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In this photo looking north-northwest, Fontenelle can be see flowing into an extremely low Fontenelle Reservoir in Lincoln County.

Fontenelle Reservoir About Half-Full As Downstream States Demand More Water

Flaming Gorge Reservoir is being drawn down up to 1 million acre-feet to supply water to thirsty downstream states. That has some worried that Wyoming’s Fontenelle Reservoir, upstream from Flaming Gorge, is next.

Mark HeinzApril 28, 2026

Dozens of angry Cheyenne residents spoke out Monday against a proposed 1,200-acre annexation and possible data center near Roundtop Road in Laramie County.

Angry Cheyenne Residents Speak Out Against Annexation And Proposed Data Center

Dozens of angry Cheyenne residents spoke out Monday against a 1,200-acre annexation and possible data center before City Council tabled the decision. “To me it looks like a quick way to make a nice big buck,” said one woman about the landowner's motive.

Kate MeadowsApril 28, 2026

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Wyoming AG Says Gray Doesn't Have To Reveal Advice On Giving Voter Info To Feds

In a sharply-worded letter to Cheyenne attorney George Powers, the Wyoming Attorney General's office said Sec. of State Chuck Gray doesn't have to release the legal advice he may have received before handing sensitive voter data to the federal government.

Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

ic George of Sheridan started with a basic bolt-action rifle receiver, bearing a firearm serial number, to build this custom rifle.

Court Rules 2nd Amendment Covers Firearms Parts, Good News for Those Who Build Guns

A federal court ruled that firearms parts without serial numbers could be protected under the Second Amendment. That’s good news for Wyomingites who build or customize their own guns, which one enthusiast likened to “Barbie dolls for men.”

Mark HeinzApril 28, 2026

The driver of a Honda stopped on a rural Campbell County highway Sunday said the car was rented, and it smelled like marijuana when he got it. That’s probably because there was 75 pounds of pot in the trunk, along with more than 1,000 grams of liquid THC.

Driver Says Car Smelled Like Pot When He Got It, Then 75 Pounds Of It Found In Trunk

The driver of a Honda stopped on a rural Campbell County highway Sunday said the car was rented, and it smelled like marijuana when he got it. That’s probably because there was 75 pounds of pot in the trunk, along with more than 1,000 grams of liquid THC.

Greg JohnsonApril 28, 2026

Mostly dry conditions continue in Sublette County (pictured) and the rest of Wyoming.

Dry, Dry, Dry: Wyoming Gets Less Than Half of Anticipated Precipitation in April 

Wyoming had another month of below-average moisture in April, which worsened the abnormally dry to exceptional drought situations across the state. Meteorologist Don Day says he's more "gun-shy" about forecasts than at any other point in his career. 

Andrew RossiApril 28, 2026

A driver caught towing a boat on I-25 near Wheatland at 104 mph got a ticket, but didn’t go to jail. The Wyoming highway patrol says there’s not set threshold that triggers automatic jail for speeders, but towing a boat in triple digits could kill you.

Towing A Boat In Wyoming At 104 MPH Isn’t Guaranteed Jail, But It Could Kill You

A driver caught towing a boat on I-25 near Wheatland at 104 mph got a ticket, but didn’t go to jail. The Wyoming highway patrol says there’s no set threshold that triggers automatic jail for speeders, but towing a boat in triple digits could kill you.

Kolby FedoreApril 28, 2026

Melissa Fran Hutchinson

Rock Springs Hotel Manager Accused Of $200K Fraud By Making Up Guests Is Arrested

The former manager of a Rock Springs hotel accused of embezzling nearly $200,000 through fake guests and cash deals for long-term stays has been arrested. She was bound over to felony court Friday.

Greg JohnsonApril 28, 2026

Self-defense experts recommend people who carry firearms in Wyoming get training.

In Gun-Friendly Wyoming, When Is It OK To Shoot Somebody?

Wyoming law is about as friendly as it gets toward gun rights and self-defense, but even here, the rules for opening fire on somebody are complicated. The wrong decision can land a shooter in big legal trouble.

Mark HeinzApril 27, 2026

A frantic woman went from house to house pleading for help early Sunday morning, telling them her husband “has a gun." A neighbor said Monday that the man "sprayed" police cars with gunshots for around 20 minutes before being shot and hospitalized.

Neighbor Says Sheridan Shooter 'Sprayed' Cop Cars With Gunshots During Standoff

A woman went from house to house pleading for help early Sunday morning, telling neighbors her husband “has a gun." A neighbor said Monday that the man "sprayed" police cars with gunshots for around 20 minutes before being shot and hospitalized.

Clair McFarlandApril 27, 2026

Jake in studio small

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6-10 a.m.

Jake NicholsApril 28, 2026

A driver for Righteous Roues Logistics with a fully loaded delivery van. The compnay mostly delivers in Montan but also covers some areas in Wyoming.

Amazon’s Rural Push Brings Fast Deliveries — And Jobs — To Remote Wyoming

Amazon is spending $4 billion this year to expand its reach with same-day and next-day deliveries to some of America’s most remote places, including in Wyoming. For rural residents and small businesses, the fast deliveries are game-changing.

Renée JeanApril 27, 2026

Harriet Hageman has the endorsements of President Trump and Sens. Barrasso and Lummis in the 2026 Wyoming race for U.S. Senate. She won't be unopposed in the primary, however, facing rancher Sam Mead, right, and Jimmy Skovgard, left, both fifth-generation Wyomingites.

GOP Senate Challengers Emerge To Take On Harriet Hageman In Primary

Harriet Hageman has the endorsements of President Trump and Sens. Barrasso and Lummis in the 2026 Wyoming race for U.S. Senate. Even so, she won't be unopposed in the primary, facing rancher Sam Mead and Jimmy Skovgard, both multi-generation Wyomingites.

Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

John and Makayla Otto are bottle-feeding a belligerent baby bison named Georgie on their ranch near Plaza, North Dakota. “I’ve had my ass handed to me about four different times now,” John says — and millions of people love watching the little guy bully him.

Millions Love Watching North Dakota Rancher Get Bullied By Baby Bison

John and Makayla Otto are bottle-feeding a belligerent baby bison on their ranch near Plaza, North Dakota. “I’ve had my ass handed to me about four different times now,” John says — and millions of people love watching the little guy bully him.

Andrew RossiApril 27, 2026

Chris Shepherd

Homicide Charge For FedEx Driver Accused Of Plowing Into Men Fixing Truck On I-80

A FedEx driver will be in court Wednesday to face a charge of aggravated homicide, accused of slamming into a stalled truck on the shoulder of I-80. One of two men trying to fix the truck was killed, while another suffered catastrophic injuries.

Kolby FedoreApril 27, 2026

Now that the PRCA’s move to Cheyenne is official, local leaders are sketching big plans to turn the 416-acre Hitching Post subdivision into a Western "Field of Dreams" for rodeo. That could include hotels, a convention center and an indoor arena.

Hotels, Convention Center And Indoor Arena Could Follow PRCA To Cheyenne

Now that the PRCA’s move to Cheyenne is official, local leaders are sketching big plans to turn the 416-acre Hitching Post subdivision into a Western "Field of Dreams" for rodeo. That could include hotels, a convention center and an indoor arena.

Renée JeanApril 28, 2026

A private mausoleum sits on the 1,260-acre property that was once home to the Wyoming Angus Ranch. Its future is up in the air as the Cheyenne City Council considers whether to annex the land and bring in a new data center.

Opposition To Cheyenne Data Centers Grows As City Moves To Add Them

Opposition to Cheyenne data centers is growing as residents become more vocal and sign petitions against them. One councilman says development has happened so fast, it’s "completely outstripped the ability of the county and the city to plan."

Kate MeadowsApril 27, 2026

Travis Scott Warren

Green River Man Accused Of Threatening Wife To ‘Saw Her Head Off’ During Fight

A Green River man was charged Friday for a violent domestic attack during which he’s accused of threatening his wife to “saw her head off.” Police also say their 12-year-old son also had his wrist broken when he tried to defend his mom.

Kolby FedoreApril 27, 2026

Construction on what many Wyoming officials say will be a “world-class” shooting range near Cody officially got underway Saturday. “We wanted a wow factor,” said Rep. Art Washut as the range was christened by its first shots — fired from an M1 Garand by Gov. Mark Gordon and U.S. Sen. John Barrasso.

Construction Begins On Wyoming’s 2,000-Acre, ‘World-Class’ Shooting Range

Construction on what many Wyoming officials say will be a “world-class” shooting range near Cody officially got underway Saturday. “We wanted a wow factor,” said Rep. Art Washut as the range was christened by its first shots — fired from an M1 Garand.

Andrew RossiApril 27, 2026

Nearly 50 years after Capt. William Graves of Douglas, Wyoming, died in Vietnam, his family discovered reel-to-reel recordings he sent home. “Just hearing daddy’s voice was overwhelming,” said a daughter about a new perspective she could never have appreciated as a child.

Voice From Vietnam: Nearly 50 Years After Wyoming Man Died, Family Discovers Tapes

Nearly 50 years after a Wyoming man died in Vietnam, his family discovered reel-to-reel recordings he sent home. “Just hearing daddy’s voice was overwhelming,” said a daughter about a new perspective of her dad she could never have appreciated as a child.

Zakary SonntagApril 26, 2026

Hull’s Half Acre — many people call it “Boathenge” — gained notoriety when a row of half-buried boats appeared in the middle of nowhere outside Frannie, Wyoming, in 2020. The guy who put it there has a message for those who don’t like it: “Go to hell."

What The Heck … Are Those Boats Half Buried In The Middle Of Nowhere Near Frannie?

Hull’s Half Acre — many people call it “Boathenge” — gained notoriety when a row of half-buried boats appeared in the middle of nowhere outside Frannie, Wyoming, in 2020. The guy who put them there has a message for those who don’t like it: “Go to hell."

Andrew RossiApril 26, 2026

As Wyoming is riding an explosion of industries connected to data centers and artificial technology, nursing is a high-demand career that pays well. “AI will never replace us,” nurses say about their industry’s resistance to automation.

‘AI Will Never Replace Us’: Wyoming Nurse Rides Booming Career Wave

Wyoming nurse Ashley Myers escaped hardship into a high-paying nursing career. Her success story highlights rapid wage growth in the health care sector. "AI is a great tool, but it will never replace us. We have to have people to do this work," she says.

Renée JeanApril 26, 2026

Rick French dressed for an opera-singing occasion in a velvet green jacket with a cream-colored shirt and crisply ironed black pants. Singing opera takes both skill and the right mindset.

Wyoming People: The 95-Year-Old Classically Trained Tenor Who Sings Opera In Cheyenne

Rick French, aka “Ricardo” when he’s singing opera, is a classically trained tenor who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Folks in Cheyenne know the now-95-year-old for singing opera for years at a local Italian restaurant. 

Renée JeanApril 26, 2026

Grizzly 970 is a massive male grizzly called “van Gogh” because he’s missing his right ear.

Inside Yellowstone: Grizzly 970 Or ‘Van Gogh' Is King Of West Yellowstone

Grizzly 970 is known as "Van Gogh" because he lost his right ear in a fight with another male. Wildlife photographers love him and other bears in his territory dread him. He's a fighter and known as the king of the west side of Yellowstone.

Mark HeinzApril 26, 2026

A side gig for a pair of South Dakota men has exploded into a booming business selling 60 tons of elk, deer and moose antlers a year. Some prized specimens can sell for thousands of dollars each.

Art Of The Hunt: South Dakota’s Largest Antler Dealer Sells 60 Tons A Year

A side gig for a pair of South Dakota men has exploded into a booming business selling 60 tons of elk, deer and moose antlers a year. Some prized specimens can sell for thousands of dollars each.

Kate MeadowsApril 26, 2026

Nate Champion and other small-time cowboys were targeted by the Johnson County Regulators/Invaders in spring 1892. They had become outlaws overnight when the Maverick law passed in Cheyenne, outlawing the branding of ‘maverick’ cows to anyone but the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. Mary Taylor Cash was only a young teenager when the trouble erupted and knew many of the men who were on the list to be assassinated.

Wyoming History: The 14-Year-Old Girl Who Survived The Johnson County War

Mary Taylor Cash was just 14 years old when her brother was nearly killed during the Johnson County Invasion of 1892. It was just one of many stories Cash told her granddaughter in 1959 about the northern Wyoming range war that ran from 1889 to 1893.

Jackie DorothyApril 27, 2026

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Armed Man Shot By Sheridan Police Early Sunday

Sheridan Police Department officers early Sunday shot a male who fled a home with a long gun after “several shots” had proceeded from the home. A woman was in distress and said someone wanted to kill her baby, according to the police department.

Clair McFarlandApril 26, 2026

David Haddenham’s A-frame at Fossil Butte was built in 1918. This photo was taken before it was covered by the National Forest Service to protect it from weather at the site.

Fossil Butte Miner’s A-Frame Cabin Tied To Legacy Of Discovery — And Death

An A-frame cabin at Fossil Butte National Monument was the home for a fossil miner as he discovered Wyoming artifacts. It also is linked to the poisoning of Wyoming’s only convicted female cattle rustler.

Dale KillingbeckApril 26, 2026

The Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum is nearing completion of its renovations.

1942 Casper Serviceman’s Club Getting $2.6 Million Upgrade As Veterans Museum

When it was built in 1942, the U.S. Army serviceman’s club in Casper was only meant to be used for a few years during World War II. Now its the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum, and it’s getting a $2.6 million upgrade that will be more permanent.

Dale KillingbeckApril 27, 2026

Pronghorn in snow getty 4 15 26

Brutal And Deadly ’22-’23 Wildlife Winter Inspires New Sportsman Group

The brutal, historic and deadly winter of 2022-2023 that killed tens of thousands of Wyoming deer, pronghorn and elk has inspired a new sportsman-driven conservation group. The group raised $250,000 at its first event.

Mark HeinzApril 26, 2026

Central Wyoming Colleg culinary student Ryan Bradshaw sauces up a bison skewer with huckleberry sauce for an all-Indigenous lunch menu served during the 2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Conference.

Wyoming Culinary Students Learn How To Cook James Beard Winner's Indigenous Menu

Wyoming culinary students this week learned how to prepare a celebrity chef’s Indigenous menu — only ingredients native to North America. No wheat, no sugar, no beef, pork or chicken — ingredients European settlers brought that displaced indigenous foods.

Renée JeanApril 26, 2026

Renovation of the Atlas Theatre has uncovered artifacts that hint at new ghost stories. Among the items are hand-sewn railroad overalls stuffed into a ceiling and an Italian stiletto knife.

Secrets In the Walls: Cheyenne's Atlas Theatre Renovation Uncovers New Mysteries

If a novelist was dreaming up cool props for a haunted theater, they couldn’t beat what a renovation crew found hiding in the ceilings and walls of Cheyenne’s Atlas Theatre. The discoveries add puzzling historical details about the theatre's early days.

Renée JeanApril 25, 2026

Cheyenne’s real estate market is heating up, with luxury home sales, industrial demand, and data center growth driving a surge that’s reshaping the city’s economy and housing landscape.

Cheyenne's Million Dollar Real Estate Market Growing As Data Centers Fuel Growth

Cheyenne’s real estate market is heating up, with homes between $800,000 to the low $1 millions becoming more commonplace. Real estate agents credit data centers, an "extremely business-friendly environment" and the intersection of I-80 & I-25 for the surge.

Renée JeanApril 25, 2026

Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Bryan Miller, far right, listens to a delegate during Saturday's final day of the 2026 Wyoming Republican Party Convention on the state fairgrounds in Douglas.

Saturday Convention: Wyoming GOP OKs Loyalty Tests For Candidates, Will Sue State

The Republican Party decided Saturday that political candidates will need to “strongly” support at least 80% of the Wyoming GOP platform if they want to run as a Republican. The party also declared its independence and will sue the state.

Greg JohnsonApril 25, 2026

A first-of-its-kind 80 million-year-old giant squid was found in Niobrara County last year. Just where it was found is a closely-guarded secret: “If I told you any more, I’d have to kill you and all your readers,” says the museum’s collection specialist.

Scientists Keep Location Of Prehistoric Squid Found In Eastern Wyoming A Secret

Scientists are keeping the exact location of a 80 million-year-old giant squid was found in Niobrara County last year a secret. That's because there are likely more giant squid and other prehistoric monsters of the deep waiting to be found there.

Andrew RossiApril 25, 2026

A dairy cow at Shumway Farms with the retail store in the background.

Family-Owned Dairy Farms Disappearing Across U.S. As Commercial Operations Grow

Nationally, 39% of dairy farms disappeared between 2017 and 2022 as the industry is moving toward more commercially-owned operations, instead of family businesses. While dairy farms in Wyoming aren't following that trend, its farmland in general does.

Kate MeadowsApril 25, 2026

The Cheyenne National Cemetery.

Navy Vet Wants To Build First Memorial With Name Of Every Wyoming Fallen Warrior

A U.S. Navy veteran is raising money to put a memorial next to the Cheyenne National Cemetery. It will be the first and only memorial to display the names of every Wyoming service member killed or missing in action in U.S. military history.

Andrew RossiApril 25, 2026

Canadian designer Olivier Dupon has submitted a motorized, 3,920-piece Big Boy 4014 LEGO kit to the company’s Ideas page. If the kit gets 10,000 votes, it will be among designs advanced to LEGO’s review pool for potential production.

Fan Of Cheyenne-Based Big Boy 4014 Pushes To Make Famed Locomotive Into LEGO Set

A superfan of the Cheyenne-based locomotive Big Boy 4014 has submitted a motorized, 3,920-piece Big Boy 4014 LEGO kit to the company. If his idea gets 10,000 votes, it will be among designs advanced to LEGO’s review pool for potential production.

Renée JeanApril 25, 2026

Cookie jars are a common decoration in most kitchens in Thermopolis, Wyoming because of the popularity of the Cookie Jar Auctions in the small community. Each year, tens of thousands of dollars are raised to help pay the medical bills of the residents most in need. John Gerrells, who first proposed the idea over 30 years ago, has boxes full of cookie jars ready for the next auction and has kept a few of his favorites as keepsakes. His sheep wagon cookie jar has become a running joke between him and a friend who take turns bringing it to the auctions and bidding on it.

Thermopolis Has Ponied Up $1 Million For Cookie Jars Over Past 30 Years

Cookie jar auctions have become the go-to fundraiser in Thermopolis, Wyoming, where the 4,600 residents have ponied up more than $1 million over the past 30 years. This year, the record $70,000 raised will help the auction’s founder fight cancer.

Jackie DorothyApril 25, 2026

Great blue herons have set up a rookery, or collection of family nests, near Buffalo Bill Reservoir in Park County.

Great Blue Herons, Uncommon In Wyoming, Nesting Near Buffalo Bill Reservoir

Great blue herons are uncommon in Wyoming, but a growing number of them have set up a nesting area near Buffalo Bill Reservoir. “They’re really going to town” building new nests to lay eggs, says Cody wildlife photographer Phil Hilson.

Mark HeinzApril 25, 2026

In Japan, civilians are being trained to respond to a growing number of bear attacks by shooting darts at a man in a bear suit.

In Japan, People Shoot Darts At Guy In A Bear Suit To Train For Attacks

There have been so many bear attacks in Japan, civilians are being trained to deal with them by shooting darts at a guy in a bear suit. There have been 230 bear attacks in 2025, 13 of them fatal. The government has proposed killing 10,000 bears.

Mark HeinzApril 25, 2026

Molly (Marso) Goodrich was one of the best girls' high school basketball players in Wyoming history until a knee injury suddently ended her playing career. Now a coach, she won state girls' titles for Douglas High School before moving to Lexington, South Carolina, where she's become one of the preeminent coaches in that state.

Wyoming People: Molly Marso, From Star Basketball Player To Championship Coach

Molly Marso — now Goodrich — became one of the best girls’ basketball players in Wyoming history as a standout for Campbell County High. A knee injury cut short her UW playing career, so now she’s become a championship-winning coach in South Carolina.

Ron Morris & For Cowboy State DailyApril 25, 2026

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Today's Wyoming sunrise was taken by Nikki Walker in Mountain View. Nikki writes, "The clouds put on quite a show with their beautiful changing colors. As the sun peeked through, colors scattered over sky in Mountain View Wyoming this morning."

Photo by Nikki Walker

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

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Opinion

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Bill Sniffin: Horrific Murder Trial Greeted Me In First Days As Lander Editor

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Who knew that my first big news story in Lander would be one of the biggest of my career? Covering this horrific murder trial was a huge challenge for a new editor.”

Bill SniffinApril 25, 2026

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Joan Barron: Cheyenne South Siders Oppose Man Camps

Columnist Joan Barron writes, “It is not surprising to see the uprising against a developer’s plan to build 800 units for 5,600 construction workers here  to build data centers.”

Joan BarronApril 25, 2026

Lange at chic fil a

Jonathan Lange: 'The Story of Everything' Is A Great Movie

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, “This movie gave me hope that our own incessant arguing can find agreement. If Einstein and Hoyle could ultimately change their minds to agree with Hubble and Lemaître, we can learn something from them."

Jonathan LangeApril 25, 2026

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