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Police Recommend Murder Charge In Casper Shooting, DA Says Not Enough Evidence
A 74-year-old Casper man will not be charged for the shooting death of his daughter’s boyfriend four months ago. The Natrona County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday it won’t prosecute, citing not enough evidence to justify the charge.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 02, 2025

Laramie Homes Evacuated After Materials To Make Fireworks Discovered In House
Several homes in a Laramie mobile home park was evacuated Wednesday as authorities responded to a situation that involved “potential explosives in the area.” Emergency officials say materials to make fireworks were found in a home.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025

Wyoming’s First Child Measles Case Since 2010 Identified In Child At Casper ER
Wyoming’s first case of child measles since 2010 has been identified in Natrona County, the Wyoming Department of Health reported Tuesday. About 30 people have been identified as being in the same area of the child at the same times.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 03, 2025

Thermopolis Woman Gets 24-30 Months For Stealing $25K From FFA Group
A Thermopolis woman who pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $25,000 from a Future Farmers of America fundraising group was sentenced Wednesday to 24-30 months in prison. Cody Dyan Stewart cheated kids of their scholarships, the group said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 03, 2025

Wildfires Burn Nearly 1,000 Acres Around Thermopolis, Come Within 1 Mile Of Town
Fire crews from multiple agencies spent Wednesday assisting the Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department with several wildfires sparked by a Tuesday thunderstorm. Nearly 1,000 acres have burned, and one fire came within a mile of town.
Andrew RossiJuly 02, 2025

Gordon Names Former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Keith Kautz As Attorney General
Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Keith Kautz, a former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice, as Wyoming’s 39th attorney general Wednesday. Kautz said he’s “honored to serve Wyoming.”
Matthew ChristianJuly 02, 2025

Cody Celebrates Fourth Of July With Five Days Of Rodeos, Parades And Celebrities
If there was a competition for the best Fourth of July celebration in Wyoming, Cody might win by a country mile. That’s because it throws a five-day party filled with parades, rodeos, fireworks and celebrities that attract huge crowds.
Andrew RossiJuly 02, 2025

Wyoming Drilling Crew Hopes To Find Huge Uranium Deposit In Powder River Basin
A Wyoming company will start drilling dozens of holes in the Powder River Basin this month to explore potential to mine uranium. A group that includes companies from Canada and Australia hopes to find a huge uranium deposit.
David MadisonJuly 02, 2025

Trans Woman Breaks Wyoming’s New Bathroom Ban In State Capitol, Nothing Happens
Nothing happened Tuesday when a transgender woman flagrantly violated a newly implemented Wyoming law restricting people to the restroom corresponding to their birth sex in public buildings.
Matthew Christian & Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Wyoming’s New Laws: No Gun-Free Zones, Prove Citizenship To Vote And A Bathroom Ban
In all, 106 new Wyoming laws became active Tuesday. Now, most gun-free zones are gone, voters must prove citizenship and residency to register and people born male can’t use women’s bathrooms in government buildings.
Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Midwest Power Plant Operator Wants $22M From BNSF For Not Delivering Wyoming Coal
The operator of a pair of Midwest power plants wants $22 million from BNSF Railway, according to recent documents filed with the Surface Transportation Board. The company claims the power plants couldn’t get their full orders of Wyoming coal.
David MadisonJuly 01, 2025

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6-10 a.m.
Jake NicholsJuly 02, 2025

‘Huge Flipping Waste Of Money’: Legislator Wants To Eliminate Wyoming Business Council
Calling the Wyoming Business Council a “huge flipping waste of money,” state Rep. Ken Pendergraft says he wants to reduce the state’s budget by getting rid of the entity. Economic development shouldn’t be the government’s responsibility, he said.
Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025

Trump Administration Seeks To Defend Wyoming’s New Citizenship Voter Law
The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump filed a brief in court Tuesday to help defend Wyoming’s new voter citizenship law. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says he’s “extremely grateful” to the department and Trump.
Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025

Hot Springs County In An Uproar Over Cuts To 4-H, Extension Programs
The Hot Springs County Commission faced backlash Tuesday from residents upset over deep cuts to the county’s extension office and 4-H program. Commissioners say it's necessary due to lagging oil and gas revenue and a 25% cut in property taxes.
Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2025

Energy Secretary To Visit Site Of Massive Rare Earth Find In Ranchester, Wyoming
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright will be in northern Wyoming for the July 11 groundbreaking of the Brook Mine in Ranchester. Ramaco Resources believes it holds the largest “unconventional” rare earth deposit in the U.S.
David MadisonJuly 02, 2025

UPenn Bans Trans Athletes From Women's Sports Same Day Wyoming Law Goes Into Effect
Wyoming State Sen. Wendy Schuler said Tuesday’s decision by the University of Pennsylvania to ban trans athletes from participating in women's sports marks “a great victory for our women and girls.” It happened the same day Wyoming's law that does the same thing went into effect.
Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025

Wyoming Legislators Cheer Removal Of Ban On States Regulating AI From Budget Bill
Gov. Mark Gordon and a pair of Wyoming legislators cheered Tuesday’s removal of a ban on states regulating artificial intelligence. A 99-1 Senate vote took it out of the controversial federal budget bill.
Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025

Barrasso, Lummis Praise Passage Of Budget Bill, But It’s No Longer ‘Beautiful’
Democrats managed to strip “Beautiful” out of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but the U.S. Senate passed the GOP’s controversial budget bill Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance broke a tie, which Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis call a huge win.
Sean BarryJuly 01, 2025

Storm Chasers Get Engaged In Front Of ‘Perfect Tornado’ in South Dakota
Bryce Shelton proposed to Paige Berdomas on Saturday while an EF-3 tornado raged behind them and across South Dakota and Minnesota. Both professional storm chasers called it "the most beautiful tornado" they'd ever seen.
Andrew RossiJuly 01, 2025

Flaming Gorge Days Makes Comeback After Embezzlement Scandal Nearly Killed It
Thousands of people turned out over the weekend for Flaming Gorge Days, a Green River party that’s been around for decades. But the event was almost killed two years ago when an embezzlement scandal canceled it in 2023 and threatened to end it forever.
Renée JeanJuly 01, 2025

Coal A Big Winner After Marathon Senate Session on Big Beautiful Bill Act
A dramatic marathon weekend session in the U.S. Senate elevated coal as a high priority among lawmakers who hammered out amendments to President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
David MadisonJune 30, 2025
Judge Green-Lights Off-Label Prescribing Of Abortion Drugs
Lawmakers may have had Ivermectin in mind when they passed a law to safeguard doctors who prescribe off-label. But a judge on Monday ruled that, at least for now, that protection must apply to abortion-inducing drug providers as well.
Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Rob Wallace: Don’t Expect Public Land Sale To Be Brought Back Anytime Soon
People shouldn’t expect to see a plan to sell federal public lands brought back to Congress anytime soon, says Rob Wallace, former Assistant Interior Secretary. In the future, the proposal needs to be its own standalone bill, says Sen. John Barrasso.
Matthew ChristianJune 30, 2025

ESPN’s SportsCenter To Broadcast From Cheyenne Frontier Days
ESPN’s SportsCenter program will broadcast from Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 24 as part of its 50 States in 50 Days event. It will be a homecoming for ESPN's Gary Striewski who got his start at KGWN-TV in Cheyenne.
Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025

Court Gives $15K Back To Man Who Bailed Out Fake Jackson 'Bitcoin Billionaire'
The man who posted a $50,000 bond to free the alleged “Bitcoin Billionaire” scammer from Teton County’s jail can have $15,000 of it back, a judge has ruled. The prosecution argues the suspect's promise to pay the bond back is another of his bogus promises.
Clair McFarlandJune 30, 2025

Deal For Manderson Police Chief Charged With Helping Girlfriend Avoid Drug Arrest
The former police chief of Manderson, Wyoming, accused of helping his girlfriend avoid a drug arrest has agreed to a plea deal. He’ll get probation and has to give up his policing certification.
Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Another Wind And Solar Project Triggers Opposition In Eastern Wyoming
A proposed 450-megawatt wind and solar project in Goshen and Platte counties would create 300 jobs and mean about $150 million in tax revenue. Even so, locals are opposed, with Torrington’s mayor saying a gas- or coal-fired power plant would be preferred.
David MadisonJune 30, 2025

Riverton Man In 130 mph Car Chase Faces Up To 7 Years In Prison
The Riverton man accused of leading Fremont County law enforcement on a 130-mph car chase through a construction zone last week could face up to seven years and 40 days in prison. His preliminary hearing is Tuesday.
Clair McFarlandJune 30, 2025

A Week After Shooting Death Of Pine Bluffs Crop Duster, Friend Still Shocked
A friend and former college rodeo teammate of the Pine Bluffs crop duster who was shot and killed last week says he’s still shocked. He knew Kevin Hefley as a “level-headed guy” who wasn’t one to “fly off the handle.”
Dale KillingbeckJune 30, 2025

Sen. Barrasso, Also A Medical Doctor, Defends Medicaid Changes In Budget Bill
U.S. Senate Democrats — and one Republican — claim Medicaid changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would devastate low-income people. John Barrasso, who’s also a medical doctor, said Wyomingites are “unlikely” to be harmed and the reforms are necessary.
Sean BarryJune 30, 2025

Johnson County Pays Bounties By The Pound For Invasive Weeds
Anyone can be a bounty hunter in the war on invasive weeds in Johnson County, which pays cash to people who uproot and report them. People can get paid by the pound or earn a $50 reward for reporting patches of the damaging weeds.
Andrew RossiJune 30, 2025

Hundreds Mourn Jackson Photographer Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver
Hundreds of Jackson Hole residents turned out to remember beloved photographer Florence McCall-Phillips on Saturday, a week after she was killed by a suspected drunk driver.
Zakary SonntagJune 30, 2025

Teen Is First Cody High Student To Graduate Already Licensed To Drive Trucks
McCoy Banks walked across the stage for his Cody High School graduation last month and walked into the world already qualified for a high-paying job. He’s the first CHS student to graduate having already earned a commercial driver’s license.
Amber SteinmetzJune 29, 2025

Beloved Photographer Shares Beauty Of Wyoming Even As She Faces End Of Life
Lesleigh Ann Schaefer has put 100,000 miles on her 2019 Subaru photographing Wyoming from its rarely-traveled backroads. Now homebound with terminal cancer, she can only take photos from her backyard. Her adopted home of Thermopolis has rallied to make her final days special.
Jackie DorothyJune 29, 2025

Drinking Wyoming: Shoshoni’s Lucky 5 Is A Whisky And Beer Dive That Has Your Back
At the Lucky 5 Lounge in Shoshoni, the regulars can tell you’re an out-of-towner the second you walk through the door. “You’re not from around here, are you?” they ask when you order wine. This is a whisky and beer bar but they won't hold that wine order against you.
Zakary SonntagJune 28, 2025

Discovery’s ‘Expedition Unknown’ To Take On Mystery Of Buffalo Bill's Grave
The Discovery Channel’s popular show “Expedition Unknown” is digging into the mystery about what happened to the body of Buffalo Bill Cody. “The Lost Grave Of Buffalo Bill” also features Cody residents reenacting the famous showman and Annie Oakley.
Andrew RossiJune 29, 2025

Wyoming Farrier Goes From Shoeing Horses To Crafting High-End Steel Cookware
Paul Angiolillo started out shoeing horses, then he dreamt up a new career as a blacksmith specializing in carbon steel cookware. "I actually started having dreams about anvils in my sleep," he said. Now the Freedom, Wyoming, man is gaining a following for his high-end creations.
David MadisonJune 29, 2025

Sen. Mike Lee Waves White Flag And Gives Up Public Lands Sell-Off Plan
Utah Sen. Mike Lee waved the white flag on Saturday evening and dropped his controversial public lands-selloff plan. Wyoming State Rep. Karlee Provenza said she was pleased but was concerned with the Wyoming congressional delegation's "lack of leadership."
Sean Barry & Clair McFarlandJune 29, 2025

There’s Love — And Hundreds Of Baseball Caps — In The Air At The Chico Saloon
The Chico Saloon north of Yellowstone is a funky honkytonk legendary for its weddings and hundreds of baseball caps hanging from the rafters. It’s also where actor Jeff Bridges was famously rejected by a server who would later become his wife.
David MadisonJune 29, 2025

New Dental Research Shows What Dinosaurs Ate And Entire Food Chain
Teeth can tell a life’s story, even when they’re 150 million years old. One of the new frontiers in paleontological research is examining calcium isotopes to reveal details about dinosaurs' diets and environments. “With teeth, you can track an entire food chain,” paleontologist Liam Norris says.
Andrew RossiJune 29, 2025

Wyoming History: Taken Hostage With Twins By Murderer Changed Green River Woman Forever
It’s been 70 years since Charles Billings, an imposter Pinedale ranch hand, gunned down two men and took a Green River woman and her infant twin daughters hostage. The incident traumatized the woman for the rest of her life, her daughters say.
Dale KillingbeckJune 29, 2025

‘Generation Warrior’: Lives Of 8 Wind River Youth An Open Book
The documentary “Generation Warrior," directed by two Emmy Award winning filmmakers, follows eight young adults from the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. The journey for young Native Americans comes with the added pressure of ensuring the survival of their culture.
Amber SteinmetzJune 29, 2025

Robotaxis Are Here, But Can’t Yet Handle A Wyoming Winter
Driverless taxis are rolling out in urban areas across the nation and going viral for their miscues. Don't expect them in Wyoming anytime soon as robotaxis can't handle winter weather. But industry analysts say autonomous driving is coming.
David MadisonJune 29, 2025

Wyoming's Heart Mountain Formed By The Two Largest Landslides In Earth's History
The formation of Heart Mountain near Cody is a story of a block of rock the size of Rhode Island moving at 700 mph, an eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano, and two separate but equally cataclysmic events in Earth’s geologic history.
Andrew RossiJune 29, 2025
Daily Features
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Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Denise Connelly. Denise writes, "Sunrise in Cody over the McCullough Peaks."
Today's question to Don Day
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.
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
Opinion
Tom Lubnau: Tour Of Sunrise Should Be On Your Bucket List.
Opinion by Tom Lubnau
Bill Sniffin: If You Had Your Life To Live Over, What Would You Change?
Opinion by Bill Sniffin
Dave Simpson: That Friendly Wave That Reassures
Opinion by Dave Simpson
Cassie Craven: School Choice Is About Helping Students, Not Systems
Opinion by Clair McFarland
Gail Symons: That Federal Lands Measure Would Have Betrayed Wyoming
Opinion by Gail Symons
Opinion
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Joan Barron: The Dark Side Of Pro Rodeo Life
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "Since this is the outdoor rodeo season in Wyoming and the West, it was timely to watch an old gem last week on TCM. It was a 1952 black-and-white movie from RKO titled 'The Lusty Men.'"
Joan BarronJune 21, 2025

Jonathan Lange: Family Issues Should Be Bipartisan, Again
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: "Marriage and family are not Freedom Caucus issues. Neither is the restoration of the American Family a Republican issue. The traditional nuclear family is the foundation of a healthy society."
Jonathan LangeJune 20, 2025

Tom Lubnau: Sale Of Our Public Lands Brings More Questions Than Answers
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "My understanding of the public land sale proposals is they are so vague, with so many unanswered questions, that at this point, I can’t get behind risking Wyoming’s way of life to pay the bills for the United States."
Tom LubnauJune 19, 2025
Wyoming Life
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Wyoming History: Chugwater Wild Man Was 7-12 Feet Tall And Faster Than A Horse
Jackie DorothyJune 28, 2025
Full Of Grizzlies, Wolves And Cougars, Yellowstone’s Top Apex Predator Is A Bug
Andrew RossiJune 28, 2025
Army Vet Paralyzed By Iraq Blast Gets A New Life — And House — In Casper
Dale KillingbeckJune 28, 2025
Star Valley, UW Stunned By Sudden Death Of Equipment Manager In Lawn Mower Accident
Dale KillingbeckJune 27, 2025
Laramie Firefighter Crushed And Paralyzed In House Fire Walks Out Of Hospital
Mark HeinzJune 26, 2025
Outdoors
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Hacking Live Trees To Make Lean-To On Trail Not Only Inconsiderate, It’s Illegal
Mark HeinzJune 28, 2025
It’s Sweet Home Alabama For Bears On Southern ‘Grizzly Ranch’
Mark HeinzJune 27, 2025
Grand Teton Tourist Dives Headfirst Through Open Car Window To Avoid Grizzly
Andrew RossiJune 27, 2025
Purple Heart Vet On Wyoming Hunt Almost Tangled With Moose — And Wants To Come Back
Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025
Wyoming Hunters Say They’ll Oppose Public Land Sales, No Matter What
Mark HeinzJune 25, 2025
Crime & Courts
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Chuck Gray Asks Judge To Dismiss Lawsuit Against Proof-Of-Citizenship Voting Law
Clair McFarlandJune 28, 2025
Supreme Court Upholds Porn Age Verification Days Before Wyo Law Takes Effect
Clair McFarlandJune 28, 2025
Case Against Star Valley Man In Wife’s Death Proceeds After Contentious Hearing
Clair McFarlandJune 27, 2025
Brief: ‘Shooter Has Been Located’ In Killing Of Pine Bluffs Crop Duster
Dale KillingbeckJune 26, 2025
Bomb Squad Called For Device Found Near River In Lander — It Was A Fake Pipe Bomb
Clair McFarlandJune 25, 2025