AdvertiseGet Free Daily Newsletter
AdvertiseGet Free Daily Newsletter

Cowboy State Daily - Wyoming News

News

Headlines

View all
Star Plunge water park and hot springs in Thermopolis closed Tuesday, a day earlier than expected as a dispute continues between the state and the facility's owners/operators. Here, Roland Luehne turns away Joy Erickson, son Dayton Yaple and Annette Withinton, Lander customers who misunderstood that the pool was closed.

Soakers Show Up To Find World Famous Star Plunge Closed Sooner Than Expected

The world famous Star Plunge pool and hot springs in Thermopolis, Wyoming, has been on a legal collision course with the state. It had been expected to close Wednesday, but soakers showed up Tuesday to find it suddenly closed earlier.

Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025

Rep. Harriett Hageman on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025

Hageman Cheers House Passing Her Bill Banning Males In Women’s Sports

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, cheered the House passing a bill Tuesday aimed at preventing males from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. She said it’s a victory over “the left’s anti-woman agenda.”

Sean Barry for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 15, 2025

Wright wyoming sign 1 14 25

Authorities Say Woman Taped Man To Chair, Tortured Him For Three Days            

Campbell County Sheriff’s investigators say a woman in Wright, Wyoming, taped a man to a chair at her home and tortured him for three days. She bit his ears, and beat him with a hammer and a pistol, court documents allege.  

Clair McFarlandJanuary 15, 2025

Paul Allen Hilburn, 71, faces three charges stemming from a stabbing incident and for allegedly striking a woman over the weekend.

Casper Man Accused Of Stabbing Two People, Tells Police One Was An Accident

A 71-year-old Casper man faces two felonies after police claim he stabbed a 35-year-old woman and 41-year-old man at his apartment Sunday. He allegedly said stabbing the woman was an “accident.”

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 14, 2025

Gillette, Wyoming-based Cycline Drilling operates a rig in the Powder River Basin.

Wyoming's Powder River Basin Sitting On Untapped Oil And Gas Potential

The oil and gas industry has been talking up the potential of the Powder River Basin for 20 years. Even so, Wyoming’s busiest play still only has about 11 rigs running. It’s going to take more than an oil-friendly administration to increase production.

Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025

One of two bills targeting transgender use of bathrooms in Wyoming would include most public spaces in the state, including the Wyoming Capitol.

Wyoming Legislature To Consider Two Transgender Bathroom Bans

The Wyoming Legislature, which convened Tuesday, will consider two bans on biological males entering women's multi-stall bathrooms, and vice versa. One focuses on schools, while another stretches into prisons and other government facilities.  

Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2025

Wyoming Supreme Court building in Cheyenne.

Candidates Challenge "Sore Loser" Law That Keeps Primary Losers From Running Again

The Wyoming Supreme Court is considering the constitutionality of the state’s “sore loser" law, which bars failed primary-election candidates from running as independents in general elections. Three candidates are challenging the law.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2025

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Defense secretary, testifies Tuesday for the Senate Armed Services Committe.

Pete Hegseth Grilled In Senate Hearing For Defense Secretary; Lummis, Barrasso Support

Donald Trump’s pick for Defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, was grilled in a testy Senate hearing on Tuesday. Sen Cynthia Lummis joined Sen. John Barrasso in support of his confirmation.

Sean Barry for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 14, 2025

A proposed new bill in Colorado would ban many semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines. That could include many modern pistols.

Wyoming Closely Watching Aggressive Colorado Bill To Ban Semiautomatic Weapons

Wyoming gun owners are watching the progress of an aggressive proposed ban on semiautomatic firearms in Colorado. It would ban many guns with detachable magazines, including many modern pistols and even some duck hunters' shotguns.

Mark HeinzJanuary 14, 2025

Images taken from surveillance video at the Rawlins Stinker store at 302 Airport Road on Monday night, Jan. 13, 2025. He got away with cash and a bag of beef jerky.

Armed Man Steals Beef Jerky, Cash From Rawlins Convenience Store

An apparently hungry masked man brandishing a handgun stole beef jerky from a Rawlins Stinker convenience store on Monday. He also took cash from the register, then vanished.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2025

A field of discarded wind turbine blades.

Feds OK Wyoming Idea To Use Old Wind Turbines To Fill In Coal Mines

Wyoming’s innovative plan to allow coal mines to accept wind turbine blades as fill material has cleared the Biden administration, almost four years after the state approved it.

Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025

Bryce Canyon, Utah.

Supreme Court Won't Hear Utah's Case To Get Control Of Federal Lands

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it won't take up Utah's case to get control of federal lands in that state, a push Wyoming supported. Gov. Mark Gordon says he's "disappointed but not surprised."

Andrew RossiJanuary 13, 2025

Deputies escort a shackled Michael Vigil to a jail transport vehicle after Vigil’s initial appearance in Lander Circuit Court in April 2024.

Lander Man Claims He Was Delusional When He Killed Visitor With A Piece Of Rebar

A jury trial began Monday for a Lander, Wyoming, man accused of killing a visitor by bashing his head in with a piece of rebar. He claims he was delusional and reacting to a sexual advance when he attacked the other man.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 14, 2025

One of five wolves reintroduced to northern Colorado in December 2023.

Wolves From Canada Arrive In Colorado, Nobody’s Saying Where They’ll Be Released

A group of wolves have been flown from Canada to Colorado for another round of reintroductions, which has been highly controversial. There’s no word yet on when and where they’ll be released. 

Mark HeinzJanuary 13, 2025

A new policy has gone into effect at Denver International Airport where people can't pay for parking with cash.

DIA Stops Taking Cash As Payment For Parking At Airport Lots

DIA has stopped accepting cash at its parking lots to speed up the exit process. The airport joins an increasing number of businesses and services that are doing away with cash, including the National Park Service and the University of Wyoming.

Justin GeorgeJanuary 13, 2025

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, left, and Secretary of State Chuck Gray.

Cynthia Lummis, Chuck Gray Team-Up To Oppose Corporate Disclosure Rule

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Secretary of State Chuck Gray have teamed up to oppose the federal Corporate Transparency Act. The two filed a Supreme Court brief opposing the act, calling it an "unconstitutional intrusion" by the federal government.

Sean Barry for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 13, 2025

Jeanne Bryan, former executive director of the Wyoming Centennial Commission, died Jan. 8. She was 82.

Remembering Jeanne Bryan: State Centennial Director And Wyoming Booster

Jeanne Bryan, longtime Wyoming booster and former executive director of the Wyoming Centennial Commission died Jan. 8. Former Gov. Mike Sullivan said Jeanne "was immensely dedicated to Wyoming."

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 13, 2025

Andrew Atkinson

Man Accused Of Disfiguring Girlfriend Claims Judge Illegally “Interrogated” Him

A Wyoming man accused of beating and disfiguring his girlfriend wants evidence against him in a separate case thrown out. He claims a lower-court judge illegally “interrogated” him, but in a Friday filing the prosecutor says he's wrong.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 13, 2025

Whether to split deer season into separate season for mule deer, left, and white-tailed, right, will be debated by the Wyoming Legislature.

Bill Splitting Deer Seasons Would Just Get More Mule Deer Shot, Biologist Says

Advocates of legislative bill to split Wyoming hunting seasons for white-tailed and mule deer say it will help save mule deer. A retired wildlife biologist says that would just get more mule deer killed.

Mark HeinzJanuary 13, 2025

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, on "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025.

Barrasso Backs All Of Trump’s Cabinet Picks, Says They Need Confirmation ASAP

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2-ranking Republican in the Senate, said on “Face the Nation” Sunday that he backs all of Trump’s cabinet picks. He also said they need to be confirmed ASAP.

Sean Barry for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 13, 2025

Central Wyoming Regional Airport 1 13 25

Wyoming Woman Charged With Impersonating Police Officer While Boarding Plane

A Shoshoni, Wyoming, woman is accused of impersonating a police officer while trying to get onto an airplane in Riverton. Wearing a security officer badge on her waist, she allegedly claimed she was transporting DNA evidence for the FBI.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 13, 2025

The west side of War Memorial Stadium at the University of Wyoming got a $91 million upgrade, which included improved seating in the middle west section.

Price Tag For University Of Wyoming Projects Over Past 10 Years Nearly $900M

Construction on a new $65 million swim center is underway at the University of Wyoming. It’s the 11th capital project in 10 years for Wyoming’s only public university, with a combined price tag of nearly $900 million.

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 13, 2025

The North Platte River near Torrington.

Duck Hunter Pleads Guilty To Killing Friend, Could Get Probation

A Wyoming college student who unintentionally killed his friend while duck hunting pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Thursday. He also has a chance for probation and a sentence that keeps him from being a convicted felon.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 13, 2025

A local conservation district ordered the demolition of this partially built home on McDonald Creek, so the homeowners sued in federal court to stop the wrecking ball.

California Couple Builds House In Glacier National Park Without Permission

A California couple built a house inside Glacier National Park in late 2022 without permission or permits. Now they’re suing to keep officials from tearing the house down.

David MadisonJanuary 12, 2025

A blaze gutted Station 74 in the Laramie County Fire Authority on Saturday night, Jan. 11, 2025. The trucks and equipment inside are a total loss.

Firetrucks, Other Equipment Burn Up In Blaze At Cheyenne Fire Station

Cheyenne firefighters were dispatched to one of their own fire stations that was gutted by a fire Saturday night. The building was severely damaged, and several firetrucks and other equipment burned up.

Greg JohnsonJanuary 12, 2025

Supreme court 1 6 22 scaled

Wyoming Supreme Court Considers Whether Cops Can Search Your Lawyer

The Wyoming Supreme Court is considering if or how law enforcement agents can search criminal defense attorneys, their offices and potentially their homes.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 12, 2025

Strong winds and gusts can make it dangerous for high-profile vehicles and semitrailers driving on Wyoming's interstates.

Just How Windy Does It Get In Wyoming?

The most powerful wind gust ever recorded in Wyoming was in the town of Clark in April, 2022. That's when the wind hit 128 mph. Luckily, wind speeds don't get this high that often.

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 12, 2025

Daily Features

View all
"Taken on 1/7/25 on Lake DeSmet. Heaven on earth!"
PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Sal Crivello. Sal writes, "Taken on 1/7/25 on Lake DeSmet. Heaven on earth!"

Photo by Sal Crivello

Today's question to Don Day

Mark James Mullins of Douglas
In regard to your thunderstorm season article, can you reassess the data on a per-capita basis, especially when considering population of the states? It could affect me as I own a hill on my property which I plan a communications tower and likely will have a lightning rod installed when it goes in.
Don Day
FEMA has a good lightning database that takes into account lightning risk, potential property loss, etc. based on population and lightning frequency. Data is available on a county by county basis. Lots and lots of lightning data available here which may help in quest for more lightning information. https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/lightning
DD

Opinion

View all
Rod miller headshot scaled

Rod Miller: The Big Empty Needs One Good Lawless County

Rod Miller writes, “The legislature can set aside a few hundred-thousand acres in Wyoming for the malcontents and the ungovernable. Let them fend for themselves on their own little piece of heaven.”

Rod MillerJanuary 12, 2025

Joan barron headshot 4 27 24

Joan Barron: Freedom Caucus Calling For Unity Is “The Big Switcheroo.”

Columnist Joan Barron writes, "The biggest surprise to me was the declaration that the Freedom Caucus will strive for unity this session. This is a real switcheroo for a group that banned traditional Republican lawmakers from their caucuses."

Joan BarronJanuary 11, 2025

Sniffin headshot 11 30 24

Bill Sniffin: Wyoming Fans Love Josh Allen – Bills Play Broncos In Playoffs Sunday

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Can you believe Josh Allen has been gone from UW for seven years? I never saw a player like him. He was super-human. He was our superman.”

Bill SniffinJanuary 11, 2025

Newsletter

Wyoming Life

View all

Outdoors

View all

Crime & Courts

View all