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Three 2024 University of Wyoming volleyball players are plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging a transgender player on the San Jose State University team.

Mountain West Denies It Snuck In New Rule To Punish Boycott Of Trans Player

The Mountain West Conference told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that it didn't suddenly edit its rules to punish schools for boycotting a women's volleyball team with a transgender player. The women suing the conference claim it did.

Clair McFarlandNovember 16, 2024

Brandon "BJ" Kidgell, Manderson, Wyoming, police chief.

Rural Wyoming Police Chief Accused Of Helping Girlfriend Evade Meth Arrest

Manderson, Wyoming, Police Chief Brandon “BJ” Kidgell is accused of tipping off a woman he was dating to drug searches of her house and attempts to arrest her. The six charges, which include neglect of duty, were filed Thursday.

Clair McFarlandNovember 15, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump and Adobe Town in southwest Wyoming.

Trump And Republican Congress Could Throw Out Controversial Rock Springs Plan

With Trump returning to the White House and Republicans taking over the Senate and House, the BLM’s controversial Rock Springs Resource Management Plan could get derailed. It could get killed outright.

Leo WolfsonNovember 16, 2024

Drought and wildfires is forcing more Wyoming ranchers to sell off more of their cattle. At Torrington Livestock Markets on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, it was the largest sale in at least a decade.

Drought, Wildfires Prompt Torrington’s Biggest Cattle Sale In A Decade

Drought and wildfires are prompting cattle ranchers in Wyoming and around the region to sell more of their cattle than ever. The Torrington Livestock market had its biggest cattle sale in a decade Friday, with 4,000 bovine sold.

Jackie DorothyNovember 15, 2024

The Roundup Nesvik play

The Roundup: A Conversation With Brian Nesvik

This week, Wendy Corr chats with retired Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik. Brian talks about the challenges of his 30-year career with Game and Fish, his experience as a Brigadier General, and his plans for retirement on his ranch near Glendo.

Wendy CorrNovember 15, 2024

Tearing up a Rolls Royce and other luxury cars in a cheap bear suit in an attempt to scam a California insurance company was “really stupid,” industry and wildlife experts say. Four suspects were arrested Wednesday in the ill-conceived scheme.

Tearing Up Luxury Cars In A Bear Suit To Scam Insurance “Really Stupid”

Tearing up a Rolls Royce and other luxury cars in a cheap bear suit in an attempt to scam California insurance companies was “really stupid,” industry and wildlife experts say. Four suspects were arrested Wednesday in the ill-conceived scheme.

Mark HeinzNovember 16, 2024

Randall Bailey

Cody Man Accused Of Stalking Ex, Hoarding Homemade Explosives

Though Randall Bailey, 64, does not appear to be charged with possessing explosives, court documents say police found homemade explosive devices in his Cody, Wyoming, home. He remains in jail on suspicion of stalking his ex-wife.

Clair McFarlandNovember 15, 2024

A woman in Salt Lake City climbed onto a high-voltage transformer, prompting power to be shut off to more than 800 homes.

Utah Woman Climbs On High-Voltage Substation, Causes Power Outage

800 homes in Salt Lake City lost power on Thursday when a woman bypassed security fencing and climbed onto the high-voltage bushings of a substation transformer. A similar incident happened in Cody, Wyoming, except it was caused by raccoons.

Andrew RossiNovember 15, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, to be his next attorney general.

Barrasso And Lummis Say Matt Gaetz Will Be Treated Fairly

Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis both said U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz will be treated fairly while he is being considered for the position of Attorney General. Neither, however, endorsed his selection outright.

Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2024

A view along Highway 14 shows large patches of black where the Elk Fire burned on the eastern Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming.

After 7 Weeks And 100,000 Acres Burned, Elk Fire Is 100% Contained

After more than seven weeks, the Elk Fire is officially 100% contained. The late-season wildfire scorched nearly 100,000 acres in the Bighorn Mountains and came close to burning the rural towns of Dayton and Parkman.

Greg JohnsonNovember 15, 2024

Former President Donald Trump and former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney.

Arizona AG Ends Investigation Into Trump's "War Hawk" Comments About Liz Cheney

The Arizona attorney general has closed an investigation into Donald Trump’s controversial comments about Liz Cheney being a "war hawk." Her investigation showed there was “no reasonable likelihood that we could obtain a conviction for Trump’s statements.”

Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2024

LaPrele Dam has been standing for 114 years, more than double its original 50-year lifespan.

Failing LaPrele Dam Near Douglas Leaves Farmers With No Good Options

There doesn't seem to be any good options for people living below the 115-year-old LaPrele Dam near Douglas which is failing. It's scheduled to be breached by April 1, 2025.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024

From left, state Reps. Trey Sherwood, John Bear and Senate President Ogden Driskill debate tax relief and their visions for Wyoming’s future Thursday in Laramie at the Wyoming Business Alliance’s Governor Business Forum.

Legislative Leaders Debate Tax Relief, Visions For Wyoming’s Future

It was a meeting of old vs. new Thursday as incoming and outgoing Wyoming legislative leaders were on stage together. Senate President Ogden Driskill and Reps. John Bear and Trey Sherwood debated tax relief and their visions for Wyoming’s future.

Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2024

A rash of graffiti and vandalism on the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds has prompted the organization to ban the public from the area except during regular events.

Vandalism Forces Cheyenne Frontier Days To Close Grounds To Public

A rash of vandalism at the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds has caused an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 worth of damage and prompted the organization to close the area to the public.

Greg JohnsonNovember 14, 2024

Secretary of State Chuck Gray, left, and Gov. Mark Gordon.

Chuck Gray Says Animosity Toward Mark Gordon Not Personal

Secretary of State Chuck Gray on Thursday said his longstanding feud with Gov. Mark Gordon is nothing personal. He says it dates back to the governor’s vetoing one of his bills five years ago and a series of actions since then that he disagrees with.

Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2024

The rugged and remote Green Mountain area in the Laramie Range in Albany County is prized for its elk and bighorn sheep hunting. The proposed Britania Land Exchange would trade rugged Forest Service Land in Albany for two parchels farther to the north.

Fight Over Prime Wyoming Hunting Land Exchange Headed To Federal Court

A legal fight is brewing over a U.S. Forest Service land exchange that would take a "hunter's paradise" parcel in Wyoming's Laramie Range out of public use. Opponents of the swap filed a court petition to stop it this week and are threatening a lawsuit.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024

A pair of pronghorn graze near a southeastern Wyoming solar farm in this file photo. Natrona County officials are considering a 2,000-acre solar farm and battery storage facility.

Natrona County Planners OK 2,000-Acre Solar Farm West Of Casper

A proposal to put a 2,000-acre solar farm and battery storage facility west of Casper was OK’d by Natrona County Planners on Tuesday. The 199 MW facility with 100 MW of storage would be on private ranch land.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 14, 2024

Nicholas Boschetti

Utah Man Says He Was Hired To Cash $13K In Fake Checks In Wyoming

A Utah man is the Lincoln County, Wyoming, jail on claims that he drained the Alpine Standard gas station's bank account of $13,000. He’s accused of cashing fake checks, but claims he was hired to cash them and had no idea they were fake.

Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, gives his concession speech after losing to Republican Tim Sheehy in the Nov. 5, 2024, election.

Jon Tester Lost Senate Race And They’re Still Running Negative Ads Against Him

Although incumbent Montana Sen. Jon Tester lost his race for U.S. Senate, that hasn’t stopped a barrage of attack ads running against him. No one seems to know why they’re continuing, but they are.

David MadisonNovember 14, 2024

Cody sign 7 25 24

Multiple Law Agencies Investigate Homemade Explosives Found At Home Near Cody

The discovery of homemade explosive devices at a home on Musser Road in Park County east of Cody has prompted a multiagency response from local, state and federal law enforcement Thursday morning. The investigation remains active.

November 14, 2024

An elk hunt near Sybille Canyon in southeast Wyoming became a mountain lion hunt for Matt Rivord of Laramie. He said more and more mountain lions have been showing up there.

Having A Mountain Lion Tag, Just In Case, Pays Off For Wyoming Elk Hunting Guide

Hunters keeping just-in-case mountain lion tags in their pocket when they’re out after elk and deer is increasingly common. It paid off for a Wyoming elk hunting guide.

Mark HeinzNovember 13, 2024

Secretary of State Chuck Gray at the Wyoming State Canvassing Board Meeting to certify the results of the 2024 election at the Wyoming Capitol Auditorium in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Nov. 13, 2024.

Canvassing Board Certifies Wyoming Election Despite Weston County Miscount

A miscount in Weston County during last week’s general election had the Wyoming Canvassing Board considering Wednesday to not certify the election. The results were certified despite the controversy.

Leo WolfsonNovember 13, 2024

If a deer jumps out in front of your vehicle on the road, Colorado officials say it could be best to just hit it.

Colorado Says If You See A Deer In The Road, Hit It. Don’t Try To “Save Bambi”

If a deer jumps out in front of your vehicle on the road, Colorado officials say it could be best to just hit it. Swerving to try and “save Bambi” could lead to even more tragic results.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024

Marquis Hayman pleaded not guilty to shooting five bullets into a North Durbin Street mobile home in August.

“I Hope I Killed One”: Casper Teen Accused Of Shooting Into Homes Pleads Not Guilty

A 15-year-old Casper, Wyoming, boy pleaded not guilty Wednesday to allegations he shot into two homes on the city’s north side. He allegedly told friends, “I hope I killed one” after an Aug. 12 shooting.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 13, 2024

The new Swinging Bridge over the Snake River near Jackson, Wyoming, is open to traffic nine months early.

Jackson's New Swinging Bridge Open 9 Months Early, Still Doesn’t Really Swing

A new replacement of the historic Swinging Bridge crossing the Snake River south of Jackson, Wyoming, is finished nine months early. And like the original, the bridge doesn’t actually swing.

Andrew RossiNovember 13, 2024

Hockey sticks put up along a fence near Sheridan in memory of Patrick Mudd, a longtime coach who was killed in an altercation this past summer.

Sheridan Man Accused Of Punching And Killing Hockey Coach Claims Self-Defense

A Sheridan man accused of punching a longtime hockey coach so hard it killed him is arguing that he acted in self-defense. He claims the hockey coach first repeatedly punched and attacked him outside a rodeo this past summer.

Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024

A group of southeast Wyoming ranchers are exploring a plan to store carbon dioxide emissions underneath their land.

Carbon Storage Planned Under Wyoming’s Historic C.B. Irwin Ranch, And Others

A group of Wyoming ranchers, including the historic C.B. Irwin Ranch where Steamboat once lived, have joined forces to attract companies to store carbon dioxide emissions under their ranches. Collectively, they have 102,000 acres available.

Renée JeanNovember 13, 2024

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Saturday, November 16, 2024

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Brian Richmond. Brian writes, "This was taken in Wheatland, I love God's artwork!"

Photo by Brian Richmond

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

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Sally Ann Shurmur: Wyoming vs CSU -- It Won't Ever Be Just Another Game

Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “Conferences may realign, playoffs may expand, but there will never be another rivalry like Wyoming and the sheep. Here’s why.”

Sally Ann ShurmurNovember 14, 2024

Rod miller headshot scaled

Rod Miller: In Praise Of Tricksters And The Free Press

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "If you read something that offends you or calls into question your basic beliefs – say, in a column in Cowboy State Daily – feel free to read no further, and go back to your pep rally."

Rod MillerNovember 14, 2024

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Tom Lubnau:  A  Statue Of A Barn Owl Sits On Law Books And the Bible in Cheyenne

Tom Lubnau writes: "The sculpture depicts a barn owl in flight, representing wisdom and the rural roots of these five legislators, the active role they played in Wyoming government, and their foundational belief in the Bible."

Tom LubnauNovember 14, 2024

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