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The Laramie River Station power plant near Wheatland, Wyoming.

Trump Promises Comeback For U.S. Coal, To Reopen “Hundreds” Of Coal-Fired Plants

President Trump promised this week to reopen “hundreds” of coal-fired power plants and spark a comeback for the industry. Wyoming experts say that’s refreshing to hear, but it won’t happen as long as coal costs more than gas and renewables.

David MadisonMarch 20, 2025

The aftermath of months of camping protesters over the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2017.

Greenpeace Ordered To Pay $667M In Protest Damages Over Dakota Access Pipeline

Greenpeace was ordered by a judge Wednesday to pay $667 million related to a 10-month violent protest over building the Dakota Access Pipeline. Protesters camping at the North Dakota site damaged the land and created a policing and cleanup nightmare.

David MadisonMarch 20, 2025

Smoke pouring out of the westbound Green River Tunnel on I-80 on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

Report: Pickup Losing Control Leaving Green River Tunnel Started Fatal Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday released its preliminary report on the Green River Tunnel disaster. It says a pickup truck lost control as it exited the westbound tunnel and started the 26-vehicle, triple-fatality crash on February 14, 2025.

Clair McFarlandMarch 20, 2025

The stop sign on Togwotee Pass has another 12-16 inches to go to be fully buried, and the snow to finish the job could fall this weekend. Those in the 2025 Stop Sign Snow Challenge have only days left until the contest’s end-of-March deadline.

Wyoming Stop Sign ‘As Close As Ever’ To Being Buried With Days Left In Contest

The stop sign on Togwotee Pass has another 12-16 inches to go to be fully buried, and the snow to finish the job could fall this weekend. Those in the 2025 Stop Sign Snow Challenge have only days left until the contest’s end-of-March deadline.

Andrew RossiMarch 19, 2025

Christian Smith, the 2-year-old son of Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Parker Smith, continues to recover in a Denver hospital more than a month after a devastating crash. He was hurt when a snowplow broadsided the family minivan, but is making progress.

Wyoming Trooper’s 2-Year-Old Son Slowly Recovering From Crash With Snowplow

Christian Smith, the 2-year-old son of Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Parker Smith, continues to recover in a Denver hospital more than a month after a devastating crash. He was hurt when a snowplow broadsided the family minivan, but is making progress.

Zakary Sonntag for Cowboy State DailyMarch 19, 2025

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming

Lummis Wants To Pull $7.5B From Biden’s EV Mandates For Improving Highways

Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis introduced a bill Wednesday that would pull $7.5 billion from former President Joe Biden’s electrical vehicle mandates. Instead, it should be used to improve highways in Wyoming and across the country, she says.

Leo WolfsonMarch 19, 2025

Environmental groups are pushing to block the nomination of former Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But a former FWS warden says he’s the right pick.

Environmentalists Push To Block Brian Nesvik As Pick To Lead Fish & Wildlife

Environmental groups are pushing to block the nomination of former Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But a former FWS warden says he’s the right pick.

Mark HeinzMarch 19, 2025

A federal court will decide whether a herd of rare curly-haired mustangs will be rounded up and removed from southwest Wyoming.

Federal Court To Decide Fate Of Wyoming’s Rare Curly-Haired Wild Mustangs

A panel of three federal judges in 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver is considering whether mustangs, including rare curly-haired horses, will be rounded up and removed from southwest Wyoming.

Mark HeinzMarch 19, 2025

Excess gas is flared off at the Sinclair oil refinery in southern Wyoming.

New Report Says There’s Still 'Substantial' Oil And Gas Under Wyoming

A U.S. Geological Survey report released last week says there’s still "substantial" oil and gas underneath Wyoming. The Powder River, Wind River and Bighorn basins still have nearly 50 million barrels of oil and close to 1 billion cubic feet of gas.

David MadisonMarch 19, 2025

When 26 Republican-led states urged a court Tuesday to stop a judge's block on Trump's plan to deport Venezuelan gang members, Wyoming wasn't among them. But that's because of timing, not a lack of support, the Wyoming attorney general says.

Wyoming Supports Trump's Plan To Deport Members Of Violent Venezuelan Gang

When 26 Republican-led states urged a court Tuesday to stop a judge's block on Trump's plan to deport Venezuelan gang members, Wyoming wasn't among them. But that's because of timing, not a lack of support, the Wyoming attorney general says.

Clair McFarlandMarch 19, 2025

A Gillette man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly pistol-whipping and trying to shoot a friend of his sister’s Monday. “I tried to kill him,” he reportedly told police, but in court Tuesday told the judge, "I defended myself.”

Gillette Man Accused Of Pistol-Whipping, Trying To Shoot Sister’s Friend

A Gillette man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly pistol-whipping and trying to shoot a friend of his sister’s Monday. “I tried to kill him,” he reportedly told police, but in court Tuesday told the judge, "I defended myself.”

Jen KocherMarch 19, 2025

Gov. Mark Gordon held a ceremony Tuesday to veto a bill that aimed at protecting Wyoming residents from federal firearm orders. The Bill would have allowed people to sue law enforcement agencies for enforcing federal laws that contradict Wyoming’s. He was joined by law officers from jurisdictions around the state.

Gordon Holds Veto Party With Law Officers To Axe Second Amendment Rights Bill

Gov. Mark Gordon held a ceremony Tuesday to veto a bill that aimed at protecting Wyoming residents from federal firearm orders. The bill would have allowed people to sue law enforcement agencies for enforcing federal laws that contradict Wyoming’s.

Leo WolfsonMarch 18, 2025

The Riverton Police Department said Tuesday it caught a 28-year-old man accused of stealing a vehicle with a 3-month-old baby in it, then abandoning both the car and baby west of Riverton, Wyoming, last month.

Riverton Police Say They Caught Man Who Stole Car With Baby In It

The Riverton Police Department said Tuesday it caught a 28-year-old man accused of stealing a vehicle with a 3-month-old baby in it, then abandoning both the car and baby west of Riverton, Wyoming, last month.

Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2025

State legislators who are also business owners sometimes learn that their politics can impact their businesses — for worse or better.

Boycotts, Name Changes And Backfires: Being A Politician Business Owner

Being a business owner and elected official in Wyoming can often intersect. Sometimes that means supporting legislation leads to boycotts of your business or prompt name changes. Most say the benefits far outweigh the challenges.

Leo WolfsonMarch 18, 2025

A federal appeals court Tuesday, March 18, 2025, ruled in favor of four hunters who “corner-crossed” to access public land next to a Wyoming ranch in 2021. The ruling could have broad implications for public lands use.

Federal Court Sides With Hunters In Wyoming Corner-Crossing Case

A federal appeals court Tuesday ruled in favor of four hunters who “corner-crossed” to access public land next to a Wyoming ranch in 2021. The ruling could have broad implications for public lands use.

Mark HeinzMarch 18, 2025

Former Jackson Hole Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen, right, has been charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor in Utah. Authorities there say he trafficked in child pornography and had a sexual encounter with the same judge who declined to keep him in jail, Kevin Robert Christensen.

Former Jackson Hole Fire Chief Accused Of Sex Acts With Judge, Having Child Porn

Former Jackson Hole Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen has been charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor in Utah. Authorities there say he trafficked in child pornography and had a sexual encounter with the same judge who declined to keep him in jail.  

Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2025

Jack Gilmore is thrown from a bull during Professional Bull Riders action at the 2023 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in this file photo.

Bull Riding Border War Brewing After Frontier Days Switches From PBR To PRCA

The Professional Bull Riders circuit will not return to Cheyenne Frontier Days this year after the Daddy of ’em All decided to go with PRCA Xtreme Bulls. So, PBR has set up its own competing event in Fort Collins for the same days in July.

David MadisonMarch 18, 2025

Commercial trucks make their way through Rawlins on a detour around a fatal crash Saturday near Exit 215 on Interstate 80.

Brief: Trucker Suspected Of Causing I-80 Crash That Killed Another Trucker

A Washington state trucker has been charged with homicide by vehicle after a Saturday crash on I-80 near Rawlins. He’s accused of crashing into another semitrailer, killing a person in the truck’s sleeper cab.

Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2025

Jack Ray Forgar

Gillette Man, 77, Accused Of Offering Sex Act To Teenage Boy

A 77-year-old Gillette man accused of soliciting a 15-year-old boy for sex could face between five and 12 years in prison. His case rose to felony-level court Thursday after a monthslong delay that included a mental fitness evaluation. 

Clair McFarlandMarch 18, 2025

Al simpson 1979 3 18 25

Joan Barron: Alan Simpson Grew To Be A Statesman

Columnist Joan Barron, who has covered the Wyoming legislature since 1970, writes, "Calling themselves ‘just a couple of country lawyers,” Simpson and Herschler outsmarted the hot shot attorneys who flew in from New York and D.C. The trona industry won and the defeated eastern lawyers flew out of Cheyenne."

Joan BarronMarch 18, 2025

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso meets with Wyoming troops in front of transporting equipment in Syria.

Barrasso Visits More Than 100 Wyoming Troops Stationed In The Middle East

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso spent Sunday visiting more than 100 Wyoming troops stationed in the Middle East. He praised them for being "in harm's way" and "keeping us safe and free at home."

Leo WolfsonMarch 18, 2025

Since 2021, the Wyoming Department of Health has spent about $8.4 million in federal money on pro-vaccination advertising. That money is drying up, but not because of the Trump administration.

Wyoming Health Dept Says Trump Not The Reason $8.4 Million For Vax Ads Ending

The Wyoming Dept of Health has spent about $8.4 million in federal public money on pro-vaccine advertising since mid-2020. It expects the last of those grants to expire this year, but not because of President Trump's new vaccine-skeptical health secretary.

Clair McFarlandMarch 17, 2025

University of Wyoming sign 5 15 23

UW Breaks Ties With National Ph.D. Group After Trump’s DEI Scrutiny

University of Wyoming has cut ties with a nonprofit allegedly trying to “diversify corporate America.” The move is a response to President Trump’s push for academia to pull away from DEI.

Mark HeinzMarch 17, 2025

Wombat lady responds 3 17 25

Wyoming Baby Wombat Grabber Fires Back At Australia

A Wyoming-based social media influencer who set off international outrage after reportedly grabbing a baby wombat in Australia is firing back, stating that Australia’s government slaughters wombats by the thousands.

Mark HeinzMarch 17, 2025

Wyoming Highway Patrol cars 3 17 25

State Trooper Arrests Suspected Illegal Immigrant With 18,000 Rounds Of Ammunition

An illegal immigrant was arrested Friday near Rawlins for carrying 18,000 rounds of rifle ammunition, according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Ricardo Paez-Quinones faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and/or deportation if convicted.

Clair McFarlandMarch 17, 2025

Devils Tower in northeast Wyoming.

Oops! Devils Tower Says Overnight Closure Temporary, Not Permanent

Devils Tower admits to having an oops moment last week when it announced the national monument would no longer be open 24/7. The overnight closure is temporary though March 30, not permanent.

Greg JohnsonMarch 17, 2025

Funeral services for Al Simpson have been announced, which includes two days of the former longtime Wyoming U.S. senator lying in honor at the Wyoming Capitol.

Former U.S. Sen. Al Simpson To Lie In State At Wyoming Capitol

Funeral services for Al Simpson have been announced, which includes two days of the former longtime Wyoming U.S. senator lying in honor at the Wyoming Capitol.

Leo WolfsonMarch 17, 2025

Former Wyoming legislator Cyrus Western of Big Horn will run the EPA’s Denver field office, overseeing President Donald Trump’s agenda for the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions.

Former Wyoming Legislator Cyrus Western Picked To Run EPA Field Office

Former Wyoming legislator Cyrus Western of Big Horn will run the EPA’s Denver field office, overseeing President Trump’s agenda for the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions. “When the president asks you to work for him, you don’t say no,” Western said.

Leo WolfsonMarch 18, 2025

The windows of Jill Siggins' home in Cody are covered in mud after a windy rainstorm.

Muddy Rainstorm Blows Through Cody, Leaves Town Covered In Crud

Wind and rain worked together to plaster dirt all over Cody on Monday, covering windows and cars in a layer of hard-to-clean crud. It’s just a precursor to a storm that could drop up to 10 inches of snow in spots around Wyoming on Tuesday.

Andrew RossiMarch 17, 2025

Brian Scott Mattert

Cheyenne Man Accused Of Pepper-Spraying Cops During Fight In Driveway

A Cheyenne man's case rose Friday to the felony-level court, on claims he pepper sprayed cops while interfering with a woman's traffic stop. The man reportedly also cursed and spat racial slurs at police as they investigated a DUI at his house.

Clair McFarlandMarch 17, 2025

Pawnee City, Nebraska, where in addition to helping new homebuyers, a new grant program also provides money to those looking to invest in businesses in its charming downtown.

Nebraska Town Offers $50,000 House Down Payment If People Move There

To stem the stream of locals and businesses leaving town, Pawnee City, Nebraska, is offering a $50,000 incentive to move to the hometown of Larry The Cable Guy. The money is a down payment on a house for people who move there.

David MadisonMarch 17, 2025

Nicholas Blackburn, center, walked to the Fremont County jail transport van Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, after pleading not guilty to killing his friend.

Riverton Man Accused Of Beating Friend To Death Strikes Plea Deal Before Trial

A Riverton man accused of beating his friend to death and leaving him for his parents to find has agreed to plead guilty. The agreement came just days before his manslaughter trial was to start Monday. 

Clair McFarlandMarch 17, 2025

At Element Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming, worship services are held in-person and also are livestreamed for people to attend remotely.

Vibrant Faith Communities Still In Wyoming Despite Christianity Decline

A 30-year national trend says fewer Americans are identifying as Christians but the decline has leveled-off because of the country's youngest demographic of adults ages 18-24. Here in Wyoming, some communities have bucked broader trends and are seeing an increase in parishioners.

Zakary Sonntag for Cowboy State DailyMarch 16, 2025

Left, Chris LeDoux performs in Nashville in 1993. Right, his son Ned LeDoux points to heaven while performing on stage at the 2021 Watershed music fesival in Washington state.

Chris LeDoux Days Is Ending: After 15 Years Festival Will Hold Finale In June 2025

Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee, Wyoming, is ending, and going out with a bang this year for its 15th and final run. Entertainer Kip Attaway and country band Sawyer Brown will play for final June festival.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2025

CleanSpark is standing up a new Bitcoin mining facility on Venture Drive in Cheyenne. The site is in addition to the one the company is building at a site near F.E. Warren Air Force Base that was previously owned by a Chinese company.

Rural Cheyenne Residents Have A Noisy New Neighbor — A Bitcoin Miner

A noisy new bitcoin mining operation is disturbing its rural Cheyenne area neighbors who moved outside the city for peace and quiet. The company says it’s working on mitigating the issue.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2025

Drift boat clients on the North Platte River often get caught up gawking at the imposing fishing dinosaur sculpture made of farm machinery sitting on the bank east of Alcova.

Why The Heck … Is There A 10-Foot T. Rex Fishing The North Platte Near Alcova?

Drift boat fishermen along the North Platte River are often surprised to see a T. rex statue looking down on them from a bluff east of Alcova. The 10-foot tall metal dinosaur is fishing, and has even hooked a catch.

Dale KillingbeckMarch 16, 2025

Daily Features

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"A gift from God over the reservoir in Cody this morning."
PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Today’s Wyoming sunrise was captured by Jon and Rachel Langlois. Jon and Rachel write, "A gift from God over the reservoir in Cody this morning."

Photo by Jon and Rachel Langlois

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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Sniffin headshot 11 30 24

Bill Sniffin: Can I Whisper ‘Golden Age’ As We Contemplate Wyoming’s Immediate Future?

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, “Wyoming will benefit greatly by the presidency of Donald Trump. With a fossil fuel-friendly administration, a friendly Congress, and the sensible Supreme Court, Wyoming’s capacity for generating energy here has not seen such a green light in decades."

Bill SniffinMarch 08, 2025

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Joan Barron: Maybe Next Year Will Be Better

Columnist Joan Barron writes, "It was a good thing for the Legislature to quit two days early this year.  That way the lawmakers could not do any more damage to the Legislature as an institution than they already have." 

Joan BarronMarch 08, 2025

Lange at chic fil a

Jonathan Lange: This Year’s Flood Of Election Integrity Bills Accomplished Great Things.

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "Kudos to Secretary of State, Chuck Gray for tirelessly pushing the legislature to fulfill its constitutional mandate to “pass laws to secure the purity of elections, and guard against abuses of the elective franchise.”

Jonathan LangeMarch 07, 2025

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