before the Glorious Fourth came around.”

That “touch” involved grown men shooting each other with the fireworks and transforming themselves back to their “glorious” youth when rules, regulations and consequences to unsafe behavior were just empty words spoken by adults who held no fascination with the noise, light, fire and heat of the pyrotechnic device.

So, days before the nation’s 123rd birthday, store owner Hugh L. Patton, 38, fired a 30-ball Roman candle across the street at John S. VanDoren. Patton was a former Casper town marshal and Natrona County Sheriff who had resigned in 1897 to join the Teddy Roosevelt Rough Riders during the Spanish American War, where he had served as a lieutenant. 

VanDoren, an agent for a stage line to Lander and ice cream shop owner, returned fire. But instead of hitting Patton he sent his firework sputtering into the confectionary shop run by Harry G. Duhling, 33.

Just that day, the June 29 edition of the Natrona County Tribune noted on page five that Duhling in his confectionary shop “had a big supply of firecrackers and fireworks on hand.”

“Better place your order with him now for your Fourth of July supply,” the editor reported.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Pre-Fourth 'Celebration'"}]

But the Roman candles among that supply of fireworks didn’t garner a sale because the great pre-Fourth of July fireworks war was on.

The June 29 edition also carried a big ad touting the Fourth’s activities under the management of the Casper Fire Department, which included a $300 display of fireworks at the end of the day.

Where the fire department was on June 29 as more men joined the firework fracas is not clear.

The newspaper editor who obviously had an interest in the fight described Duhling just after 9:30 p.m. June 29 as going into his store stash of Roman candles and firing back at VanDoren. But the wily VanDoren had recruited reinforcements and built a fort out of egg cases as a defensive tactic.

“He (VanDoren) sent three fire balls across the street, taking in the businesses from Fred Roedde’s restaurant to the Grand Central Hotel,” the Natrona Tribune reported. “By this time at least 20 men were on each side of the street armed with 30-ball Roman candles.”

The Tribune editor described the men from both sides as running into the middle of the street and shooting each other with a Roman candle when they were three or four feet apart until their ammunition “was exhausted.”

After carrying on for some time, the warriors turned on the growing number of spectators who had been drawn to the battle.

“A volley was sent into a party who were on the porch of the Grand Central hotel,” the newspaper reported. “There were a number of ladies in the crowd, all of whom lost no time getting inside.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Burning Bystanders"}]

After chasing the hotel guests inside, the group went after some men watching from an alley behind the Cunningham store, chasing them down the alley and sending a shot that burned Robert F. Potter, a bookkeeper for C. H. King, the grandfather of future president Gerald Ford, in the ear and shooting “Uncle”Jeremiah Dain in the back, burning him “to the skin.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Dain, 68, owned a paint shop in Casper."}]

The newspaper editor mentioned “quite a number of the participants were burned” and then named some names, including John Shaffer with a burned finger, Charles Nichols with a burned front vest, Lee Culver with a burn on the front of his coat, VanDoren with a forehead burn and J. B. Bradley who was burned on the face.

“Other crowds were shot into until everybody was chased home or into the back alleys and then the fight commenced again, which was kept up until 12:30 a.m. when every Roman candle in town had been shot off. In all there were no less than 3,000 shots fired,” the Tribune editor wrote.

At Wyoming Banner Medical Center, Dr. Ben Kautza, medical director for the surgical trauma department, listened to a description of the battle and said it “would be shocking” if someone didn’t die as a result due to the burn and wound care available in the West in 1899.

“We barely had antibiotics, so, wound care back then was cleaning and frontier salves, almost native-type medicine,” he said. “It would be shocking if people didn’t have really bad kinds of complications … as far was wound issues, wound infections, skin deformities.”

Kautza said Roman candles pose a threat as a projectile to the eyes and face in addition to igniting clothing and creating third-degree burns. Other issues involve a faulty candle exploding in the person’s hand and “kind of taking your hand or arms with it.”

As a surgeon in Pittsburgh a few years ago, the Fourth of July, Memorial Dayand other holidays meant people would pull out fireworks, misuse them or have faulty ones that brought them to the hospital with “devastating hand injuries” related to an explosion in a person’s hand.

During the past two Fourth of Julys in Casper, Kautza remains thankful he has not seen a “Roman candle fight” but he’s seen a few hand injuries from firework explosions.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"If It Happened Now"}]

At the Casper Police Department, spokesperson Rebekah Ladd said if the Roman candle war happened in 2026 it would have resulted in a police response and investigation that included canvassing the area to get the wounded to care.

Any “hazardous material” would also have been removed, she said.

Officers would also interview those involved and review available evidence to determine each person’s actions and intent,” Ladd said. “The investigation would included assessing the nature and extent of any injuries, which could help determine whether potential assault charges would be classified as misdemeanors or felonies.”

Ladd said additional charges such as disturbing the peace would also likely be considered, with the ultimate charging decisions depending on the outcome of the investigation.

“Regardless, the Casper Police Department strongly discourages this type of behavior, even still, in 2026,” she said.

Patton, who instigated the whole Roman candle war, went on to become a Wyoming state representative in 1909 and was appointed U.S. marshal for Wyoming by President Taft in 1912. He was re-elected Natrona County sheriff, serving from 1915-17.

VanDoren, also an instigator, went on to become the Casper city treasurer for several years.

Potter, one of the burn victims, moved to Douglas in 1900 and in 1905 successfully established the Douglas Enterprise newspaper.

Contact Dale Killingbeck at dale@cowboystatedaily.com

Roman candle fight Historic casper roman candle inset 7 3 26

<title>Wyoming History: Casper’s Huge 1899 4th Of July Fight With 3,000 Roman Candles | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The huge blowouts planned for America's 250th birthday likely won’t be as wild as the three-hour firefight with 3,000 Roman candles that broke out in Casper in 1899. A similar celebration today would likely lead to arrests, fines and hospital stays.

Wyoming History: Casper’s Huge 1899 4th Of July Fight With 3,000 Roman Candles

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

Andrew Rossi

Entertainment

The 250th birthday of the United States is being celebrated in communities across Wyoming, which means plenty of pyrotechnics in many — but not all — cities and towns.

Fireworks displays are planned in many of Wyoming’s largest communities on July 4, although many annual displays have already been canceled because of dry conditions.

Many shows in eastern Wyoming have been called off because of extreme fire danger, although their other Independence Day events are going forward. Personal fireworks have been banned in several communities or are only permitted during certain times. It’s best to check your local regulations to see if they’re allowed in your town.

Here’s a list of the biggest fireworks displays in Wyoming, along with the times and locations for the best celebrations and viewing locations. Unless otherwise noted, all the shows will be held on the evening of July 4.

If we’ve missed a Wyoming show, please email us at 

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: American Legion Ball Field"}]

What Else: After a full day of vendors and activities at Marge Grover Park, the annual parade starts heading down Highway 89 at 7 p.m.

Lincoln County is staging a scavenger hunt where participants can win a commemorative Lincoln County America 250 Challenge Coin, along with other commemorative coins from Alpine and other communities.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Time: After Dark"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Marbleton Hill"}]

What Else: The day starts with a pancake breakfast and Chuckwagon Chug in the Big Piney Rec parking lot at 7 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. parade, and a post-parade barbecue at the Sublette County Fairgrounds. Residents can enjoy a cornhole tournament and street dance at the EnCana Picnic Shelter from 1-6 p.m.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Time:  Around 10 p.m."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Ford Wyoming Center"}]

What Else: The gates at the Ford Wyoming Center will open at 6 p.m. Families are encouraged to bring picnics and camp chairs, but the live music, vendors, and on-site activities will not be present this year.

Due to drought conditions, consumer fireworks are prohibited in the Casper area and adjacent public lands.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Time: About 9:40 p.m."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Over the Capitol"}]

What Else: Cheyenne’s parade starts at 9 a.m., followed by Cheyenne’s America’s 250th on the steps of the Wyoming Capitol at 1 p.m. The fireworks finale will be accompanied by a live performance of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, starting at 8:30 p.m.

The fireworks will be launched from Frontier Park, which won’t be open for public viewing. Lions Park will only be open to foot traffic, and Carey Avenue will be closed to vehicles starting at 3 p.m.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Time: Dusk (about 10 p.m.)"}]

Location: Across the Shoshone River, north of the Cody Nite Rodeo grounds.

What Else: The annual Cody Stampede Rodeo parade will begin at 9:30 a.m., along with the Wild West Arts Fest in City Park, and 2 p.m. matinee performances of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Spectacular at the historic Cody Theatre.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West will be open with the exhibits “Arms of the American Revolution” and “Buffalo Nation.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Devils Tower"}]

The Devils Tower KOA campground will not host a fireworks show in 2026 due to extreme fire danger. Personal fireworks are “expressly prohibited.”

What Else: The Devils Tower KOA is hosting a cornhole tournament and its annual mullet contest.

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

The Douglas Volunteer Fire Department canceled the annual fireworks due to ongoing drought conditions and wildlife concerns.

What Else: The Freedom Fest Patriotic Kiddie Parade begins at 10:45 a.m. on Center Street and goes through Washington Park, where the annual First Responders Freedom Fest & 5K will be held. The City of Douglas 250th Street Dance begins at 7 p.m. on Walnut Street.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Dubois Town Park."}]

What Else: Events include an 8 a.m. pancake breakfast in Town Park, a “Touch a Tank” event hosted by the National Museum of Military Vehicles, a coin dig, duck races, and other events throughout town.

The Fourth of July parade starts at 2 p.m. at Town Park. Rodeo Time at the Clarence Allision Memorial Arena starts at 5 p.m., followed by a street dance at 7 p.m.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Time: 9:30 p.m."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: E Hill"}]

What Else: Evanston’s annual Fresh Air, Freedom, and Fun Festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bear Meadows Greenway. Events include a Fun Run and Walk and the City Council Watermelon Bust at 1 p.m.

Fireworks are permitted in Evanston from 5 p.m. to midnight, as well as in Lyman. No fireworks are allowed in Mountain View, and U.S. Forest Service or BLM lands. There are no restrictions on private land.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Fort Laramie"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Time: Dusk, roughly 9 p.m."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Fort Laramie South Park"}]

What Else: The 250th Independence Day Celebration at Fort Laramie National Historic Site begins with a flag raising and cannon firing at 9:30 a.m. There will be a 38-gun salute at noon, followed by a historic baseball game at 1 p.m., a Pony Express demonstration at 2, and a retreat parade at 5:15.

The Fort Laramie Fire Department’s annual barbeque begins at 5 p.m. at Fort Laramie South Park.

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

The annual fireworks displays at the Cam-Plex have been canceled due to extreme fire danger.

What Else: After Gillette’s 10 a.m. parade on 2nd Street, the hot dog feed, mud volleyball, and strongman/woman competition begins at noon at Bicentennial Park.

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

Location: The DEQ parking lot at the Wyoming Life Resource Center & Mount Hope Cemetery

What Else: The Pioneer Day Parade begins at 10 a.m., followed by the Rotary July 4 BBQ at City Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 132nd Fremont Toyota Pioneer Days Rodeo starts at 7 p.m.

The city of Lander allows open containers from 9 a.m. to midnight, and fireworks are permitted from 10 a.m. to midnight with some exclusions. Fremont County has banned fireworks outside municipal limits.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Time: About 10 p.m."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Harney and 22nd Street"}]

What Else: Laramie’s 35th annual “Freedom Has a Birthday” celebration will be held at Washington Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event includes live music, food and retail vendors, and “old-fashioned games” for the kids.

The Fire in the Sky fireworks show, sponsored by the city of Laramie and WyoTech, will consist of over 300 aerial shells. Wolf Creek Broadcasting will feature a radio show synchronized to the fireworks display on their station 106.1 FM.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Time: Sunset (about 10 p.m.)"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain"}]

What Else: After a pancake breakfast on Town Square at 8 a.m., the Fourth of July Parade begins at 10 a.m. Concerts on the Commons start at 6 p.m.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village will have fireworks displays. Snow King Mountain’s display starts at sunset.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Moorcroft\/Pine Haven"}]

The annual fireworks display at Keyhole State Park has been canceled due to extreme fire danger.

What Else: Pine Haven’s Independence Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. A cornhole tournament, water games, and a pie-baking contest, followed by a pie-eating contest, will be held at Waters Park starting at noon.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Dudley Key Ballfields"}]

What Else: Pinedale’s 4th of July community picnic will be held at American Legion Park from noon to 2 p.m.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Ranchester\/Sheridan"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Tongue River Middle School."}]

What Else: Ranchester’s July 4th Celebration will be held at Town Hall Park and Event Hall. Events include an 8 a.m. pancake breakfast, the annual Wyo Wife Carry at 3 p.m.

Sheridan’s America’s 250th Community Picnic starts at 10 a.m. Kendrick Park, featuring volleyball and cornhole tournaments, and old-fashioned yard games will be at the Trail End State Historic Site.

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

[{"type":"text","text":"Location: Radio Control Area near the Rawlins Family Recreation Center."}]

Wyoming fireworks 7 3 20

<title>Happy 250th, America: Where To Watch Fireworks Across Wyoming | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Dozens of Wyoming communities will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with bombastic fireworks displays, while others have been canceled because of extreme fire danger. Here's where Wyomingites can — and can't — see fireworks this Independence Day.

Happy 250th, America: Where To Watch Fireworks Across Wyoming

Mac Watson

Daily Video News

It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming for Friday, July 3rd.  I’m Mac Watson

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

The City of Cheyenne announced Thursday it's suspending taking wastewater associated with data center systems after a contractor for Meta contaminated the city’s wastewater system. Cowboy State Daily’s Kate Meadows reports that the process took months of cleanup. 

“The city announced on Thursday that it is suspending taking wastewater associated with data center systems after this bacterium was found back in February. Once the bacterium was found, the company, or the contractor, which is Goat Systems LLC, was effectively banned from using the city's sewage system. It took at least a week to 10 days for the state lab to determine what the actual bacterium was. It was something that the city of Cheyenne had never seen before, and there was speculation that it could be linked back to a data center, and that was confirmed with the announcement Thursday that it is connected to the Meta project called Project Cosmos.”

The announcement was made by the Board of Public Utilities on Thursday in conjunction with naming the Meta company as the source of the initial contamination.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"},{"type":"italic"}],"text":"–"}]

Recreationists celebrated Wednesday evening as the 18,800-acre Belvoir Ranch west of Cheyenne was opened to the public. Cowboy State Daily’s Renee Jean reports that the new recreation area provides 13 miles of trails, giving hikers and cyclists a long-promised playground in the city’s backyard.

“This was the late Councilman Scott Roy Bulls Pet Project. Here, he was its champion for 20-plus years, the 23 years it took for this project to become a reality. He was always the one saying, "We have to open this to the public. It's an amazing recreational opportunity, you know, it belongs to the public. We have to open this to the public, and so, you know, after 23 years, finally it's come to fruition.”

The new trailhead and roughly 13 miles of singletrack and shared-use paths give hikers and cyclists a long-promised playground in the city’s backyard, turning what was once mainly an insurance policy for future water and landfill needs into a full-fledged outdoor destination.

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

The Wyoming Business Council's biggest critic in the Legislature, Rep. Ken Pendergraft, was mostly relieved at a Wednesday audit report showing the Wyoming Business Council isn't hiding any bank accounts. But Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports he says he still has questions.

“That was scuttlebutt during the appropriations committees meeting, that lawmakers were wondering things like, do we even know what all the business council has going on, and so as part of the budget the business council was required to submit to a department of audit probe, and the department concluded, ‘Yeah, there's not these outside accounts, pretty much everything's on the up and up, some negligible and documenting errors.’”

Rep. Ken Pendergraft, from Sheridan, made headlines in 2025 when he announced a goal to eliminate the WBC. That’s a government-funded entity that gives grants and loans to communities and businesses.

Scattered human bones found in Wyoming's rugged Wind River Mountains nearly a year ago have been identified as a Scottish man. Cowboy State Daily’s Kolby Fedore reports that an investigator from Wyoming Game and Fish found the remains in a remote section of the Wind River Mountains near the Sweetwater Gap Guard Station.

“The remains of John Gillies were found near the Sweet Water Muddy Gap Station, and over the course of a 10 month investigation, detectives were able to piece together who he was based on those remains within a 20 mile radius. They were able to find about 85% of the skeleton and some personal belongings that then helped them link him to Gillies and his family in Scotland, and they were able to confirm on June 30 that he was in fact the person who had been found.”

Deputies found disarticulated skeletal remains, a tent, and personal belongings. Authorities have not announced the cause or manner of death.

I’ll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

The Wyoming Board of Equalization is suing Gov. Mark Gordon back after he rejected its claims that the state's property tax caps are unconstitutional. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that the board is asking Laramie County District Court Judge Nathaniel Hibben to declare that a state law capping residential property tax increases as unconstitutional, and to block its enforcement.  

“Governor Gordon had sued the Board of Equalization, trying to get the court to make it honor a 4% cap on property tax increases from year to year, and a judge last month said, ‘Yeah, for now we're going to go ahead and make the board do that while we consider whether this law is constitutional.’ The board fired back Monday with its own counter suit, urging the judge to declare the cap unconstitutional and to free the board from having to enforce it.”

This cap violates the Wyoming Constitution’s requirement that property taxes be assessed at their full value and uniformly within property classes, the board alleges in its filing, through Davis and Cannon attorneys Amanda Esch and Cat Young. 

Wyoming ranchers say a $99 million John Deere right-to-repair settlement doesn't go far enough. Cowboy State Daily’s Kate Meadows reports they'll get small payouts while John Deere keeps control over repair software and one rancher calls that an unfair settlement.” 

“Farmers and ranchers are objecting to a $99 million settlement by John Deere in a right to repair lawsuit. farmers and ranchers say the settlement doesn't even come close to compensating them for losses they endured because of John Deere's proprietary software and diagnostic system. The window to formally object to the settlement opens July 14 and runs through September 14. During that time, any farmer or rancher who is part of this class action lawsuit can formally object to the settlement and seek fairer compensation. After September, then there will be a final hearing on the settlement in October in Rockville, Illinois.”

The class-action lawsuit claimed the tractor giant was monopolizing the repair market. Right-to-repair advocates say farmers should be able to fix tractors themselves or go to an independent repair shop.

An immigration advocacy firm is suing the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office claiming the agency is withholding important evidence in a deportation case. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that the Cheyenne Police Department confirmed Wednesday that the sheriff's office had issued an inaccurate report.

“Kevin Lewis of Cheyenne is working for an immigration firm, and he alleges that the sheriff's office had a flawed report, had to reissue the report, and that the there were there was all sorts of back and forth about the body cam or the camera footage, the sheriff in turn told me on on Thursday, the deputy made some errors and we had him reissue the report, and there's also a specific set of lies, laws about how we can release camera footage.”

Colorado-based immigration firm Lichter and Associates, and its Cheyenne-based investigator Kevin Lewis, filed the lawsuit complaint Tuesday in the Laramie County District Court. 

Clyde "The Buffalo" arrived in Cody for the Cody Stampede Rodeo and Parades, and his first stop Thursday was for a drink. Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi reports the tame buffalo went into Buffalo Bill's Bar in the historic Irma Hotel. 

“He's been invited to lead off the Cody Stampede parades on July 3rd and 4th, and when he first got the Cody, his first stop was to the Buffalo Historic Buffalo Bill Irma Hotel, where he might be the first Buffalo ever invited inside and served inside. He's made a reputation for just being a very tame, affable bison, and he's going to be the biggest celebrity in town for Cody's Independence Day celebrations.”

Clyde’s owner, Clint Mortenson, tells Cowboy State Daily, “He drinks what I drink. He likes bourbon and margaritas.” No word on whether Clyde or his owner was carded by the servers.

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

And that’s today’s news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on 

 - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our 

 channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app.  Thanks for watching - I’m Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

Thumbnail 7 3 26

<title>Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: July 3, 2026 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Friday's headlines include:

Wind
* Lightning Kills Makeup Mogul's Yak
* Wind River Bones Identified As Scottish Man
* Cheyenne Says No To Data Center Wastewater

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: July 3, 2026

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.

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?"

Daily Darwin: Thursday, February 27, 2025

In case you missed it

More in Daily Darwin

Daily Darwin: Friday, July 3, 2026

Daily Darwin: Thursday, July 2, 2026

Daily Darwin: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Daily Darwin: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Most read