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Braigene Marcel Collins was reported missing when she didn't show up to work in September at the 49'er Inn & Suites in Jackson and her coworkers did a welfare check on her. The Teton County Sheriff's Office reported Nov. 1, 2024, that she's been found safe.

Jackson Hotel Worker Missing Since September Found Safe

A Jackson hotel worker missing since September has been located safely in another state, the Jackson Police Department announced Friday.

Jen KocherNovember 02, 2024

Daren Christopher Abbey reportedly confessed to killing Dustin Kjersem at his Custer Gallatin National Forest campsite Oct. 12. The body was so mutilated it appeard he'd been attacked by a grizzly. Abbey allegedly told authorities he stabbed Kjersem in the neck with a screwdriver and also hit him with an ax.

Montana Man Confesses To Brutal Murder Of Camper, Used Screwdriver And Ax

A Montana man has confessed to the murder of a camper near Big Sky last month that at first was thought to be a grizzly attack because of its brutal nature. He told authorities he killed the camper with a screwdriver and an ax.

David Madison for Cowboy State DailyNovember 01, 2024

Grizzly 399 with three of her four cubs in this undated photo.

Grizzly 399 Cremated, Ashes Scattered In Pilgrim Creek Area Of Grand Teton Park

Final closure to the story of Grizzly 399 came Friday when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced she had been cremated. The ashes of the world’s most famous bear were scatted in the Pilgrim Creek area of Grand Teton National Park.

Mark HeinzNovember 01, 2024

Asher James Fritz, 3, from left, his mother Amber Marie Fritz and her mother Khristy Kay (McKenney) Fritz. They were found deceased in their Riverton home Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, which was filled with carbon monoxide, suspected to have leaked into their home via a water heater.

3 Found Dead In Carbon Monoxide Leak In Riverton Home, Faulty Water Heater Suspected

Riverton police suspect a faulty water heater may have caused the carbon monoxide leak in which two women and a toddler were found dead early Thursday morning. They were discovered when someone did a welfare check at the home.  

Clair McFarlandNovember 01, 2024

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

115-Year-Old LaPrele Dam Close To Failure, Will Be Breached

The aging 115-year-old LaPrele Dam southwest of Douglas is in danger of catastrophic failure, so it will be preemptively breached, state officials confirmed Friday. Whether it will be rebuilt is a question for the Legislature.

Mark HeinzNovember 01, 2024

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Gillette Mother's 'Weird Feeling' Leads To Arrest Of Peeper, Police Say

A Gillette mother's strange gut feeling led her to check her home camera just in time to spot a 48-year-old man crawling outside her 12-year-old daughter's window, police say. Court documents say police found videos of the girl on the man's phone. 

Clair McFarlandNovember 01, 2024

A demonstration of how a radio frequency identification tag on cattel is scanned.

Wyoming Ranchers, Hageman Slam Mandatory Electronic Cattle ID Tags

Rep. Harriet Hageman and Wyoming ranchers are slamming a new federal rule mandating electronic ID ear tags for cattle. The new rule requiring the switch is effective Tuesday.

Mark HeinzNovember 01, 2024

Rocky mountain power 10 3 23

Wyoming Customers Getting Rate Fatigue Over Repeated RMP Increase Requests

Wyoming customers are getting rate fatigue over repeated Rocky Mountain Power increase requests. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says the company wants Wyoming to "foot the bill" for the "radical left-wing environmental policies of other states."

Renée JeanNovember 01, 2024

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Fort Washakie Man Who Killed Man In Front Of Carload Of Witnesses Gets 16 Years

A Fort Washakie, Wyoming, man was sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison for second-degree murder for stabbing and killing a 20-year-old man. He stabbed the man along a road in front of a carload of witnesses.

Clair McFarlandNovember 01, 2024

Truck in store 11 1 24

Truck Plows Into Rock Springs Gas Station, Burying Woman In Debris

A truck plowed into a Maverik gas station in Rock Springs on Thursday burying a South Dakota woman in debris. The woman she hit her head on the floor and then a food shelf fell on top of her.

Clair McFarlandNovember 01, 2024

Former President Donald Trump, left, talks with conservative host Tucker Carlson, right, on Thursday. He reiterated his criticism of Liz Cheney during their interview.

Trump Says Media Misreports Cheney War Hawk Comment As Personal Threat

Former President Donald Trump called Liz Cheney a "radical war hawk" on Thursday and said she would “understand how it feels” to be at war if she had a gun pointed at her. The national media has exploded, calling the remark a personal threat, which Trump denies.

Leo WolfsonNovember 01, 2024

Retaining Wyoming talent to work in state after attending the University of Wyoming, and beyond, is the idea behind a new jobs board that identifies opportunities to work in or remotely from Wyoming.

Wyoming Has A New Jobs Board With Higher Than Average Salaries And Unusual Opportunities

The Wyoming Venture Capital jobs board lists some unusual positions, like Generative AI Product Manager and Machine Learning Engineer. The jobs are part of a new stream of startups setting up shop in the Cowboy State.

Renée JeanNovember 01, 2024

Bill Gates was in Kemmerer in June for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the TerraPower Natrium nuclear plant.

TerraPower Strikes Deal With South African Company For Steady Uranium Source

A stable source of uranium has been a big question mark for the TerraPower nuclear plant in Kemmerer. The company appears to have answered that question with a new agreement with a South African company.

Renée JeanOctober 31, 2024

Wyoming mule deer.

Oregon Has Close Call With Chronic Wasting Disease From Infected Wyoming Deer

Oregon had a close call with chronic wasting disease when hunters from that state brought home two infected Wyoming deer carcasses.

Mark HeinzOctober 31, 2024

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, left, and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

Chuck Gray Bashes Colorado Counterpart For Releasing Voting Machine Passwords

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray said he’s not surprised the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office made public a spreadsheet that included passwords to access voting machines. It's an example of her "left-wing radicalism," he said.

Leo WolfsonOctober 31, 2024

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Cowboy State Daily Video News: Friday, November 1, 2024

Friday's headlines include: * Missing Hunter From Encampment Found Alive * TerraPower Will Get Uranium From South Africa Company * Sheridan Woman Blacks Out, Drives Car Off Bridge Into River

Wendy CorrNovember 01, 2024

An image from a panel discussion with the makers of the "Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons" documentary livestreamed by PBS Nature on Oct. 30, 2024. They discussede the life and legacy of the world's most famous bear.

"Queen of the Tetons" Team Celebrates Grizzly 399 As A Pioneer And Teacher

The biologists and filmmakers behind the Nature documentary "Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons" celebrated her life and legacy during Wednesday livestream.

Andrew RossiOctober 31, 2024

A search is on for James Johnson of Encampment, Wyoming, who hasn't been heard from since leaving to go hunting in the Medicine Bow National Forest on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2024. His truck has been found, but not Johnson.

Family Of Missing Wyoming Hunter Overjoyed At His Rescue

A man from Encampment went missing overnight Wednesday while hunting elk in the Medicine Bow National Forest, but was found alive around 3:45 p.m. Thursday. His family was overjoyed with the news.

Clair McFarlandOctober 31, 2024

Kenilynn Zanetti and John Kolb 10 31 24

Rock Springs Senator Accuses Former Legislator Opponent Of Pushing A Kamala Agenda

Republican incumbent Wyoming state Sen. John Kolb is being challenged by a former legislator for his seat, Democrat Kenilynn Zanetti. He says a vote for her is the same as voting for Kamala Harris, which she says isn’t true.

Leo WolfsonNovember 01, 2024

Sheridan Media interactive media manager Steve Schreffler was at the scene Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, of a car that rolled into Little Goose Creek off of Coffeen Avenue in Sheridan. The woman driving the car was rescued and remains in a local hospital.

Sheridan Woman Who Drove Car Into River Says She Passed Out

A Sheridan, Wyoming, woman remains hospitalized after her car went down an embankment and into Little Goose Creek on Wednesday. She told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that she passed out and woke behind a deployed airbag with water rushing into her car.

Clair McFarlandOctober 31, 2024

Scott John Erskine

Evansville Man Pleads Not Guilty To Almost Killing 1-Year-Old

A 31-year-old Evansville man pleaded not guilty to four felony child abuse charges Thursday in Natrona County District Court. One victim was a 1-year-old boy whose injuries were so bad he was nearly killed, the prosecutor says.

Dale KillingbeckOctober 31, 2024

Homes in a Cheyenne residential neighborhood.

Wyoming Realtors Have Spent Nearly $550,000 To Pass Property Tax Amendment

The campaign arm of the Wyoming Realtors Association has spent nearly $550,000 to convince Wyoming voters pass Amendment A on Tuesday. The measure would create a fourth class of taxation for residential properties.

Leo WolfsonOctober 31, 2024

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

Wyoming Cheers Supreme Court Ruling To Remove Noncitizens From Voter Rolls

Wyoming’s top elected officials are cheering a Wednesday ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court allowing the removal of noncitizens from voter rolls. Wyoming was one of 26 states that supported Virginia’s case in the high court.

Leo WolfsonOctober 31, 2024

A male juvenile was shot at an early morning party in the 3200 block of Hamilton Way in Casper on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Pistol-Whipping Casper Man, Shooting At Another

A 19-year-old Cheyenne man pleaded not guilty in Natrona County District Court on Thursday to five felony charges for allegedly pistol-whipping a Casper man. He’s also charged with firing a gun at a car with three people in it.

Dale KillingbeckOctober 31, 2024

The wet snow that fell overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday was too much for some tree branches around Gillette.

Wyoming Storm Dumps Wet, Heavy Snow, Sets Moisture Records

A winter weather system that moved across Wyoming through Wednesday dumped a lot of wet, heavy snow across much of Wyoming. In Wright, 13 inches fell, while Casper and Worland set moisture records.

Andrew RossiOctober 30, 2024

Adobe Town in southwest Wyoming is among the 18 million acres the BLM manages in the Cowboy State. Rep. Harriet Hageman says Wyoming can manage the land it it's own borders better.

Does Utah’s Petiton To Get Control Of Federal Lands Stand A Chance? Hageman Hopes So

Now that Utah is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to gain control of federal lands, Wyoming and other Western states are watching closely. Does it have a chance? Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman hopes so.

Leo WolfsonOctober 30, 2024

Hunter DeVries

Riverton School Board Candidate Accused Of Molesting Child, Drops Out Of Race

Hunter DeVries, 23, announced his candidacy for Fremont County School District 25 board in August. On Friday, he dropped out of the race, and on Monday was charged with first-degree sexual abuse of a minor on claims he molested an 11-year-old boy for months. 

Clair McFarlandOctober 30, 2024

Johnson County sheep rancher Mike Miller trails about 150 ewes and lambs down Echeta Road into Gillette in May 2024.

Proposed Slaughterhouse Ban Could Devastate Wyoming Sheep Ranchers

An animal rights group wants to shut down the only slaughterhouse in Denver city limits. Those who oppose a local ballot measure say it would cost thousands of jobs and could devastate sheep ranchers in Wyoming and throughout the U.S.

Jackie DorothyOctober 30, 2024

Idaho Fish and Game agents found a 10-month-old black bear cub lounging in a backyard apple tree in Hailey, Idaho. It had solo trekked 120 miles from the Salmon, Idaho region.

Tiny, Stubborn Idaho Bear Cub Makes 120-Mile Trek To Gorge On Apples

A tiny black bear cub braved a 120-mile trek through some of Idaho’s most remote and rugged backcountry to gorge on somebody's backyard apples.

Mark HeinzOctober 30, 2024

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Speed Limit Unlikely To Change Because Of Grizzly 399's Death

The death of Wyoming’s beloved Grizzly 399 has some calling for lower speed limits where the accident happened. But Wyoming transportation officials say one bear death — even Grizzly 399 — isn’t likely to prompt lowering the speed limit.

Mark HeinzOctober 30, 2024

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Saturday, November 2, 2024

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Sandra Hughes. Sandra writes, "Sunrise over the Uintas in Uinta County this morning."

Photo by Sandra Hughes

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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Bill Sniffin: Who Is The Best Political Expert In Wyoming? Take The CSD Political Quiz

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “I have issued this challenge to the staff of the Cowboy State Daily and also to all our readers.  Who is the smartest political observer of them all?”

Bill SniffinNovember 02, 2024

Lange at chic fil a

Jonathan Lange: A Spider-Man In Every Voting Booth

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: “Nobody can pull the lever for you. When you stand alone in that voting booth, you are wielding a power that few people in history have ever been given.”

Jonathan LangeNovember 01, 2024

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Dennis Sun: The New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Ag columnist Dennis Sun writes, "If one looks at the makeup of the guidelines committee, they seem to be younger people who work at universities with PhDs. I would guess they all grew up in cities and don’t know how to garden. Their food and vegetables come in a box once a week."

Dennis SunNovember 01, 2024

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